Emilia's Journal

Dear Emi-

Over the past few weeks you have found something that you like to play with from the moment you get up until you fall asleep . . . your feet. Here is a picture of you playing with them at bathtime.

Love, Mom

I love you too!

-Dad

Dear Emilia-

Today was a very special day. It is Easter Sunday, and also your baptism. We got up early to get you ready; you wore the same dress that Grandma K had made for my baptism. You also wore the bonnet that Grandma C brought back from Thailand. When we got to the church, your Godparents, Teri and Diane brought you a special present from Teri’s mom – a beautiful cross for you to wear on your special day. You were very excited about the kite that they were waving during the ceremony and were happy to look around the church most of the time. 

Here you are with your Godparents:

And here you are with us and your grandparents:

Here is you being baptized:

You were surprised by the cold water, but quickly forgot about it and were happy to celebrate. We told the Vicar, Aron, that you liked baths, so he was surprised when you let out a loud wail! Then, Teri and Diane received your light.

Afterwards, we went to Grandma K’s for brunch to celebrate. You were full of smiles again! Teri and Diane gave you a glass window of beach glass butterflies to remind you of the importance of transformation. The beach glass is transformed by the sea, the caterpillar by emergence from the cocoon, and you by God’s love. 

Although you may not remember this day when you get older, we hope that you remember the love that surrounds you always.

Dear Emilia,

This week was your first week at daycare. I was very sad to leave you after we had spent four months together at home. I cried when I dropped you off, but I felt better knowing that you were going to love it at Theresa’s house. She has all sorts of wonderful toys and books and kids’ music, a stroller for walks, and a huge yard for playing. Plus, your new friends William and Hudson are there. Since they are 8 and 5 months older than you, they are lots of fun to watch and learn things from. The report from your first day was: “Emilia had a great first day 🙂 She seemed to enjoy observing the busyness of the boys playing, listening to a variety of kids CDs, grabbing at and chewing on toys, etc. She is such a delight!” By the end of the week you had been on lots of walks, played in the exersaucer, and learned to knock over blocks with the boys. The best part of my day is getting to pick you up and seeing how happy you are and all the new things you are doing. Here are some pictures of your first week. We are so happy that we found Theresa to help us take care of you while we are at work. You seem to love it there and are going to learn so much! You’ll be walking and talking before we know it.

Love you, Mom

Dear Emilia,

Quick on the heels of your first plane trip, we packed up again for a trip to Mexico for spring break! We met your friend Maddy and her dad Matt for a week. It was Maddy’s first birthday, but unfortunately, you’re too young to enjoy some birthday cake…

We stayed in a beautiful location right on the beach. I took this picture from the balcony one morning when you woke up early.

Read the rest of this entry »

Emi-

You and I have spent a lot of time inside this winter since it has been pretty cold. Because of it, you have had lots of time to practice new skills. Here are some of the things you have starting doing over the past couple months. 

Lots of Talking at 9-10 weeks

Rolling over at 11 weeks

 

Dear Emi-

This week you and I went to Vail, Colorado to visit Grandma Colianni. It took you a day or so to adjust to the mountain air- but then you had lots of smiles for us. Unfortunately, whenever we went out for walks- you decided it was naptime! Here are some pictures of your first plane ride and trip to Colorado. 

Your first plane tripQuality time with Grandma

Laughing at your new pink cowgirl boots from Wild Bill’s

At the ski hill

Enjoying the wall of mirrors at the condo

Posing with Shakespeare

Out on the town

We had a great girls trip, and maybe in a couple years you will be able to try skiing! It is so much fun sharing the places we love with you. Maybe next time we’ll bring Daddy. 

Love, Mom

Dear Emilia,

You’ve started laughing at us! We could tell that this was just around the corner for the last few days. Whenever I change your diaper, you love to look around the room and smile at me. We’ve been teaching you bad habits by blowing rasberries at you. Both of your Grandmas tell us not to teach you stuff like that because it will come back to haunt us. I’m willing to take that risk for now.

Anyways, a few days ago, I gave you a zerbert on your belly. (rasberry, or “blubber kiss” as your Colianni relatives will call it)

You immediately froze and gave me a new look. Total shock. I imagined you thinking, What the heck was that?

Immediately following the shock and awe was another huge smile, so I figured that I hadn’t yet scarred you for life.

Last night I gave you another blubber kiss, and this time you responded with a full-on laugh. I didn’t believe my ears for a second, and through my own laughter I called for your mom. “Sonja! You have to see this!” I called.

She came running in the room, and I did it again. More laughs.

Along with the first time you cried, moments after you were born, It’s one of the most wonderful things I’ve ever heard.

Love, Dad

Emi-

There are so many things that happen with you that make us laugh. Some are things you do, some are things we do with you, and some are both. Since we feel it is important to able to laugh, even at yourself sometimes, here are some of our favorites.

Thanks for making our days brighter!

Love, Mom

Dear Emilia,

Over the holidays you were able to meet your aunts and uncles, some of your great aunts and uncles, and of course saw your grandparents! You even got to meet Great Grandpa Noerenberg who came from California. Here are pictures of some of them getting some snuggles with you.

And that is just a fraction of the people who came to meet you after you were born! You will be seeing a lot more of these people as you grow up.

Love, Mom