Mommy Kahdib

2011-03-09T20:08:00.000-08:00

The blog is moving onto bigger and better things!Check it out and make sure you subscribe to the RSS to keep up-to-date!!!www.kateduval.com/blogMama's back in action!

2010-09-16T06:37:00.000-07:00

Dear Emmie (51 months), ____________________________________Hi Ms. School Girl! Preschool year two is going much smoother than preschool year one...well, I guess I just mean the start of the school year. Last year there was a day where I had to peel you off my leg and leave you angry and screaming crying with the teacher...this year on the first day you looked at me when you had been

2010-09-10T13:16:00.000-07:00

Dear Chase (29 months),Friday, September 10, 2010_________________________________________Hello Mister-Roo!Man let's talk about that language explosion again because in all actuality I am now sometimes looking for an off switch with the constant chatter of two little kids! You do speak a but of Caveman - "Us do it, mama," but you clearly get your point across more often than not. It is nice to

2010-08-09T12:57:00.000-07:00

Dear Emerson (50 months)______________________________________Hi Dunking Girl! You're a fish!!! I real live little fish :) You often ask people who are near the water if they feel they are fish or cats...cats, obviously, are the people who don't really love to swim. You're definitely a fish. Daddy is a cat, Chasey is a cat if the water is cold and a fish in warm water...and Mommy, well,

2010-07-27T13:11:00.000-07:00

Dear Chase (28 months),Tuesday, July 27, 2010 Hi Mr. Talkative,Talk about language explosion, Mister. You can now repeat mostly anything we say and you're staring to talk to us about things you're thinking about in cute little sentences instead of the cave-man speak we have gotten used to. You do still sound a bit like a cave-man, but some of the things you say are just adorable. You like to

2010-07-14T17:35:00.000-07:00

Dear Emerson (49 months),Wednesday, July 14, 2010_____________________________________Dear Ham,You seriously cannot get enough of the camera when it is pointed at you...you pose, click, pose, click, pose like it is your job. You pose and change pose more than some of the models we've worked with and that is crazy. I was shooting a bunch of kids from playgroup, I think there were 6 of you under

2010-06-22T18:45:00.001-07:00

Dear Chase (27 months), Tuesday, June 22, 2010 Hi Mr. UPy-UPy UP-EEEEE,You're such a funny little dude. Really, I'm not just saying that because I'm your mom. You say funny things, you do funny things, you win people over on a daily basis. You are still small but sometimes you talk in this big deep voice (well, deep for a toddler) like if I say to you, "Wow, are you strong?

2010-06-11T07:30:00.000-07:00

Dear Emerson (4 years!!!!!!), Friday, June 11, 2010 Hi Big Girl!I can't believe you are 4! The four years ago a sweet face, screaming little you entered this world...so dependent on Daddy and I and the world around you...for food, for shelter, for love and warmth. Now that you're four you're a different kind of dependent...you can get your own snack out of the fridge, you

2010-06-03T13:16:00.000-07:00

Dear Chase (26 months), Thursday, June 03, 2010 ______________________________(Don't miss Emmie's entry down below!) Hi Roo-Roo,I'm just going to stop acknowledging that these are late...we all know that letter's from mom = late. Period. End of story.So, mister-mister, where do I start with you? You're talking so much more, not yet in full fledged sentences, still the

2010-06-03T12:54:00.000-07:00

Dear Emmie (47 months), Thursday, June 03, 2010 _____________________Dear Beautiful Princess of Bubbles and all things Magical,Gosh do I love you! So often during the day you'll look at me and say, "Mama, Mama," and I'll say, "What," and you'll say, "I love you, you know." I don't know if this is a cover-up for forgetting what you were going to say, or you just wanted to talk

2010-05-02T20:58:00.000-07:00

Don't miss Chase's new entry down below!!Dear Emmie (46 months), Sunday, May 02, 20 ______________________Hi again, Em-ster!Here is mommy, late again with your letter!! Just remember better late than never is totally true...and I have a pretty good memory of what happened when so hopefully most of what belongs in the right months makes it in! Where to begin, my little chicken.

