Happy (belated) Birthday Emily Claire!

Emily Claire Page

Born: 12.31.2007
Time: 11:22am
Weight: 7lbs 3oz
Height: 18inches

We celebrated my Emily's 1st birthday in December, days before we departed to France. It is so hard to believe that she is already one. Time goes by so much faster with each additional child. She is a delightful little girl who smiles and giggles often and has expanded her vocabulary from "uh oh" to "mama" and "ball" (which sounds more like "ba"... but it counts!). She has been walking since she was 11 months old. It is so fun to see her walk because she is so petite and has the shortest little legs (wonder where she got those from?). Unless she isn't feeling well, she is rather easy going and enjoys playing by herself and with her brother and sister. She sleeps through the night - although that was a slow time coming (as it was for all of my children) - and is a great napper. She has been quite the trooper since we have been living in France as she may spend more time in her stroller than her crib with all of the walking around town we do. However, she is perfectly content 99% of the time and just sits back and enjoys the sights and sounds of Clermont. I thank God often for blessing our family with her. I look forward to getting to know her better as her personality blossoms over the next year.

Emily's birth story is rather uneventful as she was induced and I was blessed with incredibly easy deliveries. The week after Christmas I had one of the weekly appointments you have during the last month of your pregnancy and my doctor asked if we wanted to induce on December 31st and, being that I had such a successful induction with Joshua, I gladly took them up on that offer. We made plans for my mother to be present for the birth which was such a gift to both of us. It was very special. We made arrangements for Joshua and Sophia to hang out with Aunt Sandy and Freddie, Mom and I arrived at the hospital around 6:30am. After getting checked in and changed the pitocin was dripping around 8am. I think I got the epidural around 9am and then starting pushing around 11am and she was born at 11:22am. I vividly remember them placing her on my belly and she looked right at me with her big blue eyes as she screamed from the shock of being taken from the cozy and warm womb to the bright lights and chill of the real world. The nurses bathed her and warmed her up and then we were finally able to hold our Emily Claire. Joshua and Sophia came up shortly afterwards and seemed very excited to welcome their new baby sister to our family and have been smitten with her ever since. Here is a little trip down the memory lane of Emily's first year of life...

The eve of Emily's birthday.

Waiting for the induction.

Peek-a-boo!

Few minutes old on the warming table.

Nice and clean and snuggly.

In Daddy's arms.

Meeting Josh and Sophia.

Emily and Sophia

Josh and Emily - month or so old.

Emily starting to sit up.

Emily trying cereal for the first time.. not really a fan.

Emily's first trip to the beach.

Emily enjoying Fall's Park in Greenville on a warm August day.

Emily cruising around the playground last fall.

Emily and Daddy on the cold day last fall at the apple farm.

Silly Emily and Bailey this past Christmas.

Emily this past week in Place de Jaude, Clermont-Ferrand, France - 1 year old.

A few observations since perusing through my pictures and posting...

*Her first year really did go by quickly.. It seems like all of that happened just yesterday and years ago all at the same time. Makes me sad that they all grow up so quickly.

*Sophia has changed tremendously in the past year! She looks like a different child than she did just one year ago.

*I miss Greenville so much it causes an ache in my chest. I guess those are pangs of homesickness. Sigh.

*Emily is such a joy.. so fun to play with and so happy! Love her!