Milestones...

We continue to celebrate the victories Emma has, no matter the size, big or small!  Emma is doing great and showing many signs of settling in more and more each day, even if some of them are undesirable (this girl can throw a tantrum).  I keep reminding myself of the 'little things' that she couldn't do and now can...just a few weeks ago she still could not use her lips to clean off a spoon or fork and now she can!  I am just so excited she has conquered her fear of the laundry room...seems like a small victory but a few weeks ago the laundry room and specifically the washer and dryer caused great anxiety!  Understandably, we do A LOT of laundry around here..so for her to be able to follow me in there without fear is huge!

She even stayed in there for 20 minutes, just chilling out watching the laundry go around!  YAY!

The next 'fear' on the list that we'd love to conquer is the vacuum!  Boy does the sight of the vacuum send her into some serious mad!  If she stays up on the couch or highchair, she does okay...but if she is on the floor and even spots the vacuum (it doesn't have to be running)..she may as well be facing wild lions.  Poor thing, I can only imagine she's never seen anything quite like it before and just can't make heads nor tails of it.  Hopefully, she will be vacuuming things herself before we know it!  

Keeping an eye on that thing!

  

It is a no go...GET. IT. AWAY!

Emma got her first tractor ride with Grandpa and Mark!

First, and traditional, kid bath in the utility sink.

And for the biggest milestone of the past few weeks!.....are you ready.....

Sweet balancing victory!  Congratulations Little Sister!  YAY!

It won't be long, hopefully, and she'll be toddling around the house!  We are thrilled that she is making an effort to stand up and this week is even almost coming to a stand without assistance, too!
 We are so thankful for the blessing of Emma in our lives!

Happy Birthday, Ash!

Today is the day we celebrate Ashley turning 5!  Wha? How did that happen?  We are so thankful for our sweet girl who will lead the pack of girls around here for years to come.  She can play everything princess and pretty but she can also keep up with the boys like only a true farm girl could (coming in at night almost as dirty as Matt)!  She has already given her life to Jesus with a sweet faith.  She can raise the roof with her emotional outbursts but loves with all the same intensity.  She joins me in Emma's room each night, kisses, hugs, and prays for her baby sister.  She speaks to Jesus as though He is in the room physically, telling Him about her day and what tomorrow might bring.  She is intense about knowing what is planned (gets that from her Momma) but she loves surprises, too!  We are so blessed by Ashley!  

All about Ashley as she turns 5!
Favorite color: purple and pink
Favorite food: Pineapple
Favorite toy: Bitty Baby
Favorite activity: Playing with Bitty Baby
Favorite place to go: To Spokane to the mall
Favorite person: Audrey and Emma
Favorite ice cream: Chocolate chip
Favorite character: Angelina Ballerina
Favorite movie: Angelina Ballerina
What she wants to be when she grows up: a Princess or a ballerina
What she likes to do with Dad: Give him a nice hug
Favorite animal: Penguin
Favorite restaurant: Zips
Favorite Birthday present: (names them all) Bitty Baby bed, carrier, and changing table
Most excited about...having her new baby sister, Emma.

Ashley got her first 'training wheel bike'!

Princess Cake for the Princess!  Beautiful inside and out!

Dearest Ashley, I pray you continue to grow and bloom into the beautiful person God is molding you into.  May you continue to know Him and seek Him and choose to show His love and grace to others.  We are so proud of you and the girl you are!  Love you, Mommy!

May Happenings!

May is flying by.  Where does the time go?  It seems one day is our anniversary and all of a sudden it is Matt's last day of school already.  Emma is learning more everyday, she survived her MRI and first set of immunizations (and so did I) and is exploring new areas of the house and yard all the time.  She seems to have formed a sweet bond with Mark, loving on him and getting so excited when he gets home from school.  Sometimes she even throws herself into his arms when she is in my arms.  It is nice to have a 'back up' set of arms when I need to do something else.  

