It's hot!

Yesterday I attempted to do some 16 month photos of Emerson. We headed out to a new location to scout out some cool spots. I jumped up and down, sang songs, and all I got was this. Not a single smile. Just the stare. It was hot I can admit. I didn't realize how hot until I got home and saw the forecast for 102! Not exactly ideal weather for a toddler. Once we were in the AC she was in a much better mood.

Didn't I say she was sweet? So lovey dovey.

Hugging her seahorse who desperately needs some batteries. It's starting to sound pretty sad. None the less she gave him some love.

I know everyone says she is skinny but check-out that double chin!

After she cooled down she was back to her goofy self.

Giggling

Chatting

and loving some attention.

But then she busted her lip and the fun ended. Time to lower the crib!

16 months and looking older

Doesn't E. look older with her new hair do? I promise she was more thrilled than she appears.

But, I couldn't resist posting this look she gave me. Ha!

She loved playing with my beads!

She actually was banging them around like a wild child!

I guess with age comes a killer sense of style.

16 months

Long time no blog, huh? We've been sick, on vacation, then recovering from vacation and trying to get back into the swing of things. I haven't taken 16 month pictures of Emerson yet. But, I figured I might as well post something before she is 17 months. :) One of the most noticeably developments to me is her eagerness to talk and communicate. She answers questions. Can make statements about what she wants for example she said, "Dada bubbles," the other day when she wanted Mark to blow her some good bubbles. She really seems to understand a whole lot. She knows her body parts, and will even say "eye." We went through a period of stranger anxiety and she seems to have done a complete turn around. In the airport she insisted on talking to every person there. It was the cutest thing ever! When we went grocery shopping last night she said hi to every person we passed. If they didn't acknowledge her she just said it louder! She has even cried when I have picked her up from church nursery. Apparently they are much more fun than me. Ha! Her favorite activities are taking things out of drawers, pushing things, and carrying (buckets, purses, whatever..) E. still has a slight obsession with balls, completely freaking out if I buy a melon at the store and don't hand it to her to play with. Emerson even has a strawberry shortcake basketball goal that she loves to dunk in. She loves to go to the pool and will even kick her legs and try to swim. A little fish I tell ya.

She is a very sweet girl and loves to give kisses and hugs and will try to position herself in your lap if you are on her level. She has 8 teeth and two coming in. Which is good for her since she just recently became interested in food! Out of the blue she loves the bananas she has loathed for 6 months. She also is ecstatic about pb&j sandwiches, cheerios, and crackers. Unfortunately she won't touch veggies but I've secretly slipped them into a healthy veggie pancake which is even tasty to me. Just don't tell her it's good for her. I'm confident that she will continue to add more and more food as time goes on. Emerson is super active and wears me out. We don't take baths too much anymore since she climbs out. Instead I put her in the shower and she loves it. She will get in if the door is open so I have to watch her.

Emerson is quite the problem solver. She loves to put things back together whether it's a cap that came off the bottle or her shoe that she took off. She will even try to put the dog collar on Mia. Even though she dislikes hairbows she will try to put it in if she takes it out.

See?

She loves to be apart of the conversation now and will fake laugh at anything anyone else is laughing at. I need it on camera because it's hysterical. We just have so much fun with her and love her to pieces!

I hope to have some official pictures soon!

Attack of the baby

I only have time for a quick blog post today. This weekend I went yard selling for the first time! It was pretty successful. I got Emerson took cloth books for .50. These go for $10-15 in the store. I also got a bookshelf that I hope to paint one day, and a few clothes for E. I did learn that you probably should get there at the 7am opening since it's sooo hot.

Nannie and papaw came to visit. We drug them on our yard selling adventure. Emerson was a little abusive.

I think after this episode they regretted getting her this cup.

Maybe one that says fiesty toddler or little stinker would be more fitting?

Going places

This little chica has just been a mess! I actually got a picture of a semi-smile because I pinned her down. Ha! I'm not kidding. I seriously had to throw my leg over her. :)

She has really gotten into climbing and nothing is out of reach. Well, in her eyes that is. So much for our hidden book stash.

Her favorite toy right now is buckets. She has a blast carrying them around, packing it full of toys. The other day we got another bucket. Instead of replacing her old one she wants to carry both, on top of another toy if she can handle it.

"Hmmm...what else can I get into?"

A breastpump bag works just the same as a bucket though in case you were wondering.

After all that toting sometimes you just have to crash!

Splash Grounds

Last week we went to the splash grounds. For a $1 per kid and a morning full of energy burning activity you can't beat it. At first Emerson was a little weary.

She brought her boyfriend, Ben and contemplated what this place was all about.

