“The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.” –Elbert Hubbard
That pretty much sums up the last year. On top of all the amazing, miraculous, heartwarming and gentle moments this past year has given me – knowing that whatever I do, mistakes and all…”everything will be okay” has been the theme. As a first time Mom, you are constantly thinking to yourself, “I should have read her that second book, I should have woken up earlier to play with her before work, I should not have fed her that many blueberries, I should have just gone home and given her a nap, I should have held her a little longer before putting her down” and so on. These thoughts will most likely fly through my mind every day for the next 60 years. But learning to be okay with what I have or haven’t done as a parent will only make me better. I have made mistakes and I am certain, have many more to make…and that’s okay. I have loved every second of being a mother from the time I found out I was pregnant. Emmy has brought so much joy to my life that I will never be able to repay her. Watching her grow this first year has been inspiring and is, for me, the reason I have always wanted kids. To watch her develop her words and laugh after she falls down, stop crying when I open her door and scream when she is excited. I love, love, love that little girl and so blessed to have her as my daughter. Here are all the things Miss Emmaline has done this last month of her first year!
Removing diapers from her changing table.
Emmy is a power walker. Walks everywhere at an incredible speed! She is getting into EVERYTHING. Cabinets, drawers, bathroom cupboards, her changing table, takes the art off her walls...and I am sure days away from crawling out of her crib. I am putting fishing line on the top of her art so she can't actually pull it off the wall and lowering her crib and removing the bumpers. We are letting her play with the Tupperware cupboard and pots and pans but do not let her in the baking cupboard!! We have learned not to continually say "no" but to just redirect her attention and have her play with something else. She completely understands when we ask her to do something or tell her not to do something (whether she does it is another thing). She jib-jab's all day long with full-on conversations with herself and her babies. Sometimes, Tye and I will be in bed listening to her crack up at jokes she must be telling herself. It is hilarious!! Emmy loves to say DaDa, Daddy, Dad, Dadaaaaay...but no Mama :( one of these days I suppose. Maybe for my birthday!
Big girl with sippy and spoon!
Emmy has 7 teeth now and we have officially started brushing her gums and teeth! She uses these new fangs to chew on ALL regular food. She is completely off of baby food and eats everything we do! So far there hasn't been a food she doesn't like. She has also almost completely been weaned off of formula. We are still introducing whole milk with a little splash of formula. She's doing really well with it and it's a lot nicer on our pocket book! We started Emmy on a sippy cup about a month ago, just bringing it around at dinner and getting her used to it. I imagine she will be done with bottles by March/April and solely be using a sippy. I can't believe how much has developed in the last month. I have a new project for Miss Emmaline! I found this awesome idea on Pinterest to help with fine motor skills for toddlers - it's a wooden board with all kinds of locks and latches and gadgets to figure out how to open/close/undo/etc. I am excited to see what she is capable of! And as a family project we are going to build her a dollhouse. She is obviously too young to play with her dollhouse and the little miniature pieces but we will get started on the construction, paint and decorations. It's going to be a KID ONLY house...I have my wheels turning on how to make a mini-pinball machine! She is going to love it!! Or am I...
The ever so colorful birthday girl!
Her hair is long enough to put clips and bows and mini-pony's. But she is definitely over the headbands and still rocking a baby mullet. She is wearing shoes and taking them off immediately as well as socks. I have a feeling she is going to be interested in hockey...and sports in general. She is very strong. Instead of pushing her stroller, she lifts it and carries it with her. Emmy has her own agenda and we all just try to keep up. She has these bursts of energy that I wish I could channel. I have never seen such a happy baby when she awakes from naps. Just standing in her crib smiling, waiting to get out and get into something. That's why I am letting her do a smashcake for her 1st birthday! Just close friends and family came over for cake and ice cream and we (Michael Byers) snapped a few photos. She loved the attention and the sugar! She is currently, still awake!
Hayden during our snowboarding lesson.
