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!

Quick Visit

Last Saturday my grandmother and aunt came for a quick visit. Emory was a little shy at first, because she had not seen them since Mother's Day weekend, but she warmed up quickly. Then put on quite the show!

Emory and Alpie

Emory being silly with Aunt Shirley

A close up of the silliness!

Giving Alpie a hug goodbye.

INTRODUCING..........

Mckenzie Rae Contreras! Mckenzie made her debut on Saturday July 10, 2010 at 8:06 am. She weighed 6 lbs 14 ounces and was 19 inches long! So its official, Emory is a BIG cousin now! Congratulations Rachel and Andrew and Happy Belated Birthday Mckenzie, we can't wait to meet you!

This picture was taken on her way home from the hospital. I love her expression!

Close, but no cigar!

Emory got a potty chair for her 1st birthday and for the last few months I have been putting her on it before her bath and talking about going potty. She usually just sits there for a few seconds and then jumps up and runs to the bath tub. Then a few weeks ago she discovered that if she stood in it the sensor would trigger and music would play. Since then I have been explaining to her that the music will also play if she goes potty in her potty chair. Last night Bradley undressed her while I ran her bath water, which is our routine, and then Emory typically runs in and sits on her potty chair. Well last night after she came in the bathroom I point in the direction of the potty chair and said, “Go potty!” Well she did, except she was sitting on the floor next to the potty chair. She was still proud of herself and applauded her effort all the way to the tub! Now I just have to figure out if this was a fluke or if she understands the concept of going potty, however I know NOW not to utter the word potty until she is seated on the chair!

In other “firsts” news, Emory said her first “sentence” this past weekend. Emory’s first sentence was…. “Mine Mommy Mine.” She said it with such authority and conviction too! This week she has added a few more, “Daddy Outside?” and “Doggie Night Night?”

After Emory gets out of the tub her favorite thing to do is pretend she is a bird. She runs around the house in her towel flapping her “wings” shouting tweet, tweet, and laughing hysterically. This picture was taken during one of her “flights!”