2nd Birthday Minnie Party

It was a hot hot hot (did I mention hot?) Saturday on June 25th! The theme was of course Minnie, her favorite character and best friend. Pink, black and white decorations filled the pavilion at Owl Creek Park in Brentwood, along with a ton of food, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, friends and family. It was the BEST day! Emma knew it was HER birthday party and I believe, by looking at her face, she loved every second of it.

All her grandparents came to celebrate. Of course - left to right - PawPaw, Grammy, Emma/Minnie chair, GiGi, and Papa. 

Had to get one of just us! Partying is a serious job... apparently! I swear she had a good time!

There was lots of playing, which was so much fun to watch. My best friend Dani and her babe Audrey (the brunettes in the pic below) came in from Chattanooga. Love them. We get to have a slumber party with Audrey on the 15th. I'm nervous/excited/anxious... did I mention nervous?!

Emma loved her cupcakes, but while we were singing Happy Birthday to her, she wanted NO part of it. It's my party and I will cry if I want to.... once the song was over she was fine and gobbled her cupcake up! Jess got it on video. I can't stop laughing. 

JAK and our babes - left to right - Jess/RL, Me/Emma, Alli/Audrey... and Clementine :)

Hearing Emma get so excited to open presents was my favorite part of the day. Her squeal, laugh, say "Minnie". It was the cutest!

Uncle Cody and Aunt Ashley got her a Minnie Chair, it was probably her FAVORITE gift of the day. She kept carrying it around like a doll baby, laying on, and then finally figured out that she could actually sit on it... like a chair. My child, I swear. 

Needless to say, Emma had a great birthday filled with laughter, gifts, food, and friendships! Who me? I'm 2? Yep....Cant believe we have a 2 year old! #timeisathief

We have a 2 year old!

All kinds of emotions come rushing in when I think about having a two year old. 

I keep asking myself, where did the time go? 

I'm sad that my baby is now a tot. I'm happy to be able to see her personality soar; It is thrilling to witness. I'm thankful for her health growth. I'm grateful for modern technology/processes to help with her eyes. I'm always shocked and tickled to hear her say new words. I'm so lucky and blessed that God gave us this child. 

I'm so optimistic for her future... but it would be nice to freeze time for just a little bit.

Everyone keeps asking Dustin and I when we are going to have another one and I keep telling them, this is my absolute favorite stage of her life. Hands down. It would be hard to bring another little nugget when we are having so much fun. 

Ask me again in a couple of years... :)

To our little girl 

that has a belly laugh that makes everyone else laugh

that has a smile that brightens up every room

that is such goofy jokester just like a her daddy

that is very sensitive and so nice

that has the best ginger curly hair, which makes this mama jealous

that is the BEST sleeper (daddy and I thank you!)

that talks non-stop and repeats everything we say

that has the two year meltdowns down pat already (watch out everyone)

that loves to be outside - playing, running around, picking flowers and playing with friends

that is obsessed with "Minnie", "Robin", "Cats", "Elmo" and "Puppies"

that loves to read books 

that makes wearing glasses and a patch look incredibly adorable

that makes this Mama and Daddy so proud to be her Mama and Daddy.

Here's to another year Emma Bug! Happy 2nd birthday sweets!

Mama and Daddy love you to pieces! 

Photos by Alli Golden Photography

23 Months.

And just like that, its one month until Emma turns 2. How did that happen? 

This month has been a whirlwind. The word busy is an understatement. I have traveled to Memphis for my cousin's bridal shower (her wedding is July 2nd), had a much needed girl's weekend in HOTlanta, Dustin (along with my uncle, brother, and dad) were in the Le Bonheur Children's Hospital Golf Tournament in Memphis, and Dustin's baby brother got married to Ms. Ashley (finally!). I'm tired just thinking about the month of May. 

But can we say...Hello Summertime! Sundress, baby shorts, swimsuits, and sunnies. I love this time of year and I can already tell Emma does too. She has become very independent when we go outside. She still loves to hold our hands when we take our nightly walks, but stops on occasion to pick the "bowers". She is growing like a weed and I can't wait to find out how big she is at her 2 year (I said it...) appointment. 

Her dance moves are coming out again! We saw this at Cody and Ashely's wedding. Let's just say we danced ALL night long and she wasn't in bed until 10:30p. We had to bribe her to get her in the car, she probably would have closed down the place if we had let her. Talk about a late night. We all were tired and slept in Saturday morning, we actually had to wake her up at 10a. Girlfriend loves her sleep. Hope this sticks. 

With all the travel she started to realize that I wasn't there or Daddy wasn't there from time to time. She would say "Daddy at work?" or "Mama at work?". Now that is her go-to-saying whenever one of us is not in the room. 

