Since daycare waiting lists are months long, we knew we couldn't wait to find somewhere that we liked that would have an opening within a month of us arriving in Maryland. Luckily, a friend in Germany highly recommended the daycare her son went to and we were able to reserve a spot for Emma a few months before we returned home.
We visited the daycare for a tour in January and were really impressed with the facility and the staff. Emma will get her own learning plan and we will be updated with her progress monthly. During the visit, Emma was excited to see other kiddos and new toys. We let Emma play with the kids in the room she would be in when she started while we checked out the room next door. We were really impressed that Emma let us walk into the next room since she has been very clingy lately. We hoped that this was a sign that she would like daycare and look forward to it. We watched as she and a little boy passed a toy back and forth a few times before Emma knocked him over while using him to try to stand up. *sigh* We just know that Emma is going to be the cause of many incident reports.
Last week, Emma (or maybe Mommy) had a trial week at daycare. Emma went for 5-6 hours 4 days. She did really well and only cried 2 days when we dropped her off. The other days, she was playing and didn't seem to notice when we left. The staff said she did really well and had a lot of fun. So far, the biggest hiccup is that she won't take a bottle from anyone there. As a result, we've just started to send more food with her so that she's not hungry.
Yesterday was Emma's first full day at "school." Unfortunately, she didn't sleep well the night before, so she was cranky and fussy during the day. The staff said she did well though. Once we got her home, she was so happy and excited to be with us that she just played and talked and ran around. She was so cute! It was amazing how quickly the evening went by. Before we knew it, we were in the midst of bath time and then getting ready for Tuesday.
Ironically, of the 6 days that Emma has been in daycare, she has only greeted us with a smile one time when we picked her up. Each time she saw us the other 5 days, she immediately broke out in tears. Poor girl. Hopefully, she'll realize soon that we'll always come back for her!
Emma did better today after a good night's sleep. Additionally, the director told me that Emma will graduate to the next room on Monday. The "First Steps" room seems to be better suited for her since she's so mobile even though she's a bit younger than the other kids. We're really excited about this since we didn't think the infant room gave her enough to do since she's used to walking around so much.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I love ya, Tomorrow!
Tomorrow is a VERY exciting day! We've been waiting for tomorrow for a while now. Tomorrow will make our move back to the States complete. Tomorrow will be exhausting, but completely worth it. Tomorrow, our household goods will be delivered!!
It has been almost exactly 2 months since the movers came and packed everything up. We're looking forward to couches and beds the most. Luckily, we've had camping chairs and an air bed and pack & play so we haven't been completely on the floor for the past 1.5 months, but we're looking forward to being able to sink into a couch after a long day and curl up with a blanket on a comfortable bed each night. Emma is also looking forward to the toys that didn't get shipped home early...it's going to be like Christmas all over again!
Tomorrow, Tomorrow, you're only a day away!!!
It has been almost exactly 2 months since the movers came and packed everything up. We're looking forward to couches and beds the most. Luckily, we've had camping chairs and an air bed and pack & play so we haven't been completely on the floor for the past 1.5 months, but we're looking forward to being able to sink into a couch after a long day and curl up with a blanket on a comfortable bed each night. Emma is also looking forward to the toys that didn't get shipped home early...it's going to be like Christmas all over again!
Tomorrow, Tomorrow, you're only a day away!!!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
At long last...
we finally caught up on pictures. Thanks for being patient with us!
Here are the links to several albums:
 |
| Last Days in Germany |
 |
| Emma in America!! |
 |
| Kitchen Work |
 |
| Emma in February |
 |
| Snow My Goodness!!! |
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Emma's world
Here's the latest in Emma's World:
- She now has 2 bottom teeth.
-At about 8 months: Emma was 16 lbs 15.5 oz and was 27 1/4 inches tall
- She can walk unassisted for about 10-15 steps and gets more steady and more daring daily. She is great at pulling herself to standing and is getting close to standing up by herself. She tries to climb the steps, but her little legs are still too short.
- She is experimenting with her voice and is making new sounds. The other night while getting into the bath tub, she made a distinct "Buh" sound that may have been her "bath" but she has yet to repeat it. She has also said "Da" for Dad a couple times.
- Today, Kurt worked a full day and Emma definitely missed him. At one point, she was in her jumper and turned towards the front door waiting for him to walk in. Later, when he came home, I stood her at the window to watch Daddy get out of the car, her face lit up with the biggest smile! She wouldn't leave his side all night!
- Emma has a new smile. She smiles a big wide smile but then scrunches up her nose and eyes. It's super cute. (picture to be posted soon)
- She loves opening and closing drawers and cabinets. A few fingers have been pinched in the process, but it doesn't seem to deter her.
- She is learning "NO!" quite well. Some examples include: "No Emma, we do not eat paper," "No! Emma let go of those cords!" "Emma, No, don't pull on the blinds" There are many more, but you get the idea!
- She is loving food. She's still not keen on baby food, but will eat anything off our plates. Some of her favorites are yogurt and pizza! If we even say pizza, she gets excited and does a little dance! (She's definitely our kid!) She also loves her sippy cup and is very good with finger food.
- She continues to love bath time and now will tell us she is ready to get out by touching our hand or standing up.
I'm sure there's much more that she's been up to, but that's a good overview of our growing little girl!
- She now has 2 bottom teeth.
-At about 8 months: Emma was 16 lbs 15.5 oz and was 27 1/4 inches tall
- She can walk unassisted for about 10-15 steps and gets more steady and more daring daily. She is great at pulling herself to standing and is getting close to standing up by herself. She tries to climb the steps, but her little legs are still too short.