2010-05-02T20:23:00.000-07:00

Dear Chase (25 months), Sunday, May 02, 2010 ___________________________________Dear Racey-Roo,Late again...that's your mama's modus operandi (loosly translated by wikipedia to mean my method of operating...) I guess I'm not too sorry that it is so late because it means we are busy living and loving every minute of life...or, well, not every minute but a lot of the minutes!!

2010-03-29T19:01:00.000-07:00

Dear Chase (24 months), Monday, March 29, 2010 ...Don't miss Emmie's entry down below...__________________________________Dear Chase-the-race,You're not two...I'm in denial. Really. Seriously. It can't be true! You are still so little and snuggly and lovable...but you run and jump and walk and talk...so it must be true, right? How was it that two years ago you were just

2010-03-29T17:43:00.000-07:00

Dear Emerson (45 months), Monday, March 29, 2010 Dear Emmie-Bemmie,This has not been a very fun month...for me or for you. We found out almost three weeks ago that the baby we were all so excited for passed away. You have been such a brave brave girl. You have run the gammet of emotions and I know you are still struggling to understand it all. Last night in bed you asked

2010-02-28T18:23:00.000-08:00

Dear Chase (23 months), _______________________________Hi Big Man,I can't believe you are going to be two next month. Crazy how fast time flies. I was so so excited to see what an amazing big brother you were going to be...you're so kind and gentle to all the tiny babies you know...someday, someday. You've been the sweetest little boy this week when mommy has been sad. If

2010-02-19T14:01:00.000-08:00

Dear Emerson (44 months), Friday, February 12, 2010 ____________________________________________Dear Emmie-Nemmers,I was going to write this letter yesterday but it was a strange day...you had a fun Valentine's party at preschool where you put your cards in everyone's bag and made some cookies that you got to have for snack, but when I picked you up you were sad. You were sad

2010-01-22T13:12:00.000-08:00

Dear Emerson (42+43 months) Monday, January 18, 2010 __________________________________Dear Lala (I'm going to miss this nickname since Chase has learned to say Emmie), My apologies to you as well for being so late with this round of letters. Daddy laughs at me because our weddings really stopped at the end of October and I kept telling him that things would quiet down and we

2010-01-22T11:32:00.000-08:00

Dear Chase (20 and 21 months), Monday, January 18, 2010 ____________________________Dear Chase,Sorry again, this is late....like really really late and has two months combined into one. Such is life right now, better late than never...but better on time so I'll keep trying!These last two months you are working a lot on talking and communicating. You're getting frustrated that we

2009-11-12T12:11:00.000-08:00

Dear Emerson (41 months), Wednesday, November 11, 2009 __________________________________________Hi My Little Helper!This month I have met a new Emmie. She is independent. She is helpful. She wants to put her own clothes on. She wants to take her own clothes off. She wants me to teach her how to do the button on her jeans instead of just letting me do it on her own. She wants

2009-11-02T11:12:00.000-08:00

Dear Chase (19 months), Monday, November 02, 2009 _____________________________________________Hi Mister-Mister!Almost two weeks ago your turned 19 months...we went out that very day and took your picture and I forgot to load the images and write the letter....I was just loading yesterday's engagement session and saw them and said, "DOH!" So here I am, late again....but better late

2009-10-19T11:17:00.001-07:00

Dear Emerson (40 months),Monday, October 19, 2009______________________________________________Hi Miss Emerson Grace!This month has been a bit crazy...well...whiny really. I think you totally fooled me with your super easy preschool transition. About two weeks ago we had a day where you just didn't want me to leave. You kind of velcro babied onto me and kept crying that you didn't want me to

2009-09-24T12:39:00.000-07:00

Dear Emerson (39 months), Tuesday, September 22, 2009 ______________________________________________(Don't forget to look at Chase's in the last post!)Hi Little Miss Pre-School!Say what? My BABY GIRL is a big pre-schooler? I'm still having a hard time comprehending that. Really. It was just yesterday that I was bringing home my little squish ball...and now I'm dropping you off

