Fifteen Years Ago...

I became a mom.  On January 12, 1996, during Ohio's Blizzard of 1996, I gave birth to the most perfect, 6 lb 2 oz little girl, who we named Emily Ann. It's hard to believe today she is 15-years-old. What a bittersweet day.

 

We blinked and she grew up in front of our eyes. We are so proud of the young lady she has become and I know the future has big things in store for her.

(2-years-old)

(5-years-old) At Val's house

(8-years-old) First day of 3rd grade

(12-years-old) End of 6th grade field trip

(13-years-old) 5 days after her birthday -- Last meet in the United States

(14-years-old) Last month trying on clothes with a friend

Happy birthday Emily!  We love you!

Wordless Wednesday: When did she grow up?

And Officially A Tween

Yesterday Emily came home from school, dropped her book bag on the floor, slapped a permission slip for the first school dance on my desk and started begging for me to take her to CVS to buy M Magazine.

My head started spinning. A dance? A teeny bopper magazine? Something about wanting to hang posters and clippings in her locker? Then the phone rang and she had to go in the other room "to take the call." I heard giggling and dance discussion. Oh my... she is officially a tween.

I guess I should be happy that she doesn't care that I told her Matt was going to chaperon the dance (it was a scare tactic that didn't work). And that the stars she is hanging in her locker have so far managed to stay clear of drug rehabs. And most importantly, I don't have the plague and she still wants me around.

It seems like just yesterday I was begging my mom for Tiger Beat and Bop magazines and hanging Kirk Cameron and Chad Lowe in my locker. Now it is my daughter doing the same.

Lord help me... I'm a mother of a tween.

School Days, School Days

Today was Emily and Chris's first day of school. Both kids left worried and unsure of how the day was going to go. But at the end of the day both came running home to tell me all about the adventure they had. If the first day is any indication, this is going to be an awesome school year.

Look at how much my little girl has grown. **sniff sniff**
Yes we have to wait for the bus before the rooster crows.
Have a safe trip!
Energy for the long school day.

Just waiting until it's time to leave.

A Walk With My Daughter

One of the things I love most about the beach is taking walks down the shoreline. While walking yesterday with Emily it struck me –– in 7 years Emily will graduate from high school and leave our little nest. I only have 7 more summers that we may be able to take these walks. After then I can only hope that we are still cool enough to vacation with.

We found out last night that the boy in the house next to us "thinks Emily Jacobs is cute". Will she have summer romances like Sandy and Danny in Grease? Will this place be the place she has her first kiss? Sigh... she is just getting too old. Now I know what my parents meant when they said enjoy every minute. Life goes by too fast.