Age 2

at 25 months she is already pedaling her tricycle.... steering it and going up and down the sidewalk. She says her ABC's and can count to 20 now... at 27 months. She has been dressing herself since age 1 1/2 and she has been putting on her shoes herself for longer than that. She is catching on to most all things way early. I hope it is a sign that she will do well in school. She has been day time potty trained for 5 months now, and can sleep through a 3 hour nap without going. Over night... longer than 3 hours she doesnt do so well... but not expected to. We have been having a hard time getting her to go to sleep at night, so we put a third nightlight in her room and are now leaving the hall light on. Tonight I set her up with her lantern and some books and she is back there pretending to read outloud to herself. I hope this works as it has been taking two hours for her to fall asleep. So we are stopping the rocking and letting her read and hopefully fall asleep on her own. fingers crossed because I am exhausted! She is sweeter than ever. Hugging and kissing us all the time. Telling us she misses us and loves us : I love u Daddy"! I walked in from work tonight and she hugged me and said " I missed you Mommy"! Priceless! Okay... going to stop typing. But trying to log her achievements more!

Emmy Lu!

As always... I get frustrated I am not blogging more often as she does so many new things all of the time! So I best start remembering some of them and get them documented. She really has grown up since becoming 2 yrs old. She went from not talking well.... enough for me to worry a tad. To now talking really well. I think in no time, she will be holding full conversations with us. It's amazing how much she has learned in the last two months. The past two months she has started saying 3 to 4 word sentences... fully dressing herself. She is now fully potty trained during the day, and as of the past month, she can sing her ABC's, and count to 12! That is amazing at this age. She is like a dry sponge soaking up everything in its path! She is sooo eager to learn and normally learns it once and never forgets! She is doing things 3 and 4 yr olds are just learning! She loves her Mommy n Daddy and is always hugging and kissing us all of the time. She is sweet... and very caring. She rocks her babydoll, sings to her, reads her books and puts her to bed. She will come out of the bedroom and say "shhh!" to us over and over so we do not wake up baby! Daddy taught her to ride her tricycle in the past 2-3 weeks and she picked up pedaling and steering quite fast. She is a smart little girl, and I hope that continues through her life of being in school. Hope she is always eager to learn and be the best that she can be! We have changed our way of parenting with her so that it best fits with her strong-willed personality. Daddy went and got books and we have been reading up on it so that we can learn how to parent her better. And using some of the tools in the past two weeks there is less crying, whining and pure meanness! We have learned spanking, yelling is not how to parent a strong willed child. We have learned respect and lots n lots of patience. Afterall, no parent is perfect either, but we can all research and do what is necessarily best for our children. And I am so glad we both do that for her.

Some of her words that I enjoy hearing:
meow: "me mau"
seven: "seben"
"w": "dubadoo"
Lake: "yayck"
Uncle B: "um B" or sometimes "BB"
Braden: "bayden"
Hunter: "unner"
Charlotte: "sarlet"

Sayings:
"NO Daddy" Pointing her finger
"MY Daddy" My Mommy"
NO NO MOMMY!
"1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10"
Favorite song is "row row row ur boat".
Favorite book for Halloween is " shake dem bones now hip hop halloween BAAALLLLLL" scoobedooowah....yeah!"
Barney is her favorite TV show.
She sings, row row row ur boat, u r my sunshine, wheels on the bus, twinkle little star, rocka by baby,moon moon moon, humptydumpty.
She has also really gotten into coloring lately and is doing well in school with that. She is very social. She loves playing with other kids and always has. Seems to be happy ALL of the time. Always smiling! Loves posing for the camera.

As I always say... I will try to blog things as they come.. but I know I have really missed out on blogging a lot of things she has done or said. :o( always happens outta the blue. Another thing I want to get on tape is her singing. She LOVES to sing songs. Everynight we read three books, pray and sing songs while rocking. She is growing up too fast!

