O-hi-o!

At the beginning of June, we hopped a plane to visit Grandma and Grandpa Takala in Ohio.  I worried for weeks about how Emily would do on the trip.  Fortunately, she did really well, even after a long wait to get through security and a delayed flight.  Our girl truly is just a wonderful baby.  Her temperament is so sweet and although she is VERY strong willed, she can also be very easy-going.    Lucky for us, she decided to behave on both flights.  The trip there started out a bit rough with about 15 minutes of fussing during take-off, but she fell asleep pretty quickly.  She slept for about 45 minutes and after that, she played with Daddy and watched The Backyardigans on my iPad, which has been a saving grace for us on SO many occasions. 

We had a great time visiting with Grandma and Grandpa.  Usually we are only there at Christmas, so it was really nice to visit without the added stress of the holidays.  We spent lots of time on the screened-in porch, playing outside on the blanket and in the swing, eating yummy food, and laughing at our sweet girl.  G&G bought the swing as a special gift for Emily and she couldn't have been happier.  We had so much fun and we are sad not to live closer.  Hopefully before too long they will be living much closer to us.

We love you, Grandma and Grandpa!

Happy girl swinging

This is FUN!

Playing under the trees

Loving life with Grandma and Grandpa

So happy!

Daddy or Doggy?

Beautiful baby

Fun with grandma

Mommy kisses

Portrait with Great-Grandparents

Our little family

Ten Months

Our baby girl is ten months old!  She has officially been alive longer on the outside than she was on the inside!  These ten months have flown by.  I guess that's what happens when your life is just full of joy day in and day out.  Of course, we've had our moments, and our hours, too, to be honest, but life has truly been amazing since this little girl has been alive.  We didn't get a good picture with Papagator this month because Miss Emily is just too on the go.  I did well just to get this picture and it was only after bribing her with the July 4th sunglasses I got her at the Target Dollar Spot. :)  Regardless, she was happy, and that smile was what I wanted to see most!  Things have just been trucking along through month ten.  Here are a few of the highlights:

• The End of Nursing: This month marked the official end of nursing.  My plan all along had been to nurse her as long as she wanted to nurse up to a year or so.  She lost interest for the most part last month, but this month she even stopped her morning nursing.  I also decided to quit pumping because it is just too difficult to pump and chase her around at the same time.  We made it through ten months of breast milk and I am thrilled with that!  She takes about four bottles each day.
• Eating:  Our little girl is eating all kinds of things now.  I wish I had written everything down that she has eaten, but that would be a pretty long list.  Her favorite food seems to be blueberries.  The only things we've given her that she repeatedly spits out are rice and refried beans.  I think it's a texture thing.  She eats three meals a day in addition to her bottles.  She also learned how to drink through a straw this month.
• New carseat:  This month, we moved Emmy from her carrier car seat to a big girl car seat!  This car seat will stay with her until she is at least three years old.  She is still facing backwards, but seems to be much happier now.  She was becoming difficult when we were in the car, which had never been the case before.
• Waving:  Emily learned to wave on command this month.  She has gotten pretty good at it, but still mostly only does it if she wants to.  I'm pretty sure we have a strong-willed child on our hands.  Fortunately, she's a SWEET strong-willed child!  Let's hope she stays that way!
• First plane ride:  Emily took her first plane ride this month to visit her grandparents in Ohio.  She did pretty well.  Only a few minutes of crying at the start of the first ride and no crying at all on the way back!
• First Summer vacation:  We also took our first real family vacation this month.  We made the 12 hour car ride to Destin, Florida with Mimi and Papa.  She did great in the car thanks to her backyard friends, The Backyardigans and lots of entertainment from Mimi.  We had a great time!
• More Mobility:  Still no standing or walking, but this girl is a speed crawler!  She can get wherever she wants to go in no time.  She spends a LOT of time on her feet and is cruising all over the place.
• Another tooth:  Tooth number eight came in this month.  Our girl has pretty much all of her first year teeth in, so we may be good for awhile.  We shall see!
• Swimming:  She started "swimming" this month and has had a great time!  Her favorite thing to do is play on the steps with her toys.  Next month, we take swimming lessons!
• Home with mommy:  The most exciting thing that happened this month is mommy quitting her job to stay home with Emily!  It has already been a wonderful experience!

We didn't get good measurements this month due to the fact that we were on vacation on her ten month birthday.  However, she is around 20 lbs and 31 inches.  She wears 9 month clothing, size 2 or 3 shoes, and size 3 diapers.

Although she doesn't use this carseat anymore, we had to have her picture in it for comparison's sake.

And of course, the faces of the photoshoot.  The majority of this shoot consisted of her crawling away from me.  She almost fell off the couch four times.  Good thing mommy caught her!  Silly girl.

