Mom, Can Emma sit on my lap?

Chiara asked if Emma could sit with her. Lately I have not let the girls do this because Emma is quite squirmy and moves around everywhere these days. Last night it was just Emma, Chiara, and I because the other 2 were sleeping. I gave it a shot.

To our surprise Emma was as happy as a clam in her sisters lap. She just played with her toy, talked, and smiled. I had a moment. My oldest and youngest. Chiara is going to be 7 next month-it does not seem possible. It also does not seem possible that Emma is already 8.5 months old. Geesh.

I love that my girls love one another so much. Emma lights up with all her sisters and Chiara is the most motherly of all of them. I am witness to great relationships being created and taking opportunities to help foster these relationships. I think too many parents take for granted that their children will be friends when they are adults. It is not the case. Just like any other relationship, these siblings need to build their friendship over time.

I am thrilled that I am home and able to watch these relationships grow.

Emma Meets Charlie

Today, one of my dear (former) students came over to see the girls and introduce us to her new puppy, Charlie. The older girls ran him around outside and then we came in where Emma and Charlie could have some face time.....and face time it was!

Beautiful Kelcie is now 20 years old (I had her in 5th grade!). She is a Vet Tech; I am beyond proud of her! She loves the Lord, her family, and country music and men! Love this girl. I love that she is involved in our lives.

Charlie wanted to get close and personal.

Emma returned the gesture! Hilarious!

Charlie is a cutie...so glad he could visit.

I don't care if you do not like my word...

Suck. Yes, that is the word I use for David leaving to Alaska for the 3rd time since January 3rd. Suck. Yes, the word for my thoughts about him having to meet with Japan every day, some weekend nights and missing family dinner. Suck. Many people do not like my word. Oh well, too bad. My word describes how things are perfectly.

As I write this my gorgeous husband is on a plane back to Fairbanks (I got it right this time babe!) for 10 days. Ten. Days. Suck. It's not that I will just miss his help-heck, I could hire someone for that! It's that I miss him.

The beginning of our love story started this way. Apart. Me in Vermont and him in Michigan. Missing one another like CRAZY!!! I am been thinking about it a lot lately....14 years ago February I was counting the days until I saw him again. I had to wait 6 weeks back then. When you are 18 and in love it is tough...6 weeks of torture it was! Here I am 14 years later hoping to make it through 10 days without him! HA!

I can't help but wonder if all the time spent apart that first year and a half of our relationship was the Lord's way of preparing us to do it as much as we have since we were married. It has gotten a bit more challenging with each daughter we have had, but David and I know how to function apart. A strange thing to be good at, but we are. I just wish I was not getting so much practice at it lately.

We will not be together this Valentines Day. Yes, for most people it is just a card and flowers holiday. For David and I it is more. It is a perfect piece in our beautiful love story. It will be hard to be apart, but like 14 years ago the reunion will be bliss!

Superbowl 2012

The youngest D'Amato cheerleader all ready before the game started. Such a cutie this one! I can remember opening up this adorable gift from my Aunt Allison and Uncle Joe when I was pregnant with Chiara.

Well, the game did not go the way we wanted it to over here, but we still had a fantastic time! Great food and great company. I am so glad my parents are here for things like this. I love watching football with my Dad. He taught me how to be a real fan-even when your team sucks-and how to easily transition to the next sport.....Go SOX!

Emma was content to eat the football

A couple weeks before the superbowl Chiara made this sign. We hung it up above the tv for the game. She was really excited about it. She even seemed genuinely sad when the Patriots lost. Wait until he finds out she is born a Cardinals fan....she may cry!

We have a traditional menu every year that consists of tacos (the Day family tradition I remember), pigs in a blanket, and Mom's/nanny's buffalo chicken dip. Chiara and Leah helped roll the piggies up.

Leah loved it. She has really been in the kitchen lately. Wants to help make any and everything.

My football field "taco toppings" from Pinterest.

Ronan Hutchins and Emma hanging out. I love that he turns and smiles for photos....

Madonna had nothing on our halftime show! Leah really is head over heels in love with her Nanny!

I love Mayah's face in this.....such fun! I am pretty sure my dad got the easier one in this situation. Nanny may be sore!

Love. I love this man. I love that he loves the Patriots as much as I do. I love that he is a wonderful father to 4 girls. Love.

Emma's face of confusion again....why is Daddy holding the camera? That's Mom's job!

Emma is 8 months old...how can that be?

It does not seem possible. In fact it seems unreal that eight months has gone by since Emma Lynne came into this world and this family. I can close my eyes and see myself with her in the hospital. I look at her and wonder how she got so big...well, ok, big for her since she is not big at all. I love her. I truly, deeply, madly love her. One of the things I love is that every time I look at this baby face I see more than just her. She is Chiara, Mayah, and Leah too. She captures their features and reminds of each of them. What a blessing that is.

