Brunch with Santa

This past Sunday, we went to a "Brunch with Santa" at the oh so fancy City Club in Fort Worth. Mommy's boss invited Daddy, Mommy and you to join him and his family - it is quite the honor! We were able to eat a lot of really delicious food; you chowed down on the blueberry muffins, grapes and strawberries. After eating breakfast/bunch, we got to meet Santa, take a family photo and he even had a gift waiting for you! You were NOT that excited to meet Santa however. You are a bit scared of men with beards lately, so Santa is really frightening right now. Daddy walked over to Santa and stood next to him waiting for both Mommy and you to join him. You immediately started crying and saying "No Santa. Mommy Emma bye bye." You did this for a few more minutes until Mommy just walked up to Santa so that he could give you a little bag filled with treats. This Santa was awesome! Within a few minutes he had you calmed down and even smiling a bit.

Of course, the present helped a little bit.

And opening the present to find an ABC singing Elmo helped that much more!

You had one of Santa's little elf make you a teddy bear holding a heart balloon, which you loved! If Mommy and Daddy would have let you sleep with you, you would have been in seventh heaven!

You, of course, looked like a pretty little princess in your holiday dress.

Decisions, Decisions

It’s that time of year again, time to pick out our Christmas Cards. And keeping up with tradition, I will once again stress about which card to pick and then wait until the very last minute to order something. I went so far as thinking that I wouldn’t send any out this year. I’m still on the fence about it.

That was before I went over to Shutterfly (http://www.shutterfly.com) and saw their amazing photo cards! I typically send photo cards because they are so simple to design and the process is so easy.

That is once I have one picked out. That is the hard part. Should I go with some of these? Or what about one of these? Oh decisions, decisions! And then once I decide which card, I have to decide which pictures to include. Oh the pressure!

Which one would you choose? I think I know which one I am sending out…look for it soon in your mailbox! Make sure you head over to Shutterfly here and claim your 20% off all your holiday cards!



First Parent/Teacher Conference

We had our very first parent/teacher conference at Em's school yesterday and she had glowing remarks! I am one proud Mama! This is what her evaluation form said:

1. Sense of Self

Emma like to wipe her own nose. (How stinkin' cute is that???)

2. Social Relations

Emma plays with Bree everyday (Bree is Em's BFF and they do everything together.)

3. Creative Representation

Emma can look at the family connections and name who is in the pictures. (we have everyone in the collage, both sets of Grandparents (Great Nena too), All of the aunties and uncles (great aunties and uncles too), her cousins)

4. Movement

While on the playground, Emma like to run around. (she runs like crazy outside!)

5. Music

Emma loves to go see Mr. Vic on Thursdays. (She loves to dance and sing along with anything)

6. Communication and Language

When Emma is called to go outside she runs to the gate. (of course she does, that kid loves, loves, loves to be outside. Always has. Even when she was an infant, if she was upset or crying, we would just sit with her outside and she would calm right down. She definitely is a summer baby.)

7. Exploring Objects

While playing with the baby dolls, Emma knows some are different sizes.

8. Early Quantity and Number

Emma knows there is only one fish in the classroom. (and her counting is coming along very well!)

9. Space

Emma likes to find where the tricycles are on the playground.

10. Time

Emma knows the beginning of lunch starts after we wash our hands. (and boy is that kid totally motivated by food - she loves to eat!)

I'm so happy that she gets along with the other kids and really likes her teachers. Miss Kelsey and Miss Kaylee are always saying what a joy and good helper Em is....that's what I like to hear!

Videos and More Videos!

It has been forever since Mommy has posted videos of you, something like 2 1/2 months! Below are the most recent and enjoyable videos of you.

Thank you, Emma, for making my life so complete. I cherish every single moment I have with you. I love you Peanut!

Tea Time with Daddy

You love your tea set and you love it when Daddy plays tea with you. Next up is dress up! Mommy is really looking forward to that.



Fall Fun

Its that time of year again where the leaves have begun to fall and gather in our yard. Before Daddy rakes them all up, we had some fun playing with them.



More Counting

You really do love to count!

Reading

We now can open a book and you can tell us what the images are; its like you are reading it to us!



Counting

You really are learning your numbers, particularly 1-10. You have this one certain book that you love to read and count to.

 

Hello? Bye Bye

You really love "talking" on the phone right now. Pretty much all you say is "Hello" and then quickly hang up saying "Bye Bye." And that's it.



Night Night Daddy

You love to put Daddy to bed, or "night night" as you like to call it.



Torturing Daddy

Emma likes to torture Daddy every chance she gets. And Daddy, being the best Daddy that he is, lets her do whatever she wants to him and doesn't complain at all. Well, not much....



Dancing

Emma shaking her booty as well as hiding from us. She's very talented!



Being a Mommy...Part Four

Means running out of hours in the day to update your blog because the few precious ones you do have, all of them go to your gorgeous and lovable daughter. And you are OK with that and wouldn't have it any other way.

Please Mommy, No Pretties In My Hair

Mommy wanted to get a few pictures of your hair in pigtails before we had your first Haircut (more on that in a bit) but in true Emma fashion, you don't like anything in your hair.

Not even for a second.

You will sometimes let Mommy play with your hair. This night was such the night. I was playing with your hair and thought, I should try and put pigtails in. Just to see what you would do. Took Mommy a couple of tries, but finally got two pigtails in. No sooner did I finish putting the second one in, your hand shoots up and immediately tries to pull them out.

WAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTT! Pleeeeeease don't take them out Em. Mommy wants to get a picture. Please? This is how the entire process went when I was trying to put them in. I would get one in, start working on the other one and you would reach up and try to take them out. Mommy was pleading and begging with you to leave them in so that I could take pictures. 

Then Mommy was trying to get you to smile in the pictures. This was the best I could do.

The back side. Mommy has to practice a little more.

You were being such a good sport about it that Mommy of course had to do crazy hair. Practicing for those Cheerleading days to come....

This entire photo shoot lasted maybe 5 minutes. Maybe. Maybe it just seemed like 5 minutes because all I was doing was begging you to leave your pretties in so that I could get a picture.

I'm still holding onto hope that she will one day wear "pretties" in her hair.

A Mom's gotta have dreams.

First Haircut

After almost two and half years, you finally have enough hair to get your first haircut! Well, sort of. It really just needed to be shaped and trimmed. Just a little. Mommy didn't really want to cut it in the first place; you have such baby fine hair and it took you so long to grow it but it needed it and so away we went.

We had it done at a place called "Pigtails and Crewcuts." They really cater to children, having them sit in airplanes and cars and having movies play.

Katherine and Matthew and Auntie V came along to witness the big event. You weren't too sure about the place when we first got there. I think you were thinking that it was something for Katherine.

Our name was called and we sat you down in the airplane chair. Of course we choose the airplane chair, you were really excited to drive the airplane.

Eventually.

"What am I supposed to do with this thing Mommy?"

"Oh, drive it? OK!"

"Wheeeeeeeeeee that was fun Mommy. Are we done now?"

"What are you doing with that thing? Um, I don't think I like that. Take it off now."

"ok, maybe if I hold onto the steering wheel realllllly tight, it won't hurt"

"mmmm, this isn't too bad after all"

"Wait, what are you doing now? I don't like that. Lets go back to that other enjoyable part"

"Lady, I don't know who you think you are, but I don't like you and I don't like what you are doing to me"

The rest of the cut went pretty well. You didn't cry or fuss or anything.

Mommy was just about to think that this was the best haircut experience she could wish for until the very end. That's when you lost it. You were over it.

Completely.

I love you so much my Peanut!