Six years, six months

It dawned on me yesterday that these early fall days are special for more than just the cooler temperatures and coming holidays. It's the first and last time ever that my girls will both be six together--six years old and six months old, respectively.  Now, I'm kicking myself for not celebrating the awesome that is SIX all month long.  Here, let me count the ways.

There's nothing like a six year old.  With every word and gesture, Penny shows off who she is--which is a little girl who is bold, but sentimental, proud, but unsure of herself at times, hilarious, full of wonder, willing to learn new things, and protective of the people and things she loves. She is, in short, so much more amazing than I ever thought a kid could be.  And beautiful. And ours, which still shocks me each day.  How lucky are we?

This is how you know we live in Alabama. First, a picture with cotton...

There's nothing like a six month old. Mary-Blair is a fully interactive human being now.  Those of you who have had babies know what a miracle that is. They go from adorable, but mostly passive lump of wiggling baby, to adorable, but funny, chatty and somewhat mobile baby.  The transformation feels instant, but it took us six months to get here. Where is here? Embee says mamamama, which I lord over Orlando, who only gets an emphatic Da! now and again. She knows the meaning of the word "Upa," throwing up her arms whenever anyone says it. She is all smiles all the time, registering displeasure with a furrowed little brow and little else, mainly when someone takes away whatever she is trying to shove into her mouth.  This is our Buddha baby for sure. She's tiny, measuring in the 15th percentile, and still wears newborn size shoes.  She's got little Cinderella feet, but man, I'm telling you, she's going to walk all over anyone who gets in her way, disarming them with a smile.

...then a picture with a smocked dress. Sweet home Alabama, indeed.

There's nothing like sisters. Penny and Embee greet each other each morning as if they haven't seen one another in ages.  Penny shouts, "Embee!" and Embee squeals. Again. And again. It's noisier in our home than it's ever been, and I love it. People keep asking me if Penny has shown any signs of jealousy. Aside from not wanting her sister to drool on her things (which seems a fair thing not to want), Penny has been all love towards her baby sister.  She truly believes Embee is here because she prayed hard and wished hard for it. Every penny in every fountain for the last two years was for "a baby sister," and every prayer I overheard asked for the same. The upshot is that Penny is certain that Embee was made just for her. But I would argue that it goes both ways--that Penny was made just for Embee, too.

Enough words. Have pictures.

Did I ever tell you that six is my favorite number? Always has been. Now I know why.