Emma-6 Months Old!!!!

It's not possible, is it? Has it really been 6 months? No. Yes. It is truly hard to believe that sweet Emma Lynne has been here for 6 months. Just one month ago I felt like I was never going to get my "normal" D'Amato Baby. Well, maybe she is still not as "normal" as the other 3, but things are so much better.
A week before she made it to this half birthday I started 'crib training' her during naps. The first day was rough, second was easier, third was worse than the first and now things are better! It takes her about 10 minutes to fall asleep and she sleeps about 1 to 2.5 hours. She is still in her swing at night, but I am in need of some real sleep before I put her in the crib. Two nights this past week she cried for about 10 minutes and put herself back to sleep....I slept all night! A-mazing!

She rolls from back to belly, but has only rolled from belly to back once in a rage in her bed. She sits up without help for moments. She is such a peanut that it is not like she has a large mass to keep up (like a couple of her sisters!). She laughs, smiles, "talks", and is happy more than not now! Wonderful. Looking forward to taking her to the pediatrician to give her all these wonderful updates.

Here she is loving on Nanny...finally! The first of the D'Amato Girls to take this long to be held by anyone but Mommy.

Nanny making her laugh!

Such a cutie!

She eats her hands ALL the time!

I love her toes!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mi CASA Christmas Program

This year Chiara and Mayah participated in our home school support group's Christmas program. They have been practicing the songs since October and did a great job! I am so very proud of them. Chiara volunteered to be "Mary" and walk in baby Jesus and Mayah memorized Luke 2:19 "And Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart" and recited that. So proud! Leah amazes me-she memorized most of the songs too, but decided not to join them on stage. Hearing her sing, 'Oh come let us adore him, come let us adore him, come let us adore hiiiimmmm, Chriiiist da Lord!" Tears in my eyes!

I am so happy that my mom, aka Nanny, aka Nans, was able to come down to watch the girls. Making memories. I could not have seen them performing without her present. She is such a huge part of their lives!

Trimming the tree

I love Christmas! I love Christmas decorations! I love the joy that resounds in my house this time of the year!

This year, in our new home, we are able to have the tree in the living room instead of the front room. I love it! I love that Leah loves turning it on and keeping it on all day! I love that it is right here in our main living space. Christmas morning is going to be so much fun!!!!!

Here is the tree "before".

Chiara has gotten so tall!!!!!

The ballerinas with their ballerina ornaments!

David buys the girls ornaments the day after Christmas each year when they go on sale and gives them out the night we decorate. We were not sure Mayah would still love Toothless from Tarin Your Dragon, but she was freaking out excited!!!

Leah is all about the musical ornaments this year!

Mayah's 5th Birthday

Mayah turning 5 is a BIG deal. Five is a big deal,but for Mayah it is even bigger. She stretches me most as a parents. She makes me think outside the box. She tests my patience. She keeps me on my toes. She loves with all her being. She gives the best little kisses. She is our peanut.

She does not walk anyway....nope. She hops, leaps, skips, twirls....and falls....a lot. She is sensitive and sweet. She is head over heels for Emma, which I adore seeing!

This year for her birthday I surprised her with a special lunch guest. Kelcie Robinson is one of my former students and Mayah's former gymnastics teacher. Mayah fell in love with Kelcie the first day. So, having Kelcie over for a birthday lunch was perfect.

This year the girls made their birthday cakes with David. I used the girl's crayons for glass and wrote a message on the back door and bathroom mirrors. Mayah was all smiles!

I have decided to start doing the girl's yearly pictures. Why have an awesome camera and not use it for these beautiful princesses! Here is a sample of my special one-on-one time with Mayah. We went down to the Villago entrance and watched the ducks, fish, and geese. Mayah does not pose for pictures so it was about catching her in action. What I love best in these pictures is her hair....I have always said that it is a wonderful representation of her personality. Crazy, wild, beautiful, all over the place, and feminine. Love it.

Mayah's birthday party was small and sweet. It was a Rapunzel theme (though she will tell you Dragon was there too). Her friends Cristina, Ranelle, and Madeline were able to come. It was princess fun with painting on canvas, Chick-fil-A, and chocolate cake!

Leah's 3rd Birthday

What to say about Leah??? She is a spitfire. Determined to be independent, outspoken, and loud. She is the jokester of the house. Wanting to get the laugh seems to be her goal at dinner each night. She is superverbal and so very smart. I am impressed with what she knows...and I certainly cannot take credit for teaching her. She counts to 10 (sometimes higher), knows almost all her letters and some letter sounds. Shapes, colors, and lots of words to songs. She has an amazing auditory memory.

For her birthday she made her vanilla cake with her Daddy. Vanilla because Cinderella has yellow cake. Leah logic. She wanted a Cinderella birthday theme, but when it came down to it she wanted a "strawberry cake". I think she saw one in the grocery store and fixed on that. It was a hit!

I truly loved watching her open her presents. Such joy and thrill with every card, every inch of paper had to come off before even looking at the gift, and she seemed to use her leg to hold everything up. It was hilarious! I love that even with all the excitement of every gift she would still throw it down ready for the next in line!

For Leah's birthday dinner she wanted Chick-fil-A! A gift for me too! What an extra blessing was the baby cow came out (because they were having a fundraiser night). Awesome!

Here is the sample of pictures I took for Leah's birthday. The only way I got her to do this was because there were ducks, fish, and geese. I could not believe she would look at me and smile. It made my day! She is still not a huge fan of having her picture taken so this went really well. I can't wait to see what comes this next year for our Leah Jo.

Emma is FIVE Months old!

It is hard to believe 5 months ago I was spending the day in labor that I knew would end in a c-section. Five months later I am sitting here listening to her babble talk and talk and talk....oh yes! She is one of ours!!!!

This road has been tough-tummy issues, sleeplessness, and stress. However, she warms my heart when her chubby little face lights up when she sees me. She is called a "Mommy's Girl", but I am alright with that.

She is babbling, trying to roll, (finally!) grabbing her toes, playing with toys, putting her fist in her mouth, and drooling everywhere!

Mommy's Birthday

Thirty-two.....I remember when 30 seemed old. HA! I am so young!!! I wanted a picture with each of my girls and one with my gorgeous husband. Simple, but perfect. David got me a gift card to get a massage, the girls made cards, Mayah made me a shirt, and Leah said Happy Birthday. Dinner at Applebee's and 2 specialty cupcakes.