All I want for the 4th of July are my two front teeth!

To celebrate the 4th of July, Mommy, Daddy and I drove up to Connecticut to visit Aunt Daniella and Uncle Jeff while they were at her Mommy's house. I was a perfect angel and slept in the car for the entire 3 1/2 hour drive through 4 states.

When we got there we went to the beach to so I could dip my feet in the ocean waves (really it was the Long Island Sound but close enough!) I love when the waves splash on me and I even cried when it started to rain and we had to go!

After the beach we got all dressed up and went to dinner at a great little restaurant and then watched fireworks shot over the water from 5 different towns even though it was only the 3rd of July. I had a hard time paying attention to the fireworks with all the fun people to watch. I was however dressed for the occation thanks to Great Aunt Candy and Peter who sent me the cutest Red, White and Blue outfit from England. Check out my tights!

One the 4th of July we got up early and Daddy ran a 4 on the 4th race with Uncle Jeff. He did really well for his first race ever!

After we all got cleaned up we took a train into New York City. Can you believe this is the first time that Mommy and Daddy have been in the city at the same time? We had a great time walking through midtown and Central Park and visiting FAO Schwartz.

As we were getting to ready to head home Aunt Daniella was holding me. I decided I wanted to chew on her finger. As I was chopping away she told Mommy that she thought she felt something sharp. Sure enough, my first tooth was starting to come through. 9 1/2 months old and I am finally getting teeth. Yippe!

I was a good girl again on the ride home and when we got back Mommy and Daddy let me play with some real fireworks. Such a fun holiday weekend!

Love- Emma

Minnesota in June

This June I got to go with Daddy on a business trip to Minnesota to visit Grandma and Grandpa vG. I got to  do so many fun things and see so many people I love all in one trip.

I started out staying with my Great Aunt Kathy and Great Uncle Erling in "the Cities."

They were so sweet to let us stay with them while Daddy talked to people about chocolate. We even had a pizza making party where I got to see all of Daddy's cousins and their little ones all at one time. Lisa, Jerry , Sarah, Emily, Lynda, Amber, Jason, Olivia, Tyler and Angela all came over to see me. I felt so special!

After Daddy was done working we headed up North to see Grandma and Grandpa. I hadn't seen them since Christmas ( except by Skype ) so it was fabulous to see them in person.

We went to see Great Grandma Marcella- four generations of von Goertz's all together. It was a nice day so we got to play in her garden.

I was learning how to walk when holding onto Mommy's fingers. I also learned how to give kisses ( more like headbuts but it gets the job done.)

I loved playing with Uncle Chris and Auntie Laura while I was in Knife River. They are so much fun!

I got to help cheer on 10,000 people running Grandma's Marathon for the first time. It is a race that goes from Two Harbors to Canal Park in Duluth. I even got to help Grandpa run the clock at the 10K marker!

After the race we got all cleaned up and Grandpa made funny pancakes and all the Widen's ( Auntie Laura's family) came over in Antique cars to have a picnic lunch.

It was such a nice day so we got to spend some quality time with Lake Superior. I LOVED dipping my feet in the water and getting splashed by the waves.

We even took a trip on Miss Maisey, Grandpa's lobster boat. It was such a lovely day and the water was like glass.

Everything was going well until Grandpa decided to show off and gun the engine. So I got to experience my first time paddling into the marina with a mop! It gave me a chance to practice my princess wave. I think I got it down pat!

The next day we celebrated my very first Father's day with my Daddy and his Daddy.

Daddy had to go home early to work but I got to spend some extra time with just Grandma and Grandpa and Mommy. We went to play at the park in Knife River. So much fun!

After all the fun we had, we did have to go home so Grandma and Grandpa drove us down to Minneapolis to the airport. It was so sad to say good-bye but I will be back in August.

Love- Emma

From 8 to 9 months

Did you think I just stopped growing at 8 months? Actually I starting moving so much once I learned to crawl I just haven't had time to sit down to and write. So I thought I would catch you know on what I have been up to these past few months. First here are my stats-

 9 months

• 
  
  18 pounds 5 1/2 oz- 50th percentile
  
  
  
• 
  
  28 1/4 inches -75th percentile
  
  
  

I am slimming out as I move more and more

I started out my month with a trip to Philadelphia to celebrate Memorial Day and Mommy's birthday. We met up with our friends Miss Jeanne, Mr. Jason and my friend Camille at the Philly Zoo (the oldest in the country.) My favorite animals were the giraffes, parrots and the monkeys (basically anything that actually moved!)

After the zoo we all went to dinner at a really cool Italian restuarant and then rested up for a big day taking in the sites of Philadelphia. We got to see Independence Hall ( where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed), the Liberty Bell, City Hall and Daddy's favorite, the home of the original Philly Cheesesteak- Pat's!

All and All it was a great mini vacation. The first of many this summer.

Then I got a visit from Grami and Pop Pop. They were on their way to someplace far far away called Isreal. Mommy said it is where Jesus was from. They decided to visit us on the way there and on the way back. In order to get them to their airplane we had to get them to New York City. This was the first time for Grami, Pop Pop and me to visit "The City" so Mommy arranged a tour on a bus ( touristy but we got to see  the highlights of the Island in just one day.) We saw Central Park, Time Square, the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street and most importantly the Diamond District!

I even had my first pickle at a New York diner. Surprisingly I liked it! I am eating more varied kinds of baby food ( like spinach and lentils) but this was a big departure from Puffs and Mum Mums!

While Grami and Pop Pop were away I worked on a few new skills. I learned how to pull my self up to "cruise" on furniture and I learned how to say MaMa and mean it. I really only say it when I am getting upset and I really want Mommy to pay attention.

When our travelers returned from Isreal we got 10 more days with them. We went to the beautiful Hershey Gardens and saw the butterflies in the Children's Garden.

Pop Pop also picked out a swimming pool for me and went in it with me.So much fun to splash in the backyard!

Such a busy month and I am becoming such a big girl! Love you all!

Emma