Happy 1st Birthday Emma!

June 16, 2009 at 2:08 a.m. we welcomed little Emma Joy into our lives....
One year later she has made us so happy! Happy Birthday to my sweet little Emma!

We call her our little princess... She is our princess and she acts like it too... She's our little high-maintenance, drama queen... Ethan was always mellow and was an easy - going baby... Emma is the opposite! She has learned to whine, squeal or grunt to get her way! When someone takes something away from her... everyone will know about her displeasure! Ethan does it now to get her to react... he thinks it's funny. I can't help but laugh too... She is our silly little girl!

Emma loves her brother! She follows him everywhere... Ethan enjoys being the big brother and likes playing with her. He is concerned about her safety and he doesn't complain (at least not too loudly) about her.

The first thing I noticed about Emma was her big brown eyes! They are so beautiful and so innocent! It is really hard to stay mad at her when she looks at me this way. She is going to be a heart breaker!

She loves to eat! Constantly eating... She doesn't like the cake too much, but LOVES ice cream... If I don't get her ice cream to her fast enough she becomes very ornery until she gets it! She reacts the same way to her drinks! Very impatient!

She longs to be outside... If Ethan is outside; she wants to be outside too... Loves to swing, play in the dirt and swim!

She loves her mommy! I usually have an Emma attached to my legs everywhere I go. I try to cook or make something in the kitchen, Emma is usually right there with me. She pulls herself up and holds on to my legs. She isn't walking yet, but she is getting closer!

Hanging out at the coffee table, eating...

Emma is my water baby... She loves her baths and swimming. During a rainstorm last week we were watching a storm and Emma was squirming to get out of my arms, I ended up putting her down and she crawled right into the rain and got herself wet...

Emma Joy, as she is named, has brought me so much joy in my life. She has kept me on my toes and keeps me guessing on what she'll do next. She is my cuddle bug and loves to give me hugs. We love you, my sweet little princess! Happy birthday!

New Toys!

WOW!!! Emma got some good stuff! She will be a very stylish, well-dressed baby this summer... her closet is now bursting with new clothes... She got several new toys, some books, and stuff for swimming... So far this is her favorite toy... She does pretty well walking with this walker...

Emma's baby...

Grandma and Grandpa Newman gave her this horse on wheels... Doesn't quite get the pushing with the feet thing, but she'll get it when she's ready...

Of course Ethan has enjoyed the new toys too... Right now he is making "chocolate milk" with the tea cup...

You would think I got this toy for him... Oh, well... he's enjoying himself...

Happy girl!

Precious baby girl! Happy Birthday!

Emma's Birthday Party

This past weekend we celebrated Emma's 1st birthday! We had all our family over and had a BBQ, presents and cake with ice cream... Emma was clueless with what was going on around her and had no idea that all her family was there for her. It was so much fun having the family come out and celebrate with us... THANKS EVERYONE...and the weather even cooperated!

The guest of honor... Princess Emma!

Fun pic of me with my younger sisters!


I think the kids gave a good test to Scott's handiwork...

Opening presents... Ok... Ethan and mommy really opened the presents, but Emma was close by playing with something...

She was fond of her new sippy cups for some reason...

Doing what she does best... She found some tissue paper and put it around her neck.

Her cake...

I don't think she cared for the cake too much...

The big cake for the family to share...

The damage... was very minimal...

Nap Time?

Yesterday Ethan told me he didn't need a nap... After a long day of playing outside and playing with Emma new toys I called Ethan in to watch Curious George while I made him some good ol' Mac and Cheese... After calling him to come to eat a few times... I went over and this is what I found....

Apparently... He didn't want a nap, but he did NEED a nap... poor little guy!

Emma and the Towel....

Emma puts clothing or whatever she can find over her shoulder or around her neck. I think she is trying to put that item "on." This time it is the dish towel. She went and got it off the handle of the oven and threw it over her shoulder and went on her merry way. The other day she found a bra of mine and yep, you guessed it... It was around her neck. Such a silly girl!

Splish! Splash!

After endless begging from Ethan we got a swimming pool and let the kids get in and play... This is Emma first time swimming... She was so funny... she crawled right in and got herself nice and wet... Ethan on the other hand, just stood there.

The new swimming pool.... The whale in a little slide... It has a little spout that sprays water. I didn't turn it on because Ethan hates it and wouldn't go near it...

Emma splashing....

Ethan dripping water from the ball on Emma's head... She doesn't seem to mind...

Going down the slide...

Playing with the balls!

I DID IT!

On July 29, 2009 I posted a challenge for myself... to lose 30 pounds. I was 6 week postpartum and I needed not only to lose my last 5 lbs of pregnancy weight, I needed to lose prepregnancy weight! I let myself go... I know I would have family and friends that would say, "oh, you weren't that bad!" Oh, yes I was! I was the heaviest I have ever been in my life... I knew we were trying for another baby so I stopped watching what I was eating and I didn't exercise much and I gained over 10 pounds within a few months.

After Emma was born I knew there was no more excuses! I needed to trim down to a healthier me... So my strategy was to eat less (portion control), snack less (my biggest problem area... love to snack) and keep busy... Also, I had the added plus that I decided to nurse Emma... giving me 300+ calorie burn each day... Well, I'm happy to report... after 10 months... I DID IT!!!!

I officially lost 35 pounds since last July! I actually reached my goal a couple of weeks ago... but I waited to post anything until I got a decent after shot of me... but I'll just have to post pics later... Now my reward... I get to go to Hawaii... when? I don't know... I just know Scott owes me and it is time to pay up!

Red Butte Gardens

We decided to make use of a beautiful day and headed to Red Butte Gardens... Truthfully, Scott wanted to take some pics, but me and the kids had some fun too...

What can I say...

One, Two, Three... JUMP!

Playing in the water...

More water...

We let her loose...

Hanging out, playing with the grass...

Wonder what she is thinking....???

• Here are some unedited pics that Scott took...