Extra Photos

Giving hugs to her friend, Tessa, 05/01/11

With daddy, 04/20/11

Picking Flowers

Flower Crown

Shopping with friend, Kaitlynn, 05/09/11

With daddy at Luke's b-day party, 05/07/11

Teeth brushing time!

11 months

Dear Emily -

You are growing so quickly!! Every day you are doing something new, making some sort of new growth and change.

You zoom up stairs now, and where last Saturday you couldn't figure out how to get back down... yesterday you did it. You crawled down backwards. Good job!!!

Yesterday we met with Charis and her daughter for coffee, and you gave them a hug goodbye. I'm so proud of you. You're not ready and full of those kisses yet, to share with others, but the hugs are there! While at the coffee shop Charis took some pictures...

Katie handed me a barbie yesterday while Charis and I were talking, and you picked up the barbie brush and started brushing her hair. You are so cute!!

You had a fourth tooth come through last week, a fifth is pushing through, and a sixth you can see is so very close. You've been such a good sport during this teething time.

You still really do not like to hold still during diaper changes. It can be a struggle to hold you there while trying to clean you up and get your next diaper back on - attached - even... there are times I fail and have to reset you back down, restraighten the half on diaper, and reattach it again. I do get frustrated sometimes but keep it inside. I know that years from now I'll laugh at this all :)

Last night you tried some japanese noodles that your dad bought.... you loved them! I think they're pretty darn good too. I think they may just be a new favorite of yours, you kept asking for another bite.

I can't ever give you enough hugs or kisses, just smelling you while carrying you makes me grin. A perfect angel and little dream!

Dear Emily -

Oh how you've grown!! I share so much with your dad over online chat, that I find I don't end up coming here to type out all your new experiences, adventures, and advances. You are amazing, Emily. Every day you do something new, advance that next step in some sort of way.

If I was to choose two things that I love the most that you do right now.... it would be how deeply you hug. When you go in to someone's arms, if you wish to show affection you wrap your arms around them and hug with your entire little body. It's amazing, and I can't help but to take that moment and just hug you back - hold you - for as long as you wanted to hug.

The next, would be how you communicate with animals. You talk back to your sheep, and you and Ben (Goffin Cockatoo) talk back and forth to eachother. You'll also talk back to the rooster when he crows. It brings so much laughter, I love it.

I love sharing everything I can with your dad. You can feel his pride in his words, but he also researches and learns what he can to surrounding your growth steps. I am so proud that he's your dad, and care so much about him.

You still are a strong nurser, and although you love food you'll still quickly welcome the option to nurse. You like your sheeps milk too, but nursing is still your first choice. I enjoy it, and soak up all of this time and closeness with you right now. Each day I cherish, what a dream you are.

I love you

Dear Emily ~

My amazing little girl. What would life be like if you weren't here with us? I'd miss your giggles, humor, kisses, precious feet, heart grasping touches, and looking in to one of the most beautiful hearts I've ever met. You are so incredible.

You fall asleep against me, and I run my fingers through the little bit of hair you have. Run my fingers across your skin, feel your little fingers, and marvel of the pure magic of life that brought your little body together.... so perfectly. I've noticed two little birthmarks on your back. Angel kisses :)

Today Jennifer and I were talking about the blessings donors bring in to our lives, and she commented how very much your dad loves you and how obvious it is. Oh, how much he does Emily. When you're with him his eyes just sparkle and you can see the pride radiate from him. When we talk online about you, you can hear the pride in his words. You are so very much loved.

There's a moment of thoughts that creep across the magical bliss of love for you, and it's the moments that could have so easily taken you from us. I still wake up and check your breathing at night. A read last week about a mother who lost her infant son, she went to check on him sleeping and he had left this world :( I remember too clearly the panic and fear I wouldn't wake up to get you to take that breath. Each night I fell asleep terrified, and prayed.

Tonight I picked you up and you jumped up and down in my lap grinning - looked at me in my eyes and then leaned forward and gave me an open mouth kiss on my cheek. It took me a bit before I could muster up the ability to wipe away the dripping slobber :) and as I type this my heart just skips in love. Tonight you also stuck your tummy out for tummy kisses - oh such cuteness!

I look behind me and Alyssa is curled up with you. She took you from me and asked me if I could turn on some music. You curled into her on her shoulder and fell asleep. Now the two of you are laying together, sleeping, on the pillow. She loves you so very much, and without doubt you can see all the love you have for her too.

Sweet dreams my little Emily.

Three Teeth!! Plus many thoughts.....

Dear Emily ~

As I type this you're laying in my lap half asleep, nursing. You're 8mo now. Eight months.... not too much longer and you'll be sitting in front of you're first birthday cake! As if it was yesterday I remember holding you as a tiny little baby in my arms... you're not so tiny anymore. You are full of so much life and laughter, you never cease to make me laugh along side you. You bring magic in to each day.

A while ago I moved my bed out, which you seemed to fall off of more often then my poor heart could handle anymore, and have a setup on the floor which I enjoy. I also have a baby gate around us so you have the freedom to still play with your toys if you wish, while I can cat nap. You are safe, that's the most important thing to me. You seem to really enjoy it. Last week your brother was awake doing homework while we slept and I remember you nursing and crawling around, while I remained half asleep. He told me the next day that you woke up and wondered down to the end of the "bed", played with your toys, came back - started nursing - and fell back asleep with me. Oh how much I love our sleepy times together. This morning I was up before you answering some emails, you made a "good morning" noise, smiled at me - and while I watched you closed your eyes and fell back asleep. You are so precious, Emily.

