A friend of mine posted a link on Facebook to this HILARIOUS blog post she found! I just had to repost it, because I think it applies to many of us!
Thanks Amy!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Good News & Bad News
The Good News....Emme took her first, official unassisted steps on Saturday! She has been taking one step for a while where she then just falls into whomever she is walking to, but Saturday, she let go of the chair and took 2 steps to Aaron. Right after that, she took 3 steps from Aaron to me! Pops & Brennan got to witness this, along with Mommy, Daddy and Jackson! We were so proud of her and she is proud of herself!
Now to the Bad News....With all of Emme's crazy, kamakazi, no fear climbing, it was only a matter of time until she took a major fall. Friday evening, as I was making dinner, I hear a donk. Whaaaa! I ran to see Emme falling.down.the.stairs. Donk da donk donk. I caught her on the very last step before she hit the bottom. I had forgotten to put up the gate! {Bad Mommy - very bad Mommy!} She let out the smallest of yelps and then was prefectly fine! I, on the other hand, cried for the next 20 minutes! It's a good thing Aaron didn't answer his phone when I called because he would have really been freaked out if he answered the phone to hysterical crying! From what I could tell, she was about 7 or 8 steps up and was tryng to reach for our dog, Leyla, who I remember seeing race down the stairs in a blur during the fall. Emme is one tough cookie and the fall has not discouraged her stair climbing AT ALL! I am now the gate nazi and draw the gate EVERY.TIME we come downstairs! It was so scary!
Now to the Bad News....With all of Emme's crazy, kamakazi, no fear climbing, it was only a matter of time until she took a major fall. Friday evening, as I was making dinner, I hear a donk. Whaaaa! I ran to see Emme falling.down.the.stairs. Donk da donk donk. I caught her on the very last step before she hit the bottom. I had forgotten to put up the gate! {Bad Mommy - very bad Mommy!} She let out the smallest of yelps and then was prefectly fine! I, on the other hand, cried for the next 20 minutes! It's a good thing Aaron didn't answer his phone when I called because he would have really been freaked out if he answered the phone to hysterical crying! From what I could tell, she was about 7 or 8 steps up and was tryng to reach for our dog, Leyla, who I remember seeing race down the stairs in a blur during the fall. Emme is one tough cookie and the fall has not discouraged her stair climbing AT ALL! I am now the gate nazi and draw the gate EVERY.TIME we come downstairs! It was so scary!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Our Climber
Jackson was never much of a climber. Even now he only climbs on appropriate things - jungle gyms, bouncy houses, ladders (sometimes inappropriate), and occasionally over the back of the sofa or chair (always inappropriate), but that's about it. Emme, on the other hand is our climber! She climbs the stairs constantly if I forget to draw the gate, she climbs on furniture, she climbs on toys, she climbs on toys to get on top of furniture. I guess it is no wonder that it took her less than a year to get a goose egg and Jackson went two and a half before he got one. The minute I hear her stir in her bed, I rush to get her. I am so afraid she is going to try & climb out! This girl has NO fear!
This is minor. Usually she is 3 stairs from the
She had knocked this toy over so that she could use it to
This is minor. Usually she is 3 stairs from the top before I catch her.
She had knocked this toy over so that she could use it to stand on while climbing to get a puzzle.
Climbing this toy to get on top of the ottomon.
Climbed up her chair to on top of her little play kitchen
We better step up our health insurance!
Climbing this toy to get on top of the ottomon.
Climbed up her chair to on top of her little play kitchen so that she could get a toy out of the basket.
(And look what she has done to the blinds!)
We better step up our health insurance!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Father's Day
What a difference a year makes....
Last year:
This year:
Sorry for the really bright, grainy picture this year. Don't know what happened!
Emme's 12 Month Well Check
Emme had her 12 month well check last Thursday (6/17/10). She got 3 shots and had to have the routine blood work, which I was blindsided by with Jackson so came with reinforcements for Emme. My aunt, Christie was still in town and Aaron met us there also.
