This year Emery had a Mickey Mouse party! I decided I would go “low key” this year for her party…that didn’t happen. Not that her party was anything elaborate, but its so hard to keep it small because there are so many people who are special to Emery, and who care about her…she is a lucky girl!!
I think Emery had a GREAT time playing with all of her friends…thank you to those of you that made Emery’s day SO SPECIAL!!
Issue number one potty training or lack there of. I had it in my head that this whole potty training thing would be easy because Emery comprehends everything we say (you can stop laughing at me now). Boy was I wrong! We went to Wal Mart bought big girl undies, and we were so excited to wear them! I’m not even going to explain to you how we went about this potty training boot camp because obviously it did not work, so why would you waste your time reading what NOT to do! ha. But honestly, I do realize that she just is not ready and that is JUST FINE with me! Although, she did look pretty cute modeling her new undies :)
Issue number two sleeping or again lack there of. Let me preface this by saying my child has slept through the night since ONE MONTH old! UNTIL one week ago when she started SCREAMING when we would lay her down for her naps or bedtime. It was crazy, and we did not know what to do because she had NEVER done anything like this before. The worst part was that we would get her down, and then around 12:30 that night she would wake up again screaming to be held. We tried EVERYTHING, and finally she just started sleeping again two days ago. It was the strangest thing! I did some research online (I told you guys we did not know what to do ha!), and discovered that apparently kids go through certain times in their lives where they have to retrain themselves to sleep and two years old is one of those ages. I’m just hoping and praying that is the LAST TIME we will go through that! Some days in order to get Emery to finish her nap we would bring her in and lay her on the couch, and she would finish out her nap there…not a good idea we know, but we were on survival mode people!
That sleeping face is pure heaven to me!
This year Emery’s birthday was on a Monday, so we did not have her party on her birthday. That meant that her whole birthday was ALL.ABOUT.EMERY!! We did all of her favorite things, and she kept telling me that she was having “so fun”. Brad and I are so lucky that we are teachers, and that we will always be off with her to help make her day extra special!
We started the day off with “cake”. Emery kept telling me that on her birthday she wanted to eat cake for breakfast, her “cake” was a cinnamon roll at Famous Anthony’s which she ate EVERY last bite of! Then we went to Kroger, and let her pick out a Mickey Mouse balloon. She has carried that balloon everywhere with her, even in the car! After that we came home and daddy set up the slip in slide, water table, and her pool. Since the power was out at the church Lincoln was off, and we were able to invite the Millers over to play and for lunch too! Uncle Ben was also in on the fun :)
For dinner we met both sets of grandparents and aunts and uncles at Chick fil A which happens to be Emery’s favorite place. I’m going to go on record and say that ALL of Emery’s aunts AND uncles at one time or another were conned into getting in the play place to play with Emery. How do I not have pictures of that??
We celebrated the fourth with my family at the lake on Sunday, and then with Brad’s family and friends on the 4th. I LOVE this holiday and its just an added bonus that it’s the day we brought Emery home from the hospital two years ago :)
Another reason that I love the 4th is that I love the patriotic service at church, and I always have. This year’s service was different, but honestly its probably one of my favorites yet! Due to the CRAZY storms we had here on Friday night our church was without power on Sunday, so we had church outside on the lawn under a big white tent. It was a great service, and it reminded me of a big tent revival type service. Awesome, and the news thought so too…here’s a link for the video clip!
Thank you to everyone (active, reserve, and retired military…along with each of their families) who makes it possible for us to have freedom daily in this amazing country!
One of the bummers about being a working mommy is that I don’t get to take Emery to fun things like story time, so when I found out story time continued on throughout the summer I was SUPER PUMPED!! I look forward to that special time with Emery every week, and its even more fun because we go with Layna and Lindsey. Every time all day everyday 24/7 we drive by the library Emery says “Leeeennnnaaa” (Layna). It is so funny because Emery does not really participate in the singing or motions, but when we are at home she practically begs me to sing with her and she screams the songs and does all of the motions. She’s not usually shy, but maybe since I’m there she is more shy than normal. Who knows, and who cares we have fun anyway. Here are some cute pictures from our first story time of the summer. I promise they have more fun than it looks like in this first picture…ha!
Dear Emery,
It seems like just yesterday we were in the hospital and you were being born, and then that we celebrated your first birthday, but now you are two years old! It’s like when God made me your mommy he hit the fast forward button, and I’m still looking for the slow motion button to hit! This year has been full of excitement for you. You have gone to the beach and LOVED it, played in the lake, played in the snow, begun to really make friends, count to 10, distinguish colors, spell your name (sort of), found out you were going to be a big sister, watched lots of Daddy’s soccer games and cheered on the “boys”, started to be able to actually play at parks, transitioned to the “Treehouse” at church, become an avid dancer and singer (ha!), and somehow managed to steal my heart even more than you had before. You are funny, fiesty, full of life and energy, and even more beautiful on the inside than you are on the outside!
My very favorite time of day with you is first thing in the morning. When Daddy and I come in to get you, you act like you’ve won the lottery and cannot contain your excitement. You look up at me with your big bright eyes and say “I waked up Mommy”. You jump up and down, throw your paci and snuggie bear down and say “Heed you, Mommy” (Hold you). I wish I could hold you all day every day!
The unconditional and undeserved love that you offer to me Emery is so exemplary of the love of our Savior. Because of you I have been able to gain a deeper understanding of His love, and I pray every.single.day that I can portray that love to you. I pray that you will grow up to know and love Jesus, and that God will use me to help you make that commitment. You are the most precious little girl, with the sweetest personality and a smile that lights up any room. Emery Lynn I am proud to be your Mama, and I love you more than words can express! I’m excited to see what this next year has in store for you…I know it’s going to be full of lots of exciting changes, but I also know that you’re up for the challenge because you are a BIG GIRL now!
Love You MORE,
Mommy :)
