Papi Report

Emme is offically papi-free and has been for about 2 weeks now.  I still have a little problem getting her to nap without one at home, but they say they have no problems at school.  I think that it is because her room is not completely dark during the day and the school is.  Aaron & I have talked about putting a black-out shade in her room to see if that helps.  We'll see!  I'm sort of sad to see it go - it was like the last of the "baby" things Emme did/had.  Well, she still has her crib, but she's getting to be such a big girl now! 

Behind These Walls

Behind the 4 walls of this here blog some strange things have been a brewing! For one, I have noticed more & more strange places showing up on my traffic feed. Most I have been able to tell got here from one of your blogs and that I am ok with, but once I start seeing UAE and Singapore, I have to draw the line! Well, unless any of you can tell me you've been travelling & stopped your fantastic trip to read about Jackson & Emme???? You know you can't get enough! ;) I have also receieved a few comments from strangers - one from a person at Primrose Academy asking if she could do a guest post about child development. Weird. And NOW, I see that I have a follower that I do not know and her blog is in Spanish. How do you say "No offense, I'm sure you're a lovely person, but I don't know you" in Spanish? Anyone?

Based on all of that, I think it's time I go private! I haven't wanted to, but I guess I'm gonna have to. Better safe than sorry, right? So if you would please, please add a comment with your email address so that you will still be able to read and offer advice! Mmm k?! Thanks!

Ketchup Post

I forgot to post about Emme's latest teeth....it was probably because they took almost 2 months to come in. Anyway, Emme's bottom canines popped through on Jan 3rd. So now she has everything but her upper canines & 2 year molars.

We are starting to consider taking away the papi. Her teachers wanted all of the kids to be papi-free by the time they returned from Christmas break, but that just did not happen for Miss Em! We tried (although not whole-heartedly) and when I put her down for a nap without one on December 30th, she threw the biggest fit you've ever seen and ended up throwing herself out of her crib. Yikes! Her adrenaline was so high that it didn't even phase her and she didn't cry any harder than she had been. She didn't have any injuries either. So at that point, I stopped the papi purge idea, bit the bullet and told Ms. Yvette that we had failed in our mission. She was ok with it, but then this weekend a small breakthrough. Emme took 2 naps, one Sunday & one Monday without the papi and then she went to bed last night without one also. Now, when I woke her up this morning, the little stinker had found one in her bed during the night, but I know for a fact that she went to sleep without it. We celebrate small victories! Jackson was 21 months when we got rid of his, so Emme has some time, but she's definitely on her way to a papi-free existence!

Funny Jackson!

Jackson is just the funniest little guy! Here are a couple of recent Jackson-isms:

#1
Me: (trying to console Emme) What is it, Chicken? You're ok.
J: She's not a chicken.
I don't answer - I'm driving and it's raining....
J: Mommy, hers not a chicken! Mommmmy, she's not a CHICK.EN!
Me: She's not? I know, baby, I just call her Chicken just like I call you Wacko or Boogies.
J: She's not a chicken. She doesn't have wings or a beak. She doesn't know how to fly. (Slight pause) She does eat bugs though. (Another pause & then a giant smile) Nooooo...I just kidding you, Mommy!

#2
J: Mommy, I'm not tired. I don't have anymore yawns.

And my personal favorite:

#3
Me: Jackson, how did Mommy & Daddy get so lucky to get you as our little boy?
J: (Thinks about it for a second) It was probably all the lady bugs.

He makes my heart melt! And it cracks me up when he uses the term "probably!"

Oh, also. He says pew-con instead of coupon. I don't why. He can say it correctly, it just defaults to this. Same thing with "hairplane" and "hellaphant."

Christmas Post...Finally!

WARNING: PICTURE OVERLOAD MAY OCCUR



We had 3 Christmases this year. Whew! It was so wonderful spending time with family and relaxing! The kids are at such a great age too - Jackson really got in to setting cookies & milk & carrots out for Santa & Rudolph. It was way cute!

Santa came!

