Kiss, Kiss!

Emma started giving us kisses a while back...the kind where she just has her mouth open and darts at your face. It is heartwarming. Lately, she has been getting better at it. Now, if she's awake, she gives one to Josh before he leaves for work in the morning. Cute! This weekend I reached a record topper though. She has really been wanting to use regular cups instead of sippy cups. I guess she feels like she should be beyond that now or something. So on Saturday after lunch I took one of her new ladybug sippy cups and took the lid off, put a little water in it, and handed it to her. I sit here and I can't even think of a way to describe the excitement that came over that little girl's face when I placed it in her hands. I can say this though - she was so excited and grateful that she looked up at me and said "Mama Mama" and then leaned up her head and puckered her lips together. She was giving me a kiss! I leaned down and kissed her. Probably one of the sweetest moments we've had! She proceeded to drink out of the cup and each time she would dump some down her bib. But she wasn't scared or wanting to stop. Quite the opposite. She was ready to take on the new challenge. She got better and better with each sip. In between each sip she had that same joy, excitement and love in her eyes...and EACH time she gave me a kiss! How sweet is that? I got a record seven kisses in a row from that little girl. Needless to say, she'll be getting water out of that cup today too!

Although Emma has been extra sweet and loving, she does have a little bit of a runny nose. It started Friday but I have seen improvement each day. Since she hasn't felt 100%, she hasn't been eating as much the past few days either. She also doesn't eat as fast since her nosed is stopped up. By the end of the three meals, I feel like we sit in the kitchen at her highchair for a large portion of the day. On Sunday after church we went to brunch and Emma had pancakes for the first time. She didn't hate them! haha She actually loved them...she also loved the bites of omelet that Josh gave her and the potatoes that I gave her. I'm not sure if she was just extra hungry because we were a little past her schedule because of church or if she was feeling better, but she ate great yesterday! She is getting better each day, but I'm praying for this little cold to be over quickly!

Speaking of prayer, I want to update you on a few prayer requests I mentioned previously. Our preacher had a stroke on Christmas Eve and he has been in the hospital and now in rehab. He is doing better, but he has a very long way to go. His doctors say that he is their miracle patient because of the tremendous progress he has accomplished thus far. Also, my friend Leah had her third detached retina on Christmas Eve and she has since had surgery on it. She has been pretty uncomfortable and she is going back to the doctor on Tuesday for a check up. He gave her some drops for the pain and they seem to be helping. I ask that you continue your prayers for both of them. I have one extra prayer request today. Our friends, Jaime and John, are starting IVF this month. Please pray this goes smoothly and that Jaime gets pregnant the first try!

Here are a few pictures of Emma from this weekend:

This is her new stance


Having fun on her airplane