*****Should have been published June 27, 2008*****

Dear Emma,

Several months ago we were shopping at Target and I found some Elmo socks in the $1 Spot.   I handed them to you and you threw them out of the cart onto the floor because you were in a bit of a tizzy at that particular time.  Well, I knew you would actually want them someday, even though right at that moment you despised them, so I snuck them back into the card and hid them by my purse since the sight of them was so offensive to you at that time.  You must have seen me because when I turned around again you had stood up in the cart and threw them onto the floor again with much weeping and gnashing of teeth.  You had such a hilarious look on your face and if you'd had the vocabulary I think you might have said "I HATE THESE SOCKS! AND HERE IS WHAT I'M DOING WITH THEM!" (while hurling them onto the floor).  Today, months later, when I pulled out these brand new Elmo socks for you to wear you cried "ELMO SOCKS!" and practically swooned and hugged them.  So, let this be a lesson to you that will serve you well for the rest of your life… MOMMY IS ALWAYS RIGHT.

We took you bowling for the first time ever and you got a record! Rolling the bowling ball the slowest without it actually stopping.  I think your bowling ball's mph was 0.36.  (This picture shows the fastest mph her bowling ball reached.)

You learned to give kisses recently and are very, very enthusiastic about it.  Sometimes I have to tell you and your sister to stop smooching so much.  I'm sure you will cringe when you are older and read that, but I'll take the smooching any day over the incessant fighting over toys.

The Sharing…

The Fighting…

Like your sister, you want to decide how your hair is done each day.  Lately you want a Cookie Monster and an Oscar rubber band on your ponytail every day.  If I forget one you say, "Where Trash? Where Cookie?"  (Trash is what you call Oscar.) (See photo.)

Nicknames this month

• Pungent One
• Crabby Patty
• Emma Yemma Ding Dong
• Little Moon Pie
• Em-muh
• Sweet Baby
• Sweet Face
• Lovely

I love the sound of your voice.  When you sing Jesus Loves Me or Itsy Bitsy Spider it is like music to my ears.  I love that you wake up singing in the morning.  It is amazing that that same soft baby voice can also be scream louder than a Vitamix turned up to the highest setting and completely bring our family to a screeching halt.

Reading books has become one of your most favorite things to do.  You sit on my lap and as I'm reading you repeat the last word of the page with this serious look on your face as if you were the one actually reading the book.

We got a kitty this month.  We named her Lollyanna.  I wanted to call her Lollyanna Lavinia Chandelier (the name of Nancy's doll in the Fancy Nancy book series is Marabelle Lavinia Chandelier) but Daddy did not like that name.  When we brought her home she was really timid and hid under the couch and I explained to you that the kitty was scared.  You got a very serious look on your face and said, "Tessa, Lollyanna scary.  Lollyanna scary."  You shook your head sadly and seemed very upset about it.  You love the kitty so much… maybe a little too much since I'm pretty sure the kitty is hiding from you most of the time.  We are working on the concept of gentleness.  (Since allergy problems have become an issue, Auntie Pam has graciously agreed to let Lollyanna live at her house but still be our kitty.)

We put a new cover on the trampoline and this has enabled you to get on and off the trampoline by yourself.  Now it is possible for you to run out in the backyard to gleefully enjoy having the entire jumping surface to yourself, and not be knocked over by your big sister's enthusiastic jumping.  The other day I looked out in the back yard and you were blowing bubbles as you jumped. 

You learned the fine art of complimenting others this month.  We frequently hear you exclaim, "I like your shirt! I like your hair!"  After you run out of obvious things to compliment you get creative, "I like your nose!  I like your ears!"  Sometimes I hear you clomp, clomp, clomping down the hallway in my new red espadrille wedges shouting, "I like your shoes!  I like your shoes!"  A few days ago I had on the heart shaped necklace Daddy gave me for my birthday and you whispered to me, "I like your Care bear!"  Care bear is what you call anything heart shaped.  Maybe because your Care bear has a heart on it's tummy.

You know what, Emma?  I like your Care bear.

I love you,

Mommy