Our life isn't ALL about Emmy...the other half is Hayden. He has started basketball and then baseball tryouts next week. Really cannot wait to see how much he has excelled since last year. Whether Emmy likes it or not she will be growing up on the diamond, watching her big brother play ball. His grades are outstanding and he is getting so tall and handsome. We went to the mountain in January only to discover that Hayden and Tye are PHENOMENAL snowboarders (for only been twice)...I am rather challenged. Hayden just picks it up naturally, like his Dad. We are already looking forward to sunshine so we can build a treehouse and hang out in it ALL summer. Hayden and I of course, Tye is a bit skeptical but maybe, we'll let him come up with Deegs (Rick). It's going to be a busy year for this family...lots of sports & fun. Of course, no one is a bigger fan of Hayden than Emmy. Here's a little clip of the two of them playing while we're getting dinner prepared.
A year ago today I experienced what I can only describe as the beginning of my life. So, I began this blog as a way to document Emmy's first year and share with our family and friends. I thought it would be fun for her to look back and see all the pictures in an online-like-scrapbook. So, a year has come and gone and this is her last blog entry. Such wonderful memories of her first year and so many exciting things to celebrate in the coming year and I cannot wait to see how our family grows! Tye says one more, I say 3 more!!! We'll see who wins. I do intend to do this blog for each child, so I may be harrassing you all again! If you ever want to check in - just call. Or email. Or FB message. Thank you for sharing the best year of my life with me.
What a doozie December was!! The month started off with Tye’s birthday and then Hayden’s birthday. Then we moved right into the heart of Christmas. Emmy loved the house decorations…especially the tree needles and bows on the presents. She also liked the nutcracker ornaments and made her very first ornament for the grandparents.
Ho-Ho-Horrified!
Tree huggers!
As our tradition, we went to Loch Lolly Farms to cut our tree down and Emmy came in tow. We picked it out, cut it down and then sat at the bonfire and had hot cocoa as Santa got pictures with kids in his sleigh. Then we picked out our annual ornaments and headed home to decorate the house and tree…and then watch Christmas Vacation! Emmy went to her first Christmas party at Gramma Judi’s company party. As you can see, she was wild about Santa.
This month, Emmy started walking. She was taking a few steps here and there but it was really noticeable Christmas Eve at my grandma’s house. She is officially a walker and the most appropriate description is that of a drunken cowboy that yells "daa-daa". I have a really cute video of her naked prancing around the house, but thought I would respect her privacy. This is a little clip of us gals just having a ball!
Baby at breakfast!
Baby at Christmas!
This year was our first year hosting Christmas dinner! A new tradition for the Lewman/Moore families…looking forward to many, many more Christmas’s with everyone here. Emmy did great with her gifts too…she sat patiently while we all opened our gifts and studied hers instead of ripping them open! She got quite a bit this year (you can blame both grandparents!) - she got babies (we call them the triplets) and a stroller for her babies, a musical puppy that helps her with walking, a musical desk, a pillow-pet that puts pretty stars on the ceiling, toys and clothes. She even got an elephant costume as you can see above! We had a wonderful Christmas and so happy to have Emmaline be here to share. As Hayden says, “Santa really stepped up his game this year”…because the whole family got snowboards, boots and bindings! Ski trip coming our way end of January. One of us has never been and REALLY excited :).
We capped off a very busy 2012 with a movie and I was asleep by 10pm! Tye woke me a quarter till 12 to watch the ball drop and we got Emmy up to celebrate the new year…then we all crashed! Hayden stayed at his Mom’s to celebrate with his step-brother Aidan…evidently these party animals were up until 1am!! I was definitely ready to start the new year. As 2012 has been the greatest year of my life…I am so excited for 2013. I am thrilled to watch Emmy learn and grow. Hayden is preparing for basketball and then it's almost baseball! Tye and I are on our way to Mexico next month to celebrate our friends Alex & Hilary get married. That is if my passport comes in time... (fingers crossed). A lot on the horizon and looking forward to every minute.
Baby on Sunday Stroll with Mama
Happy New Year to all our friends and family! May we find time this year to connect and celebrate!
