birthday boy

Since the Shrektacular was the weekend after Emmett's birthday, we had to do a little bit of celebrating on the actual day of course. Emmett and I started the day by going on a special run to Kneader's (home of the best french toast EVER) and got a plate to split.

His favorite part was the whipped cream and strawberries that came on the side.

When Jared got home from school in the afternoon, we took Emmett to Provo Beach Resort where he played in the the toddler playgym and even did a couple arcade games.

                       
The Ericksons stopped by to give him his birthday present a few days later

....which was a lawnmower! We're hoping it will substitute for the doll strollers he loves so much (Jared refuses to buy him one! sad, right?)

the shrektacular celebration

I decided Emmett was ready to celebrate his birthday according to the actual day he was born this year (as opposed to the three-month-later date he was due).
He is in LOVE LOVE LOVE with Shrek. As in like we watch one of the four movies daily. Some nights he cries for it when I put him to sleep, and I calm him by telling him "we'll watch in the morning, first thing when you wake up." And sure enough, as soon as he pops out of bed, he's remembers and let's me know!
It was so funny, the obsession started back a couple months ago when it aired on TV. I didn't think he was old enough for any full length movies - mostly he loved Elmo and Bear in the Big Blue House episodes. But he was hooked from the second he started watching, and everytime commercials would come on he would cry and get mad at us thinking we turned it off! It's still the only movie that he'll sit and watch the whole thing!

Which leads me to his 2nd Birthday Party....!

We served waffles in honor of Donkey (And in the mornin, I'm makin waffles!", and worms and Ogre Juice

And played Pin the Tail on Donkey

...And wore Ogre ears

Emmett had a little Shrek smash cake

While we ate mini Shrek-cakes

This face tells you how happy he was when we all sang him Happy Birthday

He wasn't really into doing the whole smash thing this year. My little boy's all grown up! He ate it with his fork :)

(And loved it)

Then he got spoiled with presents from family and friends

I think it's safe to say the party was a success!



a note for emmett

Dear Emmett,

Today is January 12th, and we celebrate the happiest day of my life. It's two years from the day you came into my life and stole my heart forever. Two years since your tiny, miraculous one pound body came out with a heroic cry and received 9/9 on your apgars.
Since then I've learned what it feels like to have my heart and soul exist in a seperate little body. It's exhilirating and terrifying. Especially because your particular little body tends to gravitate to towards sharp objects, high places, and poisonous substances :)
 I can't remember what a life without you felt like, and I think that's because you have always been in it. We've been together long before this life - and you waited patiently in heaven those 24 years, watching every choice Dad and  I made, waiting to join us again. I truly believe this unique bond you and I share extends far past this earth.
Thank you for teaching me patience, giving me strength I never knew I had, and showing me what pure, perfect joy feels like.
Today we will celebrate from morning until night, because we have a million reasons to.You're perfect in every single way - the very definition of a miracle. I love you forever and ever!

Mom


And in honor of the occassion I wanted to share a page from my journal two years ago.

Feb 11, 2010
"I held you skin to skin for the first time today and it felt so amazing. Your warm little body up against mine - I felt like we were finally connected again, our hearts beating together. I talked to you and hummed so you could hear my voice on my chest and feel like you were back in the womb.
 Emmett, Heavenly father loves you so much. You are such a special little boy and I already know you're going to grow up to do so many important things. He watches over you every single day, and in the hours I'm not here - I know he's always right beside you, comforting you. You're in good hands."

Happy Birthday Bug!!

walk a mile in someone else's shoes

Emmett takes that phrase seriously. Although it's not a mile. It's usually like 10 feet. Or until he has gotten a satisfactory reaction out of Jared and I.

It's common these days for Emmett to come wandering down the hall in a pair of one of our shoes, big grin on his face. He doesn't like to return to the same pair twice. Repetition gets boring right? Plus he likes to keep his style fresh. It's not always limited to just Jared and I's though. If your shoes are lying anywhere in the vicinity, they're fair game - but not always on the right feet.

The funny thing about the following pictures is that I haven't purposely been collecting them. I was just organizing some pictures tonight and realized there was a common theme! These have all been taken in the past few months.

My high heels are his favorite (and mine too because there's nothing cuter than watching him shuffle around like a little chinese lady in them) I'm actually on the phone in the background, trying to take the video discreetly since he gets camera shy :)

Buzz Lightyear has to have boots (taken on ipod, sorry)

The day my new running shoes came in the mail. He was kind enough to break them in for me (ipod again).

Okay so these aren't shoes but I couldn't leave them out! Those are MY tights. Yes, somehow those things miraculously stretch and cover my legs on Sundays. Emmett brought them to me and wanted to try them on- so after LOTS of bunching, we were successful! He ran around in them and got quite a kick out of it!

Feeling the wonder of Uggs

Looking dapper in Aunt Kendalls oxfords

Running from the camera in someones (Kendalls?) boots

I know there's more somewhere I haven't included, but you get the idea. The man is a shoe fiend!

our holly jolly christmas

We had such a great Christmas this year, and loved being able to spend time with both sides of the family. We were able to do our "express Christmas" (Modern Family anyone?) with my family a few days before Christmas, and then head up to Rexburg and spend 5 days with the Ericksons. There's nothing like spending the holidays with family - and we really had the best of both worlds.

I love reflecting on our Savior's birth each year. The combination of Christmas and New Year's really helps me see the great blessings and growth our family has experienced. Adding that to the gratitude I feel for the life of Jesus Christ, leaves my heart so full of joy and peace.

Here's a glimpse of the great times we had with the Whittakers this year.

                                          Showing off the "sisters are best friends" necklaces we all gave each other.

                                                                               Here's a close-up

Loved his little car from Gamby so much we had to pack it up to Idaho!

And here's some fun shots of Christmas with the Ericksons

                                                                                                 Santa Baby
  

The hilarious Christmas Eve Pajamas Jared's mom Sherri made for the kids.
She used a vintage pattern her kids made with their grandma.

I was a little dissappointed by Emmett's reaction to his presents this year. There are a few he loved (the ones pictured) but I've actually taken a couple back already that he's shown no interest in whatsoever. His cousin Julia got a doll stroller and once he saw that - he locked on and it was all over.

Yes, Sherri is holding up a 6 pack of beer in that third picture. Jared's Dad is huge into doing meat (smoking, grilling, frying, you name it), and turns out the next gift was some kind of frying kit. We sure got a good laugh over the first part of the gift though!

Thank you to all the family who made our holiday perfect! Only 359 days til next Christmas!! Let the countdown begin :-)