2009-09-24T12:18:00.001-07:00

Dear Chase (17 & 18 months), Tuesday, September 22, 2009 ___________________________________________________Dear Mr. Man,I cannot believe that I am combining two months. That's a first. I'm sorry that you're a second child and that had to happen to you! I'm sure when you're reading this down the road you'll understand all about the crazy summers of a wedding photographer and

2009-08-13T19:17:00.000-07:00

Dear Emerson (38 months), Thursday, August 13, 2009 _______________________________________Dear Emmie-Bemmie,You learned a funny word today....rump. You said it by accident. Sometimes you say words thinking that you're making things up and I'll say, "Hey, that's a real word, want to know what it means?" So today it was rump. I told you it was another word for bum. You thought I

2009-07-27T18:52:00.000-07:00

Dear Chase (16 months), Monday, July 27, 2009 ___________________________________________Dear Chasey-Racey-Roo,Hey little buddy, you are currently experiencing a delay in monthly letters because mommy and daddy are so.super.busy. Sorry about that! This has been one busy month for you...you're all over the place walking, climbing, running, laughing, smiling, signing, and coming up

2009-07-10T19:00:00.001-07:00

Dear Emerson (37 months) Saturday, July 11, 2009 __________________________________________Dear Emmie-Bean,You never cease to amaze me...I thought that as you grew and grew from that tiny baby who had so much to learn that day-to-day life would stop being so full of amazing little Emmie-splosions where you show much just how much you can change and learn...but honestly I feel like

2009-06-24T18:02:00.001-07:00

Dear Chase (15 months), Wednesday, June 24, 2009 ________________________________________Dear Chasifer,15 whole months and things they are a-changing! You are getting bigger...slowly, and still not in a "chart-worthy" way, but hey, you're getting there. We just had your check up yesterday (and you were SO mad...I think because we did a blood draw on Monday) and you are 29 inches

2009-06-12T19:46:00.000-07:00

Dear Emerson (36 months!) _________________________________________Dear Three year old,I think we're both in shock that this day finally came...yesterday you turned three!!! I was going to write this letter to you last night but I spent an hour filling out paperwork for your new preschool...sue me! That paperwork asked a lot of questions...what are things that you like to do...then

2009-05-22T10:26:00.001-07:00

Dear Chase (14 months), ______________________________________________________Dear Chasifer,Listen, Mr. Sicky, we need to have a talk with that immune system of yours. This week I got a little cold, maybe two days of sniffles and a sore throat and it went away...Emmie got it, same thing...you get it and all hell breaks loose! You're coughing, you eyes are watering, you're drooling,

2009-05-14T11:55:00.001-07:00

Dear Emerson (35 months) __________________________________________________Dear Susan,Ok, ok, your name is NOT Susan? Alright, your name is EMERSON GRACE DUVAL? Gotcha gotcha, you don't have to get so angry! LOL...this is often a conversation we have...or one that you have with Daddy. He'll come home and say hi to you and baby Ralph....oh, wait, his name is CHASE? Chasey potatoe in the

2009-04-26T10:00:00.000-07:00

Chase 13 months___________________________________________Dear Chase-Chase,Boy do you keep me busy, mister mister! You are into everything. We thankfully have a gate at the bottom of the stairs, but if you notice that someone hasn't shut it you high-tail it over there so that you can crawl up. I didn't even know you could do the stairs and went up to boil some water one day and came back down

2009-04-14T11:39:00.000-07:00

Dear Emerson (34 months!), Tuesday, April 14, 2009 Dear Ms. Thing,You are just now hitting the terrible twos, thank goodness we only have about two more months of you being two, then it is off to the land of the threes...which I hear three is the new two anyway! You're super cute and sweet still and smart as a whip...but sometimes those huge emotions, well, let me tell you, they

2009-03-23T14:04:00.001-07:00

Dear Chase (12 months), Saturday, March 21, 2009 __________________________________________________Happy Birthday Chasey-doodle!I need to start by saying you are the cutest thing...I cannot believe that we have been through the year that we have, but here we are! You're a year old today! I just spent the last few hours while you nap looking through pictures of you from the year

