Our big girl has turned two. Wow, the time has flown! Two years ago we wondered who this little baby would be and what she would look like as she grew. Last year for her birthday, she was learning the freedom of mobility in pulling up and beginning to take steps on her own. Now she is running, talking in gibberish/words, and playing with her sister. Who knows where she will be next year?

To celebrate this year we went to dinner with Grammy and Granddaddy and then had cake and gifts. I think Emily only ate one bite of her cake because she was more excited about opening her gifts. Unlike Christmas when she opened each gift and wanted to play with it, for her birthday she opened one and then grabbed for the next gift. It worked out because it was already her bedtime and by opening them up in a speedy manner she got to get down and play with all the gifts and get on to bed pretty quickly.

As an extension to her birthday celebration Emily and Elena had a play date and lunch together earlier this week. Elena is just two days different than Emily in age and they have gotten to spend the last two years together growing and playing. Elena introduced Emily to bounce equipment and the freedom of exuberant bouncing. Emily was apprehensive to enter the equipment, but Mommy made her enter each one and then make a judgement about her likes and dislikes of each one. She was exhausted when we left lunch and fell asleep in the car on the way home.

Then today she got to go to the Mommy & Me movie and eat popcorn. The movie didn’t hold her interest much today and when she was full of popcorn she asked to ‘play’. Most of the kids were playing today and she said “please,” so I let her go and play with the other kids. I was pleased to see that she was more interested in playing with the other kids and toys than exploring around the theater. At one point I hadn’t seen her head bouncing above the seats for a while so I stood up to look for her. She was sitting on the front row of seats with 3 other children. It was really cute.

I pray a blessing for Emily that God would grant in her life- the joy that makes dark days bright and sun-filled days overflow in gratefulness- a sweet heart for others including her sister- a willing spirit to listen to her heavenly father. I pray that God would grant us, her parents wisdom in how best to train and love her.

With Emily’s first birthday I have been thinking a lot on what has changed and happened this past year. We have had so many firsts this year which remind us what a blessing from God that Emily has been for us. We waited and He provided.

Over this past year she got to see snow, the beach, two oceans, mountains, zoo animals, Lady Vols basketball games, and many family members. She was able to experience swimming, flying in an airplane, riding in a boat, riding a street car, sharing her joy through her smile with countless people, seeing many sights from a front pack, and traveling to and through a lot of states. She has learned to hold up her head, smile, laugh, roll over, sit up, crawl, stand up, hold a bottle, eat solid food, feed herself, communicate with mommy and daddy, and the beginnings of walking.

While these things are not unique things for the first year of a newborn, it has been so significant in our lives. We have seen a new creation start the cycle of growing, learning, and then changing to just start it over again with growing. As Robby and I have taken such joy in watching this cycle in Emily, our Heavenly Father has taken the same delight in us. As I grow and learn and look to God to teach me, I find myself changing and starting the cycle again.

Emily looks to me to teach and guide her, to comfort and sooth her. As I fulfill my role for Emily all I can do is to imitate what God does for me and pray that He guides me. We are grateful for our blessing and look forward to the next year of wonder and the new firsts we will see in her.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” ~ Matthew 19:14

Happy Birthday to You!, originally uploaded by Robby Edwards.

Today is Emily’s first birthday.

While we were visiting my parents for Christmas, we had a pre-birthday party for her. Grandma made cupcakes and as you can see from the remnants, Emily demolished hers in no time.

Happy Birthday Emily! Daddy hopes her special day is wonderful.

Surprise! Happy Birthday to Me!, originally uploaded by Robby Edwards.

My birthday was last week. At the final Lady Vols home game, Rachelle surprised me with a birthday cake delivered by Smokey.

More photos from my birthday surprise after the jump.

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