..and Baby Girl is FIVE

Aunt Sherrie made Emma a special birthday cake - a Barbie cake!! And it was strawberry flavored - oh, so yummy. Emma celebrated her birthday on Easter, then on her birthday, then again this past Sunday. So many family members, so little planning! :) We didn't do the big blow-out party for her that we did for Connor earlier this month, but she did get to see everybody and all were certainly aware that it was her birthday WEEK.

So, our baby girl is five. And of course, she's taller now. :) She's amazed at the things she can reach now that she couldn't last week.

Little Angel cut her hair. Serves me right for mentioning that we'd give her a haircut and not doing it myself RIGHT AWAY. She left me inch-long bangs and a layer just below her ears to work with. To keep some length, we went for several layers and her hair does do a cute little flip. And...it's hair, it grows.

Emma is a great blessing to us. She is a light in our lives as we still don't quite know where her bright personality comes from. She has her sour-puss moods, too, but we can still get a giggle out of her even then. She is a girl through and through. She must wear dresses, do her hair, wear lip gloss, put on dress shoes, and grab her purse anytime she goes outside. Even if she is going out to play in the dirt.

I was feeling really bad about not being able to buy her the gifts that she had asked for. On her birthDAY I gave her the one special gift I did purchase for her - a new Bible. (I know, what more in life could she ever need?) Then I took a display photo album off my shelf - a PINK one - and wrapped that for her as well. I was near tears in my disappointment myself, hoping she wouldn't be disappointed. I think Daddy caught on to my feelings and asked the boys if they had a gift for Emma. Click -they got it, too. They grabbed boxes and headed to their rooms to gather toys that they knew she liked. Emma got Pokemon cards, a transformer, and an old Gameboy for herself. Yes, Mommy's still crying. We all sat and played with the toys, read from the new Bible, and found pictures for in Emma's photo album.

Later, I explained to Devin what I was feeling and he supported me stating that Emma looked quite happy with her gifts and a little embarassed being the center of attention. But the boys sacrificed for her. What a gift THAT was for them. Devin said, "Remember Little House on the Prairie." Keep it simple, use what you have, and love each other. Amen.