Visitors!

This weekend, our good friends Brandon and Annie came to visit from Washington, D.C. They came to see us and our other friends, Josh and Kristy. They also came to meet Josh and Kristy's baby, Micah, and see Emily as a toddler. (They hadn't seen her in over a year. Needless to say, she's a little different now). The visit was a lot of fun, with lots of good food, fellowship, and laughter. We played Scattergories, made sand castles, and alternated turns taking care of the kiddos. We remembered why it's so important to hold on to old friendships, and also made new memories. Here are some pictures:

20 Months Old!

Emily,

Another month, and more milestones. This has been the month of random attachments. It started, I think, when we took our family pictures last month.  You did great, and we got some awesome pictures, but almost all of them have "arf" in the background.  Ironically, this small stuffed dog was your dad's when he was little.  You became attached to this recently, and it complements your love of your baby blanket quite nicely.  I think it's absolutely hilarious that you have chosen the same two respective comfort objects that your parents cherished as children.  And I swear it was all on your own; we actually didn't push you to like these things.

Lately though, you've decided to carry around a couple of plastic food items everywhere you go.  Corn and grapes, for whatever reason, amuse you to no end.  They must go together, and you can't find one without searching for the other.  Speaking of foods, Emily, why don't you eat vegetables?  Seriously, the closest you come is hummus, and I'm so worried that you're missing out on essential nutrients that I let you eat hummus until your heart is content (which roughly translates to, well, a LOT of hummus each day).   Also, you are not what I would call a graceful eater.  No, you stuff food in your mouth until you look like a chipmunk, mumble something that sounds like more, and cry when I won't give it to you until you've finished chewing.  It's crazy, child.  Slow down!

You want to do everything by yourself, from buckling your own straps on your booster seat and car seat to walking up and down stairs (with my hand) to brushing your teeth and washing yourself in the bath. You throw tantrums a LOT, but you also listen really well. So, if I tell you it's time to leave the library, you'll cry and say "NO" but then, after a minute or two, you stop and come. It's almost funny, or it would, if it didn't attract so much attention. One final thing, Emily: your dad is a good guy who loves and cares for you every bit as much as I do. So, do you think one day - just one - you could decide to attach yourself to his legs instead of mine? That'd be great. But remember, only one, because although it drives me to the brink of craziness, I'm sure I'd miss it, and you. Love you!

Love, Mom

P.S. - This was also a big month because we found out that you will be gaining a second aunt. Your uncle Jeff got engaged to your soon-to-be aunt Kara, and someday you'll appreciate how cool that is! Congrats Jeff and Kara!

Learning

One of my favorite things as a parent thus far has been watching Emily learn new things, and master new skills. She's so proud of herself, and it's fun to know that every month, she can do things that she couldn't do just a few weeks ago. Today we got out the wooden puzzles again; they hadn't been used much lately. Earlier this summer, Emily could match up the pictures well enough, but couldn't quite ever get the pieces in. Today, not a problem! She not only matched the pictures, but would twist and turn them until it fit right in (or occasionally ask for help if she got too frustrated). She completed six puzzles in under ten minutes while also making all the animal sounds and having the kangaroo hop all over the floor (because I could never think of a noise for him)! It's the small things sometimes, isn't it?

P.S. Yes, Emily is wearing pants and a long sleeved t-shirt because it was 45 degrees when we woke up this morning. In August. Yikes!

Carnival

Emily's friend Reuben came over the other night while their mothers went out to book club together. Thanks to the church down the street, Plymouth Heights CRC, Emily and Reuben enjoyed a special kids carnival. They watched the ducks:

and pet the rabbits.

When they went inside the rabbit pen, Reuben nervously tried to pet one, while Emily frantically tried to climb the gate when a small bunny "attacked" her.

Reuben also got downright giddy about petting the chicks:

After some riding some big wheels, watching the dunk tank, and drawing with chalk:

it was time for the duck pond and a wagon ride home:

The end.

Camping 2009

Last weekend was the second annual Alpha 11 reunion camping trip.  Josh and I drove down to Salt Fork State Park for three nights of camping with Brandon and Peter.  Although we had to endure hot, humid weather and some buckeye fans as neighbors, we still had a great time.   We even learned lessons from last year's stay at Raccoon Creek State Park.  Our first night as we were almost asleep, Brandon sat bolt upright in bed, and announced "guys, they're here!".  He was of course referring to raccoons.  We quickly jumped out of the tent and scared away what must have been one or two raccoons, a big improvement over last year when they stole hot dog buns and marshmallows and then taunted us from the trees while eating them.

Besides besting the coons, we enjoyed Hosak's cave:

excellent food, including fire-grilled pizzas:

large campfires:

trying to take pictures with the camera's timer:


as well as bocce ball, frisbee, swimming, basketball, general camaraderie, and our teams quadrathlon competition (stay tuned for more details on that).

