Emma's First Christmas

I really like my fingers. Amazing things.

This is my talking face.

Playing with my new toys

Wishing I could eat that food up there

Aren't I pretty?

Here we are!

Look at that pretty tree! Are any of those presents for me?

Well, we had a great first Christmas with Emma. Lots of Bryan's family came in and we enjoyed the food and fun together. Although we were very excited to have Emma among the holiday gathering, being 4 months old, she wasn't able appreciate all the excited of Christmas yet. However we had a good time and below is a list of the things that Emma did at Christmas time.

- Lay under the tree and talked to the lights and the shiny ornaments

- Gagged at sweet potatoes and squash (We feed babies what we would never eat on our own, and I think she is catching on.) She enjoyed licking my fingers and tasting the real potatoes and gravy.

- Stared at her cousin Laney and dreamed about a time when she can get up and walk around

- Wore a really pretty, glittering dress and made lots of people go "AWWWW!"

- The usual: ate, drooled, cried, slept, napped, took at bath

- Smiled at her Mammaw and Pappaw

- Played with her new rattle and blanket

- Tried to sit in her bouncer, but she is just a little too small. Give her a couple more months.

- Amazed her mom and dad with how much she has enriched their lives these past four months. This was my best Christmas, by far, even if Emma never remembers it! I look forward to the many more to come.

Blessings beyond Belief

As I sit here thinking, a few days before Christmas, I keep dwelling on the fact that this time last year we were just finding out about the upcoming arrival of our wonderful Emma (except we didn't know she was a she yet). I have been married four years to a wonderful man who is a kind husband and a loving dad. God has blessed me with Christmas presents that will outlast the slippers that I treasure at the present moment.

Even when we are not sure we can handle what were given, which is how I felt this time last year, God blesses our hearts and lives with the unexpected. Emma's personality brings joy and fun to our family.

Every time I look at this beautiful baby, I am overwhelmed with the amazing responsibility that has been given me to guide and raise this girl to love and trust a God she can't see.

I may not be able to see him face to face, but I see him moment by moment in Emma's smile, Bryan's kindness and understanding, a stanger's kind response, my pastor's words, and a friend's loving gesture. I pray that Emma will have a life full of experiences that show her the reality of God and His wonderful goodness.

As she leans back and rests on His goodness and grace, even when she makes mistakes and hits bumps, I pray she will know that it is God's strong arms that are catching and holding her.

I am facing this new year excited about the fun times and the challenges that lay ahead of us. I know life is not all roses. Thorns will show their little ugly head. I ask God to take those thorns and use them to strenthen my character and my love for Him and my family. My heart swells with joy as I watch Emma and her daddy play and exchange smiles.

I can't not stop smiling when she looks at me with those big eyes and trusts every word I say (I know that will not happen 13 years from now, so I relish those times now). At the same time I feel pride, I am scared to death and plead with God to give me the grace and the wisdom to guide her according to His will and catch me when I fail miserably.

My heart breaks when she experiences pain and sickness. I am so glad she lets me hold her and comfort her now. I pray that she lets me give her comfort when she falls down, has an argument with a friend, and when she gets her heart broken.

Excitement fills our home when she experiences something new (like sweet potatoes) and we eagerly anticipate the next time she will learn something exciting.

Thank you, God, for my wonderful Bryan and my sweet Emma and help me to be the wife and Mommy that you created me to be.

Conversations with Emma

Yes, I am 18 weeks old today. Don't I make a pretty present. My mommy and daddy say that I am their Christmas present. That makes me feel good. But this wrapping thing is going a little bit too far. I am starting to wonder how long they plan on keeping this weekly tag think up. I don't see my mom putting a sign on her shirt that says 1,472 weeks. Grown-ups do some awfully funny things sometimes and then they sit around and laugh at us. If they only knew what we thought of them!

This is me helping my Daddy wrap presents with the kids from his school. They didn't let me help much, but it looked boring anyway. The bows were much more fun!

