I don’t know why we find you so challenging. You’re curious. You are wild. You are cautious. You are tender. You are silly. You are stubborn. You are sweet. You are independent. You need our bed. You run without looking back. Or forward sometimes. You are ours. Being the second child can’t be easy. You have these big shoes to fill. When I was anxiously awaiting your arrival 3 years ago this morning, I just didn’t know how I could possibly love another child. Your heart just feels like it’s about to burst at any moment with your firstborn, and the thought of adding another into the mix just doesn’t compute. What if #2 sucks? What if we’ve taken something away from our oldest? WHAT HAVE WE DONE?!

But it’s ok. Because your heart just grows. It sees your first love and your new love together and reaches exponential new levels of about-to-burstdom. That’s not to say there aren’t challenges, naturally. But giving Gigi the gift of YOU, of a sister, of a best friend for life, has to be one of the best decisions we ever made. You are so full of life. So funny, so… YOU. Emmy, you are such a love. We’ve all learned so much watching you grow these past three years. A lesson in letting go, embracing each moment, laughing wholeheartedly. Any fears that I may have had that you would have trouble staking out your own identity have been completely assuaged. You are definitely one of a kind!

For your little 3 year mini session, I wanted to capture the very essence of YOU. No frilly dress. No overdirection. No stress. Just spunky little Emmy. Mission accomplished. 🙂 Happy 3rd Birthday, my sweet baby girl.