Getting Bigger!

On Sunday (4-19), Emalyn wore this cute little turtleneck with a jean jumper to church. When we got home, I just changed her into some pants, jeans-as you can see-and decided to call it good. I just couldn't get over how much older she looked.....definitely toddler, don't you think?

Ride 'em cowgirl!! YEEEE-HAAAAWWW!! (Oh how I wish I got a better shot of Quincy's face....poor guy.) He loves the attention!

My sweet little Miss. (4-21)

Self Feeding!!?!? (Sort Of)

Can she be doing this already? I should have gotten a video of her since she is finally able to drink from the sippy cup since perfecting that technique took three times as long as this!!

Mid-April

We like to take photos before we leave in the morning of Emmy's adorable outfits. This sweet little cardigan outfit (4-14) lasted all off 5 minutes because by the time we got to school, wouldn't you know it, she had a blow out. NICE.

Here Emmy is dressed for school photos (4-15). Emmy's Oma Weiss knitted this dress...I am glad it finally fits her when the weather is kind of cool and not too warm. It is so pretty! We'll see how portraits went and get to pick photos on Thursday, 4/30!

Emalyn turns 1 next month (!)....I had to capture one of the sweet feedings we have together. Don't you just love those chubby little fingers? (4-17)

Looking outside has become one of Emalyn's favorite past times. We moved the furniture around to access the other sliding glass doors that lead from the living room to the screened in porch. She has a bunch of books that sit there as well and she likes to sit there "reading" her books! (4-18)

On Saturday (4-18) Cameron had to work and Emmy & I got bored. So we decided to go outside and sit in the cool spring day. I learned that Emayn will NOT go off the blanket....ooooh no. Will NOT touch the grass in any way! This is a photo taken by yours truly....Poor Emmy didn't care for me squeezing us together so we'd both be in the shot, hence the contorted face! :)

Like I said, she will NOT leave the blanket....YET!
SAY CHEESE!

And of course, the ever handsome Q. He loved that we just sat on the blanket and relaxed for a good 45 minutes watching leaves, birds, golfers and airplanes. Ah, the life!

He lives!

Happy Resurrection Day! Aren't we so privileged to know our Savior? His love, so clearly shown to us through His death and even more so His promise, shown in His coming back to life. One day, people, one day we will be with Him in paradise. Oh how I itch with anticipation....

Bronwyn was sweet enough to make our family....in eggs :) I thought it was so cute! Thanks B!



The immediate family. Emmy just woke up from the long car ride- rubber duckie is helping her adjust.






Emalyn is also getting quite good a balancing on her knees to peer into bins or reach up and grab things off tables, chairs, etc.

She's getting so BIG!!

Past Couple Days

So....is it weird that I bought my LITTLE GIRL a train? (4-6) It was a cool one because that little red button behind the smokestack causes a little light to turn on in the front of the first car...it also chugs and makes a "whoo-whoo" sound. I figure since I like it, and I am a girl, then it is okay. Not to mention, I am the mommy....my call!! :)













More ZOO! As I mentioned, we decided to go to the zoo Good Friday (4-10). Here I am with Emmy....

















Here is Cam with Emmy.....













And because we ran into some church friends, here is a family shot in the aquarium portion of the zoo. The only thing I am bummed about is that we didn't get a shot of all of us together! Oh, and do you like the color choice we made for the day...totally unplanned.


















And here is Emmy. Just because. (4-11)

April News

Emalyn last week before we left for daycare (4-2). She started a new daycare last week....we are super happy with it so far, and Emalyn even has a nickname by her teacher, "la gorda." It is indeed a spanish immersion daycare. The teachers there are Peruvian and Ecuadorian. We are SO, SO happy we found this as we have a very strong desire to have Emalyn be bilingual.


















Emalyn has really gotten a handle on crawling...and I think is really desiring to walk. This is now the scene in the house (4-5).













This last weekend, I had a friend from IL come visit (4-4). Here she is with Emmy as we were starting to get bathtime ready. We had a really nice time and Cameron took care of Emalyn while we got to go out for a couple hours and chat....boy, I needed that! She was so sweet to buy Emalyn her very first birthday gifts and I can't wait to get those outfits on her!! (Oh, and the ball in the b ackground was also a really fun toy we got.) Thanks Amanda for your thoughtfulness, it was so great to see you!

More Zoo

So you all will probably be so tired of the zoo, or at least our visiting the zoo, because we have pretty much made it a habit to go twice a month. We love it. Emmy loves it. Enough said.

Family photo while on the tropics trail follows-I am proud to say I took it myself, however, wish I had captured some more of Emalyn's neck/face.













And as you can see, Emalyn actually DOES indeed like to point out things that move and watches the animals pretty intently. I love this shot.












And finally, we braved the outside in 35 degree weather because there were farm babies. The big 'ole stud behind us really isn't a baby as he is 3,000 lbs (no joke). But, we had to take a photo because of how ridiculously large he was. Oh, and "he" is Lantz, the cloned stud.













Emalyn was able to pet some goats and listen to the babies bleat....they sound like a regular goat only on fast forward, super high-pitched. Very funny and VERY cute. We'll be going again Good Friday as Cameron and I have off the afternoon (and all the farm babies are still around, and it is supposed to be warmer...50 degrees!)

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!