My birthday angel

Dear Emmett,

Today you are 1,091 days old and we celebrate your birthday this weekend! I reflect on the beauty of your spirit, the growth of your mind, and the curiousity in your little world.

We have a big change in your life, with our beloved nanny taking a different direction in her life, and you beginning a new montessori. I have high hopes for this change, but have treasured her one on one attention in the last 18 months. I truly owe alot of your compassion, your development and your silliness to her and will be forever greatful. The new school brings back memories of your first daycare and not the best, but I hope you will make new friends and learn new things every day.

Sunday, you will be surrounded by friends, children, my godparents. I can't wait to show you pictures of your special day and I have so much to be thankful for.

I love you my little "free" year old.

Love,

Mom

Bedtime Schmedtime

Dear Darling Sweet Boy....

We are so alike! You never want to go to bed on time and I think it's just because you are afraid you will miss something! Just like me! I don't know what to do to make it easier for you to turn off the lights, close your eyes, and go to dreamland my child. Warm milk? More bedtime stories? I do treasure every waking hour with you, my angel, and I look forward to watching you grow.

Sometimes you say to me.."When I get bigger I can go on an airplane, mommy" and then 2 seconds later you say, "Mommy, I'm bigger!" - your imagination completely slays me sometimes and reminds me that you are all that matters in my world. I work to provide for you, I laugh to make you laugh, and I love so that you feel loved.

I have begun to call you during the day just to tell you I love you. The days get longer and yet you keep growing up...I don't want to miss a single moment with you, my sweet boy!

Loving you has made me a better person. Thank you for that gift!

Warmly,

Mommy

Love makes a house a home

Sweet boy,

We have a few nights in our new home and I can't stop thinking about how much fun we are having! From the moment we get home to the moment you go to sleep, you want to play outside, ride your bike, chase ants, and play ball. What a gift we have been given with this opportunity to live here.

Next is gardening, painting, and finishing up the move. All the hard work is worth it, and our upcoming vacation will be wonderful! You get to go see some of your cousins in Yakima and the trip will be fun, over the mountains in my "race car." We will go to the zoo and the park and play as much as possible.

I love you more my sweet boy.

Your mom

Can a Tiger Be a Pet?

Dear Emmett,

As I write this, we are watching a movie together, Paper Clips, and I am so thankful for your company. Although day by day you have decided to attempt to take on more of your independence and sometimes it is beautiful, sometimes it is challenging, but most of all it is endearing and exciting watching you grow up.

You're almost potty trained and love your new Spiderman and Disney underwear. Although we often end up with more tee-tee on the toilet or floor, it's still fun to see the expression on your face. You want to dress yourself these days too and that's always a fun day!

We get to decorate your bedroom and make it your own space again. I realize I am not too crafty but Leah can help with that! I just need to find some more things to read and learn with you so you keep getting smarter and smarter!

Well, off to sleep now my beautiful son. Thank you for keeping me young!

Your proud mama.

Our 44th President

Dear Emmett,

I have been a bit past due and thought I would commemorate today's entry as our 44th President of the United States was sworn in today in an amazingly breathtaking, moving, historic ceremony in DC.

I have saved the Newsweek, Time, and local papers for you from the day after his election. I get emotional at the pure magnitude of this feat - we elected an African American man and his family to run our country and times....they are a'changin'.

One part of this speech, of the many, many, many, that moved me, was this paragraph - at the last sentence I had to bow my head so I would not cry at work in front of my peers:

A quote:
For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

I have been willing and ready every moment of every day since August 18, 2006 to nurture you until my last breath. Your light has renewed my faith in love and life and purity. The joy you experience every day, the way your brain processes all of the stimulation around you, the way you learn from Leah and Micah and Maddy and Sean, the way you laugh with your whole body, gets me through some of the tough days. But don't worry, there aren't many tough days. I promise.

You are almost two and a half and we will celebrate with a "half" birthday party next month, just me and you. Half a cupcake, half a cup of "chaw-ko-lutt miwk", half of a nap, but a whole day of love and laughs.

As I create this entry, you are coloring me a picture and "writing" your name. Your manners are amazing and your little Emmett talk makes me smile with pride and love. You have found more joy in the .99 cent fire truck from the thrift store than the presents I got you for Christmas!!!

This weekend Constance lost her beloved Smokey dog, Heather's friend is losing her battle with cancer, Debbie's friend is suffering from addiction, one of my favorite colleagues at work is leaving, and we never seem to be able to grow your college fund. But we have faith, love, and hope. Hope for our future and the nation's future. We can be whatever we want to be, Emmett!

Yes We CAN!!!!!

I love you my dear son,

mommie

In Loving Memory

Dear Emmett,

Yesterday, I attended a Memorial Service for a woman I wished I would have come to know better. She is the only daughter of my wonderful Godparents, sister to one, aunt, cousin, friend, co-worker to many. The church was literally full of people that honored her with their presence, grieved her with their tears, and laughed when telling stories about her. I cried because loss is hard. I cried because my Godparents are hurting. I cried because it was so beautiful to see all of these people from the church I grew up in, from elementary teachers, people that had attended my baptism, confirmation, and graduation. People that my parents had known when they were still with us.

Hugs and tears, an outpouring of support for the member’s of this family. It made me think about my life. Does it have meaning? Am I using my gifts to the best of my ability? While I feel like I have accomplished what I wanted to when it is my time to go to heaven? Have I made amends with those that have hurt me or that I have hurt? Do I celebrate life every moment? Do I tell the ones I love, that I love them? Do I treasure my family? Who would come to my memorial service? Would I be that loved?

These are thoughts that I will embrace as I go through the holidays and into 2009. I will create a beautiful, loving, supportive, nurturing world for my son and I believe I will have accomplished what I was put on this earth to do. Be a MOM.

With love my son,

Mom

Birthday Reflections for Emmett

Dear Emmett,

I am so thankful that you are my son. Your father taught you how to sing Happy Birthday to me today, you made me pictures, and picked me flowers. I missed you so much!

I got spoiled at work today with flowers and cookies and cake, lots of phone calls from friends and family, everyone should feel like this on their birthday.

We spent the evening with a dear friend who loves you very much. You won't remember but she was throwing you around in circles and playing airplane with you as you laughed like crazy. We made a nice dinner for my birthday and as the night draws to a close, I wanted to say thank you for making this my best birthday ever.

I love you, Mr. Boogles.

Your mom