My Emily

My Emily was the direct result of my second marriage to my first husband. Details here.

My Emily

It's complicated but not really. We'd been apart for long enough and were excited to add to our family and knew that our kids would be six years apart as it was so off we went getting married a second time, and 11 months later Ms. Emily joined our brood.

She was a delight from the get-go. A good sleeper, often content and an overachiever. Her benchmarks were ridiculous. Sitting up alone at 4 1/2 months, walking at nine months, chattering in Emilish which means zero back sounds, a cute lisp and soft r's but boy could she talk. If you spoke Emilish you had insight into her active and inquisitive mind that never stopped. She was a complete delight and the apple of everyone's eyes.

Her grandmother used to say, "Emily will turn on you like a rabid dog." Yes, this perfect little princess had/has a temper, but as she will say, only when it's really important. She has a wealth of patience and will give many passes especially to those she loves, but when too much injustice or taking advantage of her good will ensues so does her volcanic reaction. One does not want to be on the receiving end of that wrath, but back to My Emily.

This little body contained prolonged bursts of energy followed by long needs for rest and quiet. She fought every nap I ever tried to give her and actually screamed daily until finally we decided to park her under my desk with a pillow, a blanket, a binky and a book. While this worked on occasion, more often than not, she was too afraid of missing something interesting or fun so she imposed her iron will upon herself to stay awake "just in case." then she crashed and burned and slept through each night as if her life depended on it...once she finally fell asleep.

She would reason and cajole and charm her family each evening to keep us busy with her. There were two things she loved most, interactions with others and clothes.

I read somewhere that a parent should use the things that a child is motivated by most to elicit desirable behavior. Emily's grandma, the one who lovingly called her a rabid dog also had a penchant for fancy, lacy dresses that she bought for each of her granddaughters. We treasured them for special occasions until one day I realized they were the key to Emily's motivation to stay in bed.

We allowed her to choose one each evening at bedtime and she would lay out her "project" consisting of most often a dress, tights, her undies, shoes, hair accessories etc. As long as she stayed in bed, she was able to wear her dress the next day. If not, the dress sadly went back in the closet and an outfit of my choosing; a pair of pants or overalls of course, were what she wore the following day. It worked like a charm.

Not much has changed. She is still my one that loves pretty clothes, that burns the candle at both ends, that never wants to sleep but when she finally does can sleep for days. She loves her family and friends so much that she sacrifices much to spend quality time with each and she embodies an old soul. Her heart is as big as her stunning smile and her inner beauty is equal to her outer beauty.

There was that brief period during high school that Emily AKA Emster had her Napoleon Dynamite phase. She wore moon boots, sweat pants, t-shirts from grade school summer camps and little makeup. Her friends were getting dolled up and working at attracting male attention while she attracted male friends with her smarts, her wit and her spunk to be brave enough to buck the system.

Boys and dresses and her inner diva did win out and she lost the moon boots and sweats and traded them for makeup, curling irons and perfume. It didn't matter. The boys still loved and still do the same things; her smarts, her wit and her spunk. The big heart and smile are compelling as well.

Entrepreneur and Philanthropist from day 1

She was a dancer, a bossy girl scout, a ski racer, participated in competitive speech and broadcasting competitions; took honors and AP courses. She had five broken bones as a young person due to roller blading, skiing, jumping on a trampoline, and most daringly, walking.
She started a hot chocolate stand on her own borrowing the money and paying me back every year, giving 50% to charity.

She helped me plan elaborate birthday parties and loves event planning even today. We have many a wonderful memory of fantastical birthdays and family events.

When she got older, she became our Spring Break baby as we always celebrated her birthday in places away from home to include Brundage and New Meadows, McCall, Targhee with dinner in a yurt along with a sleigh ride, Jerome, Florida, Sun Valley, Spain, and Hawaii. Yes Jerome was on that list of amazing places, but hey it's one of our favorite places and the hometown of half our family.

She went to the U of I for one year and met her best friend and moved home to be near her little sister and her family. She traded black and gold for orange and blue and with her usual determination wanted to live the college life, so got an internship and worked while going to school full time living in an apartment nearby. Extreme candle burning (at both ends) ensued and the elusive degree is close.

She now works for a nonprofit full time and makes us proud every day. That little bundle of femininity that landed at our doorstep 24 years ago has never ceased to amaze and delight. She is the quintessential middle child, a loving daughter and sister, a dedicated, determined, smart, witty, spunky, compassionate, passionate, changer of the world.

She's the person one always wants in their corner.

She's the one person you'll be lucky to call friend,

She's the one person you can trust with your secrets.

She's the one person you can count on to make you laugh (just check out her twitter if you don't believe me.)

She's the one person I always have been, and always will be so very proud to call My Emily.

She makes me look good by her very presence in this world because when I look at My Emily I know for certain we did something right.

Happy Birthday darlin'.

My Emily