Emmy - 11 Months Old

Emmy's hair is getting longer and longer each day. She successfully walks around the living room (if she's holding on to something), and talks non stop! She still uses her screaming voice in her talking sometimes, but other times, she has a normal little deep voice like the rest of the Corleys. I've been threatening teeth for months now, but she is still all slobber!! There was a time last week that I thought for sure we'd get to see some teeth, but still no luck. I have stopped nursing Emmy, which was a bittersweet experience. I surely miss our time together, but she was ready to move on. She has several words in her vocabulary arsenal. Some of them are "Dada", "Mama", "Uh oh", "Bye Bye", "Night Night", "Baba" (which means bottle), and she has even said "Sissy" once (for Rachel). Rachel, by the way, can not wait for Emmy's hair to get longer so that she can start putting little ribbons in her hair. Just the other day, Rachel grabbed a patch of longer hair in the back of Emmy's head, and said, "Look Mama! It's long enough!"

Emmy laughs almost as much as she talks, and looks more and more like her Daddy on a daily basis. She even has his dimple in her right cheek! I have gotten her into a cackling laugh from tickling her several times over the last few days, so let the fun begin!

It's hard to believe that she will 1 year old this time next month! What an amazing year it has been!

Out With the Old

Rusty and I built a deck for our back porch several years ago. It served it's purpose, and had seen it's last day. I'd love to say that I helped him rebuild it, but mainly, I was the gopher due to being pregnant this go around. We still want to put the sealant down on it, but that will have to be another weekend. We just ran out of sunlight and muscles on this shot! I do have to say, however, that it does look fantastic!

Hallelujah Harvest, 2009

Hallelujah Harvest this year was really fun for the kids, but I think I may have enjoyed it more than they did this year! Rachel went as an Asian Princess again, and Sam, of course, went as Batman (the costume that Cole gave him). He actually has been practicing his "Batman techniques" for months now, but that's another blog entry.

Rachel and Katie got into the boxing ring this year, which had me laughing hysterically! Neither of them were strong enough to hold the 400 pound, over sized boxing gloves up to do any damage, so they both ended up just bouncing around and falling into each other for the entire time. Rachel also ended up winning a CD for answering a question correctly! She is very proud of her winnings!

Sam got into his own bounce house as well. I mean, Batman. He was one of the smaller kids in the bounce house, so all of the larger kids kept cheering him on. At one point, he got up his nerve, and actually used his "powers" on the entire group of kids! They all played along, and fell down dead! It was so insanely funny!

After the Hallelujah Harvest, I took Rachel and Sam over to Angelyn's to go trick-or-treating in her neighborhood. This was Sam's first ever experience at trick-or-treating, and Rachel hadn't been in so long! They both had the times of their lives! At one point, all I could see of the kids were their silhouettes running through the air. Sam's Batman ears and cape just made me chuckle nearly every time!

This Halloween was so much fun! I can only hope that next year, we get to have as much fun with family and friends!!

Rachili

Well, Pooey!

Not a fun morning! I'm fairly certain that I married a redneck, but don't tell anyone! I still think he's a wonderful husband...even if he does have redneck tendencies!

Bat Sam Makes His Return

Sam is geared up for Halloween! He's practicing his flying techniques as we speak!!!

Little Miss

Joey Can Help, Mommy!

It seems that one can only fly a kite when there is wind. Go figure. I, of course, am an amazing kite flyer, except when there is no wind! We all went to Tom Brown Park this past weekend. The winds were really working FOR everyone...but me! Nearly every time I attempted to get my kite up in the air, it fizzled out and just made me look like an idiot. I'm sure Joey would have a sarcastic comment for that statement, but one can only be optimistic. Joey and Sam spent a good bit of time flying Joey's kite together. Beth and I fought with her trick kite, and Rachel and Rusty played with the Sponge Bob kite. Emmy just went along for the ride. At one of my feeble attempts to fly Joey's kite, Sammy walked up to me and said, "Mommy! Joey can help you, k?" Oh! Music to Joey's ears! I would like to mention, however, that I do not have ANY kites in ANY trees. You'd have to ask Joey where his last two kites have gone?!

How Can it Be?

I bought Rachel an alarm clock yesterday, and I'd have to say....it's the BEST invention EVER!! I personally despise my alarm clock, but I absolutely, without a doubt, love hers! It gets her out of bed and actually moving!! Woo hoo!!

Um....Daddy?

Conversation between Rusty and Sam:

Sam: Um...Daddy?

Rusty: Yes, Sam?

