Reflecting on 2008

January: Wearing the sweater my grandma knitted for her...she LOVED it!

February: And I thought we were going to be potty trained!!! HAHA!! But she looked too cute in her panties, t-shirt and her uncle Rob's shoes!

March: She was finally into the whole easter egg hunting this year!

April: First trip into Chicago. We have flown into Chicago a few times, but never actually went into the city. She had so much fun!

May: Oh the sunny weather returned! (Looking for it again already!) She got to play on the playset this year. Uncle Rob put some boards up so she wouldn't fall.

June: First trip to the Air Zoo in Kalamazoo. She had so much fun, but was completely worn out by the time we got done.

July: First trip to Canada and first trip to a zoo! She is so well behaved. I am such a lucky mom to have a daughter who loves to travel.

August: First stay in Kalamazoo. She had so much fun playing in the pool!

September: Having fun being a princess. She loves my sunglasses!

October: First "snowk" of the year! She hated it last year and would scream whenever she got near it. This year she runs out to play in it!

November: First time actually playing out in the snow this year.

December: My princess turned 3!!! It has been an interesting learning experience this year. She has changed so much and has taught me PATIENCE!!! Oh has she ever taught me patience! We shall see what 2009 brings us!!

Christmas Morning!

Christmas Eve making reindeer food! Kenneth, Tina and Emmy each got a turn to stir the food and then they got to stand at the front door while Jen threw the food out in the front yard to attract the reindeer to the house!

Emily and Tina got the cookies ready for Santa...and of course the girls had to taste their work!

Out of all of the presents that she got....the socks were her favorite to open! My child is extremely weird!

My mom wanted to make sure that she got a Cabbage Patch doll because my sister and I each had one when we were little. She couldn't find them back in Oregon, but we had tons back here. So, she sent me the money to get it for her, which left me with picking one out! Of course I had to get the blonde one because Emily is blonde! She doesn't look so thrilled here, but she is only upset because I made her stop playing to take a picture with it!

When I finally got it out of the box, she LOVED it! She fed it, pretended that it was crying, gave her hugs, and took her for a walk. Her imaginary play is growing more and more every day.

Jen and I seen these small purses at the store and decided that the girls needed them! I am sure they will find tons of things to hide in them!


And last but not least...the outfit that Emily's great grandma...my grandma...got her. It is made out of fleece and it so warm! The hat and gloves aunt Jen and uncle Rob got her! I just loved this face and decided to post this picture...it is the classic Emmy attitude!

Now I am dealing with the attitude over being overwhelmed with all of the gifts! Luckily, I get to go to work in 2 hours!!! Good luck uncle Rob and Aunt Jen!

Oh so much has changed

Hard to believe that 3 years ago today that I gave birth to this little miracle. So much was going on this time 3 years, not knowing if Emily was even going to make it.

Here she is on her 1st birthday driving her uncle Rob's car home! She was so tiny then, I still can't get over how much she changed that year....or even how much she has changed now since then!
And here she is on her 2nd birthday...kind of into her presents, but no so much....she still looked cute!

And this evening...having the time of her life and enjoying every little bit of that cake! How far we have come in the past 3 years. I can't believe all of the lessons she has taught me and the amount of patience that I have acquired with her...even though sometimes I feel like I don't have so much. I am a very lucky mom to have been blessed with her little spirit. She has gotten me through so much and has made me want to be a better person. If it weren't for this little girl, I am not sure where I would be right now. Happy 3rd Birthday my little princess...thank you for making my life worth living...you mean more to me than you will ever know.

Happy 3rd Birthday Emmy!

The ENTIRE baby set that my parents got for her! She loves it. Almost all of it fits into her princess castle that they got her last year for Christmas except for 2 pieces...and even then she can't get in with it!

I got her this learning laptop. It teaches letters, numbers, spelling, etc. Uncle Rob was sitting on the couch using his laptop and Emmy just got up right next time him, with a pillow as well, and started using her lap top right along with him!

And of course cake! She loves her cousins! Took the greatest pictures of her lickign the frosting out of the container after I got done frosting the cake with her face covered in it, but those pictuers are not on this memory card!