Last week we had a scary thing happen. With documents that had to be taken care of very early the next morning, I stayed the night at your dads house. We went for dinner and then rented a movie. You were protected in his arms while we walked, when in the darkness of the night a pothole type spot (circle holes on the side of the sidewalk that is usually covered) wasn't seen and your dad tripped. He went down so hard, but somehow with all his will he kept you protected. With the force of the fall and forward motion, you came out of his arms and slid forward across the pavement when his elbow and wrist hit the ground. My heart can't thank him enough for how he instinctual embraced you as long as he did, for all you ended up with was a tiny scratch on your head and barely a bump. He is my hero. You cried for maybe 10sec and went on grinning and babbling. Your dad limped and held his arm. You were ok. He is still healing... you are safely asleep in my lap. Hopefully the city will take care of it before anyone else gets hurt.

"Thank you, Shawn, for protecting our daughter - I hope your wounds finish healing soon and that you have no lasting injuries".

The piano!!! This is still your most favorite item. When your grandparents (my parents) were here, I pulled out the piano so grandma could see how much you loved it. Well before you were on your way she bought it for the family for Christmas. You have seemed to aquire it by the passion you show :) I had your dad place you about 3ft back, left us giggling as you scrambled/crawled excitedly and started playing :)

Here's a video that I took for your dad to share with him your delight, of course it brought up all the wonderment of what you may enjoy as you grow and how we could nurture your passions as you show them:

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

You are so loved Emily. My heart wraps around you every moment. It's been so very precious to watch the relationship and love continue to grow between you and your siblings. You seem to be extra close to Alyssa, and how much she loves you. A few days ago she came home from a book club meeting... when you saw her you grinned and your eyes twinkled as she talked to me. She looked down at you, "Hi, Bubbles!" and you leaned in to her as if to hug her. She took you and gave you a kiss ~ you giggles.

You are such a blessing to our family *hearts*

Oh... I almost forgot!!! You have THREE teeth now!! You have two lovely sparkling bottom teeth, and your very first top tooth came through last night. Your top right. You aren't biting while nursing anymore... but you love to chew on my finger and try to bite my nose and chin. It was cute when you had gums, not so comfortable with teeth :) So I tend to dodge your open mouth aims, while hesitating in case it's a kiss your actually giving. And how much you like giving kisses :)

Quick Progressions

Sometimes I feel the days get ahead of me. How can Emily be growing so quickly? She feels like she's growing and becoming heavier overnight, which I'm sure she is, but still. She's nursing a lot and eating so much food it seems. I let her lead as to what she needs and listen to her closely. She give this signal that she wants food, even when I offer to nurse her. She's doing well not skimming those razor teeth on me too often, so I'm enjoying nursing her and hope to keep doing so for a long time.

She's growing out of 6mo clothes now and is now in to 6-9mo. Not too much longer and she'll pass by those. It's amazing.

Her body strength is growing, and she proves it when I try to change her diaper and she wants to go over.... there. I know I could startle her or be firm that she needs to lie there quietly, but I can't bring myself to do that yet. I hope as her new found ability to explore settles a bit she'll understand the need to relax and wait for me to finish changing her.

Wow, does she like to explore and move around. In her desire to move she had fallen off my bed a few times and this last time was the last for me. All it takes is for her to land wrong, although I haven't met a baby yet who's rolled off the bed that has gotten hurt. They seem to just bounce - - maybe it's that thing again that I can't stand my little one getting hurt. I want her to be able to explore freely with few limitations. As my older daughters are waiting for me to find them a bunk bed, I moved my bed in to their room. They love it. Now, I fold up my blankets every morning and Emily has a wide open area to roll around and play. At night the blankets go down. It works out very well, and for me right now it's perfect. I'm very happy with her ability to play :) I also appreciate how I can turn my back in the morning without worry, that it's ok if she wakes up and starts rolling... she wont get hurt.

With the open space I set up on the floor the piano my parents bought for us a few years ago. Emily loves music and thought it to be the perfect time for her to be able to play the keys and enjoy the sounds she can make. She LOVED it! She and Katie played for quite a while on the keys, I'm so happy for her.

I still look at her in amazement. Her hair, her face, and just feel such wow-ness.

I love how when I pick her up she pulls herself close to me. I love that she gives kisses, and shows such delight when she sees animals or her siblings. I love her strength and her brilliance. She is amazing.

Dear Emily

Dear Emily -

Every day you're changing more and more. Every day is nothing less than a miracle to spend with you and watch the next step in your development. You now have two teeth that are becoming more obvious every day. You're rolling over so easily, and army crawling now. You are so close to fully crawling! You've been drinking more from your sippy cup (although I don't give it to you too often), and loving food. You enjoy your baby food but still prefer adult food.... although cant say I blame you too much :)

Your sisters have been doing a remarkable job watching and playing with you so I can take a shower, but it's hard for me to hear you cry if you're not happy so showers are still a jump in and jump out.

I am so excited about your future sibling Emily, an excitement that seems to grow every day. Will he or she be like you? Will s/he be as happy and smily? You are such a dream come true, and because of you your brother or sister will make it here too. Life is incredible. You are incredible!