Five years old!

It's hard for me to believe that it's been five years now since Emily made her grand entrance and changed our lives forever....and what an entrance it was! I clearly remember the day that I went into labor because Jason and I both slept in late - it's the last time I remember sleeping in late! We went to Outback Steakhouse and then to the mall. We stayed up late that night hanging out. I had pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I was going to have to be induced the following week. So, I was shocked when my water broke that night!

We got to the hospital around 2:30 in the morning (I wanted to make sure it was "for real" and also had to scramble to pack my bag). At first, things were progressing pretty quickly, but then it just stopped and Emily kept going into distress. The doctor had come in around six that night to tell me that if things didn't start to progress again soon, we would have to talk about "other options" (I knew that meant a c-section), and that if she went into distress again, they would have to get her out quickly. Around 8 that night, she went into distress again. Everything was a blur...I remember them rushing me down the hall into the operating room and asking to see Jason and them telling me that they couldn't let him into the room because they were afraid they'd have to "knock me out" I remember praying that I could please be awake to see my baby and the next thing I knew, I heard her crying. I am so grateful that I was able to be awake for that event. When she was first born, her ears and nose were smooshed up because she had been stuck for awhile and I remember asking the doctors if she was going to stay that way.

I was so excited when we found out we were having a little girl. I had kept some of the things I had from my childhood (including some of my favorite books) hoping that one day I would be able to share them with my daughter. Emily has been such a blessing in our lives in so many ways and it has been so fun to watch her grow up.

*She is our little chatterbox. Emily started talking pretty early and I don't think she has stopped talking since then!

*She has so much energy and enthusiasm for life and sometimes I wish I could bottle some up for myself. She has always been an early riser and in the mornings when she gets up, she goes 90 miles an hour and sometimes we have to remind her to stop and tone it down for a minute.

*She is kind to others. Emily is a great big sister. Jacob adores her and follows her wherever she goes (which includes playing with all of her toys most of the time, too). This would drive some kinds nut, but she just goes with it. She takes good care of us, too. I have been sick for a few weeks and just can't seem to shake it. This morning she said to me, "Mom, I'm going to take good care of you all day today. If you sneeze, I'll get you a tissue. If you need a drink, I will get you one."

*She is independent and isn't afraid to try new things. I hope that this will take her far in life.

*She loves to read and write. Jason (and others) often refer to Emily as a "mini me." In some ways, I'm not sure that's a good thing, but I am so glad that she has a love for reading and writing the way that I always have. She is learning to write more and more every day and carries a pen and note pad with her wherever she goes to write little notes. If she gets in trouble, we know that an "I LUV U MOM" or "I LUV U DAD" note will follow shortly. She also loves reading and books. I am looking forward to sharing some of my favorites from my childhood with her as she gets a little bit older.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMILY - WE LOVE YOU!
(I'll be posting pictures from her birthday and party later today)