Emma 11-12 Months

So it's official, we have a full blown toddler on our hands. I didn't get to update Emma's 11 month stats...so here is what our little girl has been up to these past few months:

-Can walk everywhere and no longer crawls

-Loves food, the only thing she doesn't eat is peas

-Can crawl on and off the furniture

-Wears 12-18 Month clothes, size 4 diapers, size 4 shoes

Weighs 21 pounds (50th %) and is 30 1/4 inches (80th %)

Can say several words (mama, dada, ball, Kastor, diaper, baby, apple, cracker, up)

Is still taking 2 naps, but neither are very long (not the best napper)

Loves Elmo

Is not overly impressed with the pool or sprinklers, but loves her bath

HATES having her diaper changed

Chases Lily, Kastor and Kody every where

Loves to swing

Is a Mommy's girl

Goes to bed between 7-7:30, wakes between 7 and 7:30

Gives kisses and waves bye bye

Has 8 teeth with more on the way

Can dance to music

Has super curly hair like her big sis

Loves her big sister

Gives the biggest hugs

Can drink from a sippy cup and straw

Loves to throw all her food of her tray and feed Kastor

Loves being outside and taking walks

Loves chocolate...she is a Prager after all

Has the sweetest smile

Is shy

Loves side walk chalk, riding bikes, and playing "BALL"

Laughs big belly laughs when she is happy

Loves to flip through the pages of books, but will rarely sit long enough to finish one

IS INTO EVERYTHING...I can't turn my back on her for a minute!

Is giving kisses to Kastor and laughing as I write this...

Jeff's Birthday Weekend

For those of you that don't already know, Jeff is participating in a VERY intensive 4 month training to get ready for his deployment this fall. We are 4 weeks into the training and I have fully realized how hard it is going to be to have Jeff gone for 6 months. This current training has him leaving the house by 6 a.m. and getting home between 10 and 11 p.m. EVERY night. He even works on the weekends (albeit, the days are a little shorter). The girls and I are really missing Jeff, but I'm trying to keep the three of us active and busy. Since Jeff doesn't see the girls Monday-Friday because of his long hours, he has managed to sneak away from the training one day a week for an hour to have dinner with us. The girls get so excited when they know Daddy is coming home.
So...this leads me to Jeff's birthday weekend. He was working most of the weekend, but was able to spend some time with us here and there. Saturday afternoon Lily and I made Jeff birthday cupcakes. She was so excited to yell "surprise" and "Happy Birthday Daddy" when he returned home from work. Then Saturday night we had Michelle watch the girls and Jeff and I met Kim and Larry for dinner at a great Sushi Restaurant down on the Virgina Beach boardwalk called, Mahi Mah's. Anyone who knows me, knows I am not a big fan of fish. My lovely husband on the other hand, absolutely loves it. Sushi is his favorite!! However, you'll see by the pictures I tried a few different rolls and actually enjoyed them! Our entire dinner, drinks and company were excellent. Jeff and Larry even made friends with the chef, Otto. After dinner we walked on the boardwalk and just talked. It was a great evening.
On Sunday the weather hit 90! It was SO hot and humid. Jeff was able to stay home until noon, so he played in the pool with the girls and we enjoyed lunch on our patio. Although this training is already pushing me to utter exhaustion 24/7, I know this time in Jeff's career is important to him and our country. I am proud of this dedication to his work...I just wish I could hire a Nanny and and a maid! :) Happy 29th Babe....we love you!

May 23rd...Em Turns One!

On Emma's actual birthday we had a great time relaxing at home. Although Daddy had to work a long day, he was able to sneak home for an hour at dinner time so we could celebrate. Emma received all kinds of calls, cards and gifts from her family. Thanks to everyone for thinking of our little girl, she loved talking on the phone to everyone. During the day, the three of us made birthday cookies (Em even helped), played outside and took Kastor for a long walk. We ended the day with dinner with Daddy and presents. We hope you had a wonderful birthday Sweetie. We love you bunches!! Here are the pictures from the day.

Lily's Last Day of Preschool

May 23, 2008:

Lily's first day.................................Lily's last day

Lily's first day meeting her teachers

Her last day with Ms. Lorraine and Ms. Pam. She loved school, especially her teachers!

One Year and Counting...

...until Jeff turns 3o!!

Happy 29th Birthday to my best friend! You are an amazing father and husband. I can't imagine my life with out you. Have a great day... we love and miss you Sweetie!

Emma's 1st Birthday Party

LOTS OF PICTURES...enjoy!



Today we hosted Emma's first birthday party in our backyard. It was the PERFECT weather for an outdoor party. It was a sunny 80 degrees with a light breeze. The party started at 11:30 and at 11:50 we had to wake Emma for fear she may sleep through her entire party. We had about 20 guests and enjoyed sharing our little girl's birthday with so many special friends. We ate pizza from Papa Johns, fruit salad, ladybug cookies (Linda, I had Jeff help me this year), chips and dip and of course cake. The kids played on our new swing set, the trampoline, played ball and blew bubbles They seemed to all have a blast. The day was truly wonderful. Thanks to everyone for coming and making the party such a success. We couldn't have planned a more perfect day for Em.

Here are some of our favorite moments:

The beautiful day

Emma having a blast with her sister and friends

Having my family all together for an entire day

Larry and Kim taking video and pictures so we could enjoy the day

Watching all the kids play on the swing set

Singing Happy Birthday to Emma for the first time

Watching Emma enjoy her very own chocolate cake

Being with great friends

Enjoying my own backyard

Emma smashing cake into Jeff's face

Five.

Happy 5th Birthday to our niece Veronica! We love and miss you bunches Sweetie!

Happy One

Look who turned one today....we love you so much Em!

30.

Happy 30th to my best friend, Melissa!! We've known each other since kindergarten.

I miss you Little M....hope you had a great day!

Mother's Day 2008

This was my first Mother's Day as a Mom of two. Jeff, Lily and Emma did a great job of making me feel loved and appreciated all day. For starters, I was able to sleep in. This is always such a WONDERFUL present to give a Mom!! At 9:30 I came down to a breakfast of blueberry pancakes and eggs...yummy. Then Jeff and the girls gave me some cards and presents. The best present was a scrapbook page that Jeff and Lily made me! I also was spoiled with an IPod Touch (it was a 30th birthday/Mom's Day gift). After breakfast I showered and then we drove over to my girlfriend Erin's house. Jeff offered to watch her two kids, plus our girls so Erin and I could enjoy a fun day of shopping and lunch (Erin's husband was out of town so she was able to get a little break and enjoy the day too). THANKS SO MUCH TO MY WONDERFUL HUSBAND for offering to watch all the kids. Jeff is such a thoughtful husband and Dad! Erin and I enjoyed several hours at the MacArthur Center Mall shopping at all our favorite stores (no kids shopping allowed) and then we savored a quiet lunch at the Nordstrom's cafe. The rest of the evening was spent relaxing at home with Jeff and the girls. Thank you Jeff, Lily and Emma....I had a wonderful, relaxing Mother's Day. I love you!

Little Miss Trouble

NO WONDER OUR DISHWASHER ISN'T WORKING!

Look....

...what I found hopping around in the backyard while I was mowing! What a cute, little guy!

Eco Challenge 2008

On May 3rd Jeff and several of his friends gathered for Eco Challenge 2008 up near Yorktown, Virginia. Most of the guys that participated are our friends from Germany (where the Eco Challenge originated). Matt did a great job putting together the course. I am not sure of all the events they completed, but I know it involved hiking, biking, running, paddling canoes and repelling. It was an all day event and the guys had a blast. They ended their day at a pub and then came back to Matt and Becky's house where all the families enjoyed a bbq. I'll have Jeff try to add some details to my very vague journaling. Any way...here are some pictures Jeff took during the day.

A Mother's Day Picnic and More

On May 2nd Lily and I enjoyed some special time at her school's Mother's Day picnic. We ate lunch on the front lawn with all the other Mom's and Lily gave me some handmade presents from school. It was a wonderful afternoon and a very rare occasion to get time with just Lily. After our picnic lunch we met Daddy and Emma at the beach for our first walk in the sand of the season. It was truly a great day with my family!