Santa Claus!

Another successful visit to the "real" Santa. Emmeline was a little nervous about this all week, but was much more interested when she got to see a few kids going into Santa's sleigh ahead of her. Once she figured out how the routine went, and that Santa wasn't scaring anyone else, she started asking me when it would be her turn. She practically elbowed the family ahead of us out of the way, telling me "Girl all done. Emmeline's turn. I want sit in Santa's lap." She climbed into his sleigh, list in hand, and was doing great, even sitting on his lap without trouble. Then, Santa asked her to look at him...she did and then LOST it. "Mommy hug!" I had to get in the sleigh too. Oh well. At some point, she'll be over this, and then it won't be long before she won't even want to go. Emmeline's list was only one item, a bed for her baby doll, but Santa promised a new baby doll and some storybooks too. I think that would be a lovely Christmas.

On the baby front, we had our 20 week ultrasound the Friday before Thanksgiving. It went well, everything is developing nicely, and the tech didn't slip up and tell us the sex. If I can get my hands on a scanner, I'll put some of the pictures up. Last time, I was attending Loyola, so was able to use their scanners. We're still a little bit last decade here at our house. This baby is WAY more active than I remember Emmeline being at this point. Emmeline's active times were morning and early afternoon. This baby sleeps in, and then parties hard all night. I don't remember Em kicking hard enough to wake me up, or prevent me sleeping, until much closer to the end. I'm only 21 weeks now, and have trouble sleeping most nights because this baby is rocking out. I really do enjoy feeling the kicks though, I had forgotten how great that part of pregnancy is. This is the golden time - not so big to be uncomfortable, and past all the first trimester crap. I'm pretty sure strangers can tell I'm pregnant, and not just lumpy. I love this second trimester. Even with Em, I didn't get big enough to be really truly uncomfortable until around 34/35 weeks. Which means I should be really truly uncomfortable just at our anniversary! Sorry Shawn.

19 Weeks

We have been so busy this fall. Now that Pretentious Thanksgiving is wrapped up, I can try to be better about posting. Especially now that more interesting things are happening. Emmeline is growing and learning so much, that I have avoided posting because I don't even know how to sum it up. I would have to post every day for a month to share all the new things she's done. She's counting, she's got most of her colors, (just don't ASK her, everything's green), she has learned probably 50 new signs, and is past the parrot stage into saying things that she couldn't have heard, but must have come up with on her own. Her toileting is just about done, she has an accident about once every 10 days or less. She's trying so hard to jump, and loves to walk backwards. She can pour her own milk, can eat a container of yogurt without getting it all over her shirt, and can put on her own shoes, provided they are mary jane style. Emmeline LOVED Halloween and is still trying out Trick or Treat! hoping for candy.

As for me, I've made it to all my prenatal appointments, and they have all been as disappointing as I found them with Emmeline. At least this time, I was prepared for how BORING these appointments are. I had one yesterday, heartbeat is in the 150s, I'm measuring right for dates, and have put on about 6 pounds. The more exciting stuff happens elsewhere. I've been feeling this baby move since pretty early on, partly because I knew what to feel for, and because things are ...looser? Not sure what the right word is, but I felt this kiddo around 11 weeks. Today was the first baby hiccups. I forgot how adorable that is. And slightly annoying, as I was trying to take a nap during my limited napping time window. But still nice. We have our ultrasound on Friday. As with Em, we won't be finding out the sex, so don't even ask. However, I'm still always interested in what people think we'll be having. I'll try to get Shawn to take a belly picture tonight so you can decide whether I'm carrying low or high, or whatever other evidence it is people use to decide.

And, We're Back!

Obviously, we've been busy this summer. So busy, I couldn't even post a new blog entry. Quick recap: Went to Denver in June for a conference for Shawn's work, got to see Shaina and Judi! Went to Raleigh in July to officiate/bridesmaid in Merissa and Luke's wedding. Went to St. John in August and hung out with the Blomases and Simpson/Lichliters. Emmeline's potty trained (95%). We've been enjoying our fruits and veggies from Great Country Farms, and the free U-Pick we get for being members. I lost my camera, which is also part of the reason I haven't posted. No memory card, no pictures. But then Shawn FOUND my camera! Weee! And, I'm pregnant.
So a pretty eventful summer. But now the weather is slightly chillier (I mean, after a summer of record breaking heat, 85 feels chilly). Fall is approaching, and with it, FOOTBALL! PUMPKINS! CIDER! LEAVES! and JACKETS! Yea yea yea yea yea! So, hopefully, pictures to follow of us doing all of those fun fall things. I'm not sure yet how I will post pictures of us jacketing or cidering, but I'll see what I can do.

