Ahhhhhh, Tejas!

We had a wonderful trip over my birthday to TX to visit my parents in addition to getting out of cold and dreary MN!!! Emalyn is sporting a new pair of shades purchased by Grammy, and really loves them....Every time they get slipped on, she starts waving her right hand at anyone and everyone that is near! It really is adorable!








Here we are at the Botanical Gardens. It was a really nice day to get out as it wasn't too warm, but juuuuust right. The gardens were beautiful!

























This past photo is a fun one of Emmy and me in my mom and dad's backyard. We loved our time spent there and can't wait for another visit!

10 months

Dear little Emmy,

My little Irish girl! (You’re only a 1/8, but that’s still something!)

This last month held a lot of changes for you! I have to say you held up like a champ! Things have settled down some and your routine will pick back up….you thrive on routine, just like your momma and daddy. J So many happy days to come, as a result!

You got to go on your very first airplane ride to visit TX and your Grammy and Grampy. We had non stop flights, and you handled yourself so lovely, it caused me to contemplate flights in the not too distant future! Luckily we don’t really have anywhere we need to visit, so my plans will not come to fruition….And how silly I was thinking what a nightmare it would be! Not even close! Everyone marveled at how adorable you are. A lady even asked me your name and when I told her, she stopped and moment. Looked at me, then gasped, and said “Oooh, how pretty. And unique!” That made me feel good.

You’re now crawling, as well! Just in the nick of time (well, just before you turned ten months exactly that is)! It’s fun to see you churning those little legs and seeing exactly what they do and are all about. You like to pull yourself up too, we had to lower the crib mattress because we found you on your knees reaching for the extra nuks we leave sitting on the edge…..smarty that you are. A lot of babies do this pulling up thing earlier, but you love your swaddle and only recently started to sleep (sporadically) without it allowing more freedom of movement. I am sure climbing out of the crib will only come too soon!

We’ve gone to the zoo quite a few times and oh, can I tell how much you love the zoo. You look at all the animals and point to them and especially like watching the birds. I suppose the only part that you are hesitant about is the nocturnal portion of the tropical trail because it is so dark in there. Last time we saw all the baby farm animals and you loved the goats and sheep especially. Daddy and I fed them and you enjoyed all their noises.

You’re really getting just so big. It is hard to believe you will be walking soon and I won’t have to carry you as often. Life really is a gradual process of letting go isn’t it-and here I am just watching the first itty bitty stages of your gaining independence. Next thing I know, you’ll be asking for car keys and figuring out a major…..in the meantime, I will be just fine waiting patiently for those days to creep up in 18 years.

Love, your momma

In Preparation

Knowing how bright and sunny TX can be, we bought these sunglasses for Emalyn to protect her eyes. She has had a lot of fun with them, as you can see!

small malfunction

I know, I know, all the photos are gone. I will be recovering them....I had to move the blogs because I was having problems with my login information and in the process seemed to have "misplaced" the photos.

I will be updating things shortly....sorry for the technological difficulties!!

Tigers and Teeth

We made our first trip to the zoo on Saturday! Over all, Cameron and I really enjoyed ourselves. Even though there were millions and trillions of little girl scouts running around for some kind of special day. The many little girls and their families really gave Emalyn a lot to watch....and she is quite the people watcher! We were surprised to see that she did find some monkeys and birds in the cages, and as you can see from the photo, she actually did point at the animals and says "That!" Of course I think she is just genius, but it is so neat to see her really developing even further into a human being!

On another note, Miss Emalyn has gotten her first tooth poking through! Her demeanor has actually been great, maybe a couple rough nights stick in my mind as of the last week or two, but nothing I would complain too much about. Tylenol has been a great help....although it was just one dose, before bed. We have many more teeth to break their way through, so I pray they all incoming teeth go as "well" as this first one!

Long time...

Some friends of mine have actually said they were wondering what happened to me since I haven't posted in a while. Even my mom asked yesterday, "you haven't put up any new photos, have you?" Been a little busy. Let's leave it at that!



So, what I thought I would do, is post my "Emmy's Nine Month" letter so that one day she can look back and see what I was thinking (even if these thoughts are incoherent) at this point in her life. And so...



Dear Emmy,
You're already nine months. The same time it took for you to grow in my tummy, you have now been out in the world. You're 9 months of life has gone by so fast, and yet, that 9 months being pregnant, took SO LONG!

You're not crawling...yet. But, I think I am okay with that because I don't feel like childproofing the house. Ugh, too much work! I probably won't say that when the red glass vase shatters against the tile in front of the fireplace....I know, I know, Daddy and I will get to it very soon.


Ah, but YOU, you're as beautiful as ever and I think your eyes will stay that gorgeous gray-brown. I thought you lost them during your 7-8 months of life; you're eyes looked brown all the time! But, oh, no. They're breathtaking.


You have become quite energetic....peering every which way and trying to go in the way those eyes look. You may not crawl, but you lunge forward to check out anything and everything! We've started a game where every teeny thing you find on the carpet or couch, you pick it up, hand to me and I say a very enthusiastic, "Thank you!" It doesn't get old for you!!! Will you be my little clean freak? Momma was like that when she was just a little bit older than you. Maybe I should say, Momma was crazy perfectionistic rather than clean freak. However, some people would like to call that OCD. I'll pray you are none of the above....but I will pray you always try your best and hardest!


You are eating A LOT right now. I definitely have to say that Cain trait lives on in you. And you are so open to trying anything, and everything, anytime. Lord has blessed me with that. Or it could have just been I ate whatever I wanted when you were in the womb. Sorry, I wasn't going to stop having hot salsa just on account of you! You have formula most feedings, I wanted to nurse you longer, but working full time took that out of the picture. I'm okay with that now (only after a slight meltdown!), I wanted so badly to nurse you until you were one. But I know I did the best I could do--you'll still grow up to be beautiful, smart and healthy.


