Just Three Words...

Lately, Emmy has been emulating my compulsive nature and has glommed onto a few different activities.  Playing with Legos is one and watching past birthday videos is another.   She calls them "Happy Burbday to you," and will grab my hand to pull me to the computer so that I can restart them over and over again (without regard to any other project that I might be engrossed in.)  It's almost as if she knew her big day was right around the corner and felt the need to properly prepare.

Yesterday, we coordinated with Emmy's wonderful teachers to bring cupcakes for snack and to sing Emmy her favorite song!  Nick and I had to chuckle at Emmy's very reserved demeanor during her school birthday celebration.  Of course she smiles broadly while watching the video recap. :)

This morning, Emmy emerged from her bedroom to find some fun birthday decorations hanging in the kitchen and a brand new birthday video to watch.  She was positively tickled.  After playing with her food (she requested pumpkin bread and cheesy eggs for breakfast,) we went to the store to purchase some baking ingredients and a very special balloon to honor the day!  Then, we went to Papa Murphy's to get our pepperoni and olive pizza for dinner, one of her personal favorites.  Emmy boasted her birthday girl status to the kind workers at our favorite pizza joint via her balloon.  It proved to be a wise move on her part, as she was gifted a snack on two pepperonis and two olives, one for each year of life!

After a leisurely nap, Nick (who was able to leave work a bit early today) and I whisked our girl to Nashville for a "special surprise."  Not quite an hour later, a very overwhelmed little Emmy girl found herself at the Build-A-Bear factory!  After a great deal of running around in circles, Emmy fixed her attention on a doggy with roller skates.  Nick joked with the incredibly kind woman helping us that Emmy had expensive taste, to which she agreed by saying it was the most pricey option in the store.  Lucky for us I printed off a coupon!  Shortly thereafter, Abby Horn, the border collie on roller skates was born!  It was so much fun to see an excited Emmy pulling her new doggie through the mall.

We raced home to have our pizza and cupcakes and to open Emmy's presents.  After a reluctant bath time (Emmy told Nick to turn the water off so she could continue playing with her new blocks,) we finished up our day with "Happy Birthday to You" by Dr. Seuss and "On the Night That You Were Born" by Nancy Tillman.  A very sleepy and very content Emmy laid her head down to rest just before nine o'clock tonight.  What a special day it was for such a special little girl.

Shy Emmy shows up at school.

The friends that Emmy jumps out of bed to go play with on school days.

A rare family portrait!

The Birthday Girl getting VIP treatment at the Build-A-Bear Factory!

Stuffing Abby the Dog!

Bathing Abby!

Abby up on her roller skates!

The sweet saleswoman assured Nick that daughters get more expensive with age.

Abby rode home in Emmy's lap.

How can I ever doubt my faith after witnessing such a miracle as the birth and life of my sweet Emmy girl?