Lame Update

At some point, I'll have ten minutes so sit and write about all the funny and sweet things Em is doing lately, but for now, pics and captions will have to suffice:

Helping make dinner! Em loves her apron, she knows it means food is coming.

Signing help.

Emmeline loves to feed her baby, whose name is Ava. Ava is a 4 year old at our preschool who likes to share her breakfast with Em.

We took Em to the Botanic Garden a few weekends ago. Their children's garden is awesome! She loved watering the plants.

After the Botanic Garden, we went to a little family dinner at Jaleo. Delicious!

Emmeline tried so hard to get that ball when Andrew and Luke and Daddy were throwing it around. She never got discouraged though - she knew at least one of the three men she has wrapped around her finger would give in eventually.

Emmeline really really enjoyed her first corn on the cob at Gracie's house. My camera died as I took this picture, so it's not a great one, but I cannot emphasize enough how much she liked that corn.

Under-Where?

Big things happening at our house... Emmeline started wearing underwear this weekend. She did so much better than I could have expected over the weekend, only having a few accidents. Today, day 4 in underwear, she was DRY ALL DAY!!! Granted, she was wet at nap, but since she turned 16 months on Sunday, I'm not going to hold it against her. She is a superstar.

Once Upon a Potty

*For those who are perturbed by potty language, please choose another blog. I will try to keep it clean, but can't promise much.*

I have had high hopes for potty training Em since before she was born. I was going to use cloth diapers so that she would start out from the beginning knowing how a wet diaper feels. The "good" brand diapers absorb the moisture too quickly; children in crappy diapers or cloth tend to train earlier. When my cloth diapering dream ended in a rash of, well, rash, I tried to use the cheapest diapers possible. That went by the wayside until a few months ago - she kept pooping through them. Since her birthday, however, we have been using store brand diapers, and sitting Emmy on the potty after she wakes up, after nap, before bath and before bed. Back in February, she was using the potty pretty much everytime we sat her on it. We signed potty, we talked about wet and dry, we practiced washing hands, we read potty books. Things were going swimmingly.
Then she started walking. Once she figured out how to get up from the potty, that was what she wanted to spend her time doing. It has been several weeks since she would sit on the potty unless she was being entertained. I still made her sit at least before bath, since her peeing in the tub is not how I want to spend an evening, but rarely was anything happening.
I was getting a little frustrated; not that I wanted to force the issue, but she had been doing so well! I had been quietly buying training underwear anytime I saw it on sale. I had bought another potty so we could have one on both levels of the house.
About a week ago, I decided I know enough and have enough experience to give this a good try again, without pushing her or really frustrating myself. So, every afternoon, after nap, I put her in underwear. I let her walk around the house, and dragged the potty with us into every room. I analyzed every facial tic, and would have her sit on the potty whenever she looked like something was going on. She peed on herself a few times, and I just cleaned it up, and reminded her that her potty was close for next time. By Friday, she was telling me as she was peeing in her diaper or underwear! She's not really ready to be potty training for real, but I feel really good about where she is now. Last night, she told me in the tub that she had to poop. I got her out of the tub, and she did poop - right in the potty. Same thing this afternoon. She's definitely got an awareness now of what's going on, so if things continue like this, we may be done with diapers before the fall!!!
I'm really excited for this next step onto toddlerhood. Whooooohooo!

Catch Up

I've been really bad about uploading pics. This one is Jeffrey having a BLAST in the tub, and Emmeline about to lost it. Great blackmail for high school though.

This is Emmeline finding her basket on Easter morning. I was sort of busy and only managed to get one of her in her Easter dress though, so I'll have to ask the Grandmas to help me out here.