Dr. P was very pleased with Emme's development. He was impressed that she was standing on her own from sitting and that she was walking behind push toys. She is also taking one step towards someone, but then leans too much and falls into us. I think she will be walking within the month. I mentioned that Emme wasn't really pointing as much as Jackson did and he wasn't concerned. Of course, after the appointment we went to the zoo and she pointed up a storm! Emme's current words are mama & dada, but she has also been trying to say Jackson lately. She did it at the zoo a bunch, appropriately enough while watching the orangutans! Ha! Emme is also starting to "talk" on the phone. She will hold my cell phone to her ear or her hand or the remote or even one of Jackson's cars and then start jabbering on. It's really cute!
Eating: Dr. P was glad Emme had been weaned to cow's milk and that she was enjoying it! Dr. P said to ignore her preferences for food and to just put the food infront of her. She'll eat it if she is hungry. He is also not an advocate of sippy cups, but we don't have an option. They use them at school - 14 toddlers with open mouth cups is just not feasible! I also asked Dr. P about Emme's teeth. She has 4 already and 2 coming in, but the top 2 teeth have a large gap and the connective tissue between the lip and the gum comes way down. I just wanted to know if we should start budgeting for braces down the road (once she gets her permanent teeth) - those things are expensive! Dr. P said she may or may not have the gap in her permanent teeth and once the rest of the baby teeth come in, they may even shift over. We'll see. My mom makes fun of me for being concerned about it (well not concerned, but you know).
Stats: Weight: 20 lbs 1 oz (15%)
Height: 28 inches (30%)
Again, we have a thin, shrimpy baby! I hope she starts growing more length wise at least!
Her bloodwork (CBC, iron, lead, etc) all came back normal, but boy was it tough getting there! One phlebotomist poked around on her trying over & over to get blood, all while Aaron is holding her, she is screaming and we are waiting in the waiting room able to hear the whole thing. Jackson was getting a little rambunctious so we decided to take a walk. I could still hear her in the hallway! Finally, when the lady said she was going to try the other arm, Aaron said he wasn't going to let them keep sticking her over & over again. They brought in another lady who got it on the first try in the other arm. Poor pumpkin! Thank the Lord for Aaron - he is the best daddy & husband. He will do whatever I ask him to do for the kids - baths, diaper changes, change crib sheets, hold them down for procedures when I can't bear it! It's been almost a week and so far no reactions to the shots like with Jackson!
Dr. P was very pleased with Emme's development. He was impressed that she was standing on her own from sitting and that she was walking behind push toys. She is also taking one step towards someone, but then leans too much and falls into us. I think she will be walking within the month. I mentioned that Emme wasn't really pointing as much as Jackson did and he wasn't concerned. Of course, after the appointment we went to the zoo and she pointed up a storm! Emme's current words are mama & dada, but she has also been trying to say Jackson lately. She did it at the zoo a bunch, appropriately enough while watching the orangutans! Ha! Emme is also starting to "talk" on the phone. She will hold my cell phone to her ear or her hand or the remote or even one of Jackson's cars and then start jabbering on. It's really cute!
Eating: Dr. P was glad Emme had been weaned to cow's milk and that she was enjoying it! Dr. P said to ignore her preferences for food and to just put the food infront of her. She'll eat it if she is hungry. He is also not an advocate of sippy cups, but we don't have an option. They use them at school - 14 toddlers with open mouth cups is just not feasible! I also asked Dr. P about Emme's teeth. She has 4 already and 2 coming in, but the top 2 teeth have a large gap and the connective tissue between the lip and the gum comes way down. I just wanted to know if we should start budgeting for braces down the road (once she gets her permanent teeth) - those things are expensive! Dr. P said she may or may not have the gap in her permanent teeth and once the rest of the baby teeth come in, they may even shift over. We'll see. My mom makes fun of me for being concerned about it (well not concerned, but you know).
Stats: Weight: 20 lbs 1 oz (15%)
Height: 28 inches (30%)
Again, we have a thin, shrimpy baby! I hope she starts growing more length wise at least!
