Birthday fun

It has been light years (or at least it has seemed like that) since I last wrote, and I would like to apologize for that. I have been practically chain to my bed with some kind of virus. In fact, my whole family got it, and we kept flipping coins to see who felt worse....

Emma was actually so bad we had to go to the ER at one time. Luckily she's all better now thanks to the antibiotic she got. My husband and I are finally feeling better as well, so things are looking up for the Vukovcan family :0). My husband and I both felt so relieved to be over this virus thing that we went to Chili's tonight to celebrate. Do you know they have that $20 thing where you can get one appetizer, two main courses, and one dessert for only 20 bucks?!!! Let me tell you it is a steal. And, you always eat too much. Of course when you are there you just have to have the Chocolate Molten Lava Cake for dessert....What visit to Chili's would be complete without that?! Anyway, here's a photo of Emma waiting so nicely for her food to arrive (all the way from my diaper bag...)

Isn't she just the cutest thing you have ever seen? My baby, I am so proud of her. Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you that I entered her in to the Gap Challenge Casting Call. I am convinced that Emma will win it hands down because she is simply the cutest babe ever, and she would make a perfect Baby Gap Model. It is a fun thing to participate in, and if it doesn't happen this time, I am confident it will someday soon. I so confident in this that I am thinking about taking her to a model agency. After all, she's already a model in our lives. We are clicking away with our camera like mad people, so she's got already got the experience. It would be a super fun thing to try out for sure. Of course she will be the leading model for Tittut Baby too, that is a given.

Oh, I can't wait to get started with Tittut Baby. I am like a kid waiting for Christmas eve jumping up and down on the bed not being able to contain herself. I just want to be there - already started and up and running. Wouldn't that be something? Me and Emma take on the world...

What sparked my excitement today was a trip to Gymboree. That store is fabulous. It is as simple as that. Monkey pants, monkey jumpers, cutest holiday dresses, and you name it. I wanted to buy the whole store. Since money has been running low lately, I had to contain myself and keep to the sales corner, but still...And that's what I want Tittut Baby to be too. Filled with stuff that you can't keep your hands off. You just want to buy and buy and buy (can you tell I am a shopaholic just waiting to be set free...) Right now there is nothing new with Tittut Baby, though. My wonderful cousin is still working on the logo and her beautiful cards, my friend Dani has not started with the website yet, and I haven't ordered any products yet. I am thinking 2010 will be a good year to get started.

Speaking of Tittut Baby and babies. Today Emma, my husband and I went to our first play date birthday party. One of Emma's newest friends, Calista, turned one today. All the girls from Emma's playgroup were there, so it was like a giant playgroup only with a lot of cookies and cake. Joey was there too, and this time my husband got to see Emma and Joey interact first hand. They were cute as ever. Emma looked so cute in her new monkey dress (yes, it's from Gymboree...) and polka dot tights. She has gotten so many friends by now, and it is so nice to see them play with each other.

My husband and I got the laugh of our lives there when one two-year-old girl came into the room with two cookies in her hand. She sat down next to Emma, but boy, did she regret that or what. Emma spotted the cookies in the little girls hand and took off like a canon. She crawled over to the girl faster than a speeding bullet. She might have gotten away with it if she hadn't crawled with her mouth fully open as if the cookie was already in her mouth. The little girl saw Emma's batman moves and quickly went over to her dad to take cover while holding the cookies high above her head so Emma couldn't reach them. Emma, being my daughter and all, didn't let herself get discouraged, so she took after her still with her mouth wide open. The little girl realized she was in trouble and ran out of the the room still holding the cookies high above her head while screaming "Nooooo!!! Noooo!!!" Yeah, it was a funny moment, and I am still laughing about it. The girl's dad looked at Emma after his daughter left and said: "She is persistent, isn't she?" And Neno and I could only nod our heads in agreement....

All the dads chose to watch sports while the moms were playing with the kids....or rather preventing them from fighting with each other. Emma gave me cuddles every now and then, and as a mom, you take the kisses and hugs when you get them. You never know when the next time will be....

Since my camera just quit on me again, I think it is time to go for now. Over all the week has been great with an even greater ending. Emma is in a phase right now where she is protesting a lot and wants to bite me as soon as I am trying to correct her for misbehaving. Today was a great reminder that she, in spite of having a terrible temperament, is the love of my life and that I feel like the luckiest woman on the planet for having her in my life. Sure, we fight and don't see eye to eye on all things, but no matter how mad she might be, she always end up hugging and kissing me later. Because I am her mom after all, and she might not agree with me on everything, but I am the one who provide her with safety, love, and room to explore the world. And even Emma, who is only 9 months old, knows that that is what really matters in the end....

Until next time....