Ring Around the Rosie

Holding Hands

Dancing with Daddy

Ada sings

I had to share this video of Ada singing. This was taken the day Nana came to make cookies. Ada is singing along with Nana, and of course the dog needed to chime in as well. These are the moments I cherish!

Halloween

Not that I had expected anything different but Halloween was quite a challenge. The first strike against the evening was just that - it's evening, crabby time. Second strike against us - bringing them home from daycare to shove some food in their faces and a quick clothing change and out the door again, which is completely out of our routine. They enjoyed going down to our neighbor's house for some "haunted hot dogs" and a quick visit. We decided to walk around the block and look at pumpkins and costumes rather than doing the real trick-or-treat thing. They were not going to eat the candy! So, Ada just wanted to run all over and Emmet became obsessed with wanting to go in the road and then didn't want to be held but didn't want to walk either. We managed to make it home where they both had a mega meltdown because they didn't want to come inside. Meltdown mode was extinguished with a Laurie Berkner video, snacks and snuggles. The fun really began when people came to trick-or-treat. Emmet knows how to open our doors now so he really enjoyed greeting the kids...so did Ada. Their little faces would light up and Emmet would wave and giggle and Ada would say "hi". So, the night ended okay but left me thinking we should have just stayed in! I'm sure next year will be different...or maybe we'll just enjoying handing out candy rather than going to get it! Here are some pics documenting the evening.

Cookies with Nana

We really are so incredibly lucky to be able to spend so much quality time with Nana. The weekend before Halloween Nana came over armed with cookie dough and the toppings and we had some fun! Nana and I figured that Emmet and Ada would show some curiosity and have fun with it for a short time but we were pleasantly surprised by two toddlers who were completely engrossed in the art of cookie making. They both really enjoyed rolling out the dough and using the cookie cutter to make shapes. Emmet's sweet tooth came out with a vengeance eating the cookie dough as well. Such a fun day that we'll remember forever!

Cookies continued

Once again, I cannot decide on just a few pictures to share, so here are some more!

The Pumpkin Patch

I feel like I've accomplished a "right of passage" of some sort. With Nana and Pops in tow we ventured out to Eugster's Farm for their Fall Festival. While not sure exactly what to expect the adventure was quite a success. Ada and Emmet had a blast...and so did we. From tractor/wagon rides to the great pumpkin search and the petting farm, what more could we ask for?

The Pumpkin Patch continued

There are just too many great pictures (thanks Pops!) to not share them all!

singing?

I spent a good part of my morning attempting to capture the adorable singing that Ada and Emmet do nearly all day. My endeavor was not successful but I thought I'd post this attempt. Emmet is doing some singing. Ada was looking through the viewfinder with me and was so excited to see her brother in the camera!

Best friends

I had to post this video from this morning. Emmet and Ada have been fighting a lot lately. Maybe it's because they've both been so sick and grumpy. The last few days have been great and I absolutely love watching them play together and talk their special language to each other!

18 Month Appointment

Well we were about a month late but Ada and Emmet did finally have their 18-month check-up. I was amazed but it was actually the best doctor appointment we've have yet. I had assumed that A&E would be terrified and mad because we've been to urgent care so much in the last few weeks but I was wrong. They really enjoyed being able to walk around the waiting area, looking at books and pointing at things. They walked themselves back to the room and were friendly and talkative with the nurse and the doctor. Ada cried for the weight and height measurements, when the doctor looked in her ears and after getting her flu shot but the crying was short lived. Emmet only cried when the doctor looked in his ears (she had to remove some wax) and that's it, he didn't even cry after the flu shot! It turns out that Emmet's ear infection is still not gone so they put him on Augmentin too. Ada was put on it last weekend because she was not better yet either and she developed a sinus infection. Yesterday morning Emmet woke up with blood and puss coming out of his ear. He must have ruptured his ear drum but he never let on. I've had that happen before and it's excrutiating! I don't know how he handled it so well!
The new stats are...

Ada: 26 lbs 7oz/ 74% (weight), 34 1/4 in/96% (height) and 47 cm (head)

Emmet: 24 lbs 2oz/22% (weight), 33 1/2 in/75% (height) and 46 1/2 cm (head)

Doctor was happy with their progress. We do need to take Emmet back to have his spine checked again. I think it was about 6 months ago when they saw a slight curve in his spine and told us to come back for a re-check when he was walking independently. And no more shots until kindergarten! YIPPIE!!!!!

They both continue to love singing and they usually both sing themselves to sleep and wake up singing...it is the sweetest thing! Emmet's favorite right now is Twinkle Twinkle, which sounds more like kunkle, kunkle. He fills in the "up above" by saying "bu ba ba" and other parts as well. He's also really going to town on his language development and walking so well! My new fav thing that Emmet does; when I ask him a question (and it has a "yes" response) he nods his head up and down and says "uh,huh". Ada sings EVERYTHING. She is non-stop talking and singing. Ada's latest and greatest..."ba-bye mama", "hi mama", and "where'd he go?".

