Tonight we were getting Emma ready for bed, in her room putting on lotion, pull-ups, pjs, getting ready to read books, and Emma was sitting on her Daddy's lap. All of a sudden she goes "I love my Daddy! I love my Daddy!" And of course I started tearing up and El started laughing, so we egged her on... But SO cute! She's never said anything like that before!

Emma in her hot-pink Converse and hat, all ready for the "puppy park" as she calls it!
Emma "helping" Daddy give Cooper a bath!

So Emma is doing great with her potty-training! No "real" accidents for a couple of weeks now. However, she often forgets (or she waits too long, so she is in a hurry!) to take down her uns and shorts before she goes! And she wants to be so dang independent that we often try to let her go on her own.... This time El was just a bit too late!!! She was already "all done"!

I had a work meeting last week and Emma wore herself out at Grandma's house. She fell asleep in the car on the way home by 1pm - pretty early for her. When we got home she had her juice resting in between her legs and a big piece of granola bar in EACH hand - and she was sound asleep! Cute girl....

On a side note, we'd noticed about a month ago that she had probably grown a bit height wise. Well today I checked, and she has grown over three inches in four months!!!!!! She was just over 36 inches at her 2year appointment and she measured at 39 inches last week!!! BIG girl... Sweet girl....

Love to all....

Say Cheese!!!!

Today I had the distinct pleasure of going school clothes shopping (I am desperately in need of decent attire for my new job, and life in general) for 5 hours ALL BY MYSELF!!!!! My mom so kindly offered to let Emma nap at her house and then take her for dinner. Boy, was it wonderful and relaxing!!! I was at the Mall of America and it was packed. I would hear a little girl that sounded like Emma and think how much I missed her, then the next minute I'd see a mom chasing after her kids and think, "Oh, I am so glad I am here by myself!" Ha ha.... Anyway, the point of my story was Emma's nap time.... I guess Papa Loerch went in to get her up from her nap and there she was, sleeping under her pillow, with her SNOW-PANTS on, pulled up to her chest!!!! We assume she managed to pull them off of her little shelf and put them on before she fell asleep. Needless to say she was VERY sweaty:)

Love to all...

Yes, this picture really is what you think it is!!! Emma LOVES her Daddy and if he isn't working, he barely gets a moment to himself:) You will notice she has a magazine too. Last night while I was waiting for Emma to potty I had my arms crossed with my chin resting on my palm and I looked over at her - she had her chin resting in her palm - TOO CUTE!!!!
This is how Emma sleeps - UNDER her pillow! She actually got this from her Daycare lady, Carol, for Christmas and she just LOVES it! I think it is adorable and kooky - just like Emma.

Love to all...

Water Park with Daddy

Daddy took Emma to the water park on Sunday, and Mommy got some time at home alone!!! She came home happy as a lark and told me when she was going to bed that she wanted to go to the "water park tomorrow with Daddy"! The above picture is how she loves to swing on her own.
Getting kisses from a puppy

Pink Panther ice cream!!!!!!!!

Camping 2

Proof that I was camping, a bit blurry!
This was the second morning we were there... I was exhausted as Emma slept in between Elliott and I, it POURED rain most of the night, and I had to PEE!!!! Wouldn't you know it I'd left Emma's potty chair outside in the pouring rain - it was seeming like a good option!
The view of Lake Peppin from the park
Emma and Auntie Becca getting ready for a walk

Camping 1

We went camping Thursday-Saturday with Grandma and Papa Loerch, Auntie Becca and Uncle Chris, and Uncle Peter and his caretaker Clement, and Cooper!!! This was Emma's first camping trip, and we hadn't all been camping in many years. So, I was a bit hesitant - Emma is a very busy girl and I wasn't quite sure if I was ready for it! BUT, we had a WONDERFUL time! Emma was totally in her element and had such a blast. With the help of Auntie Becca and Grandma too, Emma was always "covered":)

Here she is getting ready for a pancake breakfast Friday morning.
Here very favorite thing to do was play in the pebbles, especially with Daddy.
The campground was infested with Daddy-Long-Legs spiders and Emma was entranced! She even picked them up with her bare hands and said "here mommy".... I said "no thank you!"
Going for a walk with Grandma Loerch, Daddy, Baby Noel (that's what she calls her doll now), and Cooper.... They only got about 15 more feet!!!!