Tummy Mommy

Well, for prob. the 4th time, Katherine and Moe have broken up. As she told me, due to DWI and other charges she didnt tell me about. Because of this she got evicted from their apartment and again had to move the kiddos back in with her Mom. Along with documenting Emmy, I am also every now in then documenting her Tummy Mommy because I know she will be curious in knowing about her life as well and not just hers. Katherine still just doesnt have her feet on the ground, how could she... she is 22 with a 7 yr old and a 5 yr old. Too young to have to deal with growing up that fast. But she has made due with it and I believe is a good Mom. But of course I am not there to really know for sure. I can only imagine all the things that she doesnt tell me. For that I almost do not want to know. I am just happy she is away from Moe. He will never change. He has proven that time and time again. Abusive, verbally and physically is NOT a good environment for those kids. And I am so glad Emmy isnt around that. We pray she pulls herself together and becomes the outstanding young women that we know she can be. Sometimes when people do not even know better, they just don't know what strive for. All we can do is tell her how smart and how much potential she really has. She told me she is now dating a 43 yr old.! UGH! WAYYYY tooo old for her. But I have no control over that. She is such a sweet person, but that is the side I know. I think there is more personality in her,, and a wild side she never shows us. And that is fine. I have been there done that. Maybe even there is a dark side to her. But I do not want to know that. I like knowing the sweet Katherine that I wish was my daughter as well. I love her unconditionally and only wish the very best for her! We love you Katherine! ALL OF US!

Blogging

I wait entirely too long to post on here! I am so mad about it because I want to make sure that I am posting all of her accomplishments, and funny things she says. Her uncle B is going through a rough time. His wife is leaving him for another man... and it has been rough. But he is stronger now. I was upset. VERY! But I have since calmed down and just want what is best for him. Seeing him now he already seems happier.... just like he didnt know he had been unhappy for so long, he doesnt know he is happy yet. At least not how I can see it from the outside looking in. He wrecked his car. UGH... I cannot wait until we can look back on this and laugh. Emmy loves her Uncle B! SOOOO SWEET!
Anyway, Emmy has been a hoot. The potty training is going so well... and she is starting to talk more and more... and I am afraid she is going to be a chatty cathy... LOL! LOVE IT! She is such a girly girl! LOVES playing pretend with her doll house. SOOOO cute. "Mommy pay" "MMM.. Pay Mommy" This is how she says Wanna play mommy. She will say "whass dat" to everything.. I tell her and she will answer with "OOHHh" She says some funny things!

Also, need to post that Katherine has gotten an apt. with Moe and they seem to be doing good. We met her in Ft Worth. First time in over a year And I let her just hold her and walk around with her. IT was very sweet! I love Katherine... and I hope it always stays that way between us. I know she wishes she could raise Emmy... but I also know it would be too hard for her money wise and because of that whole situation. She is going to counseling which has helped her to be able to see Emmy and to be happy with the whole situation. She seems content! I am glad about that! I want Emmy to have her in her life.... so hopefully we will keep doing these meetings once or twice a year. Emmy seems like the happiest kiddo I know! Always smiling and always playing... FULL OF ENERGY! But she is doing well. Exceling at everything she does. She did gymnastics this past weekend and loved it but was very distracted in the gym! UGH!
She will get there though. She is soo hyper... and full of energy that it almost bursts out of her. WEll... I need to go to bed. I am tired... and need to stop staying up so late.

