Emily's Birthday!!!

Decorations for Emily's b-day!

Emily's birthday cake

Emily's mini cake

Loving the party hats!

Celebrating with Hayley and Tucker

Slurp, I love Mommies Fettuccine Alfredo!

Happy Birthday to you....

Happy Birthday dear Emily...

Blowing out her candles!

Yummy cake!

I think I can put it all in my mouth at once!

Opening gifts

Fisher Price Little People house from Mommy and Brian

Ni' Hao Kai lan ride along from Aunt Chimene and family!

She loves her car so much!!!!!

Happy 3rd Birthday Emily!!!!! Yesterday was her birthday and I tried to make it very special for her. I know that she really doesn't get it all yet, but it was a joy for me to do it for here. I invited my parents and Nana over for dinner. My sister and Jacob came, plus my Aunt Chris came up so she got to celebrate with us too! I decorated the kitchen up with Hello Kitty! I had to make most of the decorations myself because no one had HK stuff besides plates. It turned out really cute, if I do say so myself. I made shrimp and chicken fettuccine Alfredo for dinner with a Caesar salad and cake and ice cream for dessert. Emily liked mommy's dinner, she asked for 3 helpings of fettuccine and still wanted more! My girl is such a good eater. When it came time to open presents she went right at it, ripping the packages open one by one. Amazing how smart she is! Emily got clothes from Grandma,Grandpa, and Aunt Chimene and pj's too! She also got a new book and a Ni' Hao Kai lan ride on toy. She loves that so much, thanks for the great gift Aunt Chimene!!!! Mommy and Brian got her some pj's and a Fisher Price Little People house. It is so cute, it makes sound too. She had playing with that last night, but made sure that her Kai lan car was right by her too. Emily's first birthday here in the U.S. was a huge success! I am blessed to have such a great family, a wonderful man in my life and precious daughter. Happy 3rd Birthday Sweetie!

Carving pumpkins!

Mommy and Emily

Emily carving her pumpkin!

Finally getting her hands dirty!

Emily and Brian

Hayley, Mom and Emily

The birthday girl!!!!

This evening we went out for Chinese for the first time with Emily and the owner of the restaurant came over and talked to us and one of the waitress' cooed over Emily too. Emily enjoyed the egg roll, some fried rice and some of mommies Chow Fun noodles. When we got home we carved our pumpkins for Halloween. It was so much fun to watch Emily. She wasn't really keen on the idea of having to scoop out the pumpkin. She didn't want to get her hands messy, that's my girl. She likes to stay clean. She eventually got into the fun and helped picked the seeds out so that we could roast them later. She helped me saw out the face on her pumpkin. It was really cute when we were finished to see her looking inside the pumpkins at the lights in the bottom. She was fascinated by the light changing colors. We had a great time for our first year of carving pumpkins.

Tomorrow is Emily's 3rd birthday, but her 1st birthday here in the U.S. I am planning on having the family over dinner with cake and ice cream too. Today was Hayley's 6th birthday! Hayley is my boxer. We had a little celebration for her today, but she and Tucker celebrated a little more without us. While we were at dinner they ate the 2 banana nut bread loaves that I had just baked yesterday and we only had 2 pieces out of the one. So they had their party too! Crazy dogs, Brian found Saran wrap on the floor and asked what it was from and I looked at the counter and yep...both loaves GONE! I wasn't even mad, but knew something was up when I saw Hayley. She definitely knows when she has done something wrong. She was cowering and shaking even after I petted her and told her I wasn't upset. I thought it was kind of funny actually. She just wanted a little cake for her birthday. Plus, Tucker was the one who counter surfed because Hayley is too short to get where I had the bread. What a fun filled day at the Kozlowski house. Can't wait for tomorrow for Emily's birthday!

First doctor visit today!

Today was Emily's first doctors appointment. Of course, Mommy forgot everything that she was supposed to bring except for the urine sample. Mommy was not feeling well last night and today, touch of the flu. Not fun at all, thanks to Brian for putting Emily to bed yesterday while Mommy was busy being sick. Unfortunately, I didn't get much sleep so I wasn't very prepared this morning. The visit went well. Dr. Claussen said that she is the size of an 18 month old and I have to agree. She is in 1% and 2% of kids her age on the charts...who needs those charts anyway! She is perfect just as she is. She was checked over head to toe and then it was time for her to be re-immunized. Plus another TB test, poor girl! My baby had about 8 shots today and her little legs are so sore now after her nap. She is having a hard time stepping up. I tried to take her outside and move so the soreness wouldn't be so bad, but she just wanted to swing. Poor thing, she is just laying on the floor and actually watching Max & Ruby right now. I feel so bad for her, it took everything I had not to cry with her when she was getting her shots. My brave little girl. How pathetic, she just tried to get up and she is so sore, my heart is breaking for her. I wish I felt better too, I just don't want to get her sick. Now we are waiting for a phone call from the specialist so we can get her palate looked at and start that whole process. Hoping my little one isn't as sore tomorrow, poor peanut=(

Fall

Emily and Hayley

Emily playing in the leaves.

Mommy and Emily

Mommy being silly playing in the leaves.

Mommy, Emily and Brian

We tried to get the whole gang in the pic..Tucker James wasn't cooperating!

I love Fall! It is my favorite time of year with all the beautiful trees changing colors and cool crisp days. Today was a great day. It is Sweetest Day and I my sweetie and I celebrated last night by going out for dinner together. Emily had her first sleep over at Grandpa and Grandma's house. She cried when I dropped her off and it broke my heart. I had to call after dinner and check on her and was told she was doing fine and ate a big dinner too. She's always a good eater anyways. Brian and I had the morning to do some grocery shopping and we got her a new coat and snow pants for this winter. It was nice to go shopping and not have to rush home for nap time. We picked her up later in the afternoon and played cards with Grandpa while she napped. I think she was happy to see her mommy today! I was really happy to see her too! When we got home we raked some leaves and played in them. I haven't had so much fun raking and playing in the leaves since I was a kid. Emily wasn't really sure about them, but we took pictures and then we took her for a ride in her wagon. Thanks Kate for the wagon, she loves it!!!! It was a perfect fall day with my two sweeties. I couldn't have asked for anything better.

New Camera!

Today I decided it was time to get a new camera. My camera has not been working very well. I took my dad's camera to China, thanks Dad! The flash hasn't been working right on mine. So Brian, Emily and I went to Best Buy and I purchased a new Canon camera. I like it a lot! We started playing with it as soon as we got home. I have been reading the manual all afternoon to see what it can do and it is pretty cool. It amazes me the technology they have in cameras today. So much better than the old point and shoot and hope it turns out. We went to watch Jacob's football game today too. Of course, I took my new camera and let our photographer Austin take the pics! He did a great job taking pics of Jacob playing. So I thought I would share some of the pics with the new camera.

Emily is getting used to the dogs more and more each day. She is still a little upset when she wakes up and they are in her room with me, but other than that she is loving them more and more each day. It is cute to watch them getting to know each

other. Emily does love the kitty cats! She lays on poor Chase and squeezes his head and he tries to get away from her...poor kitties!

Life is good and we are in a pretty good routine so far. I have had some challenging days, but for the most part it has been pretty good. It has just been a huge change for all of us and I have gotten a little stressed out, well a lot at times. I am learning to relax and go with the flow. Emily is a joy and even when she is a big stinker, I still love her! We are both learning how to be mom and daughter together. It isn't always easy, but I wouldn't trade it for the world, especially in the morning when I get her out of bed and she reaches for me and gives me a big hug. That is the best ever! I love being a mom! I thank God everyday for the precious gift he has given me.