Emme Belle,

This is such a big week end for you! On Friday you turned 8 years old and on Sunday you were baptized. LSU was even nice enough to play the season opener in between. And today is Labor day, good thing I can sleep when I’m dead.

So let’s get right to it. It has been a great year. This year you finished up 2nd grade on the honor roll, continued to dance and have taken an interested in art. You partied like it was 1999 all summer, complete with the trips to Houston, TX, Jacksonville, FL and the annual beach trip to the island. Third grade is off to great start too, if we don’t talk about your conduct. At all. Ever. You, of course, still love to read.

You have had a real growth spurt in the last few months and have gotten so big. Which is great for you, because it meant all new clothes. Your father cried clutching the check book while we shopped. We all have our rolls in this family.

Your actually birthday was spent at a blow out at Build a Bear with 8 of your friends. On Saturday we had another 20 plus of all our closet friends over for a your birthday/Liah’s birthday/the LSU game. But because all that was not enough and there were no hurricanes this year, on Sunday you were baptized at 4 pm wearing an outfit that Olivia, (Liah’s sister) was baptized in. The girl’s mother Annie, was so sweet to lend us the creation she had so lovely sewn for her own daughters. You then changed into the most delicious dress ever seen. Tifani and I spent weeks designing it, and then Tifani sewed it to life. Because you were such a vision, we simply had to invite everyone back to the house to eat and party some more. And come they did. We entertained over 30 of our closest friends well into the night. It was a blast. I hope you enjoyed it as much as everyone else seemed to.

Emme, you are stunning. Anyone who looks at you can tell that, but there is so much more to you. You are so kind and loving. You have been from the moment you entered the world. And while you will spend your life being told how pretty you are, what I want to you to always remember and carry with you is that kind heart. It is what it is truly important. You have such a special spirit. I hope you know that. I hope I tell you that enough so that you never question it. I know you will continue to grow into the intelligent, gorgeous, caring young lady that I constantly see glimpse of now. I can’t wait to continue to watch that growth. You go girl, get out there and rule the world. Well maybe in another 10 years or so, because for now I am still loving having the snuggliest 8 year old on the planet. (Who continues to be the best hugger in the world.)

All My Love,
Mom