Happy 1st Birthday Emma!

Happy 1st Birthday Emma!

At 11am on September 3rd, 2008, Shane and I met our daughter for the first time, and our lives have been more blessed, joyful and fun ever since!

We have had such a fun year experiencing parenthood! Shane and I have grown stronger as a couple, and so enjoy watching our daughter learn, laugh and play together! Shane is a great daddy, Emma lights up every time he comes in the door, and usually cries when he leaves.

Emma just amazes me how smart and quickly she learns. She knows where her ears, nose and checks are. She will 'squish her cheeks' when I ask (her Papa Carson gets such a kick out of that!) She knows what she wants and is a little stubborn when she doesn't get it or get it fast enough (first-born trait?). She loves to laugh and make others laugh! She really likes the 'stinky feet' game, where we smell her feet and say 'phew, stinky feet!', she will keep putting her feet in your face, over and over again! (she really doesn't have stinky feet though). She loves her Bella-dog, and lately won't leave the poor dog alone!

Emma loves books and stares at them forever and flips the pages. She really enjoys her new shopping cart and pushes it everywhere. She loves balls and her daddy has taught her how to throw (unfortunately, she throws other things than just balls now, so watch out!)

Emma is teaching me to be more patient and to react differently in situations, since now I know she is witnessing all my behavior. Some days I feel like such a failure, but one department I don't lack in is my love for my sweet daughter!

Here are some pictures from Emma's first year!

Today, for something fun, Emma went to play at Alaina and Emmy's house. Another girl, Macy (1 month younger than Emma) also came to play. I met her mom, Jenna in the cryroom at church a few weeks ago and it turns out that her husband and Lynette's (Alaina and Emmy's mom) husband are cousins! Here are some pictures of the fun that was had!

The birthday girl first thing this morning!

Emmy
Emma bit Emmy while playing...it was a 'love bite', like Emma always does (and I am trying to get her to stop because it hurts like crazy)...I felt horrible, poor Emmy screamed, and had quite the teeth marks on her arm, I am sure she still has them hours later.

Emma and Macy

The girls wore their tutus and looked so darn cute!
They also played with tractors - tutus and tractors, quite the combo!

Miss Macy - she turns 1 on Oct. 8th

Alaina, Emmy and Macy
Alaina turns 3 this month!

The girls were fascinated with the stairs!

A cute peak around the corner!

Emma at home playing

Taking stuff in and out of her new shopping cart!

We gave Emma the last of her presents tonight and then took her for a walk at the pond. We got lots of great pics, I will sort thru and post them later!

Thanks to my family and friends for making Emma's birthday so special! We love you all!