Dear Emma....

It is the night before your fourth birthday and i'm going through photos of you that i've taken since you were placed in my arms on that hot July morning. So many photos of you!! I know that you will run out of patience with my photo taking, but i hope you'll understand why i try to capture as many photos of you as i can. Children have a way of growing up so very quickly and photos make the magic of the growing up last just a little longer.

I am sometimes shocked that you are turning four already. Although i've been here for every second, you seem to have grown in front of my eyes without me knowing it. It seems that i've blinked, and here we are, getting ready to sing "Happy Birthday" to you again! You are excited about your birthday, i think. Perhaps, though, it's just because you know that we will be making a cake...

I'm so proud of the little girl you are becoming, Emmie. How you love animals! You know the names of so many of them! You love your books with the animals the most so you can call out their names and tell me about them. Eels, orcas, dolphins, crabs, spider monkeys, donkeys, alpacas, cutter ants, anteaters, elephants, giraffes, lions, tigers, panthers, owls, seals...you name it, you know it. I'm also so happy to see that you love to learn new words in Spanish. You know your colors, your numbers, fruits and countless other words in Spanish. I have to smile to myself when you ask me "What's dat in Spwaish, Mama?" every chance you get when we are out.

Other than animals, you love books, Woody, Buzz and especially Jessie, the Cowgirl. Oh, and her horse, Bullseye. You also love to be naked, as much as you can. (You tell me that is the only way that you can jump on the bed, btw!) You love to run, love to be outside, you love flowers/plants, you love the zoo, the beach and you LOVE pizza. And i almost forgot, you love Slinky Dog, too. Pachi is still your guy, though. He is your best buddy and constant companion. Thank heavens he is holding up okay....he's been everywhere with you! You sing to him constantly. I smile at how many songs you know. You know too many songs to list, but your favorite are the bible songs we sing every morning and in the car to school. Hearing your sing "Jesus loves me" makes me smile...

You also love school and your little friends! I love how you always ask for Cooper, Bree, Bella and Sean. You insist on saying hello to all of your teachers and Mrs. Cheryl every morning. I love seeing how much you love Ms. Cindy still. It's been interesting seeing how social you are as, well, i'm not. You introduce yourself to folks in the grocery store and have no hesitation of talking to someone that you've just met. You and Dada have that in common, it seems.

Speaking of Dada, you two are two peas in a pod. You love for him to chase you, tickle you, and ride on his shoulders. It's hard for me not to giggle every evening when he comes home and your hear him open the garage door. You start screaming "MAMA, DADA IS HOME, DADAAAA IS HOOOMMMMMEEEE! LETS GO SEE HIM NOWWWWW!" I'm forgotten once he walks in the door, but really, that's okay as i'm glad to see him too.

You are learning about Guatemala, bit by bit. We talk about your birth mother when we say our prayers, but i'm not sure how much you understand yet. I think of her on a daily basis, Emma, and even more it seems, on days like your birthday or a holiday. How proud of you she would be! You are a mirror image of her. She is a most beautiful woman with hair and eyes like you. Perhaps that is one of the reasons for all of the photos...i hope one day to share them with her so she can see how much the two of you look alike. Your birth mother is part of our family, Emma and always remember that there is more than enough love to go around.

Happy 4th Birthday, my sweet one. Know that your Daddy and i love you to the moon and back....

Mommy