Swimming Lessons

Emerson took swimming lessons for two weeks at the Kent City pool this summer. She was much more willing to put her face in the water, put her head under, and more comfortable swimming than she was last year! Miss Sarah was a great teacher :-)

Meeting Cousin Maggie

We traveled to Chicago to meet Emerson's newest cousin Maggie this spring and see big brothers Noah and Koen.  Emmie spent lots of time snuggling with and holding Maggie--good practice for this soon-to-be big sister!

Emerson picked out a stuffed dog to buy for Maggie that is identical to one that she has. She knew she loved hers and thought Maggie would too :-)

Spring Soccer

Emerson played AYSO spring soccer this year for the first time. She was on the U5 team with a few of her buddies and our friends Pedro and Mike as her coaches.  They learned lots of basics at their weekly practices and ended each practice with a little scrimmage against each other or against the parents.  She had lots of fun but says next year she wants to play basketball instead :-)

Ava and Emerson celebrating the end of their season with ice cream!

Preschool

Emerson attended 4 year old preschool this year every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoon with Mrs. Natalie.  She loved it and looked forward to going everyday.  The thing she liked best about school was playing with her friends at recess and inside. She made lots of friends, improved her listening skills, learned lots of new songs, and learned to read!

Above is a picture of her on her first day in September.

Here she is on her last day of preschool in May. She wanted her nails painted and hair curled for her last day :-)

The Graduate!

The belly seems to be growing faster this time around!

Here is a pic of my growing belly around 14 weeks (Feb. 25)

And here is a picture at 25 weeks (May 16)

We're having a boy!

Wow, I have been such a blog slacker :-(

So much has happened since my last blog post way back in June...we enjoyed a wonderful summer, we moved to a new home in the country just before school started, Emmie started preschool and turned 5, and then just after Christmas we found out that we are expecting another baby!

Baby Boy Mayra is due around August 29, 2013. He is a very active little guy already and didn't pose well for his 20 week ultrasound pictures! Here are a few for you anyway:

Spring Family Fun

Again, I am attempting to document a few of the fun things we've done lately--way after the fact, but better late than never :-)  We went with our friends Dan, Tracy, and Jayce to a Grand Rapids Griffins hockey game.  It was Star Wars night, which Emerson and Nick both loved.  She got a red light saber souvenir and got to talk to Princess Leia!  She was all smiles all night long.

 Nick and I took Emerson to the Shrine Circus when it came to town this spring.  When we asked her what she was most excited to see there (thinking she would say "lions" or "elephants") she said "Cotton Candy"!  Then when she sat down in her seat and started eating it, she declared that it felt like dog fur, but it tastes much better :-)

 One Friday afternoon, we discovered that a carnival had come to town. We hopped in the car and headed there for an evening of games, rides, and fair food (mmm....elephant ears)!  The highlight for Emerson was definitely the awesome trampoline in the video below.  Our girl has lots of energy and LOVES to jump!