Emme Pictures!

I promised folks I would post more pictures of Emme, so here they are! The next few are when she was still in the hospital. I love the way babies snuggle!

Emme has long feet and long fingers and toes, too! How cute are those tootsies!

Do you think Barry might just be a wee bit proud of his little girl?

One of Becky's students got her this plush elephant which looks as big as Emme!

Proud Pap! He loves his grandbabies!

Like many babies, Emme's billirubin was elevated, so she had to stay an extra day in the Pediatric unit on blue light therapy. She was oblivious to it all and was a perfect angel.

On Saturday, Emme finally went home. She is such a good baby!

Everyone is still in awe of her head full of black hair! It is so silky soft that cousin Clara said, " It is so soft. I would like to sleep on it!"

On Saturday Sasha and Clara finally met Emme! They just beamed when they got to hold her. I think Emme will have lots of fun with her cousins!

I love this picture of Emme taken just about an hour ago. She is so alert! Already she is getting used to the paparazzi with the cameras flashing .

NEW BABY AND NEW BOOK!

This has been an amazing few days! Tuesday, my baby had a baby! It's hard to believe that my youngest daughter is now a Mom! Baby Emme, my fourth granddaughter and seventh grandchild, arrived Tuesday morning at 9:42 and weighed 8 pounds 9.5 ounces! Her daddy doesn't look proud, does he!

Emerson Rosalie is absolutely precious! Her name is a combination of Barry's middle name (Emerson) and Becky's great-grandmother's middle name (Rosalie).
Emme looks strikingly like Becky's baby picture, but I think she has Barry's lips. She definitely got both parents' long fingers! Maybe she'll be a piano player, or a floutist, or an artist, or . . . whatever she wants to be!
This was the first birth that I wasn't there for moments afterwards, but when I finally got to hold her, it was pure joy! Each new addition to our family is a treasure! She joins quite a crew of cousins who will love her so much!
Just a day later another momentous event for me took place. For the past eight years I have been collecting my students' poetry, short stories, letters, and essays in response to the Holocaust and other 20th century genocides. My goal has been to publish their work. After almost ten years, it finally happened! Tonight we held an author signing/book reception to launch Remembrance and Reflection: Students' Response to Genocide. The following are photos of just a few of the almost 90 writers.
In the background is a quilt made by one of the students as a course project.
Students had so much fun autographing the books for the people who purchased copies. About 100 people attended the reception!
Courtney is a student from this year's class and had a wonderful poem published.
Corey has already graduated and is attending Shippensburg University. It was terrific being able to reconnect with students who have graduated and moved on with their lives.
I am so proud of these students. A big shout-out to the Greencastle-Antrim Education Foundation for a grant to help us get this book published. 100 % of the proceeds from the sale of the books will be donated to the Pennsylvania Holocaust Education Council, which provides materials for teachers in Pennsylvania who teach the lessons of genocide. Anyone who would like to order a copy of the book can purchase it through Amazon.com. Local folks can contact me as I have a few copies on hand.

A Birthday Bash and An Update!

Saturday evening we celebrated Robert Dixon's first birthday. I was so honored to be there for this precious little boy's birth, April 27, 2009. Although he had no clue that this was his special day, it didn't take him long spot the colorful presents!

His mommy and daddy got him this amazing handcrafted wooden train set that they found at State College's Arts Fest last July.
What a serious look! I think he was a bit perplexed at all the fuss as cameras were flashing, capturing special moments.
Dixon and I had a birthday hug just before he was ready to see his cake.
The cake was downright adorable! Trains seem to be a theme and Sesame Street is always colorful and fun for little ones!
While we sang Happy Birthday, Daddy helped Dixon get a good look at his cake and blow out the candle, but look at those hands! They are ready to grab a fistful of cake and they did! Within moments he was up to his wrist in icing!
The best time of his party was eating the cake. He dug in right away and savored each bite.
Dixon definitely was keeping an eye on everyone. No one was going to get a bite of his cake! It was a wonderful party and he is a loved little boy!
Now for my monthly New Year's Goals Update!

1. Books Read List: Since my last update I have read eight more books and they include: Gossamer by Lois Lowry, The Postmistress by Sarah Blake, Push Not The River by James Conroyd Martin, Remarkable Creatures by Tracey Chevalier, Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers, Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris, Shanghai Girls by Lisa See, and Lay That Trumpet In Our Hands by Susan Carol McCarthy. I can honestly say I enjoyed every one of these books. Lay That Trumpet In Our Hands was amazing and I highly recommend it, especially if you like books based on history - in this case the south in the 1950s.

2. Lose 25 pounds: I am happy to report that I have lost 18 pounds so far, getting closer to my goal. I feel so much better and can now wear clothes I haven't worn in almost two years. Yeah!

3. Anniversary Plans: Still haven't done anything about this. Where to go? This summer I hope to make a decision and finalize our destination.

4. Photography: Sometime this summer I would like to explore getting a different camera and learning some new photo techniques. However, as busy as the summer is shaping up to be, I am not confident that this will happen. One can hope!

5. Write: I had such great expectations, but alas, I have not started - yet! The only writing I am getting done is grading essays and working on revising some of my course materials for next school year. I am banking on getting started this summer.

6. Big Apple Trip: It doesn't look like I will get to New York City this summer, However, I am taking my mother to Las Vegas for a week in June! Woo Hoo! She is still in great health so I thought a little mother/daughter time would be fun. I got tickets for the Donny and Marie show at the Flamingo. Can't wait to see who else will be there. Shows and shopping - great fun!

7. Raise money for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation: Don't know if you follow The Apprentice, but Bret Michaels has won two of the team challenges and has raised over $140,000. for diabetes. He has been a Type 1 diabetic since he was six years old. He has had some major health issues recently, so please keep him in your prayers. My goal is to raise $7000.00 this year and so far, our Love Crop raised $1000.00. Hopefully our fall Crop For A Cure (scrapbooking Crop) will put us at our goal.

So, there you have it! I am anxiously awaiting the birth of our seventh grandchild - little Emme. She could arrive any day now. Momma Becky looks ready to pop! We only have a month left of school - lots to do, lots to do! Life is good. Carpe Diem!