Safety First!

Here's Dad putting safety latches on the cupboards today. We actually only put them on two cupboards with "bad" stuff in them. The others we want her to be able to play and explore in! Which she is already starting to do pretty well:)

Poor thing is still struggling with her cold and teeth. Otherwise not a whole lot else here! Just getting ready for christmas - tomorrow and Christmas Day with JAson, Holly, Grandma Patterson, and Holly's Dad Marve and Girlfriend Gail. So it shoudl be lovely! THEN off to Mn on Wednesday...

Love to all...

Everywhere Emma

Emma has learned how the cabinets work! She has only really explored them once though, it is not a habit by any means yet. That still gives us a little time to get the saftety latches on:) You can see in the second picture that she is just cruzin' down the hallway! She is ALL OVER and will follow us or the animals around the house. She is still waking up three times (at least) a night. PLEASE tell me that is going to stop soon:) Today we are all going Christmas shopping... Emma may have some "puffs" to feed herself for the first time, and she may have some chicken today too! Well, baby food chicken. Right now she has figured out how to get the scrap books off the shelves in the family room.... The exploring continues! Love to all

Dr, visit

Here is Emma walking with Grandpoa and playing/biting the cold sliding glass door (we think it felt good on her teeth!).

So Emma learned how to open the cupboard doors yesterday! That means the safety latches go on today at some point,

She also had her 9 month Dr. apt. yesterday. She is doing great! She is 21 pounds and 29 inches, so she is growing well:) She is now in the 96% for height and 90% for weight, so that is all good. She is ahead in her motor skills, and a just a bit behind in forming her consonant sounds, but sometimes that happens when a skill comes early (such as cruising all around the house! She might have the beginning of an ear infection so we have to keep an eye on that. Otherwise she is great!

We are assuming her teeth are really getting to her as she has been waking up THREE times a night this week!

Love to all...

Few more Pictures

Helping get things out of the fridge.....

How cute is she????

Wanted to tell you about one of her new favorite activities. She pulls herself up to standing next to the rocking chair in her room, then she proceeds to take all of her books out of her basket one by one. How fun it is to watch her learn and explore. Love to all.....

Home

WE made it home after a VERY long tavel day. Emma was teething, and NOT sleeping. Evryone on the flight was very kind. One flight attendant gave Em her glasses to play with, and the woman behind us took Emma for a walk and played Peek-a-Boo with her! So in that sense it was a goos flight.

Last night Emma and El had a great time. I guess they took an hour long bath! When I got home form teaching I found TONS of toys in the tub:) She is still waking up like three times in the night, so I hope that stops soon. Her one tooth has FINALLY broke through - thank goodness. But, I think she is still working on the other fron tooth. So, on we march.

Emma has her 9 month Check-up today (even though she won't be 9 months until the 31st). So we'll see how big she is!!!!!

Wish us luck.... Love to all...

Emma is EVERYWHERE!!!!

Oh my gosh... Emma is learning so fast! Before we know it she is going to be walking. She has learned how to stand agains just about anything and is getting very brave with just one hand. She has learned how to get back down to the floor and is even squatting and then standing right back up. This morning we noticed she was playing her "dropping" game with herslef - where she drops something and then bends down to pick it back up (she loves playing this with whoever will accommidate her). We also noticed this morning that she has learned to crwl with things in her hands, so can take things along with her (on purposenow!).

What else? Well, I am assuming that her cold and her teeth have been killing her because she has barely slept the past two nights. Last night was alittle better, but the night before was terrible! My arms were sore so I finally just brought her to bed with me, and last night was the same. That hasn't happened in the past 5 1/2 months! But, we got through the night that way. And it won't be happening in Seattle. But then we head to my mom''s in just over a week, so a whole new place for her to aclimate to again! But, you know she does well. We had Scott and his two boys over for the weekend, and then Jackie's daughters and their kids all in addition yesterday. It was so fun as I haven't seen them in forever. It was such a joy to watch them all with Emma, all such good care takers!

It has been such a WONDERFUL trip, it is hard to leave. Although I am sure Elliott is very excited to see Emma!

Well, we head out abouyt 2:45 today and get into SEattle at 7pm... Wish us luck again:)

Love to all...

In Michigan

Here is Emma and Grandma H having a one-on-one, and Emma playing under the christmas tree. She was really into all of the boxes! We made it here Thursday morning all in one piece (well, for me that was a relative term as I'd slept MAYBE 2 hours:)) Emma did OK on the all night flight. She was pretty would up by all of the lights and sounds, and then she just couldn't get comfortable and would almot fall asleep and then try and move around, but didn't have enough room. She never actually really cried or freaked out, but she was working towards it!!!!! The people next to me were so nice though, as was the flight attendant. Emma finally fell asleep with about 1 1/2 hours to go.... I napped off and on./ She took another nap during our lay-over in Cincinnatti, then proceeded to flirght with the man across the aisle from us on the flight to Grand Rapids. It was hilarious.

She played and played and played all day once we got to Grandma and Grandpa's. Took a couple of naps but nothing serious (as I was seriuously delirious all day!!!). She finally went to bed about 10pm.

