My Florist

When I was a little girl, my grandparents lived across the street from a florist shop. I spent many a weekend with my Ma Ma Ellen. She would often walk us across the street to look at the window display. We never went inside, but we just looked in through the windows. There was always something to see in the big front windows. Flowers. Holiday displays. Huge stuffed animals.

Walking through the hospital, we always pass the florist shop. Emma always stops to "ruff ruff" at the stuffed dogs in the window. She always stops at the figurine display. Probably the reasons Emma won't be an inside visitor are the same reason I wasn't as a child. I just couldn't help noticing the parallel today, and it was a sweet, sweet memory. Emma has her own My Florist.

Some Days You Just Can't Do It All

When I picked Noah up from school today, he looked over at Emma, and pointed.

Noah: "Momma, Emma forgot to get dressed for the day."

Me: "Dude, she went to the HEB in her pajamas."

Noah: "That's silly."

Yeah. What's even sillier is she ate her breakfast there too. Some days you just can't do it all.

Halloween Hater? Say What?

Was it really just a short time ago, that Noah was not a huge fan of Halloween?  It's mid-September, and he's already on costume number two.

I think this one might stick... he's super pumped to be IRON MAN!

Emma - Fifteen Months

"How old is she?" is a question we are asked all the time, when it comes to you.  Daddy's good with calling it a year, but I keep trying to tell him you have to count in months until 24, so here's to 15.

You love shoes! Everything is a croc, but I took you on your first trip to Stride Rite, and you were in HEAVEN. We even picked you up some sparkly numbers from Target. You're already wearing a size 5.5. Guess our kids take after Momma in the monster feet department. Anytime you run across a pair of shoes, you want them on your feet. I guess you take after your daddy there since Noah and I prefer to be barefoot.

Speaking of Noah, he is such a great big brother. Well, except for yesterday when he pushed you off the couch. You landed on your back, and although I'm pretty sure it hurt a bit, I think your 45 minute tear fest had a lot to do with brother breaking your poor little heart (and bc of the closeness to bedtime). Noah usually wants to include you in things, and he is pretty gentle with you. He runs after you when you run off with a "Hey!  Get back here Emma," and he has helped me a time or two by holding you (in the bear hug death grip) while I do something.  You fuss like crazy waiting in the carpool line, but as soon as brother gets in... Happy as a clam.

Your language has picked up, and you say Momma and Dada and Noah (No no). You say out and night night. You say cup and cracker. You are finally "growing more teeth," and your top middle two are finally starting to break the skin.

Lack of teeth definitely hasn't slowed you down in the eating department. You love food, and I think your favorite thing to eat is tomatoes. Oh, and cheez-its. I wonder who you take after there. Just this morning, you begged for tomatoes out of the fridge, so that's what you ate for breakfast with a side of yogurt.

You are so smart. You amaze me every day with all the things you can do and understand. When you're tired, you head to your room, hungry you're trying to climb into your high chair. If I even say the word, "outside," you are clawing at the back door. You can almost always be distracted from whatever you're doing (like trying to climb on the couch) with a "where's your baby?" You immediately take off in search of one of the many hanging around the house.  You love being outside, and you can always be found climbing on the trampoline or trying to ride the roller coaster.

You are tagging along with Momma most says during the week. You know your way around a therapy waiting room, I'll give you that. Actually, super cute story. Noah's OT's office is attached to Daddy's hospital, and every time Noah goes back, you and I head over to visit Daddy. On Monday, as soon as Noah went back, you walked over to me, and said, "Dada?" Melt my heart.

Emma, it is so easy to be your Momma, and you bring so much joy to our lives! I love watching your little mind grow. You rock, baby girl!

I promise to take more pictures!!

Love those two fingers.

Love bubbles!  And saying, "bubbles."  And popping bubbles.  And saying, "pop!"

Monkey.  Climbing anything onto and into anything and everything.

No sensory issues here.  Drenched in the rain.

The sweetest ragamuffin ever.

Wordless Wednesday - 08.19.2012

Although no words are needed for this sweet picture of brother and sister, I want to remember that we went from school to therapy to swim lessons.  Noah changed in the car, and I forgot to bring his crocs.  He was barefoot, so he sat in Emma's stroller to cross the parking lot.  I handed him Emma to hold.  He held on so tight, and they both loved every minute of the ride.  

More Than Five Things Friday 09.14.12 - T.G.I.F.

1.  When I asked Noah about extra curricular activities at school, I said, "Noah, do you want to do karate or gymnastics this year?"  His reply, "Mom!  I want to do karate AND gymnastics! (pause) And, I want to do swimming!"  Thanks to my friend Erica for snapping this cute picture of Noah in karate.  

2.  So, we added more to our calendar and swimming lessons resumed on Wednesday.  I should know to come straight home, but I tried to squeeze in an errand, and I should know that drinking pool water on an empty stomach increases Noah's chances of car sickness ten-fold.  It was when we pulled into the parking lot of CVS that I turned around to hear Noah say, "Noah, you're not going to be sick."  You can go ahead and finish the story yourself.  Ugh.  

3.  So, Friday started off on a low point when Dean went to get Emma out of bed and said upon opening the door, "why does her room smell like pee?"  Come to find out, the babysitter had put her to sleep the night before in a swim diaper.  Awesome!

4.  Listening to FUN. on the drive to school. Wondering if "jack my style" is an appropriate phrase for a five year old!

5.  I attempted to new route to school (Thanks Kyra!) in a attempt to cut down on school zones.  I set my timer at 8:30A when pulling out of my driveway.  I checked it again at about 4:45PM when I was pulling back in.  How's that time for a random Friday?  Brutal!

6. Emma is always so excited to walk the hospital halls and pop in to see Daddy.  

7. Emma just finished eating a chicken salad sandwich, a whole avocado and some strawberries. Noah's on his second bowl of goldfish. Oh, first born... I'm sorry for all my parenting mistakes.  This one loves some variety in her diet.  

8.  Noah's phrase of the week... when I'm fussing him for something or shouting at him to pay attention.  He says, "Calm down, Mom... Calm down!"  

9.  This week Noah's class was working on the letter F.  On Thursday, Noah needed to bring something that started with the letter F for show and tell.  Noah found about 10 things, and narrowing it down was pretty difficult.  He decided to settle on his "fun backpack."
Me: "Noah, backpack starts with the letter B."
Noah:  "Mom, fun starts with the letter F."
Me:  "Well, you should just bring yourself.  Fun Noah."
Noah: "Mom, Noah starts with the letter N."
I think I made my point.  

10.  These kids love to be outside, and now that cooler weather is (fingers crossed) on it's way, the evenings are so bearable.  I think we may finally be able to break in the play structure properly!

Cool Snap

A brief respite from the heat! Is fall really near? Is there a better place to play than Grammy and Pa Pa's backyard?

This one is loving the sand.  Thankfully, she has given up on eating it.  Bleh.

He calls it swimming, but it's pretty much a lot of bouncing through the shallow end.  Close enough.

Sweet girl really wanted to get in that pool.  She settled for two red popsicles.

Jumping in.

Cousins.

Cheez-Head

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Cheez-it's are Noah's favorite food.

Exhibit no. 1

This came home in his folder from school Friday. And, really is any more evidence needed?

Today, we spent some time hanging in Grammy's backyard. Noah ran inside to get a snack and come out with a box of cheez-it's.

Noah: "We need a plate."

Me: "Why don't we just eat them out the box?"

Noah: "Oh yes, we can eat them out the box. Good thinking, Mommy."