As I sit here watching tv and reading facebook, I just keep thinking how is my "baby" going to be 6?!! I really vividly remember going through the day she was born. As she was almost 1 week overdue, every minute felt like an eternity, and I just kept waiting for my labor to start. Filled with fear and tons of anticipation about meeting the sweet little life inside my belly, I just couldn't wait for that moment to start. Fast forward 6 years, and I'm no calmer. My husband left today for a meeting in Washington, DC. We will be meeting him tomorrow after school for what we hope is a great celebratory dinner with fancy clothes in a super cool city.
We now have 3 beautiful children, which also means 3 birthdays to celebrate. I vowed to myself earlier this year after our about 5th birthday party in the rain, to just KEEP IT SIMPLE. I really was doing great, Emily isn't even having a "party", just a get together with a few close friends. ...Until today. In trying to get everything ready to leave, and make cupcakes for school tomorrow, I turned into the evil witch yet again. I just read the sweetest article about "The Lasts". Have you read that? It was about as parents we try so hard to remember every statistic...but sometimes in so doing forget the silly things like the last time they used the binky, the last day they crawled, etc. And I really have been trying to be more patient, especially with Emily who can be super tough. And today of all days, the eve of her 6th b-day, I lost it. They wouldn't let Daisy in the kennel, and on the way home from soccer, I was sobbing and begging the kids to just go home, quietly take showers, and go to bed easily with only 3 stories each because I still had so much to do. If I were a kinder, more loving mom, I would have relished my last night with my 5 year old, because tomorrow she is 6. And 1 year closer to that day when she will beg me to just let her go have cake with her friends, or her boyfriend, and no she doesn't want another story she is fine by herself. I was finished all my chores by 11:30, and if I had just read one more story to each child, and snuggled for even just 3 more minutes until they were peacefully sleeping, it only would have been 11:45. Add today to the list of days I wouldn't mind having the chance to use a rewind button.
I am so proud of my sweet Emily. She is a firecracker, and has been from the day she was born. I think in giving her to me, God is trying to really help me learn to be selfless, patient, silly, and creative. I am thankful for every lesson, every eye roll, every outfit change and every time you still need a snuggle from your Mommy and Daddy.
