Kitchen Duty

This little one requires constant supervision, and if my camera hadn't been on the counter right above the dish washer no record would be had of the event.  This little one is a hand full. 

Field Trip - Splash Pad

The school year is coming to an end, and just like last year, a field trip was scheduled at the splash park.  Noah was super excited this morning when I found out it was field trip day.  I knew he would have fun running around the water, but I wasn't sure how long it would be before he came to me and said, "I'm soaking wet.  Want to get dressed."

Ready to splash.

Dodging the spray.

I was trying to encourage him to run through the spray, but he was a little reluctant to go headfirst through. 

Formulating a plan.

Light bulb on.

He crawled under it multiple times.  It was so cute!

He had so much fun and surprised me by playing over an hour and a half in the water.  Eventually, he came to me and said, "Mom, we need clothes."

Dressed and ready for the park.  What a fun morning!

First Piggies

Fancy Feet

If I had a dollar for every time someone said, "put some socks on that girl."  Aside from winter tights, the times I've used footwear either socks or shoes on Emma have been few or far between.  So, I had to laugh when I put these footsie pajamas on Emma few nights ago.  I could see her wheels spinning. 

Ummm... what is going on here?

Not really sure about this, Momma.

 

Say Cheese

Gorgeous afternoon.  Backyard shade.  Practicing smiling for the camera.

Eating Habits

Noah is not the best eater, but has a few go to staples.  Peanut butter and jelly.  Hot dog. Chicken and french fries.  Gumbo. Jambalaya.  Spaghetti.  All fruit, and let's not forget the cheez-its.  I think that about sums it up.  The limited list is less a sensory thing and more an exposure thing.  For example, he doesn't eat bread, but he will eat peanut butter and jelly on bread... crust and all.  He eats spaghetti with meatballs, but not hamburgers.  You may notice there are no vegetables on the list.  Past baby food, I really never fixed them for him.  Big mistake, Momma.  At dinner tonight, I served mashed potatoes with chicken.  Noah will only eat a potato in the form of a french fry.  And, apparently, four years is way too late in the game for an intro, no matter how delicious.  Since Noah eats in sections, he was all over the chicken and applesauce.  He however, felt that he could ignore the potatoes.  Until, I forced him to take three bites.  After I finally made him understand that three bites were required to get the sixth sticker on his sticker chart which would complete the chart and result in ICE CREAM.  He took the three bites all the while with him gagging and with me telling him that he could not spit them out or throw them up, and then he chased them with some OJ.  Sigh.  It was a tough one.  All over three bites of mashed potatoes that were DELICIOUS.   
Emma on the other hand will eat anything. As much as she could give or take breastmilk/formula she is all over anything served at breakfast/lunch/dinner.  She scarfed down those mashed potatoes.  I have yet to find a food she doesn't like. I basically throw whatever dinner we are having in our magic bullet blender, which I love by the way (thanks Aunt Mo), and she gobbles it up.  This week we had spaghetti.  I threw the noodles, sauce, and a jar of baby carrots in the bullet, and yum, yum. Dinner for Emma.  She ate the entire bowl followed up with a jar of apples, and then when she spied Noah's bowl of pasta.  Pointing and babbling ensued.  I threw some noodles on her plate, and she was one happy girl.  Big brother may learn a thing or two about eating from his little sis. 

This eating stuff is serious.

I love noodles.

Delicious!

Phone Purge Friday 04.20.12 - Mish Mash

Momma and Emma enjoying Grand Isle.

Dreams of rowing his own kayak... it's just that whole swimming thing that might be an issue.

Speaking of swimming.  Noah started private swim lessons last month. I can't say he is really learning how to swim just yet, but Ms. S is pretty patient. Noah rules the pool a bit. Amazingly enough, Ms. S is able to sneak in some teaching. He really enjoys going, so it's worth it whether he swims or not. 

If your kids aren't reading Mo Willems, your family is missing out.  The books are so cute and so hilarious.  Noah is loving "Don't Let the Pigeon Ride the Bus" and "Leonard the Terrible Monster" this week.  This was Momma's attempt at a pigeon hat. 

For the very first time in almost five years, Dean and I spent the weekend together kidless.  Thanks Grammy and Pa Pa and Aunt Mo for helping us make it happen.  Here Dean and I are enjoying some adult beverages on the balcony of Muriels in Jackson Square.

My two smiling cuties.

Most of Noah's life has involved eating in the car... it's just part of our life in the big city with a busy schedule.  Sometimes I have to get a bit creative.  For example, what makes a better ketchup holder than half of a plastic Easter egg.  Genius!

Emma is also learning the fine art of eating in the car.  I can usually get breakfast in her before we leave to bring brother to school, but this morning, she had slept late.  We were waiting to go into Gymboree, so I decided to just sit her in Noah's carseat and hope in the back with her yogurt.  She thought it was super fun!

