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my dearest emma magnolia,

today you turn five years old. happy birthday, my little bee. you are beautiful inside and out, and you brighten every one of my days.

on friday you became a big sister, and on saturday you and your friend zachary shared a birthday party (he dressed up as woody and you dressed up as jessie; you both love toy story, and it’s so fun to dress up). sunday you climbed into bed with me in the hospital room, and we snuggled and shared a piece of cake. we’re trying to enjoy all the little things, savor the little details of every day.

your favorite things right now are dancing, singing, and listening to music (disney songs are frequently on a loop). you like to build very tall structures with blocks and legos and spend a lot of time drawing, coloring, and reading books. you play pretend and tell a lot of (not necessarily funny) jokes. you still love to eat the entire rind of the lemon, and regularly request “mustard sandwiches” for lunch. you march to your own drum, and it’s wonderful to watch.

you have good manners and a good laugh. you love going to school, and you wake up every day with a smile on your face. more than anything, emma, you have an infectious joy that is beautiful, charming, and inspiring.

the world is a better place because you are in it, and my life is better every day because i have the honor of being your mom.
i hope “five” is a wonderful year for you, filled with exploration and confidence, smiles and joy. thank you for being my buddy, always.

xoxo

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