My Dearest Emma bug,
I love your guts, I do, I really do. You are a spunky, opinionated little toddler who doesn't take no for an answer. You must have a mental list of all the things you have been told not to do and have a memo next to each line item saying "i'll get back to that later." You are the busiest 1 year old I have ever had. It's hard not to compare children, I know It's not something I am supposed to do, but Ty and Maylee could be told no a few times, "Ty, don't touch the blinds please, we don't want them to brake" "Maylee don't eat the potting soil from the plant, it's yuck." and I rarely had to re-visit the situation. With you, I think when I tell you not to do something and attempt to explain why, it just fuels your fire and drive to continue your pursuance of such naughty actions. It is equally adorable and infuriating.
You are a beautiful little lady, you have your own look and look just like a mix of your sister and brother all the same. You have such edible features that I rarely go 5 minutes with out a BIG smootch on your squishy cheeks, hands or feet... even though I just scolded you for ripping up the instructions to your brothers lego set. I feel like your personality is similar to how I've been told I was as a child. Hopefully God continues to bless me with energy because boy oh boy are you an energy sucking midget.
The other day, while I was in the shower you climbed on the kitchen table (which I swear you know you aren't supposed to do) and helped yourself to a jar of homemade Strawberry Jam. You double fisted to your hearts content then made your way up stairs, covered in jam head to toe, to show me how excited you were about your culinary exploits. Brother and Sister didn't notice until you were nearly half way up the stairs. That is when the sirens went off, "EMMA EMERGENCY! EMMA EMERGENCY!". Your Dad quickly started cleaning up on the stairs while your brother and sister started wiping up the kitchen. You hopped in the shower for a good long rinse off. Arg, every day is different, but the same big mess at the end of the day. Your Dad jokingly suggested I rig a rake to your backside somehow so you could clean up the wake of destruction that you leave every day.
Speaking of your Brother and Sister, they love you too. They want you to make good choices too. They aren't trying to pick on you, promise. I know a lot of times we say no. All you may think you hear is no. Truth is, there are a lot of things to NOT touch or climb on. Eventually you'll find more joy in playing with your toys and not playing with the knives while I am loading or unloading the dishwasher. Being a 1 year old is tough, but I'll just say, being a MOM to a 1 year old seems more tough. It's no wonder your favorite word currently is "Nope!"
Your Dad has a special place in his heart for you, he loves how even after taking a hit you keep coming. He loves your persistence and ingenuity. He loves how you race to meet him at the door doing your best to beat your brother and sister so YOU get the first hug. But i'll tell you this, he's got a heart of stone when fit throwing occurs. You may have figured this one out all ready but I am definitely a push over compared to your Dad. When you come running to clutch my legs and wet my jeans with your tears I have a hard time not just excusing your poor behavior and hug it away only to watch to you do the same thing over again. You'll get it, life I mean, eventually you'll get it. My job is to help you get it. Problem I have with all this is I'm just beginning to get it myself. Forgive my shortness and my lack of patience with your 1 year old problem solving skills of screaming your head off when something goes wrong.
Bottom line is, I will always give you lots of hugs and kisses. I love you forever even if you are a high spirited crazy toddler that is giving me a run for my money. I think that is probably what my parents thought about me, and hey... look how I turned out. :)
My favorite part of the day with you, is when I come to get you in the morning and you greet me with a "Hello Mom!" and a big slobbery open mouth with tongue kiss on the cheek when I pick you up out of your crib. It is the best and I know it wont last forever. So keep on being you and i'll try my best to keep up.
XOXO,
Mom