2009-03-13T19:06:00.000-07:00

Dear Emerson (33 months)Hi Little Miss,You are getting so grown up, it kills me! You say the funniest things and come up with knock jokes all on your own.Emmie : Knock, knock, who's there? (You don't get that you're saying both lines...)Mommy: Who IS there?Emmie: BananaMommy: Banana who?Emmie: Banana mustache.....bwahahahahahahahaha.You cover you mouth with your hands when you really laugh and

2009-03-06T18:48:00.001-08:00

Dear Chase (11 months), Friday, March 06, 2009 __________________________________________Dear Mr. Crazy-Hair,What a crazy month my friend. I think maybe you had 4 healthy days this month...you just keep getting slammed with chest colds, the pukey bug, chest cold, RSV, pneumonia. I am so sick of seeing you sick. This month you spent a week in the hospital, actually we checked in the

2009-02-26T19:34:00.000-08:00

Dear Emerson 32 Months________________________________________________Hi Emmie-Baby,I guess I have to call you that here...if I call you that in real life you insist that you are a big girl...sigh. Yes, I know, but you will always be my baby. Always. You are getting to be so grown up with a huge opinion of your own. You are mad as heck at a stuff nose and we learned that "Puke is not your

2009-01-25T09:18:00.000-08:00

Dear Chase (10 months)__________________________________________ Hey there little guy, This has been quite a month. Seriously. 10 months? That is very close to being a year old and you are still a baby...a big baby who wakes up like a newborn and hates solid food...you can't turn one, I forbid it. But I guess you can hang out here at 10 months for a while, it's a fun fun fun age! You're into

2009-01-25T09:16:00.000-08:00

Dear Emerson (31 months!), ____________________________________Dear Princess Emmie, You are currently wearing four silks, a skirt, three bracelets and your PJ's. You're playing beads on the floor with Daddy and you're calling him honey. Like, let's play beads, honey. It's ok, honey. What beads are you putting on your necklace

2008-12-28T19:22:00.001-08:00

Dear Chase (9 months), Sunday, December 28, 2008 ___________________________Dear Chase-Chase, You are so cute I want to eat you. Butter your little legs and arms and just gobble you up. You're such a ham...if someone has a camera in the room and you see it (even though they aren't taking a picture of you) you start to

2008-12-12T07:42:00.000-08:00

Dear Emerson (30 months!), Friday, December 12, 2008 Dear Emmie-Bemmie, Holy cow, little girl, how are you two and a half?? I can't believe it. Really. I can't. You've been sick in the last two months more than you were in the last two and a half years. You're currently watching "The Wonder Pets Save the Nutcracker" and you

2008-11-21T05:26:00.001-08:00

8 Months_____________________________________________Dear Chase-Chase, You are getting to be so cute with such a fun fun fun personality. You laugh and giggle at the cutest things and you're an overall ham begging for attention wherever you can get it. You're still a little irratible when you're tired, but I am too, so no worries. You're still kind of little too...the geneticist is worried

2008-11-20T18:22:00.000-08:00

29 Months____________________________________________Dear Emmie-girl, I used to call you Emmie-baby....but lately you've told me that you are a big girl...so I stand corrected. You are also known as the Emster. By now you've realized I am perpetually late on these letters...it is officially 9 days past due...but better late than never, I say. I will chug along. I need some sort of alarm that

2008-10-21T12:12:00.000-07:00

Dear Mr. Mohawk, What a difference just a few months make, I was getting nervous that you were going to be a handful forever...but you're settling in very nicely. We don't have to swaddle you anymore, you don't want to sleep in the swing anymore and I haven't sat on the exercise ball with you since before we left for our vacation. Speaking of which, we booked that way before you were even born

2008-10-21T08:41:00.000-07:00

28 Months! Dear Emmie-Lemmie,It's three days past again (I started this about a week ago)...you now best that Mommy and Daddy are super busy lately! Just today you told me after being asked why you were so cranky, "Because I missed you mommy..." You're very wise for a two year old. I thought we were in trouble on our way to play group this morning and you were ornery about everything...you

