Our Journey to Emma: June 2011

Well, another month has passed and we have been busy bees around here! Emma Kate continues to grow and grow. At the first of the month, Emma Kate and I went to Auburn to hang out with some of our cousins, Caroline and Anne. We try to get together around 4 times a year to spend the weekend together. We saw lots of other relatives too which was lots of fun. We took Emma’s picture in front of the trees at Toomer’s Corner. For those of you who don’t know, some idiot Alabama fan decided it would be a good idea to pour poison on the roots of these trees. One tree seems to be more damaged than the other but it is possible that both trees will eventually die which is so sad.

Emma Kate and I got home in time to have our first Mother’s Day together. We had a nice day together. Emma Kate gave me a beautiful necklace that says “My Mother, My Friend” on it. Emma Kate also made me a little gift at Mother’s Day Out. It was a handpainted small flower pot with a paper flower. So sweet! I remember last year on Mother’s Day. We knew that our referral was about to come. I was so hoping that we would get it in time for Mother’s Day but we did not. It came to us the next week. It was such a relief to know that it was coming.

Emma Kate is talking more and more. She attempts to repeat what we say more often now. She can say cracker and go, go, go. I have included a video below of her saying “cracker”.

We went on a little vacation this month with our friends Brian, Stephanie and their little girl Sylvie. You may remember that we traveled to China with them and our girls are from the same orphanage. We went to Seaside Beach in Florida. Brian and Stephanie go there every year but this is the first time for us. We had such a great time! We played on the beach, swam in the pool, shopped and ate yummy food and enjoyed visiting with each other! The beaches there are just beautiful; the sand is white and so soft and the water is clear blue. Emma Kate and Sylvie were afraid of the waves as they crashed on the shore but loved playing in the sand with all their toys. It was so fun seeing the girls together! I have also included a video of the girls together and a video of Emma Kate playing in her own little tide pool.

I turned another year older this month….ugh! I was spoiled on my special day…. I was taken out to eat breakfast and lunch that day. It was a nice day to be together as a family.

At Emma Kate’s last day of Mother’s Day Out this month, there was no crying when I left which is a first. I usually stay for a few minutes when we get there. This day, she was clinging to me and not leaving my side. One of the teachers pulled out a big box of play food and dishes and put it on the floor. Emma Kate seemed excited about that and jumped out of my lap and started pulling things out of the box to play with. I decided that would be a good time to leave and told her goodbye and that I would be back soon. She waved bye to me and then blew kisses to me through the window. Wow! I was so excited that I was not leaving her when she was crying! Such a big girl! She will start going to Mother’s Day Out 2 times a week starting in June. She seems to really enjoy it so I hope that transition goes well.

Update: I have been trying to upload the videos for several days now but am unable to do it for some reason. I will try again next week.