Cakes

So my mom and I took a Wilton class a couple of years ago.  Since then, I've had lots of opportunities to practice making cakes...  My good friend, Sarah, asked me to make the cake for her son's 2nd birthday this month.  He was born on St. Patrick's Day.  This was a big project and had some major bumps (lessons learned for good).  But this is how it turned out.  I really enjoyed doing this cake and Emilynn's birthday cake.  It's been fun...

This became...

This... This is not my best work... But I have learned some lessons.  I'm so thankful to Sarah for her grace.

Emilynn's smash cake

Big Cake :)

Sarah's baby shower cake

Old Class cakes

Nicole's baby shower cakes

Mandy's baby shower cake

Spring

It's been a while since I've posted... We have a good couple of weeks.  Ross has been working a lot.  We are building a shed/building in our back yard.  It will allow us to have another room and storage.  This is huge for us since we don't have a garage.  My dad designed it and has been our lead foreman on the project.  It's a big, big project so Ross has been really busy between that and being on call along with some very busy patients currently.  Emilynn and I have been hanging out outside when the pollen count isn't INSANE, having playdates and giving her plenty of opportunity to walk/run around.  She is doing amazing walking around.  She tries to run and face plants often.  She is practicing turning around really fast over and over.  She cracks Ross and I up.  We have spent hours in the last few weeks laughing at our precious one as she walks, talks, carries stuff, and stands on her head all at the same time! :)  It has been fun!  Here are a few pictures from the last few weeks...

I find Emilynn often with things around her neck.  She also likes to try to put her socks and shoes on and her hats/bows.  She may like accessories after all. :)



We went to the park with Obaa and Ojii for lunch the other day.  We had a blast!



Emi could go down the slide 100 times a day!

She loves her bunny that Aunt Sue gave her for her birthday that sings "Jesus Loves Me."

Sweet girl...

Not the most updated picture but the beginnings of the floor of the shed.  It now has plywood on top and is ready for walls.

For the love of moms...

The last several days I have had such a new love for moms.  It's like when you are pregnant and you start to see pregnant women everywhere!  That's how I feel about moms lately.  I feel like everywhere I go, I see moms, empathize with them, feel with them, and share with them...even if there is nothing said or exchanged.  I went to the zoo this week and had a moment of this...there's the strollers, the snacks, the need for a nap, the juggling. A friend also sent me an article written about a mom who used to judge other moms before she had kids...good for my heart and soul and so true!  And this week at the hospital a mom was forced to pick a different home for her precious little one, and I nearly lost it for her.  I fully recognized that the kiddo needed a new, safer place to be, but I could not fathom the thought of it for her.  I've thought about moms who choose to give their child up for adoption...for the  moms that adopt those children as their own...for grandmothers that never see their grandkids.  For the moms out there that never had a mom.  It's overwhelming and beautiful.  Being a mom is like nothing else on this earth.  It is innate and deep, challenging and completely natural...it fills and empties...it changes everything.  I have to say, I love the view from here.  It continues to bless my socks off...bring me closer to my precious Savior...to love deeper...challenges me to put myself out there.  It is by far the most incredible thing I've done second to being a wife.  I'm so thankful for this time I have here on earth to experience this part of the Kingdom. 

On the train at the zoo...Emilynn was dazed by it. :)

St Patrick's Day...one year later

I took this picture of Emilynn last year on St Patrick's Day.  She was 17 days old. :) And it was the first time that those precious little fingers went in her mouth to suck on.  She is wearing Coy's old onsie that was green and today was Coy's 2nd birthday.  Kinda crazy...

This is Emilynn one year later.  My cutie.  We had a great day celebrating Coy and then playing outside and having fun as a family!  Love this little lady!

Flowers

The other day Ross showed up with a bouquet of flowers.  There was no reason, other than he loves me.  I loved it and wanted to honor him and his heart for loving me so well.  I can't think of anyone else that I would want to be in covenant with!

a 12 month old

About a week ago we went to have Emilynn's one year photos taken with Kim Martin who did her newborn photos.  She wasn't feeling 100%, but I was very thankful for the pictures we got of her.  She was really, really busy so on top of not feeling great she gave us all a run for our money and a camera. 

Busy is the best way describe this girl.  From the moment she wakes up in the morning, she has things to do.  I have already been brainstorming about our spring and summer.  I went ahead and got a zoo and museum membership and am considering a YMCA membership for the pool.  Not only is this cutie busy, she is talkative.  We have had countless people tell us this week that she is the most loquacious baby they have ever been around...if only we knew what she was saying.  She is still a fantastic eater and continues to try new things.  She still really loves her morning nap, so I'm not sure she will give that up anytime soon.  She took her first four steps two days after her birthday and loves to "walk" with us holding onto our fingers.  I would have to say that her favorite thing is music.  When the music stops and there is a button to push to start it again, she will.  And do a little dance or head bob.  :)  She also loves being outside.  She's a little like her daddy...if she could be barefoot and naked all the time, she would.  :)  We have really enjoyed our porch the last couple of days.  She also got a slide for her birthday that she is beginning to enjoy.  Emilynn doesn't really have anything that she is particularly attached to (i.e. pacifier, lovey, etc), but she does love her sleep sheep that is in her bed and her bed itself is her lovey. :)  She loves her bed.  It has a "sheet saver" in it that is soft, and we have recently discovered that it must go with us when we travel or sleep elsewhere.  Overall, Emilynn is a happy, content and passionate little lady.  We love every minute with her.  She has added a great deal of joy to life and makes us laugh daily.  Emilynn Claire, we love you and your heart.  May the voice of Jesus be familiar to you and may you follow Him all of your days!

Pink and Green PANDA Party! :)

So yesterday we celebrated Emilynn again with a fun panda party. We decorated with bamboo and pandas and polka-dots! It was a blast. We had some extended family and close friends join us. It has been such a blessing to celebrate Emilynn this week! I want to thank a few people...First, My MOM, OBAA, you were amazing!  Thank you for ALL of your hard work with food preparation and EVERYTHING you do all the time!  You are a blessing.  Thank you Dani for letting me borrow the Cricut!  The pandas and everything were so special and I had a blast learning how to use it!  Thank you to Lori for the black food coloring!  Without it, I wouldn't have such a great panda cake!  It takes a village, y'all!  Thanks to all of our guests who made the day special and celebrated another life in this Kingdom. 

Front door wreath

Lanterns at the front door

Inside centerpiece

I hung lanterns and this panda in a few different places

Favor table...we had fortune cookie and Japanese chocolate filled pandas

Fortune cookie boxes up close

Birthday banner

Chopsticks and such...I added the pandas to the chopsticks

Outside deck with tables

Outside centerpiece

Cake! I had a blast learning to do the panda!

Smash cake!

Food table centerpiece

We'll call this Emilynn's table...I put together a 12 month picture frame and then her baby book and panda were there.

Highchair

Food Table

Drink table

Almond tea punch

Opening a present early : )

New slide! :) 

Cake time!

Emilynn got lots of new books for her birthday!

Fun with Coy!

Coy chasing Emilynn through the crowd :)

Family :)

Loves the icing

When she took her first FOUR steps!

Playing with her dump truck from Ojii after the party

Birthday Girl!!!

Icing high :)