Henry, by Emma

Emma took this picture of Henry. I like it. It's very artistic, I think. My baby looks like such a big boy!

Pretty as a picture

I just love this picture of Emma! Her hair is starting to grow back (Emma is so excited about this and reminds me several times a day that she will have long hair again) and her eyelashes are getting full again. Doesn't it look like she has eyeliner on because of all those new little eyelashes? Most of all I love the quiet smile on her face. I took this picture during a steroid cycle so the fact that she is happy at all is amazing! My brave little girl!!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my sweet husband,

I love you!

Grandma and Grandpa came over for dinner to help us celebrate Dan's birthday tonight. Dan's favorite sweets are Rice Krispies treats so Emma and I made a Rice Krispies treat cake for his birthday. Dan was excited but the kids much preferred the store bought "proper birthday cake" with Homer Simpson on it that Daddy brought home from work :) I suppose I should have gotten a picture of that cake too...

Happy Mother's Day!

Mother's Day is one of my favorite days of the year. I had honestly not given this day too much thought, other than as a day to honor my own wonderful mother of course, until I was finally a mother myself. Four years ago (can it really be that long ago??) Emma was 5 weeks old and Dan and I drove to Chicago to have brunch with Jen, Rick and their son, my godson, Jake. They were visiting briefly and this brunch would be our only chance to see them. It was a perfect day -the weather was gorgeous so our drive to Chicago was a pleasure. I remember feeling very special that day - like I was part of a club that I had longed to be in for quite a while. Before we left the house in the morning Dan had given me a "pocket locket" - a big heart that opened to reveal a picture of our newborn. I loved it and I still do! I don't even remember the name of the hotel where we had brunch but it was very nice - as these things usually are. "Us moms" were all given the obligatory flower as we were shown to our table - my dried rose is still hanging on the wall in my closet - I love glancing over at it every so often and smiling at the memory of my first Mother's Day. We had a wonderful time with dear friends and our beautiful baby girl.

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Today was another sweet day. Some things have changed - Dan and I now have a four year-old and a two year-old. Some things haven't - we went to a tasty brunch and ate too much :) New traditions have been started - I was woken up this morning with breakfast in bead. Emma and Henry had helped Daddy make a bowl of berries and cream for me. They had even been to Starbuck's so I could have a venti cafe mocha first thing this morning. Emma and Grandma had baked chocolate chip cookies earlier in the week so I was given a big tin of them. Emma was very proud of the fact that she had signed her name and Henry's name on my card. In fact, both Henry and Emma had very proud smiles on their faces as they woke me up - I definitely shed a tear or two - they are just too precious! How can I not love Mother's Day!

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I hope all you fabulous moms out there had a wonderful day with lot's of love from your little (or not so little) ones!

Emma and I with Jen and Jake on my first Mother's Day.

Emma at 5 weeks old.

I wish I would have managed to get at least one picture of us all this year - somehow this didn't happen...there's always next year...

Tiara-making with Morfar

Morfar and Emma worked very hard making tiaras from the kit Aunt Eileen gave Emma for her birthday. This little four year-old has so much patience - it always amazes me! She is also a bit of a neat freak. (I wonder who she gets that from? It couldn't be her mother, could it?) Before they started, Emma told Morfar they needed to get a newspaper to "protect the table" since they would be using glue. That's my girl!!

Emma in the finished product.

Not an easy day for Henry...

We went to the year-end show for the local ballet school today. Emma is in the youngest group they have, "Creative Movement", so she is not quite ready for the big times yet :) The children and young adults who performed Snow White today did an excellent job and Emma loved every minute of it. (well almost every minute - she is 4 years old after all...) I had anticipated Henry having a hard time sitting through an hour and a half without causing a major disturbance but I hadn't planned on him really hurting himself while watching the ballet - it's not exactly a contact sport! While sitting in Dan's lap he tipped forward and hit his forehead hard on the balcony railing right in front of us. Poor little Henry - he was in so much pain and cried that awful cry where he almost couldn't catch his breath. Dan took him outside until intermission and then, like the tough little boy he is, Henry was just fine. He hasn't said another word about it - he just looks like he should be hurting like crazy! I feel so bad for him!