Mothers Day 2013

Dear Emily,

It's been over a year since I've written here.  Life with you sure has gotten away from me!  There's so much I want to share with you, pictures I want to post, but think it's going to take quite a number of entries to catch things up.

Your baby sister was born January 26th, 2013.  An incredible little girl for you to always be a big sister to.  You were there when she was born, pouring water on my shoulders, stroking my hair, and reminding baby sister, "No Biting", when she went to nurse for the first time.  You were absolutely amazing, Emily.  I feel so proud of the two of you.

You started Montessori School last June, and flourished.  They welcomed you to start 6mo early since you were at the developmental milestones needed.  Since the very first day you have loved going to school, and always wake up excited to go to, "Tracy's School!!"  This past March you were also enrolled in a bilingual chinese school a few towns over.  It's been an amazing balance between the two schools.  In Montessori you have this freedom, while in the chinese school this strict structure.  For who you are, I believe both have given you exactly what you needed as you continue to work towards your educational development.  You love your chinese school, and your teachers love having you there.  In Montessori, they are impressed with your pen-to-paper work.  In your Chinese School, for your age, they are amazed with your focus and ability to sit quietly listening to your lessons.  I am proud.

With the birth of your sister you slipped back in your potty training, but your dad and I don't mind.  We are just waiting for you to be ready again to continue moving forward with it.

You love still nursing, and I cherish this time knowing that all too soon it will be over.  You call them, "My nursies".  You had a bit of jealousy as your baby sister would nurse, and are just starting to understand that I need to pump before you nurse and wait patiently until I am done and milk is available again.  I limit your time to the just nights before going to bed, and sometimes when you wake up in the morning.  It works well for us.

Until your baby sister was born, you were staying with your dad from Fri - Mon.  Now that your dad has settled in to full-time fatherhood, and the start of your Chinese School, you now are being picked up Monday after school and dropped of Wednesday morning for class.  You keep amazing track of your schedule, reminding us parents who's picking you up and what school your going to the next day.  How do you remember all of this?  It's pretty amazing.

I love you so much, Emily.  I look at you and continue to be so thankful you are my daughter, and can't imagine my life without you.  I am so thankful to your father, so thankful to him for you.