One of the few things we didn't enjoy was Josh getting stung by a bee.  Despite the intense pain, Josh remained upbeat and calm the whole time, confident in the abilities of the two nurses present.  This may have been a mistake, since our specialties are not bee stings, but ICU and pediatric ER.  The treatment plan discussion went something like this:

Josh: Forsooth, a bee has stung my foot!
Eric: Maybe his airway is swelling, let's intubate!
Peter: Look at the size of those veins, I could get a 16 gauge IV in there!
Brandon: Let's put some pancake mix on it!

Having no other supplies at hand, we went with the pancake mix:


Overall, a great time was had by all, and we are already looking forward to next year.

Nineteen Months Old!

Emily,

You turned nineteen months old yesterday, inching your way closer to the day when I'll be able to count your age in years instead of months.  As it is, I somehow thought you were turning twenty months old today, until I looked at our last post and realized my error.  We're having a good summer together as a family.  It's been busy, but at the same time also relaxing and tons of fun.  This month, you spent some time with grandma Ruth, pap pap Barry and aunt Elsa, while your dad and I went to New York City with our good friends Peter and Susan.  It was hard being away from you for almost a week, but it was good for us, I think.  I sure had fun seeing you at the airport waiting for me when we got back!

You've got such a strong personality, Emily, and if I could learn at the rate that you do, I'd be the smartest human on the planet by now.  It seems like every few days you have a new word, a new game, learn a new animal sound, etc.  Your favorite things to do now are watch Elmo videos on youtube, which you request to do at least five times per day and I consent to at least twice, take walks down our street, have a "nack" (snack), carry your "arf" around (stuffed puppy dog), and read any touch and feel book.  You're able to identify me, your dad, and yourself in pictures.  You can identify Grover's feet or Spot's eyes.  The way you say your own name just melts my little heart.  You've also started asking "why" but I'm not certain that you fully understand that you're asking something.  I'll tell you it's time to change your diaper, you'll ask why, I'll tell you because it's dirty, you'll ask why, I'll tell you because you ate too many beans, you'll ask why, and on and on we go.  I think you like saying why because it keeps the conversation going, and I keep talking to you, which is pretty sweet.

You're still as busy as ever.  You don't stay still.  At all.  But, in general, you're pretty happy.  You still like to be wherever we are, and do whatever we're doing.  And you're still most contented whenever everyone in a room is paying attention to you.  But it's so, so easy to get you to smile.  And you've been sleeping like a champ.  I don't want to jinx myself here, but after months and months of fighting naps, there have been more than one occasion where you've looked right at me, said "nigh nigh" and then settled right in to sleep after a quick song and some cuddling.  Let's keep that up, okay?  You are so much happier when you're well rested.  And for the record, that means we all are.

I love you little one.  Thanks for being my sweet little girl.

Love,

Mommy

Eighteen Months Old!

Dear Emily,

Another month has passed us by, and you're hitting another milestone - a year and a half!  You're now as close to being two years old as you were to being a year old.  That's pretty unbelievable!  Your language skills continue to develop at a quick pace.  You've started occasionally asking for things because you think of them, and not just because you see them or I prompt you to say them.  Most frequently the objects of your affection are "yooce" ( juice) and "bay-BE" (your blanket).  The other night, you were so exhausted that you, unprompted, looked at me and said "nigh nigh"?  This hasn't been repeated since, but it's good to know that if you're really, really, REALLY tired you do actually want to sleep.  You just don't get really tired all that often.

Your favorite activities these days are playing in water, and you love the water playground near our home.  It takes you awhile to warm up to the idea, but eventually you are running through the cool mist shrieking with glee and watching the other kids.  You love sand, and the beach, and playing with your bucket and shovel on the beach.  In general, I think summer must be your favorite season.  You also love hearing the door bell ring, and run anxiously to see who is there.  You like giving and receiving kisses and hugs, being tickled and chased, doing puzzles, reading, "petting" the kitty, building towers of blocks, putting on sun tan lotion, throwing balls, and cuddling with your mommy before and after naps.

You also love ice cream, but there was never really any doubt about that.  You would eat pizza and macaroni and cheese for every meal if I would let you.  You also love strawberries, and we had fun going to a farm and picking them this month.  We picked two quarts together, and although you ate more than you put in our baskets, you definitely did some of both.  It was a hot, sticky, wonderful summer day.

Emily, you are a beautiful, vibrant, happy, and strong-willed little girl.  You are learning so much everyday, and it's fun to be on this journey with you.  I am realizing that even though I don't think your baby years will be my favorite of the ones we'll spend together, there is something undeniably precious and valuable about this time.  I'm doing my best to savor it all!

Love,

Mommy