tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90011184372859753062024-03-13T10:52:18.713-04:00And Baby Hecks make 4Since family and friends are spread out all over the place, we decided to put this blog together so everyone who wants to can be a part of this crazy time! I have a friend who writes her blog to her daughter and I thought that was a great idea. I would have loved to read a diary or a whole bunch of letters from mom/dad/grandma to me about me.Calliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16353693486853370393noreply@blogger.comBlogger233125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001118437285975306.post-33776246633259900222014-06-17T20:05:00.000-04:002014-06-17T20:06:12.800-04:00"Emma, she sing Go"You know Emma sings lots from <i>Frozen</i> when one of Stella's new sentences is, "Emma, she sing Go!" <br />
<br />
We finally have grass in the backyard so we've been playing out there a lot. Stella, your new sandbox from Nana and Papa is up and operational. You and Emma have been playing in the cottage a ton. It's so nice to go outside with no shoes on!<br />
<br />
You are slightly obsessed with brushing your teeth and washing your hands. This morning you decided my phone was dirty and needed washing as well. That was a bit concerning. It's still working though!<br />
<br />
You respond immediately to the words, "Ready, set, Go!" and go racing across the backyard with a giant smile on your face. <br />
<br />
Your hair is getting longer and a tad curly too. I'm not sure how long that will last, but it's adorable right now.<br />
<br />
You're a bit of a pain when it comes to food. You don't like to eat vegetables unless they're mixed in with apple sauce or yogurt. You now ask for a peach cup and granola bar by name (and usually accompanied with squeals or crying to get your way).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalFnvQH_WzanSS110-jvbXsrXvRYYRGWg50ilmTvk1yBr35TXaN2HAZuwlTIoiW5XEkVBgm1OAYyF29m4qFsQTvifiapFPNRSmdzeh4xoLtI6APImB334XCu2nVyopsop4FTi3KxA-1s/s1600/Stella+2+-+01+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalFnvQH_WzanSS110-jvbXsrXvRYYRGWg50ilmTvk1yBr35TXaN2HAZuwlTIoiW5XEkVBgm1OAYyF29m4qFsQTvifiapFPNRSmdzeh4xoLtI6APImB334XCu2nVyopsop4FTi3KxA-1s/s1600/Stella+2+-+01+edit.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680518649987868153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001118437285975306.post-82237692167920388152014-05-19T21:38:00.000-04:002014-05-19T21:38:41.193-04:00You are TWO!I am late in posting this, but I was waiting for a couple things and the first happened tonight. A couple months ago we attempted to convert your crib into a big girl bed. That didn't go well. I tried it again tonight and it worked perfectly! You are officially in a big girl bed! You cried a little when I walked out of the room, but you stayed in bed. I left you alone to see if you'd stop crying and you did. I didn't dare open the door to see if you had laid back down, so I just peered under the door to see if I saw any of feet walking around and I didn't so I figured you were sleeping.<br />
<br />
The other thing I was waiting for was to get your sand box outside that Nana and Papa got you for your birthday, but we haven't done that yet as we're working on getting sod in the backyard. Those pictures will come eventually.<br />
<br />
