Emily | 11 Years Old

Happy Birthday Peanut Butter,

            Today you turn 11. That's a tough one for me to wrap my head around. It is so easy to still see you as my baby girl singing and dancing in the kitchen, or you on your first day of kindergarten with your giant backpack, or my 7 year old Emmie in your dress-up clothes trying to walk in my high heels without falling down. But now you can actually wear my high heels (no you can't borrow them) and your backpack fits you just fine and the songs you dance to and sing in the kitchen aren't Disney themed anymore. I love that you're growing up and as scary as it is that it is going so fast I love seeing the person you are growing in to. You had your first middle school XC race on Friday and you were a little nervous, and a little scared, which is so normal. But, as soon as that gun went off and you started running I saw those fears and those nerves melt away and you ran that race like you had been doing it forever.  No matter how you had done in that race I would have been proud of you, but what impresses me the most about you kiddo is that you don't give up. You never have. You don't let being nervous or afraid stop you and the confidence that you carry into everything you do is incredible. My hope is that even in the toughest situations you can be my confident, strong, girl, because that is one of the parts of growing up that as a parent is so scary. Growing up means new trials in life and new situations and with all of the good, fun, new stuff you get to do there will also be tough, sad, bad stuff. But you; my sweet, smart, funny, beautiful, kind, considerate, energetic, slightly crazy daughter. You can remember that you are tough, you are confident in who you are, and that you know what is right and what is wrong. And sometimes, not giving up doesn't mean you decide to do something even though you are afraid. It means that you decide to stick with what you know and who you are even when other people are trying to change you or tell you something different. I have no doubt in my mind that you will continue to amaze us this year as an 11 year old. You have so many great things ahead of you and 6th grade is already off to a great start! We love you so much baby and we are so proud of you. Happy Birthday Emmie Jane!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy