Ella & Emma's First Steps

Look out, Mommy and Daddy!  Here we come!  

Ella and Emma started taking just a few steps this weekend within just a couple of days of each other.  They can now each take about 5-6 steps before losing their balance.  Here is a very brief video of some of the first steps we actually caught on video last night.  Bryan would stand them each up, they would take a few steps, fall or sit, then crawl back to him to do it again.  This went on for about 10 minutes.  The first baby is Emma (wearing pink), then Ella (wearing green).  Finally there is a snippet from the traffic jam we now have in our living room thanks to this new found freedom.

We are super excited about this new milestone.  I guess I need to put on my running shoes to keep up with them now.

Junction, TX

A couple of weeks ago, we went to Junction, TX for vacation with Bryan's family.  We had a nice time visiting, resting, and playing in the river.  Ella, Emma, and I flew down there with Norman and Connie (a.k.a. Datt and Memaw), while Bryan drove with his brother Micah.  

Ella (above) and Emma (below) enjoying a Papa San chair

Emma getting to know Lindsay

Ella and Memaw

Ella and Papa

Ella (above) and Emma (below) playing in the tire swing.  This is very fun!!!

Daddy and Ella in the river

Daddy and Emma in the river

The beautiful house we stayed in

South Llano River

Cousins: Annmarie, Price, Ella, and Emma

Ella splashing and crawling.  Emma trying to eat a rock.

The flight home

Memorial Day- 1st Zoo and 1st Swim

We had a marvelous Memorial Day.  On this beautiful day, we spent some quality time as a family.  We had been trying for about a month to go to the zoo, but cool, windy, and rainy weather had kept us from going.  However, this morning was sunny, warm, and calm.  We made it to the zoo around 8:45, and had the zoo all to ourselves.  The only other people there were the zoo keepers.   It was a great visit to the zoo.

Is it nap-time?

We decided to wait around for them to let the monkeys out, because what's a visit to the zoo without seeing the monkeys.  We had to wait for the moat around their enclosure to fill with water before they finally let them out.  But, it sure was fun to watch the monkey parade heading out for breakfast.

Later that evening, we went to Memaw and Datt's house for a cookout and Ella and Emma's 1st time in the pool.  The girls love their baths, so we were expecting them to have fun in the pool as well.  Ella, swimming with Daddy, enjoyed it almost instantly, splashing, smiling, and giggling.  Emma, swimming with Mommy, was a little more reserved.  She whimpered and clung to me until we switched girls.  Once she was with Daddy, Emma started splashing and smiling.  We didn't swim for too long, but the girls really had a good time.

Ella and Daddy

Emma's not so sure about all this water

Emma decided it was kind of fun after all

These are just some other fun pictures.

We LOVE our bath!!

  As soon as Mommy turns on the water, we come crawling as fast as we can, pull up onto the step, and watch the water fill the tub.  We just can't wait to get in that water.

Modeling the new dresses Aunt Clora Ann sent us for our birthday.  Don't we look cute?!?

Ella

Emma

Ella and Emma's 1st Birthday Party

Ella and Emma had a great first birthday.  We had their party on May 23, and what a wonderful event it was.  (Warning: this post is long.  It has 32 pictures.)

I took a couple of  pictures of the girls just waking up in the morning on their birthday.  Here are our precious one year olds.

Ella with her horse in her mouth

Emma with her thumb and horse in her mouth

I baked their birthday cake from scratch and decorated it.  I think it came out pretty good considering this is the first time I have done this.

There were 21 people smushed into our house for the event.  It was so special to have all these people who know and care about our girls help us celebrate their birthday.

Bryan put together a 6 minute long video of the girls' 1st year of life.  It is so sweet!  He did a wonderful job with it.  Unfortunately, the file is too big to post on the blog.  This picture was taken while everyone was watching it.

Grammie and Emma

Ella and Emma were not terribly interested in opening presents.  They kept trying to crawl off.  They just don't get it quite yet, but they will before we know it.  They have enjoyed playing with and wearing their gifts though.  Thank you so much to everyone who blessed us with gifts.  We truly appreciate it.

Ella and her 1st Doll

Emma and her 1st Doll

Then it was time for cake:  

Emma can hardly wait

Ella is also excited

Then they tried it:

What is this stuff on my hand?

What am I supposed to do with this?

Yuck!

Are you sure about this?

Needless to say, they were not too fond of the cake.  They barely touched it, decided they didn't like it, and cried for something more recognizable like puffs. 

Emma is 1

"Oooh, Oooh, Oooh!" Ella's impersonating a monkey

As the party was wrapping up, I came across the party hats that had come with the cups and plates.  I had totally forgotten about them.  So, we thought we would give them a try.  Ella and Emma HATED them.  Instant screams until we took them back off, which we did rather quickly.

Emma, "I don't want to wear this silly hat!!!!"

Ella, "Me either!!  It was so bad, I'll keep crying even though Daddy already took it off."

So, Daddy wore them instead

Playing with a new toy after the party

The last year has been one the the best in our lives.  It's amazing how God can create such wonderful little people and put them in our lives.  Ella and Emma have learned so much this year.  We are excited to see what the future will hold for our precious daughters.  

Thank you so much to all who have helped us during this last year with your prayers, words of encouragement, gifts, and everything else you have done to help make this year go as smoothly as it did.  Thank you for loving and caring for Ella and Emma.

P.S. Thanks Grandy for taking all the pictures at our party.