Loving Two

Dear Emily,

As I type this, we are a day away from meeting your brother. I want you to know, sweetheart, how much you are loved. Mommy will miss you when I am at the hospital, but I will be OK and will be home soon. I have so many wonderful "Emmy and Mommy" memories that I can't wait to share with you as you grow up, and I can't wait to make more "Emmy, Mommy, and Brother" memories with you, starting tomorrow. I love you sweet girl.

Here is a poem a friend shared with me that expresses exactly how I feel:

"Loving Two"

I walk along holding your 2-year-old hand, basking in the glow of our magical relationship. Suddenly I feel a kick from within, as if to remind me that our time alone is limited. And I wonder: how could I ever love another child as I love you?

Then he is born, and I watch you. I watch the pain you feel at having to share me as you’ve never shared me before.

I hear you telling me in your own way, “Please love only me”. And I hear myself telling you in mine, “I can’t”, knowing, in fact, that I never can again.

You cry. I cry with you. I almost see our new baby as an intruder on the precious relationship we once shared. A relationship we can never quite have again.

But then, barely noticing, I find myself attached to that new being, and feeling almost guilty. I’m afraid to let you see me enjoying him, as though I am betraying you.

But then I notice your resentment change, first to curiosity, then to protectiveness, finally to genuine affection.

More days pass, and we are settling into a new routine. The memory of days with just the two of us is fading fast.

But something else is replacing those wonderful times we shared, just we two. There are new times – only now, we are three. I watch the love between you grow, the way you look at each other, touch each other.

I watch how he adores you – as I have for so long. I see how excited you are by each of his new accomplishments. And I begin to realize that I haven’t taken something from you, I’ve given something to you. I notice that I am no longer afraid to share my love openly with both of you.

I find that my love for each of you is as different as you are, but equally strong. And my question is finally answered, to my amazement. Yes, I can love another child as much as I love you – only differently.

And although I realize that you may have to share my time, I now know you’ll never share my love. There’s enough of that for both of you – you each have your own supply.

I love you – both. And I thank you both for blessing my life. Author Unknown

Love, Mommy

A Message to my Daddy!

Happy Daddy's Day to my Daddy!! I love you!! And I love playing choo-choos with you!


Love, your Super Cool Little Girl, Emily

New Foods!

Hi All! Mommy has let me try some new foods this week. Yummmm!! Enjoy the pics!

A bowl of cereal, with milk! (I am SUCH a big girl...)

A chocolate pudding cup. Delish.

Aaaand....we've been working on sandwiches. Today I did the best I've done so far. They are just so tempting to take apart, you know???

Notes from my Mom

Hi Everyone!

Thought I'd hijack Emily's blog once again to give some updates on what life with this little lady is like, pre-brother. Technically, the little man could show up any day now, even though we are officially 11 days away from his due date (June 18th). Brandon and I are constantly commenting about how "2" she seems to get each and every day. (Which, yes, is LOTS of fun but also can be challenging!) Here are some 22 1/2 month tidbits for you:

-We are working on counting...to 3. :) I'd say we're about at 85% at counting to 3 accurately, and understanding the 1:1 concept.
-She will sing along to her Jack Hartman Nursery Rhyme CD while riding in the car. VERY cute, even though the CD can get....not so cute. :)
-She can sing the ABC's the whole way through. One might not hear every single letter, but you can follow her rhythm enough to know where she's at in the song and what she's MEANING to say.
-Getting sturdier at walking down the stairs, all by herself, like a grown-up!
-Loves playing with beaded necklaces. Will wear them, and "eat" them, as if the necklaces are spaghetti.
-Vocabulary is really coming along! I have no idea how many words she has, as I hear new ones each day. For example, yesterday I heard "scrambled eggs" for the first time. She is still signing many words, often signing and saying the word at the same time.
-When reading, she will finish the sentences in familiar books. For example, when reading "Did you ever have a feeling there's a zamp in the ____?" She will fill in "lamp" for me. It's been VERY fun "reading" books together!
-Had her first dentist appointment. All teeth are accounted for, except for her 2 year molars.
-LOVES swimming and jumping and wearing her "dim dute."
-Will remember what we're doing the next day, if told before she falls asleep.
-Likes to describe things she observes. For example, this past Sunday at Mass, Emily saw Fr. Greg, "put the drink in the sky!" She also has not had to be taken out during Mass since the week before Palm Sunday! She is showing understanding and good demonstration of the need to listen, whisper, and sing.
-Loves to eat Mahnahs (M & M's) and typically wants "TWO!" Same thing goes for jelly beans. But she knows that to usually get them, she has to make her food be "All Gone." (or at least put forth an impressive effort)
-Goes to bed between 7:30 and 8 and usually wakes between 7:30 and 8 in the morning.
-Had her toes painted (Pink!) for the first time. (see picture)
-Can ALWAYS win us back, during trying times, with a grin. We LOVE this girl!

Here is Emily making her toes red, just like Mommy's. This morning she took one look at my toes, noticed they were red, and ran to her art table to get a red crayon so she could make her toes red, also! :) Too cute! Quickly afterwards, I grabbed some polish to give her her own "pedicure" - completely with pink toenails!