2008-10-01T05:57:00.000-07:00

Dear Chase (6 months), September 21, 2008 ___________________________________________________Hi Baby Boy, How are you a half of a year old already? Weren't you just growing in my belly yesterday making all of my pants tight and uncomfortable and the ice cream look oh so appetizing? The belly is still there but you're out

2008-09-18T05:49:00.000-07:00

Dear Emmie 27 months!________________________________________Dear dear dear Emmie, Mommy and Daddy are super busy this month, I'm sorry I'm late again on your letter but I guess in the future you are going to learn that the summer (which seems like it should be slower for everyone else who doesn't have to rush to school and activities) is in fact head-spinngly busy for Mommy and Daddy! At the

2008-09-08T11:51:00.000-07:00

Dear Emerson (26 months), Monday, August 11, 2008 Dear Emerson Grace Duval, (I forgot to post this one, oops!) You often say, "What is my full name?" and then tell the world instead of waiting for an answer. One day you asked Daddy, "What's my full name," and he said, "Emerson Grace Duval," and then you said, "Now how do I say

2008-08-27T11:07:00.000-07:00

Dear Chase (5 months), Tuesday, August 26 Hi Mister-mister! I can't believe you are already five months old, time is truly flying!I also can't believe that my tiny little boy is now rolling and sitting and laughing out-loud! You are growing up so fast, and while there is a part of me that expected it because I just watched

2008-07-22T09:35:00.000-07:00

Dear Chasey-poo...I know you'll shoot me one day for calling you that...so not like me, huh! Remember that I called your sister Em-a-lem-a-ding-dong. You also answer quite well to Mr. Chase-aroni. I'm going to start this letter with a picture comparison, I just have to. You've grown so much in so many ways, it continues to baffle me. You were 4lbs. 10oz. at birth and at your 4 month check up

2008-07-15T19:24:00.000-07:00

Dear Emerson Grace (25 months!)__________________________________________Hi Ms. 2-year-old!I feel like as time marches on you are changing and growing, but it is slowing a bit. You know how to walk and talk and potty and climb...now it is the little things that change. You tell funny little jokes and stories and it is in the new things you say and think about that I have to notice differences

2008-06-24T14:03:00.000-07:00

Dear Chase (3 months)____________________________________________________Hi Mr. Man, You turned three months old about three days ago...and if you know me and threes you'll know this is a good thing! You've turned a corner, my friend, you have you have. You are awake more and not crying, you are happy and smiling...you still have your moments, but the end is in sight! You still love to be

2008-06-12T19:33:00.000-07:00

Dear Emerson (24 months!!!) June 11, 2008 _______________________________________________________Dear Emerson Grace, I cannot for the life of me understand how you just turned two years old yesterday...you are growing and learning and changing so fast before I know it you are going to be begging me for the car keys and $50 to go

2008-05-22T09:40:00.000-07:00

Chase 2 months__________________________________________________________Dear Chase-aroni, You are currently asleep on my chest which is making writing this letter a little bit impossible, but I'll deal. Yesterday you turned two months old and I'm still not so sure I know what you are going to be like...because...well...you cry...a lot. But, in the last few days, you have had some nice awake

2008-05-12T10:12:00.001-07:00

Dear Emerson (23 months)__________________________________________________________________Hi Big Sister!Whenever I am holding baby Chase this is how we greet you...maybe you think we've changed your name! I can't believe you are almost 2. I look at you and see my sweet sweet baby girl turning into a big girl before my eyes. I am excited to see what funny and new things you come up with each

2008-05-07T19:33:00.000-07:00

2008-04-22T10:11:00.001-07:00

Hi Baby Boy!One month ago today we welcomed your little body into the world. You gave us quite a run for our money...with some scary ultrasounds, then a scary dip in the heart rate, and then your low birth weight and low glucose levels...I guess when you play you play hard! You're here though, and doing so well! You're gaining like a champ and I can't wait to see what you weigh when we got to

