happy birthday to my four year-old.

dear emme kay,

you sweet child of mine. this year, in true hesterly fashion, you celebrated your birthday for a full week (or more like 9 days, but who's counting?). it has been a blast. there's something extremely delightful about watching you during this special time - you are so exuberant and excited about every single aspect of the whole birthday scene. and what i love the most is that you are like this for any birthday, not just yours. but of course, yours has had build up for at least a month, and i don't think you were disappointed about a single minute.

first, we had your birthday party the day after halloween. you really wanted a fun jump again this year, so we made that happen in our backyard. i can also say it was pretty awesome to execute your party without also having to deal with listing our house for sale the same weekend...i made a couple gumbos and kk make a couple gumbos and we had about 60 people over to celebrate you. the day was absolutely gorgeous, and you wanted to wear your elsa costume again, so we encouraged your friends to do the same. i must say, it was a pretty fun party. i cut myself a little slack this year and ordered bundtinis for you instead of making a cake/cupcakes and i might just do this every year going forward. those little bundt cakes were delicious, cute, and easy. a winning combination. and, you loved loved loved yours, so that's what really counts.

the lull before the storm.

then, on november 7, your actual birthday, you got to have a little party for school. you woke up to pancakes and marshmallows for breakfast and daddy, hollis, and i sang to you. then you brought fruit kabobs and granola bars to share with your buddies. at school, you got to make a crown for yourself, and your friends sang happy birthday to you during circle time. i think you felt really special all day.

talking to kk and jj before school.

after school, daddy and i picked you and hollis up and we headed to maudie's for dinner. you love it there because you get to slide and play on the playground to your heart's content while we eat and watch. gram and her friend billie drove into town and met us there, so you got to share ice cream and sopapillas for your birthday dessert!

gram and billie spent the weekend with us and you got to open a ton of presents. you loved the extra attention and spending time with your family. we had another couple of birthday parties this weekend, but it all sort of felt like part of the huge celebration for you anyway - haha!

you really are an amazing joy, my girl. i have loved every second of the last four years of being your mama. you are stubborn and funny and sassy and sensitive and loving and curious and loyal. please keep being the magical person you are. and, if you can manage it, please slow time down just a little tiny bit.

i love you, little pooty.

your mom.