A little bragging...

Ok so I admit it, this post is a little bragging. I apologise to everyone. But I'm so proud of my little munchkin that I feel that every once in awhile, it's ok to say HURRAH! about your own offspring... but only every once in awhile.
So yesterday we were at the pediatricians office getting her 1 year checkup. In an effort to encourage parents to read to their children the office gives you a free board book when you go in for regular check-ups. So the doctor came in and handed me the book which I immediately handed to Emery. He asked me a question about something and I started talking but before I even got a sentence out he stopped me and said in a shocked voice, "Look! Look at what she's doing!"
What she was doing was opening the pages of the book and "talking" to herself as she pointed at the pictures on each page. This is completely normal behavior for her so it didn't seem odd to me, but he said, "Wow she's turning the pages! And she's pointing at things with her finger instead of her whole hand! She's really smart!"
"Well," I said, "We read to her every night and we let her turn the pages."
But inside I was bursting with pride! The pediatrician said my baby is really smart! Huzzah!
Of course... I knew that already. But it makes me feel great to hear it from someone else too. :)

Remembering one year ago...

Since Emery just turned one year old I've been thinking about one year ago how I felt on this day. My time in the hospital was such a magic time.
There was lots of pain. I was surprised at the postpartum pain. I had mentally fortified myself for the pain of birth and left no mental energy for the pain of postpartum and it took me off guard! I couldn't even get out of bed easily or sit down, or use the toilet.
And there was frustration. Emery wouldn't or couldn't breastfeed and I didnt know it then but her problems breastfeeding would turn into months and months of frustration, anxiety, and heartbreak for me... but at that moment I was frustrated that it wasn't working, but confident that soon it would work out fine. With the exception of a couple of nightmare experiences with the breastfeeding consultants in the hospital (shudder shudder) I felt pretty good about that.
But there was also contentment mixed with wonder. Today is the Sabbath and I remember that her second day of life was also the Sabbath. I lay next to her in the hospital bed and I told her all about the Sabbath. I told her about Jesus and how he died for her. And I told her about creation and how God rested on the Sabbath. And I told her why the Sabbath is important to me. And I told her about Adam and Eve, Noah and the ark, and Jonah and the whale, and David and Goliath... and I remember being surprised to discover that almost all the bible stories I know involve death and destruction.
But there was something magic about that time. When there was nothing in the whole entire world except Jimmy and Emery. And when Jimmy was asleep, there was nothing but Emery. And I held her little feet in my hands and I felt her hair and her hands and her tiny neck and her perfect nose and her soft ears. And I never minded getting up to rock her or feed her because she was the only thing in the world that mattered. And that feeling of contentment is what I remember most. The fear and the pain and the heartbreak all fade, but the contentment and the wonder is what I remember. And I hope I can always remember it.

1st Birthday!

How can Emery be one year old already? I can't believe it! She still seems like such a baby to me. We had a little birthday party for her yesterday on her birthday. We played silly games like "Name that baby food" and "guess how many cheerios are in the jar." We ate yummy snacks and pink cupcakes and opened presents, even though I told people they didn't need to bring gifts. She still got lots of fun toys and cute clothes!
And she was so tired that she went to bed a half hour early and I think even then it wasn't soon enough!
Happy birthday to my little baby!

Road Trip March 2010!

Grandma...

Grandpa...

Cousin Owen...

KayLynn and Kimber!

We just got back from a crazy road trip vacation! We all had a blast visiting family... truly it was good for the heart to see everyone. I only wish it hadn't been such a whirlwind trip and we could have spent longer with each family member. As it is, we stayed in five different homes during the week and a half we were gone.

First I went to my cousin Katie's wedding shower. It was fun to see all my relatives, and of course, I love wedding-related stuff. It's so exciting because Katie is my youngest cousin and here she is getting married!

Then we went to visit my sister Erin and my cousin Kelly, Kelly's husband Ricky, and her son Owen. Owen is only 4 months older than Emery and they had lots of fun playing... well... near each other. They haven't quite figured out how to play together yet... but it was fun for us adults! :)

Then we went to see Jimmy's mom and sister and their respective families. Again, Emery had a baby about her age, her cousin Kimber to play... around. Kimber is adorable, but she was going through a stage where she would walk up to whatever Emery was playing with and take it away forcefully saying "MINE!" This would make Emery cry, but if we forced Kimber to let Emery play with her toys then Kimber would cry... so that was fun! :) My favorite was when Kimber's mom (Jimmy's sister) Tracy would hold Emery then Kimber would fuss and cry and cling to her mama's leg and say over and over "MINE! MINE!" I don't think poor Kimber was sad to see us leave.

On the upside, Kimber's older sister KayLynn gave me a FABULOUS pedicure... she's hired! and it was really fun to see Tracy (Jimmy's sister) and her husband Josh. We even went on this crazy outing trying to catch little calves! When we finally caught one I learned a whole new respect for mama cows... who knew that cows could be agressive??

It was really good to see Jimmy's mom too, although Emery had to sleep in the bathroom because the temporary house they're living in while they build their house is all one room... except the bathroom. So in order to avoid the lights and sound and people milling around, we put her inthe bathroom. She didn't seem to mind at all! :)

Next we went to see Jimmy's dad and stepmom, Jim and Rene. I think Emery struck fear into their hearts because she was "cruising" the furniture and basically tearing their house apart. We spent the whole time following her around saying... No Emery don't tear up the magazines... No Emery, stop pushing buttons on the DVD player... No Emery, Don't poke your cousin Shielle (who's only 6 months old) in the eye... No Emery, don't pull all the books out of the bookcase... No Emery, don't eat the cat food...

Jim and Rene watch Shielle 5 days a week while her parents are at work. She has been a difficult colicky baby and she always sleeps best in grandma Rene's arms. When she's not hanging out on grandma's lap, she sits and plays with her toys in a little "house stroller" they have for her. Having Emery there was a reminder that their days of having an un-babyproofed house are nearing an end and soon Shielle will be tearing around just like Emery is!

On our drive home we stopped at my grandma's house for the night. It was nice to see her too but by that time we really just wanted to get home! So we only visited for a few minutes over breakfast and then headed on home.

You know that commercial where this couple gets back from a vacation and she falls face-first onto her bed and says (it's subtitled so you can understand her muffled words) "I love you... I missed you... I'll never leave you again!" That's how Jimmy and I felt sleeping in our own bed. and I'm sure Emery would agree when she was back in her own crib again!