Four Years with Our Pure Hearted

September 25, 2007... a beauty entered the world so gracefully.  She really did.  My labor with her was easy (or at least looking back it seems so) and only fitting for a tiny 7lb 13oz jewel. 

And this year, we celebrated four years with her. 

Kayt means pure hearted and she is its epitome.  She is tender, nurturing, kind, happy, spunky, smart, and compelling.  She brings so much joy to those who love her.  And is the perfect middle child for our family. 

 Kayt has waited so patiently for months to be one year closer in age to her brother and join so many of her four year old friends.  She could hardly contain the excitement as her days of celebration approached.  We asked four friends to join us as we played up our love for all things girlie. 

She was up by 6:30 in anticipation for her "date day."

She passed the time by drawing. 

 Having a car full of 3, 4, and 5 year old girls is quite an adventure, believe me. 

 

They loved their pampering: 

 But Kayt did not enjoy being asked about her cast.  She really doesn't like to talk about how she fell from the monkey bar platform at pre-school and broke her arm two weeks ago.  She would rather just ignore the whole ordeal. 

 Kayt doesn't love attention.  It is evident to Brad and I that she will serve behind the scenes, never wanting credit.  

But we love making much of her!

 Because she means much to us. 

Pretty tiny toes: 

  And glittery, sweet fingers: 

 Lunch at her favorite four year old appropriate joint: 

 This type of celebration fits her personality so well.  Small, simple, and surrounded by her favorites. 

Working with her healing arm: 

 And ice cream for all gals involved: 

 A trail of sweet girls who are growing up to know Jesus and His love for them.  Praying for world changers among them. 

 Later in the evening, she and I ventured out for a specific, special present.  She needed to wear this.  We ended our shopping excursion with dinner at Abuelos with her Pappy (my dad). 

 Saturday, we cheered on Bubba in his first soccer game.  

Go, Raptors!

 

Followed by a family cook-out, Rapunzel cupcakes, ice cream and presents galore! 

And of course, more shopping.  

 I just cannot get enough of this girl. 

It is so fun having her as my daughter. And motherhood if fun with pink and glitter and bows. More fun that I ever knew.  

 Kayt Emerson, you've graced my life and filled it to the brim.  

I love you, I love you, I love you, sweet treasure!

Our bug. 

At age four, Kayt loves to read, paint, color, sing, and play with her dolls.  She especially loves all things princess.  She has naturally assumed the roles of caretaker and nurturer for Emmy Claire and encourager and confidante for Noah.  She giggles constantly and easily.  She doesn't take herself too seriously. She has an incredible memory and an extensive vocabulary.  She finds comfort in her Meme ~blanket~ and is a daddy's girl through and through.  She loves being surrounded by her few closest friends. She falls asleep easily, typically after reading herself a story (after our family story time).  She wakes early and happily.  She loves breakfast and rarely eats bread.  She loves broccoli, carrots, peaches, grapes, and Cheez-its.  She does not like sports near as much as her siblings, but loves to be their cheerleader on the sideline.  She is adored by her Daddy, Bubba, grandpas, and uncles... they are all smitten by her.  The ladies in her life, myself included, love for her to be around.  

Kayt lights any room! 

She has a mysterious, gentle, quiet beauty that is deeply embedded in her.  

Kayt, you are more precious than you know.  

Your daddy and I marvel and anticipate all you will become! 

Happy 4th Birthday, Lovely!

Kayt Captured

I was browsing through pictures and these made me laugh. 

I took them on my phone during our early morning flight to Disney World, per Kayt's request.  

She would say, "Take my picture!"

Then, "Let me see." 

Finally... lots of giggles.

Kayt is such a silly girl.  She doesn't take anything too seriously, she is as easy going as they come.  

I laughed that her eyes are closed in each picture and at the fun we had that morning while all of the other passengers lulled in a state of sleepiness.

My early-riser was ready for the fun to begin. 

And so she initiated it before the sun came up.

I know that as she gets older, everyone will want to be Kayt's friend.  She will be so much fun to be around... she already is! 

Tiny Dancer, Silly Girl

Any guesses as to which ballerina I claim? 

She dances to her own tune. 

And I love her.

So much. 

Whew!

My two summer getaways were compacted into less than a two week span.  I spent Memorial weekend with my college friends on a lake in east Texas and then shortly after returning home, the Hubs and I drove to San Antonio with one of our couple friends.  Fun stuff!

But I am home.

Whew. 

Tonight was a fun night back in routine.  The males of the house had a guy's night out.  They went to a concert and are still enjoying conversation at Sbux.  The girls... well, we did what girls do. We went to the grocery store, purchased princess bandaids (a must) and then drove through McDonalds for dinner.  My Kayt loves (with a capital L) McDonalds.  Those high-calorie, salty french fries wooed my mouth right over to the joint.  We rented a movie and came home to eat and enjoy the flick.  But... we ended up playing house.  I was the Sis, Emmy was the baby (big shocker), and Kayt was the Mommy.  That sweet girl is a nurturer.   I could not help but laugh on several occations listening to Kayt repeat things that I say verbatim. That girl...

