My favorite dress and update

When Emily was 1 1/2 my mom made her this purple Easter dress. I think it's my favorite out of all the dresses Emily and Lily have ever had. My junior prom dress was the exact same color, and I just love it. It was also my wedding colors-purple bridesmaid skirts and the main flowers in the boquet. I guess there's a pattern there. I like purple! Emily wore it for two Easters in a row, because she didn't grow very much! This was the 2nd Easter, when she was 2 1/2. So this was Easter Sunday 2007. Since we won't be going to church next Sunday because of conference, I thought I'd have Lily wear it today. So here she is with Daddy, age 1 1/2. I just love the dress!

My Grandpa Reid passed away last month, and so my family was able to get together in Utah for the funeral. My dad came in from Afghanistan. I hadn't seen him since September, and my mom hadn't seen him since Christmas. Here we are picking him up at the airport. Lily remembered my mom and loved being with her. The first time she saw her again she reached up and patted her cheeks and gave her a hug.

Before my family got there I met my good friend Laura and we did the Temple Square thing. We also went to Cafe Rio-YUM! If you can see the picture close enough Lily is clapping, not because she's by the temple, but because she got to stand on that pedestal!

This was after the funeral. John, Steven, Dad, Parker, Mom, Sarah, me and Janica. Not in our birth order! We stayed up at the condo at Solitude and really had a good time. And it was good to remember my Grandpa Reid. My grandma passed away 12 years ago, so I'm happy that they are now together.

Things here are moving along. I'm 35 weeks pregnant now, though I have been asked many times, "Any day right?" "You're close, right?" "Have you ever been this big?" "You look miserable-I want to take you to the hospital right now." "You look ready to pop." "Wow, a whole month?" The comments mostly make me laugh. At least it means he's hopefully healthy! I think I'm close to as big as when I delivered Lily. Way bigger than when I had Em. But I'm not pregnant during the summer, so it hasn't been too bad. I wouldn't mind if he came a little early, though. With both Em and Lily I was induced right before my due date.

Last week Robby went to Oklahoma City to cheer on his BYU Cougars in the NCAA basketball tournament. He had a great time watching them win their first tournament game in 7 years in double overtime, though I don't think he'll be wanting to stay in a Motel 6 again any time soon. We're watching the Duke game now. If Duke loses I win our bracket! Robby has them winning the whole thing. Our first kiss was 9 years ago after the final NCAA game when Duke was in the finals-2001.

Lily is very busy-she learned how to open doors this week, so Robby was VERY nice and went to Target Thursday night to get me door handle child proof things. She won't go to nursery, so we're working on that-I really want her to go before this baby comes! I have some baby sewing projects to finish-I DO NOT sew, so we'll see how this goes, and am going to hopefully catch up on some other things like painting a baby's room and getting it ready! The colors will be BYU blue and white, in case you were wondering! I think that's it!

Lily kissing a dog

Lily loves animals, especially dogs, and will go up to any dog she sees and try to love on it and hug and kiss it. This was a service rescue dog up at Solitude Mountain Resort.

Emily and Lily-The Same/Different

Tonight I was thinking about what ways Em and Lily are the same, and how they're different, so I thought it would be kind of fun to write them down. So, here we go! Most of it I wrote in the present text. Just easier that way.

The Same:
They're both happy! Emily was always so happy, dispite all her challenges. And Lily is the same. Like today-she was in her stroller for 2 hours on a walk and was totally fine. I've had 2 girls with the best attitudes. Though Emily did learn how to throw temper tantrums-right on cue at age 2. And Lily has learned how, too.

They both love the words "Good Job." Emily woudl get so excited and smile and start talking when we'd clap and say "Good Job, Emily, especially after she'd done something big like go on the potty. Lily claps for herself.

Their hair-Lily and Emily's hair is EXACTLY the same color and texture, though Lily's has grown much more evenly then Em's did because she isn't wearing a hearing aid all the time. And they both have these little wavey curls. I love it. They also both like having their hair brushed.

When they sleep at night, they look the same. If Lily sleeps on her side, she looks just like Emily when we go in to check on her. It's so fun. Though most of the time Lily sleeps on her tummy with her bum in the air, or on her back with her hands behind her head, like her daddy.

