Emmy's Birthday

Emmarie's 2nd Birthday was a school day (Womp-Womp), so we had to make our festivities interesting.


I woke her up for school and after she got dressed, we took some pictures outside.



I took her to Daylight Donuts for breakfast, and then it was time for school/daycare.  She posed for a picture outside, but she wasn't quite sure that she wanted to stay.







After school we went to my mom's house because GiGi was there!  She immediately started spoiling Emmy and gave her Cherry Coke!


We planned on taking Ems to the Country Club for dinner and swimming, but when we got there, there was a private party at the pool.  SO...we had to improvise.  Instead we headed over to the Elk's Lodge because Mom and Dad are members there as well.

The pool is a little bit different, but Emmy still had a nice time swimming.









Afterwards, we took her to dinner at Casa Hernandez.

Then we went to Mom and Dad's house, so we could sing Emmy happy birthday.  She ate her red velvet cupcake, and licked all the icing off of her chubby little fingers.















I think she had a really nice day, and by no means was her birthday celebration complete! Stay tuned for pics from the birthday party extravaganza. P.S. Sorry this was all iphone pics. :(

24 Months/ Two-years-old!!

My baby is TWO-YEARS-OLD!




(I had to take the picture both ways because the OCD in me said it wouldn't be right to not have one that says 24 months)

I find it so hard to believe that she has been living in our house, making us laugh (and sometimes cry in frustration), and changing our lives for TWO years!  This month was a crazy month for me at school.  It is the end of the year so there are a million things going on, and I have to get all of the final grades ready.  We still managed to have some fun though.

The Run Down:

We took pictures for her birthday party invitation.  We tried to take some with Oliver at the end of last month, but neither of the babies had a nap while April and I were out shopping for Ollie's outfit so that was a small disaster/waste of a trip to the park.  :(

Take 1: We went to a school near April's house that has pretty brick (we had already had disasterous results at the park).  After several mishaps, we had the boys run the kids away from us so we could photograph their little faces as they chased their Daddies toward us.  Good plan.  mixed results.







Take 2: My backyard the day before I needed to order the invitations.
Where did Emmy go?


There she is!












We decided that we would buy Emmy a trampoline for her birthday.  She loves to jump and run and play. In. The. House.  I wanted her to have a reason to want to go outside more, and  a place where it is okay to jump around that is relatively safe.  We bought and put it together early before her birthday, and SHE LOVES IT.   She jumps and plays so hard that when she comes inside she is panting and her face is beat red.  (She may also smell a little like a puppy)  I think that this was definitely a good decision for her present.  She will be able to use this for years to come, and Brad and I are enjoying it too.



























We went to East Texas to visit the Zalman/Valdetero/Lee clan for Marlee's first birthday.  I made a separate post about the party, but I still think it needs to be included.  We also visited GiGi while we were in the area.  I may have taken a couple of wrong turns on our way from Kilgore to Milam, but we finally got there.





When we were home, we just really tried to make our evenings about having fun and playing as a family.  Both of us were stressed out with work stuff, so it was a nice change of pace to just "enjoy" our evenings.  I think Emmy liked it too.















On her actual birthday, we were still in school (BOO!), so she had to go to daycare.  I bought her this little outfit at The Children's Place to wear to school.  She just looked to grown up and big standing there!








Happy Birthday Emmarie Elizabeth!  We sure do love you!

Here is an Emmy Update:

She likes: Going on walks in the stroller, playing with her baby dolls (specifically the Cabbage Patch ones), reading books (she likes us to read, but sometimes it has to be all her!), the puppies (especially “Sawsha”), drinking out of "big people cups" (and sometimes taking ones that are left unattended around the house), climbing on the counters, giving hugs and kisses, having her way, dancing (she is starting to move her hips not just doing the head/shoulder bob), being outside, bath time (especially splashing), Shoes (anyone’s will do), parroting our every move and word, "singing", CLIMBING ON EVERYTHING (still), twirling around in circles, JUMPING ON HER TRAMPOLINE (x100), talking on Facetime with Rah Rah, having small battle of the wills, Despicable Me, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Piston Pete, her Minnie Mouse, her Mickey Mouse doll, "working out", and visiting at Nana's house.

She dislikes: Being told no, having to share her food (that's a trademark move though), waking up in the morning before she wants to, sitting in the cart at the store buckled in, not getting to watch MMC or Despicable Me every time the TV is on, having to apologize if she does something wrong, time-out, being asked to smile for pictures if she is not feeling it, and having to help clean up/put away toys (she thinks they should stay out all the time).

She eats: Just about anything, but she does have favorites: chicken nuggets, PIZZA (still her favorite), apple breakfast bars, ice cream, Smarties, pizza bites, CHICKEN, animal crackers, fruit grain bars, eggs, STRING CHEESE, apple slices, blueberries, PINEAPPLE, and mini corn dogs. (I do cut them into four before I give them to her). At her appointment, the doctor cleared her to eat anything she wants except peanuts so WOOHOO, we can try more stuff!

