Princess Emery's one year stats!

She totally did not want us taking pics of her band aides... stinker!

Weight: 21.12 oz (50-75%)
Height: 28 1/2" (25-50% - guess she's not going to be tall... wonder where she got THAT from?)
Head: 18 1/2 cm (90% - yes, you read that right, even our pedi double-checked, but was not concerned because it's always been in that percentile... lucky me, I got to give birth to that!)

Turns out our little Princess is perfect in every way, but we already knew that! Actually, those were the words used at her appointment. ;o) She is hitting or has hit every milestone she should and is actually ahead in fine motor skills... go Emery! She was quite the little ham and got a ton of attention. She had her finger pricked and we are supposed to get a call if the blood work comes back abnormal, but I haven't heard anything so I'm assuming all is well unless I get a call later in the week (which I doubt I will). She didn't even whimper with her finger prick, but boy did the shots make her mad. Good thing big brother was there to cheer her up!! I still just can't believe she is ONE!



****I am grateful for
1) great one year appointments
2) no crying with the finger prick
3) silly big brothers to cheer sad little sisters up
4) chunky baby thighs
5) another Monday is over!!

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day

Today, October 15th, is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Day. Today we remember all babies born sleeping, those whom we have carried but never met, those we have held but could not take home, and the ones that came home but did not stay.

We are a proud family of angel babies and although this day is made to bring awareness, not a day goes by that we do not miss them and grieve for them. Jeff and I have three angel babies in heaven and my twin sister is an angel baby. I believe they are guardian angels over Chase and Emery and one day we will meet them again.

Please join us and say a prayer for all the other families and babies that have been where we are. It is a club that no one wants to join, but all too many do.

****I am grateful for
1) Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness
2) prayers
3) reunions
4) angels
5) miracles

Princess Emery is ONE!!!!!

Princess Emery,

Today is your 1st birthday! I still can't believe that it's been one whole year since we welcomed you into this world, it just seems totally, completely impossible! I think about the past 365 days and I feel so blessed that I was chosen to be your Mommy and enjoy them with you. You have already done so much in your short life, I know that you are destined for great things.

Just having you in my life has made me want to be a better person. For you, for your brother. I want to be someone that makes you proud, someone that you want to grow up to be like. I want to always be there for you and for you to never wonder how much I love you. I would do anything in this world to protect you and keep you safe. You are my 2nd miracle, you are the 2nd half of the reason I was born.

You have changed so much in the last year. It just amazes me every single day. I see newborn babies and often wonder if you were ever really that small... but I know you were. You are turning into a big girl right before my eyes and there is nothing to slow it down. You don't even walk anymore, you run. Sometimes you go so fast that your little body can't keep up with your feet so you tumble over. Then you are back up and running in the blink of an eye. You are trying so hard to talk. We recognize several of your words and there are some that you can say quite well. You want to eat anything and everything that we are. Baby food? You don't need no stinkin' baby food! You want the good stuff!

You are sleeping through the night "most" of the time. On the nights you do wake up I can just bring you into our bed, give you a bottle, and you are right back out. Then I can put you back in your bed and you finish out the night. Not too bad. Besides, I would cuddle with you for a million years if I could.

You are really getting into toys and love to play. If it's loud or you can push it around, even better. You've been breaking in the presents from your party quite well. You have your own little personality and we have quickly discovered that your title of Princess truly fits. It's your way or the highway and if someone doesn't like it, there's the door. Maybe we've catering to you a little too much.... naw, I don't think so.

You are a beautiful, happy, silly, loving little girl and we are so very proud of you. It's been a wonderful year and I wouldn't change one single thing about it. Well, maybe I would go back and try to make it slow down, but I doubt I could make that happen!

Happy 1st Birthday Emery Faith Larson, we love you more than life itself!















****I am grateful for
1) one amazing year
2) being blessed with my family
3) Emery Faith Larson, oh I adore that little girl
4) the past
5) the future

How can this be?

