4th of July in Kismet

We got to take one more trip out to Kismet for 4th of July weekend to hang with our dear friends - Joy and Allison and Scott and Jay. The weather was wonderful so we hit the beach daily. In all the excitement we didn't break the camera out nearly enough. We did make sure to snap a few pics while sitting on the dock watching the fireworks. We always leave wishing we could stay just a little longer. Maybe next summer we can go out a few more weekends.

Joy and Scott

See, look close, Em already has a tear in her eye anticipating the weekend coming to an end.

While Mommy's Away

Karen had to leave for a business trip to Tampa for a few days so we missed her dearly. Nobody was pleased. Sadie included. We made the best of it but were thrilled when she came home! No more trips without us mommy!!

June Weekend In Kismet

This weekend was Emily's first real beach experience. Arguably, last summer confined to the boppy didn't really count. This go-round she was able to strap on the suit, the hat, the shoes, and hit the sand. She was a little tentative at first, not knowing what to make of the funny ground beneath her feet, but by the end of the first afternoon, we were chasing her down the beach. Actually, since Karen was 6 months pregnant, that meant that Stephanie and the rest of the gang did a lot of the chasing. Here are a couple pics from the weekend. Aunt Joy, you were photographer extraordinaire that weekend, so send a few our way to share! ;)

Riding the ferry over to Kismet. We learned Row Row Row Your Boat.

No longer afraid of the sand

Memorial Day Weekend at Camp Larby

For the holiday weekend, we loaded up the mini van and headed south to grammy and papa L's abode in North Carolina. Emily got to enjoy the lake in her flotation raft for the first time, and especially loved the giant raft with mesh floor that she could stand on in the water. Thankfully, the crying over the cold water only lasted a minute!

Uncle Scott!!

Uncle Scott came up to spend the the afternoon with us, and Em was sad to see him go. He doesn't have a clue what she's trying to babble to him yet, but it won't be long before she's telling him secrets and he's giving loving uncle advice.

Auntie L Comes to Visit

Auntie L came to visit for the weekend. She would be quick to admit that she's not entirely sure what to do with wee little ones, but we think Em has nonetheless taken quite a liking to her, and is using all her toddler force to win her over to the baby side!

Garage Sale Day

So every year, Sleepy Hollow (our neighborhood) and Scotch Plains has a town-wide garage sale day in May. Karen just happened to run across one house in particular that had nothing but high-end baby stuff galore that was barely used and seemed brand new! Needless to say from the picture, she practically bought them out, and a confused Emily thought it was Xmas morning all over again. Stephanie would have grabbed the camera to take a picture of the stuffed minivan had she known what was about to peel out of it.

This is just some of the loot.

"It's all for me?!?!?"

Emily's Daycare

Here's Em at daycare, so immersed in her book, she's oblivious to the fact that mommy has just walked in to pick her up.

Wait, I know you!

Emily Hates Grass

This is what happens when your child is born in March, is so tiny through the summer, and then spends the winter mostly indoors. Spring rolls around and she inevitably doesn't like the grass.

...And some time later

Some time later, we've moved to the shade so we don't get sunburned, and it just doesn't get any better...

Driving Home From Daycare

Karen snapped this picture on her iphone as she and Em drove home from daycare. We will assume the car was not in motion at the time. :)

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!!

I am not happy.

Just taking a stroll down iphoto memory lane and came across a couple of pics from Mother's Day last year...

Can you believe how little I am? I'm not even 2 months old here!

Kentucky Derby Day

The Kentucky Derby is a big event at our house. Tradition calls for a special horsey outfit for Emily for the big day, and Stephanie gets giddy breaking out her mint julep recipe. This year our friend Karen came up from south Jersey to join in the festivities, and we had a ball.

Obviously Teddy will enjoy the races too

Not exactly a traditional Derby hat, but it'll do!

"This knee ride is just not the same as a horse mom!!"

Sleeping "B"Eauty

So Auntie Joy made these pants for Em for Christmas, along with matching pairs for her mommies! (Picture to come... ;)

It didn't take Em long to eat the B off, so now she's just plain EAUTIFUL!

Baby Babble and Nose Blowing

Sorry the video is a little dark. We were having a relaxing night in the florida room and Emily started imitating Karen blowing her nose, and it was such a riot, we had to grab the camera.

Emily.... Out

This is what the aftermath of a hard partying weekend looks like nowadays.

How Not to Open a Cabinet, by Nekked Baby

What can we say, she's persistent!

Where's Teddy?

Jersey Reunion Weekend

This weekend we had a reunion weekend in Jersey with our friends (and honorary Aunties) Joy and Allison, and Scott and Jay. Em got a sit and spin for her birthday from Joy that she is in love with! Definitely requires a bit of adult supervision for now, else she'll spin herself right onto the floor. And it's all fun and games until someone starts crying! :) Once Em wore herself out, we got to have an adult night (which mommy and mommy desperately needed) that kept Karen up until the peek hour of midnight, and Steph and Joy gabbing until 4am! We can't wait to have our Fire Island reunion weekend this summer. Emily and Sadie are going to love it!!

Snuggling With Sadie

We are incredibly blessed by how gentle and patient Sadie is with Emily. She tolerates a fair amount of baby patting and poking. In her defense, Emily is pretty sweet as well. She strokes Sadie's ear like she does those of her little stuffed animals. Inevitably we'll find Emily sucking on the thumb of one hand, while stroking Sadie's ear with the other. There's definitely some baby/doggy love going down at our house.

Emily's 1st Birthday!

Emily had a wonderful 1st Birthday. She got some toys and clothes - including this birthday girl dress. We had dinner at our favorite Hibachi steakhouse (ok, admittedly that was probably more for the benefit of the adults) and then celebrated with birthday cake at home. Our little monster cake eater baby-handled it like a pro.

Me and mommy!!

My very first birthday outfit

Grammy and Papa got me a musical table

Wow, this cake is mine, all mine

Big bird's head burning is SO funny

Ummm... Is your piece bigger than mine?

OK, I will share one bite. But just the one.

Some of My First B-Day Gifts

Emily received a couple of her gifts from Grammy and Papa this morning. They're as big as she is but she's doing her best to pick them up and drag them across the room!

I love my giant puppy!

I love my giant bear!

OK, the orange yarned hair baby keeps staring at me grammy

Rub a Dub Dub

Emily absolutely loves her bath time and splashing around in the water. And she's a pretty good sport when mommy gives her goofy hair styles like this one. If she has a penchant for mohawks and spiky hair cuts years from now, we'll know who to blame... mommy!

What Are You Looking At?...I Haven't Done Anything... Yet...

With Emily, there is no mercy. Dare to get in the way, and brace yourself for being run over. We are so blessed that Sadie is so patient with her. And that this thing doesn't have heavy wheels. Poor pooch has been run over more than she'd care for. And Emily is quicker with this thing than we are. You just can't jump out of the way fast enough. Come over, she'll show you!

Our Big Snow Day

Here's a picture of our big snow day here in Jersey. Nobody was commuting to work in this, so we all stayed home and just enjoyed the powdery white view.

Humming, clapping and ... almost walking, oh my!

Emily has been trying to hum Jingle Bells for months so we figured it was about time to get it on film.

Emily shows she's not just a one trick pony. She can wave and clap too!