Extended Easter weekend - 2-week-late post

My mom, sister, and sister's kids came for a visit over Easter weekend. They arrived late Thursday night and headed back Tuesday afternoon. It was a fast few days but I loved the time we got to spend together. Bry took time off of work the Monday and Tuesday they were here so he could join us on our adventures and have some time to relax; he hadn't taken paid time off since our trip to Hawaii last July so it was a much overdue break.

We spent most of the visit chatting and letting the cousins play together - Emma was much more interactive than the last time they saw her [in October]. Becca and her kids got to see our house for the first time and I was so happy we could have all of them (and my mom) stay with us.

Playing together the morning after they arrived.

Emma was not a big fan of Landon's kisses but it sure was sweet.

Emma shared Costco frozen yogurt with me.

On Easter day the boys (Aiden and Landon) helped show Emma how to hunt for Easter eggs (sort of - sometimes they said "here Emma! I found your Easter eggs" and put them in her basket for her) and she started to get it towards the end.

She was a binky baby for the Easter egg hunt because she was due for a nap and very tired. 

They all looked super cute in their matching Easter outfits from Ah-ma.

On Monday (day after Easter) we went to the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium which I hadn't ever been to before and it was pretty great. It sort of felt like a smaller zoo while still having some impressive habitats and animals and a carousel. I loved that it was a zoo AND aquarium because we got to see a wider range of animal life which was really cool. I just love zoos. Sadly I forgot to bring my camera but here are a few pictures I took on my phone.

Emma thought these were pretty cool even if her face doesn't show it.

Three tigers. There was a fourth in a different habitat.

Saying "hi" to Ah-ma across the table while we stopped for a snack.
Wearing her super cute sweater from Sean and Renata.

I can hardly wait to see them all again. Just look at this cute face.

My baby is 14 months old!

Emma is a walking pro these days and loves it. 

She still likes most foods and has more recently discovered a liking for green beans, grapes and toasted oats (Cheerios). Mostly she likes fruit and ground beef and bread but she'll eat most things.

Emma now hates diaper changes. 

She still loves baths. 

I feel like this is my favorite age because of how fun and sweet she is most of the time. Her most used word/sound is probably"oohh!" (said in a high pitch) which I love every time. It's adorable. She does a lot of babbling that is also adorable. 

Lately she has started understanding how to put things together rather than just taking them apart; she can put a lid on tupperware or puzzle pieces on the board - though not in the right place. 

Behold the many faces of Emma (most of which you've seen before but now she's older):

Loves her Pooh bear.

Still has those serious brows.

I don't want my picture taken, mom!

Cool! A lens cap. I have never seen anything like it before!

I love when she makes this face.

Cute outfit credit goes to Becca. :)
I don't remember what this face was about.

Cheeser.
You can see the bottom first molars if you look closely.

Close up.

Who knew peeling paper off a box was so interesting?

Still loves books!

Love the curls. :) Her hair is getting so long!

Still a binky baby (when getting ready for bed).

Emma loves visitors

This weekend we enjoyed the company of Allison and family. It was a great motivator for me to get the house cleaned up (which I could always use) but more importantly it was an opportunity to spend time with family. We're so grateful to have a home big enough to host them and grateful they were able to make the trip safely.

Emma loved getting to play with some of her cousins and I wish I had gotten pictures and video of them together because of how cute they were but I didn't keep my phone on me. Emma was particularly grateful for her sweet cousin Malia who helped her walk around the house. Emma could walk with assistance almost endlessly and mommy tires all too quickly, in her opinion.

Even though Bry, Emma and I were at various stages of being sick we were so happy to have time with family and look forward to the next opportunity to see family.

Growing teeth is a real pain

Emma seems to like growing in a lot of teeth at once which is fine with me. Currently her bottom first molars are both just starting to poke through. I'm beginning to notice her upper canines, lower canines and lower lateral incisors starting to come up too. It will be interesting to see how far they've come in in the month.

Birthday cake

This is belated but better late than never. We gave Emma birthday cake the Saturday after her birthday (the 9th) while my parents were here. The frosting freaked her out. Ha.

After we fed her some of it with a fork she was happy. 

My baby is one?

It's weird to think I was in the hospital a year ago and that Emma was TINY and so brand new. She has certainly changed a LOT and while it feels weird to say she's a year old it feels as though she's been with us for longer than that.

Since about Christmas she has started taking a couple steps between furniture here and there but is choosing to be safe and doesn't try walking on her own yet. She's fairly stable on her feet and I think she'll be a pretty good walker when she gets up the courage to try it. I'm not in any hurry for her to, though. I like her crawling and rolling on the floor.

Her favorite foods list includes many previously mentioned ones and some new ones: salmon, apples, macaroni and cheese, broccoli, tuna pasta, peanut butter on bread, and potatoes (any kind).

She both learned and unlearned how to say "happy" last month, she has said "aunty" several times, she has said "thank you" twice after I have handed her something she liked (it may have been more like "lank you" or something but I'm positive she said it, once one day and again the next - earlier this week), This month Emma has been practicing her monkey sounds (ee-ee, oo-oo, ah-ah) which is adorable. She has also retained "yeah" and "hi" although she doesn't use them very often.

I only managed to get pictures of her today while she was in her high chair for lunch so here they are! I should have more to post in the next few days. Emma's a funny baby.

Emma's First Christmas

For Emma's first Christmas we gladly had a couple visitors, Mark and Roxanne, come stay with us for a few days. Emma loved the extra admirers after she got warmed up. Christmas morning we talked, then had breakfast followed by unwrapping most gifts..We took a break while Emma napped so she wouldn't miss out on us opening things. Mostly we relaxed and enjoyed having company and Bry not having to work on Christmas day.  

Nearly all of these are gifts that were sent to us. We're lucky.
Also, having Emma this year meant a lot more things under our tree.

This was a decoration at our ward Christmas party that they let us take home after.  

Stockings strung up.

I think Emma's face about summed up how she felt (tired).

Emma thought some toys looked good enough to taste.

For dinner we decided to have salmon since it's on of Emma's favorite foods. 

She loved it.

Poor tired baby.

This was taken the day after Christmas, I think, but it could be taken any day.
Her big mouth is great.