ONE-derful!

 

 Happy Birthday Emma! 

One year ago today, this was my baby:

This was my precious girl today

 

Emma did not have the massive 

1st birthday pool party that Lexi got. 

But don't feel sorry for her - she got three small parties 

(one with Paul's family, one with mine, and one with the babysitter) and she preferred it that way. 

Emma doesn't like crowds. 

And poor Emma, due to that pesky peanut allergy she couldn't have a pretty bakery cake (peanut cross contamination risk). 

Mommy attempted making a cute cake. 

 It's safe to say that I will never start a business venture in the cake-baking world:

It's been an emotional past couple of days for me. I am having a hard time letting go of Emma's baby days. Don't get me wrong, I love hearing all of her new words (she says mama, dada, nana, puppy, baby, uh-oh, oh-no, bu-bye, and na-night), watching her mimic her sister, and wobble-walk all over the place. 

But I have LOVED her baby stages. 

LOVED. 

Lexi wasn't a very cuddly baby, and she was pretty fussy. 

Emma is a snuggler and she just wants to be held 

(and fed - she's my chunkster). 

In my mind I've viewed her first birthday as an end point - she's not my baby anymore. 

She's my big girl. 

I'm sad. 

But I'm happy, too - I love each new thing she learns to do or say. 

Even though I am sentimental about where we were a year ago, I am really looking forward to all the things to come.  

I'm an emotional mess.

Paul is just happy - he sees her first birthday as being one step closer to being done with diapers and being awakened in the middle of the night to pop a pacifier back in.

All my mama-drama aside, Emmy Jo had a pretty good little day. I made special Lemon Blueberry Pancakes (that I found on Pinterest - I'm addicted) and Emma ate . . .and ate . . . and ate and ate and ate. 

She's still my pooh bear - short, fat, and proud of that. 

She got to play in her new playhouse from Nana and  Papa. 

It's a hit.

We had my parents over for dinner, cake, and present opening. 

Lexi "helped" Emma open a new book, movie, and toy. 

The cake taste test:

Step 1:

Taste small portion of frosting with finger

 Step 2:

Decide it is sugary deliciousness.

 Step 3:

make a small, but dainty mess, and make silly faces while eating.

Happy Happy 1st birthday, 

Emma Josephine. 

You have brightened our world.

Lexi's Amazing Day

 So you should know that Lexi is really terrible at soccer. 

So terrible that Paul and I slightly dread the games. 

Because she's gotten stuck in the net, 

and started a game of ring-around-the-rosy allowing the other team to score multiple goals, 

and frequently (and loudly) complains that "this is making me sweaty."

She's going to be more of an individual sport gal. 

She's told us "I not so very good at soccer" 

Honey, we know. 

So I was an awesome mom yesterday and told her that if she would STAY WITH THE BALL during the game and AT LEAST TRY TO KICK IT JUST ONCE I would take her anywhere she wanted to go later that day. 

And you know what - bribery works, people!

That little lady got out there and hustled her hunny-buns off trying to keep up with the ball. She kicked it  . . . TWICE! It was the most involved I've ever seen her!

After the game (which they lost 276 - 0), she declared that she wanted to be taken to the Jewelry store. 

You got it sister! 

We have a great costume jewelry store and Lexi and I spent about 45 minutes in there looking for "her one favorite thing" which she would get as a reward for her soccer skills. 

This was her selection: 

 

 Note the outift change - before we could go shopping, she demanded to be dressed like a princess. 

Because you must always dress for occasions. 

 We also found this cutey-cute scarf

And Lexi's Amazing Day continued. 

We went to 5:30 Mass . . . It was Prom Night. 

"MOM! Look! There are PRINCESSES here!"

She about peed her pants with excitement. 

After Mass, she ran up to all of them and told the girls how pretty they were, and asked for high-fives. 

All obliged. 

It probably helped that LuLu addressed them as "Pink Princess" or "Purple Princess" or my favorite: "Sparkle Princess" - I would high five anybody who thought I was a princess.

We Be Jammin'

Happy Matching Pajama day! 

Lexi shares my affinity for matchiness (not a real word, in case you were wondering) - when she woke up Saturday morning and saw that she and Emma had on THE SAME JAMMIES she ran up to Emma and told her "Emma! We match! Aren't you so excited?!?" 

Em was, I'm sure. She demonstrated her elation by continuing to shovel Cheerios into her mouth. She eats like a linebacker, I tell you what.

 Lexi can give attitude in any type of clothing. 

Sister loves.

Egg-cellent!

 Hey - so I got a little high up on my Blog Horse there. And thus, Life decided to intervene and kept me so busy I haven't had the energy to chronicle our lives. 

I've gone and overbooked myself again. 

*sigh* 

You should also know that I've started watching GCB - possibly my new favorite show - and now my inner monologue (and possibly my regular speaking voice) has a fantastic Texas accent, y'all. 

*expletive*

AND on that note - Let's talk about Jesus. 

We spent Easter weekend in Kansas City with my family. My brother was home for the weekend and since he deploys in a couple of weeks we all wanted to be in the same place for Easter.

The kids had a great time at the Easter Egg Hunt that my sister organized in her backyard. The adults loved watching them and it was awesome to spend time together as a great big family.

