Sleep over in the Rainforest!

Ok, so Em'ry did attend her first sleep over and visited the Rainforest but didn't actually sleep in the Rainforest. But, she would have!

Em'ry spent her first night away from home over the recent long weekend. We stopped at Brandi and Corey's on our way home from shopping and Em'ry wanted to stay. I just knew Brandi would be calling within the hour but after 10 min I got a text message with a picture of Em'ry smiling in the tub. Another pic came 30 min later of Em'ry laying on Corey's chest and finally a pic of her sound asleep. She had a blast and Bran thought is was fun too! When I stopped by to pick her up the next morning for church, she was curled up on the rug with a cracker, milk, and watching cartoons. Needless to say she wasn't ready to go!

Since it was a long weekend, we went to the Rainforest Cafe for lunch on Monday. We were worried that Em'ry would be scared of the animals but she loved it. We sat between the monkeys and the fish and the pictures and video tell the story best!

She was so busy watching the animals she had a hard time focusing on her lunch!

Busy Body!

Em'ry is having a great week! She has been happy to go see Ms. Nancy this week and has waved bye-bye without tears for two days in a row. Kinda makes me want to tear up that when I picked her up yesterday she said she didn't want to go. I couldn't help it, I stayed there with her an extra 30 min! She is such a big girl! When we got ready to leave she took all the toys she was playing with and put them in the bin to clean up.
Last night as I was changing a diaper I noticed a new tooth! She just cut the tooth to the left of the upper, middle, left. If that makes any sense...
She is making so much progress with her vocabulary! English and Spanish! She is talking nonstop in English and knows that a cow says "moo" and a cat says "meow." She also sings "Hot Dog," "Twinkle, Twinkle," "Bubble Bee," and says "you come down!" if you sing Zacheus to her. She recognizes milk, juice, eyes, nose, hair, and tongue in Spanish. And can say vaca (cow), chow(bye), and oh yea... NO! in both languages :)
She is easily heartbroken when she is scolded but we are dealing with a hitting phase right now. What can I say, she knows what she wants and if she doesn't like to take no for an answer. She points to the outfit she wants to wear, what she wants to eat, and will only let you read the book she picks out(even if its a gazillion pages!). Greg has started hiding books because he hates to read :)
We are having so much fun and time is flying. I am excited for summer so that we can spend all of our time together but that also means Em'ry is growing up too fast. So, I won't wish my life or our time away!

2010 is our year!

We have hit the ground running in 2010! I say this is our year but I know that with God on our side, every year is our year! Greg, Em'ry and I are so blessed! We truly believe that life is about whose you are and not what you are. For that reason, we are up for whatever life throws at us.

So far this year, we have spent alot of quality time together. On New Years Day, we took Em'ry to HER first movie in the theater. Greg and I took her with us last year on New Years day to see Marley and Me and she slept right through. This year, it was Em'ry's turn and we went to see Alvin and the Chipmunks the Squeakqual. She danced, laughed, pointed, and loved it. She made it through all but the last 20 minutes which I thought was amazing for a 13 month old.

Lounging around the house and watching Em'ry grow and discover is the most amazing sight! She is becoming very independent. She is walking from room to room, holding her own snacks, and wants to help change her diaper. I think its time to potty train but she's soooo little. I'm going to try to hold off until summer but it may have to take place over Spring Break. We'll see!

On Monday, Em'ry got a day with Daddy! I had to work so they met me for lunch and then headed to Greg's school for open gym. When I got home at 4 they were both napped out on the couch! What a sweet picture!

Going back to Ms. Nancy's has been a little rocky. Em'ry was excited to see her and all of her friends but she cried the first morning because she had been with Greg and I for 2 weeks straight. When I picked Em'ry up at 3, Nancy said she was concerned that Em'ry might have pick eye. We knew she had a sinus infection so we went ahead and took her to the doc that afternoon. Sure enough! So, after just one day back at the sitter she got to stay home with Daddy again. By the end of the week, Em'ry was back to her cheery self and playing hard with her friends.

We have had a relaxing weekend and are rested and ready for the week. Can't wait to see what God has in store!

Grandpa Calvin's 90th Birthday!

Since the whole family was in town for Christmas, we decided to celebrate Grandpa's 90th birthday a little early. What a blessing it was to be able to celebrate his amazing life and share that experience with Em'ry. Its a shame that some children don't to have the opportunity to know their great-grandparents.

Em'ry loves grandpa and he loves to watch her dance. There's just something enticing about sitting on grandpa's lap. Maybe its the punch! :)

I am so thankful for the time I have been able to spend with my grandpa over the years. Whether it was mowing lawns, sleeping over on a school night, sharing ice cream before bed, or singing songs while we sat on the front porch, the time I spent with him was so precious. I learn so much from him every time I am in his presence. Life lessons that I will cherish forever.

Getting to know Em'ry brings so much joy to Grandpa!