Everything is not always fun and sometimes I get upset and try to tell my Mommy what I need, but sometimes that doesn't work, so I cry. I have seen adults do this too, so don't judge me. Somehow...even though Jesus was perfect, I don't think Mary had much of a silent night. People just wanted a pretty song to sing. But I bet Jesus had rough nights too.

Hey, we need to talk! I like these pretty clothes. Where did this bow come from? Why doesn't Mommy have one? I like getting a rest from that bib.

But I guess I understand her reasons. All of God's children got to drool a little, some us do it when we are awake.

Yeah, thanks for helping on that spit-up. Much appreciated! I ahve a pretty good Mommy, I really need to let her know more often. This Daddy guy is nice to have around too. Can we play now?

Hey! Hey! I said let's play! Oh, church. O.K. There are lots of fun people there. Then, what are we waiting for? Let's go!

Here's my cute face. The people at church like to see this one. I practice a lot so they don't know that I sometimes like to cry.

OK, thanks for chatting. I have had a wonderful time. Let's do this again sometime! Have a nice day and a wonderful Christmas time!

Random Musings

Hi, this is Emma. I am very old now. I get bigger everyday. I bet it takes a long time to get as old as my Mommy and Daddy.

I go to church every week and now I get to sit up and listen like everyone else.

I like church, but I don't know why I have to wear stockings. They are not my favorite.

I had food for the first time this week. I think they call it rice cereal. Boy, this is good. Why have they been holding out on my all this time. I hope it gets even better than this. I can't wait. When can I try a cookie?

Hey! This is our Christmas tree. I am not real sure why we have a tree in the house and why my parents insist on decorating it, but who can understand adults anyway?

This is my chair. I still have some growing to do to fit in it properly.

Emma's Mommy speaking now : I have been thinking lately (which is always dangerous) and there are a few (yes, I said few) things I don't understand. Maybe some other mothers will agree with me. First of all, why do some baby socks have tread on the bottom. They are not going anywhere, much less even keeping them on. I have a better idea, put tread on the inside of the sock so they can't kick them off. My second question has to do with clothing. Many of Emma's pants and jackets have pockets. Why do babies need pockets. Is it to hide the candy that everyone is always trying to take from them (that saying never made sense either, who gives candy to babies?) ?I find that many of my clothes don't have pockets and I need them, but Emma has them in abundance, maybe she can hold my keys. My last statement will be about baby shoes, again they are not walking. I think they are just to punish the child to make them feel as uncomfortable as we are. They also punish the parent who has to squeeze them on wiggly feet and try to make it home with both shoes still in possession! Just a few thoughts while you are sitting at home with nothing to do but think (ha, ha)! Last I will leave you with a random question that plagues my friend, Norman. Why does Goofy (who is a dog) wear clothes and talk, but Pluto (who is also a dog) wears no clothes, doesn't talk, and has a master? Think about it.

What a Thanksgiving!

Sitting up in my new Bumbo seat. I look like such a big girl!

Looking in the mirror-those neck muscles are getting stronger everday.

When we got home from our big Thanksgiving vacation, we went to the church for a cookie baking fellowship. Emma loves to help. You know this is not her first evangelism project.

We had such a good vacation and time with my family over Thanksgiving. We met my mom, grandma, sister, aunt, and uncle (and Santa Claus) in Pigeon Forge. The flollowing pictures are representative of the great time we had. Emma did so well on her first big trip. We were so proud to have such a wonderful little girl. She was equally adored by all.

Strapped on to Daddy while exploring Dollywood.She just was happy to lay back and enjoy the ride.

The whole motley crew- Emma conked out just in time for pictures. The excitement was too much!

What a feast and Emma at the head of it all! Too bad she just had to watch us all feed our faces.

Grandma has the magic touch.

Watching t.v. with Daddy. Good quality time.

As you can tell we had a big time and now are trying to recuperate and finish up a weeks worth of laundry! Hope everyone had an equally exciting Thanksgiving. Thank you God for family and friends to enjoy!