Emaline...

Oh Emaline.  Emaline is 17 1/2 months old and already has so much personality.  She is a real sweetheart...unless you want her to do something she doesn't want to.  She is opinionated and FUN!  She's also a drama queen and a snuggle bug.  She says so many words (too many to think of right now), and has started saying sentences this week...among them "I love you", "I miss you", "nice to met you", "I see it", "I na color", etc.  I love the way she communicates!  She is running and climbing...quite the daredevil.  She is so great, and we love her so much.  I may not have many great pictures of her.  Pictures fall into the category of things she does NOT want to do...

Halloween 2013

Halloween this year was pretty fun!  We went to Mrs. Heather's pumpkin patch this year with Marcy and family.  It was HOT!  But, that didn't stop Gavin from having so much fun with Mason.  There was a corn maze,  zip lines, giant bags of air to jump on, hay stacks, and a pumpkin patch.  It was great, can't wait to go again next year!

 

 

 This year on Halloween night, we went to a party at The Gristina's house, as is tradition.  The whole gang was there...Gigi, Grandma, Nana, Paw Paw, Aunt Michelle, Uncle Leonard and Elise! Princess Lea and Darth Vader ate dinner and played until the meteorologist of the group said it was time to trick or treat if we wanted to beat the rain.  It still rained a little, but we had enough people carrying umbrellas to cover us.  Emaline really enjoyed trick or treating this year!  Although she didn't hold her bucket up for people to put candy in, she did take the candy and put it in her basket all by herself.  Gavin, of course, had such a great time.  He ran door to door the whole time!  Our kids are so lucky (and spoiled)! Our neighbors were so great...giving us specially prepared bags of candy and other treats, and we had practically our whole family here.

 

Great time this year!  I hope it doesn't rain next year...I'm already thinking about the theme.  I wonder if Gavin and Emaline will let me dress them :)  Jack is always the easy one!  I think me and daddy might join in next year.

Soccer tots

Gary and I are continuing on our journey through parenthood by exposing Gavin to something new.  Even though he really liked music class, we decided to try something different...soccer tots.  I knew it was a success the very first day we brought him. How, you ask?  Well, 15 minutes into his first session he yelled, "Mom...I LOVE soccer!" Score.  He never did that in music class.  He's pretty good, too, even though they just do a series of drills and games.  This past week was his last day for this session, and all the kids got a metal.  We're enrolling him again for next session and maybe even one more, but come Spring, I think we'll try t-ball.

Vacation 2013



This year we decided to stay someplace different...the Caribe Resort in Orange Beach.  It wasn't on the beach, but Gavin didn't seem to notice or care.  There were three pools with slides and zero entry, lazy river and indoor pools.  It was a great time!  Gavin and I went to the beach one morning, and he didn't want to go back...he loved the resort!  The weather was perfect and our condo was great!  Gary and I even got to go on a date! Emaline started officially walking while we were on vacation!  She just decided she wanted to walk and did.  She liked the pool, but had a short tolerance.  We didn't take her to the beach this year...but I know they'll both have a blast next year!

 

 Waiting to go down to the pool!

 Enjoying our morning at the beach.

 The LSU boys in the ocean.

 Family self portrait!  Love this!

 Me and my girl...

 Sweet girl!

 So independent with his floaties!

The boys were "minnowing".  We didn't get to go crabbing this year, so the boys grabbed nets and tried to catch minnows in the boat slips!  So funny!

I bribed Gavin to smile in this picture with a meringue!  Emaline can't be bribed...yet!

Emaline's 1st birthday.

Wow.  This little girl is loved.  Our angel turned one this past Thursday, and she had a busy few days.  On her actual birthday, grandma and GiGi came over with cupcakes for her "smash" session.  She didn't quite know what to do with the cupcake, but she sure was curious.  She crawled over to explore it the minute I put it down.  Pretty soon, she had it all over her hands, her belly and her tutu.  I think she may have gotten a little bit in her mouth.  That afternoon, we ran errands and did what all girls like to do on their birthdays...shop and eat!  We got her a couple of comfy new outfits to play in and ate at BBQ.  Her favorite part of the meal?  The free ice cream, of course. 

On Saturday, her family and close friends came to celebrate her with a piglet party! We had piglets in a blanket, piglet punch, and a piglet cake.  I think she really enjoyed having all of the people she loved around.  As for her cake, I don't know if she ate much of it, but she enjoyed smashing it.

Yesterday we went to her 1 year old appointment.  She is growing well!  She is 23 pounds and 30 inches tall (in the 80th and 75th percentile, respectively).  Doctor said she is a genius, but I think he just means she has a big head.  She's not quite walking yet.  She has taken several steps, but she realizes it's quicker to crawl to catch up with big brother. 

I continue to love Emaline more every day that passes.  She brings her own flavor to our sweet little family.  I told Gary that she is going to do volunteer work in some foreign country one day.  She demonstrates the sensitivity, love and compassion to be an advocate for people or things.  I noticed it the other day while we were playing.  Gavin has this big, green dinosaur from Toy Story.  When you squeeze it, it makes a high pitched, squeaky sound.  Emaline looked at it for a few minutes like she wanted to be scared.  Then, she looked at him with compassion and grabbed him out of my hands to give him a big hug and kiss!  Sweet girl! Maybe I'm reading too much into that.  And if I'm not, I hope she stays local...we don't want to retire in some third world country chasing our humanitarian daughter around!

Happy birthday, Emaline.  Love, Mommy, Daddy, Gavin and Jack