Happy Ninth Birthday to my Daughter

It's hard to believe she will be nine in just a few days (I would have posted on her birthday, but I just could not wait!). And, like every other parent, I just cannot believe how fast she has grown up on me! There are just way to many memories. From her first few days (which included me moving into my first apartment of my own, just Emma and myself.....) to where we are today.... a happy family of three with crazy chaotic schedules and a shared addiction to technology (video games for them, all things on the computer for me). Looking back I see not only how much she has grown up, but how much I have as well. Many of you might know that I started out as a brand new mom at the very young age of twenty. I had no clue what I was doing, but I was determined to do it with no help, until she started crying. Then I relied on my own mother to assure me that no matter what, I was still doing a pretty good job. Here we are nine years later and I am still relying on that same assurance from my own mother that I have not ruined Emma's life yet (though, Emma has made the claim several times in the past year that I have, or at least ruined her day....).

 As it seems, so much has happened over the years, but moments like these just stick out in my head..... Changing my very first diaper ever.... yes, it was Emma's. Bringing her home from the hospital. And having her meet Bronson (who was insanely jealous, but learned to share me....) Being so tired that after I dressed her when she was only a few days old it was very clear that I put both legs into one pant leg. Poor Emma..... Throwing caution to the wind and leaving her with her very loving uncle who was brave enough to watch her while I ran to the store to pick up diapers because I suddenly realized we were out.... or so I thought ;) Watching her spit up as my brother held her like and airplane over his own head..... if I wasn't laughing so hard I may have felt the need to vomit myself..... Taking her with me to work at J & M and then never finding a sitter for her (best 7 years.... can't thank them enough for allowing me to be with her every day even though I was not a stay at home mother....) Her first words, steps, and stair climb...... Getting out of the shower to find that she had learned how to open the refrigerator (with the lock on it) and had discovered what fun lies in a carton of eggs. The day she met Aaron.... and her sand filled shorts. A day he says he will never EVER forget. Her first day of kindergarten (a day of highs and lows for me........ I was so that mom that was crying..... I don't even think I went to work that day.....). Kindergarten graduation. Her first entrance into an art show. Crying on the last day of first grade (her, and then me). Singing the Emma song to her every night for almost a year. The many times she has taken care of me when I have been sick (which is usually because she was sick first, but still...) Her true laugh.... And very recently..... her log-roll style tumble into the trench in our field. Though she wasn't injured (which I so would have broken something if I had been the one to fall) she admitted that was her most embarrassing moment ever. Swooping in to make her feel better I shared MANY stories of my own "oops" moments that surely topped that one. No, I'm not going to share those here ;) Happy birthay Emma! Thanks for all the fantastic memories you have taken part in over the past nine years. I am looking forward to so many more!