Emme's kitchen was a hit with BOTH kids!

Jackson got this huge dinosaur from my aunt & uncle. He loves it!

After Christmas morning at our house, we set off for Christmas #2 at my parents' house. We had a lovely breakfast there and Santa had come to see all of us there also. I love that I'm 30 years old and Santa still watches to see if I've been a good girl and comes to see me! Santa is a wonderful man! Emme wore her pretty Christmas dress, but we didn't want her to get it dirty at breakfast so off it came. She ran around for much of the morning in only her tights & shoes.

Santa brought Emme a stroller & a doll. This little momma walked her baby all over the house all morning. It was so stinkin' cute!

Yaya -rides! What more could a kid ask for in a Yaya?

Jackson sporting his new construction gear from Uncle Clay

Poor Emme was too excited (overstimulated) to sleep, but desparately needed to.

Sunday we were off to LaPorte for Christmas #3 at Gabby & PaPa's!

We told Emme her shoes were stinky (and they are....they really, really are), so she smelled them. Silly girl!

Jackson LOVES Dinosaur Train!

Aaron had to "unlock" his gift card - it took him a while!

Cool map thingy from Bryan & Candace

I love how she hold shirts up to herself already! Such a girl!

New Year's Eve, we had Christmas #4 with my brother, Brennan & his fiance, Megan. They had been in Hawaii with Megan's family for Christmas so we celebrated 2 holidays in one with them! Megan's roommate, Adriana came too so she wouldn't be by herself in San Antonio over New Years! She was a super fun girl!

Pretty new princess tiara! Emme loves wearing this!

Brennan & Megan gave Jackson a volcano that erupts to reveal a dinosaur that then grows over the next 3 days. This was right up Jackson's alley & by far his favorite gift!

Ukulele from Hawaii

Megan was raised Jehovah's Witness, so this was her 1st Christmas!

Jackson & Emerson gave her Sleeping Beauty on DVD. She & Adriana were really excited!

My parents gave Brennan & Megan the "Promise" Willow Tree figure for their engagement & upcoming marriage. So excited for September!

After "Christmas" & dinner, the kids went down and it was New Years' Eve time! We all stayed at my parents, even though we live 5 minutes from them. It was me, Aaron, Jackson, Emerson, Brennan, Megan, Adriana, my uncle, & my Nana and of course, my parents - 9 adults & 2 kids. Sardines! No, actually there was plenty of room and it was so much fun! We played Farkle, ate tons, drank 11 bottles of champagne, watched the count down shows and just enjoyed each others' company!

Clay & Mom - how many bottle was this after? Notice the backwards tiara. LOVE it!

Brennan & Megan

Adriana & Nana - Farkling it up!

I have no idea what he is doing here!

My Momma & Daddy

Happy New Year!

Adriana farkled almost every single time, but ended up only finishing like 300 points behind me. I was terrible too!

This is how Boogies spent his time....

New Years' morning:

Coffee with Nana

Couldn't have picked a better aunt for Jackson & Emme! We love you, Megan!

Whew! Finally got all of that done. Sorry it took me so long to post. We genuinely hope all of you & your families had a great holiday & have a blessed New Year!

Raggamuffins

I used to tease my mom when looking at pictures from my childhood because Brennan & I always looked so ratty on Christmas morning. One picture in particular was heinous! It was Christmas morning and Brennan (probably 5 or 6 at the time) was wearing one of my dad's undershirts that came down to his ankles and I (9 or 10) was sporting my perm (gasp!), a baggy tank top and shorts that didn't match. Seriously Mom, you could get us cute Christmas pjs or something? Ok, well now my kids are the raggamuffins! On Christmas, they had cute Christmas pjs or did at least until someone had an accident in his, but on any other day - raggamuffins with crazy hair! See below for non Christmas morning pictures.

and Eczema cheeks - poor boo!

At least they're happy and that is the most important thing! So no more giving Yaya a hard time about our appearances as children, at least not til I get my act together!

Christmas post still to come!