Chalk hoarder

Sent from my iPod
From: bunnrupert@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2011 13:29:43 -0500
To: bunnrupert@hotmail.com

Sent from my iPod

Blacktop chalking

Sent from my iPod
From: bunnrupert@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2011 13:29:22 -0500
To: bunnrupert@hotmail.com

Sent from my iPod

Sound effects

Emma has an awesome sound effect...grunting with her actions or our actions that look like exertion might be taking place.  I pick up a piece of paper or a 10lb weight and she makes a grunt like she is lifting a sack of apples.  Tonight, I was scooping ice cream and she made this grunt with every attempt of mine to scoop the hard as a rock ice cream.  I got to laughing so hard, I lost all my strength and could not scoop, at which point Emma wanted to kiss me.  So, between the laughing and kissing, this was probably a Guinness record for longest time to fill an ice cream bowl.

Lots of learning

The last few weeks has been a whirlwind of new developments.  Emma is a quick learner and is able to remember the sign language for more, bubbles and thank you.  She especially likes the bubbles sign.  We have to be really careful now because she is repeating a lot of what we say.  Example:  dirty butt when Doug was discussing a diaper change.  It's fun to listen to her say multiple syllable words like vegetables and bubbles.  She was telling vegetables through the grocery store the other day.

We are also working on our art skills with crayons and an Etch a sketch.  Today I bought sidewalk chalk since the weather has thrown us some nice days lately and I'm sure Emma will love the chalk.

Bouncing on balls is her favorite thing to do this week and she has great balance when doing so.  In general, she likes to sit on everything; sippy cups, legos, books, balls and various other toys that are nowhere near comfy to sit on.

Masterpiece

Sent from my iPodEmma is learning to use crayons and will sit for about 10 mins to color.  She had some help from Dad on this one, but most of the scribbles are all hers.  She would rather not color using the tip of the crayon and prefers to use the other end, so I sing "point on the paper" to encourage using the point.

Subject: Masterpiece
From: bunnrupert@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 20 Feb 2011 14:29:52 -0500
To: bunnrupert@hotmail.com

Sent from my iPod

"They're back"

Yesterday, Doug and I ventured out for Valentines Day lunch, without Emma, for the very first time since returning from China.  Gramma Cheryl came to to watch Emma for us and when we left, we didn't sneak out, but kissed Emma and said, "bye-bye, we'll be back".  She started to whimper a little, but Gramma scooped her up and ran to the bay window to wave to us as we left which immediately calmed her down.  We pulled out of the driveway with Emma smiling and kissing the window as we drove off.

We had a wonderful lunch at First Watch, just the two of us... it felt odd, but wonderful all at the same time to be eating and not managing E. at the same time.  When we returned, Emma gave us quite the greeting and said, "They're back".  We looked at one another in astonishment because we don't know how she put those words together because no one had said, "They're back".  It is becoming very clear over the last few weeks that sentences are right around the corner and are just waiting to erupt.  Everyday Emma repeats 3-5 word portions of sentences I say which throws me for a loop everytime, i.e., "no big deal" and she's also trying to sing the Barney song.  I need to start writing these surprise bursts of language down because by the time Doug makes it home at night, I can't remember what she has said.

Stylin'

Sent from my iPod
From: bunnrupert@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2011 16:37:30 -0500
To: bunnrupert@hotmail.com

Sent from my iPod

Naps

Emma's naps have re-adjusted and the morning naps on most days are gone unless she is exceptionally cranky and says she wants to nap.  Yes, Emma really does shake her head yes when you ask her if she needs to go night-night.  She is waking up around 8am on most days and takes her nap from 1:30 to 3:30.  For a few weeks she has tried napping from 11am-1ish, but there is just too much time between 1pm and 8:30p bedtime, so she gets cranky.  We tried to get her a second nap a little later in the afternoon on those days, but she woke up angry from those 30-40 minute cat naps, very angry and crying, which usually resulted in sobbing at the dinner table, so we decided to try and keep her up for as long possible through the morning; feeding her a mid-morning snack and lunch usually revives her for a bit if she's on a downward slide and there are days we just have to give her the 11a-1pm nap...yup, she runs the show for now because we love the naptime break.

I am LOVING the 2 hour naps and sometimes she gives me an extra special nap for 2.50 hours.  The only downside of one afternoon nap is that if we are running errands before lunch or go out to lunch, I have to race home afterwards so she doesn't fall asleep in the car because that messes the whole thing up.  When we go to Little Gym, the class ends at 11:30ish and I am cursing every red stoplight on our 10 minute drive home because given the chance, Emma will fall asleep in less than 30 seconds.  We spend the drive home singing songs and practicing 1-2-3 to keep her awake.  Emma has become hooked on "Barney" and will usually hum/sing the "I love you song" back to me if I start the song, so I save the singing for when she looks like she is really fighting the snoozies, which is always the last 2 minutes to the house.

Cheesin'

Daddy reading time

Night-night reading time

Cracking herself up

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Happy Chinese New Year!  Best wishes and congratulations for a good and prosperous year.

Doug had to work this evening, so we invited Gramma Cheryl to China City Buffet and indulged in rice, veggie egg rolls, mushrooms, chicken and broccoli.

Emma wore her red shirt with a gold star to ring in the New Year as red is a lucky color in China.  She was fairly wound up before bed time from our busy day of lunching with a friend, then the restaurant, so she went to bed later than normal and is hopefully having sweet dreams!  

As she gets older and comprehends more we will add more to our Chinese celebrations.