Emma in her red dress

Emma seems to love her red dress as much as her mom does. For different reasons though:) Mom because I love the red color, little bow and it is simply just beautiful. Emma seems to like it because it feels so different and tastes quite good:) Thanks grandma Duka (or as our atlanta friends like to call her Georgia) for buying this for Emma's first christmas and making her look sooooo adorable!

Family on Christmas Eve

After the worship service at our church on Christmas Eve we came home and took some pictures in front of our christmas tree. This was Emma's first Christmas so that made it special. She enjoyed the whole service. On Christmas Eve at Church of the Redeemer we read christmas text from the Bible and sing praise songs. Emma loves music and singing so she enjoyed the whole service. She also loved the worship guide and ate all 4 corners of it. Here are some family photos.

Who needs toys?

Lots of you have been asking me how was the flight back since Emma and I were traveling by ourselves. And like i told most of you- it was great. Emma is such a great traveler. Similar to our way to Croatia, Emma was just a happy and easy going kid. I am not sure is there is something magical about the plane but Emma ate great and took awesome naps during our flight. That allowed me to get some rest myself and always be a step ahead, ready for when she is awake. She was entertaining everybody on the plane with her smile and talking of course. Emma is very active and loves to move (she discovered crawling backwards in croatia) but she was very content just sitting on the seat or in her bassinet playing with the "modern" toys. Her favorite were playing with the headphones. That was an endless source of entertainment for her. Another fav was the little paper box they had little paninis for dinner. Unbelievable how much she loved that box and drooled all over it. The girl next to me ( also traveling with a 7 month old) was amazed at the scene and how much Emma just loved that box. I am not sure but we may have a future panini lover.
Anyway, i am attaching a few pics from the flight back.

And a few more

In order of appearance: Ana (after college roomate), Jasmina holding Emma in her lap (friend from Crusade), my uncle and cousin Stevo, Mateja's best friend and our neighbor Vedrana and her mom, and last but not least my best friend Melita (this is her 2nd appearance on our blog-haha)

Fun with Grandpa

Emma and Grandpa had a special bond from day one. She was not at all confused with who he is or shy to be held by him. I am not sure what is it with my dad but kids just love the guy. Mia is simply crazy for him and i see emma was very fond of him as well. I am sure if we stayed there much longer grandma and mom would not be much fun anymore:)
In the evening, when everybody would leave and before emma would go to sleep, she just loved laying on the couch with grandpa and touching his face, chewing on his nose, pulling his hair (the little hair he still has) and during the day she just had so much fun playing with his watch and looking at his tatoos.

More of Croatian friends

With Bib, Lara & Hana
With my cousin Tiho and his wife Milena and 3 daughters Petra, Iva and Tihana. Mateja and I were Tihana's age when Petra was born. Wow!
With Stipe and his mom Ivana
With Mia's Godmother Anita
Emma with Vedrana (who is expecting a little girl mid January) and Mateja&Mia

Better late then never

With Dunja & teta Paca- life long friends
With college friend Ina
With my aunt
With grandma's friend Marina (little earlier Emma was cracking up at Marina-apparently she find her very funny)
With Mateja in-laws Slava & Drago (proud grandparents of little Mia)


ok I admit. I have been back from Croatia for a week now and still did not post some pictures from our trip.I am a slacker. Or maybe just busy. Anyway here they are.All for your pleasure:)

Visiting family Tounec

Masa holding Emma in her german look:)
Masa, Vlatko and Emma

Emma was fascinated with the little baby.
Big vs. small
Masa and I with our little girls

My friend Masa(Masha) and her husband Vlatko had a little girl Anja beginning of November. She was just 3 weeks old when Emma, our friend Melita and I came to visit. Anja was sleeping our whole visit(couple of hours long). I told Masa to enjoy those times as i remember Emma sleeping all days and now those days are just part of memories:) Emma of course was moving, talking, investigating the whole time. She particularly enjoying being held and talked to by Vlatko. She even pied on herself so we had to take her tights off and leave her in her dress with some socks-people would started thinking she was German with that fashion sense:)
We had a great time. This was my first time to visit Masa in her new condo so it was nice to see it in person and not just on pictures. Thanks Melita for driving me and Emma.
Anyway, CONGRATS new parents!!!!!!

Time in Croatia

Can't believe how time flies. We are heading back tomorrow. There is sadness because our time here is finished and we will not be back for a while, yet there is joy that we can be back with Chris and enjoy our little family together. We have seen so many people in such a short time. It was very busy and almost each night mom and i would be exhausted and falling off our feet but i would often tell Emma that she is a special one to know that so many people have joy in seeing her and how many love her. There is so many children in the world who are abandoned and not cared for and to receive so much love is even though busy just amazing.
With all the people coming in and out of the house Emma developed a cold and we had to go and visit the doctor. She had so much flem that Monday night she had a major case of vomitting. Of course this was her first time doing that and i little bit freakish experience for me but she (like most unpleasant things that hit her) she handle it with such ease. The next day she continued to have a bad caugh and i figured with us traveling later in the week (and also to get the worried grandparents off my back) we went to visit the doctor. Now this is only possible in Croatia, where life is financially hard , but people still live in friendly terms and not just for profit. Mateja called her pediatrician and explained the situation. She allowed us to come and bring Emma, examined her and prescribed her some medicine on Mia's name so we can get them in the pharmacy with no extra chanrge but only co-pay. She also did not even charged mateja co-pay for the visit. She considered it a favor. I immidiately thought of insurance stuff and extremely high prices of medical care in America. We for sure were grateful that Croatia is still a little socialistic
So many people brought so many gifts for emma that we are traveling back with the full 2 bags. I am excited about all the books she gor so we can read in croatian (when she gets a little bit bigger- all she wants to do now is eat the books), CD with music as Emma just loves music and singing and dancing, lots of cute clothes for older days....
I need to run now.Hoping our last day will be spend in peace with Mateja's family and my folks. Like i said earlier there is sadness to leave but joy that we can see Chris again. I know our next trip will be different as emma will be bigger and there will not be nursing and pumping and other little baby tricks, but i learned that I am not doing this kind of trip again without Chris. I may be patetic in a way but we can not do without him.
I guess i'll see you all Atlantans soon!!!!!

With friends

Emma has met lots of new friends in the last week. People have been coming each day excited to meet her finally. She is such a social one and smiles and plays with everyone. You can hear comments like "wow, she is so nice", "look at her she smiles at everyone", " Wow, emma is very active, she looks like she will jump out of your arms"...Mainly impressive comments. I have to say that i have been impressed myself with my little one at how she is handling all the visitors, all the new faces, everyone wanting to hold her...God really did create her accordingly:)
We have enjoyed our first week in Sisak. After first 3 days of adjusting to the new time (again very impressed it took her only 3 days), we are enjoying taking cold walks, going to town, seeing cousins and friends... Here are some pictures of Emma with her uncle, with marija, with melita, neighbor nikolina and teta biba

Two cousins

Here are two cousins together. Mia is 7 months and Emma is 5 months old

Travel pictures

Here are some pictures to show you all how happy emma was during her travels. She enjoyed her nice bed as well. Thank you Lord Jesus for providing that for us!