So I caught up enough last time, that we're out of the NICU... but here are some photos from that time period anyway. Our beautiful "miniest," her feeding tube and what looked like an enormous bottle, feeding her mommy's milk w/ a 24 cal fortifier to help her gain weight.
Its amazing to look back and see just how teeny he really was, in his swing. One of his earliest favorites.
It didn't take much for Emery to love them. Understanding boundaries was hard for her at first... who am I kidding, its still hard, but its out of love. She always wants to be hugging or kissing or holding them. She has a very kind heart, who doesn't always know her own strength.
I'm having a hard time remembering... but I feel like Emery and I colored eggs while London was in the NICU. Maybe not. She may have been home already, but either way it was a gorgeous day and I LOVED the mommy/E time. I had been missing her so much. We colored a dozen eggs, writing our names on them and putting stickers on. They were perfect for our Easter egg hunt.
One of my favorite photos. She really is the best big sister.
Just before Easter 2011 we decided that it was time for Emery to have a big girl bed. No more crib rail. We converted her crib to a toddler bed to get her ready for the real thing, and took her to the store to pick out new bedding. This is what she came home w/.
Our beautiful, silly and perfect 2 year old. (playing her horrific water recorders that Uncle Rowie got her for Christmas. I'll get him back one day.)
London came home just before Easter 2011, w/ a mild cold that she'd brought home from the NICU. We were worried about people holding, touching or even breathing near her, in fear that she'd get really sick and have to go back. Because of that, we had Easter at our house in Washougal, as to not take her out in the cold to travel.
Mom and Dad Deccio, my brother Sean and his family, brother Ryan and his family and some work and family friends gathered for Easter brunch. Chris and I were so paranoid, we had hand sanitizer at every corner, and if someone was a smoker, they weren't allowed to touch her. We were SO afraid that she'd get sick and we'd lose her to the NICU once again. We were finally a family unit and the thought of breaking that was awful. Thankfully, everyone understood and kept their distance. Emery and Ali had a blast finding eggs and candy. Their friend Jack helped and ate his fair share. I can't wait for next year, when I'll put a few dollars in a special egg for her to find. She knows all about money and how special it is to save. :)
Just a few more photos from Easter until the 4th:
We also celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary, July 9th. :) Such a fun night.
August was SOOOO busy. I was lucky enough to be asked to share in the day of two brides. My friend and our old roommate, Kara, got married August 20th, 2011. I was a bridesmaid and Emery was a flower girl. Word to the wise, if you'd like to have a serious wedding.. don't ask a 2 year old to be your flower girl. It didn't go well.. :) In her defense, it was the hottest day of the year.. we were outside all day w/o much water or food. She didn't have a nap and was being primped or having her picture taken for almost 9 hours. When it was finally time for the ceremony she was done. Not only did she sit down and throw rocks, but she was the first one in the wedding cake. :) Oh the memories. HAHA.
One week later, I was a bridesmaid again, but this time to my oldest and one of my best friends, Julie Gilley (Nishida.) The wedding was in Selah, Wa. on her parents farm, and it was gorgeous. One of the best days and nights of our summer. So happy for them.
Once August came, we were for sure leaving our Washougal house, and started looking for our "home." We were looking mostly in Brush Prairie/Hockinson area because of the school district and closeness to town. I found a house I loved on 2.5 acres but Chris wasn't sold. He thought it was too small for the 5 of us and that we would outgrow it. He found a house he loved in Battle Ground, but I thought it was too far. We were trying to avoid the commute. Finding a house w/ the land or yard we wanted, in the area we wanted, w/ the square footage we wanted was really tough. We were looking and shopping and touring like crazy. Everything we thought was a sure thing, wasn't. Some time in September, Chris got a test message from another SWAT guy w/ a listing attached. That guy lived in a County neighborhood that Chris had always wanted to live in. When we got the text, he laughed because there'd been a house he had passed indefinite times, dreaming to live in... he said "Wouldn't it be funny if it was that house?" He opened it... and it was. We scheduled a tour, and made an offer. Our first offer was SIGNIFICANTLY lower than the asking price so we thought for sure they would shoot it down. They didn't... we got an email from our agent and we were in... JUST KIDDING. They read our offer wrong. They literally misread a 0 for a 1. I wish I were kidding. So, back to the beginning we were. Do we offer 10K more? How much do we want this house? We were going to have to tear out all of the carpet, flooring, change the kitchen and bathroom... was it worth it? It was. 10K more it was. Offer accepted and here we are. October 26th 2011, we moved all of our things by ourselves and my amazing cousin, Chad. Without him, we would have been screwed. The three of us, moved everything we owned, from the boonies, to our new and wonderful home in Battle Ground.