She Says: She is talking in 4-6 word sentences. "I go ride in Daddy's car!" or "I want milk please."  She is getting even more savvy and sassy these days.  She is not afraid (much to my detriment) to tell an adult no if they ask her a question or want her to do something.  "Emmy do you want chicken nuggets?" "NO!!"  She can sing her ABCs pretty well but she still leaves groups of letters out sometimes.  She can count to 12, and she will do it if I start counting to three to get her attention.  She sings "Ring Around the Rosie" when she is on the trampoline jumping.  She can sing most of the MMC theme song and the "Hot Dog Song."  She also sings "Rock-a-Bye-Baby" to her dolls when she is putting them down for a nap.

Teeth: 16 teeth all the way in, and two breaking through the skin. We still had some gaps for pictures, but it will be cute.

A Letter to My Sweet Baby Girl

Dear Emmarie,

It is hard to put into words what a magical little person you are.  Your emotions are at times too big to really fit into your little body. 

You are tenacious.  Once you set your mind to do something, get something, or be somewhere, you will do whatever it takes to bend others' wills to yours.  There is a persistence that I see in your spirit already that shows me that you will never give up or allow someone to tell you that you can't do something.   

You are loving.  Even when you are already tired or want to play, if you see me laying down on the couch or the floor, you will always come and give me a hug and kiss.  You still love to hug and be held.  And there are four words that will instantly make me smile: "I love you, Mommy." 

You are extremely empathetic.  While you are not one to shy away from a harsh word or action, you are quick to commiserate with anyone that you feel is a little down.  Sometimes when you are mean and say "No No Mommy," I will pretend to cry.  Your whole demeanor changes and instantly you are by my side giving me a hug, a kiss, and a "What's wrong Mommy?"  It is incredible and sweet just like you.

You are a dancer.  Whenever you hear a "thumpin'" baseline, you start shaking your hips, bending your knees, and moving your head.  It is so adorable, and my iPhone is a catacomb of 20 second blurbs that pay homage to your dancing skills.

You love to be with me.  If I am cooking dinner, you stand by me and watch me stir the sauce.  If I am laying on the couch trying to watch TV, you are lying right on top of me with your head on my chest.  If I am trying to "sit on the throne," you are sitting on your princess potty right beside me.  As much as I try to not get aggravated by having you constantly underfoot, at times I fail.  Whenever that happens though, I try to count to ten and remind myself that very soon there will be a time when you will no longer want to be with me 24/7.  These are precious moments that I will strive to treasure.

You are a beacon of light in both of our miserable days.  When I get home from work and just don't feel like anything could make it better, you will smile, dance, or grab my face and plant kisses all over it.   In that moment, I let everything else go and remind myself that my job stays there and this is YOUR time.

You have a bit of a short fuse (understatement much).  One second you are laughing and playing with your dolls, and in the very next instant you are a ticking time-bomb ready to explode.  "No." That is the detonator word that sets the whole tumultuous stream of tears that flows until the situation is rectified to your satisfaction.  Your will is iron, and you will not be moved.  Compromising is not an option if something is not your idea.

I can't really remember what life was like before we had you because you have filled a hole in our lives that I didn't even really know was there.  All I know is that I cannot imagine you not being there with your dolls sitting on the couch watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  I can't imagine laying down on the couch and not feeling your little body crawling up to snuggle next to me while we watch TV.  I can not imagine not seeing your little face light up with joy when you see me get there to pick you up from daycare.  You run across the playground screaming, "That's MY Mommy!  Hi Mommy! Let's go to Mommy's car!" and in that moment any stress from my day melts away. 

I hope that you will always be as funny, energetic, and full of life as you are now.
My dreams for you are as big as your emotions.  Some days as you dance around the living room doing stretches and toe touches, I think that you will become a ballerina.  When you are outside jumping on your "jumpaline" and start doing forward rolls, I think that perhaps you will be an Olympic gymnast.  When you are in the middle of a stubborn battle of the wills with me (complete with "No Mommy!"), I know in my heart that you will be a lawyer or a corporate negotiator because you already know how to win an argument and manipulate people's emotions.  Really time will only tell what all you will do, but I just want to make sure that we are doing our best to prepare you to be the best at whatever you choose.  I also hope that we are instilling honorable character traits like honesty, loyalty, integrity, and Christian values into your life.

So on your second birthday, I really want you to know how much I love you.  I love you more than Netflix or television.  I love you more than I love Internet shopping.  Some days I probably love you more than Daddy (but don't tell him!).  I love you more than life itself.  Forever and ever please just be my sweet, smart, and sassy little girl.  I will give you every opportunity that life has to offer.  I will hold your hand when something scares you.  I will be there whenever you need me.  All I ask is that you try to keep loving me and lighting up my days like you have done the past two years. 

With all my love,
Mommy