2008-04-13T12:05:00.000-07:00

22 MonthsDear Big Sister! Can you believe you have a little brother? Can you believe that you were away from Mommy for 4 whole nights and you survived? I'm having a hard time believing it myself...this has been a big month for you and I, let me tell you. You are still as sweet and smart as can be and I cannot help but marvel in the little person that you are every single day...but we have hit

2008-03-15T06:30:00.000-07:00

21 MonthsHey Baby Doll, I'm a little bit late in writing this month...ok, only three days...but you change so much in three days that I feel like I'm cheating! You are the most amazing little person I have ever met...you are kind and caring, compassionate, empathetic, super-intelligent, witty and hilarious all balled up into one...and you're not even two yet. You say the most amazing things

2008-02-13T09:09:00.001-08:00

Emmie Letter (20 months)Hi M'nM, 20 months seems so...I dunno...old! How did it happen? Where did the time go? We went to a photographer's meeting last night in Boston and there was this tiny little squishy newborn there who must have been a week old or so and it got me thinking to when you were born...20 months ago. That is almost two years! It is crazy, child. You have such a personality

2008-01-13T19:34:00.000-08:00

Hi Baby Girl, (19 months) So another month has come and gone, if feels like time is going by so quickly....only 11 short weeks until your brother is here and your world changes forever. I'm excited and nervous to see how you do with him...you're such the center of attention now that I know it will be an adjustment, but you do seem to know that there is a baby in mommy's tummy and you often will

2007-12-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

Hi there Emmie baby, It feels funny still calling you a baby...you use a spoon and a fork, you run and spin and dance, you make me laugh on a daily basis. I can't believe it has been a year and a half already...part of me wants you to sloooooow down because I want you to be my baby forever but the other part of me is so proud of all that you have accomplished in your short little life. Something

2007-11-11T17:55:00.000-08:00

Hi Big Girl,Daddy and I were looking at you the other night and after exclaiming your cuteness we have decided that you did something with our little baby and replaced her with a little girl. It is amazing the transformation you have gone through this month...although I just told your dad that you are 17 months he said, "That's it? I feel like I've been telling people she is 17 months for a

2007-10-11T18:51:00.000-07:00

Hi Emmie!Happy 16 months! In some ways it is really hard to believe that you are already 16 months old, and in others I can't believe you are only 16 months old, sometimes you seem so much older than that. You're learning left and right and I'm surprised at how much can fit into that little mind of yours, you really are a sponge. I can't wait see how much you love to have a little baby in the

2007-09-13T17:37:00.001-07:00

Hi Jelly Bean! It feels like overnight you turned from a baby into a little kid. You walk 100% of the time now and crawl just to be silly! You went from signing to get your point across to talking...and then if we don't listen, don't hear you, or don't understand the word you'll add the sign. The other night at a meeting you made your point when you asked for "Milk-a-milk-a-milk" and then

2007-08-11T12:40:00.000-07:00

(This was written August 9, 2007...so much for writing it early and forgetting to post it!!!!)Dear Emmie,I can't believe you are 14 months old! We're having such a fun summer...you get to spend a lot of weekends with grammies, grandpas, aunties, cousins and uncles because Daddy and I are out shooting weddings, but have no fear, you make up for lost time with mommy in the middle of the night when

2007-07-13T12:34:00.001-07:00

Hiiiiieey Emmie, That's how you say it, Hiiieeey...walking through the grocery store you saw two men in suits looking at the chips. Nice and loud you looked in their direction and said, "Hiiiieey," and they both laughed and said hi to you...you thought it was hysterical and we went on to say hi to almost everyone in the grocery store. You've perfected the "byeeeeee," too and it must always

2007-06-11T20:19:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, Emmie!Dear Emerson, Today you are a year old! I can't believe a whole year has gone by. We've had such amazing times and done so much in this year. You're learned so much, you've grown so big, and it has been wonderful discovering things about you. This morning you woke up bright and early at 6:30am as if to say, "I'm too excited to sleep, it's my birthday!" You were your

2007-05-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

Emerson 11 MonthsHi baby! Look how cute you are!!! I can't believe how much you accomplished in one month. It is insane. You grew those two teeth, or at least started to, right before you turned 10 months. Now they are in and you look so cute! You decided that you hate anything pureed and you're not too crazy about anyone putting things in your mouth other than you--my little self-feeder.

