HAPPY NEW YEAR FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!
Whoa…. I cannot even begin to explain how quickly the last
month flew by for us and I can hardly comprehend that we are waking up this
morning to a new month and a new year! Good morning January 1, 2014, nice to
meet you.
Our New Year’s Eve was certainly unlike any we had ever had
before. We had a pizza party over at Grandma Chris’ house and left Emery with
her so that mama and daddy could go out and have a wild and crazy night............. at home
watching a movie and casually drinking a glass or two of wine. YEP- we were
baby free and all we wanted to do was put an action movie on with no regard to
how loud the speakers were turned up, open a bottle of wine and ring in the New
Year when the clock struck midnight. Emery is off to a great start for the New
Year as well, she slept a solid 10 hours at Grandma’s house with not so much as
a peep. Hopefully that is her New Year’s
resolution!
Let me back up a little and explain what led to the want and
need of a little R&R for mama
and daddy. December proved to be a very exciting one with lots of Christmas
excitement. We trimmed the tree, strung the lights, carried out old and
introduced new traditions, hosted family at the house, paid a visit to the
Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick, baked cookies, opened presents, started walking, cut FIVE
new teeth, grew an inch or so, and learned to get really good at waving hello
and goodbye. Ok, those last few were
only Emery’s accomplishments, but we were there every step of the way- so it
feels like we worked on and achieved them as well. J
Let’s start with the big one, YES- she started walking!! We
knew it wouldn’t be long, as she had looked as though she was strong enough to
do it for about a week or so, and finally one Sunday afternoon (December 15th
to be exact) she let go and took her first steps. I was in the middle of making
her baby food for the week when I looked up and saw this little person in her
baby blue footed pajamas, with her arms stretched out in front of her,
cautiously balancing her wobbly legs as she took one step, and then another and
then another. I stood in awe with my mouth literally opened as I watched her
take 4 or 5 steps, and then gracious fall back down to her bum. She turned her
head back to see me and we both smiled a large grin and applauded the big
achievement. She was so excited, and I was even more so. I grabbed my phone and
stood her back up and made her do it a few more times so I could capture it on
video to show to daddy, who unfortunately had just stepped out to run to the
store. Since that day though, Matt has been able to see many more steps as she keeps
on practicing her new “trick”. She has gotten pretty darn good at it too! She
is starting to pick up speed and has really figured out her balance and the
grace of falling. Luckily we haven’t had many hard spills (knock on wood!).
It was a month jammed packed full of a babbling baby now on the move, lots of holiday fun, an overdue visit from the Meyers and many-many tireless nights as
Emery worked on cutting 5 new teeth all at once. Needless to say by the time midnight rolled
around on the 31st, Matt and I looked at each other, clinked our
wine glasses, kissed a New Year’s kiss, and headed off to bed. It was the
perfect way to end a very exciting year full of new beginnings, and lots of
firsts. We woke up this morning without
the usual New Year’s Day hangover, feeling refreshed and ready to start 2014
out right. Matt is finally able to focus 100% on his real estate business and
has bid farewell to the Palms Casino shenanigans for good. I have made a pledge
to myself to focus more on finding a better balance of motherhood, work, and
time for myself. We even talked about the possibility of me reentering the
workforce on a very part time, simply to allow a little more daddy/daughter
time, and a change of scenery for this homebound mama. It’s tough to say what
this year will bring, but one thing is for sure- it will be full of new
adventures, and possibilities!
{ EMERY'S FIRST RECORDED STEPS ARE BELOW THE PICTURES. SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW VIDEO :) }