- She is experimenting with her voice and is making new sounds. The other night while getting into the bath tub, she made a distinct "Buh" sound that may have been her "bath" but she has yet to repeat it. She has also said "Da" for Dad a couple times.
- Today, Kurt worked a full day and Emma definitely missed him. At one point, she was in her jumper and turned towards the front door waiting for him to walk in. Later, when he came home, I stood her at the window to watch Daddy get out of the car, her face lit up with the biggest smile! She wouldn't leave his side all night!
- Emma has a new smile. She smiles a big wide smile but then scrunches up her nose and eyes. It's super cute. (picture to be posted soon)
- She loves opening and closing drawers and cabinets. A few fingers have been pinched in the process, but it doesn't seem to deter her.
- She is learning "NO!" quite well. Some examples include: "No Emma, we do not eat paper," "No! Emma let go of those cords!" "Emma, No, don't pull on the blinds" There are many more, but you get the idea!
- She is loving food. She's still not keen on baby food, but will eat anything off our plates. Some of her favorites are yogurt and pizza! If we even say pizza, she gets excited and does a little dance! (She's definitely our kid!) She also loves her sippy cup and is very good with finger food.
- She continues to love bath time and now will tell us she is ready to get out by touching our hand or standing up.
I'm sure there's much more that she's been up to, but that's a good overview of our growing little girl!
Our House
Kurt did an amazing job choosing our house! We absolutely love it! Not too big, not too small...just right to be "home."
The house was in move in condition, but we wanted to do a few things to make it more ours. The first and biggest thing we did was purchase new appliances and Kurt, the handyman homeowner, installed them all (refrigerator, over the range microwave, range, dishwasher, and space saving toaster oven). Next, we decided that the cabinets would look a lot better if they had handles/drawer pulls. After spending some time at Lowe's, we found some we liked and Kurt spent an afternoon installing them. And we were right, the kitchen looks much better and pulled together! Finally, we found a new dining table. We had been planning on getting a new table because our current table really only fits 4 people comfortably. Luckily, we found one we liked during the Presidents' Day sales. It will be delivered next week. Since the walls are all white in the kitchen/dining area, we're thinking of painting, but we're going to wait to get our furniture to see what color we think will be best.
We're still living with camping chairs (thanks Mom and Dad C!), an aerobed, and pack & play...hopefully our household goods will be here soon!
We'll post some pictures soon!
The house was in move in condition, but we wanted to do a few things to make it more ours. The first and biggest thing we did was purchase new appliances and Kurt, the handyman homeowner, installed them all (refrigerator, over the range microwave, range, dishwasher, and space saving toaster oven). Next, we decided that the cabinets would look a lot better if they had handles/drawer pulls. After spending some time at Lowe's, we found some we liked and Kurt spent an afternoon installing them. And we were right, the kitchen looks much better and pulled together! Finally, we found a new dining table. We had been planning on getting a new table because our current table really only fits 4 people comfortably. Luckily, we found one we liked during the Presidents' Day sales. It will be delivered next week. Since the walls are all white in the kitchen/dining area, we're thinking of painting, but we're going to wait to get our furniture to see what color we think will be best.
We're still living with camping chairs (thanks Mom and Dad C!), an aerobed, and pack & play...hopefully our household goods will be here soon!
We'll post some pictures soon!
Catching up
It's hard to believe that we've been here for a month already! We've been really busy and have barely had a minute to relax. The first two weeks were consumed with various odds and ends of just getting settled -- picking up a car from the port, registering the car and updating our drivers licenses, the buying groceries, buying supplies for the house, buying new toys for Emma, etc.
We spent the last weekend in January through February 8th visiting family in Pennsylvania. First, we stayed with Kurt's parents.We saw many extended family members and friends while we were there. Emma had a great time meeting everyone and walking around the house. She especially enjoyed playing with magnets on the refrigerator and had a good time sitting in her Grandpa's high chair that converts to a play seat!
Midway through the week, we drove up to visit with Carrie's family. We were most nervous about introducing Emma to her parents' two large Labradors. At first Emma was very scared and clinged to us, but the dogs were very well behaved and slowly but surely, they got used to each other. They even let Emma pet them without knocking her over before the trip was over. While there, we were able to see many family and friends as well.
We missed the first big snow storm. It was surreal driving from Pennsylvania to Maryland and watching the snow steadily increase on the sides of the road! Luckily, we have the world's best neighbors and they shoveled our 2 parking spaces, sidewalk, and steps to our front door! I don't know what we would have done if we arrived here and had to make our way through 30 inches of snow! Kurt tried to return the favor and helped with their areas during the second snow storm. We'll post pictures soon of the snow!
We spent the last weekend in January through February 8th visiting family in Pennsylvania. First, we stayed with Kurt's parents.We saw many extended family members and friends while we were there. Emma had a great time meeting everyone and walking around the house. She especially enjoyed playing with magnets on the refrigerator and had a good time sitting in her Grandpa's high chair that converts to a play seat!
Midway through the week, we drove up to visit with Carrie's family. We were most nervous about introducing Emma to her parents' two large Labradors. At first Emma was very scared and clinged to us, but the dogs were very well behaved and slowly but surely, they got used to each other. They even let Emma pet them without knocking her over before the trip was over. While there, we were able to see many family and friends as well.
We missed the first big snow storm. It was surreal driving from Pennsylvania to Maryland and watching the snow steadily increase on the sides of the road! Luckily, we have the world's best neighbors and they shoveled our 2 parking spaces, sidewalk, and steps to our front door! I don't know what we would have done if we arrived here and had to make our way through 30 inches of snow! Kurt tried to return the favor and helped with their areas during the second snow storm. We'll post pictures soon of the snow!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)