"O Christmas Tree"

Emma sees the tree decorated for the first time.

At Haromn's looking at the animals and freezing!!!

We found the bunny running free.

Looking for the tree. Pictures are obvously out of order!

Michael's family has a tradition of going to Harmon's Tree Farm to cut down a Christmas Tree every year. Ever year since we have been married we have continued the tradition. Of course we go straight for the Frasier Firs and do not even bother cutting down a tree. We took Emma last year but she was only 6 weeks old. This year she took it all in. She was a little unsure at first. Harmon's is a great place. They have a petting zoo. Emma and I even found a bunny running free.

Emma and Santa Meet

The lady who keeps Emma had a Christmas Party at her house in December. Santa made a special trip to visit the little ones. Emma was fascinated with Santa from a distance, but when I went to put her on his lap she gripped on to me so tight. She admired him but wanted nothing to do with him. This is the only picture we have of Emma and Santa.

Happy 1st Birthday to Emma!

Emma turned ONE on November 12. To celebrate her birthday, we had family over on November 9th. Her birthday theme was ladybugs. My mom made the cutest ladybug invitations and an adorable dress with a ladybug applique for the birthday girl. You can check out the whole birthday ensemble on her blog: artforyou-geniatyson.blogspot.com. We had 2 ladybug cakes. One especially for the birthday girl and one for the attendees. I bought the book Ladybug Girl and had everyone sign it so she could have it when she is older. Emma loved all the attention. I had visions of her having cake all over her face, but she had NOTHING to do with her cake. She poked the ladybugs but would not eat the cake. It is crazy to think this time last year I had a tiny baby now I have a little girl who is all over the place. I could not get the pictures in order but here are some pics from her big day.

"Meme, they actually expect me to eat this!!"

The birthday girl!

Michael was a little nervous at this point. Emma was fascinated with the candle and wanted to touch the flame.

Here are a few things Miss Emma is up to these days:

1. She weighs right at 18 pounds. She is still rear-facing in the car.

2. She is still not walking but will stand for a long time. She has taken 3 steps. She is a little unsure of the whole walking thing. She will walk everywhere if we hold her hands.

3. She still LOVES dogs.

4. She is down to 2 bottles a day. She is not to into her sippy cup and wants someone to hold that for her.

5. She is becoming VERY uninterested in baby food. Coming up with ideas for food for her to eat is mindblowing.

6. She still loves to look at books.

7. She sleeps well at night but her naps are a little iffy.

8. She is in day care 2 days a week.

9. She laughs and smiles A LOT. She cries when she is tired or hungry.

10. She loves to be outside. She will point to go outside and even try to turn the doorknob to go out.

Happy Halloween

Emma had a pretty laid back first Halloween. Her Nana Gibson bought her a bee outfit for Halloween. Our neighborhood had a trunk-or-treat at our swimming pool parking lot. We headed down there for a little while to hang out with neighbors and eat hot dogs. We did not take Emma trick-or-treating. I knew I would be the one eating the candy. She did get one package of M&Ms but being the good Mommy that I am they somehow were handed out to a trick-or-treater. We never made it to a pumpkin patch this year. Not sure where all our October weekend went. Hope everyone else had a Happy Halloween (even if it is a month later)!!

Denial

I have not done an 11 month post because I am in denial that in 2 short weeks I will have a 1 year old. I figure if I don't post it then it is not true. Here are a few things Emma has been up to lately:

1. She has started pointing at everything.

2. She shakes her head no when we tell her no. She loves to test us and will even shake her head no when she knows she is doing something wrong (ex. playing in Cooper's toy basket, pulling on the plants, ) and before we can tell her no.

