Week 47- Leaves

A childhood pastime.

Em laughs SO hard, non-stop, while playing in the fall leaves.

Also, if we're on a walk she has to put forth her best effort to crunch every leaf in (and out) of her path. Yelling, "Crunch, crunch!" with each meaningful step.

We love every second of it.

Emelia has been very interested in numbers lately. She will try to count during random activities and always when about to run. Running up and down the hills while playing in the leaves is no exception. "One, two, free!" "Ready, gooooo!"


Silly selfies.

Week 12- A Caterpillar

The one of the hungriest kind.

Extremely talented, and amazing cousin Annie (previously mentioned) threw a killer first birthday party for her little one a couple of weeks ago. Em and I went to have a sleepover and party fun while Couper was out of town. The party theme was "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" which I'm sure you're all familiar with. I wish I had taken pictures of everything because Annie seriously needs to be a professional party-planner. It was jaw-droppingly cute! I'm for real.

To top it off, among other cute things, there was HOMEMADE play dough in the party gift-bags designed to help make a caterpillar at home. LOVE.

This was Em's first experience with play dough. I didn't know if she would care for it, or just try to eat it. She totally got the idea and squished, squeezed, and pulled apart that play dough like a pro! She had such a good time, and I was elated watching her. She did sneak in one little taste but quickly realized she wasn't a fan of the flavor and continued playing like a big girl. So much fun to watch her grasp onto such activities; so emotional to realize it's because she is growing up SO FAST!

3/21-Crazy sock day to show our love and support to friends and family with Down Syndrome.

 A special shout-out to our sweet nephew Porter. Life is so much better because you're a part of it!

Week 8-Toddally for tots

(whoops, time got away from me)
Week 8-Toddally for Tots

We are ecstatic about the unusual and premature February sunshine and above freezing temperatures...however, it has still felt like a long winter. Em turned one and seriously flipped a switch into toddler-hood. No, she's still not walking on her own, but she became busier, faster, curious-er.., sassier, smarter, etc. over night. The past couple months of unpredictable weather and chill-you-to-the bone temps have left me thinking up random indoor activities to keep my little one entertained, and away from trouble :).

Here are some things we've been up to that are

Toddally for Tots:
--disclaimer: all things are supervised--

(unfortunately there are limited pictures)

*play house/dolls (short-lived but she is so sweet to those babies)
*bubbles in tub or tiled area

*read-a-thons and flashlight activities in various forts



*music/signing dancing time (this girl has got some wicked dance moves, she does an invented sign consisting of an amazing hands-up-shimmy to ask us to turn the music on, I can't resist.)
*"Baby Signing Time" and the occasional "monkey" (Curious George)
*"organize DVD's" --I guess this could be considered trouble, but she is so gentle with them, treating them like her books, and "talks" up a storm. Not to mention she'll often help put them back.

*visit grammies and grampas (or should I say "visit Sadie," the dog)
*have playdates with little friends and cousins (when everyone is healthy; sheesh!)
*or have skype sessions with distant cousins or when there's a bug going around
*balloons--serious entertainment, all three of us were cry-laughing.

*exercise. I worried about exercising before nap time, but the special occasions we exercise together turn into major core work out and tone-age due to serious giggles or Em wanting to go up-and-down while I squat. (there are plenty of games of peek a boo while doing yoga or other forms of floor workout too, I highly recommend this experience to anyone. So. funny.)
*help mommy bake, flour is amazing (and messy)
*getting things out of the fridge (...stinker)

*stickers--fascinating
*chase, and hide and seek with mom and dad (oh the giggles that result!)
*magnets! (there are many more on the fridge...but sitting on the cold tile gets old, score for the pizza pan!)

*one word sign: fish

What do you do with your little ones in throughout the cold months?