She was extremely spoiled today and had a great time. Getting her to go to bed, however, is a different story! She was on a whole bunch of sugar from the cake, and very excited about her new toys that she didn't want to go to bed! This year was fun because she couldn't wait to tear into her presents. Last year, she would pick at one for 20 minutes and then only want that gift. Had to beg her to open the others! This year, she opened one, looked at it, set it aside and went for the next one! She had so much fun. Thank goodness I am now done with her birthday for another year...now just have to get through Christmas!!!

FINALLY!!!

Ever since I found out I was having a girl back in August of 2005, I have been looking to get these wooden letters and do her name so I could hang them in her room. Sadly, every place that had the letters, NEVER had a "E". And then this past Saturday...just days before her third birthday, Wal-mart FINALLY had the "E!" YAY! I got all of the letters and finally got to sit down and paint them today, with a little assitance from my princess of course! I was just so excited, I had to take a picture of it!

FIrst Dentist Appt!

First thing to get done....X-rays!! Oh my goodness...poor little thing was so scared she didn't want to open her mouth so they could x-ray the back teeth...so they just took the front x-rays and moved on! Went into an examining room and I told the dental assistant that I had been worried about her front tooth because it came in with a dark line down the middle of it. Well, come to find out that the enamel hadn't completely covered the tooth and that is what that was. Solution: to put a crown on it! AHHHHHHHHHHH! And when were they going to do be doing this crown? Oh today!!! Why not make the first dentist appointment a great one! So, we moved into another room after they cleaned her teeth.Which, btw...when they put the fluoride on her teeth, about 5 minutes later she got sick! They said it was completely normal for younger children. No one warned me of this, so for all of you first time mothers out there, your child may get sick from the flouride...F.Y.I.! The hygienists were so awesome, I couldn't have asked for a better experience with them. When we got into the room where they would be putting on the crown, they laid her on the table and let her touch ALL of the stuff...the spit sucker, the water hose thing, the black thing that they put in between the top and bottom teeth to keep your mouth open, and even a mask. They wanted to make sure she was knowing what was going to go in her mouth. She freaked out when they put the needle in her gums to numb the gums and tooth and then they let her sit for 10 minutes. She was very calm and talking to me about how she was a princess and that she wanted to eat! Mind you, I didn't let her eat breakfast before we left because I didn't want her to have dirty teeth! The laughing gas they gave her was strawberry flavored! It was the neatest thing ever! She kept it on her nose the entire time! Then the dentist came in....and the screaming began. I got to sit by her feet while the dentist fit the tooth for the crown and the two hygienists held Emily still. She screamed the entire time. My eyes filled with tears and all I wanted to do was take her away from them, but I knew that she needed this done. It was horrible! As soon as they would turn off the spit sucker, Emily would quit screaming...hmm...I think the only thing that bothered her was the noise. After they were all done, I immediately sat her up and kissed her and asked how my princess was doing. She replied with, "I ok mommy, I cincess!" (aka princess!) She got to pick out 4 toys from the treasure chest because she was so good. I think I did worse than she did!

This is about 5 minutes after she got her crown put on...poor little thing...I still feel so bad for her.
And about 10 minutes after we got in the car, she passed out! I think she needed the sleep so badly...poor thing is probably traumatized!

Ready for Christmas!

Yup...that is my girl...already learning how to use a computer. Sadly, this morning she knew how to play the videos on the digital camera....I have such a smart daughter!

It is official...the Christmas tree is up, decorations everywhere, and it won't stop snowing...which means...it is officially that time of year! I have been crazy busy working, so Jen as been busy decorating the house since she doesn't have me here to keep her entertained! She took these pictures of the kids the other night in front of the tree. I love how they turned out. Emily is super excited about all of the decorations. She has to plug in the lights every morning...I think she did last year too, but last year is a fog. She gets up in the morning, gives me a kiss and heads directly over to the tree and plugs the lights. She then proceeds to stand there and just stare and say, "OH HOW PRETTY!" while beaming from ear to ear. Only issue is trying to get her to keep the decorations on the tree!!!