2007-04-11T12:22:00.001-07:00

Dear Emmie, 10 month? Double digits? This is insane, time is flying by at the speed of light. You are learning and changing everyday and I don't know if monthly letters are going to cut it, perhaps we'll have to do a day-by day thing...lol. Riiight, like I could keep up with day by day and still spend time with you? You're definitely in a transition period with your naps. You often fight

2007-03-11T20:23:00.000-07:00

Hi There Lazy Butt!You turned 9 months just four days ago and I can't believe how many changes this month has brought! You might be wondering about the title...and no, I mean it in the nicest possible way! You've just recently started to "want" thing which spurred you into rolling...and reaching and whining. I say lazy because you have yet to crawl (I'm acutally excited about this because it

2007-02-18T21:01:00.000-08:00

Hi Baby Girl! I'm a week late in writing this, and that is a scary thing because you are learning so much everyday that it amazes me. Should I start recent and rewind or start at the beginning and fast forward? Either way it is all a blur, so here goes. You're getting more hair! And more style....When I last wrote you were 7 months and playing with things

2007-01-13T19:16:00.001-08:00

Dear Emmie,Time is just flying by, I can't believe you are 7 months old already! You're sitting up like a pro and you love to do the "bounce" where you just bounce-bounce-bounce while sitting. You never did learn to roll, but much prefer the seated view of life! You're still my smiley baby and I couldn't be happier! It is fun now that you want to play with toys and you got some good ones for

2006-12-13T19:18:00.000-08:00

**It is past midnight and TYPOS are plentiful...I think I need to hire an editor, seriously.Hi Stinker!Stinker is a term of endearment around here, Emmie...that's right, because it means you've pooed! Poo is a wonderful thing. You don't seem to think so, though. You go days between so that I'm constantly one of those parents that holds you high up in the air and sticks my nose in your butt

2006-11-13T11:16:00.000-08:00

Hi Pinchy!Yes, you, my little chicken, have a new nickname, and it is PINCHY! You pat my face with these soft and gentle wide open fingers and stare into my eyes, and just when you're about to melt my mommy heart you SQUEEZE! Let me just say, ouch, little girl, ouch! If you grab my lip one more time...oh, that's right, I'll probably kiss you and hug you and squeeze you just like always..but if

2006-10-13T19:38:00.001-07:00

Dear Em-a-lem-a-ding-dong,You're getting more fun everyday, if you can believe it! You have this million-dollar smile that makes any dark day instantly better! I can't believe you are already four months old. You hold that big 'ol head up all on your own, and your lastest trick, which I just noticed yesterday, is that when you're sitting in your swing you try to sit up!! C'mon, you've got to

2006-09-11T20:04:00.000-07:00

Dear Emerson (3 months)_______________________________________________________________Dear Kentucky-Fried Chicken, You are officially three months old today and you have started to squwak...and coo...and really basically just look up at me with your deep blue eyes (and yes, we think you're keeping them, so if it is many years from now and you are looking in the mirror at brown eyes, I am

2006-09-11T12:58:00.000-07:00

I sat and listened to this song when Emmie was first born...I cried my eyes out. Today Emmie is 3 months old...I can still sit and cry my eyes out over it. I think if I play it at her graduation from kindergarten, high school, college...her wedding...I'll bawl my eyes out.A Mother's Prayer(Celine Dion)I pray you'll be my eyesAnd watch her where she goesAnd help her to be wiseHelp me to let

2006-08-10T13:37:00.000-07:00

Dear Emmie,Day by day you are learning new things and you never cease to amaze me! Last night your daddy made you smile and then said, "I'm so happy she's more interactive now..." He has yet to learn all the wonders of Emmie...like how you coo at me and smile at the end of your feedings, like you are the happiest baby, and then you'll do this thing where you don't want to me to take you away