We had your party on your actual birthday. We did a Dr. Seuss theme since you love to be read to. It was a nice enough day that we could be outside too. You ate your cupcake frosting first without using your hands, Then when you got most off you lifted it up and continued to lick the rest off. You never ate the actual cake part. You were wowed by a couple gifts: the princess bucket for the sand box, the soccer ball, and the mini drum set. You got a trampoline from Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Denny too. It's been funny watching you try to use it as you haven't figured out the jumping part. You would much rather still use the neighbors' full size one and just run around on it without jumping. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_0C62scsBE6MylwrtgOiFsY-tZasBrq2UqAxue7039L_ifxhJviSjEso6OMukk2vaIvc3_ghoeEgZ8DtcNfG5qzx9KrLvbkHqOC16SatFf1GAjlBnI42K6TXzSl4OVj6nUJqM308P2w/s1600/IMG_1069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_0C62scsBE6MylwrtgOiFsY-tZasBrq2UqAxue7039L_ifxhJviSjEso6OMukk2vaIvc3_ghoeEgZ8DtcNfG5qzx9KrLvbkHqOC16SatFf1GAjlBnI42K6TXzSl4OVj6nUJqM308P2w/s1600/IMG_1069.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5C2bXGS2f2ZVc7CIYOEcicn5TcvCEKBjw6vRn-k9bzxvtt9rIyI7h8cXtfiTRencx4Rj2z2ldt5Hxq8MjxeQrCkICOdz18rf7ZIuGCnfhMDlyHRYFZdV_ChhiC3tCNpqqFfXfcVpsIwc/s1600/IMG_1089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5C2bXGS2f2ZVc7CIYOEcicn5TcvCEKBjw6vRn-k9bzxvtt9rIyI7h8cXtfiTRencx4Rj2z2ldt5Hxq8MjxeQrCkICOdz18rf7ZIuGCnfhMDlyHRYFZdV_ChhiC3tCNpqqFfXfcVpsIwc/s1600/IMG_1089.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8lmVff6tTPGDmO3G8y8f0pCilVS0aaQyyHvQtK1pTQZT_JTCZDoBEHfU4DeULBIEKQKfb438JkcWpSkHcIpgflBtaEQH254-gtGz0nLk8WEu1btVyHMjA3xkGsXAerdWXU7WkygYvNg/s1600/IMG_1095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8lmVff6tTPGDmO3G8y8f0pCilVS0aaQyyHvQtK1pTQZT_JTCZDoBEHfU4DeULBIEKQKfb438JkcWpSkHcIpgflBtaEQH254-gtGz0nLk8WEu1btVyHMjA3xkGsXAerdWXU7WkygYvNg/s1600/IMG_1095.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0cHGOAtVR1gStaSIisDiln6dzo4F3XNHolyDT_G9ZzTzSFWPp0Z0a4FbRgTtU7Q-LpQyeb5oqmzE0-J475r6F5cqYSVXR2zGIJxx08ej3182pczc9cCkeWSoN1ZF5fEYTGykbfCUIUI/s1600/IMG_1122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0cHGOAtVR1gStaSIisDiln6dzo4F3XNHolyDT_G9ZzTzSFWPp0Z0a4FbRgTtU7Q-LpQyeb5oqmzE0-J475r6F5cqYSVXR2zGIJxx08ej3182pczc9cCkeWSoN1ZF5fEYTGykbfCUIUI/s1600/IMG_1122.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
You're starting to say more words and sentences. My favorite sentence is still "I wuv you." My second favorite one is your current one that's just emerged the last couple days, "I want one too." Your words are getting clearer and clearer, which makes me feel better. The other day Emma and I were still finishing dinner. You were done and got down just to do puzzles by yourself. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680518649987868153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001118437285975306.post-58069946412226842142014-04-27T20:33:00.002-04:002014-04-27T20:33:45.132-04:00A little stinkerIt appears that I am only able to manage a post once a month, about this time actually. Stella, please don't take it personally! There will be more over summer. It was a cold winter, and it's still a cool, late spring so there wasn't much going on. You've been stubborn on many levels so we haven't had many new things to talk about. Over spring break, we were able to go do some things outside. We went to the butterfly house and the Children's Gardens at MSU. We also went to Small Animal Day. You weren't impressed with the Butterfly House. To be fair, we weren't either. Only about a half dozen butterflies and 5 of them were high up in a tree -- which I can't really blame them for! You did like running around the Children's Gardens, although I'm still concerned you're going to fall into the pond. <br />
