Emma is 1!!

Emma turned one this past weekend.  She was due around Thanksgiving last year but came three weeks early. Scott was able to work it so he could be in town for her birthday, so that was nice.  Here's Emma getting ready for the birthday festivities.

I made cupcakes and frosting from scratch.  Usually I make cakes and cupcakes from a cake mix so this was an accomplishment for me.  (PS: they turned out only so so...they tasted great but the texture was very light and airy.  Maybe it's an altitude problem, but I might try a different recipe next time).

 Cupcake close up!

We sang Happy Birthday and gave her a chance to blow out her one candle.  She thought it was all very strange and needed candle blowing help.

After the candle was dispensed with, we sat the cupcake in front of her.  She immediately shook her head back and forth and said, "NO! NO! NO!"  It's one of her new words.

 She was very suspicious of the cupcake and examined it at length.  She didn't push it onto the floor outright, so that was good.

Her cupcake eventually slumped over (too light and airy?).  She gave it a few pokes and checked the consistency of the frosting.  She's a tough cupcake critic.

 She squished a little more frosting just to be sure.

Thorough.

 

And, at long last, she gave it a taste.

And then went back for a lot more.

 She eventually got through to the cake part too.

And we cut her off after a while.

 Then it was present time.  She cried when we put her on the floor with her gifts.

 The other kids had to convince her that this was a good, happy thing.

They also helped her unwrap some of her presents. 

Here she is with some puffs.

 She has no shortage of helpers.  Here she is with a play phone.

She was excited about the sounds it made.  Grant and John commandeered the phone for a while and we had to make them give it back to her.  They weren't happy about it.

 Emma opening a present from Grandma.

 It was a car (also "borrowed" by Grant and John later).

 She finally got to play with her own toys.  Here she is with Scott and her phone.

Can life get better?

 I submit that it can not.

A Little About Emma

Emma can crawl and cruise, but not yet walk.  She's getting close though.
She likes balls and cars and her light up phone.  She gets VERY excited to play with a big soccer ball we have.
She likes being with the other kids, eating puffs and listening to music.
She has three teeth (two on top, one on the bottom).
She can say, "Mama," "Daddy," "no," "down" and "hi."  She says something close to "down" anyway.
She is a pincher and will pinch you mercilessly with her strong, tiny baby fingers if given the chance.
Her current favorite book is The Very Busy Spider.  She likes the animal sounds in there.
She likes taking baths, splashing and going swimming.
She's a good eater, but not a great sleeper.
Even though she doesn't see Scott all the time because of our current living situation, she is always very excited to see him.  She points, jabbers and smiles really big at him when he comes back into town, and asks for "Daddy."
She is now in the 25th percentile for weight (she was way under the chart when she was born so yea!) and the 75th percentile for height.
Her arms reach farther than you would think (like Dad) and she is quick (like Mom) so she can pull things off the table in a flash - things you didn't think she could reach.
My pregnancy with Emma was a little dicey and at some points I wasn't sure she was going to make it here safely, but I'm so glad she did and that she didn't have any lasting health problems.  I'm grateful for my vigilant doctor who insisted on inducing me early even though the surprise induction was very stressful.  We're so glad she's a part of our family!!