Her bloodwork (CBC, iron, lead, etc) all came back normal, but boy was it tough getting there! One phlebotomist poked around on her trying over & over to get blood, all while Aaron is holding her, she is screaming and we are waiting in the waiting room able to hear the whole thing. Jackson was getting a little rambunctious so we decided to take a walk. I could still hear her in the hallway! Finally, when the lady said she was going to try the other arm, Aaron said he wasn't going to let them keep sticking her over & over again. They brought in another lady who got it on the first try in the other arm. Poor pumpkin! Thank the Lord for Aaron - he is the best daddy & husband. He will do whatever I ask him to do for the kids - baths, diaper changes, change crib sheets, hold them down for procedures when I can't bear it! It's been almost a week and so far no reactions to the shots like with Jackson!
Friday, June 18, 2010
Swim Lessons
Swim lessons just wrapped for Jackson. He took lessons from a wonderful woman who is a retired kindergarten teacher and has taught swimming for 17 years. He was taking lessons 4 days a week for 2 weeks in a group of 3 - him & 2 little girls. He had to have goggles for the class, so to acclimate him, I first let him wear them while watching Ice Age. They have blue lenses, so when he watched the movie, it turned the dinosaurs all blue. He thought that was cool. Then we moved on to wearing them in the bathtub. I didn't know what to expect with Jackson. I figured he'd be timid at first and then eventually warm up to it. I was a little nervous that I couldn't stay with him - parents could only be present the last 5 mins of class. As a teacher, I knew this was the only way, but as a mom I was nervous. Here's how it went:
Day #1 - terrified, cried the whole time, hated the back float, but didn't cough or sputter when he went under water. Ms. B also said he didn't like holding on to the side and walking around the edge of the pool. She suggested we really talk it up. I figured he was having a little stranger anxiety also. He did great wearing his goggles though! My scientific approach worked!
Day #2 - told me he didn't want to go to swimming lessons - there were alligators in the water. cried the whole time again, but still did well going under. He still hated the back float and noodle float. Cried "my mommy, my mommmmy!" the whole time. ;( Mind you, I am in the front yard on the driveway with the other moms and I can hear this the whole time.
Day #3 - I tell him to walk on the walls like Spiderman and swim like Nemo. Lessons go the same, but does better with the wall walk. I hear screaming from the back yard while I wait in the front. Ms. B suggests we get him in a pool as much as possible. We go swimming later that afternoon and he is very clingy, but doesn't really cry and doesn't want to leave.
Day #4 - We talk about swimming like sharks at swimming lessons. It goes very much the same as the previous. He starts to get out when he sees me during the last 5 mins, but minds Ms. B when she says to stay in. She says he is more mad at being left than scared. He says there are snakes in the pool....
Sunday, Aaron & I take him back to the pool and he has a good time! Again doesn't want to leave, but is a little timid & clingy.
Week 2: Day #5 - I remind him of how well he did at the pool with Aaron and me and then tell Ms. B how well he did also. I also remind him that Mommy always comes back! More crying at drop-off, but Ms. B says he is more "melancholy today." Doesn't try to get out when he sees me during the last 5 mins. He waits to be dismissed. Ms. B suggests that I walk in having Jackson's shoes & shirt already off with goggles in hand and immediately hand him off to minimize the amount of time Jackson has to anticipate my leaving.
Day#6 - I remind him that Mommy always comes back and tell him that I just wait in the front yard for him. Same as day #5. Does better at back float and no problem walking along the walls or going under & "swimming" to the step from a few feet out.
Day #7 - cries when I drop him off, but I don't hear crying while I wait. When I peak around the corner, he is NOT crying and sitting on the step. He goes to Ms. B when it is his turn without a fuss and practices the skills he is supposed to. I see him swim to the step from about 3 feet out - he holds his breath well, does not sputter, kicks his feet one time and immediately finds the bottom with his feet when he reaches the steps. I give him LOTS and LOTS of praise, we get ice cream (at 10 in the morning), go grab Emme & Aunt Christie and hit the neighborhood pool. The kid is suddenly a fish and LOVES the water! He hates it when he has to get out for adult swim, refuses to go in the kiddie pool, and tells us not to hold onto him while he walks along the walls. He cries when it is time to leave.