You say Mama. And Da. You've not said Ee-Nee very much anymore. But, maybe you are working on his actual name or the word "dog." We'll see. I love that you wave all the time-at anyone as well. I say "hi" (you wave). I say "bye" (you wave). And everyone thinks you are just so cute and sweet and happy and lovable. Seeing you grow makes my heart soar.


I love you Emmy, and I know that you love me. You tell me with your eyes. Then with your wide-open, wet mouth you decide to try to give kisses (though you don't know that's what they are). One day when you're screaming your fervent dislike of my decision, I will remember those eyes and how much they look at me and say you love me. There's nothing like it. And in that moment when my heart weighs a thousand pounds because I wish you would understand the decisions momma's have to make, I will wish I didn't wipe away that wet slobbery kiss when you were a baby.

love, your momma

Trends and Ee-Nee

This little girl's mommy has a tendency to put pants on her daughter underneath cotton dresses that maybe should only be worn in the summer months. In this case the pants were trendy leggings. So what...I'm trying to get full use of the clothes I have been gifted!! There's nothing wrong with that, right? I tell ya, kids can get away with the funkiest of outfits!!! Say cheese, "Ee-Nee!!" (Emalyn's version of Quincy). She's so smart!

Growing up and Moving on, a Little

Emalyn has now graduated to the middle infant room, otherwise known as the crawlers. Except, well, she doesn't crawl.....yet. I'm not too worried, especially since the teachers say she will most likely be a mover and shaker shortly after she makes this move upward and onward... we'll just see about that!


As each child graduates from the first infant room, the child gets a week on the All About Me board. Here's Emmy's board....and yes, I was the dork taking photos of photos....all in the name of Emmy's blog. :)










So here's Emmy in her new room from Monday.

She's thrilled, can't you tell?






And here we have Emmy just as we arrive home from school on her first day in the new room. I look like a bad mom that dresses her kid in capris during winter, when really those pants just hike up ALL THE TIME. Nothing I can do, sigh.








On a different note, here we have Emmy and her new favorite past time...picking anything and everything-even imaginary things- from the couch, carpet, floor, whatever. My mom calls her pointer finger her little screwdriver. And man, that little screwdriver works well because she usually ends up getting whatever she makes the effort towards!

(Almost) 9 Month Photographs

Here we have the Fam....I think we were all getting adjusted to the studio which was in a sweet, old industrial building in St Paul. As you can see Emmy is not thrilled at all to be getting photographed!

But she warmerd up....the hint of a smile....

Then back to serious....

AND we're smiling for real...actually laughing! YAY!

We had to get a party dress photo. Perfect timing for Valentie's day with that gorgeous red background, huh? There is a little sparkly black shrug that goes with this dress, SOOOOOOO CUTE! Thanks Grammy for this dress you gifted!

There was a super cool vinyl couch at the photographer's studio....orange! We loved it. And so did Emalyn...

Until she kind of got bored witht his whole photography thing. So we used my blackberry to distract her. Of course, in typical guy humor, Cameron thought it would be funny to call the phone and make it vibrate.....and hence, the reaction!

Great Job, Patrick! Thanks again-I love the turnout. If you are in the Twin Cities, feel free to work with him, he's great!! http://www.ranterbanter.com/

The Last Week and a Half or So

Obviously, I have been out of commission the last week or so due to my parents being in town and my enjoying time with them. Thus, the lack of posts...or I should say, lack of photos. It always makes for a much busier time, having them visit, but it is so much fun. My mom is SUCH a great help and Cameron and I appreciate when she is here as we finally get a much needed break and can relax somewhat.
So let's start from the beginning....26 Jan. My new favorite outfit of Emmy's. A summer dress, with long sleeve onesie and black yoga pants. Too Cute!

A gift from Grammy and Grandpa (27 Jan). This kid can wear any color!!

During my parent's visit here, my mom had a birthday. Although this photo is from 28 Jan, her birthday falls on 29 Jan. I think this is the only time in my life, or my mom's life, that I was actually able to completely surprise her. She had NO idea. Oh, the feeling of success! Basically I came home from work, knowing I had hidden all the cake stuff in the kitchen & had it ready to go. I just had to figure out a way to get her out of the house. Not an easy feat for a person visiting MN (during -10 windchills) from TX (where temps have been around 74 degrees!). After dinner Cameron helped me convince her they should go to the gym (she LOVES to exercise) and I would stay home. Cam and Grammy left and within 1 hour, I baked, cooled and frosted this cake, not to mention wrote the greeting myself! (My very first job was at Baskin & Robbins and cake writing came with the territory...old talents die hard.)
When she walked in the door, my dad had the candles lit and was singing "Happy Birthday,"(unfortunately, I was changing a poopy diaper and had to finish quick to run out and make it for the end of the song). It was so great to see her so surprised!
Cutie pie Emmy on 28 Jan with my dad's stocking cap. She cried the first time she saw him put on this hat leaving or coming back from outside. It was strange as Cameron wears hats, baseball, stocking, whatever, all the time! As you can see, she eventually wore down and sported it herself!

31 Jan-We had taken down the old mirror in my bathroom and have it sitting in the hallway against the wall out of the way. We replaced it with a smaller framed mirror to update the space. We are basically trying to figure out what to do with this one now.....any ideas? Let me know. I don't want to be wasteful. Emalyn thought there was another baby in the mirror and continually waved at her, talked to her, sang to her....she loves this mirror!


After church today, 2-1. I love this jumper. But then again, I love everything this little girl wears!