Ode to my babies...er, big kids

4 years and a little over 12 hours ago, you both made your debut, less than a minute apart. You were 5 weeks early and fighting to arrive. But you were big and strong and perfect, even the neonatologist and nurses were surprised.

To my Emma:

We still laugh about how just hours after your birth, you were already a princess, running your tiny hands through your dark brown hair. I personally think you were willing it to grow long, because you have a love of long hair. I guess it's more princess like, right? You were loud and PISSED when you came out, probably from being squished by your bigger brother for so long. You looked like you wanted to leap off the table and go do your own thing. I still see that from you- no one can ever make you do something, and your sweet, giving, loving nature belies that fiery passion and stubbornness born inside you. The last thing anyone on the planet would want to do is mistake your passive nature for you being a pushover, because a pushover you certainly are not. Your creativity constantly amazes me. You can play for hours with your Barbies or your Pollys or your dress up clothes, making up your own stories as you go. You love to do crafts, paint, and draw, and singing, oh the singing. You have no fear when it comes to singing, and can get up in front of a church of 100 people or in a pageant with 200-300 strangers and it doesn't bother you. Stage fright is something you've never heard of or felt. You love Taylor Swift songs, church songs and Ariel. Speaking of Ariel, you want to be a mermaid when you grow up. You are a giggle box and a dawdler and a pure little girl. You love dresses and makeup and nail polish and hairbows and pink and purple. You may have the most pure soul I've ever known and I pray I can protect that. I hope you're always the loving, giving, sharing little girl you are now.

To my Ethan:
You came into the world chilled out, just the opposite of your sister. However, you let us know quickly that chilling out was not the norm. You are competitive, and passionate in everything, from getting to the top of the steps to being listened to in the car. You have a mischievous twinkle in your eye and can crack me up with your silly jokes. You have a redneck streak a mile wide, and love Monster Trucks and Nascar. You don't just love them, you endeavor to learn EVERYTHING about them, from all of the drivers to who the sponsors are, or as you say "where they live." You can drive your cars and trains for hours on end, but don't ask you to share! You absolutely love to learn, and I know you'll do well in school. You want to know how everything is spelled, and love to do math so much that you have actually threatened me with, "Fine, I'm gonna go do my math book!" when you're mad at me. You're a pure boy, rough and tough, but at the end of the day you're always good for a nuggle and you get infuriated and upset if you don't get to wave at me as I leave for work or give me a kiss before bed. You do things your own way, including choosing when to be born. You swear you're going to be a racecar driver, or a fire fighter, or a monster truck driver...or whatever comes to your mind that day. I'm sure whatever you decide you'll be great.

To both of you:

You make me laugh, you amaze me, you allow me to have big dreams for both of you. I hope I can nurture your strengths and your bonds. I love that you make up your own games and that you love each other so much. Thank you God for giving me these babies and please guide me in their future.