She has become a sympathetic crier as well. Whenever someone else (another baby or toddler) is upset or crying, she turns to us and says "ok?" and we try to tell her that they are ok but eventually she starts crying herself. She has the biggest heart. Its really sweet to see her growing and realizing these different emotions. 

But with the good comes the bad... We may have hit the "terrible twos" stage. Defiant. Stubborness. Anger. Not listening. I would say 90% she is a perfect baby, but that other 10%. Wow. Watch out everyone. We did time out for the first time this past month. It seemed to work pretty well. She listened to us afterwards, but it was apparent that she was tired and needed sleep. Her new phrase is "be nice, all-one (everyone)." We trying to teach her to be nice to everyone and that we don't have to be whiny or mean to get what you want. Ask and play nicely. Seems to be working majority of the time, with her still having tantrums. She's not going to be perfect all the time, again, 90/10 is a pretty ratio I think! 

For our 3 day weekend we had really no plans except hanging out with family, being outside, testing out the pool for the first time this year, and remembering the fallen soldiers and why we get to live in a free country! God bless, we are so lucky! It was a great weekend! 

XOXO

We have already started planning for Ms. E's "Ohhhh Twoddles" birthday party. Minnie and the gang themed, of course. Can't wait to see her face! 

22 Months

Wow, time flies when you are having fun.. and super busy at work, I guess. 

This month has been filled... we went to the beach with the Murdock's, Emma was very sick with a very high fever, she has been rocking her glasses for more than a month, and she is growing like a weed. 

Time is a thief. 

We went to the beach March 26th-31st. Emma had a blast, but HATED the sand. It's hilarious to me how last year she absolutely loved the beach and sand but this year was terrified and wanted no part of it. Needless to say, we stayed on the blanket or you found us at the kiddie pool (inside and outside). The weather was not the best this time around. We have been lucky enough for it be hot and sunny every time we have gone with her, but this time... kind of cool and rainy. Boo! But we entertained ourselves with balls inside, lots of toys and thank goodness for an indoor pool. Emma loves playing her cousin Tristan, too. They are 2 peas in a pod... with him being a little more adventurous than Emma. Boy vs girl type personality perhaps?! 

We were struck with sickness in the Murdock household again mid-April. Dustin came down with some kind of stomach bug and Emma got a bad virus with a very high fever. 101.3, so we took her to the doctor and he said sleep and Tylenol. I couldn't get off work, obviously Dustin couldn't watch her, my parents had the other grand kiddos, so thankfully the stars aligned and Dorothy, my MIL, was able to watch her. She pretty much slept ALL day long and was back to her normal self the end of the week. If we could not get sick one month this year, I will be so thankful. May is looking good so far.... 

Emma has been wearing her glasses like a champ. Its been over a month and its a part of the normal routine now. She takes them off at night before we read and go 'night night', we have a bottle in the morning, brush our teeth, change, and then they are on for the whole day (minus naps and sometimes car rides). She loves looking in the mirror with them on when we do her hair. They make her look so smart... but its not just the look, she is super smart. Her vocab is expanding daily. Putting together words and sentences and understanding what people are saying to her is the name of the game now. Nothing gets past her unless of course she is focused on Robin Hood, Mickey Mouse, or Aristocats. She knows the difference between a truck and a car, saying 'bye bye/night night/hello Mama' 'daddy work' 'sit down Moose' 'lets get him' 'whats happening' just to name a few. 

She is obsessed with baths (#1 right now), shoes, her hair with bows, chairs, Mickey Mouse, Minnie and the gang, Robin Hood, Arisocats (new one), playing in her kitchen, chasing Moose around the yard, going for walks around the neighborhood, repeating what we say, getting tickles, balls, picking flowers outside, and her bed (she sleeps in like a teenager on the weekend). 

Stop growing up sweet girl. This mama can't handle it. 2 months from the Big 2. 

XOXO

Mother's Day 2016

Being a mother is the most selfless 'job' but the most rewarding one. God definitely knew what He was doing when He gave me this sweet and sassy girl. Her calling me 'mama' is the absolute best feeling, every time she says it I get butterflies in my stomach. 

Mother's Day weekend started out on Friday morning when I was able to do Muffins with my Emma at her school. She had cheerios, I had a poppy seed muffin. It was perfect and so sweet. 

For the weekend, we were in Memphis throwing my cousin/best friend a bridal shower. She is getting married July 2nd. So it was nice being able to spend time with mom and the family. I celebrated with my mother who has taught me everything I know about being a great mom yesterday by taking her out to lunch and some shopping on Saturday. She felt loved and that is all that matters! 

Isn't she is the cutest? 

When I arrived home on Sunday, I was welcomed with the biggest hugs and kisses from my husband and baby girl (and Moose). Dustin bought me beautiful flowers (pink tipped roses) and he helped Emma make me some precious gifts that will forever be treasured. Hand print red flower and the cutest picture frame with our picture in the middle. Dustin topped it off with a steak on the grill, mac and cheese and spinach. The best dinner, we couldn't finish it because the steak was so big. They made me feel extremely special and loved. 

