As I write this I find myself at once amazed, joyful and sad. How is it possible that my baby is turning 10? When you were born I vowed to cherish and appreciate every moment because I already knew from raising Maddie for almost 8 years, how quickly it would go. I kept my vow and yet here we are, you insisting on growing older and me unsure how we got to this place. If I could start all over I would do so without hesitation.
You are an amazing girl. It has been a pure joy having you as my full time job. I wouldn't give back a single moment of it. You are a sweet, loving, smart, inquisitive girl with an old soul. I'm always amazed how tuned in you are to me. You look into my eyes like you can see right through to my very heart. You are an amazing combination of me and Daddy. You are the best of both of us with his big brain, sense of humor, love of math and science (also his stubbornness!) and my love of reading, writing, creating, gardening, home making and all things vintage (also my stubbornness!). As much as you are just like us, you are uniquely you. I admire that about you so much. I love that you don't care about what or who is popular. You like what you like and don't care what anyone thinks about it. That will serve you well for years to come. You are a one of a kind Nancy Drew and Little House reading, Annie soundtrack singing, story writing, vintage shopping, Paris loving, skirt and mary jane wearing, picture drawing and hat knitting wonder of a girl.
As much as I wish I could stop time right here, I also get so excited when I think of what you will be like when you grow up. I know you can do anything that you put your mind to and I hope that you never lose your spirit of excitement and wonder.
Happiest 10th Birthday to you my little Hummingbird, Butterbean, Lulubelle, Sunshine, sweet Little Bit girl.
All my love,
Mommy
She is lovely!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovingly sweet post. Happy Birthday to Emma!!
ReplyDeleteDoesn't it fly by. Happy b-day to your girl!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to a very lovely girl ~ doesn't time fly? I'm still amazed by little girl is going to be 22 in April~!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful heartfelt post. My one and only baby will be five in a few weeks, wow! Happy Birthday Emma!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post! Happy Birthday to your sweet girl. She sounds like a joy with so many gifts! :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Miss Emma!!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Emma! I hope your day is truly 'perfect'. Ten years old - that's a pretty big milestone. You are a very special girl, and I can't wait to see the wonderful young lady you will grow to be.
ReplyDeletep.s. I hope the birthday fairy brings you a miniature donkey.
sniffle, sniffle...What a great little message from a great mom! Hope you both enjoy Emma's 10 birthday!
ReplyDeleteMy baby just turned 21...all I did was blink!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! That is the sweetest ode to a daughter I have ever read.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful, tender post to Emma. Your love speaks so clearly. She is beautiful, and you are so lucky to have each other.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful girl, great spirit, raised right... Sounds like a (Hallmark) bright future!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Emma!!! Hope the next decade is spectacular!
Congratulations Mom, you done good.
xo
Leslie
How wonderful to see you celebrate your daughter..and cherish how uniquely and wonderfully made she is...and wonder what God's plan is for her life. You are blessed beyond belief to have been entrusted with this precious soul....but you already know that! Happy Birthday Emma~You got blessed with a good Mommy! xxoo Diana
ReplyDeleteHow great! Happy Birthday Emma. My baby also turns 10 on the 12th. But he is a boy, and still a momma's boy for that matter. I love it!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Emma!!!!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your VERY special day!!!!
smiles,
Becky
PS: I loved Nancy Drew books when I was 10!!
I love this post Jen. It does go so fast. I know what you mean about going back. I would too and relish it even more! Happy birthday to your beautiful girl. She is lovely and your description of her is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteMany bags of Lucky Charms marshmallows to you, Pretty Emm!!! Happy Birthday.
ReplyDeleteAnd to the Mommy: This letter is true-blue beautiful.
My oldest just turned 10 last week~double digits!~ Where did the time go??? What a sweet post for your beautiful daughter.
ReplyDelete~Shanon
gulp, what a beautiful post about a beautiful girl.
ReplyDeletemy oldest turned 10 in october. as he put it "celebrating 10 years of awesomeness!" i look at him and at once see the little toddler and the someday-teenager. gulp.
hugs and cupcakes!
xo
elyse
What a lovely testament to your daughter. I have two of my own (in their 20's) and we are still so very close, so don't despair. The fun is just beginning! Kit
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post for a beautiful girl. Happy Birthday Emma! And many more for you. :)
ReplyDeleteI had a very had time with my little Emma turning 12 this January. The time goes way to fast for my liking also.
Have a most wonderful weekend celebrating!
happy birthday to her!! such a beautiful girl! i hope the next decade is just as amazing and full of joy and love as the first!
ReplyDeleteOh, Jen,
ReplyDeleteIt all goes so fast! Your daughter, Emma, is just a precious girl...fast turning into a young woman. She will bring you a few worries and a whole lot of pleasure. I am sitting here tonight with my thirty-one year old. I enjoy her more than ever. I feel so blessed to have a daughter.
Thanks for sharing your very beautiful thoughts!
Hugs,
Suz
Happy, happy birthday to your beautiful Emma!!
ReplyDeleteHope you have a wonderful day!
Oh Jen...what a sweet tribute to Em! Is that her island? I love her, and I've never met her! She sounds like the perfect daughter.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post Jen, your daughter seems like the perfect little young lady. Such precious tastes! pat yourself on the back for raising a wonderful girl in such crazy times! Lori
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Emma! I hope you had a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful tribute to your daughter.
Best wishes,
BarbaraG
So Beautiful Girl!
ReplyDeleteXoxo
Charo
Jen, Love this post. Love all of your pet names for her!
ReplyDeleteShe is blessed to have you for a mommy!
xo, Cheryl
What a touching post to your lovely daughter--hope her birthday was wonderful!
ReplyDeleteOh Happy Birthday to your Emma!!! My Emily is one year and a month older, we also call her Lulubelle, and she is also and old soul that likes what she likes and doesn't care what anyone else thinks...wow these two are so similar in many ways!! I hope she had a fabulous tenth birthday! :)
ReplyDeletewe so truly need to be neighbors. your emma & my caroline would be fast friends. i am certain!!
ReplyDelete& then while they were being sweet and acting all grown up together, we could be in the next room sobbing because they're all double digits now.
(cek turns 10 sunday)
beautiful post to your beautiful baby girl
you are loved
xo
Happy Birthday, Emma! May all your wishes come true.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful tribute to your daughter.
BarbaraG
What beautiful words. The real joy i find is to watch them grow into young adults and to become amazed at how they have gracefully taken your guidance over the years. I have a 19 and 17 year old who amaze me every day, they are turning into wonderful young thoughtful men. We still get to enjoy the 12 year old and keep telling him to slow down, he will get older, just let mom enjoy you being young a little longer.
ReplyDeleteoh man!!! i too am guilty of losing the desire to shop at some point this year....
ReplyDeleteand i too...AM OVER IT!
too bad I dont have the house to decorate yet...and oh yah...THE MONEY!
shell
www.gypsylemonade.blogspot.com
This is so sweet...10 is that magic number, the one the can't wait for the one we Mom's dread. Double digits. It all goes just too blocking fast!
ReplyDeleteI wrote a similar letter to my "baby" when he turned 10 last fall,
http://lifewithoutmom-taketwo.blogspot.com/2010/09/ten-years-gone-by.html
Thanks for sharing