Retired old man alert...oh wait, that's Emma

Emma has been a big help with chores lately.  Just the other night she helped Dan unload the dishwasher, but I don't know if she'll ever forgive me for dressing her like an 80 year old on the Florida coast, as unintentional as it was (notice the black socks).  

The sweet little thing below will never get mistaken for anything other than the cutest girl on the planet.  We were at Wahoo's and just for fun I did a little tilt of my head and said, "ooohhh," and then to our surprise Emma did the same thing right back, "ooohhh" and all.

We kept doing it and she kept doing it, then we'd raise our hands and she would raise hers, then we would tilt our head and she would tilt hers.  It was so fun, and it made us realize how much of an influence we already have over her (as if we didn't already know it).  Time to watch our p's and q's :-)

Another Christmas down (lots of pics)

Emma's second Christmas was gangbuster and she doesn't even know how excited she is about the fun things she got from adoring grandmas and grandpas and aunts and uncles.  We started on Christmas Eve with a "knock your socks off" version of "Grandma's Attic" and then the kids opened up their gifts.

Emma got the coolest little car race track, an Elmo airplane (with critical underseat storage) AND a talking rocking horse.  

Then we carried on an annual tradition at Grandma and Grandpa Ellis's by opening up one present on Christmas Eve.  Here's our sweetest Christmas Eve darling...

By that time she was so dog tired that we high tailed it home for a quick rendition of "T'was the Night Before Christmas," put her down to sweet dreams and visions of sugar plums dancing in her head, stuffed the stockings that were hung by the chimney (aka our skylight) with care, and went to sleep so Santa could do his thing.

Before Santa's visit (notice the disproportioned construction paper ornament from Emma to daddy mentioned in the previous "Pretend City" post) :

And after Jolly Old Saint Nick stopped by...

 When we woke up Christmas morning, Emma was ready to tear into her presents and didn't waste any time.  Of course, we started with our family tradition of reading the Christmas story from Luke to remind us what Christmas is really about, then Emma opened her few gifts.  We went low key this year anticipating an onslaught of gifts from others (and we guessed right).

After Christmas morning at our house, we headed to Grandpa and Grandma Ellis's house to continue the fun.  She got this rockin' leopard print coat contributing to her serious swagger style.

Grandpa and Grandma Sumner also came by to celebrate with the awesomeness that is ooey-gooey coffee cake.

Here she is enjoying her Elmo plane...

 Here's her ball pit, and the play tent in the corner (right next to the ball pit), and the rocker girl that makes her rocker daddy super proud...

Here's a repeat of the talking rocking horse, but notice the perfect form.  And, let's talk about that dismount.  I mean, really!!

Christmas was so fun.  Time with family, irreplaceable time with my sweet baby, and lots and lots of rain made Christmas 2010 one for the books. 

Pretend City

Over the holidays, Emma and I had some fun extra time together so one afternoon I took her someplace I know she's just been dying to go (okay, really I've been dying to take her there and she had no idea it even existed but she loved it when we got there).  Last year I noticed a new children's museum open up literally 5 minutes from our house.  It's called Pretend City and I couldn't wait until Emma was at least old enough to take in some of it's awesomeness even if she was too young to really "get it."  So, last week after her nap I decided it was the day to give it a try.  I was thinking that an annual pass would be a fun Christmas present for her, but didn't want to get it until we had at least been inside once!

Well, we got there and it was INCREDIBLE!!  It really is like a little city inside with a grocery store, garden, fire house, restaurant, beach, stage, town center, and more.

Emma arrived via her BMW convertible (just like mom)...

Then headed over to the gas station to fill up her Hummer...

Before proceeding to the pond for a round of (attempted) fishing...

Then, it was time for work cleaning up at the restaurant...

Before her on-stage debut as the center of her universe...

And, after a quick stop at the grocery store to pick up some mustard...

It was time to check out the boys and cruise out of town in her Little Tyke's car.

