The Busy Giffs: June 2012

June 15, 2012

One Year Checkup


Can you believe my little bug is a year old??
Because I can't.
It's just crazy to me.

She originally had her check up on Tuesday but because she was just a day shy of her birthday, they wanted to wait on her vaccinations! 
(It was a leap year, she was technically already 365 days old...  but I digress..)



So let's see...

At ONE year old you:

You weigh 20 lbs, 1/2 ounce.
You are a whopping 30 1/2 inches long!
You are wearing 12 month clothes and size 3 shoes.
Size 3 diapers and your bows have mostly become clips to keep your bangs out of your face.



You crawl like a maniac still but now you also take 3 to 6 steps before falling.
You love just standing there as well.


You have 4 teeth now, 2 on the top and 2 on the bottom, and you like to use your fork or spoon when you eat.
You no longer use a bottle and stick entirely to sippy cups that have straws in them.
You drink whole milk now that we have finished weaning (!!!).
You eat everything under the sun, including ham, turkey, chicken nuggets, rice, mashed potatoes, and more. You always eat the fruits and veggies off your plate first and then eat the main part.
Your favorite foods are mandarin oranges, mixed veggies, yogurt drops, ice cream, meatloaf and rice!
You eat just about anything we'll put in front of you.
People give me weird looks when I let you eat what you do, but you're happy and healthy so I don't really care what "they" think.


I LOVE tubbies now, and you don't even cry when I wash your hair anymore.
You love water in general and are constantly splashing.
Grandma gave you a pool so we're going to set it up and see how you like it!


You love all of your birthday presents!
You walk with the new princess car, laugh when the dino pops up the balls and are obsessed with your water table.
Your new baby doesn't leave your side and the princess jack in the box has already sprung out of her box at least 100 times.


You sleep through the night, every night. It's glorious.
Plus you still nap once a day.
You let us know you're sleepy but crawling up and snuggling into our neck/shoulder area.
Usually have a handful of back rubs you're ready for bed.


You are very observant and point out little things to us, like the credit card keypads, or light switches. You love sitting at the slider and watching the birds and you squeal if the bunny comes into the yard. You point at things you want and try to say the words but it's still hard to understand you.
You say "Hi", "Mom" and "Dad"; you wave hello and goodbye.
You have the best giggle, I hope it never goes away.


I can't believe you've already been in my world for a whole year.
Your grandmother put up a quote on your birthday that says it all perfectly

"I never realized there was a hole in my heart, 
until you filled it".

Love you a million red M&M's.
Love you to the moon and back.
Always.

Keeping Up With The Giffords

June 14, 2012

Party Recap!



Here's a little glimpse of Emmalee's party!


It was such a wonderful day!

But someone partied a little too hard!



Keeping Up With The Giffords

June 13, 2012

To My Daughter





Dear Emma,

One year ago, at 9:30 pm on June 12th, 2011, I was cuddled up on the couch with your Daddy watching Lebron James get destroyed in the NBA Finals. It was just me and him, with Sable and Bailey. There was no you. Not yet.

That night was one of the craziest nights of my life. Between the phone calls to the doctor, trying to convince him that I really was in labor, and then the quick 3 and half hours of labor, it was a whirlwind of a night. 

And then you were here.

Perfect, tiny, alert. 


And so smart already.
Every tiny bit of you was the most amazing thing I had ever seen in my life.

You honestly made our family complete.

The past year has been amazing.  
More amazing than I ever thought possible.
It was full of firsts.

Your first car ride, 
your first time time meeting the dogs,
your first tubby,
your first smile,
the first time you lifted your head,
Your first Fourth of July,
the first time you rolled over, 
your first trip apple and pumpkin picking,
your first Halloween,
your first Thanksgiving,
the first time you met Santa,
our first "trip" to CT,
your first Christmas and New Years,
the first time we left you with Grandma,
your first Valentine's Day, 
your first (and only!) pageant,
your first St. Patrick's Day,
getting your first tooth,
your first Easter,
your first trip to Fenway,
your first steps, 
and now,
your first birthday.

Everyone says "It's going to go by so fast" and they weren't lying.
I feel like every time I look at you, you've grown leaps and bounds.

You have the most amazing personality; your smile is infectious. 
You laugh from the depths of your belly and nothing in the world can touch me when you snuggle into my shoulder.
You have no fear, you love the pups and your family and one day, you will change the world.

While I hate knowing that every day makes you older, I can be assured that you will always be my baby, whether you like it or not.

Thank you for being such a joy in my life;
thank you for picking me to be your mom.

I am because you are.

I love you more than than words could ever say.
I love you a million red M&M's.
Love you to the moon and back.
Always.



Keeping Up With The Giffords

June 12, 2012

Emmalee's Baptism

This past week has been crazy getting ready for, and having both Emma's Baptism and Birthday party!
It's WAY too many pictures for all at once so I figured I'd split them up!

We'll start with her Baptism pictures!


Her beautiful new (and her first!) rosary from my mother.


Hanging out before Church started.


Her Godmother Nichole and myself.


With her Auntie Abby, Auntie Kristian and Uncle Derek.


The Godparent picture after the Mass.

It was such a beautiful day and she was so well behaved!
She even clapped for herself while everyone else did!
She's such a little ham.

Keeping Up With The Giffords

Home Update - 1 year in!

We're a year in the house and we've been making our way through each room.  I feel like every project takes so long and each project...