Aba!

Go ahead. Call me a slacker.
I haven't updated our blog or taken very many pictures of January's adventures, but then again...if I had documented January's happenings they would have included the following events I'd just as soon forget:
1. Emma getting the stomach flu...twice, and giving it to me, Granny and her Aunt Carly.
2. Emma cutting her top teeth. I now think the homeopathic teething tablets are "cute"...but understand why they make Orajel.
3. An unexpected trip to the ER after Emma fell off her changing table. I'm still working out my guilt issues on this one.

But there are several things worth mentioning:
1. Emma's chattering more than ever, saying Mama, Pup-pup, Baby, Button, Ok, Hi, and her latest favorite...ABA. We're not really sure what it means but it's obviously really important as she uses it for just about everything.
2. Her favorite thing to do these days is to walk around the house (and driveway...and neighborhood) in her walker. I love how much I can get done and she loves the independence. She especially loves to gather things that are her height around the house and bring them to me, including tea towels, candles, cups, bowls, bags, etc. So helpful.
3. I've never seen such a little kid eat so much. Last night for dinner she ate green beans, mixed cereal, a half cup of peas, a peach, 3 slices of cheese, 2 big pretzels and cheerios. Where does it all go?
This month she'll be 1! Stay tuned for more...

11 Months

Note: This image has not been doctored in any way. Emma, for the first time on this blog, is not raising the roof.

10 Months

Emma's First Christmas

I felt so blessed this Christmas. 2008 has certainly had its challenges but it was also a year full of incredible memories, including the birth of our sweet Emma Grace. We are blessed by fantastic friends and family, excellent health, and we continue to be amazed by how the Lord continues to remain faithful to our family. We look forward to seeing where he leads us in 2009!

Obligatory first tree pic. A note to our friends in the Northwest - yes, Andrew is in fact wearing sandals. We celebrated Christmas with both families at the Brandes'. All families agreed ahead of time that it would be a low-key Christmas. Apperantly the Grandparents define "low-key" differently than we do, as evidenced by all of Emma's gifts.Merry Christmas from the Hartmans.

A Brandes Christmas Eve tradition - as a kid I always stood at the fireplace with my mom, all dressed up for Christmas Eve, and when my dad came home we'd take a special "Christmas Eve" picture. This year Emma has replace my first dog, Dylanne.

The Brandes'Our First Christmas.

A very special Thank You to our friends and family this Christmas season. We appreciate your generosity and the love and support you give our family.

Loving Us Some Bakersfield

Last weekend we met Jeff and Kirsten for a calorie-laden brunch at Mimi's in Bakersfield. Despite the frightened look on her face, Emma really did enjoy her time - especially the Christmas board book the Kruegers got for her. Thanks again!

Little Swinger

9 Months

Emma turned 9 months this week! As she gets more and more mobile and curious these monthly photo shoots are becoming increasingly difficult.

I just recently noticed emma always has her hands up in pictures. How come nobody told me about this?

Again, the hands.

We have this daily ritual of walking to get the mail and then Emma plays with/eats all the unwanted catalogs and direct mail pieces. The Pottery Barn and Dean and Deluca catalogs were spared, I'm happy to report.

Cait comes to town!

My roommate and dearest friend from Biola came out to visit after spending an adventurous 2 years with the Peace Corps in Zambia, Africa. It was so fun having her here - and she doesn't know it yet but I'm officially starting a campaign to get her to move to So Cal.

I couldn't wait to introduce her to Emma.

Caitlin braved the elements to capture this shot of the Brea fire from the 57 freeway as we were headed to Teri Hopper's wedding.

Andrew and I are so excited for Teri and Jacob. Caitlin and I at the wedding.
We took this picture outside of the Summit House in the Santa Ana winds. It was a crazy place to be while the fires were lighting up the hills around us.

We went out to celebrate my 28th birthday in Laguna Beach - martinis and chocolate souffle at French 75. My favorite part was the live music and the 40-somethings getting their groove on the dance floor.

San Diego

Andrew and I went to San Diego last weekend to celebrate my 28th birthday. Thank you Mimi and Papa for the weekend away!!

We had a picnic lunch overlooking Coronado Island after a relaxing morning downtown.

I'm pretty sure they used a shovel to flip my pancake at this great breakfast restaurant we found called Cafe on Park. Also, didn't I do a great job of hiding my embarrassment that Andrew wanted to take this picture of me?

Ruth came for a week and watched a teething Emma the weekend we were in San Diego. Thank you Mimi!

Happy Halloween!

