The Mercado Milestones: 2008

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Fun with Friends & Family

Steph, Gavin & Ava giving their new teddy bear a bath before getting it dressed.

We went to Build-A-Bear in the mall so Gavin & Ava could make a bear for their Aunt Janie. They had so much fun picking out the bear, stuffing her, cleaning her, and dressing her. Emma slept through the whole thing in her stroller, but we can't wait for Emma to be old enough to enjoy making one herself!

Girl Time! Emma & I were lucky enough to visit with our bestest friends (Felix had to go to Miami for work) so we stayed home and had a playdate. It is always so great to get together with childhood friends, I am so glad we have stayed so close. And now, we get to enjoy our babies together... even those of us who dont have babies yet... we are "aunties"!!!

Each baby in the picture above is 6 months apart, from left to right. Sienna, Audrey, Emma. How cute!

Giggling with "Auntie" Carrie- look at that huge smile.

Uh oh.... Audrey is a little jealous that her REAL Auntie is holding baby Emma

"Auntie" Catherine, giving Emma words of wisdom "Now listen, I've seen the way your mommy cleans... make sure you don't put ANYTHING off the floor in your mouth!!"

Emma & Sienna, learning to share.

How fun! Wish we lived closer so we could get together more often.

Happy Hanukah

Lighting the candles on the first night of Hanukah. Emma seemed to be very excited about it!

And Ava got a toy chest filled with dress up clothes. A dream come true for this little one!

Gavin was so excited for his giant crayon bank, and he has since been collecting everyone's spare change to fill it with. Smart cookie, huh!

Little Ems liked the paper on her gifts better than her actual presents....but she had fun opening them, and will certainly enjoy playing with her new dolls and wearing all her new clothes soon. Her Mamare & Saba got her a very special CD with fun children songs that have her name in all of them. Her Daddy & I have listened to that CD in the car with her OVER AND OVER AND OVER........

Some blocks! Soon our little girl will be building things and knocking them down..... I think motherhood is about to get a lot busier!

Sweet girl waiting for her Hanukah dinner in her high chair. She tried applesauce and seemed to like it. Next stop...sweet potatoes.

Emma loves going to Grandma's!!!

We went up to Orlando to visit with Grandma, Aunt Mileidy, and cousins Alexsa & Celeste. Emma was even able to visit with Aunt Lydia & cousin Joey for a bit too! She really warmed up to everyone and was able to play without being in her mommys arms the entire time.

Here is Emma with her cousins. Felix & I took all 3 girls for a quick shopping trip, and we had a lot of fun. They made Emma smile a lot when she would try and talk to them in the car.

Family Photo! We had a lot of fun together doing our very own version of American Idol. Emma's cousins are definitely going to be famous singers--- the judges decided!!!

Singing and dancing with Grandma.

How lucky is my little girl? Her very own Dora kitchen! Emma's kitchen is nicer than her mommy's!!!!!! Hopefully she can learn to cook as well as her Aunt Mileidy, who spoiled us with delicious dinners each night, and even made special dessert!!!!Thank you again everyone- it is great and we can't wait to use it.

.........and this is Emma's absolute favorite! If you have met Emma in person, you surely noticed that she cannot sit still, and when you stand her up she just starts jumping up and down. I fear that may be a result of sticking her in the jumperoo at such an early age. This bouncy horse is EXACTLY what my growing baby needs!!!

Opening presents with Aunt Mileidy and Daddy.

We had a wonderful visit and can't wait to come back to play. Miss you!!!!

Florida.... HERE WE COME!

Emma is testing out the strength of the buckles in the suitcase...... either that... or teething!

"Come on in Matti, there is plenty of room!"

"Now sit still while I buckle you in....."

So proud to be sitting in the big girl chair next to her Daddy on the plane. Poor Matti was in a doggy bag on the floor under the seat :(

When we got to FL, Emma had her first taste of food! Rice Cereal. She grabbed the spoon out of my hand and gulped it up. She has been grabbing for food for a while now, so we thought she was ready. Plus.... we found 2 teeny teeth poking through on her bottom gums!!!! What a big girl she is now.

Remember when?????...............

Well, here we are 1.5 years later (with the best gift of all, sitting in Felix's lap), enjoying our "anniversary" cake. Mom & Dad kept the top of our wedding cake frozen in their freezzer- and it was actually good!

Once we finished dessert, we unpacked our stuff and got settled for our long vacation! So excited!!

Monday, December 15, 2008

Emma's First Hanukah Celebration

Rockin' Hanukah Party! Woohoo.
Last night we went to see Rick Recht, a rock/pop Jewish singer, at a temple in Providence. It was actually really fun- we all had a great time.
Emma kept bouncing up & down to the music and enjoyed making friends with the little toddlers that kept coming up to say "Hi baby, Hi baby" and giving Emma her binky.

Daddy lifting Emma up high to see all the action.

Emmas scraggley hair is on the right side of the picture. She was enjoying the music performance (you can see a bit of it at the front of the pix)

While Felix was holding Emma in his lap, she was playing with the program booklet they gave us. We looked down a few minutes later, and half of the booklet was gone! She ATE IT!!!!!

After about an hour I think she had enough.... and decided to eat my jacket instead.

All in all it was a great night- nice to go out as a family!

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Happy 6 Months!

Happy 6 Months, Emma girl!!!
Emma has been such a joy to have around. Her little personality is really starting to show and she is absolutely hilarious. Here are some of the things she has been up to:

She sits on her own now, with pillows around for the occasional face plant. And she tries her hardest to crawl, but only ends up going around and around in circles.
She holds her arms out and cries for her mommy
She will pick up her binky and stick it in her mouth to suck on
She sleeps 11+ hours/night
When her Daddy comes home from work he says "give me big smiley...." and she delivers every time, without fail!
She sits in her own little chair in the big tub and splashes in the water reaching for her toys.
She loves her exersaucer and studies each new toy with intense concentration (before shoving it in her mouth of course)
She rolls onto her tummy constantly and then gets very upset that she is now on her tummy.
She has a big fear of being away from her Mommy (and her Mommy hates to be away from her) so the feeling is mutual- but still- must be addressed!
She watches with amazement as we drain the tub and the water gurgles down the drain.
She reaches with both hands for Matti and tries to eat his nose, tail, paws...anything that is close enough to grab!
She will give a shy little smile to strangers when they come up and talk to her (if she is safe in her carseat/stroller) and will tuck her head into the side of the seat or her shoulder
She has the sweetest little voice, and we often hear her just talking to herself in her crib when she wakes up in the morning sweetly saying "ahhhhh....ahhhhh....". soo cute.
Her cheeks get red when she is tired and ready for a nap, or bedtime.
She wants to grab anything in her sight and eat it. Toes and fingers included.
She is so sweet and peaceful at night that when I rock her I touch her perfect little face and just want to stare at her for hours instead of leaving her alone in her crib.
She hates it when I change her diaper 1st thing in the morning, but doesn't mind if her Daddy does it.
She will smile at us, with her big brown eyes and her sweet little grin.
My favorite time is when I pick her up and she squeezes me really tight and buries her head in my neck. It doesn't get any better than that!!!
Nicknames so far: chickens, McGee, tubs, tubby girl, chichi, drama queen, Emma girl, little Ems, and of course... my love.

It's been 6 months already???!!!

1 month vs. 6 months

So happy to be in "Florida" clothes....although, this crop top is a bit too risque for our trip. I don't think it will be making it into the suitcase.