 This is a sad and pathetic family photo. 

But it is only our 3rd. 

Shameful. 

 Ready to hunt!

 The Egg Hunt begins:

 Lexi wouldn't pick up any (A.N.Y.) eggs unless they were pink.

 only the pink.

 I told you. pink only.

A few photos for ya: 

 Trey and Lawrence

 Love her eyes

 Paul and Emma

 Lawrence works on his photo-bombing skills

 Scottie and Emma

 HIDE - AND - GO - SEEK

 " . . 7, 8, 9, 10"

 " . . . Here I come . . ."

 " Found 'ya!"

 And I leave you with THIS:

 Paul and I found this masterpiece on the table. When we asked Lexi why everyone's face was red, she said they were all naughty at school. Ariel was throwing rocks and everyone else was saying naughty words - so they all got Red Faces. 

Poor Ariel - naughty on her wedding day.

Remember this. It's Very Important.

alright - well that last post got a little heavy.

But you should know that I blog this stuff to keep track of our memories. 

And not all memories are good. 

But they are still a part of our story.

And if I only wrote about the good stuff, you would probably be laboring under the misconception that we are like the Cleavers or something.

Well, you now, 

if June liked halter tops and cussed a lot - 

if Wally and The Beav' were little girls . . . 

OK maybe not then. 

But still - things happen that are not always cute and funny. 

And so I write to remember.

I know that in 5, 10, 15 years I won't be able to instantly recall the little things we did each day. But if I write them down, I can look back and that will help me remember. 

I need help remembering - I don't sleep enough for my brain to work properly, I'll take all the help I can get. 

Because it's these little moments that comprise our lives: 

 

So what's worth remembering today? 

Right now, I'm remembering how much UNfun 

(is that a word? I doubt it) 

it is when Paul travels for business. 

This go-around, he's gone during Spring Break which means I don't have to get the three of us anywhere on time but I am solely responsible for the girls - all day- every day - all day long every day.

We are making the most of things and keeping ourselves entertained.

So far we have been to Hobby Lobby twice,

(it's Lexi's favorite place in the world. 
True Story.)

Target, and Dillons. 

And it's only Wednesday. 

We have also had a lot of sit and stare at each other time because it's raining Biblically. 

Seriously - you get the ark, I'll get the animals!

I was a smart mom and put away some of the toys they got for Christmas so they could have new exciting things to play with over the long week at home. They were PUMPED UP  . . . . 

about the large cardboard box that the Diapers.com order came in. Way to go, me. 

 

 

The time with my hunny-bees has been sweet. 

It's been so great to have time together without the rush and stress of our normal routine. 

(FYI: I spell Hunny the Winnie-the-Pooh way. It's more fun. Try it out sometime. Guaranteed to make you feel more whimsical.)

So far - so good. 
But hurry home Daddy. 
We miss you!  

 

She'll never have a peanut butter cup

 Scary, isn't it? 

We found out (the scary way) that Emma has a peanut allergy. I gave her a small taste of peanut butter and within minutes her face broke out in hives. 

BEFORE you start lecturing me in your head - I've already heard your thoughts on this. I know the rules used to be 2. I know that you think what I did was border line child abuse. BUT, I was told to try everything - all kinds of table food - try it all. And just in case you think that you still need to let me know that you still think I did a stupid thing - fear not, I already know. 
I knew without anyone telling me. 
This one is on me. 
I did this to her. 
I did this to my child. 
Not intentionally, but still. 
The guilt is overwhelming. 
No one can say anything to make me feel worse than I already do. So don't worry. 
I know. 

After her hives, we gave her Benadryl. To add to my shame, I had to speed (literally - 55 in a 40 mph) to the pharmacy to get some. But now I know that I can get to Dillons and back in less than 10 minutes if necessary. 

30 minutes later she vomited the Benadryl up. 

Then she broke out in a full body rash - nose to toes.

And then I had to take my sweet girl to the ER. 

She was red and bumpy skinned all over. I looked terrible - in retrospect I'll bet the nurse had the thought cross her mind "where did this homeless woman steal this baby from?"

Either way, the staff did a great job of talking me down and keeping me calm because I was one raised eyebrow away from totally losing my ?*%#$, if you know what I mean. 

After the nurse checked her oxygen levels (which were fine) they took us back to see the doctor. He was very kind and knew not to make any sudden movements around me. I was looking a bit like a frightened animal at this point. They gave Emma a dose of steroids, and within minutes she fell asleep in my arms. 

We left with a terrifying diagnosis: 

peanut allergy. 

When we got home, I needed to give her a bath. 
I say needed because we just spent 3 hours in the ER and I am a germ-a-phobe.  
She wasn't awake for most of it.

 

All I've been able to say to Paul about this is food related :

"she'll never have a snickers . . . or a peanut butter cup"

"Halloween is totally going to suck for her"

"She won't ever know the taste of a peanut butter cookie"

"She'll never eat fries from Five Guys"

"There will be no Peanut Butter-jelly time for Emma"

I know it seems shallow, 
but I truly believe this is my brain's way of coping. 
If I let myself think about what COULD have happened, 
or what might happen NEXT time, 

I'll crumble 
(like a peanut butter cookie).