Emmy is One-derful!

June 14th 2008, our dear friends Courtney, Harry & Izzy welcomed sweet Emmy into their family. How is she already ONE?!?! If you don't know her, let me tell you something...this girl can SMILE! She's the smiliest babies I've ever known...but don't let that fool you, she can be pretty sneaky, too. During a phone convo with Court not too long ago, Emmy was yelling to get down from her highchair. Court was asking her to sign 'down'...something Emmy knows how to do, but was not in the mood for. So she looked at her big sis, Izzy...grabbed Izzy's hand and made the sign with Izzy's hand! She's such a go-with-the-flow type of kid, you've just gotta love her!Here are some flashback shots that I have of her first year...followed by some from her Fab Birthday Celebration.

the first time ever I saw her face...I feel in love

Now, let me tell you about her birthday bash! I think they had like 4 blow up pools...kiddy pools, a medium pool, and one was GINORMOUS! The kids had a super fun time splashing and sliding around...the adults just watched with their jealous eyes :) It was a HOT day! Harry grilled some delish dogs and burgers. Ohhh and don't get me started on his super yummy homemade ice creams...yes, plural! Vanilla (or as Mia would say...bamilla), strawberry (with fresh strawberries), chocolate and OMG! dark chocolate!!!! I had a smidge of each and can't decide which was my fave...Hmmm must do further research ;p

Emmy's butterfly cupcake cake was the cutest and she was the sweetest while everyone sang Happy Birthday to her...Emmy's eyes and smile were incredibly bright. Big sis Izzy helped with the actually blowing out of the candle. Then Emmy got to enjoy her first cupcake :) More playtime in the water. Emmy, like a true party girl, passed out in the arms of a handsome man...her uncle ;p

Party Pics

a huge plus...friends LOVED holding Lily...I got a little rest

Mia's mani

Lily was napping, so in attempts to hook up with Mia...spend some Mia Mama time together... I brought out the nail polish. We went to town...Mia on her nails....me with my camera. It's been almost a year since Mia's first official mani-pedi, but this time she had the best time 'doing it myself'...painting most of her nails and much of her fingers....purple on the left ones and clear glitter on the right. Then she picked out little flower decals for each thumb. Mia was so thrilled when done, it was hard to keep her from 'showing Lily' too close. We almost ended up with a purple-nosed baby!

I adore this final shot

All in the family

It's taken a few weeks, but I have shots of Lily meeting her family. Since I'm the photographer, I'm not in any except for the one that my fabulous friend, Andrea, took of us...the night I gave birth to Lily. I've already posted it, but will repost it here again because I love it so much.

photo of Lily and me taken by Andrea :)

I totally love Daryl's blissed out look when holding his day old baby girl

ahhh sweet smiles from Auntie M

The first time big sister Mia held her lil sis...was not too impressed and needed her 'OFF OFF OFF' when Lily started to cry

but she sure did dig her big sister gifts...the new Llama Llama book and a couple of Fancy Nancy readers

Lily enchants her Nana & Pawpaw

Unca Joe gets in the mix

ahhh Ita finally gets to hold her new granddaughter...much to Mia's dismay

we were so happy Aunt Janice was in town and stopped by for a visit

Lily meets her great grandma (Memaw)

Mia starting to get comfy sharing her beloved family with her new lil sis

Sunday morning in bed

Lily's been around for about 3 weeks now, and she's fit into the family rather perfectly. I'm still amazed how awesome a big sister Mia is. She can't get enough of her lil sis, and Lily tolerates all the attention with grace. Here are some of my fave shots when we were all rolling around just being silly and digging each other pretty hard.

Big Sister

Mia is ALL about being the Big Sister. From Big Sister gifts from other Big Sisters (Thanks Izzy & Layla!) to having a big piece of brisket at dinner...it's a Big Sister piece. Mia is relishing in the Big Sister role. She is proud to take Lily's diapers to the trash...it's a Big Sister job. She even holds my breast while Lily is nursing...Mia's way of helping her lil sis eat. Mia is SUPER proud when we go places...introducing herself as the Big Sister and Lily as the lil sister. Since I'm under the nursling for quite a bit during the day, Mia LOVES getting her own snacks, water, reading books to Lily and just petting her when she's fussy. Mia also is so jazzed when she gets to hold Lily. I set her up and then she'll hold her until Lily cries...then she wants her off and fast! I LOVE these shots of the sisters. Lily is five days old, and Mia's already a champion lil sis holder...a far cry from when they first met!