So Proud

When I picked Emma up from preschool yesterday, her teacher stopped me in the hall. She told me that Emma asked to lead prayer before circle time yesterday. During her prayer, she prayed for a little girl's mom who was sick, our dog because she had been throwing up, and she prayed for her teachers and her class, that they would make good choices. Miss Lori was SO proud of her, saying how hard it is for adults to pray out loud in groups, and even harder for a 4 year old.

I am such a proud Mommy right now, my heart is smiling. It makes me happy that Emma has empathy for others, and is showing. It also makes me smile to know that she has a relationship with God. I love that girl!

More yellow belt pictures...

Getting her new belt on by one of the helpers in her class, a junior red belt.

Modeling her new belt.

With Ms. Thompson, her instructor.

Yellow Belt!

Emma got her yellow belt last Thursday night at Taekwondo. She was SOOO proud! They had a series of tests they did, plus they broke a board with their foot! The 2nd picture down is her breaking her board. Her next level in Little Dragons (they have a different belt structure than the older kids) is gold. Unfortunately, she's been sick, so she missed class on Saturday and Tuesday. Hopefully, she'll make it to class tomorrow.

Mommy's Little Model

I was playing with my indoor studio setup today. I finally got my softbox! YAY! And, of course, Emma was my model. She was actually cooperating today. Let me tell you, I am in love with the seamless paper look and my softbox. I am doing a maternity session this weekend, and am excited to get to use my new equipment. Just thought I'd share these pics of Emma with her blankie. For those that don't know, her blankie is my blankie that my Grandma made for me when I was a baby.

Kindergarten Decision

We had Emma's parent/teacher conference at her preschool today. Her teachers had so many wonderful things to say about Emma. She is doing super at preschool. They were so impressed that she knew her phone number and address :)

I asked about Kindergarten readiness, since she has a summer birthday. I have been suffering through this decision for months now. Emma doesn't turn 5 until the end of July, and I didn't want her to be at a disadvantage at Kindergarten because she would be one of the youngest ones. Her teachers couldn't tell me what to do, but they did say that we would not regret holding her back and waiting to send her until she was 6. So, I think that we are going to send her to the 5 day/week pre-k class at her preschool next year, and hold off on Kindergarten until 2010.

We just want to make the right decision for Emma and not put her at a disadvantage when it comes to school. I think we're making the right one.

Fun in the Snow

Emma had so much fun playing in the snow the other day. Shawn went out to clean off his company car and Emma went out to play. I stayed inside and took these pics through our storm door. It was cold, and momma doesn't do cold! :)

How cool is this?

There is a great site, called Wordle that you can make these from your blog. It automatically populates based on the words that are in your blog. So cool! Try it out :)

Happy Gotcha Day!

It's hard to believe that it's been 4 years since we were in that courtroom professing our love for our little girl. Judge Samuel Peppers III proclaimed us a forever family 4 years ago today. What a bundle of emotions!

We always do something fun for Emma on her Gotcha Day. I think this year we are going to take the kids to Chuck E Cheese to play (Emma has never been there), and then probably to Red Robin for dinner (Emma's favorite place). I'll be sure to post some pictures later.

Happy Gotcha Day Baby! We love you!

Hot Chocolate Makes Everything Better

Emma has been under the weather for the past few days with a cold and a cough. In fact, today is the first day she has worn anything other than PJs since Saturday. She wanted some hot chocolate today and kept saying how much better she felt after she drank it. Apparently, to a 4 year old, hot chocolate fixes everything :)

Miss Heidi

Just had to share this pic of Heidi that I got last night. Seriously, the cutest dog you've ever seen, right?!?!? She'll be a year old in a couple of weeks :)

Her Favorite Pose

Emma's new favorite pose for me to take her pics is laying on the floor. I have no idea why...but at least I got some cute pics!

Taekwondo Video

Here is a video of Emma at Taekwondo tonight. She really loves it. And, she loves her instructor. She's great with the little ones. (I don't know how to rotate it...sorry!)

Taekwondo

Emma was not happy about getting her picture taken tonight! She had a great time at Taekwondo though. She earned a blue stripe on her white belt tonight. In about 4 weeks, she'll be able to test for the next belt, which is in between a white and yellow!

Night Shift

I have been working night shift for 3 years now. I switched to nights when Emma was 18 months old, because we lost our babysitter at that time. Things were good for a couple of years. But, now, nights are definitely getting the best of me.

I am working Friday and Saturday nights now from 7p-7a and one night during the week from 7p-3a. I am exhausted all the time. My body so wants to sleep during the day. I find myself falling asleep when Emma takes a nap and then sleeping for a couple of hours when Shawn gets home from work at around 4:30pm. Then, like last night, I am up until 3am. That turns out to be a problem when your child gets up for the day at 5:55am.

So, this has turned out to be a perpetual cycle that I am in. It is miserable. Shawn complains that I sleep all the time, when in actuality, I am just sleeping in 2 hour shifts throughout the days of the week. Something has got to give. Dayshift is not an option for our life. So, I need to figure out a way to get myself on a better schedule.

I want to have the energy to do the things with Emma I used to do. She is getting so used to hearing, "Mommy is tired." I don't like it one bit. I don't want that to be her memory of growing up. I don't know what the answer is.....but hopefully I'll find it!

Taekwondo

A couple of weeks ago, I asked Emma if she wanted to take dance class or karate. She picked karate. So, we found a great Taekwondo place and signed her up. Her first class was tonight. She had so much fun, and did great. The instructor is fabulous and was actually able to keep a class of 8 four year olds reigned in! She got her uniform tonight, and her white belt. She also earned a yellow stripe on her white belt tonight.

I wasn't sure if we were able to take pictures, and no other parents were taking them, so I didn't tonight. I'll ask them on Tuesday if we are able to take pics.

Seriously Adorable Pics

I was trying out my new studio strobe tonight and captured these pics of Emma. She looks so grown up...and so beautiful! You can see the rest of the pics here.

100 things...

I found this idea from Katy's blog.

RULES: There are 100 statements and you bold / change the colors of the ones you have done. Grab it and play for yourself!! When you post this on your own blog, come back and link me to your post!

*Hint* If you are using Blogger, before you paste the text, click over to the "edit html" tab instead of "compose", and when you paste, it will keep the vertical formatting!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (orchestra)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept in an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (solar)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten cavier.
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chicken pox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Learning Italian

Well, Shawn and I have decided that we are finally going to learn Italian. Shawn's grandparents spoke it, but his dad does not. He really loves to learn about his heritage, and wants to share it with Jacen and Emma. So, we are taking on learning Italian, and our plan is to immerse Emma in it, so that she learns it to. She may not be Italian by birth, but she is Italian because of her Daddy. It is her heritage now. We just don't want Shawn's Italian history to die with him. So, this should be an adventure! You may be seeing some Italian here and there from now on :)

Happy New Year!

May God bless you and yours in 2009!

Christmas Night