It's rough being 15 months old!

On Saturday, Kurt had plans to play cards and Emma and I planned to go to a friend's birthday lunch. The morning started off reasonably well, but at 10am Emma went into breakdown mode. Finally, we (Emma and I) figured out that she wanted cheese the third time I offered it to her. She refused to eat anything else. I realized she was tired, but she did not want to nap. I tried struggling with her in the rocking chair, tried resting with her in a bed, nothing was working. So, in a very frazzled state, I threw stuff in her diaper bag, changed my clothes and got us both into the car a good 45 minutes before we had to leave for lunch. She was asleep before we go to the first stop sign in our development. We sat in the parking lot for a good 20 minutes before I woke her up to go into lunch.

While we were at lunch, I guess she was mostly good. She just wanted to be up walking around or exploring outside the entire time. Of course, this got me frustrated all over again. She was pretty good during the meal. At one point, she brought me a bag of Melanie's and started taking out the few things that were in it. Melanie was way across the room from us, but I told her to take the items to Melanie and she just turned around and did. Such a good little girl! By the end of the lunch though, she had about had it and wouldn't sit or stand still long enough for me to get my wallet out to pay or find my keys. It was very frustrating, but someone we managed.

After we got home, I really wanted her to nap since I was exhausted, but of course she didn't want to. After a couple hours, and some tears on both our parts, we ended up going to visit with Calvin and Melanie and Adam. The kids had fun playing with a new outdoor toy of Calvin's and then playing inside after dinner.

Looking back, although I thought it was a bad day, it really wasn't that bad...at least she wasn't screaming the whole time! I guess I just have to learn to take things in stride a bit better.

Visitors and Outings

A couple weeks ago, Rachel came down to visit for the weekend. Emma was thrilled to see her! Her face lights up everytime she sees Rachel. It's really adorable!

After Rachel left, Kurt, Emma, and I drove out to a wine fest at Liganore Winery in Mt. Airy. It was incredibly hot so we didn't stay too long, but Emma had fun walking around making friends and dancing to the live jazz band. Kurt and I enjoyed some wine before heading home. Mommy forgot the diaper bag for this outing, but luckily, everything worked out and we didn't have any major catastrophes!

Kurt's parents came down for an overnight trip over labor day weekend. Emma had a ton of fun with Grandma while Kurt and Grandpa worked on shelves in the basement and Mommy rested with a cold. They spent tons of time outside walking around in the woods and at the playground. Inside, they colored, played with blocks and read. Emma didn't even want me to put her down for her nap...she decidedly wanted Grandma! (I guess Mommy just isn't very fun!)

It makes us so happy that Emma knows and remembers family and has so much fun where ever we go!

Visit with Gigi

On Sunday, we visited Emma's Gigi in Annapolis. Emma needed a few minutes to warm up, but then made herself right at home! She was particularly fond of all the bottles of paint that Gigi has in her office. Emma had a lot of fun moving them around and making little rows of them in other rooms of the house...especially on the toilet lid! She also enjoyed the grapes that Gigi had for snack.

Of course, Emma was a little stinker and wouldn't let Gigi hold her for a nice picture or give her kisses. Hopefully, we'll be able to see her again soon, so that Emma will remember her more and not be so timid.

Mommy's Little Helper

On Saturday, I was doing laundry and had the best little helper! It was time to change out the wash to the dryer and Emma was ready to help! I handed her articles of clothing piece by piece (or several if it was a handful of socks) and she very carefully put them into the dryer taking care that each article was just right. She even took the dryer sheet from me and closed the dryer door with me only having to tell her once and not having to explain it! She then proceeded to put a load of towels into the washer for me and helped me put them in the dryer after they were finished! We're still working on folding, but for the moment I'm happy when she leaves piles of folded laundry alone!

Lessons Learned

Last night, during snack time before bed, Emma kept asking for orange juice. She has only had oj a couple times--I let her have some when she was sick a few weeks ago. We decided that it really couldn't hurt anything to let her have some, so I diluted it about 50/50 with water and let her have a cup. She proceeded to down the cup in almost 1 gulp. A few minutes later, we started bath time and then Kurt sat down to read her a book. About 30 minutes after I left the room, Emma's bedroom door opened and he said, "OK, I give up." And out walks Emma all bright-eyed and bushy tailed. I asked why she wasn't asleep and she just giggled as Kurt explained that she had been busy looking out the window, reading books, and having dance party in her room.

We then realized that she was on a sugar high! What were we thinking, giving her a glass of oj right before bed?!? We knew it was futile to try to get her to settle down so we let her play for a while, all the time asking her if she was tired...because we sure were!! About an hour after her normal bedtime, she started to wind down and I was able to take her up and read some nursery rhymes to her and get her to bed.

All in all she was a very happy little girl. Luckily, she slept in today until 7, so at least she didn't lose much sleep last night!

Bye Bye!

Emma has known how to say "Bye Bye!" for a long time now, but recently she's started saying it in a very cute little girl voice to everything! She says "Bye Bye!" to random people we see outside or in stores or whenever shows on TV end but the cutest is when she tells all her toys "Bye Bye!" whenever we're leaving the house, going to a different room, or when she's going to bed.

Kurt said that on their way out the door this morning she was telling all her toys Bye Bye and she stopped specifically at her little rocking horse petted it and said "Bye Bye!" Too cute!

Over the weekend, we saw Adam, Melanie, and Calvin. When we were ready to leave, I told her to say good bye to everyone. She walked up to Calvin, put her had about 2 inches from his face and waved and said Bye Bye! She also told Adam and Melanie Bye Bye and gave them hugs. What a sweet little girl!

We also saw Gigi and Aunt Trish this past weekend. Emma said Bye Bye! a couple times but then refused when we were actually ready to walk out the door. She has figured out when we want her to do party tricks and definitely lets us know when she is not willing to perform!

We'll have to try to get her saying Bye Bye! on camera and post it soon!

Broken Record....or....

On our walk tonight, Emma kept repeating "Uh-OH!" over and over and over again. I asked, "Uh-Oh what-o?" which made her laugh and keep asking. Kurt said, "Emma, you sound like a broken record." I told him that Emma probably won't even know what a record is. He responded with, "Well then, Emma, you sound like a scratched CD. Or maybe a corrupted MP3."

Oh, isn't Emma just going to LOVE her Dad in a few years? =)

"What's This?"

Emma begins each day with the question "What's this?" or "What is it?" And generally doesn't stop asking all day long. It's very cute! Some times she will repeat what we tell her and sometimes, just move on to asking about something else. She even asks about things she knows! When we're reading books, I'll point out an animal or object she knows and ask what it is...and then she repeats the question. So now, I'm trying to tell her what something is and then ask a question about it afterward like what does X animal say or Where is the blue ball, etc.

I think these "What's ?"questions are way easier than the "Why?" question which I'm sure will be coming shortly!