I can't say it enough...I LOVE LOVE LOVE this age!

Ears and tears

We are fully immersed in our very first ear infections. Ada and Emmet have been suffering through some nasty colds for the last 2 weeks and after a couple of days with Emmet being a limp noodle and sleeping (actually NOT sleeping) in our bed I decided a trip to the doctor was in order. Roger was working today so Nana came along...THANK GOD!!! They are now on antibiotics and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they will sleep through the night tonight and in their own bed!

In other news, Emmet has come around to enjoying being at daycare. Woo hoo!!! It's such a relief for us...it's so hard leaving knowing that he was miserable.

I feel like there was something else I was going to post tonight but my sleep deprived mind can't remember.

I did want to post a few new pics though.

Last, but not least

My last post of the evening. I had to post the newest picture of the two of them together. Notice Emmet's new hair do. Daddy gave him a little haircut (without mommy present...naughty daddy) a couple of weeks ago.

Emmet Walking

I was finally able to get some video of Emmet walking. He's really getting good at it and is starting to take off on his own. He still can't stand up without using someone or something to pull up on but he's so proud of himself! I sound like a complete loony bin in the video but sometimes I just can't contain my excitement!

Update

So, the last time I posted I said that I would not/should not wait so long in between posts. Oops.

My excuse:
The school year has started once again. I said my tearful goodbye on August 30th. I actually was really needing a break from being mommy 24/7 but I've decided that 2 weeks is enough of a break and I'm ready to come home now! I think I remember feeling the same way last year. I was surplused from Chavez Elementary at the end of last year and over the summer took an 8th grade Special Education position at Cherokee Middle School. The transition has been intense. While I really do enjoy working with 8th graders keeping up with the curriculum/content is quite challenging. I find myself, especially with math (you all know how I feel about math) trying to teach myself the lesson 30 minutes before I need to teach it to the kids. I have such vivid and intense memories from when I was an 8th grader, which makes working with this age group so interesting. The staff has been very welcoming and the principal is absolutely amazing. I really think I'm going to like it here!

Now for the toddler report:
Every day I thank God for blessing me with these two beautiful beings. I am still constantly amazed at the amount of knowledge they are able to obtain in even just one days time. In the rare moments that they allow me to just sit back and watch them play and interact with one another I find myself in awe of the little people they've become in such a short time. Periodically I still find myself wondering how on earth I arrived at this point in my life. When did I become an adult, married with 2 children and a dog?

In August we had Emmet evaluated by the Birth To Three Program for gross motor and speech concerns. At the time of his 15 month check-up we were concerned that he was just pulling up to stand, not yet walking and still not even crawling 100% of the time. He also didn't have any words. The evaluation revealed that he does have a delay in expressive language and gross motor skills, which qualified him for some therapy. The therapy is not intensive by any means and is actually more for us than for Emmet. A physical therapist and speech pathologist come to the house twice a month each to check progress and give us "homework" to work on with Emmet. We are happy to report that since this summer he has made some great progress. He is able to take about 15-20 step independently and has increased his vocabulary. Emmet can now say "da da", "car", "go go","open" (sounds like bopo) and can sign "more" and "drink". He'll say "ba-bye" on occasion and will repeat Grandpa (bumpa) when prompted. He also likes to fill in words/phrases I leave out when singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Both the speech pathologist and physical therapist do not think they will need to see Emmet for much longer. Our next step is to continue working on his vocabulary and trunk strength. He's come such a long way and I'm so proud. I'm anxious for him to master walking as he appears so frustrated at times that he can't. We'll just keep pluggin' away at it! Emmet's new favorite thing to do, beside practicing walking is to sit and play on top of the coffee table. Overall though he continues to be pretty mellow, laid back and sensitive.

Ada is a regular "motor mouth". She is non-stop jibber jabber, singing, whining etc. She loves singing the ABC's, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and You Are My Sunshine. When Emmet leaves the room or her sight she calls, "Emmey? Emmey, where are you?". When she finds him she says, "Oh, there you are. Hi baby!" This of course is what I say nearly every day but it totally cracks me up that she's picked it up. She's expanded it to asking where daddy is too. She enjoys doing everything and anything that Roger or I do. She likes putting a purse over her shoulder and saying "ba-bye". The other day I caught her trying to clip daddy's key chain to her pants, just like daddy does. She continues to be a second mother to Emmet and likes to make sure he eats his snack and drinks his milk. She lectures him from time to time and on crabby days she BITES. Yes, my little sweetheart is a vampire! Ada is overall very energetic and stubborn. She laughs, sings and babbles loudly...so, you can only imagine what her whining and crying sound like!

