happy mother's day to me...

...because I'm happy to be a mother. It truly is such a great blessing. Emi has been sick this week and last night I went up to her room to check on her after she fell asleep. Her sweet little face was right by the crib bars facing out and I just sat down and stared at her for awhile and marveled about how much she has changed my life and how very much I love her.

I thought I knew what it would be like to be a mother. I mean, I thought I had realistic expectations--especially going into it at a little bit older age. But there is really no way to anticipate the great opening of your heart that happens when your eyes fall upon your first born baby. With Emi and me it was love at first sight...for me anyway. But there are also so many challenges that come with motherhood that I also couldn't anticipate until I experienced them for myself with my own child. Emi was not an easy baby for the first 5 months of her life. I know some babies are much harder, but she was definitely not easy. Some days (mostly nights) I was more patient than others, I'll be honest, but soothing her, calming her and loving her were so natural. Even though it was tiring and frustrating at times, just knowing that she depended on me for everything kept me going in the middle of the night.

I can already look back over the short time I've been a mother and see mistakes I've made. Nothing monumental really, but things I wish I had done differently, moments I wish I had cherished a little more, chances I wish I would have taken to play with her for a few more minutes...stuff like that. I feel bad for Emi sometimes that she has to be the oldest because I'm sure I'll make the most mistakes with her, but I think she was blessed with a strong spirit to be able to still be okay. I really think she was born first in our family for a reason. She is such a loving little person and just exudes love to everyone around her. I am sure that Heavenly Father knew exactly which little spirit would need to come first to open my heart and prepare me for the rest of the ones that will join our family.

So as I sat and watched my baby sleep, I thanked Him for blessing me with this incredible little girl I love so much, and for trusting me with the divine calling of being a mother. I know what an important responsibility it is and I prayed for strength to live up to the potential I know He has blessed me with. Luckily, He has also blessed me with incredible mothers all around me-- my own mother, my mother-in-law, my sister, my sister-in-law, my stepsisters, my grandmother and so many aunts, cousins and friends-- to set an example for me and to support me in my own journey. Thank you to all of you...I look up to each and every one of you and hope that you have a wonderful Mother's Day.

little miss

Little miss Emi is so funny lately. She loves wearing funny things. I have been putting things on her just for fun and then she struts around with them on and gets mad when I take them off.

Here she is in a tutu and tiara

this is a bib on her head--she thought it was so funny

I put this monkey in her shirt and she walked all around the house with it in there

Grandma gave her this flower headband and she loves to wear it and put it on me

sunglasses are another one of her favorites

and here is a funny video of her with a bucket on her head...she loved wearing the bucket and the bib

emi's easters

We have been celebrating Easter for the last few weekends. A few weekends ago we went to Wyoming and had Easter there with Adam's family. The next weekend we had Easter with my family and then the next weekend we had another Easter egg hunt with the Barker family. Emi is getting really good at finding and picking up eggs and it's so cute to watch.

Here's cute Kylee sitting in her Easter basket

Kylee took Emi for a ride in her Harley--they had a blast! Kylee is a pretty good driver!

Emi put on Uncle Doug's shoes--she loves putting on people's shoes

Grandma Hammond got Emi and Kylee matching pajamas for Easter

Daddy helped Emi find her Easter basket--she loved it

the three of us before church

Emi and Kylee in their Easter dresses

Emi looking for her Easter eggs at my mom's house. It was so cute how she carried her basket around and picked up the eggs!

Emi and her cousin Lincoln

Emi and her cousin Sophie

This was Easter morning at our house. Emi came out to see the footprints and carrots left by the Easter Bunny.

finding her Easter basket again

another Eater egg hunt at great grandma and grandpa Barker's

having fun with Aunt Ro

Grandma Hammond came to town and helped Emi find some more treats

Emi and her cousins Bryce and Lincoln

emi goes to texas

Adam's grandma turned 75 on March 6th so we went to Texas for a big family party. It was so fun to all be together and to celebrate Grandma's birthday. Of course we made time to eat at our favorite places (numerous times) and do a little sight-seeing as well.

The first day we met up with one of Adam's friends from high school, Joe, for lunch.

After that we headed to Galveston. Adam has been wanting to take me there since the first time I went to Texas with him before we got married. We have never had time on any of our trips, but this time we were able to make it. It was not at all how Adam remembered it or how I pictured it. It was fun to go, but I just didn't realized that Hurricane Katrina hit so hard there as well. A great deal of the island has still not been built back up.

Adam and Emi at a cool souvenir shop in Galveston

me and Emi

this was underneath the souvenir shop- just thought it looked cool

we were trying to get some cute pictures of Emi standing in the sand but she didn't like it

some of the houses looked like the hurricane just happened

and then on the same street were ones like this- absolutely beautiful- I thought it was interesting

this was just another house I thought looked cute

we had lots of fun driving around exploring

and I LOVED seeing this out my window!

when we didn't find much to do in Galveston we headed to Kemah

they have rides and shops

just a cool lighthouse there

I love boats

a goofy picture of Emi with Popeye

she LOVES to sit on Daddy's shoulders

The second day we spent with family over at Grandma and Grandpa's. We had a lot of fun visiting and hanging out. Kylee and Emi loved playing together, as always.

Kylee and Emi on the swingset

Emi with Grandpa and Grandma

me and Emi

I thought I had taken a lot more pictures but I guess we were having too much fun!

first birthday party

We threw a party for Emi's first birthday the day after she turned one. We had some friends and some family come for her special day. Emi was so cute and so happy that day- I think she knew everyone came to celebrate her. We had a cupcake theme and Emi's aunt Alicia made her an adorable giant cupcake. We also had little cupcakes for everyone else and a cupcake pinata. I was pretty sure Emi wouldn't have a problem getting messy or eating her cake and I was right. Once she realized what it was and that we were letting her dig into it she never looked back! It was so cute! I think Adam has been looking forward to her turning one since she was born so he could watch her eat cake and get it all over her face and she didn't let him down! He was very proud! Emi loved having everyone watch her open presents. She was hamming it up like crazy, laughing and clapping. She has such a cute and funny personality. Here are all the pictures from her special day.

Emi's giant cupcake

decorations and food

eating her cake

happy birthday girl

Emi and Grandpa

Emi and Sophie