Alli Golden Photography worked her magic again with these amazing pictures.

It was the best 2nd Mother's Day for me. One that I will cherish for a lifetime. 

21 Months

The timehop app once again got me with a 1 year ago post. This time last year, my little girl was only 9 months, crawling, barely standing and obsessed with spoons (haha). Flash forward to today, 21 months, running, talking, wearing glasses, and full of energy.. and full of sass. 

She is still very clingy to me. If I'm in the room, she will go to me and no one else for more than 5 minutes. I'm calling it a phase but it has been like this since my Christmas break with her. I feel so bad for my husband. I'm thankful (and I'm sure he is too) that he gets time with her in the afternoon before I come home from work. 

A lot has happened in this short month. 

She was diagnosed with Coloboma last month and we got her glasses on Wednesday, March 9th. She officially LOVES them. We personally think it is because she can actually see things now. It helps that Dustin wears his glasses daily and I wear mine occasionally. We are a family of four eyes. While I was feeling like a big fat failure of a mom for her having this birth defect (like I could have done anything about that), I'm now grateful because it is helping her see, her right seems to be stronger, and she looks absolutely adorable in them. Just goes to show you that God has a plan for everything and He definitely put my mind at ease with how well she has adapted.

With spring coming and going as it does in Tennessee, colds are very common right now. My mom was watching Emma when we were at our small group and noticed that she was not her typical crazy fun self, so we took her to the doctor on March 14th and she was diagnosed with pneumonia. Poor thing, can't catch a break. So with that, Dr Moss gave her antibiotics that she needed to take for 10 days. WOW. Easier said than done. Like most kids, Emma hated the taste and we basically had to pin her down to give it to her. Around Day 3 she threw up in the car (pretty much all medicine and milk - imagine the smell), so stripped down and waited for daddy to pick her up to take her home. Wednesdays are my busy days and I couldn't miss work. I cried. Needless to say we are all thankful that is over and happy to say she is all clear. 

Enough with the bad, now with the good...

Her vocabulary is expanding daily, words are becoming clearer and she is in the repeat/imitate phase. I'm loving this stage in her life. She is obsessed with books and is trying to say almost every word. It of course comes out as the cutest thing you have ever heard. 

Some words/phrases:
I love you - "I la oo"
What are you doing? - "whacha dune"
Applesauce - "app saw-sh"
Glasses - "gasses"
Peanut Butter - "peena budder"
Robin - "raw in"
Brent (my brother) - "Bent"
Ava, Davis, Amelia (my brother's kiddos)- "Aya" "Day is" "Me-ya"
Tristan (Emma's cousin)- "Tis-an"

Those last words really shows how much she is loving her cousins lately. Now that she thinks she is a big girl, she wants to play with the big kids. They dance, chase each other, tickle/tackle (sorry Davis), and love on each other. It is a really sweet sight. 

Her eating is fantastic at daycare, but at home not so much. She is now officially obsessed (more than my husband) with peanut butter. Her snack every day when they get home from daycare is now peanut butter. What she will eat at home- pizza, applesauce, yogurt, peanut butter and jelly, pouches (still), veggie chips, chicken nuggets, ravioli, and spaghetti. At daycare - name a food, she has tried it and probably liked it. I'm very thankful for the variety in food she is experiencing during the week. Thank you PCA. 

This month also marks the first month of her being away from us overnight while we were out of town. We celebrated Spencer and Sarah's wedding in Knoxville, so Emma got to stay with Grammy and Paw Paw. We had so much fun with all of our friends, maybe too much! My parents were exhausted, but she was great. They stayed inside most of the time because it was a little chilly and she slept from 8p-815p. Something about Grammy's house... comfy and cozy. 

Well... I had a moment this week where I got emotional at how much she has grown up. Dustin and I decided it was time that we started doing prayers with her before bed. So we've been keeping it simple and saying "Dear Jesus, thank you for...(this is when Emma says everyone and everything)... thank you Jesus" Prayers plus she is now asking for her bed ("bay"). On Monday, we were saying our prayers and its like she knew what she was saying/what she was thankful for and then she pointed and said "bay", laid down and fell asleep. I was in awe (kind of sad but also happy) and I thought where did my baby go? I, of course, told Dustin and texted my mom friends and my mom. They all said similar things... welcome to the club, its a roller coaster and the emotions will never go away and I don't want them to. 

You don't really realize how fast time goes by until you are a parent. Seeing your child go from a crawling baby to a walking, talking toddler is surreal. Life is way too much fun with my Emma bug, so I'm taking my mom's advice and treasuring every moment. 

xoxo