PIE GIRL'S DAY!!!

To my darling beautiful child......HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY LOVE!

You are the greatest joy in my life. With your sense of humor, your creativity, and your intelligence, my day is never lacking in excitement. So, thank you for every day for the last eleven years.

I wish I could give you more than a couple of store-bought gifts. The days you are lonely for a brother or sister. The questions you have about Jon. I want to ease those discomforts. But always know that those things lacking in your life such as a dad or siblings do NOT mean you are lacking in yourself. You are an amazing girl and your evolution into an amazing woman will happen because of all that defines you as Emmaline. And I am truely excited to be part of that evolution.

You have courage at eleven that I wish I had at such a young age. You know who you are at this moment. You're not afraid to walk out into the world among the rest of us in all your goofiness....all your opinionated glory....all your being. I admire that strength to not care what others think of you. While many of us live as muted versions of ourselves, you live loudly and brightly as Emmaline.

You are still developing and growing and no doubt, will change again and again until adulthood; but I am honored to be your mother and part of your life.

Thank you, my Pie for your joy and love and view of the world. Happy birthday, Em! And I look forward to another year as your mother.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR PIE!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!