The Week So Far

Don't ever ask this man holding this sweet girl to kill a bug for you!

 This morning there was a wasp in the bathroom.  I asked him to take care of it for me.

I got the fly swatter for him & he gently proceeded to swat at the thing four times.   After the fourth time it landed on the window.  He just wasn't sure what to do then.  So, I politely took the swatter from him and hit the thing as hard as I could while yelling:  "die! die!"

After he left I saw another one.  I had to go back for the fly swatter and he said: "it's not going to hurt you."  What?  Have you ever been stung by a wasp?  It hurts.

Let's not even talk about how when I left for back East I knew we had a mouse.  How long do you think it took him to set the trap?  I knew I should have just set it before I left.

Poor guy...he doesn't even like to hurt a fly.

But that's one of the reasons I love him.  :)

I've decided to start a fun little tradition with Emma.

James has to work so many nights a month.  This week we started what I like to refer to as "sneaking out" after bed time.  

We may only do this once or twice a month but I think it will be fun.

 Right now she fits through the dog door so I just go around to the back of the house and pull her out of it.  She  loves sticking most of her body out of it  quite often so I help her the rest of the way. 

We hop in the car and head to one of my favorite places for an ice cream cone.

It's a place James doesn't really like to go so it's a good excuse to go without him.

This is just before I went around back to help her out of the door.  

Maybe someday we will be headed out late at night to do some serious tee peeing...ha!

I do have quite the toilet paper stash.  ha!

I've been spending lots of time with my crochet hook lately.  The more I crochet the more I love it.

You'd think I would be tired of doing it by now but I just don't seem to

Emma is my model.  Poor thing...she does not have a choice.  :)

Our sweet girl loves to screech, sing, jibber jabber.

When she does her high pitch screech, which I love, daddy has to cover his ears.

What is even more great is I have noticed that she is starting to cover her own ears when she does it.  Smart girl!

Emma loves boxes!  Her grandparents always ask me what she needs.  :)   

Just give the girl paper and a box and she is happy.

If you know me you know I do not like blood.  I can smell it.  My blood sugar gets messed up, I panic and well, I have been known to pass out.

The other night Emma fell against the box and cut her gum.  The poor girl had blood all over her face.   Who knew that so little blood could make such a mess!  First I just sat and looked at her and said "you got yourself into a pickle didn't you?"  

All was okay.  I got her cleaned up and she was just peachy like it never happened.

I did not panic, I did not pass out and it hardly phased me.  Yay!  That's all I'll say about that.  :)

Being Chased

Now that Emma can walk I find it next to impossible to get her to stay still long enough so I can get a quick picture of her..

So usually I run to the other side of the room now and snap one while she is walking towards me.

Hopefully I don't trip and fall.  I have a reputation for that.  Oh well, if that happens I guess we can just get a good chuckle.

It sure is hard to run from a one year old!   

 The girl is quick.

I think it's funny that I've got her chasing after me.  Seems like it should be the other way around but oh, this is a hoot!  

Today I'm praying for those women out there who are waiting for their little ones.  It is worth the wait.  :)

Emma and Her Wagon

We are loving the wagon that Emma's grandpa made her (Jame's dad).  

I have been getting a work out taking her for lots of walks.  I especially look forward to our evening walks together when James is home as a family.  

Lily and Daisy love it to!

We are going to get so much use out of this wagon.  He even made it with extra big wheels for the terrain out here.  How awesome is that!  

James says Emma is going to be a little dare devil.  She loves to stand up.  

I love it when James is home in the evenings so he can pull her up the hills.

Caught In The Act

Yesterday afternoon I heard Emma playing over by the screen door.

I thought she was playing behind the curtains.  I could hear her chatting away.

I looked behind and there was no Emma.

Where was she at?

She was looking at me standing out on the deck.  Ha!

She has finally learned how to climb all the way out the dog door...not gracefully I must add.

She decided to give it another try this morning.  Sorry the photo is not the best quality but you get the picture.  :)

A Serious One Year Old

Sometimes Emma is very serious.

I told her she looked like a little school girl in this outfit.

Then I explained to her there would be no school for her and that she would be attached to me at the hip until she was at least fifty.  

I think fifty may be a good age for her to spread her wings...maybe..we'll see.  

Really, I may let her fly away before that as long as she comes back for lots of visits.  There is always the option of living right next door to mom.  HA!

Sometimes I wonder what she is thinking.  

Maybe she thinks, "my mom is so totally cool!"

Then she does things like this....

and I know that when she is serious what she is really doing is thinking of a way to make me laugh!

I tried to explain to her that there is a much easier way to get outside.

She didn't care.  She just wanted a challenge so she just continued to drop her toys out the dog door last night  so she would have an excuse to climb out.  

I never know what crazy new thing she is going to try!  We sure are having lots of fun.  :)

Waiting for Emma

I have quite a few thoughts on adoption and the adoption process.  Many ask James and I lots of questions regarding adoption and our adoption experience.  I first tell people that everybody has a different experience when adopting.  No two situations are the same.    "How long does it take?" is one of the many questions we get asked.