This and That

I have yet to get a picture of me in my scrubs...well...a good one at least!! The med tech that I normally work with is 7 months pregnant and HUGE!!! I don't think I was ever that big with either one of my girls. But any ways, I found this ball and stuck it under my shirt one night and showed her that I was just like her...I even waddled to make it better! She was laughing so hard and another co-worker of mine took this picture! I literally walked around like this for about an hour. Once by back started to hurt, I took the ball out! Carrying a ball around is a whole lot easier than an actual baby! However, carrying a baby is the greatest feeling in the world. Hopefully one day when I get married, I will be able to experience it again. Who knows what the furture holds...been full of surprises for me for the past 4 years!!!

And here is my stubborn daughter who wanted NOTHING to do with Santa last weekend. I was in the hospital last year when Santa was at Wal-Mart and her aunt Jen took her. This year I was completely excited to actually be there when she got to see Santa...thinking that she would be into it this year. HA! She wasn't happy until she got her candy cane!! I am so happy that I don't have a strong willed child...not sure where she gets it!!!

I have the cutest video to post of Emily, but don't have that memory card on the laptop right now, and I am too tired to walk across the room to get it!!! I know...LAZY...but that is what happens when I get called in on my day off!!! I will try to post it soon....Lord knows I need to get back into taking pictures again!

Happy 1st Birthday Kara Grace

One year ago today beautiful little Kara was born. It was a whirlwind of the most difficult days of my life, but to watch it be the most wonderful day for an amazing couple has made it all worth while. I have been so very blessed to see pictures and videos of her growing up. Words cannot describe how lucky of a birthmother that I am to have this much communication and so many updates so often. I am very thankful and grateful for Kim and Aaron. They are amazing parents and Kara is so very lucky....her birth father and I are also so very lucky. Kara is so loved beyond words and always will be by 4 parents. This is just the first birthday for them to celebrate with their daughter with so many more to come. Happy 1st Birthday Kara...you are always in my thoughts and heart forever.

Playing in the "snowk!"

The first real snow of the winter finally came Thursday night...and there was A LOT of it! Sadly, I was at work when it all started and had the worst time driving home in it, but after driving 10 mph the whole way and barely able to see 3 feet in front of me, I made it! By Friday morning, there was over a foot of snow outside! Mind you, there was NONE when I left for work Thursday night! Of course it was freezing outside and very windy, so I didn't take Emily outside to play in it until today. Figured I had a day off and the wind was all that terrible, Emily might enjoy playing in the snow! Grandma next door was outside playing with Tina and Kenneth already, and Jen and I took Emily out to join. She had so much fun sledding down the small hill that grandma Sue made for the kids. It is going to be a very cold winter this year, but the kids should have fun playing in it!

In other news: Work is still going great. Keeping me super busy, which I love! I have been training new employee's for a week straight, which slows me up some, but it is ok. I have to work on Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, but luckily I will still have Christmas morning with Emily. I did put in a request to have her birthday off, and my boss already promised to give it to me. She says I am her workaholic and she owes me!

And, Emily has been in this temper tantrum mood lately. If she doesn't get her way, she throws a huge fit. How much can she make me lose what little of my mind I have left?! However, Saturday it was cute. We were leaving Wal-mart...heading towards the doors, and Emily kept screaming because she wanted to walk in front of everyone, but Tina kept trying to get next to her so she wouldn't get lost. After listening to the screaming for about 20 seconds, I had enough and walked up next to her and grabbed her by the hand and started walking with him. Well, she wanted NOTHING to do with that and started yelling, "Help...Help....HELP ME JEN....HELP!" Not only did she start this near the front doors of Walmart, but she continued all the way to the car!!! This stage has to pass soon...I can only pray it passes soon!

3 year pictures!

I went to finish paying off the pictures tonight and I was able to pick up the CD with ALL of the pictures that they took...even the ones that I didn't like so much. Of course I am not going to post those! These are the pictures that I did purchase and I am more than thrilled with them! I can't wait to pick them up next week!