This past weekend was so much fun. Not only did I get to enjoy my birthday celebration with my family and friends, but Emma gave me purpose to celebrate my first Mother's Day! Trenton did everything possible to make it the best day ever! On Saturday, we woke up bright and early, grabbed Emma and Gary, and drove to Woodland Park for my favorite doughnuts from the Donut Mill. It's this old-fashioned breakfast spot that I have been going to since I was two. I have so many happy memories of going there whenever we went camping, on long road trips, or just because we felt like it. Then we went swimming at Shannon's pool, saw "What Happens in Vegas", and had dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, P.F. Chang's. I felt more than loved!
My dear, sweet, darling Emma. Today is Mother's day, May 11,
2008 and what an incredible day it has been. You made me a mommy! I
don't even know where to begin when it comes to expressing the love that
I have for you. You are almost five months old and I am really getting
to know you...and you are really starting to get to know me. From the
moment you were born I have had this unbreakable attachment to you and
overwhelming love, but in the last couple of days you have become
increasingly attached to me! How timely Emma...just in time for Mother's
day! Everyday I am blown away by how smart you are, and beautiful and
happy. You are so eager to try new things and I can tell your little
body is holding you back from all the things you're dying to try. You'll
grow fast enough for the both of us. I love you so much. The word love
doesn't do any justice for the emotion I experience whenever I am near
you, see you, or even think of you. You have done so many things for me
Emma. You have made me a stronger, happier, healthier, braver woman.
With you, I feel like I can tackle all my fears and trials with ease and
you have given me the type of responsibility that was necessary for me
to jump beyond myself and be part of something that is much, much bigger
than I am. While I have always had a purpose on this earth, yours is
truly the most profound and perfect. I feel honored to be your mommy and
I will spend the rest of my life trying to repay you for all that you
have done for me.
We are going to have so much fun! I absolutely
love my life because of you! Every morning when I wake up I get giddy
inside at the thought of walking into your room and seeing your little
head poke up out of the crib with the biggest smile slapped across your
face. I love holding you and feeling your breath against my neck. I love
when we're in the car and I hear you yawn in the backseat and coo and
laugh. I adore when you're standing on my lap and you tap your little
feet like you're doing a dance, and you get so excited Emma...about
everything! When someone walks in the room you smile. If someone looks
at you, you smile. If another baby is laughing, you laugh. When Gary
licks your face, you smile. I love when I'm walking around with you on
my hip because you just fit there as if my hips were carved to match
your sweet, little body. You cling to me like a little monkey as I go
about my business. You love me. I can tell when we're in a crowded room.
You're perfectly content being passed around and sharing your affection
with others, but as soon as you're handed back to me you bury your
little face in the crook of my neck and then turn to look at me straight
in the eyes. You have your moments of playfulness, but there are times
when you look so deeply in my eyes as if you're searching for my soul,
and you must find it because you have this all-knowing smile. I
understand that you won't always be my tiny little Emma 'nae ('nae 'nae,
naner-bug, bubus, sugar pea, flower, punkin, baba-girl, Emma-nade, Em,
Emma-nem, little turtle etc...) and I won't always get to excitedly
select your outfits and hair bows and give you baby massages, but you
will ALWAYS be my darling daughter.
I vow to be the best mommy I
can possibly be for you. I am trying my hardest to raise you to be a
kind, compassionate, respectful, polite, creative, happy, genuine,
intelligent, self-sufficient, honest, clean, well-rounded woman. I hope
to bring you up believing in the beauty and good in the world. There are
always going to be horrible things, in every land, through every
generation. What is more rare than a diamond, however, is an optimistic
(not naive) woman who chooses to leave the world better than she found
it. I thank Heavenly Father every day for this opportunity, to be your
mom, and I pray with all my heart that I can be the person you need me
to be, to help you become the person you are supposed to be. I love you
Emma. I love everything about you, down to your sweet little toes and
pouty, rose-bud lips. Daddy and I are here for you, no matter what
happens throughout your life...we will ALWAYS love you and I will make
it my life's mission to be sure you never have to wonder how much your
parents love you. And I also want you to know how much your father and I
love each other. We are hopelessly, unabashedly in love. He is my best
friend and we have so much fun together. You have completed a very
loving puzzle. My sweet baby, as I write this you are sleeping soundly
across the hall, and I want you to know that as soon as I type my last
word and close my computer I will be walking into your room to kiss your
chubby cheek and wish you sweet dreams. I hope that no matter how old
you are as you're reading this that you can perceive the love that is
dripping from every sentence. You're my heart, Emma, and you've given me
a very memorable Mother's day.
From the bottom of my heart, I love you!
Mommy
Have a wonderful month!
I love you all!!!
Janet, Trenton and Emma
It has been pretty quiet around here. Emma had a good time at "Territory Days" this memorial day. She seemed to really love being outside in the warmth- surrounded by lots of people, booming music, and the yummy scents of turkey legs and funnel cakes. I enjoyed diving into my favorite shops down there in Old Colorado City. It's always a good time, if you don't mind crowds and overly priced carnival treats.
Heather got me the most beautiful tea cup and saucer from one of my favorite shops in Old Colorado City
Strawberries, Blueberries, Cream, Lady Fingers...Could a cake be any more perfect?
On top of the sweet gifts I have been given for my birthday and Mother's Day, we got a new Jeep Grand Cherokee Loredo. 
Last Friday we had the opportunity to attend Autum's graduation. She got her certificate in Pharmacy Tech from Remington College. You could tell she was excited...and like most graduates...ready to get on with things. Along with graduation, we got to enjoy a visit with Julie... all the way from England. 
In celebration of Emma reaching four months and the fact that she was watching with unbridled desire as I ate my meals, her doctor suggested we begin giving her rice cereal. She loves it! Surprise...surprise. And, though I'm not sure the two are connected, her hair has been really growing. Maybe I'll start rubbing rice cereal in my hair at night and see what happens...It's always such a to-do when it comes to feeding her and so little actually ends up in her tummy. Maybe Americans wouldn't be so overweight if we ate more like children. Eating a quarter of the meal, rubbing another quarter on our faces, and throwing the other half on the floor. It would be a messier world...but a healthier one.
She loves to help with the whole feeding process. This could either concern me (obsessive- compulsive, control-freak) or make me proud (self-sufficient, miss-independent). She's been a busy girl. She loves to play in her exersaucer, roll over and FINALLY back over on the floor and she has even learned to sit by herself (with me right there beside her of course). She's such a happy baby. When I go to get her in the morning, she is all smiles and giggles. Oh...that's new too, she truly laughs now. And it's usually at the silliest things, like when we wipe her clean after she spits up.
