...When You're Fifteen...Emma is 15?!

Title of the blog brought to you by the newly minted 15-year-old, who Swiftie in the house. Eh, I won't judge too harshly.

Point of this is to say hi. It's been a while. It's been a while and life has happened so quickly and now I have a 15-year-old daughter and I just wish that someone would pump the damn breaks on life for one split second!!!

Okay, alright that escalated quickly, my apologies loyal reader. I will continue on.

Hello to Emma, if you're reading this. This blog started for this reason, for you and your siblings to see and read about life at these given moments over the years. And whereas I've made it mostly into birthday posts, I still hope you all will look back fondly over the years and know that these posts were so special for me to make and I hope they are equally as special for you all to read.

And, if you're playing along, you will realize this is a day late. That's because, in a completely unprecedented event, more than half of the house (4/6, to be exact) was sick with various ailments that sidelined us all. Now that we are on the road to recovery, I think that it's time to sit and write a little bit about my 15-year-old.

Emma Rose with the button nose. My Emmie Rosie. My Rosita Conchitta Maria. The one who made me a girl Mom. The one who has taught me more life lessons than anyone I've ever met. Yeah, it's that serious. It's Emma who taught me that a mother's love knows no bounds. It's Emma who continues to teach me more about life and love and being openminded and accepting. I thank my lucky stars every day for that.

What else can I say about the 15 year old who rocked my world in so many ways? She is everyone's favorite. Her siblings all voted her the favorite sibling. They all go to Emma with their problems, for advice or just an ear. They admire her and respect her opinion. They trust her and appreciate her just being there for them.

Em is funny, and smart, talented and kind. She's my little best friend. I love our relationship. We can be real with each other , even if it means we disagree with what the other is saying. I hope it always stays that way because it's the kind of relationship that I want with all of my kids.

I see great things in Emma's future. She is determined to succeed in life and I'm here for it. 

Em and I have bonded over musicals, as of late. This, my friends, makes me happier than you'll ever know. From Hamilton, to Wicked , to Dear Evan Hanson and most recently Six, the fact that she shares my love of this beautiful art form is more than my Momma heart can handle.

Em, I love you. More than you'll ever know. You've changed my life in so many ways. Some very profound ways that have turned into life lessons that will never be forgotten. Thank you for being you, my Emma, my beautiful Rose. Thank you for choosing me to be your mother. You are the exact Emma that I wanted.

Happy birthday, my love. 

us, then

us, now