Moving on Up

Spring is here, and the weather is beautiful.  We met some friends at the park this afternoon.  Although Emma can't walk yet, she sure can climb.

What is that brother doing up there?

I think I got this.

Oh... is that how you do it?

Look at me go!

What Mom?!?  I'm a big girl!

Emma - Ten Months

It's hard to believe that age one is knocking at our door. Time sure flies, and how easy it is to forget life before babies. Dean and I laughed over our discussion of last year's Disney trip when I said, "What did I do with Emma?" She wasn't born yet. Ha.

She is finally growing steadily thanks to baby food and the magic powder and increasing formula supplementation. I'm a little disappointed about not making it to a year with breastfeeding Emma, but with her being my second child, I know that there is life after weaning. Our days are way to on the go hectic, and it was just becoming way too difficult for me to keep up, so I decided to cut myself some slack. I've kept morning and night feedings, mostly because I'm not ready to let it go completely. We'll see how long it lasts.

Anyway, enough about my issues... Emma is still standing and starting to cruise on furniture. She definitely doesn't seem ready to take steps while standing, but I'm sure it's coming. She gets around so fast.  While visiting Grammy she did do a bit of walking holding onto a rolling toy.  Walking is around the corner.  She is the best sleeper.  She naps great, has an early bedtime, and has to be woken up in the morning.  I guess she's doing a bit of growing these days.  She doesn't ever nap transfer from car to house/stroller, but rarely wakes up happy.  I guess she's lived her whole life on the go, so she has learned to roll with it from day one.

Daddy decided to jump in on the post, so here is what he has to say about Emma at 10 months.

Emma is doing so well. She's starting to babble. I love her laugh. I love how she always wants to be around Noah. She can track Momma across the house with just the sound of her voice. I love how she's letting me put her to sleep now. Just this morning, we rolled the ball back and forth, and she pointed out Momma and Noah in a picture. She loves to eat and can stick her hand in her snack jar and come out with one puff. (Thanks Pa Pa Harold for teaching her that trick.) She loves attention, and she will smile and make sweet eyes at anyone around.  She is such a happy baby and is such a joy in our lives.  We love this baby girl!

Happy girl!

Snoozing on a stroll

The crab crawl.  How she gets around.

She loves bathtime!

Hmmm... what's for snack, Mom?

Mum Mums... delicious!

 

Makin' a Splash

While visiting at Grandma and Grandpa's house this week, Emma sunscreened up, put on her big girl bathing suit and went on her first official swim.

Daddy was all ready for Emma's first swim, but...

Oops.  He got a little distracted by Noah, and failed "Swimming with Baby 101" when he let Emma crawl head first into the pool.  Heads up Daddy!

Emma loved the pool, and I think we will soon have a water baby on our hands.

Easter on the Island

We headed south to Grand Isle for Easter weekend. The weather was beautiful.  The company was great, and both our kids had a great time. Noah found his own stretch of beach to comb right out the back door of the camp. He threw shells in the water, he drew letters in the sand, he made shapes with his shadow.

And, every afternoon he took a massive nap because he was pooped from all the activity.

One morning, we took a real beach walk with Grammy, Pa Pa and Aunt Mo. The minute we stepped on the beach, Noah took off running. He kept turning to see if we were following, but didn't slow too much. When we finally caught up (thanks Aunt Mo), he slowed down and realized he was exhausted.

 He asked for Aunt Mo to carry him back.

Noah did hang out one early afternoon with the big cousins. He headed to the end of the dock where the kids were jumping on an inflatable trampoline.

He asked for his swimsuit and was outfitted with a life jacket. As I was walking him back out, I told him, "this is the Gulf of Mexico." When he jumped into the water, he shouted, "I'm in Mexico!"

He had a lot of fun in the water, but wanted to be held at all times.  He was not a fan of the muddy bottom.  I don't blame him.  Thanks Brooke and Zack for taking turns holding him. 

Emma had her own share of fun at the beach.  Lots of kiddos looking to play and hold her.  The winner of all kids was Andrew B. who made Emma laugh everytime he stopped to talk to her.

Emma also got some cuddles from her big cousin, Morgan.  She is definitely a close second to Morgan (aka D.K.) in the bed head department.

Here's a little nap time with Grammy rocking in the salty air.

Emma even got a little pool time at the end of the dock.  She looked so stinkin' cute in her new swimsuit from Grammy.

All the grand kids ready for church. It was not my family's best outing at mass. Emma decided to sing loudly throughout, and well, Noah was not feeling the quiet mouth.

What's an Easter weekend without an egg hunt?!?

No picture, but Emma was crawling around downstairs when she spied Tiger, Aunt Mo's black lab, sitting on the ground paws outstretched. Emma started crawling towards her. Tiger started crawling slowly towards Emma. When they were nose to nose, Emma finally called chicken, and I scooped her up. Cute!

Thanks Aunt Mo and Uncle Jeff for inviting us. We had an awesome weekend!