Well, sorry we have lagged in getting new photos posted for about four months now…..we have been very busy with our ever-growing monster. She has changed so much since her first birthday, soaking up our every word and action to learn, grow, and change. She is so attentive and it is time that mommy and daddy clean up their acts to prevent mimic disasters! Since her birthday, she has learned how to walk well, run, and use more sign language. We are enjoying being able to communicate with her: “I’m hungry” is pretty common for this little one. Although, I have to say that her eating habits are more fickle than we anticipated. One day she loves it, the next day she hates it, well, maybe she’ll eat one bite….or just chew it to spit it right back out! It can be frustrating at times but somehow she is getting what she needs because she is growing. She is now in her big-girl car seat, which really didn’t solve the car seat distaste she has, oh well. Oh, and she has grown some hair folks! Yup, we are putting her hair in the two smallest pigtails you have ever seen….but they are pigtails! She pulls out barrettes whenever mommy puts them in but mommy keeps on trying. There are a couple of photos on here of Emmelia and her new friend, Leighla. We get together with Leighla and her mommy for Friday playdates and these two are quite the combo. She LOVES the park and when daddy throws her around in the air. In fact, she has a temper tantrum when daddy gets tired and stops tossing her into the air, hilarious! She loves books and loves being read to, we read the Bible every night before we go to bed. She has to be outside at least 60% of each day so that she can discover bugs (see photos of her playing with a worm from the garden). We got to visit the flower fields and go to the beach with some of our good friends, Becky, Josh, and Brett. What a fun day that was (see photos). There were lots of ladybugs on the beach that day, they were landing all over us. Does anyone know why ladybugs gather at the beach? We can’t figure it out…
Emmelia got to see her great grandparents for their 60th wedding anniversary celebration. Isn’t that amazing? And, she gets to visit her other great grandmother from time to time on Sundays after church. How blessed she is to have her great grandparents here to enjoy her. She still spends the work weeks with Grandma, Papa, Nana, and Nono. We will never be able to express our appreciation for their love and servants hearts for our little girl. The relationship that has developed between them and Emmelia is priceless.
She has been having so much fun with her cousins, Tre and Zeke. She follows them around and is determined to participate in all of the activities that they do, even if she isn’t developmentally ready for them yet! They are so sweet with her and give her kisses all the time. Check out the photos from our most recent trip to the Wild Animal Park, too funny! She loved the petting zoo and making all of the noises when she saw different animals. We hope that you enjoy looking at all of the photos we have posted, sorry again about the amount of time that has gone by since we last sent out an update. Rest assurred that Emmelia is keeping us busy and growing way too fast for us. Can anyone stop the time so we get a chance to enjoy it? Oh, one more huge announcement…..Emmelia has a new cousin in Atlanta! My brother, Dante, and his wife, Beth, had their baby son 6/13/09, Luca Teri Walter Fenolio, born at 2 (something) am, 6 pounds 10 ounces, 19 inches long. Everyone is home now and doing well. We wish we could see him in person, it is a bummer to live on opposite coasts.
Parenthood is a trip. What a challenge and what a gift at the same time. Such a tool for God to use to refine and to bless. Praise God. How amazing it is to relive this life through your child’s eyes…..to see their wonder and amazement when they see something for the first time is inspirational. How quickly we take God’s creation for granted. I love having kids, it keeps me humble, tests my patience, and keeps my perspective in the right place.