Trip to the Library & the Park

Peek-A-Boo!

Heading through the tunnel.

Emma & Lucy.

Look at those thighs!

Wrong way on the slide... But I LOVE the sun in this picture!

Everybody loves the swings!

Lucy teaching Emma how to pump her legs on the swings.

Emma thinks Lucy is SO funny! Especially when she does pushups on the swings.

Heading off for a mini-hike.

My "Rock" Stars!

Me & My Girl.


Yesterday Emma wanted to go "bye-bye." When I asked her where she wanted to go, she said "da yai-berry!" So off to to the library we went. As we pulled into the parking lot, Emma recognized Uncle Tim's truck &, when we went inside, we ran into Aunt Jenny, Lucy, and Katie & her friend, which was a great surprise. Emma loves her cousins! So we all visited for a bit and , when Jenny & Katie were leaving, Lucy decided to stay with Emma & I. So we played in the toddler room for a while, checked out the animals, and then went to the playground. But there were too many big kids playing roughly so we left and went to another park. The girls had a great time swinging and hiking around the area. It was a good Saturday afternoon!

On a separate note, I can't believe I'm getting better quality pictures with my cell phone than with my stupid camera!!!

Emma's Halloween 2009 Photos

Magical Abby Cadabby in a ghostly graveyard!

Miss Abby Cadabby petting the wooden kitty. :)

Wanna see my magic wand???

Not sure if Emma was concentrating hard or just sticking out her tongue at the photographer!

Stop taking my picture!!!

With the Halloween border...

Yes, that's my name. Yes, I'm Emma Grace. Now stop taking my picture!!!

Moody Abby Cadabby.

Emma is dressing up as Abby Cadabby (a Sesame Street character) for Halloween this year. These are some pictures I got of her in her costume. They are cute, but my kid was in a mood again and refusing to cooperate. What else is new, right? Ahhh, the temper of a two year old!

Mikayla & TJs Halloween 2009 Photos

Pink Bath!

I got some "Tub Tints" for Emma a while back and figured, after the drama this weekend, it would be a nice treat for her tonight. She has had a rough couple days - sent home from daycare wheezing Friday, up all night on nebulizer, missed a playdate and birthday party Saturday morning, the trip to the pumpkin patch Saturday evening set off more wheezing, and a punch to the face resulting in her first bloody nose this morning at Sunday School (yes, at church!) - whew! That's a lot for a barely 2 year old. So she had fun in the bath this evening and the pink water was a big hit! She was already asking for a blue bath for tomorrow night!

Pumpkin Patch

Mommy & Emma as we got to the pumpkin patch.

Emma STILL loves the (overpriced) pony rides.

Atop the hay castle with Mommy, Auntie Karen, & the cousins.

It takes Emma some time to get her footing in the bounce houses.

Here, she was shooting evil looks at TJ and the other boys who were bouncing more "enthusiastically" than she was comfortable with.


"Fishing" for prizes...

The "prize!" Tah-dah!

Taking a break and getting a ride in the pumpkin wagon.

Emma's selection for the perfect pumpkin.

My favorite shot from the day!

Emma went home sick from daycare on Friday because she was having a lot of breathing problems. Friday night was pretty rough, so we skipped a morning playdate and a birthday party Saturday. After she woke up from her nap Saturday afternoon, she seemed to be feeling quite a bit better and kept asking to go "bye-bye." So we decided to take a quick trip out to the pumpkin patch with Auntie Karen, Uncle Todd, Mikayla, & TJ. This might not have been the best idea as Emma & I both got the sniffles and runny eyes from all the dust and hay and dander, but we still had a good time. Emma really seemed to enjoy herself and loved picking out her own little pumpkin to bring home with us.

Emma's 2nd Year Montage

I finished Emma's 2nd year montage. It covers 13 months through her 2nd birthday and - word of warning for anyone who wants to watch - it ended up being almost an hour long! But there are some cute pics and neat video clips in it so its still worth watching. :) I'm not at all biased! It amazes me how she's changed in the past year... I sure do love this lil girl!


Emma's 2nd Year

Birthday Madness Continues...

So SOME of this MIGHT be my fault for building up Emma's Birthday the past few weeks, but she is apparently not ready to give up the cake... or presents... or undivided attention and doting etc. Here's my proof:

1. On Friday, Emma's actual birthday day, she was chanting "Happy Bird-day" repeatedly. I asked her what she was going to do tomorrow when her birthday day was over. Emma's answer: "No Mommy... Birt-day WEEK!" I didn't know she was even familiar with the term "week," let alone knew that a week signified something longer than a day... My lil smartie pants!

2. Sunday morning I walked into the bedroom and found Emma playing with her new babydoll and bottles. I thought she was singing to the doll, but it might have just been an ode to herself and the wonder that is Emma! :-) The following were Emma's lyrics, quoted verbatim & with all the emphasis she used...

"Happy Birt-day to you...
Happy Birt-day to you...
Happy BIRRRRRRRRTTTT-DAAAAAYYYYY DEAR-EMMA-GRACE-AND-DA-ABBY-CADABBY-CAY-AKE!!!!
Happy Birt-day toooo ME!!!

It was so funny. I wish I had caught it on video because, of course, I have yet to hear her repeat it.

Emma's 2nd Birthday Party

Party time! Emma, waiting to go out in the play area where she...

Tried out the balance beam and

Bounced the biggest balls ever!

Emma & her friends enjoying a round of "Freeze Dancing..."


What now? What now? Emma & friends, waiting for directions...

Emma enjoyed getting a lift from the gymnastics instructors and working on her arm strength by hanging around.

How many kids can fit inside one ring?

Where IS my cake???

Checking out the Abby Cadabby birthday cake.


Making a wish...

Another turn on the trampoline...

The Birthday Girl in her place of honor in the middle of the parachute.


Here, Emma was getting a lift around the yard from her buddy Lucy.

Yesterday was Emma's 2nd Birthday Party. We rented a children's gymnasium in Redlands and invited family and Emma's friends from daycare and our playgroup. We all had a good time. The instructors were great about helping the kids on all the equipment and the little ones all enjoyed hanging from the bars, balancing on the beams, and exhausting themselves on the trampolines. Emma was enamored with her birthday cake and has been talking about it since the party to anyone who will listen. We finished the day with a Birthday Dinner at Tim & Jen's house. And, since it was Emma's birthday, I'll give you one guess as to what we had for dinner... That's right... NOO-NELS!!!! Or, in adult-ese, "Noodles." More specifically, Lasagna, bread, and salad from Alfredo's. Emma loved her noo-nels and we all had a nice time visting. Thanks to all who celebrated with us!