We came up against a big dilemma this year regarding Halloween. With an 8 month old who goes to bed at 6:45 and with a significant lack of funding, we figured we could do without the costume even though we realized it meant no First Halloween photo opp. But as it turned out Emma's Granny couldn't stand the thought of her granddaughter not having a costume for her first Halloween. And so, as you can see below, our Emma was magically transformed into a Pixie Fairy Princess for the day and we got the ever-important photo opp. we thought we had missed. I know she's only 8 months but I really think she believed she was a princess that day.

It doesn't get much cuter than this...

Emma Month 6,7, and 8

Through the magic of the internet, we will now age Emma from 6 to 8 months...

The Latest in the Hartman Household...

Ok, so this last month has been a little nutty. Emma's first TWO teeth came in and we learned why people make such a big deal out of teething. Also, this was a big week - we added avocado and cheerios to Emma's diet! I remember the days when I used to wonder why parents were so excited about these kinds of milestones but here we are...
In the midst of what is has proven to be a seemingly unstable and crazy season, we feel so blessed by Emma and love our growing relationship with her.

Our friend Jordan's Rockband Birthday Party.

Emma loving her Aunt Carly and Uncle Mattie.

Matt and Carly had us over for an incredible fall picnic. We played Sequence on their lawn and Emma particularly enjoyed the game...well, gnawing on the cards and banging the tokens actually.

Andrew likes to make sure to remind Emma that she can't use the "Daddy didn't love me card" down the road...

The 5 of us at Matt and Carly's.

Our Little Girl's Growing Up!

Our First Family Vacation

Last week was our very first family vacation to Washington and Canada. We took off for 10 incredible days with Andrew's family and some much-needed time for just the two of us. We were busy - Andrew's 10 year high school reunion (he was President so guess who planned it), lots of time with family and old friends, time away in Victoria, and Andrew's cousin's wedding on one of the San Juan Islands. Emma did great despite spending 10 days in 5 different places. She was a trooper!

This is the "beach" where Andrew grew up. A little different than my days growing up on the sand in Malibu.
Emma LOVED all the toys her Mimi got for her to play with at her house. This was one of many.
Okay, this is my favorite picture so far and I know there will come a day when she hates that we captured this picture of her right after she got rather messy (I won't get into the details...) and we had to strip her down to just her shoes.
Andrew, Emma and I with Andrew's close high school friend Chad and his fiance, Julia. We wish they'd move to Southern California.
Andrew's friend from high school, Josh, and his wife and their son who is several months older than Emma and head-butts anyone who attempts to give him a high five.

Our little family in Victoria. We had a few days away together and then Mimi and Papa brought Emma up for several more days. We were pretty excited to see her. Okay, more like desperate.

Our Family is a Rock Band

We spent Wednesday night playing Rock Band with our friends Jordan and Courtney. Seriously... this game is awesome.

Courtney on drums, Kelly ripping it up on her ax, and me making a mockery of a Fallout Boy Song. We have no tour plans as of yet, but we'll keep you posted.


Emma bringing it down for a slow jam. Such passion for a 5 month old.

5 Months

Bummer...

Of all the times for our digital camera to act up! In light of the fact that our camera isn't working these days I thought I would post a few pics from this last month so you don't completely write off our blog as being totally out of date and irrelevant. And so we begin...So happy!!

Emma's first day at the pool. I think we probably took maybe 25 pictures and she was in the pool for about 5 and 1/2 minutes.

Contrary to what her face might indicate, Emma really did enjoy her time in the pool. She's quite a swimmer!!

Andrew's parents were in town for July 4th and Andrew ran a 5K that day with Kyle. We ate breakfast at The Filling Station (our new favorite) after the run so Andrew and Kyle could fill up on protein and carbs.

Little Giggler

We're Proud Parents... Deal with it.

We were looking for a good reason to post and, frankly, we've got nothing. So without further ado, here's some unadulterated Emma Grace loving:

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Exhibit A: Come on. How am I supposed to deny this face? Exhibit A is also further reinforcement that we don't have a stone cold sandy on our hands. She does actually smile all the time.

Exhibit B: A great shot by our friend (and incredible Aunt!) Carly. I pretty much put Emma in this little dress as often as Kelly will let me get away with it. I delight in this little one.

Exhibit C: Emma is rocking the bumbo. This is seriously a great invention. Emma loves it. We also discovered she loves pictures of people. In this instance, she's staring and smiling at her Momma and Aunt Caitlin. Nevermind that Emma is right in front of the knife block and leaning precariously close to the edge of the counter. We're good parents, we swear.


Exhibit D: Emma and her daddy went for their first run together. Emma's not sure about this whole running thing, though she was kind enough to indulge me as I ran around Quail Hill and made it a point to run past people. I'm kinda sorta proud of her.


Exhibit E: 4 months already. This weekend also marked the 1 year anniversary to the day that the ER doctors told us we were going to lose the baby and Kelly should go home, "relax and have a glass of wine". Emma says "Irvine Regional can bite me."