19 Months Old

Emory Grace, you turned 19 months old yesterday. So what have you been up to?

Everything! You love to put on a show and make "cheese" faces when the camera comes out!

You also love doggies. You play with your toy doggies and love to give your real doggies treats.

You are a sweet little girl and love to cuddle in the morning.

Your newest concern is thunder. You do not care for it that much and get a little nervous when it thunders or when you hear a loud noise and think its thunder.

You have the cutest little laugh and sometimes you get the giggles so bad you get the hiccups.

You also have a bit of a temper and a little attitude at times, but you are starting to learn it is naughty to throw tantrums and food. You nearly hit a man at another table the other night with a flying orange slice. You also have quite the arm, I am thinking a short stop.

You are quite the little talker and continue to learn more and more words!

Your hair is really getting long and seems to have a mind of it's own just like you! Your feet are also growing and you have started to wear some size 5 shoes.

Mommy and Daddy love you very much!

Trip to Grandma & Pawpaw's

Thursday evening Bradley, Emory, and I headed to Arkansas to visit my parents. Cameron and Noah were also in and the two kids have had a blast. Emory got her first leotard with matching tutu from Grandma. She loved it and danced around all morning like a ballerina.

Even ballerina's have to mow the yard!

Emory was ready to go bye bye this morning.

This was my attempt to take a picture of Noah and Emory. This was the best of several!

Later this morning we went to the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources, which is a little museum at a local state park near my parents house. There were all kinds of exhibits and fun things for kids to do. The one on Newton's law of gravitation was a hit.

Noah enjoyed making the balls float and Emory thought it was hilarious!

Noah checking out the floating balls!

Emory got very tickled and laughed and laughed!

There was also an exhibit that replicated the town in the early 1920's during the oil boom!

Noah in front of an old circus car!

Emory in front of an old truck,

Noah and Emory watching a short film about the town during the oil boom!

Emory dancing to the music before the film started!

Noah in jail.

Meeting Mckenzie

Sunday we went over to Bradley's parents house to meet Mckenzie Rae. Andrew, Rachel, & Mckenzie drove in late Saturday night for a visit. I was very curious to see how Emory would react to a little baby. She was a little unsure of her at first, but then slowly warmed up. She also was a tad jealous when mommy and daddy held her the first time, but as the day went on she was more and more accepting. Emory did really well around Mckenzie except for a few tickles that were a little rough.

Mckenzie 4 weeks old.

Uncle Bradley holding Mckenzie

My little monkey!

Such a mess!

And she's awake

I love this sweet expression!

Emory decided she needed to play/sit in Mckenzie's carrier.

She sat and sat in it.

Emory checking out PeePaw's new lawn mower, aka tractor!

My sweet baby girl!

Pudding and Pig Tails

On Saturday Emory had her first taste of chocolate and vanilla swirl pudding. Let's just say she loved it.

She liked it so much, she decided to feed some to her cow!

I am not sure how the cow feels about the pudding.

But, Emory insisted he eat more!

After both the cow and Emory got cleaned up and Emory into a clean pudding free outfit I decided to put her hair in pig tails. I could not believe how long her hair is. It never really looks much longer because of her curls, but I could really tell it had grown when I put it up.

This is her "cheese" or should I say fake smile. She immediately starts saying cheese when I bring out the camera.

This is her enough mom look. I had taken several pictures before this one trying to get a natural smile.. no luck.

Later, while she was having her afternoon snack I tried again. This is the face I got.

18 Month Check-up

Emory had her 18 month check-up yesterday afternoon. She weighed 20 lbs 8 ounces and is 32 1/2 inches long. She did not gain one ounce since her May visit when she was sick and only gained 6 ounces from her 15 month check-up in April. I just knew that she would weigh 21 lbs given the amount of food she has been eating. Her doctor was not concerned though, since she shot up nearly 1 1/2 inches. I guess all that food is going up and not out!

She is still in size 12 month clothes, size 3 diaper, and 4 shoe. Her new favorite word and obsession are bugs. We had a little visit from a family of carpenter ants this weekend and Emory is VERY good at letting us know when one has gone to heaven. She stands over the ant pointing and yelling bug, bug, bug, until someone comes and takes care of the ant. It rained Sunday morning so hopefully the ants will stay outside now since it is not as dry. Emory's other obsession these days are trains. She lines her toys up like a train and choo choos them around the living room. She is also starting to role play with her stuffed animals. On Sunday she laid one particular bear down and then proceeded to bring all the other animals over to the bear and give it a kiss. She then brought them over to me one by one so I could give them each a love. She is so funny to watch.

She also loves playing in the pillows on our bed. I love this big cheesy grin! She is pretty good about smiling when you say, "say cheese," but not always good about looking your direction!
 

Hasta la Vista Diapers

Ok, where not quite there yet, but it never hurts to put a goal in print! Emory did reach a MAJOR milestone last night..... she pottied in her potty chair for the first time!!!! I was so proud of her. She was proud of herself too, and together we cheered, clapped, danced, and yelled for daddy to come! This accomplishment took place just before her bath and lets just say she "milked it" during her entire bath time. She definitely knew she did something good!

So this morning after she woke up into the bath room we went. She sat there for a minute and then said, "No potty mommy." And that was that. Then later today she ran into her bathroom, sat on her potty chair and told me she had pooped! She was a tad late, but I am so thrilled she seems to be catching on. I happened to have my camera near by and snapped a picture.

I guess we are officially potty training now and not just "talking" about it!

18 Months

Emory turned 18 months old today. She is such a little girl now, which is both exciting and a little sad. She is full of energy and loves to entertain! She is quite the talker, which is helpful and fun and she seems to learn a new word daily. Last night she yelled out BARNEY when she saw him on TV. That was a first! I am guessing she learned that one at Ms. Betty’s. She is slowly moving out of the temper tantrum phase, probably because she is able to communicate with us now and I have not been bitten in over a week! She loves tutu’s, doggies, crackers, bath time, ice cream, the “clean up” song, books, and being the center of attention! The clean up song is a song I created (I think, maybe borrowed) and have sung for a while now when picking up Emory’s toys. Well, I have created a clean-up monster. Emory loves to sing the clean up song while picking up her toys, however she also likes to dump her toys all out for the sole purpose of singing the clean up song. The only problem with this is she usually gets tired of singing and picking them up half way through. For those inquiring minds, the song goes like this: clean-up, clean-up, clean-up your toys!

Emory is also getting better at using a fork and spoon, so much so she decided to fork her sausage biscuit the other day!

She is also a wonderful eater, (knocking on wood) and I pray she continues to eat veggies and fruits with enthusiasm. We go for her 18 month check-up on Monday and feel like she will weigh 21 pounds, maybe 22. She is still on the petite side, which amazes me considering how much she eats! We love you Emory Grace!