Go Texans!

We took Emma to her first NFL game today: Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville. Emma was extremely well behaved both at the game and in the car on the way to and from the game. We "strategically" woke her up early this morning and played hard with her so that she would sleep in the car on the way to the game. This totally backfired and she didn't sleep a wink. We should have known better - she never sleeps in the car. However, she didn't cry at all durig the car ride on the way there or home, which is a true miracle. We never once had to put in the bear or moose CD (her favorites.) She must have been really tired because she slept the entire fourth quarter. She slept through all of the loud cheering and even cannon's going off! We had a great time even though the Texans lost.

Not much else happening here. I posted a video of her quacking at the ducks outside. She has the cutest little quack - if you listen good in the beginning you can hear her doing it really good. Sorry that the video is sideways.

Playing with her pompon at the game

What a little diva!

Go State!

Not much happened here this weekend. We caught up on running errands and working on the lawn and outdoors. I also put some fall decorations out. We cheered hard for our hometown Spartans to beat Notre Dame, but they didn't pull out the win in the end. Emma is the cutest Spartan cheerleader ever! Here are a couple pics.

Have a great week and Happy Birthday to our nephew Kole who turned one today! Happy Birthday to our niece Kennedy on Friday! Wish we could be there with you to celebrate!

Already ready for Halloween

Go State!

Labor Day and San Marcos

We have had a very busy last couple of weeks and it is so nice to finally be home and relaxing! Prior to Labor Day I went with a couple of girlfriends to San Marcos. We shopped till we dropped at the outlets and had a fantastic time. We also went to the historic town of Gruene and to the Gruene Hall - the oldest dance hall in Texas. It is where the famous George Strait got his start. There is nothing like a great weekend with the girls!!!

Jay and Emma and I just returned from a week long trip home to Michigan. I coud write forever about it, but am just too darn tired. We had a week full of Emma's social engagements to see as much family as possible (she should be a local celebrity.) We saw all four of her great grandparents, all of her grandparents, all of her aunts/uncles/cousins, and even some great aunts/uncles/second cousins. Throw in a day at the beach, a football game with tailgating, lots of time traveling on the roads (and airports), a day at the pool, and of course some time shopping (for new shoes because her feet have grown a whole size in the last month) and we had a whirlwind vacation. We just love this time of year in Michigan - the weather was gorgeous. It was high 70's and sunny all week. We had a great time seeing all of the family and showing off our beautiful girl to them! She still hates the water and big dogs. Surprisingly she was scared of Jasmine (our cocker spaniel) at first but quickly warmed up to her and Chloe. She ended up loving the small dogs and wouldn't stop putting her hand in their mouth and squeeling. Here are a few pictures and videos of the past couple weeks.

In front of the dance hall

Patty and Jenni

The three amigos

Do you like my shades?

Jenny, Becky and I at the Spartans home opener

The boys

Snuggling with Uncle Seth

Cousin Kole

Let us out!!

Kole at the beach

Emma playing in the sand

Koles cool shades

Kisses from Nana and Papa

Family pic - including Eddie

Bouncing with Kennedy on the trampoline

Swimming - she still hates the water

Playing with her stuffed animals

Where is Darian taking me?

Playing with Great Nana's cane

Papa - what are you doing?

With Aunt Jenny

Emma and Grammy

Taking a stroll with Aunt Jenny

Great Grandpa Bill, Mommy and Emma

Great Grandma Charney

What kind of trouble can I get into in here?

Swing me - Swing me please!!

Save me from Uncle Ryan!!

Grammy

Emma getting into trouble at the airport - late at night with her jammies on

Loving the trampoline

Hating the water

Loving the dogs (rephrase that to loving the small dogs and hating the big dogs)

Shake, shake, shake!!!

We had a busy day today. I took Emma to Texas Children's Hospital in Houston to have some bloodwork completed. It should be illegal to draw blood from a baby/toddler with all of the pain and suffering it caused not only Emma, but myself. The phlebotomist had me lay Emma down on the table with me laying directly on top of her to hold her down. Another worker held Emma's arm down while the third lady tried to stick the needle in her arm. Emma was screaming at the top of her lungs, trying her hardest to wiggle free, her head was beat red and her hair was soaking wet with sweat. All the ladies could say over and over was "This girl is strong! This girl is strong! She's gonna be a softball player one day!" Needless to say they couldn't get her vein and had to pull the needle in and out and in and out and in and out trying over and over. Eventually they gave up on that arm and let my poor, sweet baby rest a minute.

