Fetch

Todd is always amazed... and generally slightly amused by how exact Em will mimic our actions. Last night after dinner was a prime example. Lani (almost one and a half years old now) is still working on some basic things, like "sit" or "stay" when there is a ball involved. Em is getting to be quite proficient at ordering others around. In theory, the dog drops the ball when Em tells her, then sits until it is thrown. Em, however, likes to remind her of the sitting and make sure that Lani is in the upright and fully "seated" position before she releases the ball. There have been times when the poor dog had to wait a loooooong time for that ball!

Nap Time

According to books and websites, some kids start dropping napping all together at age 2 and most kids have done away with them all together by age 6. Well, in true Emmerson form, she's started earlier. Once or twice a week, she'll just hang out in her bedroom reading books. We've even had to change the name from "nap time" to "quiet time." That said, there are days when I walk in after a given amount of time to find a happy, fully-awake little girl on her bed reading a story to her stuffed animals, and then other days when I find this...

Sometimes, being home all the time makes me want to pluck my own eye lashes out with pliers, but then you see this and EVERYTHING becomes totally worth it!

Mobile

With the first kid, there are so many milestones that you look forward to... rolling over, sitting up, crawling, eating solid foods. With the second (and I'm assuming any thereafter), you're a bit more... hesitant for those milestones. You know that rolling over means you can't just leave them on the floor to take a quick shower. Sitting up means they have a higher reaching radius. Solid foods mean one more thing to pack in the diaper bag and crawling... well, you know that your days of not watching every second of that child's movements are over. Gone. Goodbye.

I'm excited that Cooper is crawling, don't get me wrong. The kid is hilarious at it as well. It just means, on one more level, his independence is increasing and that's always a bitter-sweet thing for this mom. We've suspected him of this major life event for almost a month now, but were FINALLY able to capture it on video (when the vacuum wasn't going full blast)!

Seven

My little boy is 7 months old!!! I'm still not sure where the time has gone because it honestly feels like yesterday when Em was wearing this jacket, but Coop is officially closer to one than infancy, which is rather tragic. My baby is growing up so fast!

At least he does the whole getting bigger thing really cutely (is that a word?)!!!

Jungle Junkies

A family has come into town for a short while. It's great for me because lately, the complex has felt very empty. Four families are in the States, another one is moving the end of the month, another moved to a different house a few months ago and, well, it's been slightly quiet and lonely! This visiting family has kids though, and its been a great treat to hang out with them. Yesterday, a group of us went to Jungle Junkies. The only way I can describe it would be if Chuck-E-Cheese met a garden center and cafe, all in one. The kids played and played, the gals drank coffee and everyone loved it! Em was by far the youngest, but she seemed to really enjoy all the attention she got from all the adults in the group and the other kids.

**She looks so deceptively sweet and gentle here, eh? Oh how pictures can lie!!! She walked sweetly with Auntie Linda for about fifteen steps (toddler steps mind you) but they lent for such a sweet picture :)

I tried to take pictures inside of the kids playing, but they were moving so fast, even the "active" setting on my camera was too slow!

They had all sorts of birds and monkeys and fish on the way in. Em was walking by this very large fish tank and must have forgotten they were there or something because she started, which was rather hilarious!

Easter

Easter was a bit hectic with half our stuff in our old flat and half in the new. We managed to make it though, and it was a great day. I got Em's dress done and then, the morning of, the weather turned freezing cold! We had to improvise with a few things, but thankfully, I already had the bunny hats made, so everything worked out really well!

The biggest hit from the baskets? (You'd think it'd be the chocolate-covered marshmallow eggs since Em never gets sweets, but nope) The grapes!!! Well, those and the sidewalk chalk that Grandma and Grandpa sent in a package that made it just in time! We're just waiting for it to not be raining so we can use it :)

Dimples

Back in December we attempted to toilet train Em. She seemed to do really well, but for some reason, freaked out after 4 or 5 days, so I stopped. We decided that there is no use fighting her, because let's face it, she's got her mother's strong will and I'm just too tired to fight that fight every day! Anyways, yesterday morning she refused to let me put a diaper on her. REFUSED. I figured, we could give toilet training a go again, and so far (Day 2- so this may change very fast) so good!

Em is loving her new undies and is very proud of herself (so much so, that she wants to show the whole wide world her accomplishments!). The whole thing really just makes me laugh because, she came into this world with little dimples on her toosh, and time hasn't been helpful in getting rid of them! It makes me laugh seeing her dimpled behind running from place to place throughout the day. I'm very glad that all this attention on Em hasn't stopped her from wanting to show attention to her little brother- the consummate little hen, that girl.

Kate, this one's for you! See, how sweet?! :)