Happy Birthday, Emmy!!!

Emmy has turned 3!!!  She started off her day by waking up to a couple gifts from her mom, dad, and her sisters.  She was so funny when she came down the stairs and took a look at the living room.  She ran in all excited as if she were going to just jump in, then she stopped short of the couch and just stood there looking and said, "Oh, THANK you!  It's BEAUTIFUL!"

 Jeremy picked out the Tickerbell dress for her.  We had planned on a Pixie Birthday but it got switched to a Tinkerbell Birthday at the last minute, which is fitting considering how much this little girl loves Tinkerbell.

 I'm not exactly sure who's idea it was to get her the balloon as big as she is...but she's been having the most fun with it! 

 My first try at a fairy house.  I was kind of rushing to get it done so it's a little on the sloppy side but I think it turned out cute...

 Emmy liked it.

 She was so cute and funny when it came time to sing to her.  She actually started leading us in the song.  As soon as Jeremy lit the candles, she started singing Happy Birthday to herself!  She did stop once everyone else joined in and then she just waited with a sweet smile to blow out the candles...which only took about 10 tries.  She was very patient and persistent, though, and eventually got all three blown out.

You're too cute, Emmy!!  We all love ya!!


She knows how to make me laugh

When I was still pregnant:

Emmy climbed on my bed while I was resting and began playing with my tummy.  Out of the blue, she started pinching my belly button and pulling.  It really hurt, and I told her so. 

Mom:  Ouch!  That hurts, Emmy.  What are you doing?
Emmy:  I trying to get it out!
Mom:  Get what out?  My belly button?
Emmy:  I get the baby out!!
Mom:  (laughing) Honey, you can't take the baby out that way.
Emmy:  Ohhhhh... the doctor do it?
Mom:  Yes, the doctor has to take the baby out.
Emmy:  Okay, you go to the doctor and get baby out!

(Is it possible that she was actually starting to want the baby?  Or was she just tired of having the big belly in the way when she's trying to snuggle...)

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Emmy has a new run!  She doesn't run flat footed anymore.  She now runs on her toes!  It's more of a prance or gallop, than a run.  :)  I think it's so cute!  Of course, when I tried to get it on video, she wasn't overly cooperative.  Surprised?

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Ally and Emmy were playing a game where they were giving each other plastic jewels in an old ring box.  Emmy started by telling Ally to close her eyes and then putting a jewel in the box she said, "Okay, open" and presented the gift. "Thanks," said Ally.  "You're WELcome," was Emmy's reply.  Then it was Emmy's turn to receive the gift.  She closed her eyes so tight, her whole little face scrunched.  I wished I had had my camera handy...  Ally presented Emmy with her gift and said, "OK, open your eyes."  Emmy opened her eyes, made a huge expression of surprise, and cried, "Thank you, Sweetie!!"

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Another game Ally and Emmy have been playing together is called "Big Ladies!"  They are the ultimate Ladies of Cool that know how to fix any problem.  They even have their own theme song.  It's really cute.  These two have been playing together a lot lately.  I LOVE it! 


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Something I don't love but decided to go ahead and include here is that she decided to cut her own bangs today....

I've been working on those bangs for two weeks, trying to get them to look right.  Finding a hair here and there that I had missed.  I guess she thought it was her turn to take the scissors to them.  I was just thinking this morning about the fact that I need to take her birthday pictures, too.  ugh.

I didn't laugh about it today...but I imagine I will someday.

ONE MONTH!

 Kassi is a month old! 

My, that went by fast...

We weighed her the day she turned 4 weeks and she weighed 8 lbs 4 oz!  She gained a pound-and-a-half in two weeks!  AND she is sleeping up to five hours at night!!!  (this is all simply monumental for one of my children...and I'm thrilled)

On My Own...

Well, my first official day of being entirely by myself with four kids has almost come to an end.  Okay, well not "entirely" by myself.  My friend, Mary watched Emmy and Sami while I took Ally to the doc this morning and then ran a couple errands... and Jeremy came home in time to help put the girls to bed because I called him and basically said, "come home, I can't take it anymore..." But all my "help" is now gone and I am having to figure out how to juggle house and kids on my own.  Today was a little rough around the edges but I'm optimistic!  And I'm convinced that we don't need anymore children in this family.  :)  I'm tired.

Sami and Ally were really good helpers today.  I have been amazed at how much more mature Ally has become since Kassi's birth.  Now what to do with Emmy...  She was in one of her mess-making modes today.  She made messes faster than I could even contemplate getting her to clean them up.  And she was sure to want my attention whenever Kassi needed it.  Yes, the former baby of the home is playing her role well!  One thing I have to admit, though, is that she is kind to Kassi.  She hasn't tried to get rid of her yet.  :)  She is just making sure that I am aware that I may not neglect her at all just because there is a new baby in the house.

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I do need to thank these marvelous women, though, for coming to take care of me.  I was rather spoiled with over three weeks of care after having a baby. 

Dee stayed with the girls the night after Kassi was born and then brought them to the hospital to meet their new sister.  She then came back a week later and stayed with me for the first couple of days that Jeremy was back at work.  I couldn't ask for a more wonderful mother-in-law!

 My mom came the day after Kassi was born with my dad and they stayed for a few days to help us get settled.  My dad was great about taking on some of the odd jobs that have been on my "Honey-do-list" for a while and my mom took care to entertain my girls while I did a lot of sleeping.  Then my mom returned a week later to take over where Dee left off (on everything but weeding my garden... :) love you, Mom).  She was here for a week.

 Within hours of saying farewell to Grandma, Auntie showed up!  My Aunt Polly is so sweet to always want to care for us.  We really miss having her a short drive away.  She stayed a week, too! 

Thank you so much, Dee, Mom, and Auntie for all your help!!  I will miss having you here--especially in the mornings.  :)

 And I should also say thanks to the men who allowed these women to leave them alone for a while--Dad, Kay, and Shawn. 

My dad (above) and Jeremy's dad (below) are both really cute Grandpas and were very sweet with Kassi.

Daddy's Girls

Oops, just realized I never posted this back in June...

 Jeremy is such a good Daddy!  I love to watch him with his girls. 

Especially with his baby girls.  You know how some guys are good with babies and some just aren't into babies...Jeremy is definitely the first.  He has a special way with babies that just melts a mommy's heart.  :)

3 Weeks...

 In Kassi's third week of life, she and Mommy learned how to manage sleeping arrangements at night--so that Mommy doesn't get too cranky--and she went to church for the first time!  (Just Sacrament Meeting)

 Lucky for Mommy, Kassi likes her binky and is willing to take a bottle!  Ally loves being the Big Sister/Little Mommy.  She and Sami have a magical touch when it comes to calming Kassi.

2 weeks!

Kassi is now 2 weeks and growing!!  She weighed 6 lbs 12 oz at her two week check up!!!  That means she gained almost a pound since she left the hospital--Go Kassi!!!

In the last week, Kassi experienced a few car rides which she really enjoyed, had her first real bath which she also enjoyed....

 ...and discovered her tongue.

Perspective

Jeremy was complaining that I haven't posted a picture that gives true context to Kassi's small size.  So here you go.

American Girls

When you are practically on house arrest and exhausted, there really isn't much else to do on a holiday other than dress your girls up and take pictures....

With all of our heat and with how dry everything is this year, fireworks were banned in our neighborhood, but Jeremy took Sami and Ally to a big show at a golf course on the 3rd and Jeremy's parents came over for a BBQ on the 4th.  Other than that, it was a quiet holiday.  oh well.  :)

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Happy 4th of July!!!