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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strawberry fields.

This past Wednesday, we went to pick strawberries with some girls and boys from the neighborhood.  We got lost on the way there because my phone GPS dumped me off in the middle of no where!  After some good advice from the 4 year old ("Mom, why don't you call Kaiden's mom?"), we finally made it there!

 

We paid $10 for a flat and six, small plastic containers.  It took a while to fill them...partly because Gavin and Luke were eating them as fast as I could pick them!  They were delicious and sweet right off the vine!  After about 10 minutes of picking strawberries, the boys wanted to run and splash in the mud and play in the sand.  Boys...So, Katherine and I finished picking while the boys frolicked (or whatever boys do).

 

When we went back to our picnic site, Ms. Becky had a chicken.  Yep, she ran down a chicken for the kids to pet.  We ate lunch and headed home.  It was a fun, dirty, muddy, delicious, hot time!

 

 

 

 Gavin wanted to play on the tractor!

 I know you're excited, but it's the wrong color!

 Strawberry face!

Yes, I'm wearing two hats.  Didn't want to lose it, and I needed two hands to hug my boy!

Mother's Day

Mother's Day is a time to love and honor your mother, I get that. And, I appreciate it!  But, I want to take a minute to thank the people in my life, because without them...I wouldn't be a mom!

First, to the love of my life, my husband, my best friend, my FOAT, my partner-in-crime....you are the reason for everything! Before I met you, I didn't want to get married, and I certainly didn't want kids!  But loving you changed me!  I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you and have your babies!  Thank you for loving me unconditionally and supporting me no matter what I do.  I'm so thankful to be able to spend so much time with my babies! I know it's not always easy living with someone else, especially me, but you are the perfect person for me!  I love you and appreciate you more than you'll know...

Gavin.  My boy. My first born.

You are so funny, smart, handsome, laid back, and polite.  The past four years have been such a whirlwind, but I have enjoyed EVERY moment with you!  It's not always easy, and I know sometimes you get mad at me when I have to discipline you, but I love you more than you can imagine.  You make me smile everyday, and I feel so lucky that I get to be your mommy and watch you grow up.

Emaline.  My girl. My pepper!

What a great addition to our family!  You complete us with your toothy smile and contagious laugh. You make my heart sing, and I look forward to seeing you every morning when you wake up!  I look forward to watching you grow up, too.  I think you'll teach me so many things!

Thank all of you for being...you have made me a better, happier person!  You are all I ever need for a happy Mother's Day. 

Our garden...

In March, Gavin and I planted some things in our planter boxes: lettuce, carrots, onions, garden beans and radishes.  Yesterday, we pulled a radish!  It was delicious!

We can't harvest the rest of our crop for another month or so...but I'm sure everything else will be just as delicious! 

Em is 11 months old!

The months keep coming and Emaline is 11 months old.  She has gotten really mobile and really hard to take pictures of this month.  I'm sure it will only get worse! I still don't know how much she weighs because she hasn't been sick (woohoo). She is pretty active...almost walking, and she's got this crawling thing down! She still has quite the personality and is pretty funny.  She mimics (and makes fun of) you. She is a DADDY'S GIRL!