The next arm we had her sitting on my lap and I was literally holding her down with all my might while one lady was again holding her arm down. Again - it wasn't working. I said a little prayer to the good lord above that these two ladies could figure it out because there was no way on God's green earth that I was driving all the way to Houston again from Beaumont to go through this misery. Finally, after pulling the needle in and out and in and out they reached blood! Whoo Hoo! Emma gave her two vials and we were happily on our way back home. Emma was so relieved to be away from those two ladies that she didn't even cry on the way home - she was rewarded with a full sippy cup of apple juice which she happily gulped down.

I will say that walking through the halls of Texas Childrens Hospital is a very sobering moment. It is heart wrenching, to say the least, to see all of the sick children in the hallways. I saw kids without hair who had obviously had chemo, kids with masks and IV's, and even a baby with a trach. Once we got into the car I couldn't help but cry a little for the sick children and for what they and their families are enduring. We are so extremely blessed to have such a healthy family!

Later this evening Emma was helping me to fold the laundry. She loves to take the clothes that I have already folded and shake them all around. She is imitating me shaking out the wrinkles. It is so cute. I posted a video of her below.

I will be driving with a couple friends tomorrow to go shopping at the outlets in San Marcos. I am very excited to have a girls weekend, but will miss my hubby and Emma. It will be good bonding time for them. I am trying to enforce the rule that Emma must get dressed on Sat/Sun. Jay loves to let her wear her PJ's all day! Enjoy the video.

Uneventful Weekend

We have had a rather uneventful weekend. Emma lost the remote control to the TV a couple times, which is always fun to try and find. She also managed to lose a sippy cup full of whole milk. I knew I had to find that one or my nose would eventually lead me to it. I didn't want the smell of sour milk throughout the house. UGH!

We ran a couple errands, went out to eat, and did some yard work. Emma loves brushing her teeth so there are a couple pictures of her with the toothbrush. She actually cries when I take it away. I wonder if this will last into her childhood?

Next weekend I am going with a couple girlfriends to San Marcos on an adult only shopping spree. Yeah! I am very excited - Jay has daddy daycare duty. It also happens to be his fantasy football draft weekend so I wonder how much attention Emma will actually get.

On Thursday I have to drive Emma to Texas Childrens Hospital in Houston to get blood drawn for a blood test. I am not looking forward to this because it is pure misery trying to hold her down to get blood drawn. I don't know how Jay managed to get out of this one!

Our love bug brushing her teeth

Brushing teeth with mommy

Hi everyone!
She has to be entered into a cutest baby alive contest! ( I'm not biased, am I?)

Kisses from mommy

Before dinner on Saturday

15 Months Old!

Emma had her 15 month check up with her pediatrician this past week. She weighs 21 pounds and 13 ounces which is in the 25th percentile and she is 31 inches tall, which is in the 70th percentile. Basically, this means that she is tall and skinny for her age. She doesn't seem too skinny to us - she still has her adorable chunky thighs. She is definately getting more slender in the belly though. Her doctor said that everything looked great and we will see him again in 3 months for another checkup and yet more immunizations.

A funny story from her pediatrician visit came when the doctor walked into the room. I was holding her in my arms and she immediately looked him in the eye and started ranting and raving at him in her baby jibberish. It was totally as if she said "I know exactly who you are and don't even think about touching me. I don't want anything you have for sale, buddy!" Later, when I asked him a few questions about her language development he laughed and said that based on what she had to say to him that she is doing great. He also went on to say that she seems to be a bit "assertive" and she may give us a run for our money in the near future.

We had a relaxing weekend. Emma has been trying more and more food over the past couple weeks. This weekend she discovered that she loved quesadillas ( a girl after her own moms heart!), homemade blueberry pancakes, french fries, toast - with jam of course, and watermelon. She could take me on head to head in a watermelon eating contest she loved it so much! She also learned the word "toe." Her version sounds much more like the Homer Simpson "doh!"

We said goodbye's to two different couples this weekend. Saturday night we went out to dinner with our friends Brian, Jamie, and their daughter Avery. They are moving with Exxon to Houston in about a month. Today our good friends Nathan and Anni came to visit for the day from Houston. They are moving to Qatar with Exxon next month. This was an especially sad goodbye as they are from the UK and we aren't sure when we will get to see them again. They have been our family away from home every Thanksgiving and we have celebrated several Thanksgiving Days with them. We will miss you!!!

Looking out the back window at Daddy

Nathan, Anni and Emma (and Eddie, of course)
Look at the camera Emma

The official 15 month picture - believe me I had to be quick on the trigger to capture a picture of both her and the card turned toward the camera - a true miracle!

Look how long her piggies are getting!

Precious sleeping position I caught one night with her leg in between the rungs sticking outside of the crib!