Myrtle Beach 2011

 Our beach trip is coming to an end.  Emmalyn was surprisingly quite the fan of the beach and my parents had the best time playing with her all week.

We spent our days by the water relaxing, our nights eating great food (I probably gained 10lbs this week ... EEK!) and having some laughs as a family.

I love sandy toes!

Please excuse the grossness that is the person holding my daughter! HE HE!

Emmy used her cuteness to get Uncle Justin to do things like this:

And when she was done being pampered in the pool we snacked some more in a lounge chair.

One night we went to dinner and sat a table that overlooked this:

And grabbed a few photos of the fame while we waited.

We had a great time but are very ready to get back home see our favorite people again.  However, this momma is not looking forward to unpacking!

Top Ten from the Weekend

In no particular order...

1. I found a fellow arm wife to attend the Taylor Swift concert with me!!!

2. Tried these:

They aren't the best, but they get the job done

3. packed up and ready to head to the beach!!!

4. Caleb and I have decided to get Emmalyn a dresser that works.  A bigger one (more than three drawers) and start turning her room into a place for a toddler instead of a newborn. #bittersweet

5. MONOGRAMS!!!

6. Laughing out loud at late night sitcoms

7. Singing with my baby in church

8. seeing my daughter walk for the first time

9. getting lots of sleep - only because I didn't feel well, but it was very needed.

10. BABY ELI making his arrival...Today...some time.  I can't wait to get my hands on him for a newborn session!!

Big news today!!!!!

Emmy walked!

Momma cried.

She is growing so fast!  I love her personality so much!  She is very intuitive, sensitive, silly, busy, playful and determined.  

She has been the picture perfect child since the day she was born.  It makes me want ten more just like her. Caleb and I have been back and forth with the idea of having another sooner rather than later (from the time Emmalyn was three months old).  She's that good!

Obviously unless some miracle happens during the three and half days that Caleb will be in SC next month, there will be no sibling for Emmy for quite some time.  For now, I'm fine with that.  God knows what is best for our family and His timing is perfect.  Honestly, it doesn't matter to me if I become a mother of two in nine months or two years or never.  I love the life that God has given me and the child He has entrusted Caleb and me to raise.

So, for now, I'm enjoying the time I get with my one and only daughter.  And praying daily for her to know our wonderful Christ and for Him to be with all three of us, whether we are together or miles apart.

With that said, here are some recent photos of my now, slowly walking child.

Snack time

My brother said she looks like Tommy Pickles from Rugrats in this "outfit"

Emmy's best bud, Huey.  He goes everywhere she does especially when she has food.  He lets her climb all over him and she hugs him and pets him and even grabs his tail and he doesn't do a thing.  He is so good with her.  I think he has something to do with the fact that she loves animals.

I was editing photos one afternoon while Emmalyn played.  I peaked around the couch and this is what I found.  I love how Dixie is asleep under the table.

Whoops, I got caught.

So busy

After baths last night we put in The Little Mermaid and gave Emmy a snack.  

Then this morning she expressed interest in playing the piano.  She sat and banged around for a lot time and even played some for Daddy when we had our family skype date.  I guess I need to pull out my old books and starts sharpening my skills if she is this interested already!

Some rambling

Well, I was sick all day yesterday and my darling daughter woke up so happy and in a very adventurous mood today (aka the sleep fairies gave her baby crack!).  This combination was not good.  I think she sensed that I wasn't feeling well because she was very loving and even hugged me for a good minute at one point.

We also talked to Daddy yesterday.  I love how happy she is when she hears the skype sound on my computer.  And seeing his proud Daddy smile just tops it all off.  I keep saying I'm going to video tape a skype conversation one day, but it is also the only time I get to see him too.

On another note, Emmy and I are going to the beach for a week with my parents and brother in two days.

I haven't started packing at all.  But I am excited about having people there to entertain her while I play around with my camera and hopefully get some good lasting shots of her first time really being able to interact on the beach.  Last time we went she was two months old and I kept her in the car seat the whole time with the cover up so she was completely shaded.

I'm excited mostly because Emmy is at such a good age for the beach.  At least that's what I think right now, it might change after we get there.  But really, she understands a lot and is getting better and better at letting me know what she needs/wants and at this age babies are so curious.  Everything is new and it is exciting to see them realize something for the first time.

It will also be nice to have a change a scenery for a while and maybe be able to stand the outdoors for more than five minutes at a time since there will be a sea breeze (yes, I'm a weeny when it comes to high temperatures).