Little girl,
We love you more today than we did the day before.  Which is nearly impossible, because we loved you so much yesterday!  You are our sunshine and nothing is better than your smiling face.  Love you forever.

This girl just smiles all the time!

Getting ready for her first time in the pool

First plane ride.  Bose noise-cancelling headphones to watch The Backyardigans.

Hanging out in the kiddie pool

First few moments of the real pool.  I think she likes it!

With Daddy in Ohio

Chillin with her cousin Julie

Super lifeguard baby

You know what I think about this place?  It smells like FISH!

Drinking from her big girl cup

 Emily waving.  Please ignore mommy's voice!

Mrs. Leslie

Last Tuesday was my final day as a working mother.  It was bittersweet.  Sweet in that of course I am thrilled to be able to spend my days with Emily, but bitter to be leaving my wonderful job, my sweet friends, and most of all, Emily's wonderful babysitter, Mrs. Leslie.

Emily and Mrs. Leslie

We were beyond blessed to have Mrs. Leslie taking care of Emily for the last five months.  As soon as I began looking for sitters and found out about Leslie, I knew I wanted her to watch Emily.  I went to high school with Leslie's daughter Heather and spent many Friday nights at their house.  She raised seven children of her own, and I knew she was more than capable to take care of our precious little one.  It was so hard to make the decision to continue working and leave Emily with a sitter, but Leslie made it as smooth and easy of a transition as possible.  I never worried about Emily for one second when I was at work.  As an added bonus, Mrs. Leslie's husband Bill, her daughter Heather, and daughter-in-law Katie also helped out with the kids.  Speaking of kids, all of the little ones there were absolutely precious.  Emily was the youngest, and they all loved her and took care of her.  I loved going to pick her up or drop her off and seeing the other kids playing with her.  Emily absolutely loves Mrs. Leslie and I believe the feeling is quite mutual.

We love you, Mrs. Leslie (and Mr. Bill, Mrs. Heather, and Mrs. Katie) and we already miss you!  We can't wait to come back and visit!

And I feel fine...

It's the end of my career as I know it!  For awhile, anyway.  Today was my last day as a working mom.  The past few months have been the hardest of my life.  I cannot begin to describe the amount of respect that I have for working moms.  I know being a stay-at-home mom is also a job and there are many difficult things about it, but trying to work all day and then come home and do the mom/wife thing is just in another category altogether.  And it is a category that I'm glad I don't fall into anymore!

My last eight years working have been really good.  I've enjoyed the jobs that I have had, the children I have taught, and the people I have worked with.  I have learned so much throughout this time and I wouldn't trade these experiences for the world.  Now, though, it's time for something new.  I certainly cried today as I said goodbye to so many people and things, but I am really excited about the future.  I know I am extremely blessed to have this opportunity that many people do not have.  Right now I am just praying that God will give me wisdom, strength, and patience to be who I need to be in this place that he has me in right now.  I am so thankful to be Emily's mommy and I'm glad to get to be with her every day from now on.

Let the adventure begin!

My awesome work friends.  I will miss these girls!

Pool party!

Even though we're still in school, Summer has been here for quite awhile now.  We've had a really warm Spring here in Texas and although it has its down side, there are plenty of perks as well.  This week, we finally decided to take advantage of the warm weather and head out to the pool!  On Sunday afternoon, we filled up a little pool for Emily because the real pool wasn't ready yet.  She definitely liked it, but because of her love for the bathtub, I expected a bit more excitement.

The pool is okay, but I'd rather play with these bubbles.

This fish tastes GOOD!

Mom, put this on our blog so everyone can see how cute I am!

Tonight, the real pool was finally ready to go.  After we dinner, we donned our suits and swim diapers (well, Emily donned that,) and we jumped on in.  She absolutely loved it!  At first she held on pretty well, but as soon as we put her on the steps, she was in her element.  She stood on the steps and splashed and just laughed and talked.  I think it's safe to say we have a little water baby on our hands!  We can't wait for our swimming lessons in July!

Mom, this bathtub is BIG!

I can SWIM!

Nine Months

It hardly seems right that our baby girl is already nine months old!  She is growing up so quickly and she is turning more into a little girl and out of a baby.  This month saw a few new things, but mostly it was just continuing in the things she had begun during month eight.  It was an easy month, which was certainly welcome after the craziness of last month!  We made it through with no sicknesses for Emily (although Mom, Dad, and Mimi had strep) and no more car accidents.  Thank goodness!