At eight months old she is not afraid to use her voice. She has learned in this house you need to be loud to be heard above the voices of three older sisters. She has an amazing appetite for food and still loves to nurse. She scoots around on her bottom and is just about ready to crawl. We are all putting bets if she will follow in her other petite sister Mayah's steps and be running by ten months old. She laughs and smiles so much- a far distance from the miserable four month old I remember. She adores her sisters and still seems to prefer hanging with Mayah. Yes, she is still a Mommy's Girl, but I am NOT complaining....though other's seem to have quite the opinion on this. She is head over heels for her Daddy, which warms my heart and his. Still no teeth, but that is normal for a D'Amato girl. I look forward to taking her to the pediatrician next month to see how she is growing. If she is anything like Mayah Rae she will be walking into that appointment!

I am still learning how to use my camera and though the subject is gorgeous I am not thrilled with the pictures I took. I had to do more editing than I would like. Indoor pictures are just tough for me.

Such a smirk

Oh, she knows her name...."Emma!" and this is what I got!

Something fun to play with

Some fun editing

A well overdue family day of FUN!

The new reality of David's job sucks. Yes, I said sucks. It's not a pretty word, but what our lives have been like since January 4th has not been pretty either. Travel for work had David in Fairbanks, Alaska for most of January (and he is returning in February for 10 days!!!) and when he was in Arizona he had late night meetings every night (and some weekend nights) with Japan. Crazy. Suck.

I would not care if I had that husband who does nothing and is not involved. I am BEYOND blessed to have a man who chooses each day to be involved with everything from diaper changes, to baths, to bedtime routine, to reading stories. He is very helpful so it is greatly noticed when he is not here...or here, but at work really late. His travels took him away on MLK Day this year- a paid holiday for Nissan (yes, I am aware that it is a strange holiday for a Japanese company). The girls and I had really been looking forward to "daddy time" that day. Instead we drove him to the airport and said goodbye. Suck.

Last Friday David requested the day off-his MLK Day-and we planned a trip up north to Flagstaff to play in the snow. Well, by the time Friday came around the snow had yet again melted. Plan B. David took the girls to Chick-fil-A for breakfast then off we went....they guessed and guessed where we were going, but nothing but smiles from us. My parents used to do this to me and my siblings ALL the time and it drove me nuts as a kid, but looking back I loved it!!!! We stopped at IHOP for lunch. Yes, IHOP. Not classy-or really that good for that matter, but it is all Mayah has been talking about! She loves it! If something that simple can make your kids soar, then why not?!?! All 3 ate a plate size pancake each. Back in the car. Mayah had guessed Reid Park Zoo. Our girls are so observant!!! We had another trick up our sleeves. They kept asking about the mysterious luggage...of course I explained to them that we just could not manage 4 kids anymore and one of them had to go! "Ha Ha Mom!"

Checking out the tiger-who ended up licking himself right after this picture...it's a male. Lovely.

The peacocks were all over the place today!

We watched this tortoise take an exhausting walk across the mud, onto his friend, and eventually plopping down here.

Daddy came prepared with change to feed the ducks! You rock David!!!

Mayah was throwing one piece at a time.....hilarious!

Check out Emma's face in these pics. Why is she confused you ask??? Because Daddy is taking pictures!!!! hahahaha!

Love this girl!

There were several females around so the peacocks were giving quite the show!

I love how close we are to the animals at this zoo!

My favorite view...... ;)

I had to put this picture here, because Chiara strategically placed herself here to see the otters. Not because it was a better view, but because she wanted to scope out the girls American Doll! (yes, I think this Christmas will BE the Christmas!)

Emma loves the fish!

Here is the surprise....there is a pool next to the zoo. A heated outdoor pool!!!!! We got the girls changed and let them swim! They loved it. They thanked their Dad in the water and Leah thanked me several times at home. I love doing things like this for them.

Yes, we wore them out! We headed home, ordered from our favorite organic pizza place, Picazzo's, on the way home, picked it up and sat around talking about our day at the table. We ended the day watching Ice Age (Mayah's pick) and tucked 4 happy and tired girls into bed!

Up, Up, and....not quite away

January 26, 2012....Miss Emma Lynne lifted herself up like this. Such a bitter sweet moment in my life. This is it. I am fully aware that this is the last _______. That is not a complaint, but a very clear observation.
Since this picture she has tucked those knees in and started rocking. Oh my!
If she figures out crawling and burns calories I wonder if she will thin out like her big sister Mayah did....5th percentile and running at 10 months old. Only time will tell.