Emma is learning some sign language...her favorite is MORE!

 Emma loves to be outside and is learning quickly that she wants to join the others when they go out.

Emma had to have an MRI of her spine, which meant general anesthesia.  They gave her some oral sedation first so she was getting all sleepy when they came and took her from me.  Her crying as they carried her away was both wonderful and heart breaking.  Loved that she wanted her Mommy and hated that she was being carried away and was scared.  

Thankfully, they brought me to her before she woke up.  Sleepy Tiger!

The nerve of some people...giving my girl blue bandaging!  :)

Helping Mom at the sink.

Big Brother time is the best!

She loves anything with her reflection in it...and no there aren't any clean mirrors or windows in my house at this point!

Conquering the stairway!  Wahoo!  Going up but not down so far..which is progress since last month if I put her down at the bottom of the stairs she would wail.  

Cutie pie is smiling more and more!

And of course there are some of 'those' days!  

Emma is saying "nice hair, Mom!"

Sorry for the picture overload...trying to keep up on things before I forget.  It seems an impossible feet to get the pictures printed out for the picture books...so this is a close second, right?  :)   And yes, the other kids are still all here, busy and growing...more on them soon.  Beth is all but impossible to capture of film these days, talking up a storm and causing lots of bed time turmoil.  Ashley is planning out her June 6th Birthday down to the tiniest details..to say she is excited would be a drop in the bucket, a very large bucket.  Matt is finishing kindergarten today...what?!?  Mark is growing like a weed and will soon be through with 4th grade. Never a dull moment!

14 years!

So blessed to be married to my best friend for 14 years today!  I don't know where the time has gone and although we both have changed over the years since these photos were taken...we are still as committed and in love as we were at that May Day wedding.  Whoever doesn't believe marriage gets better as the years go by...either isn't married or doesn't work very hard at it!  I am so thankful for a growing and thriving marriage to the best man God could have ever created for me!  He has been a student of me these 14 years and it blows my mind frequently how he just 'gets me' and uses that knowledge to push me, encourage me, build me up, help me, soften lifes blows for me, complete me!  I think we have experienced a lot in the last 14 years together and I can't wait to see what Jesus has in store for us to learn in the next 14 years!  Enjoy the pictures! 

 

Our engagment pictures...I remember we went shopping together and picked out all our outfits.  It makes me laugh to think Justin was the better shopper....a role we have definitely flipped since then!

 

 

 

We were married at Onecho Bible Church on May Day..it was a typical windy spring day on the Palouse.

 

 

It is fun to look back at how the years have brought change in the lives of these people.  Our flower girl will be a senior in college next fall.  The ring bearer, Justin's cousin, plays baseball for Gonzaga.  Little cute Shelby is all grown up, married, and still as sweet and involved in our lives.  Rachel is still the devoted sister, married and has two baby girls of her own.  JB and Jen have been married longer than us and are raising their son, Dustin.  The rest of our friends have gone on to marry or pursue the paths that God has set before them.  Such a blessing to have family and friends come along side us over the years!

 

Oh to have those fresh, unaged hands again! :)  I really appreciate this picture because Justin now has to wear his ring on his pinky, due to an accident involving his ring and ring finger. 

 

One of my favorite candid shots...you've never seen two happier people!!

Many Faces of Emma!

 

 Oh! the depth of those beautiful dark brown eyes!

Fun-loving cutie! 

 

 

 Emma loves to hang out under her blanket.  She is being silly here...when she gets really excited that eye crosses!  Goofy girl!

Being silly again! 

 

Getting tired!

Emma is getting so good at pulling up and has discovered the railing on the stairway!  Yay!

 

None of the other kids ever fell asleep in the high chair...but Emma is really good at it!

Smiles....

 

and also some tears at times, with the biggest pouty lip you've ever seen!



Still figuring out what to do when the camera is in her face, but I think she is doing pretty good!