3. She says mama, dog, and dada. She will say dog when she sees a dog but she has also said it at the pumpkin basket.

4. A couple of times she has stayed standing up without holding on to anything.

5. She has 5 teeth.

6. She would much rather pull all of her books out of her basket then play with toys.

7. She will pinch our feet or pull on our pant's legs if she wants our attention.

8. She has started blowing kisses.

9. She has taken ONE step. I still think we are a ways away from walking which is fine by me.

10. She still warms our heart and brings a smile to our face everyday.

Spiritual Life for Women

I have joined a bible study at our Church that meets every Wednesday morning. This group of women has been a huge blessing to me. I have only been to 2 classes but I have learned a lot and am looking forward to the next class. The majority of the class consists of young moms but there is a "young" great-grandmother, a newly expecting mom, and a mom whose son is in Iraq. It is wonderful to hear all the different persepectives on everything from how to handle a bad day to being submissive in my marriage to how to raise Emma in a Godly way. Emma has been a great sport. She stays in the nursery and misses her morning nap. She knows Mommy needs the class. With all that said, tomorrows class is on motherhood and children. Each week we have different poems and prayers. I found the poems from this week to be a huge blessing and wanted to share them.



Blessing for a Child

May God protect you form every danger that you face.

May God give you the strength and courage to take failure, not as a measure of your worth, but as a chance for a new start.

May you care for the bodythat God has given you and thus be filled with health and wholeness.

May prosperity come your way, so that you are free from worry about food and drink, about home and shelter, but

May you never be so caught up in material things that you forget the essence of life lies not in possessions or money but in love and in God.

May you find the joy that is ever-present in God's creation.

May you find fulfillment in whatever you choose to do.

May you use your talents to serve in the way that God intends you to, helping your fellow humans and walking in the light of God

May you fully love and may you be fully loved.

May your happiness be unmarred by evil, spite, or maliciousness, either your own or someone else's.

May your path be one of goodness-leading to changes for the better in the lives of others.

May you be a source of light and inspiration to your family and friends, and may they be the same to you.

May God fill you with wisdom and grace, with virtue and knowledge, with patience and action, and with understanding and love.

May you be forever comforted by a strong and enduring faith in God, who created you and who sustains your life.



--- Ms. Elizabeth K. Camp

A Mother's Prayer

O God of boundless love, make my love strong, that I may perform with joy the duties of motherhood.

Help me persevere through times of fatigue and frustration.

Help me see the work of mothering as a sacrament, bringing your love to life, making it tangible.

Help me me become ever more awre of your countless blessings, so to fill my heart with continual thanksgiving.

Dear Lord, I receive such joy from you.

Grant that I may find the time I need to sit at the feet of Christ and listen, to fill his closeness, to learn of his love for me.

Teach me to make all my actions prayer, that busy or at rest I might always be near you.

Fill me with the quiet power of your spirit, so that through me, those I care fore may experience your most tender and merciful love.

Grant these my prayers for the skae of your Son Jesus Christ, who loves us without measure. Amen.

--- Dr. Karen A. Eshelman

10 Months Old

Emma started crawling the day she turned 9 months old. She has not slowed down since hence the lack in blogging. I sit down for a second, look up, and she is gone. It has been amazing wathing Emma explore and discover her world. Everyone said I would regret the day she started crawling but honestly I love it. Everyting is so wonderful to her. We have stayed busy during her 10th month but I honestly can not remember what we did. USC football has started back up so Michael has either been at the game or has has it on at our house. Michael's mom generously kept Emma for us so I could go to the USC/Wofford game. We enjoyed having friends in town and watching the Terriers play even if they did lose. This month was a sad month for us also. My grandfather passed away after a 5 year fight with congestive heart failure. As sad as it was to see him go we know he is in Heaven looking down on us. I know he is up there having the time of his life playing tennis, fishing, and hunting. One of Michael's good friend's father passed away the day after my grandfather. Unfortunately, it was a month of funerals and sadness. But we are able to relish in the joy of the precious daughter the Lord has blessed us with. I have been slack in taking pictures of Emma. I have been enjoying watching Emma and playing with her instead of spending the time taking pictures of her. I do regreat not having anymore pictures.

Emma dancing with Meme Haizlip.

Looking for the puppy dogs. Daddy attempting to read to Emma.
Still attempting to read to her. She was obviously more interested in making faces at mommy!