Happy 3rd Birthday, Emily!!!

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY TO EMILY!!!

She's smart, strong, curious, independent, sweet, stubborn and sassy and we wouldn't have it any other way. Thank you, Emily, for all the smiles you've brought to our lives and for the love you've filled our home and hearts with. You made us Mommy & Daddy and no matter how big you get you'll always be our baby girl.

We are beyond lucky to watch you grow -- you constantly amaze us and we're so very proud of you! Love you so much, baby girl! Sto lat!!!

2.997 years old!

Her last night going to bed as a 2 year old.... tomorrow this big girl will be THREE!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

My funny valentine, my baby, my big girl, the most lovable being I know, my heart, the reason I get up each morning (and middle of the night) and giggle each day -- the world is a better, brighter place with your light, laughter and love shining on us. 💗💕💜 

Happy Valentine's Day!!! 😘😍

Guess what?

Emily is going to be a big sister!!! (due June 2017)

p.s. -- Yes, we're all still alive despite being MIA for months.  :)

1.997 Years Old!

Today is Emily's last day as a 1 year old ... Tomorrow she'll be TWO!!

Dear Emily,

2 years ago Daddy and I grabbed our bags and drove to the hospital, at once excited and nervous about getting the chance to finally meet you after all those months of waiting and wondering what you'd be like. I could never have predicted how fast and how deep I'd fall in love with you, my baby girl. The past 2 years have flown by, and I'm so blessed to have the opportunity to watch you grow, day by day. I'm so proud of you and can't even begin to tell you how much I love you. My only wish is that time could slow down -- you're getting so big, so fast!!!

"I am your biggest fan, I hope you know I am, But do you think you can, Somehow, Slow down...."

Love you always, more than all the stars in the sky!
xo, Mama

P.S. -- I hope you have THE HAPPIEST "birsha" ever tomorrow!!!!  :)

23 Months Old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

23 Months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I have so much to say about this little girl, but for my last monthly photo update {I promised to stop at age 2, gulp!} I'll try to keep it short:

Endless love, energy, curiosity, independence, sleepless nights & smiles!

Emily has just started to speak in "sentences"!  The first of her "full" sentences I took note of on April 19th went something like this: "Fla. Emmy pool, mama fee." {Translation: Emily pulled the flag and Mama fixed it.}

All About Emily:

• 35 inches tall, 31 pounds
• Size 3T in pajamas and bathing suits, Size 18-24 months (but those that do fit won't for long!)/2T in most shirts and pants, Size 6-6.5 shoes, Size 7 diapers (yes, I said 7!)
• Loves: dressing up her Elmo doll, going to the park (running, sliding and swinging FAST), blowing bubbles, drawing with sidewalk chalk, pressing the buttons in the elevators, using my key to open our front door, wearing Mommy's/Daddy's shoes, negotiating to watch Sesame Street ("one Elmo!" with her little index finger pointing up), choosing her clothes and trying to dress herself, watching big kids play and run, sitting on the kitchen floor (especially to eat snacks), standing on her stool to wash her hands in the sink, generally being silly, wearing her sunglasses on her head, sensory play and art projects, and sitting on her Elmo potty.

 

Notice what's in Elmo's mouth!

Watching "big kids" (3-4 years old) play with their dolls -- they didn't want to share and it nearly broke my heart!

• Emily has been practicing sharing and also has recently eaten a bunch of new foods!  I am VERY proud of her!!

Grilled Cheese

Shredded BBQ Chicken

Chicken Sloppy Joe

Easter Dinner -- Turkey, Stuffing, Peas, Mashed Potatoes, Cheese (Unfortunately this didn't go over well)

That's salmon teriyaki with rice, and she ate it!

Beef Stir Fry

• Unsurprisingly, her "very active" personality hasn't slowed at all, and she's pretty brave!  In fact, too brave!  I have mini heart attacks often the park.  Recently, she decided to hop up on the dining room table and stroll to the other side while I popped into her room FOR LITERALLY 30 SECONDS to put a pair of socks away.  This kid!!!

• Firsts:  Emily set the table for Easter and did such a great job.  She also was absolutely adorable to watch, as she was so serious about her task and proud!

LOVE YOU LOTS, MY LITTLE MUNCHKIN!!!! I cannot believe you'll soon be 2!! I can't WAIT to see what wonderful things life has in store for you as you grow, grow, grow!

Wearing her cowgirl hat and "neigh" socks for crazy hat and socks day!

 

 

22 Months Old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tap, tap, is this thing on????.....

Presenting...

On March 22, my once-itty-bitty turned 22 months old!!  In less than 2 short months, she'll be TWO YEARS OLD!!!  I can't even believe my own ears when I say that!

All About Emily:

• Weighing in at approx. 30 pounds, and standing somewhere between 33.5-34 inches (she's too wiggly to measure!), Emily is growing wonderfully!!
• Wearing Size 6 diapers, Size 6 shoes, and mostly Size 18-24 months clothing, though she has a few outfits that are 2T and a pair of pajamas that are 3T!!!  Her hair is getting so long, and is a beautiful golden blonde with curls at the end!

• Emily loves: stealing the hand towel from the rod and smirking while I'm washing my hands, standing on her stool, cleaning the countertops with her sponge, helping with vacuuming/sweeping, reading in her "houf" (castle), her Nursery Rhymes book during mealtimes, dancing around to music, singing "The Wheels on the Bus", going to the park, and coloring with "pens" (markers/crayons/anything that writes)!!!  She also recently got a table & chairs set which she enjoys sitting at like a big girl.  :)

  

    

• She's slowly but surely starting to eat more foods, which makes this mama very happy!
• Emily is starting to use 2-word phrases, she's getting pretty good at brushing her teeth, and is suddenly obsessed with Mommy's ponytail and brushing my hair.  She also occasionally tries to blow her nose, but hasn't quite gotten the hang of that yet.

• New this month, Emily says "houf" (house) and "mouf" (mouse/mouth), "fash" (fast) and "so" (slow), and knows most of her body parts.
• Alas, her feet are no longer biscuit-shaped.  But they're still adorable.  And she loves standing on top of our feet, for some reason:

• Emily has started imitating us more and more, and has definitely entered the world of pretend play.  She wraps up her Elmo doll in a blanket and rocks him to sleep, and also decided to utilize Mommy's accessories one day, which had us giggling:

• Emily & Daddy have been taking swim lessons, and she has gotten so skilled and brave in the water!!!  She can hold her breath when dunked under, kick her legs and arms, and she LOVES the mat exercises they do.  She was a bit hesitant of the mat at first, but since she's got the hang of it, she is obsessed!

  

• Guess who attended her first rock concert???  The Fuzzy Lemons were performing in town, and we scored some tickets!  It was adorable, and so fun for the kids!

• She's finally realized that she's tall enough and strong enough to climb out of her crib, and she's started doing just that.  The day after she turned 22 months old, out she climbed, in a matter of minutes, with barely a peep at 2am.  I had just laid her back in her crib, fast asleep, and by the time I got into bed, she was awake and calling for us.  I turned to Shep to ask him to go get her before she climbed out, and before he even lifted his head from his pillow, I heard a swishing sound (which were her pajamas brushing against the crib railing), she pushed our door open and sauntered into our room.  All in a few minutes it was game. over.
• This little lady is into everything, and keeps us busy all the time!!!

Here are a few more pics of the little lady at 22 months old.  The first one is an adorable photo of Emily, wearing the coat I wore when I was her age!  She looks regal, if I do say so myself!  And the coat isn't too shabby either, considering it's over twenty okay, fine, thirty years old!  ;)