Day #8 - cries for 2 mins at drop-off, but stops and does even better than day 7! He loves it! Aaron took him & picked him up because I stupidly scheduled swim lessons & Emme's 12 month well check at the same time. Dads don't ask for a lot of feedback....
Of course he starts liking it in the last 2 days! I don't know if I should sign him up for more lessons or just keep reinforcing it on my own at our pool. I plan on emailing Ms. B and asking her opinion, but I was amazed at the sense of pride I suddenly felt when he started liking it! I was never one of those moms that was scared I was scarring him or couldn't take the crying. I knew he would get it, but I just didn't know when. Luckily, it was this summer and I didn't have to wait until next!
Day #1 - terrified, cried the whole time, hated the back float, but didn't cough or sputter when he went under water. Ms. B also said he didn't like holding on to the side and walking around the edge of the pool. She suggested we really talk it up. I figured he was having a little stranger anxiety also. He did great wearing his goggles though! My scientific approach worked!
Day #2 - told me he didn't want to go to swimming lessons - there were alligators in the water. cried the whole time again, but still did well going under. He still hated the back float and noodle float. Cried "my mommy, my mommmmy!" the whole time. ;( Mind you, I am in the front yard on the driveway with the other moms and I can hear this the whole time.
Day #3 - I tell him to walk on the walls like Spiderman and swim like Nemo. Lessons go the same, but does better with the wall walk. I hear screaming from the back yard while I wait in the front. Ms. B suggests we get him in a pool as much as possible. We go swimming later that afternoon and he is very clingy, but doesn't really cry and doesn't want to leave.
Day #4 - We talk about swimming like sharks at swimming lessons. It goes very much the same as the previous. He starts to get out when he sees me during the last 5 mins, but minds Ms. B when she says to stay in. She says he is more mad at being left than scared. He says there are snakes in the pool....
Sunday, Aaron & I take him back to the pool and he has a good time! Again doesn't want to leave, but is a little timid & clingy.
Week 2: Day #5 - I remind him of how well he did at the pool with Aaron and me and then tell Ms. B how well he did also. I also remind him that Mommy always comes back! More crying at drop-off, but Ms. B says he is more "melancholy today." Doesn't try to get out when he sees me during the last 5 mins. He waits to be dismissed. Ms. B suggests that I walk in having Jackson's shoes & shirt already off with goggles in hand and immediately hand him off to minimize the amount of time Jackson has to anticipate my leaving.
Day#6 - I remind him that Mommy always comes back and tell him that I just wait in the front yard for him. Same as day #5. Does better at back float and no problem walking along the walls or going under & "swimming" to the step from a few feet out.
Day #7 - cries when I drop him off, but I don't hear crying while I wait. When I peak around the corner, he is NOT crying and sitting on the step. He goes to Ms. B when it is his turn without a fuss and practices the skills he is supposed to. I see him swim to the step from about 3 feet out - he holds his breath well, does not sputter, kicks his feet one time and immediately finds the bottom with his feet when he reaches the steps. I give him LOTS and LOTS of praise, we get ice cream (at 10 in the morning), go grab Emme & Aunt Christie and hit the neighborhood pool. The kid is suddenly a fish and LOVES the water! He hates it when he has to get out for adult swim, refuses to go in the kiddie pool, and tells us not to hold onto him while he walks along the walls. He cries when it is time to leave.
Day #8 - cries for 2 mins at drop-off, but stops and does even better than day 7! He loves it! Aaron took him & picked him up because I stupidly scheduled swim lessons & Emme's 12 month well check at the same time. Dads don't ask for a lot of feedback....
Of course he starts liking it in the last 2 days! I don't know if I should sign him up for more lessons or just keep reinforcing it on my own at our pool. I plan on emailing Ms. B and asking her opinion, but I was amazed at the sense of pride I suddenly felt when he started liking it! I was never one of those moms that was scared I was scarring him or couldn't take the crying. I knew he would get it, but I just didn't know when. Luckily, it was this summer and I didn't have to wait until next!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
A Year in Pictures
2 weeks old wearing Mommy's Go Home dress
July - 1 Month Old
August - 2 Months Old
September - 3 Months Old
May - 11 Months Old
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Emme's 1st Birthday!