One year ago at this time I had just checked in to the hospital in preparation for the arrival of our sweet baby girl. In exactly 24 hours, my little Princess will be ONE. How can this be? Birthday post coming tomorrow!

***I am grateful for
1) memories
2) those small moments that fill your heart with joy
3) little things that make you think of other little things
4) miracles, big and small
5) blessings

Princess Emery's 1st Birthday Bash

Today was Emery's 1st Birthday Party and it was awesome. Awesome weather, awesome friends, awesome family, awesome cakes, pretty much everything - was awesome! Here are some pics from our day. Even though Emery didn't really know what a birthday party was, she still has a blast. Just can't believe our Little Princess will be ONE on Tuesday!

Sign at the front of our neighborhood showing the way to Emery's party.

Princess Wands that I made for the girls.

Prince swords for the boys.

No party is complete w/o a bounce house (one for the big kids, one for the small).

Adorable tiara smash cake.

View of the cake table inside the house (all the gifts in the back, where will I put this stuff??).

Totally awesome cake Nana made for the princess. We got a real tiara for the topper so we could save it for her!

The highchair.

Close-up of birthday banner

Whole birthday banner.

Balloons w/the beautiful sky behind them

Door Hanger

Adorable Birthday Princess with Houdini

Kids having fun in the bounce house.

Eating some lunch.

Friends and family

Playing and having a good time!

Adorable friends!

Adorable Family

Even Emery loved the bounce house!

Outfit change for eating cake, love this picture!

Singing Happy Birthday

Yum!

Had to move outside, too messy for our rugs! How about a hug???

Super Cool Gifts

We even gave out some lovin'

Last but not least, we played with some chalk (and then tried to eat it)

It was a great day and I'm so glad we decided to have it at the house. Everyone was exhausted and after baths it didn't take long before we had a quiet house with a couple of sleeping babes. What a wonderful year this has been!

****I am grateful for
1) awesome weather
2) awesome family and friends to celebrate with
3) beautiful cakes and decorations
4) a year that words just can't describe
5) parties and things to celebrate!

Congratulations to the man that changed it all!

Yesterday it was announced that Robert Edwards would receive the Nobel Prize in medicine. Not many people know his name, but millions have been affected by his amazing talents and heart of compassion. I want to take a moment to thank the man that brought more happiness and love into my life than I ever thought possible. Congratulations Robert Edwards with your incredible dedication and discovery of IVF you saved me from a lifetime of sorrow. Without you, Jeff and I would not have our little miracles and the world would be missing something wonderful!

****I am grateful for
1) extraordinary talents
2) deserving, selfless people
3) true miracles
4) the advances in medicine
5) Robert Edwards

Gonna party like it's 1999!

Princess Emery's party is fast approaching and I'm not even a wreck yet (check back next Friday evening). I'm going to pick up supplies tomorrow, her party outfit is ready, pink castle moonwalk is rented, little moonwalk is ready for the babies, cake is picked out, custom decorations are ready to go, food ideas are done and just waiting to be bought. All in all, I think it's coming along nicely. Now to get the house in order and we'll be good. Although I did decide that I'm not going to kill myself getting it perfectly clean. Our house is lived in and it shows, if someone doesn't like that, they don't need to come. ;o) Even the weather seems to be ready to cooperate, knock on wood, and there is no rain in the forest and a high in the low 80's... is going to be perfect! Tonight I even worked on party favors for the girls - hot pink, black, and white tulle wands! I had never made one before, but I think it turned out great and was really simple. I'm very pleased with it and will make some more tomorrow. Just have to figure out how many I need and what I'm going to do for the boys. Any ideas? I was thinking maybe those foam swords or something. Jeff was a little leery of the swords because he was afraid they'd fight, but we wouldn't hand them out until the party was over, lucky parents! ;o) Here's a couple of pics of the wand. What do you think?



***I am grateful for
1) adorable tulle princess wands!
2) party favors that aren't a bunch of junk
3) learning new things
4) spectacular weather
5) being calm (so far)