Last week James and I were discussing how many couples were placed with their children before we got a call being matched.  Many of our friends started the process after us and were being placed before us.   It seems years went by (well some years did go by) before we even seemed to be considered.  Being open to just about any situation did not make the process go any faster for us.   I had to learn how to be content without being a mother.  Eventually I came to the realization that maybe it was never going to happen for us.  I'm so glad that James and I are both believers in Christ because I firmly believe...no, I KNOW...that trusting in Him made the time that we waited easier.  Okay, maybe I wasn't happy all the time but I was content knowing that He was in control.

Last week James said:  "why does it take some people less then a few months to be placed with a baby but it took us forever?"  Emma was playing on the floor chit chatting away.  I said to him: "would you have wanted to be placed with a child any sooner.  God gave us Emma and she was worth the wait because He had her in mind for us all along."  With this, James smiled and of course agreed whole heartily.  

I will admit that if we had known what God's plan was all along that would have made certain times easier.  But, that isn't how it works.  It is so good to know that just because we aren't "happy" all the time we can be "content" knowing that He has a plan for us.  

 

Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on you understanding:  in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Lots of Labor Day Pictures

This morning Emma helped me make some chocolate chip cookies.  We decided instead of turning the heat on it was easier to turn the oven on.  Brrrrr....  The fall chill is in the air.  I called my mom today and told her that I could use a greasy gut bomb.  For those who don't know what that is...it is a greasy, delicious, amazing and filling doughnut from the apple orchard.  Greasy gut bombs are always what my dad used to call them.  Maybe they should be called a little bit of heaven instead.  So if you are back east and you head to the orchards make sure you pick a dozen or so up and think of me when you sink your teeth into one!  YUMMY!!!

Emma trying her first chocolate chip cookie.  I'm not sure she knew what to think.  She didn't even eat it all so I had to finish it for her.  Perhaps I will introduce her to brownies tomorrow.  :)

Loving that smile!

She and Lily are just crazy for each other.  I wish I had my video going instead of getting photos...she was just laughing like crazy!

Tonight we put her flannel pajamas on her to keep her warm.  

She loves sitting in her bouncer now.  A couple months ago she didn't want anything to do with it.  Now it is like her special little seat that she goes and relaxes in.  

James likes to have fun with her.  Tonight he put her in this Christmas basket and said "we could wrap her up and ship her out."  Ha!  I don't think so but she is awfully cute.  No, I don't think he would ship her off to anyplace at all!  

We hope that you had a relaxing Labor Day full of fun and playing to! 

Reflection

I just don't know where the summer has gone.  It has flown by.  I've heard that time flies and it's so true. 

My sister once told me that when planning a trip, vacation or anything that may be exciting to the kids, (and you)  you let them know as soon as you find out.  One third of an experience is looking forward to something, one third is while it's being done and the last third is reflecting and thinking about what you've done.

I think the same is true for the seasons.  The Lord gives us four seasons to look forward to, to have, and to look back and reflect upon.  Summer is coming to a close and I've been reflecting on all the things I have gotten to experience as my first summer as a mom.

It's been great.  Emma and I have gone swimming, taken nice long walks, gone on a couple of wonderful trips, visited with cousins and friends, had family visit and just spent lots of time together.

She has suddenly gone from crawling to walking, eating more solids and babbling more.  I will think of all the wonderful times that we've had this summer and start planning for next summer. I also look forward to her growing and learning more.  It's so exciting to watch her.  I never imagined watching a little one grow would be so much fun.   I also now get to look forward to fall.  It's my favorite time of year even though there are no apple orchards here and the fall colors aren't seen as much where we are at.  I can smell the crisp air and imagine what beauty the trees are back east.

Here are just a few of our summer highlights.  Things that I most certainly want to remember and not forget!

Lots of time with James, Lily and Daisy.  

I have always heard people talk about the snakes around this area.  I was so thrilled and excited to finally see a couple here this summer.  It's about time...not that I like snakes.  I really don't but I love the thrill of the "hunt."  ha!

Emma is big enough that I got out all the Little People I had.  It's getting more fun every day to watch her play.

We got to visit two dear friends over the summer.  I'm sure these gals have spent more on postage stamps then most people.  I love getting letters from them in the mail.  :)

My mom and dad took Emma and I for a drive one day.  We went up to grandpa and grandma's farm...oh the memories!  We stopped at a couple of cemeteries and I helped my dad do some weeding and watering.

One of my favorite trees at grandma and grandpa's.  It is so huge.   I have dreams about how beautiful it is going to be in another month or so.

It is always fun to watch my dad drive his tractor.

I love these three boys...my nephews.  The make me laugh.

I walked out to my mom's garden as much as possible.  Sometimes I didn't pick anything...I just wanted to be out where it was so green and lovely even if the mosquito's did eat me alive.  :)

I used to spend several hours in the summer swimming in mom's garden..yup, her garden used to be a swimming pool.  

Of course spending time with all my girls was a huge highlight.

I miss you girls and can't wait until next summer.  :)

More From Last Week

Emma has really started to walk.  She has been taking seven to ten steps for quite a while and now suddenly wants to sprint. 

When she isn't running she takes her toys and slides across the floor with them.

A sweet little Bitty Baby Doll that her Great Grandparents got her.

A Special Visit

Jame's parents have been here to visit this week.

We have had a lot of fun and Emma has gotten some serious loving!

We went on a hike, did a little shopping and ate some good food.

Emma is taking about seven to ten steps now.  She is really moving along.  We have both had colds this week but have been managing okay.