Now, I just need to get packing and gather all of the sunscreen bottles in our house to cover my ghostly white skin.

New photos of Emmalyn are posted on the photography blog.

http://kaylawilkesphotography.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-little-munchkin-at-13-months.html

I Wish...

~ My child didn't scream when I try to put shoes on her. 

~ I could go to the Taylor Swift concert in November - anyone want to go with me? Yes, I enjoy T. Swift.

~ the weather was more cooperative with a running schedule.  Due to the extreme heat, the early morning hours is the only time I can bare.

~ I could keep nail polish on my finger nails for more than a day without it chipping

~ Could bottle up the hugs and kisses I get daily from Emmalyn because I know they won't last forever

~ My dogs didn't appease my child so much and she think that feeding them her chicken nuggets at lunch was the best thing!

~ sweats were completely acceptable attire for well... everywhere!

I've got a Secret!!!

My Best friend is going to be a mommy!!!!!!!!
I'm over the moon for one of my best friends, Katie Beth.  She is growing a baby inside her!!!!
I was honored to be with her when she broke the news to her family and grabbed a few photos while it was happening.  The moment was priceless and I loved being a part of it.

This is KB's sister getting excited about seeing everyone's faces when she tells them.  At this point KB had only told her husband's family, two friends, and her sister.

She's so happy!

To break the good news to her family, KB gave her dad and belated father's day gift since she didn't see him the week prior.  

Showing off the pee stick.

Her dad reading "pregnant"

I LOVE how her brother, Chase, reacted.  Such a happy bro!  Mom and Dad are still a little in shock.  Her mom even thought it was a glucose monitor at first and that KB was letting them know she was diabetic.  Whew!  So glad that wasn't the case! 

OH!  She's PREGNANT!!!

His "Baby Girl" is going to have a baby!

Love this family's smiles!

Again, Chase is still excitedly clapping

WOO HOO!  Grandchild #4!

What a good mama she will be!

Katie Beth, I'm so excited to be able to be with you as you go through this journey and all the changes that are going to happen.  You deserve this so much and God has truly answered prayer!  

Praise the Lord! 

Please start/continue to pray for my best friend, her very excited husband, and the life that God is weaving inside her.  

Photo shoot

A sneak peek of my latest photo shoot is now posted to the photography blog!  

http://kaylawilkesphotography.blogspot.com/2011/07/porter-pounder-1-year-old.html

A Day of Birth

So, Saturday was my birthday.  It was a great birthday other than the fact that my husband wasn't here.  One of my best friends, Ashley, came for the weekend to celebrate with me, and my housemate and fellow army wife extraordinaire, Crissy, planned an intimate dinner with some close friends at at local restaurant.  Afterwards we hung out and caught up and had so much fun!  All the while, my in laws took care of Emmy which was such a blessing to not have to worry about someone else for a little while (and she had a blast with Ama and Bop!).

Every year on my birthday there are a few things I can always count on.  The 10:58 am call from my mom (the exact moment I was born) and the annual shrieking-pitched "Happy Birthday" sang by my best friend, KB.  I love it all!

But this year was also different.  I had a a happy, bouncy baby girl that greeted me in the morning.  Last year she was still so small and honestly I was still trying to get use to being a mom, but now, my little one has a striking personality and I'm more rested (ha!).

Despite the fact that this is the first birthday in ten years that I have spent without Caleb, it was a memorable birthday.  And I'm glad to be reunited with my sweet daughter after our night apart!

Emmy's new pet(s)

I had to make a trip to Walmart to get a few things and my brother tagged along.  While we were there Justin pushed Emmalyn over to the fish.  

I don't know how it happened, but a few minutes later I was buying four fish.  And Emmalyn was all smiles!

They are placed right by her crib (with enough space between so she can't reach them) but she can see them and I make sure she is with me every time I feed them.  

We've named two of the four so far.  The black one with white speckles is Betsy, and the translucent one is Flo.  Any ideas for the black and gold one?

Baking with Emmy

I've been itching to do some cooking lately so I decided to bake some cookies.  I decided to get Emmy involved and she loved it.  She started off by using the wooden spoon to help me mix the ingredients.  Once it was mixed up and we started putting the dough on the cookie sheet Emmalyn figured out that it tasted really good so instead of trying to help me place the dough, she started eating it!  Of course Ama being there was not helpful since she was allowing her to take handfuls of it to eat - but what are grandparents for?

Our finished product...