Walking!!!

Emery took her first steps on February 22nd. 4 of them to be exact! She has been standing up on her own forever and when we were all sitting on the floor watching a movie she stood up and took 4 steps! This was, of course, followed with lots of clapping and cheering. After that, she didn't care about walking at all and continued to crawl everywhere. She loved pushing her lion and baby stroller around and was always walking while holding onto the couch.
 

 Then, a few weeks later, she actually let me hold her hand and walk with her. She hates having her hands restricted so this was a real treat.

 

March 10, 2014

Then, on Sunday (March 16) she was really wanting to walk with me and push her baby stroller and things and she just started walking. She started out doing it mostly when she was holding her book or her baby but now she'll do it on her own. It's still about 50/50 on whether she'll walk or crawl but we're getting there! We were all downstairs right before church and Jeff and I turn around and she's got her shoes on, skirt on, headband on, holding her baby and walking. She looked like such a big girl! It's those momentsthat I feel like I will remember forever and when I feel like time has passed so quickly. I can't be sad about it though because she is at such a fun stage.

Aviation Days

A couple of weeks ago, the small airport/base by us had Aviation Days. They had old fighter planes, helicopters, and anawesome bomber. We stayed and watched the flyover which was amazing! Watching the bomber fly over was like going back in time. You would think that we would have remembered to put on sunscreen but Jeff had a hat, I had sunglasses, and Emery was in the stroller so by the end we all ended up a little pink. I will say, it's pretty cute having a little sunkissed baby.

 

Emery and Dad. Not my best picture. It was so bright that I couldn't really see and obviously should have had them at a different angle.

One of Jeff's favorites.

Another favorite.

Emery in her "eyes" (sunglasses).

In front of the bomber.

Jeff with the airplane taking off behind him.

Mike and Kathy were there so we took their picture in front of the type of plane that Mike's dad flew in the war.

Us in front of the plane.

 

Huge!

Getting ready to take off.

It was a fun day of enjoying fresh air and history.

Lovin' Life Outside

While we may have crazy hot summers, the spring sure is nice. Lucky us since our Emery girl is an outside girl if I've ever seen one. She loves going on walks, checking on the backyard with dad, and we're trying to get her to love the park. She currently hates the slide and swing, and just recently started putting up with grass (soft variety only).

Touching the rock but not the grass.

Dad! It touched my hand!

Not too sure about what's about the happen.

Was that supposed to be fun?

Because it wasn't!!!

Curly slides are really not the best option for any parent.

Waiting to go outside.

Apparently I am taking too long.

Happy girl eating her lunch in the backyard.

Best idea ever!

We'll be enjoying this nice weather for as long as we can and then when it gets hot we'll start using our baby pool and sprinklers. Pretty easy fix to keep this one happy.

New: Hiding Spot

Emery is just learning so many new things every day. I feel like she has gotten to be such a little big person. Almost immediately after turning one she dropped her morning nap. I always hear about how that means that the afternoon nap is 3 hours long. Emery's started out being only 45 minutes and then she was a cranky girl for the rest of the night. However, after sticking it out and trying to run errands and things in the mornings to wear her out, we are now to about 1 1/2-2 hours.

Also, BIG NEWS...the last 2 nights Emery has slept through the night. She wakes up at about 6:45 which is a little earlier than usual but is still about 10.5 hours at night. This little girl just doesn't like to miss out on life and only needs the minimum amount of sleep.

Like I said, she is turning into such a big girl. This week, I was doing the dishes and she was playing down by my feet. Now, she likes pulling tupperware out of the cabinets and things but when I looked down, this is what I saw...

I sure am loving this stage!

Birthday Cake

The first taste of cake on a one year old's birthday definitely deserves its own post, so enjoy. Note that there was no hesitation on digging into the cake. Emery is generally a very cautious girl before jumping in but she had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

She hated the clicking of the lighter when we lit the candle. It was so scary to her.

 

 

After cake, it was bath time, a little play time, and then off to bed. We sure had a fun time celebrating Emery's first birthday and can't wait to see what the next year holds.

First Birthday



Emery girl turned ONE on January 14, 2014. We can't believe that she's one already and that an entire year has already come and gone. There are so many memories and Jefferson and I spent the days leading up to and her birthday reminiscing about the last year. The day before her birthday, I put her to bed thinking that at this time last year we had just finished our walk and were settling in for the night, thinking that we had two days until she was born. Little did we know that the next day we would be holding our sweet baby girl. 

 

I had these grand plans of hearing Emery start to stir the morning of her birthday, letting me know that she was awake so that I could go in and get her up singing Happy Birthday. That didn't happen. She woke up at about 6:45 as a sad and still-tired little one year old. I'm convinced that she woke up early so that she could see Dad before he had to go to work. This picture is actually of her waking up from her morning nap but it was about the same feeling. 

 

Luckily, she got better once Mom got her out of her bed.

Her birthday decorations...

Birthday picture banner with one picture from each month of her first year. It's still up and she loves looking at it.

Happy birthday banner and birthday streamers and balls put up by Dad.

Pinwheels on the stairs.

Happy birthday banner behind her high chair. Also, eating breakfast...still a sleepy girl.

There's our happy girl. Notice her cute cupcake birthday jammies.

Clapping while I am singing her Happy Birthday.

Birthday Picture with Mom.

 I thought it would be so fun to do a birthday photo shoot. Below are some of the pictures...

It is obviously starting out great.

"I'm outta here, Mom"

"This is not happening."

Our best picture of the photo shoot. Our content little girl. Yes, I wish I had gotten one of her doing her cute smile or her squinchy face but this is beautiful. She loved her crown and kept it on all day.

Birthday Girl!!

"I'm going to read my book now."

Lunch time! Chicken nuggets and peas.

We got these window clings at the Dollar Store and she loved them. Best dollar ever spent...except maybe the crown.

"Ooooo"

Birthday picture with Dad

She was eating a snack

 Let the presents begin...

She tried to open them all with her teeth before using her hands.

She is so good at opening her presents.

Minnie Mouse big girl jammies!

Using this present as a sword before opening it.

"What is this??"

"A toothbrush!" I think this is the cutest picture of her excited face.

She also got a giraffe, a church book, a new dress, and a toy ball that she is still deathly afraid of.

We are so lucky to have this little girl to call our own. She has taught us so much and we love her more than words can describe. Happy Birthday Emery girl.