Daycare adventures:
It has come time for Roger to take on more clients for his business but this also means that he needs to work more hours. So, Ada and Emmet now go to daycare two days a week on Wednesdays and Thursdays. They've only gone for two weeks now. Ada absolutely loves it. When I arrive to pick them up and tell her it's time to go she says "no, no" and runs away and screams when I try to put her in her car seat. Emmet on the other hand is really struggling. The first two days were okay but the second week was a whole other story. He apparently cries almost all morning. She feels like the afternoons are getting better but the morning is still rough. I feel so HORRIBLE for Emmet and for Tia Yova (provider). Her husband comes home around 2:30 and Emmet has taken a liking to him. Emmet goes right to him when he comes home, it's rather sweet, really. So, we'll see how this week goes. Last week we sent his walker with him hoping that would encourage him to move around and play a little more. It seemed to help. This week I'll send the walker, his favorite hat of daddy's, along with his favorite cd and an Elmo and Baby Einstein dvd. I'm anxious already thinking about what tomorrow will be like for him.

Okay, I really need to get in bed. Once again, I will try to get on her more often so I don't spend 2 hours updating in one night!

Wheelbarrow Mania

Ada and Emmet continue to LOVE playing outside. Especially the day when daddy was using the wheelbarrow.

Sunday morning with daddy

Ada and Emmet reading the paper with Daddy.

Outside fun

A few weekends ago we had some neighbor friends come over to play in the kiddie pool and sprinkler and hang out for a while. It was hot, hot, hot that day so they brought popsicles with. Ada and Emmet LOVED them. Even though the adults were baking in the heat the kids all had a blast.

Super Emmet

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Super Emmet!
Your eyes are NOT deceiving you...Emmet is indeed wearing my bra.
He put together this little ensemble all on his own while I was folding laundry. I'm just glad I caught him in time to snap some pictures.

Fun at Nana's

Emmet and Ada LOVE going to visit Nana and Pops. All the new toys, sights, sounds and smells. It's great fun. Emmet especially loves the little train. Ada enjoys the piano - don't ya just love her trying out her sultry look? They both love snuggling with Nana. And Pops always captures the moment!

Bath pics from Pops

I had to share these adorable pictures that Pops took while Roger and I were on our weekend "get-away".

Weekend get-away

Thanks to Dad and Julie, Mom and Doug and Uncle Greg, Roger and I were able to get away for the whole weekend of August 24th. This took some planning and tag-team sign up but the weekend went so well. Roger and I left Friday night and checked into a hotel about 15 minutes away from home. We spent the night bowling and having a few beers and of course peacefully going to sleep knowing that we would NOT have to wake up at 6am the next morning! On Saturday the weather was absolutely beautiful. We spent the morning roaming around Willy St and getting tattoos. Roger got a sun on his right arm and I got a swirly thing-a-ma-jig on the inside of my right wrist. After a lunch at The Weary Traveler we met a bunch of friends at the Capital City Beer Tent Fest for beer of course, good times with friends and great music. We were able to see Willy Porter, who was spectacular! Sunday morning we had breakfast and made a Target run for diapers and all that good stuff before returning home. We were anxious to see Ada and Emmet who had a blast spending time with family while we were gone. Here are some pics from the weekend.

Our new table

We just purchased this little table this past weekend. We love it! I'm guessing the novelty will wear off eventually but Ada and Emmet are really enjoying it right now. It is the perfect spot for eating snack, coloring pictures and reading books at. One of the best parts...it folds up so I can stash it under the couch when I need to.

Ada's first pony

Although Ada's hair looks fairly short it turns out it is indeed long enough to put the top part in a little pony tail. She sat so nicely on my lap as I sprayed her hair with the "No Tangles" spray, combed it out and put it in a pony tail. So sweet.

Emmet, the push toy and the purse

So, the other day Emmet insisted on walking around with a purse over his shoulder. He would have a little mini fit every time it fell off of his shoulder and would smirk and walk away after I'd help him pull it back up. Roger wasn't so keen on the idea of Emmet walking around with a purse but I think it's adorable!

Ada & Emmet kiss

I absolutely had to post this little video clip. It's just too darn cute. They were very lovey towards eachother all day the day this was taken. Some days they fight all day, complete with hair pulling, biting and slapping. Other days, such as this day they are very affectionate. Try to ignore the fact that Ada is walking around with a giant death trap (a.k.a. plastic bag) I wanted to catch the kissing and we had just gotten back from the store. I promptly threw it away after I captured the kiss!!!

The Walker

Emmet has finally begun to figure out the walker contraption. This makes me smile as it puts my mind at ease a little. The day this video was taken he was still a bit wobbly. As of yesterday he is obsessed, it's all he wants to do and he's figured out how to turn it etc. Ada has been a little possesive over what she thinks is "her" walker but she's starting to leave him alone now so he can work on these new skills.

Emmet's hats

Emmet is completely in love with hats lately. Well, let me clarify that, daddy's hats. He will not wear his own hats but cannot resist daddy's hats.

Spoon practice

Who knew practicing using spoons with chocolate pudding could be so fun?