Sam: Look. (Sam held his hand out his empty hand)

Rusty: What is it?

Sam: My hand's empty.

Rusty: Wow! Ok.

Sam: It's because I don't have a snack anymore! (puppy dog eyes).

Fire Marshall Sam

I took Sam to the Fire Station for the first time today. He got to "drive" 4 fire trucks, play in the back where all of the firefighters sit when they go on a call, and turn the lights on and off. His "partner", Jed had to be everywhere Sam was. If Sam was driving, then Jed had to be in the "partner" side, and visa versa. After the Fire Station, we took the kids to play at the park. A successful day, and hopefully, and restful night!

Emmy - 10 Months Old

Isn't this just the cutest "little" you have ever seen in your entire life?! She has turned 10 months old! Still making squishy face, Emmy is also sitting up, crawling EVERYWHERE we go, is eating like a pig, and has the most wonderful personality! She has successfully pulled up into a standing position and can crawl up into the kitchen from Cody's room (one pretty impressive step, if I say so myself). Since we've started feeding her fatty foods, she has gained 2 pounds and now weighs in at a whopping 15 pounds which is still way under her age's average weight, but we are most definitely making progress! Emmy's eyes are a silver shade of brown. They are unlike any eye color I have ever seen. Rusty says that the true color (blue - like his eyes) is trying to overcome the brown, but whatever! And, as usual, still no teeth, but the red hair has remained.

Gettin' Hitched!

Chris and Angelyn got married today! Rusty and I dropped the kids off with Grammy for the day, and headed for the vacation rental at St. George Island that the wedding was held at. I was the music for the ceremony (I played a few songs on the violin for them), and I also orchestrated a wonderful rendition of "Kiss the Girl" from The Little Mermaid for the new bride and groom! Rusty and I had an amazing time spending time with friends as well as being witness to a new covenant under God! After the wedding festivities calmed down, I got a picture with Ang and the girls from work. We have called this one, "Eckerd's Angels"! Katie couldn't figure out what to do, so she thought that shooting me in the head would be appropriate!

A Clean House?

We got our carpets steam cleaned today. I can't tell you how wonderful it feels to know that my house is moving towards the "clean" side of the road! Mom came over and everyone pitched in to help get Sam & Emmy's room straightened up, the linen closet, the kids' bathroom, and the living room all organized and uncluttered! Yay!

Water Babies

What can I say? Corleys love the water!

Four Eyes No More!

Rusty got contacts today!! He is amazed at his new found "outlook" on life!

Child Labor? Naaaaa!!!

With Emmy at school part of the week, I bring Sam into the office with me. His "job" is to handle the shredder. He says, "Mommy, I need more work!" Check back with me in 13 years to see if that is still the case, mmmkay?!

Bubbles Everywhere!

Sam had a bubble bath today! He was very insistent that I take his picture because he looked like Joey with his "facial hair"! A fantastic time killer - this kid was a walking prune by the time he came out of there!

Baby Update

I had a doctor's appointment today - my second visit since we found out about the newest addition! I've gotten to see the baby on the ultrasound machine both visits, and have been amazed at technology! At 7 weeks (my first visit), I was able to see the heart beat of the baby! At 12 weeks, the baby is the size of a pretty hefty Oreo cookie! Maybe one of those "Double Stuffed" ones. Mmmm...that sounds good!

I've intentionally not kept up with how pregnant I am because time seems to be flying by, and I'm certainly not one to argue with that!

Mommy and Baby are doing wonderful! If it weren't for actually knowing that I'm pregnant, I'd never know it because I have ZERO symptoms! Woo hoo!

Celebration!

Emmy started going to a part time school today. She was in great need of some social time away from Mommy, and it's been a great break for me too. I've been able to spend some one on one time with Sam (who, by the way, talks CONSTANTLY), and I've also been able to go into the office more often. As expected, everyone absolutely LOVES Emmy, and they can't wait for Sam to be able to join them.

Fiddler

Angelyn and I took the "bigger" littles (Rachel, Cole, Kate, & Laney) to see Fiddler on the Roof at the Monticello Opera House today. This was Rachel's first live performance out of church performances, and even though it was rather long, we all had a good time. I had never heard the story before, so it was a nice surprise to hear the story line. I didn't realize what I was getting in to, but it was a great play!

A Tidbit

A close friend of mine gave me this verse at the most perfect time in our lives (isn't that how God works?). The Corley Clan always has a great time, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's always that easy!

Romans 5: 1 - 5

Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Also through Him, we have obtained access by faith into His grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope does not disappoint, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.