A few updates!

Where to begin!!! I do not have pictures to post with this one, but hopefully will within the next couple of days!
Life has been a tad on the hectic side. Emily had been learning so many new words here lately, it just amazes me! This past weekend we went on a quick trip to Amish country to go to a water park in Shipshewana, IN. There were so many buggies and horses...it was unreal! But the wood work was completely amazing. I took a picture of Emily rocking on one of the rocking horses. I would love to get her one, but I am not about to pay $100 for one! She had so much fun swimming.
There was a little kids area in the water park. There were 2 side by side water slides that they could use too. It was just perfect for her. I have no idea how many she down that thing! We also went down the lazy river together and she LOVED that. She woudl run and get the innertube and bring it to me when she would want to go! Uncle Rob took her down the big people water slide and she loved that too. She didn't much care for the big bucket that would fill up and then dump! It was neat to watch her interact with other children. Luckily, since I have moved back here to to Michigan, I have never had to leave Emily at a daycare of a babysitter. On the bad side of that, she has missed interacting with children her own age. This weekend, I got to sit back and watch her. It was so neat to just see the way she is with them vs. how she is with her cousins. I kind of wish there were play groups or something like that back here that I could take her to a few times a week.
And as for me, I have signed myself up for a program that the company that I work for is doing. ..The Biggest Loser!! I weighed in for the first time last Monday. Yesterday I weighed in again...I lost ONE pound! AGH! I did the cardiac diet, walked 1.5 miles on the treadmill every day, and I only lost ONE pound! However, I am trying to not let it get me down, and I am still working my butt off this week. Now next Monday if I weigh in and I have only lost a pound, then I might just break down and cry!
It is still so cold back here. This week we are going to make it to above freezing temps though!!! Last week our low's were -40 with windchills! I was freezing. I am an Oregon girl...this weather is not in my blood! Tomorrow we are expected to have a high of 27, and then Thursday...34!!! YAY!!! It is way too cold for me to take Emily out, so the poor thing can't play in the "snowk!"
I will attempt to get pictures on her very shortly. I have a few cute ones!

Weekend in the Windy City

The best part about going to Chicago in the winter are the Macy's Windows! This, of course, was Emily's favorite part of our walk on Saturday! You couldn't tell from this picture...she was in the middle of whining because she wanted to eat...which, btw...uncle Rob detoured from where we were wanting to go, to a McDonalds that was a few blocks away!

Seen this advertised on the TV and had to go see it...Millenium Park. It was so amazing. Have pictures of the kids underneath it on the other camera...the one that I do not have with me at this moment! Down below, by where you see the buildings, was where the ice skaking rink was. We got to watch them go around and resurface it while we were there. The line to ice skate wrapped around the rink!

Emily patiently watching the ice skaters! This was her first time wearing the coat that my aunt got her for Christmas...Thank you Aunt Lynn!!!

Emily's favorite part of the entire weekend...the pool! She woke up in the morning, grabbed a little swimmer diaper, walked over to me and said, "Mommy, we go swimming in the pool now?!" It was too cute. Luckily she got to go swimming 3 times while we were there.

And one of the best things about living in southwestern Michigan...only a 2 hour train ride to get to Chicago! Didn't have to use gas, drive around in crazy Chicago traffic, or pay for parking...which btw was $47 a night! OUCH!

We had so much fun this weekend. Got to have deep dish Chicago pizza, first train ride, first taxi ride, and just a weekend to relax and have fun with the kids! I am already wanting to go back!!!

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!