Birthday recap

Hello Family and Friends!

If you are reading this, it means that you successfully were added to the access list and logged on to the site in it's new "safer" mode. After a recent potentially strange comment from someone I didn't know I decided to go ahead and restrict access to this blog from now on for the safety of our girls. I hope you all understand. If you have friends or colleagues who you would like to give access so you can do some virtual bragging, please just go ahead and send me their emails and I'll be more than happy to add them to the access list, ok?

Anyway, on to happier topics... Emily's 1st Birthday BlowOut was an amazing success. Aside from the disappointment that Grandnma and Grandpa MacDougall weren't able to make the trip up for it as they had originally hoped, it was a great time had by all - especially Miss Emily Anne "Birthday Girl" herself. Check out this grin:



We had a massive birthday bash complete with catered delicious BBQ from Famous Dave's. We had a moonbounce for the big kids (and especially big sister, Sophie), we had friends and family, we had beautiful (though slightly hot and sticky) weather after literally an entire week of monsoon-like conditions. It was grand! And of course, Emily had her first taste of cake (chocolate cake no less!) and LOVED IT!

Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate our sweet little Emily Anne's milestone 1st birthday with us!! We love you! xoxo

Happy 1 Year Birthday Sweet Emily Anne

One year ago on this day, our hearts swelled yet again, opened wide and filled with love for little Emily Anne.

She was born very early in the morning and very quickly. We barely made it to the birth center in time. The mid wife seemed to be caught off guard when she saw how far along Jen was. Only twenty minutes after we arrived, Emily was born.

Jen, as usual, did an amazing job. I felt slightly more capable helping her then I did when Sophie was born.

Like Emily's birth, her first year has felt as equally speedy. It only seems like yesterday when she was a newborn. She's now toddling around the house. Learning to talk and gesture and generally just enjoying her world.

She is one of the funniest babies I've ever known. She frequently tries to make people laugh by making funny nosies or moving her body in some silly way.

She's got a fiery temper and a strong will too. She balances it out with a genuine sweetness that will melt your heart. If she gives you a hug, you'll know what I mean.

I am convinced that Emily is my father born again. She looks like him and so far, their personalities seem to be almost identical. When Jen was still breast-feeding Emily she said it was it was like she was breastfeeding a tiny version of her father in law.

We've already decided that Em will be our last child. Em's first birthday is intensely bittersweet because of this. She is the last 1 year old I will Father. Her nightly feedings are that much more precious now. Nurturing her as baby, providing for her and comforting her, helping her ease into a night’s sleep (hopefully). Before we know it, she won't need us to feed her, hold her and be close with her at bedtime. She probably doesn’t need it even now, yet we do it.

Jen and I have been incredibly lucky. We've be blessed to given the opportunity to raise two smart, sweet girls. I cannot imagine our life any different than it is now. Nor would I want to. My heart pours love for my girls and my wife. Our little family feels just right.

Emily, I am so proud and grateful to be your Daddy. I hope I can do right by you. My only words of advice are the following:

Stay sweet, stay fiery, stay funny, stay curious. Make mistakes. Apologize when feelings are hurt. Treat everyone as you would want to be treated. Explore the world. Listen to lots of different music. Enjoy art. Eat your dinner. Plant a garden. Brush your teeth. Thank people profusely. Say “please” frequently. Stand up for yourself and others. Work hard at what you love. Hug your big sister. Never take love, family or friends for granted.

I love you little Emily Anne. Have a wonderful first birthday.

Love,
Daddy - xoxo

Catching up

Ok, so yes... the family blog is suffering a bit, isn't it? Between me being back at work for two days a week and all the activities of Easter and Mother's Day and all the sickness with Daddy checking himself into the hospital on the night before Easter (he's fine thank goodness) and GGMom giving us all a scare (she was in the hospital for almost a week from Easter Sunday till the following Saturday) and then Emily getting the head cold and then Sophie getting the stomach bug, there just hasn't been a lot of time for blog updates, I will admit. But in honor of Emily's upcoming first birthday I'm going to really try and be better about updates, ok? I promise!!

So here goes: the whirlwind re-cap in photos of the last few weeks: