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Emily Day

The 17th marked the 33rd Annual Emily Day.

I really like birthdays. Really like them. And, I just happen to like mine the best (Mackenzie, yours is a very, very close 2nd).

We had breakfast at our favorite place in Coconut Grove, a trip to the UM baseball game (ACC Champs!) and a trip to South Beach sans Mackenzie for a birthday dinner.

Called Out

I've been called out on my negligent blog postings, so I am breaking my own rule and blogging during the work day. To my credit, I do intend on blogging every evening. Then I fall asleep. I blame Mackenzie for continuing to wake us up early every day for over a year. 

At this rate, Mackenzie will be 16 and I will still have the same pigtail pic up from my previous post. Thank you, Courtney Freet, for giving my blog a re-start.

In keeping with the pigtail theme, I give credit to Josh for being such a good sport (see pigtails) and such a great Dad.

Just an average Tuesday evening.

One Year

Dear Mackenzie,

Today is Mackenzie Day, aka you are 1 year old today.

When I was pregnant with you, I'd spend a lot of time day dreaming about what you would be like. And, I wondered what I would be like in my new role as a mother. There is no way I could've ever imagined that it would be this good.

The best part about this year has been watching you develop as a person. Often I would wonder if you would be reflective and introspective like your dad, or extroverted like me. And, a lot of times I see glimpses of both of our traits in you, but, 99% of the time, you are Mackenzie. You are your own unique person, and you will dictate who you are and who you will become. You've made that clear from the very beginning.

One of my favorite things about it you is that you have no idea that you are a kid. When you walk into a room, you own it. Even better is that you rarely now require the hand holding from your dad or me. It's like in your head you are thinking, "I am Mackenzie. This place needs to know that I am here." When you are doing anything--playing with blocks, books, examining a paper towel--you act as if it this the most important thing. You take your play very seriously.

You are also very curious. You are fascinated by other people--especially children--and you spend a lot of time sizing people up. I'd love to know what is going on in your head when you do that. You spend a lot of time figuring out how things work, and have picked up on things like where we put our dirty laundry, how to wipe up water on the floor and how to buckle your car seat.

Mackenzie, you are a light in our lives, and make our family whole. I love being your mother. Love. It. Keep on being you, kiddo.

Pigtail Delight

Happy Friday, everyone!

One of Mackenzie's teachers was thoughtful enough to send me this picture of Mackenzie--plenty of hair for pigtails.

Mackenzie, always a boss.

Mackenzie Makes the Big Leagues

Mackenzie's been called up to the bigs. In baby world, this means she has moved up a classroom in day care.

Mackenzie's always known that Infant Room B has been her destiny, as she has frequently tried to bust her way in (see below).

Photo courtesy of Chris Cohen

She is excited to join her former Infant Room A teammates, get paid in Cheerios and have access to better facilities (aka, toys). 

Mackenzie, you must have a great agent(s).

Activity-less

This picture sums up my favorite part of Christmas--Love.

Christmas was spent in the mountains of North Carolina with the Cozarts this year. My family is known for doing many "activities" when we are together. Along with the hustle and bustle of pre-Christmas, there are friends to see, parties to throw, hikes to take and dinners to attend. There is typically little down time until all the presents are unwrapped.

This year, however, the Norovirus imposed an activity-less holiday. The bug-spread by the cutest contagion you'll ever meet-struck hard and fast. The bad news? Vomit was a part of our Christmas. The good news? It forced us all to take it easy and mellow out. Well, that and not make any of us feel guilty about eating too many holiday treats.

But back to the photo above. Ever since I was pregnant with Mackenzie, I have dreamed of her first Christmas. I love Christmas. I mean love Christmas. I enjoy all the festivities that surround the holiday, but more than anything I love how Christmas feels. It's warm, cozy and joyful. And what's better than feeling warm, cuddly and joyful? Making those you love feel warm, cuddly and joyful. No better person to share that with than your child.

Peace, love and warmth--Merry Christmas.