• More teeth!:  This month we welcomed teeth five, six, and seven.  I didn't think anything could be cuter than Emmy's gummy smile, but it turns out her toothy smile is right up there!
• On the go:  She has perfected the art of crawling, pulling up, and going from standing back to sitting.  She is into everything and she loves to be standing up most of all.  We bought her a walker thinking that she would enjoy that, but she hates to be contained.  At the beginning of the month she still toppled over every once in awhile when she was sitting and playing, but she rarely falls over anymore.  Her balance is improving and I think we may have a walker or at least a stander by the end of month ten!
• Weaning:  I had fully intended to breast feed Emmy at least until her first birthday, but this month she began to wean herself.  She still breast feeds first thing in the morning, but it is very rare that I can get her to BF any other time.  Even the morning feedings are short and sweet much of the time.  She began refusing her night BF right after her eight month birthday and hasn't looked back.  I think the bottle just must be more efficient and faster.  Our girl is VERY independent, so this doesn't surprise me at all. 
• Big girl food:  Towards the end of the month, Emily perfected her pincer grasp and now loves to feed herself.  We had been giving her rice puffs and yogurt melts for a couple months, but we had to put them in her mouth.  Now, she does it all by herself!  In addition to those baby snacks she's been having for awhile, this month she fed herself cantaloupe, mozzarella cheese, bananas, and macaroni.  She also eats cheerios at Mrs. Leslie's house.
• Talking:  No official first word yet, but she says "mama" fairly often.  We just don't think she's completely making the connection yet.  She babbles all. the. time.  She also loves to "sing."
• Independent play:  Emmy has gotten much better at independent play.  Although she'd rather be crawling around exploring, she often sits and plays with her toys and books on her own.

This month, Emily is measuring 19 lbs 9 oz (65th %,) 31 inches long (97+%,) and her head is 18 inches (80%.)  She is still wearing a size 2 diaper and her clothes are 6-9 months.  She wears a size 2 shoe.

 I love her funny face:

Emily Elizabeth,
Each month as I write you this little note, I think that I am just telling you the same thing over and over.  And I am.  I am telling you that I love you more than I ever imagined, more than seems possible.  You are the little love of my life, and I never thought I could love any little person the way that I love you.  You are the best thing we have ever done and the biggest blessing of your daddy's and my life.  I will love you forever, no matter what.

Daddy and Emily with Ella, the birthday girl.

Lots of teeth!

Playing puzzles

Mommy and Emmy at Ella's birthday party

Jaw clenching face brought on by tooth #7

Yum!

Four generations- Emmy, Daddy, Grandma, Great-Grandma

Splashing our feet in the pool

Our little family

Up close and personal

Mother's Day dinner with Maw-maw

Happy Mother's Day - a little early

While coming up on Mother’s Day this weekend it’s natural to be thinking about your mom.  I’m very excited my mom and grandma are actually going to be here to visit this weekend.  It’s the first mother’s day in a long time that I’ve been able to actually be with my mom.

However, that’s not what I’m thinking about today.  I’ve been thinking about the new mom in my family, my beautiful wife.  She’s been a mom for almost 9 months now.  For someone with so little experience, she sure is doing an awesome job.  She takes care of our little girl constantly.  She’s always thinking ahead to what her needs will be tomorrow, next week, or even months from now.  She reads books and articles to try and stay ahead of Emily’s upcoming changes so we’re not surprised by anything.  She wakes up multiple times a night just to peak at her on the monitor and make sure she’s still breathing.  She’s always responsible for making sure she’s eating healthy.  She gets the privilege of praying with her every night as she feeds her before putting her to bed.  She sings to her every night before putting her to bed.  She takes her to the babysitter every morning before going to work and picks her up immediately afterwards.  She takes the time to play with her, love on her, cuddle with her, read to her, and educate her.  She never lets Emily leave the house without a bow on her head and perfectly matching clothes.  She’ll give up sleep for her baby.  She’ll get puked on, pooped on, peed on, sneezed on, and spit up on for her baby.  She willingly sacrifices any free time she has for the benefit of her family.  She’s been a mom for nine months and already deserves the mom of the century award.

Our little Emily is too young to understand how incredibly blessed she is to have the mom that she does.  She doesn’t yet comprehend how much her mom loves her and cares for her.  Emily doesn’t even have the words yet to express any feelings she has for her mom.  But, I know for sure if she could understand those things right now she’d have nothing but love and admiration for her mom.  I know if she could verbalize those feelings she’d have so many loving things to say to her mom.  Since she can’t say those things, I’ll have to say them for her. 

Thank you for loving our little girl so selflessly.  Thank you for teaching me how to be a parent.  Thank you for all you do for our family every single day.  Thank you for showing Jesus to our little girl.  Emily is so blessed to have you as a mom.  You will be such a great role model to her for how to raise her own children.  I love you so much and it’s obvious that Emily does as well.  I know I’m a few days early, but Happy Mother’s Day. 

New mommy

Bath time with mommy

Snuggle time with mommy

Santa pictures with mommy

Mommy taking care of a sick Emily

I love my mommy!