A whole year gone by...

How is is that a whole month has gone by since my last blog entry? I'm telling you, I really do have the best intentions. Well, since my last entry, we celebrated Emma's first birthday! We had a small gathering of family and friends at my cousin's house. It was a good time had by all. I still cannot believe that my baby is no longer a baby, she's a toddler. She's been walking short distances for a couple of weeks now, but she's not taking too much of an initiative. I'm not worried, I know she will be little miss Speedy Gonzalez when she's ready. Her 9th tooth has come out and I've realized that I really need to be brushing her teeth more regularly. She kept her lips pursed and shut tight the first time I tried to brush her teeth. It was pretty funny. Here are a few pics from her birthday celebration:

Emma and Grandma

About to blow out the candles!

Family picture... someones's attention was elsewhere.

Emma and her aunt Helenita

Family picture with cousin Evan... who had his attention elsewhere as well.

Emma being silly with Bebe.

What I've learned in the last year as a mother...


1. Patience, patience, and more patience.
2. Watching Sesame Street with Emma brings me so much joy... and so many memories.
3. I really am truly blessed.
4. I never knew I could laugh so much.
5. It IS possible not to gag with a poopy diaper.
6. Everyday that I think I cannot be more amazed, I am.
7. It is impossible for me to imagine life before April 22, 2009.
8. I would give more than my life, if I could, for this child.
9. I never knew I had this much love to give.
10. My mom was right.


What Emma has learned in her first year...

1. To dance.
2. To clap.
3. To crawl.
4. To walk.
5. Plane rides aren't so bad when you have your own seat.
6. Mommy and daddy will always be there for her.
7. The best place when you're not feeling well is daddy's shoulder.
8. Whining does not work with daddy.
9. Whining will most likely work with mommy.
10. She will get endless hugs and kisses whether she likes it or not.

For Mother's Day, Conor surprised me with the best present I could have ever imagined:



We had a lovely Sunday brunch on the patio at the Tasting Room while listening to jazz, then we went to my parents' house for a bit before returning home for an afternoon siesta. (I also had a pedicure on Saturday and did some shopping with my mom on Friday, so I guess you could say I enjoyed my Mother's Day weekend.)

It's "The Look". (at least one of them anyway...)

Getting some love from momma.

I love this picture of Emma and her daddy. I love her little smile.

Kisses from Grandma.

Three generations on Mother's Day.

An overdue update

Hello friends and family...

I just realized it's been almost 2 months since my last blog update. Not exactly what I had planned when I started this blog, but life does get pretty busy. Let's see, what's been going on in the last 2 months? Emma's crawling like crazy. She has also started crawling on her feet, not her knees, which makes me think she is going to start walking any day now. (I've been saying that for a month). She has also uttered her first word: "dog". Sometimes it's "gog". Sometimes it's "dod". But it still counts as her first word. She LOVES her fruits and veggies. Loves them, but she is not too keen on chicken or other meats. She will eat strawberries until she will herself turn into a strawberry, and she loves lima beans like no other 11 month old. Yes, I said lima beans. She would also prefer to feed herself, I will try to feed her and she will refuse. If I put the food down, she will slowly pick it up, examine it, and do a slow taste test, swallowing the food pending approval.

Conor and I have had such a blast these past 11 months getting to know our little angel. I cannot believe what a personality she has, the expressions that she makes, and the amount of love she gives. I feel so blessed, all of the time. I have the best job in the world, I get to spend my time with the most amazing little person in the world (every parent has a right to say that about their own child).

In 2 weeks, Emma Adelaide will be a year old. And I know I will cry and wonder where the year went and wish time would just slow down a bit. As much as I love and cherish every milestone she hits, and even though I take pictures of her all of the time, I know that before long she will be walking, then she will be going to preschool (I don't even want to know what kind of wreck I will be then), then eventually, she will beg us for a car just like I begged for one as a naive teenager. This is where I let out a big sigh and remind myself to slow down... enjoy every blessed moment I have with such a wonderful little person. I wonder sometimes what I did to deserve such an amazing angel in my life.

Here are some pictures from the last couple of months. Her eyes are still blue as ever, and her blonde hair is starting to get thicker, although I don't think we're going to be doing any ponytails anytime soon.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Emma and Evan hanging out in the bluebonnets in Independence, TX.

After the experience with Santa a few months ago, I was surprised Emma didn't cry with the Easter bunny. This is all she did with him... just stared at him.

My little cry baby at the children's museum. I honestly couldn't tell you what she was crying about.


My big girl.

The day we got her Easter basket in the mail. She really couldn't have cared less. But I love it. I got Evan a matching one in blue.

Cousins having some fun in the bluebonnets. We're lucky to have family so close by.

Look at those eyes! Headed to take a tubby with her cousin Evan...

Being silly... and standing in her stroller, at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. (You can see how concerned her daddy is...)

Checking out the other babies...

From her 10 month chair pics...

I never imagined in a million years my child would have such light, beautiful blue eyes.

Not too sure of the grass. I love how she crossed her legs because she doesn't want to touch the grass. So dainty.

Emma loves her Sesame Street! Just like her momma did. It's our morning breakfast ritual.


Hanging out with Conor's sister, Tia Sterling, and Tio Guga at The French House.

Having some fun at the best store in the world.

Giving Jackson his bone. They're best buds.

Hanging out with Jack at the children's museum.

Who needs to feed the ducks or play on the playground? I have a stroller to push around!

Another favorite past time...


Easter egg hunt at the Racquet Club.



Playing with her Easter eggs. All was well until she put them in her mouth and the dye rubbed off and I had to take them away. Then all was not well. At all.

Happy Friday!