Dear Danielita.

Dear Hermanita,

When I saw you walk on that stage, all I saw was 5 year old Daniela pretending to be a ballerina, wearing her new tutu and twirling in the hallway of our old home and now, here you are, about to embark the next chapter of your life: college. When I saw you walk on that stage, I couldn't help the tears that ran down my face (I have them now as I am writing this). My concert buddy won't be 45 minutes away fro me. I won't have you to come over and spend the night so we can watch (one of the following) Pride & Prejudice, The Proposal, or About Time over and over again. Over the last few years, you've become my closest friend. We danced, laughed, and screamed our guts out (more me than you) because The Backstreet Boys were right in front of us. You've cried when you found out that I got us tickets to see Ariana Grande or Justin Bieber. You have witnessed Emma's birth and nervously accepted to be our photographer during the 14 hour process. You've been there for every important moment in my life and I am going to miss not having you only 45 minutes away. I may be sad, but my happiness overpowers my sadness by a lot! I cannot wait to hear all your stories and spend weekends with you in the near future and I'll bring Emma and it'll be a girls weekend! Just like the ones we've always had, except it'll be in your college dorm or at a hotel room.
I cannot wait to see where this journey takes you and to see the friendships you'll make and to hear about the knowledge you'll gain. Mi hermanita, I don't know if you know this, but your light had always shone the brightest, not just because of your beauty, but because of the brains you have as well. You make me want to go back to school because listening to you and learning about the things you tell me is inspiring. I know one day Emma will see you and I know she's going to say "I hope to be like my Tia one day." You are the greatest role model for her and all young girls.
High school is fun and important, but it's nothing like college. Start this new journey the way you've  started any obstacle in your life with a smile and with the positivity that you always carry with you. You know that you can count on me every step of the way. We love you very much. Congratulations, hermanita. I am proud to be your big sister, and always will be.

**photos taken by my beautiful friend, Andrea Villa**





With love,

Ale

Things that Emma say.

Emma is talking more and more and I love watching her learn new skills every week.  Here are some words or phrases that she has learned in the last few months:

-When we say, "ready, set.." and Emma yells, "GO!"

- It's cold.

-It's HOT! (she typically will scream this phrase, not sure why. She's silly).

-Hi!

-Dyeeee!! (for "bye" LOL)

- All done (and waves her little hands to show that there is nothing on her plate).

- I...love....(and she will dance to the name instead of saying it).

- Dada...

-AND she finally says MAMA!

-Let's go! (and will typically scream it).

-On and Off

-She says coc for sock. LOL. We are working on that one.

-kkpppa for "ipad"

-eche for "leche"

- When we sing the wheels on the bus song, she will always sing and attempt on saying the ending of each chorus "ALL THROUGH THE TOWN!!"

- She can't say the words too clearly yet, but she sings twinkle, twinkle, little star and you can tell by the melody of the song and she can say the word "star".

- When she counts, she always says, "two" and totally skips one and three. We are also working on our numbers.

- Whenever we do something she really likes such as picking her up and twirling together, she will say "again!"

-Dexttahh!

-cooooww

-woof for dog

-Nanaaa

-And she says mmm for anything she can't say and we ask her to try. Her response is always, "mmmm"

-thankuuuuu for thank you

-eeeessse for please

-She attempts to sing "if you're happy and you know it" and she will yell "hooray" at the part where it says to say hooray. She gets super happy.

- "naaack!" for snack

- she hides when she needs to poop and when she is all done, she says, "i pooped'. I think she is ready for potty training this summer.

-& her current favorite word is "noo" but she says the n as "ñ" like how you would say ñiño/a.



I know I've said it a million times before and I will never stop saying it, but I love being a mom.

With love,
Ale