Merry Christmas!


Christmas morning...

A Jeep from Aunt Thao, Uncle Brian, Chloe and Peter!


Emerson likes all things electronics this year.


Santa got me the Cars movie, a train set and lollipops!


Reaching in my stocking. See the lollipops in my baby Christmas tree!

Emerson opening her gift.


I got my hands full with the lollipops from Santa.


Emerson got Daddy to help.

Waffles with whip cream and strawberries for Christmas breakfast.


Emerson loves waffles and her new sippy cup.

Christmas Eve


With my Cousin Thomas.


Fascinated by the light on the window sill.


Thomas helped his Grandma with the feast of the the seven fish.


Emerson sparkles with her new earrings.

Group picture take 1.


I'm more interested in my new Thomas the Train DVD.


I'm ready...anyone else?


Thomas making sure Emerson stays put!

Taking a break.


My silly face.


The boys.

With Uncle John.


Group picture in our pjs.


Sometimes we just don't cooperate.


And sometimes we do because Santa knows who's been naughty or nice...

Santa Claus and the Candy Cane Princess


Emerson's 1st ever and last picture with Santa.


Not thrilled about the Candy Cane Princess either.

Afternoon Tea with the Girls


Emerson walking the lobby of the Ritz.


Something is brewing in that big head.


Em and Aunt Chi in front of a beautiful tree.


Aunt Pooh looks so, so, so lovely.

Mommy and Aunt Chi wishing some of those boxes under the tree are for them.


Maybe one day Aunt Pooh will give Em some fashion advice.


Sydney came too!

Fairy Godmother

Aunt Chi was up here for Emerson's birthday. She had birthday pasta dinner on Wednesday. She watched us on Thursday so Mommy and Daddy could go to Daddy's company Christmas party. She even brought over chicken pho. It was so yummy that I kept asking for more noodles. We did some Christmas shopping Friday night. Then we saw her again at the Vietnamese party and brunch. She sure loves me!


Aunt Chi and Emerson 1 year ago.


Emerson and Aunt Chi on Emerson's birthday.


Do you see a trend here?


Me, Emerson and my cousin Thomas - not Thomas the train.


We always have fun when Thomas is around (and Aunt Chi too!)

Emerson's 1st Birthday Brunch

December 14, 2008


Birthday Girl.

Emerson and Uncle John. He gets big hugs because he made Emerson's birthday cakes.


1st birthday cake.


Another view of it. It's so pretty.


Little cake for little Miss Emerson.

Waiting for cake.


Alexander and Hanna are waiting for cake also.


Singing "Happy Birthday".


That's one big cake stand!

I got to blow out the candle on the big cake.


And now it's Sophie's turn, then Hanna, then Anna and then...


Alexander

The finger test.


Good.


The thumb is better.


And the bottle is the best.

Let them eat cake.


Blowing up a balloon.


Aunt Pooh and Emerson.

Anna, Sophie and I helping Emerson with the presents.


And another present to open.


Checking out Emerson's new book.

Talking frog from Hanna.


Emerson is so lucky she has so many helpers.


Activity table from Aunt Shanel and Sydney.

Holiday Festivities

After the Vietnamese party, Emerson and Daddy went to two holiday parties while Mommy and I went to Zoolights at the National Zoo.


Our holiday angel.


It was really cold outside but the lights were beautiful.


Aunt Pooh and I all bundled up.


Hands in our pockets.


Had to eat my Christmas cookie with mittens.

The cookie makes me forget that it's chilly out.

Under the tree with snowflakes.

With Aunt Pooh's nephew, Alex.

Let me explain this exhibit to you. "A Triceratop is a dinosaur...ROAR!"

A boy and his blue tree.


Did someone forget about me?


Still holding on to my cookie.

I got blue sugar on my nose.


Had to visit the donkey for Aunt Pooh.


What's going on behind me?

Nice Llama.


In front of the Cheetah exhibit sponsored by SunTrust.


Mommy, Alex, Aunt Pooh and I ruffling some feathers.

Emerson's Vietnamese Birthday Celebration

December 13, 2008


With our cousin Thomas.

Ba Co preparing the table...


...with food as an offering to Buddha and our ancestors.


Ba Ba and Daddy observing Ba Co saying a prayer for Emerson.

Daddy, Em, Ba Ba (Aunt Chi's Mommy), Ba Co (Great Grandmother), Me, Uncle Minh and Co Ut (Aunt 8/Uncle Minh's Mommy).


Ba Co blessing Emerson (she's a little upset because Mommy took away her bottle).


In the tray ceremony, Emerson picked up a pen.

Tray Ceremony

Emerson got to choose an item from a tray and each item represents something about her future.

Book - Intelligence

Pen - Writer

Comb - Well Groomed

Rice Ball - Prosperity

Mirror - Vanity/Good Looks

We're not sure about the meaning of the Rock, Ruler or Sisscors.

Emerson's 1st Birthday Dinner

December 10, 2008


Emerson anticipating Mamoosh, Mimi, Papa and Cece to come over for birthday pasta dinner.


Mommy showing Emerson the birthday cake she made.


Okay...where's everyone?


Close up of the cake to kill time.


Emerson and Papa having a little face off.

Cece and Emerson.


Mamoosh and Emerson.


Mommy feeding Emerson birthday pasta.


I'm a big boy and I can do it all by myself.

We're trying to figure out how Mommy got sauce all over Em's nose.

Red beard.

Papa putting the finishing touches on the birthday cake.

Freckles?


Emerson is excited for cake.


Happy Birthday to...


Emerson...(did I hear right?)


Birthday girl digging in!

I love birthday cake with big birthday sprinkles.


Emerson really didn't like the cake...

Emerson seeing a wet towel in her future.


It's Mimi with a wet paper towel!


No more frosting on Em's face.


Emerson opening up her present.

Em sharing her toy with me...she's nice like that.


I won't be sharing this present!


More clothes...


Trying to see how many Burchs will fit on the couch.

Happy Birthday to Emerson!

Hey Guys! My baby sister, Emerson, will be 1 in a few hours (12:08 am). I can't stay up late so I thought I'd give her some birthday wishes now. Of course, she'll get more wishes tomorrow when I'm not so sleepy.

It's been a wonderful year with Emerson and I'm so glad that she's my sister. She's really fun to have around and I'm always asking, "Can my sister, Emerson, play with me, Mommy?" She shares all her toys with me and laughs at everything that I laugh at. She lets me blow bubbles on her tummy and dances when I sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

Emerson is also super smart and has great manners. She says "thank you" when someone gives her something. She loves to say "Hi, Daddy" when she sees our Dad. (I think she's a Daddy's girl just like I'm a Mommy's boy.)

Well enough about my sister. I have to go to bed...