Happy *belated* Birthday, Oliver!

Life got busy this fall, like it always does.

Andy goes back to school and coaching and the kids and I go from having a 100% time Papa to a "couple of hours a day" Papa.

This year, Oliver started Saturday preschool, which he loves.  If there is an opportunity to paint--he's all over it.  We've got more Oliver paintings than I know what to do with!  I'm going to have to start gallery.

We've enrolled Oliver in some activities to help him burn some of his *excess* energy.  We did Pee-Wee Tennis this summer, then Lil' Kickers Soccer this fall.  He is currently enrolled in acro-balance class and L.O.V.I.N.G. it.  
More about that in another post.

One other big thing happened this fall, Oliver turned 4!

I really don't know where the last four years have gone, but I can tell you this--they have been over-flowing with joy because of this little guy.

It's been amazing to watch him grow, and change, and grow some more.  In fact, he's grow 4 inches since July!  We started to buy him 4T clothes because the 3T were too tight around his little belly--but 4T was too long so we had to roll the cuffs.  Fast forward a few months, now he has shot up in height without gaining an ounce and we have to roll the waist so his pants don't fall down!

Oliver is smart, curious and laughs easily.

Oliver is loving, energetic and makes everything a contest.

Oliver is stubborn, sensitive and makes friends easily.

And I love being his Mama.

 

Happy Birthday, little dude.

I hope all your wishes come true.

 

 

Sunny Girl

I have never been one of those mothers who fusses constantly over her kids' appearances.  I bath them, I put clean clothes on them every day and I figure that is good enough.  I don't chase after them with tissue or wipes.

I let them be kids.  Dirt and grime included.

But a little dirt and grime doesn't dampen this girl's grin.

These pictures were taken back in May, before Susan and I left on our trip and before Andy and I started the kitchen re-model.  At this point in time, Emelia was really starting to assert some independence and grow into her toddler-hood.

 

I love this picture.  She is looking around the camera for me playing peek-a-boo.  It is still her favorite game.  She'll cover her head with a blanket and sit there until one of us says "Where's Emelia?" at which point she squeals with delight and takes the blanket off.  And then we do it again!  And again!

I caught some pictures of her looking at her shadow.  She was fascinated.

 

Look at her round cheeks and round belly!  I could just eat her up.

"Look what it does when I do this"

 "Where did it go?"

 

Found it!

 

Come on, friend, let's go play.

A Belated Birthday Post

As you may have figured out by now, my little Emelia turned ONE!

(three months ago)

 

Here is a recap:

 

Opening presents is fun!

 

 

The stuff inside them?  Eh... not so much.

 

 

Birthday cake you say?  That sounds promising.

 

 

Eeeewww.... gross.

 

 

It won't come off...

 

 

Hey, this stuff tastes pretty good, want to try it?

 

 

Nom, nom, nom...

 

 

Are they really going to let me eat the whole thing?

 

 

This stuff is seriously good.

 

 

Get in my belly!

 

 

Victory!  I owned that cupcake!

 

 

Can I have another one?  Please?

 

 

 

 

 

 



Cuddle Bug

Lately Emelia has turned into a complete cuddle bug.  Giving hugs, being held, smacking her lips when she wants a kiss.  Too sweet. 

 

I've even shared her with Papa.

 

And Auntie

 

 



Top Ten Things About Emelia

1.  Nothing makes her happier than holding your fingers and walking.  In fact, if you start you better be willing to continue until she wears herself out and it is time for bed.  Should you try to stop before then, you will se what I call the "Rage of Emelia" which is a very dramatic fit she pitches complete with wailing, throwing herself on the floor, and rolling back and forth while kicking her legs and flailing her arms.  It's actually kind of funny.

 

 

2.  Emelia has a rather large gap between her front teeth.  It is so stinking cute!

 

3.  We call her Baby-girl.  So much so, that I'm worried she thinks her name is baby-girl.... oops. 

 

4.  Until very recently, she didn't like to crawl.  Instead, she would scoot along the floor, hand first with her butt and legs following.  When I come home I can hear her coming.  It goes like this: thwap-thwap swoosh,  thwap-thwap swoosh.

 

5.  She loves to twirl hair, mine or hers, it doesn't matter.  As you can see, she doen't have much hair, but it is a little longer in the back, and if you gather it togehter it forms a half-curl loop.  She twirls it around, and around, and around.  Especially when she's eating. Which is gross.

 

6.  She makes this happy-face where she wrinkles up her nose.  I don't have a very good picture of it, but it is so funny.  You can kind of tell below.

 

 

 

 

7.  She loves to hug anything that is soft and cuddly.

 

8.  Her favorite game is peek-a-boo.  She throws a blanket over her head and flaps her arms until you say "Where'd Emelia go?"  She even plays by herself.  Sometimes, she wakes up from her nap, and I hear noises over the baby monitor.  Then I go in her room and she's got the blanket over her head and she pulls it off and smiles.

 

9.  She LOVES water.  I've never seen a kid enjoy a bath so much.  She has so much fun splashing that Oliver has started asking to take baths with her.

 

10.  She's a Papa's girl through and through.  When she learned to give kisses, they were only for Papa, and given a choice, she'll to to him most of the time.

 

 



A letter to my daughter

My sweet Emelia,

You wouldn't know it from looking at this blog lately, but you turned one a little over a month ago.  I can't believe how much you have grown and changed since the last time I blogged.  I also can't believe how few blogs I've written since you were born.  I feel the need to explain a few things to you.

First, my failure to blog as frequently about you as I did Oliver does not reflect how much I love you.  It is simply a reflection of how much more time it takes to have two kids instead of one.  But, being a parent of two doesn't explain it either.  You see, your Grandpa Mike died before you turned one.  In December.  He had been sick for a while, and I spent as much time with him as I could this year.  And when I wasn't with Grandpa Mike, I was home with you and Oliver; singing songs and reading books, playing and cuddling, not blogging. 

Over the next few days and weeks, I hope to do some catching up.  I have notes in various notebooks about things that I intended to blog about, when I had time.  I hope that focusing for a while on all the wonderful things that happend this year with you and your brother will help to heal my broken heart.

Please know this, as hard as the last year has been for me, nothing made me happier than snuggling with you and your brother.  Even during the darkest days, your gap-toothed grin and chuckle would make my heart soar.  I will always equate your first year with my Dad's last.  I wish this wasn't the case. But every happy moment we have together is that much brighter because of the darkness.

I can't wait to see you grow and changed into the smart, strong and beautiful young woman you will become.  I am so proud to be your Mama.

Hugs and a million kisses.