11 Months!

It seems like ever since Emilie turned 9 months old she has just developed at lightening speed! Before that it seemed like things were more gradual. Every new milestone was a thoughtful process. Something that she worked very hard at. Then she turned 9 months, and suddenly she was crawling, and climbing up onto things. Things have been so much busier since then!

Now she not only crawls, climbs up on to furniture, cruises along furniture, she climbs up the stairs, and will stand on her own for a few seconds before she slowly and carefully sits down so she can crawl off to her next adventure. She is fascinated by books,  and will look through them on her own while we're changing her. She loves putting things into things. Her new favourite toy is the Tupperware Shape-o ball! She loves to open and close doors, and discovering what fun things are behind the cupboard doors in the kitchen. She initiates peek-a-boo, and claps her hands when she knows she's done something good. She's also trying to use a spoon when eating, but always quickly puts it aside since her fingers are just so much more effective!

So many changes, and we know so many more are around the corner!

Here are some pictures from our little photo shoot this morning:

Dear Emilie

Dear Emilie,

As we get closer and closer to your first birthday I can't help but think back to what things were like a year ago leading up to your birth, and how much has changed since that day.

I am constantly amazed by your transformation over the last 11 months. Even before I was pregnant with you I always thought how magical the first year is. How this tiny little being goes from being completely dependent on parents for everything, to this (possibly) walking and talking little person! Watching you this transformation has been even more amazing.

Those nights in the beginning when I would be up multiple times during the night to feed and soothe you I would just stare at your little face. You would turn your head just so and I could see little glimpses of the little girl that you would become. Now it seems like every day there is something new you are discovering and learning. Not to mention I swear you grow overnight! Now I can see those changes that were just glimpses months ago. They make me so happy, and so sad all at the same time. Happy that you are this smart, daring, energetic, beautiful little girl. Sad because everyday you are one day older, one day further from that tiny, helpless little baby that I held in the hospital.

Sometimes when you start to cry in the middle of the night, I go to your room just a little happy that even though you're my little big girl so desperate to conquer the world, you still need your Mama. I rock you in your glider and you snuggle into my arms the same way you always have, and even though your legs are starting to hang over my lap, you are still my little girl.

Love,
Mama

Seven, Eight, Nine, and Ten months

Okay, okay, I've been a slacker when it comes to blogging. I haven't been a slacker when it comes to monthly photos though, so here they are:

Our little hunny bunny is now 10 months old! Where is the pause button?!

A photo update to catch you up

November 2011

Trying to distract me for Daylight Savings.

Out to a breakfast date with my Mama on my 8 month birthday.

Pigtails!

My first haircut!

But Mama can still do pigtails!

What-is-this-white-stuff?

Whoa!

Big and Little!

DJ "E" hard at work.

Co-ed bathtime!

December 2011

Yummo!

"Josh, I have some things I need to tell you..."

Pears are so yummy!

Papa showing me what snow feels like for the first time.

Le Sigh

Santa you have great taste in presents!

Papa helping me open one of my first Christmas presents on Christmas Eve

"Mama, the phone is for me!"

My Uncle Andrew helping me open my present.

Thanks for the car Baba!

 

Halloween 2011

I never imagined how much thought could go into Halloween! Andre and I debated over what Emilie would be for Halloween, and Andre decided that he would get to choose her costume this year, and I could make next years choice. Andre's decision: a strawberry. It was a nice fleece costume, so we knew Emilie would be warm.

Finally the day arrived, and Carrie and I got Emilie and Josh together for a little photo shoot in their costumes with their pumpkins.

First came Emilie and her pumpkin:

You want me to look where?

At the pumpkin?

You?

Then came Josh:

This is what I think of this whole thing.

Is it time for us to go home yet Mom?

And finally Emilie and Josh:

Emilie: Josh isn't this fun? Josh: Whatever

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's....we don't know we're babies!

The Pumpkin Patch

It's amazing how much more you look forward to holidays when you have a child. Holidays that you normally wouldn't even think about now warrant weeks of thought and planning. One example of this was picking a pumpkin for Halloween.

Normally Andre and I would just pick up a pumpkin and call it a day, but now it could be another photo op, so it deserved much more thought. I did some research on different Pumpkin Patches (farms) in the area, but in the end we decided that since Emilie is so young this year we would just visit a little farm not too far from our house and pick up a Pumpkin, and get some pictures. So off to Bennett's we went!

Emilie had a great time looking at all the pumpkins, so much so she didn't want to look at the camera!

Emilie and the mountain of pumpkins.

Hmmm, this is pretty neat.

I guess you want me to smile right?

This is as much as you're going to get!

Random October Cuteness

Here are some pictures of our little honey bunny from October.

Emilie's first walk at Bayfront Park!

Showing off to Mama and Papa how well she does on her tummy now.

Just liked this picture.

I want a pumpkin this big Mama!