Emma is 9 Months!

Well. Our sweet, quiet, “sit and observe” little girl is gone. 

Instead we have a babbling, giggling, stair climbing, LIGHTNING fast crawler (who can also cruise with the best of ‘em, and stand for quite awhile unassisted before falling) who is absolutely bound and determined to follow big brother and join in on EVERYTHING her idol does (and folks, that does include poor big brother’s froggy potty time…). 

See with Caleb we KNEW he was a busy boy from day one – remember the kid who tried to scoot off the couch during his infant photo shoot?! But this is Emmalyn – sweet, quiet, likes to just sit on her blanky and smile as Caleb wears the carpet down all around her…yea no not anymore. I swear it happened overnight but we have TWO busy little people…and two tired parents…

I do remember loving this age with Caleb – the personality and individuality really starts to come out! The overwhelming part of Emma’s personality we are starting to see is just how social this little butterfly is! Though definitely still a mommy’s girl, she will toss huge smiles at anyone who gives one to her. I swear she’s got the hearts of all the Target and Aldi cashiersJ

She’s still a petite little girlie at 17lbs 11oz (30^th percentile) but she’s got her Daddy’s genes when it comes to height – 29 ¼ inches (70^th percentile)…at least so far. But I think that’s why this girl can get around so FAST. She has this hilarious “crab-crawl” where she crawls on one knee and one foot – I think its because she wears dresses often enough that would get in the way of her knees so she’s just learned to crawl like that. It looks hysterical, especially because she can do it so fast. She tears around trying desperately to keep up with Caleb – anything he is doing is fun apparently. Poor kid. How do you teach a 2.5 year old how to share when she just then wants whatever he has next?! I finally convince him to share one of the trucks he’s playing with with E, and suddenly she wants the new one he has moved on to. The look he gives me is SO pathetic: Mommy I’m TRYING here…

They do play together well for short periods of time though…when Caleb is in a generous mood….and Emma is in a good mood…

Goin for a ride together

Don’t be fooled – a second after this was taken she ransacked it…many tears…rescue of 9 month old from (justifiably) angry 2 year old’s clutches…new “tiger house” built OUT of Emma’ reach…

This was from one evening when the two of them were being TOO quiet while I was making dinner

“Caleb, what are you doing?”

“Oh, I just pour water on Emma’s head. Its ok Mommy. I clean Emma’s hairs!”

Side note: how appropriate is it that her shirt says "little sister" in this picture?!

Poor Emma. She just wants to join in! She gets so frustrated by the constant “no, not that toy how about this one?” Annnd that’s how we discovered that girly has a temper! At this age, its just hilarious…though I know that soon it won’t be. It usually comes out when she’s had something taken away that she REALLY wanted – she stiffens her legs, makes two fists, turns bright red, and makes a very angry sound. Caleb says shes growling. Probably.  

Emma’s first trip to the Zoo! Also all of our first time seeing the dolphin show, which both kiddos thought was pretty cool.

The tiger made Caleb’s MONTH by pacing at least 10 times RIGHT by the window – he seriously talked about it for the next week… “Tiger come to see me, but its ok he in his glass cage. He eat there, he sleep there, and he come to see ME!”

Next post will be Emma’s first steps, which I think will be any day now! 

8 Months

Ok wow this last month was a big month for changes! A month ago Emma could army crawl…and in the last 4 weeks she has started crawling on hands and knees (and people, she is FAST), pulling up, and cruising!

 A month ago I was sure that she would not be walking as early as big brother (he walked a week after he turned 9 months) but now I’m not so sure. Its like she suddenly realized how much fun it would be to not just watch Caleb but to steal his toys join. 

So she did. The first time she actually crawled I got it on video. Caleb was playing with his cars and that was the draw – Emma just had to find out what he was doing. In the video you can hear Caleb’s slightly panicked voice in the background saying “Mommy what’s Emma DOING?!” She crawled a few feet to her destination, Caleb warily picked up his cars and moved to a safer area, and I went back to the kitchen to finish dinner. Then Caleb comes running in and says in an unmistakably “tattling” voice (with a little panic/fear mixed in) “Mommy Emma crawling AGAIN!”. Since then I think he has figured out that this is the new reality!

Princess girl is FINALLY sleeping better at night **clouds parting, angels singing** – we finally took the advice of several friends and let her cry awhile so she is down to (usually) waking only once!

She is also starting to eat finger foods –definitely earlier than Caleb was, partly because its just easier if I’m hands-free to be at Caleb’s beck and call help Caleb eat!

