Cheesch

Sweet girl saying cheese for the camera, and her abrupt decision that the filming was over:)

Say Cheese!

Emma and Daddy's new favorite past-time - taking pictures, saying "cheese" over and over!

Em and her new "baby bed" with clothes and a quilt..

her new "creative keeper"

looking at dad's gift

loving her new bunny

and watching video very intently with her dad

Merry Christmas!

We were all very blessed this Christmas...  and thankful for all those loved ones we were able to spend time with, and sending all of our love to those much too far away...

Emma was quite the lucky girl!!!!  You can see her playing out in the snow with her new sled, talking on her tiny phone, all the goodies when she first went downstairs in the morning....

AND we just got her to say "cheese" for the camera!!!  Often she looks like a goon, but we got lucky with the last picture below.

So I know there are lots of pics of Em here, and I am going to post some more...  the grandparents who are not here need to see all of her they can!  

Much love to all....

holiday party

Last night Carol had a get-together for all of the day care kids and their families, and those from past years too.  Emma wore the holiday dress that Grandma Loerch got her last year at an after Christmas sale!  She was so cute when she first put it on, running around the house, jumping and dancing.  At the party they sang Christmas songs, and just for Emma they sang "itsy-bitsy-spider" and Emma held the microphone!  As the rest of the kids sang other songs Emma stood smack-dab in front of it all, jumping and dancing, clapping at the end when everyone else did.  I think we may have a dancer on our hands, or at least a drama queen!!!

love to all...

New Skill

Emma learned how to do something new today... take off her shirt!!!  When I went to pick Em up from daycare I was informed that she had spent most of the morning taking her shirt off - and I'd never seen her do it before!  And sure enough once we got home off went her shirt.

love to all...

Polite girl

She did it!  Emma burped the other day and then she said "excuse me"!!!!  How funny is that?

She also said her first sentence this week...  "Dada home"  When were in the car on the way home from daycare. Now she says it as soon as we get in the car.

I suppose ALL of this cuteness is to make up for her behavior while my mom and I were trying to Christmas shop the other day...  She decided to lie on the floor, yell "no", put her hand DOWN my shirt and grab on my boob, then she pushed her stroller into a stand....  ah, the joys of motherhood:)

love to all

Emma decided to try on Grandpa Loerch's boots, hat, and gloves the other night - cutie!  

A funny story...  Emma has rediscovered her doll "Tottie", a black doll that my mom made for her, named after my friend Tosha.  Well, Emma was taking a shower with me the other day, and Tottie was waiting for us on the toilet.  I was washing my face and when I opened my eyes there was Tottie IN the shower with us!!!!  Did I mention she is a cloth stuffed doll?  Emma had opened the door to the shower and got out to get her and then back in, all while my arms were closed - oops:)

One other cute one - Em had Tottie in the stroller and all of a sudden I hear "Pu-me" and she was waving her hand in front of Tottie and making a funny pace.  I asked her, "Did Tottie poopie?" She said "yes", I asked if she needed to change her diaper, and if so she knew where the diapers were (her diaper bag was right next to her).  Sure enough Em got out the changing pad, the diaper, and wipes!!!  

Love to all...

Michigan Part 2

After our time at the Patterson's we headed over the the Hinrichs side, in Hudsonville, MI.  Grandpa Jim and Nana and the WHOLE side of that family were there (about 20 of us!).  We had such a lovely time and Em had so much fun playing with the big girls (she did all she could to sit on Sienna's lap!).  Em got to read with Grandpa and ride the big bear (that goes "rraarrrr!) with Nana.

Thanks to them for what is always such a wonderful time at their house!

Love to all....

michigan Part 1

"Frank the Tank" is in Michigan!  

We drove to Michigan (yes, it took 12 hours one way) for Thanksgiving break.  We were able to stay with Grandma Patterson for a few days, and Emma had a wonderful time there.  She played with her new suitcase (and her hair in a ponytail!), carried around the new swing for her babydoll that Grams had got her.  She also had a grand ole' time in my boots.  It was so fun to watch em interact with her Grams and Great Grams, and to have her pee on me in our of "potty" incidents (note to self: don't wash child's hands in warm water unless there is a diaper on!).

We had a lovely time there and were so glad we got to go...  Love to Grams and Great Gram and Thanks for a wonderful visit!

"Potty"

"Pee Me"  this is what Emma says when there is a dirty diaper!  Of course we say "Pee-u", so we don't know if she thinks that if we say "U", it means her, so she says "Me"???  Either way it is dang cute...

So yes, she is sitting her new potty chair.  However, there is not a whole lot going on!  Just a lot of sitting and standing and wasting of toilet paper!  

Ever since her cousin Sydney (my cousin's 4 year old daughter) came, and Emma saw her sitting on the potty, Em has been obsessed!  The first night I could NOT figure out why she wanted in the bathroom so bad, nor could I tell what she was saying.  after about 10 minutes she came and got me and took my hand and lead me into the potty, and tried to get on the toilet.  Of course, her little potty is no where near as fun as the big one, but it will do either way for now:)

Love to all...