Busyness

These last several days have been crazy busy with me being gone from 13 - 14 hours. Yesterday, I worked, had conferences and then took one of our youth to dinner. Our dinner lasted for 3 hours. YIKES! :) Today, after work and another conference, Josh and I went to visit a couple from church who just lost their mother and then went to the hospital to visit some friends from church that had a baby. I went to get my purse from school while Josh went to pick Emma up from our friends house. When I got home Emma was in the bathroom washing her hands and brushing her teeth. I held her close and she snuggled up so sweetly with a big smile on her face. Once she was finished, I carried her out of the bathroom and she said "I missed you, Mommy." It made me feel so good and so bad all at the same time. I love my little Emmy girl and I miss her too! I'm so ready for all the "busyness" and stress from school and working on my National Boards to end so I can play with and focus more time on my sweet baby girl! Please pray for me that I can manage my time well, that my time will be multiplied and that I will be able to accomplish what I need to.

My Girl...

Today I came home from work and Emma came out on her tricycle wearing a VERY fancy church dress and glitter sandals (in 40 degree weather)....the child prefers to wear church clothes everyday! These dresses are big enough (I think) to work for next winter too. PLEASE EMMA!!! Save me some money! :) I can't bear to go into her room...it makes me crazy, it is such a mess and not worth cleaning...it is a disaster the next day. I think I have found a chest of drawers for her room. I am so excited! :) Her clothes will fit nicely UP HIGH where she can't reach them. The rest, will be in her closet that she will not be able to get into!!! :)

Dear Emma

Dear Emma, I love you more than you will ever know. You make Mommy smile and laugh each day. I'm so happy you are mine! However, I was wondering if you could quit changing clothes ten times a day and leaving them lying around all over your floor. Do you remember all the dress up clothes you got for Christmas??? Could you play with them instead of your "real" clothes. Oh...I almost forgot, when you change clothes ten times a day, you don't need to change your panties each time. One more thing, sometimes it is okay to let Mommy and Daddy help you pick your clothes out...sometimes, we can make things match a little better. :) I LOVE YOU! (pics to come later)

Merry Christmas!

Awesome Giveaway!!

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Random November Pictures

Emma started sleeping in a big girl bed when we went home for Thanksgiving. She liked sleeping on the "butterfly" bed. :) She did really great!

Thanksgiving all alone! Emma was a bit hungry before everything was finished so she began her Thanksgiving alone! :) It was pretty cute to see her sitting there eating.

These boots were made for walking...

1st time to chew gum. She was SO proud of herself!! It even went in the garbage can when finished! :)

Black Friday

We had lunch at the Fish House ( my favorite restaurant in PNS) with some friends and her twin boys: Levi and Elijah! :) They are about 4 months older than Emma. They are SO sweet and cute AND much calmer than Emma! :) We enjoyed our lunch with them - a great time with great food! :) YUM!

Our Christmas Traditions

• We normally put our tree up the day after Thanksgiving, or somewhere around that time, depending on our travel plans, etc. This year we are moving, next week. I'm hoping to get at least a little tree up once we get moved and settled.
• We get a picture of Emma with Santa each year. Her very first picture with Santa she was sleeping and the last two, she was crying...I think this year she will be crying as well. I wish she would get over her fear of "dressed up" people. Halloween helped us a little but not totally.
• I always got an ornament each year growing up and have continued that into our married/family life. For Emma I get things that remind me of her that year. For example, last year she got a fish ornament and (I cheated and got two) a shoe ornament. She loved the "fishy Backyardigans" and she loves SHOES! This year I got her a tiara ornament because she LOVES princesses and was a princess for Halloween.
• I try to have a tree in all of the bedrooms. Emma's tree is decorated, the trees in the other rooms are not. I try to decorate the bathrooms and hallways etc. with something Christmas.
• Christmas Eve is filled with Christmas Eve services at church. One present (if not more) for each person. We also eat Enchilada's! When I was serving in China Josh came to visit for Christmas that year and I made Enchilada's on Christmas Eve. We have continued that tradition each year. :)
• So far for each Christmas Eve/Christmas we have been at our home. I'm sure that will be where the majority of our Christmas's are spent since Josh is a minister. I like it that way.
• I look forward to the traditions we continue to develop has a family. I love Christmas time!

I will try to post some pictures later! :)

Fun at the Traylor's

Pastor and Mrs. Liz had us out to their home one afternoon this week. Emma enjoyed being outside (and inside) exploring everything. She would take off running from inside the house to the outside. She LOVED it! She is still talking about "the lake". She showed off her strong will a few times (alot); once, by running down the pier? and jumping into the paddle boat while everyone else was on land...thankfully she stayed in the boat until I got her! Thursday was the first day that Emma slept in and got enough sleep since we have been here and I must say her behavior and strong will has been MUCH better. This little girl doesn't do great off her schedule.

Thank you Pastor & Mrs. Liz for letting us come visit you at your home. We had a great time! :)

Feeding the fish old bread.

"Cheese" Pastor teaching Emma how to hold the whole biscuit in the water and let the fish nibble. I'm not sure she ever really did it!

Fishing with Pastor...or watching Pastor fish! :)

Riding (and talking) in the paddle boat with Daddy.

The fish Pastor caught to show Emma.

Emma has been concerned since then because the fish had no name!

Up close (kind of) and personal with Mr. Fish.

Emma's Actual Brith Day!

Emma's actual "birth' day fell on the Saturday of the Disciple Now at our church. We took a cake up there and got Emma her own big cupcake to eat. She was a bit embarrassed by all the people singing to her but definitely enjoyed her 'pup'cake! :)

Emma's 3rd Birthday 'Pup'cake! :)

Blowing out the candle, Daddy had to hold her and let her lean down. :) Excitement!

mmmmm

First few bites. :)

Enjoying each sprinkle one-by-one

mmmmm, that icing sure was good :)