So, vacations are over and summer is officially underway.  The pool is our stomping ground for the next few months and sunscreen is my morning companion.  I am soaking it all in, literally. :)  Happy summer!

The Bug's Big Reveal

Our

Kayter-Bug

is

so

BIG

... and cute.

Double Vision

One of my many favorite things about having two children of the same gender is this...

(E)

It is fun to let Emery wear outfits that used to belong to her older sister.

It brings back so many sweet, sweet memories.   

(K)

These pictures were taken exactly two years apart.  

Emery is three months old & Kayt was (almost) six months old.  

(E)

I also love how Emery weighs the same at three months (13.3 lbs) as Kayt did at six months (13.8 lbs). 

Kayt was my tiny girl and Emmy is my chunky monkey. 

(K)

It has worked out perfectly because now they were the same clothing at the same time which makes them resemble even more.  

I found this too. 

Old house. Long hair. Baby girl number one. 

Look how far we've come!

A Party Worth Pictures

My girl turned two and though I'm late, the pictures show what a fun time we had. Our morning party included muffins, donuts, coffee, juice and lots of friends and family.

da family.

my beauty.

best friends always console one another.

playtime.

baby's first elevator ride. and her birthday present from bubba, a cheerleading uniform.

boo.

giddy up.

big helpers with small attention spans.

everyone loves a juice box.

posers.

Dede, the birthay girl and Barney: a wild and crazy trio.

Thank you to all who celebrated with us and thank you to my sweet girl for giving us a reason to party!

~Happy Birthday, Kayt~

I feel like it was yesterday that I wrote a post very similar to this for my big boy and now it's my baby girl who is TWO. The term time flies was definitely first said by a mother. And quite possibly the mother of two active, vibrant children.

Twenty-four things that I love about my 24 month old...

24. Your are the little girl that I dreamed about when I was young. God put a picture of you in my heart and you are my promise come to life. When I look at your brown hair and your big blue eyes, I see the reality of God's best.

23. You talk so much and so well. Your words amaze me and make me laugh.

22. You are happy and care free, but you do not let anyone let anyone 'push you around.' You are also strong and determined.

21. Your sweet chubby hands attract my lips like a magnet.

20. You love all things girl. Baby dolls, purses, jewelry, and shoes. You define femininity.

19. You ADORE your Bubba. I love when you take his face between those chubby hands and pull him down to your level and kiss him right on the mouth. And he loves it too!

18. You are all things girl, but you play rough and always have your hair in your face. You aren't afraid to get dirty, keep up with the big kids and 'let your hair down.'

17. That hair. Oh, that hair. The wispy, tangled, ratty mess that we lovingly call your hair.

16. You are daddy's girl. The way you look at your daddy and he looks at you melts my heart and makes me swell with pride. I look forward to seeing the glances you two exchange for many, many years and watching those two sets of eyes meet during all of life's big and small moments.

15. You love to read, but have little patience for the words. You make up silly noises to go with each page.

14. You are curious beyond your age.

13. You think you are ten years old and tell everyone who asks that you are turning six. When we correct you and say you will be two, you reply "no, I'm six." And I almost believe you.

12. You are such a great sleeper.

11. You love hot dogs. I'm not sure how you tolerate them, but it makes me love you more.

10. Each morning when I ask you what you want for breakfast, you answer "coke" and giggle for minutes and then I burry my face in your belly just to hear you laugh some more.

9. When I get dressed, you tell me that I look cute. My self-esteem rises each day. ;)

8. You call yourself a "princess," and princess you are!

7. You have a joyful spirit and pure nature. You adapt with ease and are always eager to partake in an adventure.

6. Anytime I pick you up from a corporate setting (MDO, church, etc.) you say "I had fun!" I think it will be your motto for life.

5. You love to color and draw. And do it quite well, if I must say so myself.

4. You have a major sweet tooth.

3. There is nothing that your blanket, meme, cannot fix.

2. You love to sit next to me and put on make-up. You do just as I do and feel so proud when you look into the mirror and see what you've done.

1. You are confident, radiant, fearless, compassionate, full of smiles, genuine, energetic and loving... everything that I could have asked for in a daughter. You inspire me to be a better woman and a more gracious person. You have stirred my heart to serve the Lord and love him wholeheartedly. You have shown me promises fulfilled and made me trust his tender voice. You are my pure-hearted, girl of power: thus you are, Kayt Emerson.

Happy Birthday, sweet girl. I love you!

Hair Decor

Some things bring a joy that only the mother of a GIRL can understand. Like all 59 new bows for my two girls. Yes, fif-ty-ni-ne. I feel like we own our very own boutique.

Aren't they great?

I bought the ribbon and materials and a friend of mine made them for me. I cannot wait to put matching bows in the hair of my little princesses.

If you live in the area and would like the information for my friend, Ashley Gladman, just let me know. She is so talented, even beyond hair bows.

They are so cute that I am considering wearing them in my hair. If I don't pull it all out, that is.