2006-07-20T10:21:00.000-07:00

2006-07-20T09:48:00.000-07:00

2006-07-11T06:46:00.000-07:00

ONE MONTH LETTERDear Emerson, You’re one month old today…I know everyone tells me how fast it goes, and to enjoy it while it lasts and such, and I believe them, but man you are getting old so fast! As I type this you are squirming around in your little swing, it’s not moving, you’re not too fond of the fast speed yet, but you’re doing the thing where you make the most adorable little

2006-06-28T09:10:00.000-07:00

Forget Milk...I'm making half and half! Emmie is up to 9 lbs. 5 oz. in just over two weeks...she was only 8lbs when we left the hospital, and at 4 days she was 8lbs. 2 oz. I'm psyched! She also grew an inch and a quarter...so she's 22 inches long now...I can't believe my girl is getting so big! We saw a PA this time, not the doc, and she was WONDERFUL! She was very informative, she told me to

2006-06-24T06:30:00.000-07:00

I recommend downloading this song or going out to buy their new album...I am constantly singing this to Emmie...we both love it. She honestly sits on my lap and stares at me (maybe she's thinking, wow, my mommy can't sing...maybe she's thinking, aw, I love this song and when that funny lady sings to me!)Dixie Chicks: LullabyLyrics for Album: Taking The Long Way They didn't have you where I come

2006-06-14T19:26:00.000-07:00

A Little Chicken is Born!A Labor Story As you all know it started with the lost plug...at least that is where I left you. It came out some more later that day, followed by a slow trickle of water with each contraction...I thought for some reason the contractions were hurting so much they were making me pee a little...so when there was a nice ring on my red sweats I took them off and did what any

2006-06-14T18:45:00.000-07:00

Emerson GraceJune 11, 2006 -- 2:27pm8lbs. 6oz.20.75 inchesOur little family came home yesterday at around 11 am...we are all doing fine, Mike and I have a new favorite pasttime, telling each other how ADORABLE she is!How could we not with that little face??I'll have to update more later when I can figure out my schedule and hers! Right now it is a lot of nursing and sleeping for both, although

2006-05-26T11:58:00.000-07:00

Dear Emerson Grace,We'll start off formal, seeing as you are still in the belly and "Little Baby Wheelah" is all you've heard me call you....I just wanted to let you know that this is going to be a place where I write to you for my sake, so I remember all the things I need to remeber about the days when you were little. I know I'm going to be sleep deprived and all systems will be running at a

2006-05-26T08:26:00.000-07:00

And just one last image to leave you with today...little baby Emerson when she was only 22 weeks old...or there abouts. I would have posted all of these entries together, but I'm not sure how Picasa lets me do that...I promise, by the time we have actual pictures of her--remember, in less than 16 days...I'll know how to put multiple pictures into a single entry!!!

2006-05-26T08:22:00.000-07:00

This is what the belly looks like now...can't believe I don't have a single strech mark--knocksonewood...I still have 16 more days to develop them, but I'm hoping that I don't!!??

2006-05-26T08:18:00.000-07:00

This is me and my belly last year at almost exaclty this time...on the honeymoon. I am wondering right now if I will ever be able to wear my cute little bathing suits again or if I am doomed to a life of mommy suits from now on...stayed turned for what the belly is now, only a year later...I guess it really only takes 9 months for it to look the way it does, but we opted for the year plan--

2006-05-26T08:14:00.000-07:00

Well...I was thinking of making a BLOG spot for Baby Duval who is hopefully on her way within the next 16 days (sooner if her mommy has anything to say about it!) when I realized that long long ago in a land far far from here I had made this site already! What a great thing that the internet can tell you where you have been and what you have registered for because there is no way on earth I

2005-08-22T13:40:00.000-07:00

It's me!

2002-12-09T18:24:00.000-08:00

First Entry Must that mean it is a monumental one? It is the last week of classes here at school and with the mountains of work I need to get done looming over my shoulder my procrastination went to work and seemingly won. What does that mean? I'm sidestepping the fact that I should be writing one of my many papers that are due shortly but instead I'm making a blog so I complain about all the