One year ago today, my baby girl was born at 9:45am after a little more than 12 hours of labor (not intense labor, but labor nonetheless). We could not be more thankful for our precious angel! This has been our best year so far! She brings an energy to our little family that we just adore! Saturday we celebrated our baby's 1st birthday with a watermelon picnic themed party. It was so much fun celebrating with all our sweet friends & family!
After our cake lady bailed last minute, Aaron's coworker, Gabriel stepped up to the plate and made this absolutely perfect cake for Emme FREE.OF.CHARGE! Love him! He is forever our cake guy now! If anyone in Houston is interested in using him, let me know.
The kids played in the backyard. Jackson loved having his buddies over!
We missed Hailey though! ;( Hope she's better!
This is my friend, Brianna's little man, Sam. Sam is 3 hours older than Emme and Bri & I were next door neighbors in the hospital when they were born. We only discovered this after a mutual friend came to visit both of us. Small world!
Sweet Abigail's first bouncy house experience!
My dad, one arm BBQing 3 weeks out of shoulder surgery! What a Pops!
The Birthday Girl!
From the front you could not tell how much of the smash cake she had eaten, but from the back... 
Emme LOVES her marachas! Thanks Yaya & Pops!
Ami, Ashley & Me
Emme trying to put the baby's papi back in so it will stop crying.
Ashley & J-man 
12 Month chair pic 
Yea! It's my birthday!
Nana & Jackson
After our cake lady bailed last minute, Aaron's coworker, Gabriel stepped up to the plate and made this absolutely perfect cake for Emme FREE.OF.CHARGE! Love him! He is forever our cake guy now! If anyone in Houston is interested in using him, let me know. 
The kids played in the backyard. Jackson loved having his buddies over!We missed Hailey though! ;( Hope she's better!
This is my friend, Brianna's little man, Sam. Sam is 3 hours older than Emme and Bri & I were next door neighbors in the hospital when they were born. We only discovered this after a mutual friend came to visit both of us. Small world!
Sweet Abigail's first bouncy house experience!
My dad, one arm BBQing 3 weeks out of shoulder surgery! What a Pops!
The Birthday Girl!
From the front you could not tell how much of the smash cake she had eaten, but from the back...Emme LOVES her marachas! Thanks Yaya & Pops!
Ami, Ashley & Me
Emme trying to put the baby's papi back in so it will stop crying.
Ashley & J-manToday, Emme's actual birthday was spent swimming and later followed by dinner at Lupe Tortilla's! I didn't get any swim pictures though but I took her chair pics and some from dinner.
12 Month chair pic (Stay tuned for A Year in Pictures post)
Yea! It's my birthday!
Nana & Jackson
4 Generations
Nana, Clay & Emme (again, full mouth)
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Kitchen
So we were chugging along great, on schedule to be complete by Emme's party THIS Saturday and then it happened. The granite people called & said that due to the weather and a broken down truck, they were a day behind in their installation schedules, so it will be Thursday before they get to us. As it was, Aaron was only going to have 2 days to get the backsplash done and that was pushing it! Now, I just don't see how it will be done. So to be realistic, we won't have the backsplash done, the island counter top is not in yet and the dishwasher is eternally delayed, or so it seems. There's still so much to do - here's our punch list:
- stain new trim
- distress island
- tung oil cabinets & trim
- install new appliances
- reload all cabinets with stuff so that the guest room is functional
_________________
- clean up backyard
- mow
- finish playhouse ramp
I called the yard guy after starting to write this - so he will clean up the backyard & mow.
I'm SO ready for this to be over - you really don't realize how vital the kitchen is in a home until it is not functional. I have been rinsing sippies in the down stairs guest bath sink and we have eaten ever meal out for the last 2 weeks. Home cooking sounds SO SO good right now!
