happy birthday emma

I'm sure many of you can relate, but I find it hard to believe that today I have a 9 year old.  Emma is 9.  Wow.  As predicted by every woman who looked longingly at her as a baby, her young life has gone by incredibly fast.  In my world of micromanaging children, many days become a blur for me and before I realize it, another year has past.  I find all this fascinating, really.  Not depressing at all.  But I do find that as my kids celebrate their birthdays each year, I find myself reflecting on my own age a little more.  The other day my good friend made the comment to me that she loves getting older, really loves it (she and I are the same age), cause she's smarter, calmer, more intuitive, and compassionate than she was when she was younger.  I have to agree with her.  And I do think that women who embrace whatever their age is to its fullest sexier and way more interesting.  Being comfortable in your own skin is a very attractive quality.

But, today isn't about me.  Its about that little itty bitty up there, who's not so itty bitty these days.  I remember the afternoon I took that photo.  It was in our old house, the first one we had here in Seattle.  Just the two of us at home that day, and she had just woken up from a nap (still has that sleepy look in her eye).  There was no Ian in our lives at that point.  Weird.  She had a wooden play kitchen just out of the frame and was "feeding" pat the bunny here.  Peter and I have always loved this photo (that house had the best lighting for photos). 

Who is that little girl today?  I think I know.  Inquisitive, but willing to stand back a little, and take it all in first.  Quiet, but loud.  Serious, but silly.  Boyish, but girlish.  She and her small group of friends are riding the slippery slope of the over-consuming, all-consuming, over commercialized world that tries to loop them in, but seems to be unphased by my unwillingness to let her go in head first.  She can be a little quieter than she used to be, a little more reflective.  I still see everything new when I look through her eyes. 

Selena asked me a while ago to talk about what I'm grateful for.  It would have to be the ability to see the world through a child's eyes.  Emma's...Ian's...any child, really.  We've heard that before, but there's so much to it.  Things really do look different there.  Things are seen from all sides, for what they really are.  I love that. 

In honor of her birthday, I'm listing these pendants that she made in the shop later today (see below).  She was inspired to make some after the last batch I made, and I was inspired by just watching her.  Emma sees me and the other friends and artists of mine that she's met (like Sally this past weekend), doing what it is we love to do, finding community in our lives, laughing together, supporting each other, and embracing our creative spirit.  I love that she doesn't give that a second thought, its just the way she sees it too, and hopefully always will.

Our family of 4 is a tight bunch, my hope for Emma today is that there are always at least 3 people in the world that Emma can be herself around and find peace with.  I love you Emma.  Happy Birthday.

*Emma's pendants are up in the shop now, etsy seems to be working much faster today.  Also an update, all orders placed yesterday have been shipped out.  Thank you!