They both seem to have bad teeth. We haven't taken Lily to the densist, but her bottom teeth don't look too hot.

They both have dimples.

They both have these cute tummys and NO hips.

They both LOVE music. Emily always loved listening to music, dancing, and singing songs, and so does Lily. She signs more whenever we sing or play the piano.

They both love to move. Em was the happiest rolling around on the ground, and Lily just runs from one thing to the next, and loves to be tossed, etc.

They both love their carseat. It's been the same carseat for both of them, and they both have done great in the car. Though Lily gets mad if it's dark and she can't see.

Their favorite breakfast food is scrambled eggs, though Emily liked them with ketchup or salsa, and Lily perfers them plain. They also both like chocolate, cupcakes, and sweet and sour meatballs.

They both like animals, especially dogs. They don't get this from their momma! (I like dogs fine, don't get me wrong). Emily would get big smiles petting a dog, and had no fear if one licked her, and Lily will tackle a dog and hug it if it will let her.

They both love getting into bed with us in the mornings, though Emily would cuddle with us and go back to sleep, and Lily thinks it's a great joke.

Neither one really has cared about the TV.

Different:
Emily LOVED to cuddle-she was the best at it. Lily, not so much, though she'll now give good hugs.

Emily was very much a Daddy's Girl, and Lily switches back and forth between Robby and I.

Emily LOVED bananas, and Lily is impartial at best.

Lily loves the wind and thinks it's funny, and Emily hated it.

Emily had daddy's legs and Lily has mommy's. :-)

Emily could fall asleep anywhere if she wanted to, and Lily has to be in her crib, though she'll sleep a bit in the car if she's really tired.

If you have any more things to share, I'd love to hear them!

Vancouver Olympics

The Olympics! Waiting in line for the bus to take us to Cypress for the Women's Moguls.

Friday, up at the Richmond Ozone. Not nearly the excitement we thought it would be, but the kids had fun.

We had the chance to go home for the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Our adventure started when our flight was 3 hours late, but then we almost missed it because they put us on a different flight without telling us, and then lost our luggage. Luckily Lily and Akaila are the same size, and Janica had brought some maternity clothes for me to borrow. We got there Thursday, Feb. 11, and got our clothes early Saturday morning. Lily and Akaila in their matching Olympic shirts. They became very quick friends and followed eachother around everywhere. I'm going to put a bunch more pictures on Facebook.

At the Richmond Ozone. Lily's wearing my baby hat, since hers was still lost in limbo at that point.

At the Women's Moguls-where the US won their first gold. It was so cold and rainy and wet, but we still had a great time. We stood for over 6 hours though! I was quite proud of myself-being 29 weeks pregnant and being able to stand like that. And Robby stood in line with Sarah for over an hour to get us pizza and hot chocolate. Poor guy. He was NOT dressed for the weather-a sweatshirt and raincoat was all he had on. I had on about 6 layers, and was still cold. But he didn't complain.

Coya, John's wife came with Mady, who we'd never met, from Rexburg. Yeah! And Janica passed out once we were up in Vancouver, so Coya passed Mady off to Grandma and went with me to the Pairs gold medal figure skating event. We made it to our seats 5 minutes before it started. We really had a great time and especially loved the Silver medal chinese couple. And we were glad that we weren't on the train ride home with everyone else where Ryan (who's 6) threw up into a Subway bag that Kacey (his dad) had to hold the entire train ride.

We were able to go and stay in Whistler for a night, and had a great time. That's where, besides the actual events, you could really feel the Olympic spirit. Notice my pins on my scarf? My dad collects Olympic pins and trades them, so I was trying to follow his tradition. I did trade once.

Lily with the mascots. We bought a small one of each. I could tell you the names and history of each one, if you really wanted to know!

Lily loved being with Grandma.

At Whistler. It was such a great vacation. I took over 200 pictures, so facebook is where most of them will be. It sure made me miss the North west!

Emily's experience on Earth

One year ago today Emily passed away. I could write about my thoughts and feelings, but don't really want to. But I thought I'd share again the poem that Robby wrote in the days that followed, that he read at Emily's funeral. I really believe that it describes Emily's life and mission so well, and reading it has brought me a lot of joy and peace over the last year. I hope you can get to know Emily a little bit by reading it, too.