My in-laws came over today to babysit while I ran some errands for Emme's party. Jimmy started working on the kitchen a bit while Ann entertained the kiddos. LOVE them! They also came bearing diapers - we are so blessed! I think all I lack now is grocery shopping for the party and making a batch of cupcakes to supplement our cake. **On a related note, my normally very reliable cake lady called yesterday and said she had us down for June 19th instead of the 12th and offered another bakery as an option. (Insert Hillary breaking out in hives here). I didn't even mess with calling some other random bakery. Aaron's coworker dabbles in making cakes and his (yeah, it's a he) cakes are AMAZING or at least the 3 or 4 I've seen. He will be making the cake and I have no idea what it is going to look like - at this point I don't know that I even care. I'm sure it will turn out just fine and if it doesn't, we will always have something to laugh about each year on Emme's birthday.
- stain new trim
- distress island
- tung oil cabinets & trim
- install new appliances
- reload all cabinets with stuff so that the guest room is functional
_________________
- clean up backyard
- mow
- finish playhouse ramp
I called the yard guy after starting to write this - so he will clean up the backyard & mow.
I'm SO ready for this to be over - you really don't realize how vital the kitchen is in a home until it is not functional. I have been rinsing sippies in the down stairs guest bath sink and we have eaten ever meal out for the last 2 weeks. Home cooking sounds SO SO good right now!
My in-laws came over today to babysit while I ran some errands for Emme's party. Jimmy started working on the kitchen a bit while Ann entertained the kiddos. LOVE them! They also came bearing diapers - we are so blessed! I think all I lack now is grocery shopping for the party and making a batch of cupcakes to supplement our cake. **On a related note, my normally very reliable cake lady called yesterday and said she had us down for June 19th instead of the 12th and offered another bakery as an option. (Insert Hillary breaking out in hives here). I didn't even mess with calling some other random bakery. Aaron's coworker dabbles in making cakes and his (yeah, it's a he) cakes are AMAZING or at least the 3 or 4 I've seen. He will be making the cake and I have no idea what it is going to look like - at this point I don't know that I even care. I'm sure it will turn out just fine and if it doesn't, we will always have something to laugh about each year on Emme's birthday.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Splash Day
Jackson had Splash Day at his school on Wednesday. Since I didn't have students that day, I got to go watch. They had several sprinklers & hoses that did wacky things and shaving cream & sidewalk chalk to play with. The kids had a BLAST - well, most of them. Some kids were scared to the water, but were content to draw on the sidewalk. Jackson as usual, was timid at first, but soon jumped in and by the end was taking water straight in the face!
Remodel Progress Report
A progress update on the kitchen remodel:
Cabinet doors & drawer fronts are sanded (once with 80 grit sand paper, once by hand, and once with 100 grit sand paper) and the staining has commenced. I don't have a picture yet of the staining process.
It's like brand new, never been finished before wood.
The shelving has been removed as have the appliances. 
Ok, here you go. Yikes!
Where did you put all the stuff in your cabinets, you say?
In the guest bedroom....Oh dear!
To put it in boxes would have made too much sense.
Don't worry Tiff, your room will be all ready for you by the time yall get here!
Old, nasty appliances on their way O.U.T!
Kitchen quarantine.
We have purchased the granite & it will be installed Wednesday. We went with Arandas Brushed which is a honed finish instead of a glossy, polished finish. We know the backsplash we are going to go with, but we have not yet purchased it. I figure that will be done today or tomorrow. So, Emme's party is a week from tomorrow. Will it be finished in time?????
Cabinet doors & drawer fronts are sanded (once with 80 grit sand paper, once by hand, and once with 100 grit sand paper) and the staining has commenced. I don't have a picture yet of the staining process.
It's like brand new, never been finished before wood.
The shelving has been removed as have the appliances. Need a closer look at the killer wallpaper that was once in our kitchen?
Ok, here you go. Yikes!Where did you put all the stuff in your cabinets, you say?
In the guest bedroom....Oh dear!
To put it in boxes would have made too much sense.Don't worry Tiff, your room will be all ready for you by the time yall get here!
Old, nasty appliances on their way O.U.T!
Kitchen quarantine.We have purchased the granite & it will be installed Wednesday. We went with Arandas Brushed which is a honed finish instead of a glossy, polished finish. We know the backsplash we are going to go with, but we have not yet purchased it. I figure that will be done today or tomorrow. So, Emme's party is a week from tomorrow. Will it be finished in time?????
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)