Soon she realized it was a place to have fun and she was off!

Running all over the place. There were large buckets overhead that tipped over and I had to keep deterring her. She was mesmerized by them and she would have surely been taken out by one!

We brought our bucket and sand toys. They were a big hit. Although every two minutes another kid had swiped hers. Next time, we need to mark her name on it. Check out her beach bod. Those roley poly legs!

The kids had a blast splashing around. Stopping the flow of water with their hands.

E. was Miss Independent walking all over, by herself. She didn't want to play with me at all! I probably looked nuts calling her name and her walking away. Next we went over to the wading pool. It was about a foot high so the babies could toddle around. Emerson had other plans and thought it was her opportunity to show off her swimming techniques. She would throw herself face first, completely submerging her head. I kept getting some stern looks from the lifeguard like I was supervising her sufficiently. But, seriously she would swat my hand away. I guess she needs one of those floaty suits if she thinks she is ready for the deep end. We had a great time and I see many more trips this summer to the splash grounds in our future.

Changes

Emerson has been going through a lot of changes in the last week. Doesn't she look older? Also in need of a hair brush.

We have two molars that have cut and two right behind. All of these teeth have given E. an interest in.....FOOD! It's really amazing how quickly she has changed from not eating a thing to chowing down and demanding food. Halleujiah! The church nursery even said she stuffed her face with goldfish at the big kid table and chairs even after everyone was done. Really? My Little E.? At first I thought they had confused her with another pint size child. But, then later that night when she was shoving sweet potato fries in her mouth I gave it a second thought. Then she ate some watermelon and loved it! More things that have been a hit are oranges (who knew??), homemade healthy pancakes (filled with bananas, blueberries, and honey), and goldfish. She can even say "goldfish" now and is always demanding them if I'm in the kitchen. Now if I could just get her to eat a green vegetable.

Weekend Round Up

We had a busy weekend. Emerson and I headed to the farm. The farm that supplies the produce for the company I work for had a farm day. So we traveled about an hour east to check it out. The farm supplies produce for about 2000 families each week. Wow! I snapped a few pictures here and there.

I love all the rust! I think some people thought I was crazy for taking a picture of it.

Chicken Coop

I don't think Emerson trusted those chickens too much.

The farm prepared us lunch. A pig pickin with lots of fresh veggies, and homemade ice cream. It was delicious. Soon after lunch Emerson was through. It was very very hot and humid. So she was as a trooper to hang in that long. I even snuck a bow in her hair without her noticing. She was dripping sweat so I had to do something.

Sunday we headed to Mark's parents to celebrate his Dad's birthday. Emerson was thrilled to sit in her own little chair.

She has gotten very into furniture. In her size of course.

She had to tell me all about it. What a mess!

After this long, hot weekend Emerson needed to have a rest. Whatever works!

Thursday Five

Happy Happy Thursday!!

Today is a FANTASTIC day..but you'll just have to wait and read my five to find out why..

Wanna play..all you have to do is post 5 things that have made you

Jubilant

Giddy

Excited

Thankful

Stoked

Keely over at MannLand5 started this fun carnival so here is...

My Five

1. Julie Ann got married! We headed to Conover for her wedding weekend and it was a blast full of fun activities. Here we are pre-wedding with a blurry picture from my phone. Doesn't she look stunning?!? I mean seriously. Then of course the ceremony was a tear jerker. Is there anything better than the emotion on a wedding day?

2. Emerson was a party girl. She was a super good sport at the reception. I even brought her out with me while the bridesmaids were introduced and she got to be introduced too! Then she did the chicken dance with me and clapped her hands on cue. I see some future dance parties in her future! She looks a little dazed in this picture but for a girl who didn't nap I say she held in there.

3. I have a photoshoot tomorrow with a sweet baby girl. I'm so excited I can't stand it and maybe if I'm lucky her Mama will let me hold her for a bit. I'll post pictures here once they are complete.

4. We're going to farm day on Saturday. The company I work for part-time, The Produce Box, is having a family farm day where we can tour the farm, taste things. How fun! Have you ever had a cucumber straight from the farm? It's amazing. So head to your farmers market and pick one up. They knock the grocery store stuff out of the water.

5. Our church is doing a Sunday night series where some seminary professors are speaking on certain topics. This Sunday is "Hearing God's Voice in Scriptures." I'm really excited to take it in. I feel very fortunate to have such great resources.

6. I'm adding a 6th because I finished Emerson's scrapbook for the first year and got it yesterday. BEAUTIFUL! So pleased.

Happy Thursday!

More 15 month pictures

If you want to see more 15 month pictures of Emerson become my fan on facebook! I have a whole gallery there. That's all I have for now!