Splish Splash...

Happy Half Birthday!!!

Well, Emory, we have made it half a year! I feel like with you, time is going by much faster than it did with your big sister. A few things you are doing at the six month mark:
You are crawling everywhere!!! You have been creeping around doing the Army crawl thing since 5 months or so, but kiddo, you've got the hang of it now!!! You are so loud!!!! You love to hear yourself! I should've known when you came into this world screaming that you were going to be a loud one! You must get that from your daddy! :) When you take your bottle, you constantly pat it... It's hilarious. Maybe you are practicing for when you become a volleyball star. When we feed you real food, you try to grab the spoon and help. You laugh all the time...at absolutely nothing. You love your big sister so much. You watch her constantly, and now that you're on the go, you follow her around like a little puppy dog. She doesn't always like it, but that's too bad, because you are one determined munchkin.
You started daycare about 3 weeks ago, and you get good reports everyday.
We love you Emmecat!

Trip to Aliceville

I had big plans to go to Aliceville to see family all summer but somehow it never happened. After being off 6 months for maternity leave, it's time for me to go back to work. We finally got to go and thankfully, Cameron was able to go. I took the girls by myself when Emory was 3 weeks old and then again when she was about 2 months old. I promised myself i wouldn't put Ella or myself through that again. Emory despises her car seat and riding in the car for four hours while Emory screams is not my idea of fun. She did ok this time for about 100 miles on the way up (70 or so she was sleeping). The rest of the time Cameron or I had to sit between the back seats in the floorboard.
Once we made it to Aliceville, we had a great visit. Ella shares her birthday with Granddaddy, so we celebrated with him. She was born on his 75th birthday. I'm so blessed to still have my grandparents. They adore my girls and the feeling is mutual.

Ella and Pops on the morning of her birthday

Em and Jeje

My sweet Granddaddy and Ella

Cousins

Yes she turned THREE

Namaw reading to the big kids

Two of my faves

BEDHEAD

Yes, She Is a Girl

One thing that really irks me is when strangers say,"He is so cute!" or ask "How old is he?" when Emory is decked out in pink and is obviously a girl. I never really put bows in Ella's hair until she had enough hair to hold one, and even then, she would pull it out. Now, she knows we don't leave the house without a bow. When Emory was born with all that hair, I told myself I'd be putting bows in her hair, but then, it all fell out. The other night we were getting ready for bed and I was playing with the girls and put this on Emory. She looked so cute, I couldn't help but take some pics. Maybe I'll be putting these on more often.
One of my coworkers came to my room as I was working in it last week and saw one of these and said,"Oh Sara, that thing is squeezing her head off!!!" That might be true, but, I wonder if I put a big bow on her when we go out, would people still call her a boy?

The Party

We celebrated Ella's birthday a week early since school will be starting for most everyone on Monday. We had her party at Kangarooz in Spanish Fort. If you've never been there, it's a huge building full of inflatables for kids to climb and jump in. Ella loves going there and we go there often to meet friends for a play date. I thought it would be the perfect place for her party....
The first hour of the party was great...the kids jumped and played and wore themselves out.

After the kids played we went in and had pizza and got ready to sing and cut cake.

While we were singing, someone thought it would be a good idea to turn the lights off so everyone could enjoy the candlelight. Remember this is a room full of mostly 2 to 4 year olds... Ella thought this was a terrible idea. She let everyone know it immediately so the lights were turned on quickly. As the lights were turned on, in walks the Kangarooz mascot. I don't have a picture of the creepy guy because Ella screamed,"GO AWAY!!!!!!" at the top of her lungs hysterically and the mascot quickly left.

Thanks Daddy for blowing out the candles...

I think my face explains how I was feeling at the moment.

All the commotion didn't bother Emmecat.

A princess makeover made it all better.

Once again, a happy girl

Too much fun for Emory.

Home and happy after a fun party...except for a scary kangaroo and darkness.

Happy Birthday Ella

Saturday is your birthday sweetness and since mommy suffers from insomnia, I thought I'd go ahead and blog about this special day. The last three years have gone by way too quickly, you are growing up too fast. If you could slow down, that would be fine with Daddy and me. As much as I loved you the second I saw you for the first time, I can say that it multiplies everyday. You are such a joy to everyone around you. You are strong willed, silly, talkative, sweet when you want to be, and very independent. You want your mommy when you are scared, nervous, or sad, and your daddy when things aren't going your way or you need something. You still suck your thumb and bite your fingernails. You have a pink blanket (plus 2 backups) that you can't live without. You love Dora, Calliou, and anything to do with princesses. I didn't force princesses on you but boy do you love all things girly... You are a great big sister and helper. I have so much fun with you when we are out and about.... You are my little sidekick.

We had no idea how much our lives would change and how wonderful and amazing being your mommy and daddy would be. We adore you Ella Craker! Happy Birthday to you!