As we unpacked, Emery grew to love the new place. So excited about decorating her new room and how big her play room was. She had room to play and run for hours on end. A few weeks passed and we tore all of the flooring out and replaced all of the blue carpet w/ new neutral carpet and pergo w/ new dark laminate. It's like a new house!!!
Today, Cruz and London are crawling around like crazy. They are hilarious. Cruz is always laughing. I joke that he's my little stoner. He is seriously always laughing! He's extremely dramatic as well. If he's upset, you will know it, and the neighbors might too. He doesn't sleep very well at night, still... but is the most amazing snuggler. When he smiles, the world smiles, and when you hold him, you never want to let go.
London is a spitfire. She's quick and feisty like her sister. She's very curious and doesn't let anything stop her. She started crawling at 6 months (which would have been 5 months, had she been born on time.) Standing at 7 months, and cruising the furniture at 7.5 months. I thought for sure I was going to have an 8 month walker... she hasn't started walking yet, but she's pushing things around and stands for a few seconds at a time w/o holding on. She's climbed the stairs after her sister, like it was nothing. I can't take my eyes off of her.
They are amazing together. They play together. Laugh at each other. Cry together.. its crazy. They love each other.
Emery is creeping on her 3rd birthday. So incredibly bitter/sweet. I feel a little bit like I've missed her 3rd year. Its been so busy and I'm pulled in so many directions, that she often gets much less of me than I want to give her, and what she does get is a bit frazzled. She is a very bright little girl, who needs constant challenge. She's going to preschool at Firm Foundation Christian School, right across from our neighborhood in Battle Ground. She loves it! She started the school year at a preschool in Washougal and when we moved, we really wanted her at FFCS. They gave her a 2 week trial, being that they'd never accepted a child under 3 before, and decided to keep her at the end of her 2 weeks. Her teacher tells me that she's adapting well and keeps up wonderfully w/ the older kids. She runs out every tuesday and thursday from her class, into our arms and tells us about her day. She can't wait to show us what she's got in her back pack. It's hard for me to throw any of her things away because she's so proud of them, and I'm so proud of her.
The past year has been tough on her. She got two new siblings that won't leave. She's had to learn to share me, when she was used to my life revolving around her. She's moved twice, started school, moved schools, changed teachers and friends. She's growing and learning and fighting. We're working on her frustrations, pushing other kids, sharing... all the normal 2-3 year old things, but all in all, she's the light of our life. If we've had a rough day and I'm excited for her bed time... a little bit of time passes and I usually want to wake her up because I miss her. Parenthood is funny. Its hard. Its trying. Its frustrating. It's exhausting. But it's amazing, and nothing in this world could ever be as rewarding. Having three kids under 3 has been quite the ride... but God knew how much we wanted these babies. They're here, all at once, and we're so grateful!
We just booked a surprise 3rd birthday trip to Great Wolf Lodge for Emery on Feb 9th. We are sooo excited! I can't wait to see the look on her face when we walk in and she sees all the things she gets to spend the weekend doing. Not very many things are all about her these days, and I can't wait for a whole weekend to be. She deserves that and so much more!
Until next time to write about Christmas! It was sooo much fun! :)
