As you continue to grow up, there will always be those little things that I’ll never forget about you.

I’ll never forget how you looked after your first surgery. I’ve never seen a newborn with a cast before.

I’ll never forget that you were not a friendly baby. Out of the entire bunch, you were the hardest to convince that I am the greatest auntie in the world.

But my mission was eventually accomplished and therefore, I’ll also never forget that you were the one who decided there should be an Auntie Gemma Day. (June 11th, for those of you who don’t know.)

I’ll never forget your obsession with Target, shoes and purses. How can I forget — I’ll be paying off “shoe & purse debt” for a while.

I’ll never forget that for your 5th birthday, we let you choose any restaurant for dinner and you picked McDonald’s. And I’ll never forget that it gave me the runs.

I’ll never forget how you can’t separate “No way, Jose” and “What-EVER” but instead say “What-EVER, Jose”.

I’ll never forget how we were racing your dad and Steven on our way to church this morning and, after Auntie Gemma whooped both their butts, you started screaming “We’re drifting, we’re drifting!” Do 5-year-olds even know what drifting is??

I’ll never forget how you say vanilla like “va-lil-la”.

I’ll never forget that you know (and love) the lyrics “I Like Big Butts and I Cannot Lie…”

I’ll never forget when you were going through your polite phase and were apologizing for everything. We tried our best to instill a more balanced level of “politeness”, but instead got you saying “Sorry I said sorry” over and over and over and over and over and over…

I could go on and on, really.

There is one thing I never want you to forget, too. Your faith. Currently, you scream “Thank you, Lord!” whenever we put Totino’s Pizza Rolls in our shopping cart. Something so simple yet your gratefulness is humbling. As you get older, remember that He really is to thank for so many things in your life. Not just Pizza Rolls.

Oh, and never forget that your big brothers love you. Despite all the teasing, name-calling, and “picking on”, there is no doubt in my mind that they would “drive” you to school on your new Princess bike with pink streamers and all… just like your dad did for me when I was your age. Cherish those relationships because one day you can also be the world’s greatest auntie to Steven, Jacob, and Timmy’s kids.

Happy birthday, babygirl. We’re all so proud of you and love you so much.

Related posts:

1. A Date Has Been Set — June 11th
2. You’re SIX!!
3. I’m not fat…

Okay, perhaps “officially” isn’t the right word yet. Who would I need to call, though? Hallmark?

Last Tuesday, my sister-in-law reminded Kayla that Father’s Day was coming up.

“Kayla, are you going to make a card for Daddy since it’s Father’s Day?”

“Okay, but Mommy… how come there is a Mommy’s Day and a Daddy’s Day, but no Auntie Gemma day?”

So when Carol was sharing this story with me on Wednesday, I asked Kayla when she thought Auntie Gemma day should be. She responded, “Today!!”… and so began the tradition of Auntie Gemma Day.

I have to admit, I think it would be will be the greatest holiday in the world!

Related posts:

1. Seems Like Just Yesterday…
2. I’m not fat…
3. Believe it or not.