a little help from the furniture

Emmett's new favorite activity....using the chairs as walkers and pushing them all around the kitchen. He's a strong little guy!

His other favorite new place to play is under the table...the glass amazes him every time. Too cute!

daddy and me

This weekend Anna's preschool hosted a "Daddy & Me" night. For this special event the preschoolers and their dads were asked to come dressed in their favorite sports team jersey or gear, and to come ready to play sports and other rough and tumble games.

Anna anticipated this day for the entire week. We had to count down each day and the morning of this special event she woke at 5am ready to go. Too bad she had to wait 13 hrs! Finally the moment arrived and Anna proudly put on her Packers jersey, and dad his Marquette T.

While I wasn't there to witness first-hand, I believe everyone had a great time! Steve said that Anna sprinted everywhere she went and she introduced him to all of her friends and her teachers. They did sled races, obstacle courses, hula hoops, and more. It was certainly a night this little princess and her daddy will remember. This morning she couldn't stop gushing about how much FUN she had at "daddy and me".

winter getaway

Thanks to a wonderful husband, a loving set of grandparents and a great group of friends I was able to enjoy a nice winter getaway earlier this month. Valentine's Day weekend a group of 3 of my girlfriends from college and I headed for an extended weekend in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Having booked the trip back before Halloween, all of us were looking forward to 5 days of sunshine, relaxing by the pool, time at the spa, and most of all just overall relaxation. We were pampered to the fullest! It was a wonderful trip. We got our share of relaxing by the pool, some sunshine, delicious dinners out, a great day at the spa, and fun conversation with good friends. I even put my fear aside and tried parasailing! Which was awesome by the way! Scary, but so fun!!

I am so thankful for such a loving husband who encourages me to do these types of things, and for wonderful in-laws who come to help out with our children. Thank you!

Yes, that's me!!

crazy days

Life with young children is funny. It's fun and silly and busy and rewarding and frustrating and maddening and CRAZY all at the same time. Winter tends to amplify these things to the fullest. If you were a fly on the wall in our home on any given day you might see Anna running laps through the house, or dancing in the entryway (her "ballerina stage") to her piano turned up full blast, or painting watercolor pictures at the kitchen table, or chasing her brother around yelling "chubby cheeks".

You might see Emmett pulling himself up on every table, chair, cabinet or wall, and walking along them until he crashes ultimately hitting his head somewhere along the way. Or you might see him shaking a tamborine or maraca bobbing his head to music, or banging these same instruments on the table. You will likely see him crawl under the table finding any and every crumb he can find and tasting it, and you most definitely will see him opening and emptying every cabinet, door, or drawer in his path.

But, if it was a typical day it is MOST likely that you would see ALL of these things happening at the same time in about a 5 minute time span.

Saturday night Steve and I decided to have a "date" at home. Following the lead of a friend who does this with her spouse every week, one of us went to get take out while the other put the kids to bed. We were both looking forward to a meal where we could talk to one another, enjoy our food without rushing, and then relax with a movie or by watching the Olympics. Here's how it went.

Upon returning home with our food, I entered the house to sobs coming from upstairs. Apparently Anna was sad because she needed a bedtime kiss. One kiss later we were setting the table and pouring a glass of wine. It didn't take long for the parade to begin...

door opens

"Mommy, Daddy, my snowman fell off my dresser and I can't reach him, will you come and get him? (sob, sob)"

door shuts

door opens

"Mommy, Daddy, I know you want special time but I just want to say I love you"

door shuts

door opens

"Mommy, Daddy, can I sleep with all THREE of my kitties in my bed?"

door shuts

door opens

"How many nights can I sleep with them in my bed?"

door shuts

door opens

"Will you start my music over?"

door shuts

door opens

"Mommy, Daddy, I won't come out of my room again. I am so tired. I won't come out again, I promise"

door shuts

door opens

"I have a huge booger. Please don't take my books away. I just have a booger."

door shuts

door opens

"I love you. Goodnight mommy and daddy"

door shuts

Finally quiet prevailed. We settled onto the couch after eating dinner way too fast and laughing each time the door opened and shut and watched the Olympics. 20 minutes later crying erupted from the other bedroom upstairs. Apparently the little guy wanted part of the action too. Nothing worked to calm the little man but to come downstairs and play. This lasted until 11pm...with many failed attempts to put him back to bed in between. By then we fell asleep exhausted, only to start again at 5:03am with the call of "Daaaaaaaddddddy! Mooooommmmmy!" from Anna's room.

HA! Really, all we can do is laugh. This is life right now. And while it's CRAZY some days, we really wouldn't trade it. We might just need a lot of caffeine.

one year check-up

Monday Emmett went in for his one year check up. It's so hard to believe that we are here, at this milestone already, and yet here we are. Our doctor was impressed with Emmett's ability to wave hi (and he even tried to say it to her!) and his cheery and interactive disposition. She exclaimed as we were about to leave "he is just so good!"

We learned that after 2+ weeks of doctor visits for his cold and ears that his ear is clearing up and it appears that his bronchiolitis has as well. He is teething like crazy though which makes for short naps and long nights. Emmett wakes up and needs to be held for a few minutes a few times during the night and then settles back to sleep. I am hoping that after these next few teeth pop through we'll get some uninterrupted sleep once again. Our doctor thought our long nights are likely a combination of teething and some separation anxiety. Fortunately he settles back to sleep quite quickly and both Steve and I enjoy our cuddles with him, even if it is the middle of the night.

Emmett's mobility has definitely thinned him out significantly. He weighs 23lbs. 8oz. - the 60th percentile. Remember when he was in the high 90s?! He is still quite long at around 31 inches - the 90th percentile and his head is still off the charts. :)

We have successfully weaned him from his bottles...we took advantage when he wasn't drinking much while he was sick and kept pushing the sippy cup. He now drinks both water and whole milk from his sippy cups and does quite well!

Not yet walking, Emmett is certainly getting close. As he stands by a piece of furniture he will now let go and try to stand on his own. He also loves to "walk, walk" around the house holding onto my hands. We can tell he is getting closer to at least thinking about it as he gets very frustrated when his big sister runs by him and he can't keep up. Soon they will both be running through our halls. YIKES! For now he has some new wheels courtesy of Uncle Matt so he can keep up, or beep the horn when someone's in the way.

Socially Emmett has made some big big strides in the past several weeks. He now waves hi and goodbye (and can sort of say both words). He does the hand motions to "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" along with you. He says mama, dada, papa, baby and he likes to make a "vrrrrrrrmmmmm" sound when he drives his cars along the floor. He gives massive hugs - leaning into you and wrapping his arms around your neck. You know it's a hug when he leans in and makes an "ahhhhh" sound as he does it. It truly melts my heart every single time.

While some days are tough when neither child wants to nap, I feel these days slipping from my fingers. I am soaking up the hugs and cuddles where ever I can get them. I still can't get over the fact that our baby is well, no longer a baby.