Potatoes

Emma had an encounter with mashed potatoes yesterday. Like her mama, she loves them! The pictures just don't quite capture it but she was hilarious!

Eleven Months

Emma is now eleven months. She is continuing to grow in so many ways. She has discovered the word no and says it all day long. This past week we have really started to see signs of separation anxiety. Thankfully she has had several times with sitters and been able to learn that Mommy and Daddy will come home. She is eating just about every food and has started weaning and drinking cold milk in a sippy cup. Another new behavior is that she has developed a great love for baby dolls. She walks around all day with her Raggedy Ann and when we go anywhere with dolls she grabs one immediately and carries it with her wherever she goes. Yesterday I dressed her in her matching dress with Raggedy Ann that Mrs. Ferone made when she was born and took some pictures. I just couldn't choose one or two because some of them were just so sweet, so there is an album at the bottom with those pictures. It is so hard to believe that she is almost one but I am so enjoying every day with her and experiencing something new each day as she grows and develops.

Eleven Months

I Love Dresses!

She is as much of a girl as we could have imagined! We brought her home from church yesterday and took off her dress in the living room. I was too tired to get up and get her another outfit so we let her run around without clothes on for a while. We thought she would enjoy it, but after a little while Emma came up to us holding her dress and pointing to herself. After a sweet minute of watching her try to tell us that she wanted the dress on, Mike put it on her. Emma stood completely still until the dress was buttoned and everything (any of you who have dressed her know what a feat that is). She proceeded to walk around the house swishing the fabric of the dress and pointing to it. It was super sweet. Of course we wondered if it was just by chance that this all happened, so like any good parent we set her up again! We took off the dress and almost immediately the whole thing happened again, except this time we let her try to put it on herself. She LOVES to wear dresses, play with dolls, carry around her shoes, brush her hair, play with purses and put on lotion. Just wait until she tastes chocolate!!!

Emma has been carrying around my "purse" for the past few days and filling it with toys. She puts it over her shoulder and neck like Mike does with his work bag and walks around. (Don't worry, I watch her when the strap is around her neck.)

Here she is trying to put the dress on...the best part is how she is grabbing a handful of her thighs!

Trying to put it on by herself...

"I DID IT!"

She walked all over swishing her dress and playing with the fabric. It was priceless.

"Look at my dress!"

Going to School

Emma and I went to Armleder to have lunch with Dorian yesterday. While we were in her Pre-K room, Emma found a baby doll to play with. She carried the doll around for an hour even though the doll weighed almost as much as Emma. She would just giggle and kiss the baby's face. It was just so sweet to see her enjoy playing with that baby so much. She doesn't have a doll at home (Don't worry, Grammy has claimed that gift for her birthday!) so it was even sweeter when she enjoyed it so much. She is such a sweet girl! I love having a daughter!

Emma loved the baby!

She carried the baby by her head. I tried to help her do it another way but it was just as awkward.

She just giggled and shook with excitement.

Meeting Kaira

Yesterday Emma and I drove to Kentucky to meet Kaira, Bert and 'Becca. 'Becca was my roommate and best friend through all of college. Her daughter was born 8 days before Emma and while they were in the area we were able to get together for a little while. It was such a treat to catch up with Bert and 'Becca and watch Emma and Kaira play together. Kaira is unbelievably precious. Her pictures are cute, but she is even cuter in person and I think that her very sweet personality makes her even more precious!

It was fun to experience this new "phase" of life together, although it made me miss that years that we spent seeing each other every day and being such a significant part of each other's lives. I have not kept in contact with 'Becca like I wish I had but spending time with her just helped remind me how much I miss her and how much respect I have for her. She is an amazing woman and has always been an amazing friend. Hopefully the coming years will bring more times together and more memories.

Thanks, Bert and 'Becca for sacrificing the time to come see us! We miss you already!

Emma tried to teach Kaira how to be brave on the swings but she just wasn't sure she liked it!

This was the most common sight of Emma Kate...walking/running in the other direction. She loved playing in the grass and picking up the leaves and bark. I had to keep a close watch on her that the rocks and other nature items were not digested! I cannot honestly say the time together was relaxing. Emma is a very BUSY girl!

The girls were good sports! It was warm, but they enjoyed being outside and meeting each other. Emma tried to "pet" Kaira's head and once again the word "gentle" was used countless times.

The girls!!! What a fun time together!

Grammy and Poppa Come to Visit

Grammy and Poppa arrived on Wednesday night and stayed until Sunday morning. It was so much fun for them to be here in Emma's normal routine and activities. They even kept Emma overnight so Mike and I could get away for a night. While they were here Emma started saying Poppa and just this morning was sitting in her chair saying Poppa and pointing to his seat. We are so sad that they are gone but are so thankful for the time with them.

We had the opportunity to go to the park each day they were here.

Emma has started playing on the equipment. It is fun and sad at the same time. She mostly climbs up and stands there watching the kids run past her. I think she really enjoys being in the middle of the action!

Crawling through the tunnel.

More swinging.

I put Emma on my lap to swing and she just laughed and laughed.

Poppa, Grammy and Emma

We can't go anywhere without Ducky!

Emma very much enjoys riding in her wagon and Poppa pulled her all over.

Emma was showing Poppa where the doggies live. She looks for them every time we are outside.

Just relaxing in the wagon with Daddy's sunglasses.

What a fun trip! Thank you Grammy and Poppa for coming and especially for loving Emma so much and wanting to be a part of her daily activities and making an effort to build that relationship with her. We miss you already!

A Special Day

This morning Emma and I had the privilege of going to the Courthouse with the Saxby's for Anabel's final step in the adoption process. The judge asked a lot of questions and then it was all complete. We have prayed so much for this little girl and are so thankful that she is here for us to love! Emma and Bel are such good friends and it will be fun now that Emma can run around with her. It is very special to have Emma and Bel growing up together just as Amy and I did. Nothing can begin to compare to a 24 years of life and memories and it is fun to watch our girls begin that friendship as well. We love you, Bel!

As a side note, we had to take pictures outside because I got "in trouble" for taking pictures in the courthouse. Evidently that is a no no. Since I don't frequent the courthouse I didn't know. I guess I should be thankful for that.