Big Girl in the Kitchen

For Emily's birthday, Andrew and I bought her a Learning Tower so she would be able to stay in the kitchen with me while I cooked dinner... and eventually be able to help me. For anyone who doesn't know what a Learning Tower is, it's basically a step stool with rails around it that puts the kid high enough to help without having to worry so much about them falling out. Since she's not always steady yet, we still have to keep a very close eye on her, but I'm sure we'll get a lot of use out of it as she grows.

Here she is with her spoon and tongs ready to get dinner started. If we keep this up, she may be making most of the family meals by the time she gets to kindergarden.

PARTY!!!

Emily's first birthday party was today! In lieu of the traditional first birthday cake, we let Emily enjoy her first birthday strawberries with whipped cream. I know, we take all of the fun out, but since Emily won't really eat anything already, we didn't want her to decide that she would only like to eat sugar. Don't worry, there was cake for anyone else who wanted some (I wasn't about to sacrifice cake for myself)... and there was whipped cream on the strawberries to take care of the mess factor that everyone looks for in a first birthday cake experience. We had such a great time celebrating with all of our friends. Here are a few pictures we took to remember the day by.

Emily started off the party showing off her newly perfected walking skills.

Emily and her "cake".

She didn't blow out the candles, however, she did attempt to put it out with her hand... thankfully I was there to catch her in time.

She then proceeded to dump all the strawberries on the tray. Good thing I wasn't planning on serving that to anyone else.

Emily thought it was rude to just sit there and eat while everyone was watching, so she offered to share her strawberries with everyone else.

Emily enjoying her special treat.

More of Emily and the strawberries. She made such a mess, we had to quickly wash her off in the tub before we could start with the presents.

Mom's... I mean Emily's... birthday cake.

Andrew helping Emily open her presents.

It didn't take long for everyone to join in the fun of opening presents.

Emily trying on the birthday hat that Kristen made for her. We couldn't get her to keep it on, and she was getting to be pretty grumpy, so we decided to save it for another day.

I decided someone should get some use out of it, so I tried it on for size. I loved it! I was so excited that Kristen made one for her.

Here is Emily after everyone left. We're still going to have to work on getting a good picture of her with her birthday hat because today it just wasn't happening.

Emily's 1st Birthday!

This Saturday is Emily's first birthday.  I can't believe it's been a whole year since she was born.  We have sent out the invitations for her birthday, and we're just waiting for the party.  I know time is just going to fly from here on out.  In case you can't read it on the invite, I've included the super whitty poem Andrew and I wrote for the invites.  I'm sure it's been a while since you've seen rhyming like this...

Can you believe it's been a whole year,

Emily's first birthday is almost here.

Join us for us for food and fun as we recall

a year full of memories large and small.

Like those first few weeks of needles and tubes,

her first smiles, first steps, and her love of boobs.

Her first trip on a plane to visit her cousin,

first music concert... the first of dozens.

A big road trip where she expolored a huge cavern.

And celebrating St. Patty's Day at the local tavern.

We ask that you don't bring any presents,

all we request is the gift of your presence

As we celebrate the joyous event of her birth.

So come one, come all, to Emily's First!

Emly is Walking!?!?!?

Tonight at Music class, Emily was watching another little boy run around the room, and I could see those wheels turning in her head.  She wanted to run around too.  Later on in the class, she was standing in front of me and she took off toward the instrument tub.  I was shocked and excited to see her finally walking around.  I decided it was time to call it... Emily's walking!  But then, Tuesday comes and goes, then Wednesday and no steps.  Does it still count?  I don't know.  What do you think?