We are starting the (VERY slow) process of potty training for Caleb, which I really can’t decide if I’m happy about or not. Pros: less diapers, less money SPENT on diapers…Cons: cleaning up messes for awhile at least, having to run to the bathroom in the store…honestly seems MORE inconvenient to me! We bought Caleb a “Froggy Potty” after Christmas, and thought we would see how he did…he absolutely refused to sit on it. Actually he said “NO! Dat chair BWOKEN! It have HOLE in it!” Logic of a 2 year old. Yes, yes it does have a hole in it – how can you argue with that?! Well finally the lure of chocolate chips (aka “yittle tiny candies”) proved greater than fear, and so after lunch we spend 20 minutes sitting. Waiting. Reading stories….and so far nothing has happened. But it’s a process right? Honestly I am in NO hurryJ

Caleb had a very exciting first: first horseback ride! He LOVED it, though for some reason he is still afraid of riding the carousel horses at the museum…again, 2 year old logic…

Last week we had a visit from the world’s best in-laws, and spent a wonderful few days, taking walks, talking, and soaking up “grandparent time” J! Very excited for when they take possession of their condo down the road!

The day before Easter we had some family pictures taken by the amazing photographer Diedra Blosser. She is a family friend and an incredible photographer – so, so good with the kids too! Here are some of my favorites:

I received the CD in the mail yesterday and ordered prints that evening – I can’t WAIT to get them! I asked Garrett to help with the deciding process by helping me pick one 8x10 of each of the kids. He said “That’s impossible”. Yea, I thought so too!

Easter weekend was a wonderful time with family, celebrating our RISEN Savior! It was Caleb’s second egg hunt, and he definitely remembered what to do! 

He had a blast finding the eggs that Uncle Griffin and Daddy had hidden. And, as opposed to last year when they only had oyster crackers inside, these were actually filled with CANDY. Very excitingJ

I hope you had a wonderful Easter as well – HE IS RISEN!!!

7 Months

7 Months! Past the halfway mark, so its now ok to start thinking about the 1 year birthday party right?...Ok I’ve been thinking about it for awhile now…

Stats:

No Dr visit this month, so I don’t know exactly what she weighs, but I do know she’s still a little peanut. Emma is still in 6 month clothes, and really can squeeze into some 3-6 month size! She is almost exactly what her big brother weighed at 6 months though, and he chunked up over the next few months, so I’m trying not to worry J

Emma was up to 3-4 cubes of solid food every meal a few weeks ago, and then the last couple weeks has been hating her solids – I’m really hoping its just a phase related to that stubborn bottom tooth that we can FINALLY see juuuust poking out!

Miss Emmalyn is working hard to keep up with her big brother! She's up on her hands and knees and rocking, and will be full-out crawling any day now...and her favorite position is standing -- if you are anywhere near her on the floor she scoots over and pulls herself up, smiling and giggling...maybe we will have another early walker! 

Emma and Caleb are still the best of friends -- here they are having a "coffee party" with Henna, Ellie, and me

 I'm so looking forward to when they can play organized games together...and when Caleb is less of a danger to her!

 Oh.Those.Eyes.

Here's a picture of both our sweet blue eyed kiddos at 7 months:

Yep, definitely siblings! BUT, overall Caleb is a mini-Garrett, and Emma is a mini-me:

Thats me on the left and Emma on the right! My mom and I took the kiddos to Urbana to see my grandparents this month, and my grandma had dug out some old pictures of me to show the similarities. We had a blast that day playing with alot of toys that I grew up playing with, and just spending time with all four of my wonderful grandparents:

Four Generations: my beautiful Grandma Grace, my mom, me, and Emma!

I was so thankful that we went on that visit, because less than a week later, my grandfather passed away. Here is he and Caleb a few months ago:

And this is the first time he met Emma:

While I will definitely miss my Grandpa Jim, I am so thankful that both my littles got to meet him! When my mom called to tell me the news, my most overwhelming feeling was peace. How different death is when eternity is certain! My grandpa was ready to meet his Savior, and I am so thankful to know that he is in the presence of Christ and that I will get to see him again someday! His pastor said at the funeral that he felt that the Lord and kept him from Glory this long to pray for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren -- so he did. On the nights he didn't sleep much, he prayed, and during the day when he spent time in his massage chair, he prayed. I am so thankful for that conviction he had. He "finished well", and is now in heaven for "10,000 years and then forevermore"!

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