YEsterday we went to visit all of the Patterson's - Great Grams, Grams, Unlce Ron and Aunt Deb, Uncle Charlie and Aunt Mary. Everyone came! IT made me and Emma feel so good. So that was quite the visit. We headed back to Grand Rapids to pick up
Grandpa H from work (1 1/2 hour drive) .. we were 1/2 hour late! Oops.... Emma slept well, but then couldn't get to sleep last night until 11:30!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She is the energizer bunny sometimes. WE know her teeth are driving her crazy, but even SEattle time that would be a late bedtime. Then she was up chirping at me at 8:15 am this mornoing. She is goofy.

We are having a wonderful time and I have SO many pictures I could post, so maybe will do one tomorrow. Today we are going to run and spend a Bath and Body GC I got for my birthday:) Then to the grocery store, then some family are coming tonight, and ALL of the kids and grandkids (except for Justin!) will be here tomorrow! WOW!

Love to all....

See-Food?

Emma just could not pass on showing Elliott her food last night! Every time he fed her she would open her mouth and push out the food. So, see-food:) She did it again tonight but not quite as bad. I haven't had the chance to feed her since she has been doin git, so we will see if she does it with me.

The other picture is what I found when I walked in to the family room from the kithchen. We knew she was pulling herself up to standing on EVERYTHING. But, the coffee table was new, and there isn't really anything for her to grab on to, so it is a BIG step. She is just going crazy with all the new things she is learning, she isn't taking a nap in the morning st Jessica's! But she is ehausted so sleeps all afternoon.

Tonight - at 11:50pm (!!!!!) Elliott is dropping Emma nd I off at the airport so we can go visit my dad in Michigan.... Why did I get a red-eye ticket with a lay-over in Ohio? Who in the world knows, but it was a Frequent Flyer miles, in addition to the fact that there are no direct flights there, and I would spend ALL DAY tomorrow traveling if I waited to leave then. SO we will see! Wish us the best...

Love to all

Flirt

Yup, she's a flirt! I brought out the camera and she started smiling IMMEDIATELY! Serously.... And at the store, she is just smiling at everyone, and they are all making faces and smiling at her. Oh it is SO fun.

The poor thing was just exhausted yesterday. I don't know why though. She might be fighting off a cold, but she fell asleep last night at 6pm, didn't wake up to eat until 6:30 am, then went back to bed until 8:30 when I went in and woke her up becasue I was worried! Mean mom.... Well, she was a bit fussy this morning, did eat breakfast, but then went back to bed at about 10:30 and is STILL asleep now. Of course I checked her temperature but it is fine. Grandma L says maybe she is growing. Lord help us if that is the case:)

Love to all...

Toys?

The silly girl can be surrounded by toys.....and all she realy wants is anything that ISN'T a toy! Tags, you know, pieces of paper, are her favorite thing! She also loves cords, Elvis's kong, she went after his plastic food bowl today. She also loves tags on clothing and toys, the newspaper, anything Elliott or I are looking at!

ANYWAY.... We are going to do a little shopping today for a few kids we "adopted" for christmas. We are also going to Costco to pickup our christams cards - can't wait for everyone to see them:)
OK, love to all...

So Proud!

SHe was so proud of herself when I walked in and found her standing in her crib! Good lord we think she is so dang cute and such a ham. But we are just a little biased I am sure:) Elliott lowered her crib tonight, becasue I was certain she was going to pull herself overboard at any minute.

Last night was another milestone, as she figured out how to use her "sippy-cup". Elliott said she drank so much water tonight that she kept spitting up -oops! She is so excited to have the option to choose to have something I am sure. I guess he said that tonight she crawled over to her Jumperoo, pulled herself up to standing (which she has been doing repeatedly the past couple of days), and then kept looking over at him like she wanted to get in it. So, he put her in it and she went crazy! Our little girl is growing up:) She'll be asking for the keys any day now...

Love to all...

Standing

Here is Emma out in the snowfall we had, and hamming it up with Grandma.

Sot his afternoon I walked into Emma's room and I found her STANDING inher crib!!! It was just a matter of time. So now just one thing for her mother to worry about:)

Love toa ll...

Emma and Grandma L

FInally here we are! We had a WONDERFUL visit with Grandam L. We went shopping on two different days, once to the outlet mall where Emma and I made a haul. Carter's had 70% off. Emma had one freakout becasue she couldn't get to sleep, but we finally got it figured out. I did have to feed her in the car on the way home while Grandma drove. But otherwise she did well. We also had two photo shoots with Emma!!!! To get Christmas cards ready. She cooperated SO well and had smile after smile for us.

Emma is pulling herself up to standing now, and getting around where she wants to go on her hands and knees. She coninues to make us laugh and smile ALL the time.

We had MAJOR snow over the weekend, then warm air and rain with A LOT of flooding. It took us almost 2 hours to get home yesterday. BUT we are safe and sound - with a late start for school! So We'll take that.

Guess that's all for now. Love to all...