"Emily’s Experience on Earth"

Before I was born and I still lived in Heaven,
Heavenly Father explained how life would be.
He said that it would be full of challenges and trials,
But that I would have a family who loves me.

I would have friends and loved ones who would do all that they could,
To make sure I was joyful and happy.
And when I asked him what my purpose on earth would be,
He smiled, with a tear in his eye, and simply said “You’ll see.”

My life on earth had a difficult start,
I could no longer see nor hear.
But it didn’t take long to understand,
That my parents loved me so dear.

They stayed at the hospital for the first seven weeks,
And had faith that I could breathe on my own.
And eventually the wonderful day came,
They were able to take me home.

I made so many friends along the way,
I was able to learn so many things.
And although I had my share of pain and struggles,
I felt the joy and the love that the Gospel brings.

I have a Mother, who sacrificed everything she could,
Who did her best to keep me healthy and strong.
I have a Father, who provided me safety and peace,
Who’s whistling and roaring helped me as my life moved along.

I have a Sister, who loves and cares for me,
Even though she liked to pull my hair.
Who when the time came for me to die in their arms,
Gave my parents peace with her happy stare.

I have grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins,
Who always treated me as one of their own.
I have classmates, friends, and fellow 18th Chromosome family,
Who reminded me that I’m never alone."

Through all of my challenges and obstacles overcome,
I began to realize my mission.
There would be so many people who's lives I could touch,
even without hearing and vision.

And now I can tell them at the end of my earthly life,
That God has a plan for everyone.
That because of the sacrifice of his son, Jesus Christ,
We can return to him in glory and perfection.

Now I can run and see and hear.
I can talk, and help, and serve.
I can help others know that the Gospel of Christ,
We lead them to the happiness they deserve.

As a final request to all who know me,
as we part, at least for awhile,
That when they think of Emily Hammond,
They share with me a laugh and a smile.

Rocket attack

I don't mean to sound trite, but please continue to pray for my dad. In a later email he said the rocket was actually 13 meters from their facility, and that if it would have happened 1/2 hour earlier their would have been fatalities from their station.

"A rocket apparently aimed at Camp Eggers slammed into a nearby location outside a store 200 meters as the crow flies from our facilities, causing one injury to a store guard but resulting in no other casualties. This was the first rocket I have been close enough to have felt the real dangers of rockets. The concussion was much like a bomb—in fact initially I grabbed the AK-47 and ran out of my room to check on our people—fearing that there might be a coordinated attack underway. The guards met me and asked for Mozhdah—and told her that it was a rocket. I didn’t hear it screaming in—but Fahim heard it from his home (about 700 meters away)—but he knows what they sound like. I heard only the ka-boom. As close as it was, it didn’t cause any glass breakage—so it wasn’t nearly as powerful as the car bomb from before Christmas.

Mozhdah’s response has been very interesting. Because she experienced first-hand many rocket attacks and gunship attacks when she was a small girl (age 5), this didn’t faze her a bit. She said a few minutes ago that she feels much safer here than she did in Vancouver. She said that she has lost several friends to gang-related ancillary violence—friends randomly in the wrong place at the wrong time where her family lives on Main Street near GM Place. She believes it would really be a random, unlikely event for our facility to be struck by a rocket, and I’m sure she’s right.

So when you hear about a rocket explosion in Kabul near Camp Eggers, be at peace—we’re OK."

One year ago

A year ago today was the last day Em had at home. We took her to the doctor in the morning, and he thought she was doing really well, even though she was on oxygen. We came home, I played with the girls-I remember playing on the floor with them moving Em's legs and arms getting her to laugh, and then doing it with Lily and getting her to laugh. That night we had Family Night and sang our favorite songs. And then at the same time the next day we were in the intensive care unit-we went in the middle of the night. If you want to read about all that you can look back to a year ago on the blog, because I'm not going to relive any of it. I try to concentrate on all our positive memories of Emily, and not the negative. So I try not to think about it or talk about it. I just remember today because I remember that it was the day Lily turned 5 months old!