Happy New Year 2006!

Since this was Emily's first New Year, we just decided to stay home and take it easy. We did try to keep Emily up, but she fell asleep at 11:30pm. She almost made it!

Happy New Year everyone!

How far that little candle throws his beams!

Jim's Mom & I have been dying to get to this store...Tuesday Morning. Since Jim was off this week for Winter Recess and it was his Mom's birthday, we all went out for the day.

We did a lot of running...to Babies R Us, Staples and Tuesday Morning. Ironically, once we finally got there, we weren't that impressed with it! Oh well!

Jim's Mom is of Ukranian and German decent, so we are always looking for Ukranian festivals, stores and restaurants. Well, one opened right down the road from where Jim works. It was called Oksana's Kitchen. So, after shopping, that's where we went for lunch. It was really good.

We all had a wonderful day!

Visiting Great Grandma....

Since Jim had off all this week, we took advantage of this and went to see Jim's Grandma.


So we packed up the car and headed out to Long Island. Jim's Mom came with us and we all had such a wonderful time. We exchanged gifts and Emily even let her hold and feed her!

Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Its Emily's first Christmas! When she woke up we told her that Santa Claus came. Of course, she's 6 months old so she could care less! But Santa brought her such wonderful presents that she is having so much fun playing with!

Then, Jim's parents, Michelle, Tony & Laura came over and we exchanged more gifts! We all got such wonderful gifts!

Finally, my parents came and we all had a nice dinner together!

Later, after dessert, we exchanged gifts with my parents.

It was a special Christmas! It was great to have so many wonderful and special people to care about us!


Happy Holidays!

Emily's 6 Month Check-up...

She is now on target with weight. At our previous appointment, the Doctor felt 4 lbs. was too much of a gain in 2 months! Anyway, she is now back to growing "correctly".

She now weighs 15lbs. 2oz. and she is 25 inches long.

Emily still has no interest in crawling or even rolling. Doctor didn't seem to be too concerned yet.

She got 4 more shots. Emily & I did not like them! After the shots, she was back to all smiles!

How Lovely Are Your Branches...

Today we went to get our Christmas Tree. It was VERY cold!

We wanted to go tonight because there is supposed to be a very bad snow storm coming through. So we bundled up and made our annual trek 45 minutes away to pick out a Christmas tree. Yes, I said 45 minutes. There are many, many places that are closer, but we came upon this place one year and we always get a really nice tree!

Anyway this is the smallest tree we have had. Its only about 7.5 feet, but it sure is pretty!

Here comes Santa Claus...

Today we took Emily to go see Santa! She was very pretty in her new Christmas Dress!

She cried a little when she saw Santa. I guess he can be a little scary.. But she stopped crying and she did okay! We were able to get some pictures of her with Santa!

Christmas Pictures 2005!

Emily & I went to The Picture People at the Rockaway Mall today to meet Michelle & Laura.

We decided that it would be great for Jim's parents and Grandma to get the girls picture taken together for a Christmas gift.

Laura & Emily did great with the photos and we have a beautiful picture to give for Christmas!

Emily's First Thanksgiving!

For Emily's first Thanksgiving we went to Michelle & Tony's. It was fun to see Emily interact with her cousin Laura. Jim's parents were there and we got to have some fun with them too!


Michelle & Tony were gracious enough to also invite my parents so we all could spend Thanksgiving together.


It was a fun day filled with great food and wonderful people!

Baby Faire...

Emily turned 5 months old! We can't believe how fast the time went!

Today, she put her pacifier in my mouth...and actually let go!! This was the first time we actually saw this! (Usually she pulls it back out she moves her hand)

We went to a Baby Faire with Jim's Mom! We had so much fun! Emily got to see a lot of other babies and was such a good girl. When the excitement got too much she fell asleep on Mommy!

Sweets for the sweet....

Today, I gave Emily Sweet Potatoes! She *loved* them! Funny, since we*HATE* them! Anyway, she ate them all up! Yum!

The only problem was she developed a little bit of a rash from them. Her doctor said that's usually not a sign of an allergy. So, if we want we can keep giving them to her.

I have feet! A Baptism and a cry-free bath!

Although she has been noticing her feet for a little bit, today Emily actually grabbed both of them. I went to tell Jim, but I didn't know that she had already did it earlier for him!

Also, today we went to my cousin Jerry's Baptism! We had so much fun! There was music and a lot of wonderful people! Emily was good and only cried a little bit towards the end!



Finally, today was Emily's first bath where she didn't cry! This made us so happy! Although she did cry a little when I accidentally sprayed water in her face! (Bad Mommy!)

Emily tries oatmeal..

Today, she had oatmeal for the first time. She responded to it better than the rice!

She is getting so much better with the spoon! Pretty soon she'll be feeding herself!

She held her bottle!

Today while feeding Emily, she reached out and took her bottle by both hands. I let go and she actually held it for a little bit...all by herself!

Our little girl is growing up!

Another Dad Update!

He got the rest of the sutures out and he is going back to work today! His doctor is very impressed with the way his hand healed!

Emily's First Halloween!

When Jim came home from work, I put Emily in her Halloween outfit and we went to visit the Grandparents!

First, we went to visit Jim's parents and took some pictures. Then, we went to visit my parents and took some pictures. I had a lot of pictures taken!


We can't wait til next year when we can actually take her Trick or Treating! (Of course, we will get the candy!)

Rice Cereal and Pumpkin Picking...Take 2!

Today Emily had a very busy day! We went to the Pumpkin Patch for our second attempt! (See earlier journal entry for first attempt) It was cold, but we had a lot of fun!

Also, today Emily got her first taste of rice cereal! We think she liked it. I got a couple of "spoonfuls" before she got fed up with it and wanted the bottle back. We were able to get some pictures.

Emily's Baptism

Today was Emily's Baptism!



All her cousins came to share the day! She had a lot of fun and met a lot of new people! When they poured the water on her, she cried a little, but was very good!


I brought the wrong (small) memory card for the digital camera to the Church, so I need to get film developed. Hey, at least I remembered the other camera!

Anyway, Emily got to meet her Great Grandma and cousin Laura for the first time today!

Emily's 4 Month Appointment.

Today was Emily's 4 month appointment. She was a good girl even though she had to get 4 shots. We both cried a little!

She now weighs 14lbs. 7oz. and she is 24 inches long.

I get to start her on real food (cereal) now. Let's see how much of it I can wear!

Overall, appointment was good. She's a little piggy..gained 4 pounds in 2 months.

We put together her Exersaucer and she got to try it. She's not too sure of it right now!

Update on my Dad...

I spoke to my Dad today and the doctor says he's healing nicely!! The doctor removed some of the sutures and sent him to physical therapy. He's glad because he'll be out of work for at least another 2 weeks!

Thanks for all your well wishes!