Well, I've never been too good at posting "Wordlessly" on Wednesday, so here's my first edition of Speechless Saturday. Who knows? Maybe I've started something...
Today was a beautiful day and just perfect for Emma Grace and I to go swimming. We packed up our bags after lunch and headed down to Beth's pool to get some great splash time in. As we pulled in, our friends (or cousins!) MaryBeth along with the triplets~ Maggie, Kate, and Sarah were pulling out to go home for naptime, which made us very sad. But much to our surprise, Ella and Scott were still there to play with us! Aunt Bee got there early and must have told Ella that Emma Grace was coming to swim because she was thrilled to see us arrive. Her little "nek-butt" (Ella's version of Naked Butt) threw on her bathing suit and jumped right in!
It makes me happy and gives some relief to know that Emma "Gace" as Ella would call her, will have so many wonderful girls to look up to and grow with in her life. As a parent, there is some fear of the unknown when your children grow up and make their own friends and lives, but to know that God has hand-picked my daughter for this time in a place that He created and with the sweet Godly girls that He created for her to do whatever it may be that He created them to do takes much of that fear away. <---Hope you got that-I even had to read that twice!!!
Anyway, These pictures were taken today of Ella and Emma Grace loving on each other after swimming all day! Can you see how much love they have for each other. Poor Ella, I think you might have another little sister to look after! (And MaryBeth, Ella says she's never too old for the pack-n-play) She even called it a pack-n-play! That girl never fails to astound me.
Emma wearing her "Happy Dada Day" onesie
Dusty on his first Father's Day!
Papa Mike on his first Papa's Day!
Papa Gailey loving on his little Emma Grace!
Today was Dusty's first Father's Day and I think I can speak for him in saying, "It was a good one!" Emma Grace and I woke him up singing Happy Father's Day to You....then we made Emma Grace a onesie that said "Happy Dada's Day", which she wore just about the entire day, later we made him breakfast and made sure he got plenty of daddy/daughter time all day! I am thankful that God has blessed me with a husband who is madly in love with his daughter. I watch him with her even when he doesn't see me and I know that God has made them just for each other (and me). Her eyes light up when he is around and I can see how hard it is going to be for him to ever tell her "no". Thank you to my daddy for being such a wonderful father and for showing me what to look for in a husband, and thank you to my father in law for instilling in Dusty~patience, love, and understanding of what it takes to be a great father. But especially, thank you God for creating such a wonderful gift for Dusty~his daughter and ultimately, thank you for being our Father~Happy Father's Day!
Emma Grace at one week old, 5 pounds, 14 ounces and 19 inches long
Emma Grace at 6 months old, 16.5 pounds and 27 inches long
It's hard to believe that she is halfway to one year. It has gone by so fast and no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to get it back. I have found myself dripping with tears at night as I lay her down to sleep. My prayers are getting longer and my pleas and "deals" with God continue to increase as I can see my little angel is definitely going to "GROW UP". Each night is exactly the same. She takes her bath, I prepare her bottle with one hand while holding her with the other as she giggles the entire time because she knows exactly what is coming next. I take her to her room, turn on her flowery night light, put a bib on her as she is now grunting because I am taking too long, then as I give her the bottle~she looks up at me with such love in her eyes and watches me sing to her until she drifts off to sleep. It's hard for me to lay her down anymore, so I just hold her asleep on my shoulder as she nudges her face into my neck and in the quiet I pray for God to bring her health, joy, love, and all of the things that her heart can desire. I pray for her to grow into a humble, joyful, loving young lady. I pray for her to respect others, for her to love God so much it hurts, for her to love her family, for her to give to the needy, for me to be able to learn from her and her from me. I especially thank God for giving her to me and I thank Him for the angels that I know surround her each night as she sleeps. Then I kiss her on her cheeks and lay her down for the night, go in my room and thank God that she sleeps all night long.
This place I am in as a mommy, I hope every mommy has in her own experience. I love her so much it hurts sometimes, but the greatest gift of all is knowing that I don't have to be a perfect mommy, just the best one I can be~and to give her to God is the best gift I can give her.
Well, I guess I'll catch up on some old news and blog about Emma's first family vacation(s). It all started in Hilton Head where we stayed for nearly a week with Papa and Mimi Rogers, Aunt Bee, and John. We spent most of our days at the pool, since the nearest beach was a 1/2 mile down the road and Beach Access parking was a nightmare. Emma Grace enjoyed her first swimming pool experience as you can see in her expression...
John and Emma Grace sporting the shades...