Needless to say, she literally conked out on the 5 minute car ride home and we both had fun.  She even had time to stop on the way out and make a very original construction paper Christmas tree ornament for daddy which I'm sure he will just cherish until the end of time.

I can't wait to do it again with her, and I'm sensing an annual pass in our very near future.

Happy Birthday Emma!!

(Ignore the fact that this is posted a few weeks late...it was started on or before Emma's actual birthday)

Dear Emma,

You are a whole year old as of today and I'm still wondering where the year went. You're walking, talking (more like chattering, but it's sooo cute to hear you babble), laughing, and you definitely have opinions about things. You're eating some big girl food and really love your cheese, but fortunately you still like your pureed veggies too. You really love applesauce and bananas, and we have to remind you to put things in your mouth one at a time because you usually grab handfuls of cheerios and goldfish and see how many you can fit in your mouth at one time.

Life's been a bit crazy for us lately, but that's something that you'll get used to around here. I will say, it's weird that in one year someone can go from this:

To this:

We had a fun Halloween where you dressed up like a lion and convinced your dad and I to dress up too. He was a safari tour guide and I was a tourist on safari when we spotted you, our little lion. You sure have a roar that fit the costume.

Your first birthday party on 11/21 was super fun with all your little buddies celebrating with you. At first, you were a little confused by the frosting on top of your cupcake.

But you figured it out soon enough.

We had fun celebrating with you even though you were a little overwhelmed by all the attention. You did great and were lucky enough to have all your grandparents there and even some of your great-grandparents.

On your actual birthday, daddy took you out to breakfast carrying on an annual tradition that your grandpa started with me on my first birthday. Here's you with dad on your first annual birthday breakfast. This year's birthday breakfast was at Starbucks, and I can't get over the cutest smile ever!! I think you were enjoying your small piece of daddy's vanilla scone.

That night Grandpa Mike came over and took you shopping. You got some very cute clothes and a fun puzzle that makes noises when you put the pieces in.

Happy birthday sweet baby. We love you and can't wait to see what this year holds!

Love you,

Mommy

10.2 months

Emma,

As your first birthday approaches faster than I can believe, you continue to amaze me by how quickly you're growing and learning. You are so close to taking those momentous first steps which will forever change your life and ours, and you are so full of expression and joy. You make everybody happy who sees you, even though you drop that lower lip sometimes for reasons I can't completely understand.

We've done all sorts of fun things over the past couple months.

The fair...you liked the piggies the best.

Labor day at Grandma and Grandpa's ranch with a trip to the (ice cold) river. We tried dipping your little toe in, but you were having none of it.

Your first trip to Knott's Berry Farm...you even got to ride on the Calico Express!

We also took you to the pool on a very hot day, but you were a bit sleepy and weren't having too much fun. I know the day will come when you won't be able to get enough of it.

Life has been a bit chaotic lately for your dad and I because I'm working two part-time jobs and you are with someone different everyday. I think it's actually made you more flexible, and I know that the people watching you absolutely love and look forward to the time they get to spend with you. They also all comment at how great of an eater you are; and, with homemade baby food combos of squash and broccoli, cauliflower and peas, or carrots and zucchini picked fresh from your great-grandma and great-grandpa's garden I can understand why. You also eat a whole variety of grains...quinoa, amarynth, millet, barley, and oats (some of which I didn't even know existed until recently), all topped with a bit of flaxseed and brewer's yeast for extra goodness. You feed yourself bits of cheese, banana, nectarine, strawberries, cheerios, and anything else we put in front of you. We are very lucky that you're not picky.

You get so happy when you see daddy come home from work, and you crawl so fast to get to him. It's so cute hearing your little squeal of joy when you see him come around the corner into the living room. He loves you so much and does anything he can to get you laughing. It's music to our ears. Speaking of music, you're quite the musician yourself. You love when daddy plays his guitar for you and you even strum the strings from time to time. You also love the little drum in your room and have figured out where you need to pound to get the best sound.

We know that God has such an amazing plan for your life and we're just excited that we get to be a part of it.

Love,

Mommy