My baby is SIX!?!?!

Emma Rose is 6.  My baby is six years old.  I am saddened and proud.  Time has FLOWN by and I want it to slow down!

As Emma Rose's 6th approached, I knew that some changes would be taking place in the Sowa household.  For starters, I was facing the 1st of 2 major hip surgeries, and worried that getting surgery 1 week prior to Emma Rose's birthday would ruin her special day... but then I remembered that I was working with the easiest-going child on the planet!

Side-note...I have been blessed and overwhelmed by the love of family, friends and co-workers who have absolutely poured out care and support.  Providing flowers, gift-packages, and MEALS for my family.  For someone who has a REALLY hard time asking for help, I feel so loved, blessed, and relieved.  I didn't realize how much help we would need, as 3-6 weeks of crutches makes everything really difficult.  So... Corey, Mom, Dad, Sherry, Jerry, Jenny and Justin, Courtney, Denise, and my Valor Family... THANK YOU!!!

 

While the WORST part of recover may be the CPM machine (or is it the bruises on my hands from crutches??? or PT (aka Physical TORTURE)), my cats are straight-ups fans of the stupid thing that occupies 4-6 hours of my day.

Emma Rose's 6th birthday was on April 13, just a week after my surgery.  Per her request, she had spaghetti for dinner.

Her birthday wish-list included the following;

 A picture of she and Mommy,

A picture of she and Daddy,

A picture of she and Porter,

2 croissants - 1 for Porter and 1 for herself

A gear-bike like Porter's...

She got everything she asked for...

For her birthday party, because she is so in love with art, a lovely, young painter - Emma Rose invited her cousins to a "Canvas 'n' Cupcakes" party - came over and taught the kiddos how to paint peacocks.  I loved all their personal renditions:

Afterward, the kids jumped on the trampoline and Emma Rose opened her presents.  

As always, I wrote Emma Rose a birthday letter.  Here is part of it...

To my beautiful, sweet, helpful, singing and dancing Emma Rose,

SIX??? You are actually a big girl now.  Where has the time gone?  You are continuing to grow into a sweet, thoughtful, and creative little girl.  I am so sad that my little baby is growing up to such a beautiful little lady, but I am proud of who you are becoming.  You are strong, you stand up for what is right, you look out for ways to help others, and you spend hours creating artwork, hand-written letters, and thoughtful books to brighten the lives of those around you.

At Christmas, you made little elf books for your Alaska cousins, and when I was about to face a major hip surgery this spring, you created a book about love – both your love and Jesus’ love – to make me feel better.  You are so thoughtful.  Your Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Pitrone, confirms that you are a sweet and kind little girl, and all of the kids in the class enjoy you because you are, without effort, kind to all of them.

This has been an especially eventful and trial-filled year in our family, and you have not complained, acted out, or expressed fear of any kind.  In fact, you have actually been somewhat of a rock for me.  Of all the people in my life, I know that I can consistently find kindness, love, forgiveness, encouragement, and hugs from you.  I am so afraid of the day when we might grow apart, as teens and their moms do; however, like Daddy said, just the other day, you and I have a really special relationship.  I love you, my sweet little girl, and I feel like God’s greatest gift to me was creating you to be my daughter.

Some of the adventures that we have faced this year include moving out of the only home you knew in Highlands Ranch, to Arvada, 45 minutes away.  Initially, we moved into Nana and Papa’s house for four months.  Once finished, we moved into a brand new home in Arvada, and you promised to love it and the surrounding neighborhood as much if not more than our old house – perhaps you did so just to put a smile on my face, or perhaps because you often seek out the best in people and situations.  You started full-day Kindergarten at Ben Franklin and proved to be a leader-by-example in your classroom, often befriending those at recess who have no one else to play with.  You love your teacher, Mrs. Pitrone, and she adores you too.  Your best friend at school is Ava, but you still claim that your cousin, Caroline, is your true best friend.  Over the summer you excelled at swimming – you still LOVE to swim, and you got so much better at soccer after a week of soccer camp at Valor.  You joined a team in Arvada and averaged 8 goals per game in the fall.  It was amazing! You and Porter and I took a trip to visit Aunt Jenny and Uncle in Eugene this summer where we pet and fed an elephant, watched a cheetah purr, went on numerous hikes, and you fell in love with Aunt Jenny’s new kitten, Julius.  This summer, I worked daily with you as you still didn’t recognize all of your letters.  You have worked so hard, and now you are an outstanding reader and speller.  You persisted and now you read to me often, pretending to be a teacher who reads to her pupils.  In the new house, you have set up a little artist station where you spend hours creating detailed pictures while I run on the treadmill.  You have some real talent!

One of the most horrible events that happened this year was on the last Thursday night in September as we were packing items up at Nana and Papa’s to move to the new house.  You hopped on Daddy’s long-board, headed downhill, fast, hit a curb, flipped, and landed on your face.  It was the scariest thing I’ve ever seen.  You got a concussion, and an awful scar under your eye, not to mention, you scraped off half the skin on your face.  I remember being worried, once you returned to school, that people would make fun of you.  But you just shrugged and said, “I don’t care.  It’ll get better.”  Your natural-born courage and confidence inspire me ...

... This year, because you love art so much, we are throwing you a “Canvas ‘n’ Cupcake” party, where all your cousins will get an art lesson at our house and create a painting.  You say your favorite food is pizza and your favorite dessert is turtle pie, so that is what will be served!

Things that I have cherished most about you, besides who you are becoming, this year include your elaborate and entertaining dances that you put on for us in the evenings, your constant singing – especially in the shower, your concentrated “artist face” as you draw or paint with your tongue slightly out, your addictive belly laugh, and your sweet love for Jesus.  You memorized 1 John 4:10, and that God loves us so much, and that love is so special, tends to be constant running theme in your artwork and daily talk.

I love you, my sweet Emma Rose.  Thank you for making being a mommy such an incredible joy.  I pray that you always maintain your confident and kind spirit, and that you always understand how deeply you are loved by your Jesus, your Daddy and by me.  Happy Birthday.

Love,

Mommy