From Hilton Head, Papa and Mimi Rogers, Dusty, Emma and I all drove to Savannah for my first trip EVER. Can you believe it? From my unimpressed trip to River Street during the hottest day of the year to my oh so impressed trip to the squares of Savannah on a trolley. It was a trip that I am glad I made once and I am glad I don't have to do it again all at the same time. Here you can see Emma Grace with her Mimi and Papa. Can you tell how excited she was to be riding a trolley?
Dusty and Emma on River Street
From Savannah, Dusty, Emma Grace and I drove to Amelia Island and met up with Mimi and Papa Gailey, Aunt Bubbles (Amanda), Uncle Trey, Aunt Gina, and Cousins Caitlyn and Blake. In Amelia we spent another week. Emma had more time at the beach since it was right out our back door. She enjoyed the ocean but was quite disgusted with the feel of sand on her fingers. Here are a few photos of her ocean experience...
After taking these wonderful photos a nearby fisherman (I mean only 5 feet away) caught this sand shark that was just swimming around our little toes...
As you can tell, the trip was quite eventful and much to much to blog about at once, but here are some cute photos to enjoy...
On the docks at Fernandina Beach
A big Happy Family
Caitlyn and Trey...
Can you tell who wears the pants in this family? 
Blake riding the "boat"
Today was Emma Grace's 6 month birthday and not only has her little personality come out, but so have her vocal chords! She has finally found that the little noises that can come out of her mouth can actually become big noises when she raises her voice. Her little sweet coos are now very loud, deep screams making us quite noticeable in all places public. Not only is she now screaming, but her official first word is now "DA DA", making Dusty's head even bigger and causing him to be quite hard to live with. You would think that her saying "Da Da" made him father of the year-and maybe it has, for her anyway! He just glows when she says it, making mommy even more jealous. It is not as if I haven't tried to make mommy her first word, afterall, I've been working with her for 6 months!!! However, as it is supposed to be, she is very much a daddy's girl and I am proud for Dusty that her first word is definitely "Da Da". She even looks right at him as she says it and with the sweetest little voice, too! She's madly in love with him, and I can't say that I blame her. The best thing is that Father's Day is next Sunday and this is all the gift he could ever want! I can't wait to see how she is at church tomorrow, we have a guest preacher that I'm afraid no one will ever hear over Emma Grace! Oh well, maybe God speaks through loud baby noises, too!
HOLLYN BEFORE HER HAIRCUT
HOLLYN AFTER HER HAIRCUT
HOLLYN PROUD OF THE 12 INCHES SHE GAVE TO SOME LITTLE GIRL WHO NEEDS IT
Today was a proud day in my family. My cousin Brooke's little girl, Hollyn, told her mommy that she was ready to get her beautiful LONG hair cut and while discussing this with Hollyn, Brooke told her about Locks for Love. Locks for Love is an organization where long hair (Must be at least 10 inches in length) can be donated to make wigs for those suffering with cancer. After losing our Aunt Carolyn in March to cancer, the subject was quite fresh on her mind I am sure. Making the moment that much more special for all of us. As a hair stylist and educator, it makes me extra proud that this sweet little girl would do what most women would never do. Afterall, a woman's hair is generally more important to her than most things and for Hollyn to give her's away with such joy and dignity should be an example for all of us. Just look at the smile on her face as she holds up her hair! I am so proud of her!
Yes, it has been nearly two weeks and we are STILL at the Beach! Dusty left this morning for home and arrived around 3:30pm. But Emma and I are still here doing absolutely NOTHING and loving it! Sorry there are no photos of Savannah or Amelia Island, but I have posted some photos from Hilton Head Island below. This LONG trip away from home has really caused me to realize how truly blessed I am to have such a wonderful baby girl. It doesn't matter what I do with her, she is just Always happy! I pray that one day Emma has a baby girl as wonderful as she is. I know some moms tell their children that they hope they have a child to pay them back for their bad behavior, but I don't think I will wish that on any of my children. Emma is a wonderful child who truly deserves a baby as wonderful as she. The beach has been a blast! I have enjoyed spending all of the quality time with the fam., but I am ready to get home. Especially after I learned that my cat (Harley) just about "bit the dust" from dehydration while we've been gone. The miscommunication of WHERE he drinks water almost lead to his demise. Dusty and I are pretty clear as to where he likes to drink his water (the toilet), however, my sister thought we surely would have his water jug full in his automatic feed/water, so she decided she would close the lid to the toilet when she moved out of the basement the week before. Thankfully, before she left for Amelia Island she thought she would check on him and to her surprise, he was deathly ill from dehydration. She got the situation under control and headed down to the beach. Anyway, he's fine, but I would really love to get home to the little rascal. We'll be home Wednesday night with lots of pictures to post. We love and miss you all.