Katherine

Oh yes, Emmy's tummy Mommy. She is 22 now, and is still in her party mode of course at that age, who wouldnt be. She had to move back in with Izzy and Kasen's Daddy to try to see if they could work it out. Evidently it isnt working out as I have gotten tons of texts from her and a couple of phone calls needing to talk about how bad it has been getting. Evidently he has a drinking problem which leads him to be abusive mentally, and physically.. even though she doesnt tell me the details... I can hear it in her voice that it is probably worse than she is leading on. I remember Felicia telling me that she was covered in bruises on her legs and arms at one point... in which she stated that she bruises easily.... She told me she was going to move out last oct. or Nov... and that she would leave him without him knowing. She has recently gotten back together with Jeremy, her old boyfriend she used to have when her ex was in prison for stealing a car. It was a felony of course. Her baby's daddy doesnt know about him so I have been worrying that he will find out and hurt ber badly. I have offered to help find her donated items as far as furniture for when she does actually move. She called me about 3 weeks ago and said that she finally had enough money saved up to move out, and I told her I would get her some things... but that she had to tell me for sure so that I was holding items in the garage as storage. We do not have the room for that and I dont think David would appreciate that as well. I havent heard from her, although I have sent the newest modeling photo's of Emmy. She loves them... but as I look onto her Facebook page, she is partying and going on with her life. Sometimes I think I almost make her want to be a part of Emmy's life, and I prob. shouldnt force it. I can only imagine how torturous it is for her as she prob. wants to see her but knows it would be too hard on her at the same time. She is letting go more and more as the months go by. I know it hurts her... but as young as she is I think it hurts her when she is alone, or having difficult times... it makes her think of Emmy. She went thru such a rough time with all of that,. and I am sure it has scared her for life. At the same time, drinking with friends and whatever else she does seems to be getting her by in life. Just as I did when I was her age. (drinking that is) But she has two little ones... Kasen 5 and Izzy almost 4. And I am not sure that they live with her. I almost wonder if they live with her Mom full time and she goes over there to visit.... but I am not sure. She did ask me for winter clothes for the kids, and I havent yet sent them. I think I will get summer clothes instead, as the summer seems to last longer.. and they will prob. need them. We still call her Journey to Katherine, as I never wanted to hurt her feelings with that. Emmy fits her more appropriately and Journey seems to remind me of the terrible time Katherine had with that whole situation. Emmalyn is so much more appropriate for my little angel. Today we went shopping and got a few more outfits and a pair of shoes, and some hair accessories. She loves to shop and loves getting new outfits to show off. We went and ate Mexican food and then had frozen yogurt with Nana and Papa. Tonight I did rock her to sleep while rubbing her back, hands and feet, which she loves!!! She is the sweetest little angel on earth! Thank heaven for little girls... thank God for Emmy!

First words...

"Momma", "DaDa" of coarse... then "no" with robust attitude! "were eh go?" "letmedo". "hunter", "braden", "papa", "nana". "I Love", "bird", "bye bye", "hi", "Tanku", "hot", and prob more, as I keep forgetting to write it all down. She mainly has picked up on what we are saying at about 10 - 11 months she was almost fully understanding everything we were saying to her. She more so can point what things are when you ask her... either in books or in the room, or outside. We have been told that she is very advanced for her age. I think she is so determined to do things and to be independant that it is why she is so advanced.

She loves to play with aunt Kristy's daughter Alexa. They hug and kiss and play chase, and dolls and fight and jump and climb all over the place... but the best is when they lay on the bed and giggle. It's sooo cute. Emmy is such a little girly girl. Very sassy and LOVES shoes! She twurls around in her outfits, and was taking her socks off at 15 months and putting them back on. She also can get her shoes on sometimes. She is a very determined little girl. So far she likes everything to be nice and neat... as far as when she puts her toys away. She climbs all over everything, and when she falls, she crys.... but she doesnt learn her lesson... she gets up and does it again and again! She minds Daddy more than me right now, and I think it has something to do with her being home with me all of the time. She is a hugger and kisser. She blows kisses bye bye to everyone. She doesnt meet a stranger. LOVES to play with kids. She smiles all of the time. Very onery, and very sneaky at times. She loves her Nana and Papa.... Papa of coarse is her buddy as long as he carry's her everywhere. She is in a big whining stage, which drives us crazy.... but it comes with having a girl I am sure. She is very dramatic, and always always on the move. She is now close to 19 months and uses her paci.... in which the Dr. told us today to take it away cold turkey.... so we are still debating on which weekend we want to torture ourselves. As of right now she is crying in her bed... wanting to not go to sleep at 10PM! Sometimes she does this but most of the time she goes to bed very well. Her nose is congested, and she had her 18 mo shots today so she is prob. very uncomfortable. Poor baby. David and I were talking today about how lucky we are and blessed we are to be her parents. She is such a joy, and so much fun to have around. She has brightened our whole lives and for that we are forever grateful.

Adoption day, Nov. 5, 2010

Finally, the day was vastly aproaching and I had a lot to do... I got her adoption dress sewn out of her great grandmothers crocheted pillowcase, her shoes matched and were cream in color and crocheted as well. She wore light pink tights and Nana crocheted her headband with a large crocheted hot pink flower on it to match her dress. When we got to the court house, it was cool and the wind was blowing hard. I didnt realize it, but I was very nervous. We had to walk through a screening with the guards and have our purses and wallets checked. At the end of the line Linda handed me a wallet thinking it was davids and I placed it inside of my purse not even looking to make sure it was really his. Later I found that it wasnt his and linda picked up someonelses wallet.. LOL! I then realized I was a nervous wreck. I was shaking, and very out of it. We had a lot of family show up for this special day: NANA & PAPA, UNCLE B AND AUNT JC, COUSIN BRADEN AND HUNTER, GRANDPA BECKY CAME FROM NORTH CAROLINA, AUNT BRANDI CAME FROM CALIFORNIA, POP POP, LINDA, AUNT MELANIE(MOMMY'S BEST FRIEND)flew in from Alabama, PATRICK(DADDY'S BEST FRIEND), GREAT GRANDPA JERRY, AUNT LINDY. We counseled with our attorney Christie, and found out that I would be the one talking as I have been the one to have total contact with emmys tummy mommy, katherine. I really got nervous then. once we got called in, we walked in and sat down with several other cases..; mostly consisting of divorces. so it was kinda tense in there. It was cold, and very quiet. We were the first ones called, thank God... and we stood in front of the judge and I was asked questions by Christie that I was to answer YES to. Then I found out that Christie had another file mixed in with ours. I was astonished and paniced. but didnt know what to think... was all of OUR stuff in there??? whew... finally found out that yes all of Emmy's stuff was inside the file and all was good again. The judge was cold.. never making eye contact... wasnt friendly at all. He went thru all of the paper work finding Daddy's felony that was reduced down to a misdeamenor for excessive speeding on a motorscycle. We started panicing again.... talking about it in front of everyone.. and seemed to not be happy about it. I could feel my knees buckle... and remember shooting a really nasty look at daddy while he was holding Emmy.... I was sooo mad! This could keep us from adopting her. Never mind... he said it was a long time ago and WHEW.... it was a huge relief. We finally got the adoption granted and her name changed from: Journey Katherine Kindred, to Emmalyn Mae Journey Hitchings. It was finally over..... we took a fast picture with the judge... and he commented that this was the only good thing that they ever see in their court room that is fun and good to see happen. We went out of the court room and I balled like a baby! I couldnt stop crying. It was like a load of bricks were lifted off my shoulders... and all of those bad times, trials and tribulations all came to an end at that very moment. I was so happy to be officially Emmy's Mommy... and David to be her Daddy! Daddy hugged me tight for a long time and we both cried!!!! We love you Emmy Mae Journey soooooo much! You are ours as if we created you and gave birth to you ourselves.... nothing will ever take that away from us... and you are now our forever Daughter that we will cherish and never miss one single part of your life forever. We love you Emmy! We LOVE YOU!!!!!! so unconditionally, and soooo forever! I remember when I first laid eyes on you at 4 months old... and I said " that is MY baby... that is OUR baby!!!!! I new from the moment I saw you that you were meant to be with us as your family. I fought hard for you, and it paid off. I got my precious angel and will forever be grateful, loved and a very proud Mommy!

bad mom

I feel terrible I havent blogged in sooo long.... I need to keeps this up to date so I can log all of her accomplishments and funny times we have been having. I will try to reflect back, going back to the adoption day, and days leading up to that date.