<br />
You LOVED Small Animal Day. We got there around 8:45. Doors weren't supposed to open until 9, but they were already open and they let us in. We got to see all the animals up close before any of the crowds got there and it paid off. You greeted all the animals not with their name but with their noises. You darn near strangled a chick though. You wanted nothing to do with touching the cow. Emma sat down like she was going to milk it this time, but then she just wanted to talk to the MSU student about her shirt. You loved the baby goats and rabbit outside in the petting area. You joyously ran back and forth between all the pens. <br />
<br />
We went to Aunt Mickie's and Uncle Mark's for Easter. Nana, Papa, Great Grandma, Uncle TJ, Aunt Kellyn and Addy were all there along with Uncle Mark's dad and brother. We tried to put you down early for a nap as we were heading over there during the typical nap time. That didn't work. I was wondering how you were going to fare at the house. You were clingy to start, but Papa started feeding you and you were all set! You really need to interact with him in different ways! You went to everyone, you hung outside with Uncle TJ and Aunt Kellyn. You fell at one point and even went to Uncle Mark's dad to show him your arm and get some sympathy. <br />
<br />
You're starting to speak more and enunciate more. "My shark" for the toy shark in the bath tub is a new one. You enunciate mine, please, and "hug you" when you want me to carry you down the stairs (or up). You still just point to the fridge and yell when you want something that's not on your plate for a meal. I name things off and you just nod but don't repeat the word. You're very stubborn about speaking as well as your eating. You don't eat everything we put in front of you. You also don't always eat the same things. You can eat macaroni and cheese happily one night and then a week later not want anything to do with it. It's a constant struggle. We don't just give you alternate food anymore. I think you're slowly getting over it. I'm hoping you aren't as stubborn about transitioning to a big bed or potty training. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7f4CT_N6NspKM-S3U5zn764bh-sQxdVQFeHgbTqZa07lyk-g5gE35CWL5KozmVsjpIQy3RYTHJQxmkxes5hYa_9xFg9r8ht8fQYUbEUquoCwUJdvoKeONalp8Zg93TSvDeABCtbRMFXQ/s1600/IMG_0887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7f4CT_N6NspKM-S3U5zn764bh-sQxdVQFeHgbTqZa07lyk-g5gE35CWL5KozmVsjpIQy3RYTHJQxmkxes5hYa_9xFg9r8ht8fQYUbEUquoCwUJdvoKeONalp8Zg93TSvDeABCtbRMFXQ/s1600/IMG_0887.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTN22pXlQZbj0xMkQeZWKZSgw_7pk-t0vdZa4x9KXTe27xeMaehl_MiKZ-SdDddZJosHI0euQp1UqHiJPqpGlt58uMDsQDzozetDWlYbkQM-8RPHl8QNuO0CyK1xuhH4hIIPzHFtkxkg/s1600/IMG_0889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTN22pXlQZbj0xMkQeZWKZSgw_7pk-t0vdZa4x9KXTe27xeMaehl_MiKZ-SdDddZJosHI0euQp1UqHiJPqpGlt58uMDsQDzozetDWlYbkQM-8RPHl8QNuO0CyK1xuhH4hIIPzHFtkxkg/s1600/IMG_0889.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBwkwm7nTM3OqVIqQhBSxjF5yt4lFDTQUqTiPm_529Vcss-O0F59v7Jfrjk2eytBY95Xb1K7ljsroEKuHkZGznTtBf2xjK_lkSdXpKp1gkBFkRLREgSGzhgG2YabnI2UXlooSk1BI0blc/s1600/IMG_0909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBwkwm7nTM3OqVIqQhBSxjF5yt4lFDTQUqTiPm_529Vcss-O0F59v7Jfrjk2eytBY95Xb1K7ljsroEKuHkZGznTtBf2xjK_lkSdXpKp1gkBFkRLREgSGzhgG2YabnI2UXlooSk1BI0blc/s1600/IMG_0909.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTkwLbvmk8ksDeTVSroJ3gvW9h8KF-__h7ktsU_rqPoABv_H3lpifL_PXw95jTxZc9tB1ku6oNaU52tX-k_J5wJmOvs__nwDcXnms6ISNmPEW1hMXXWzbioE7tPp4iHChghBiLQ9im_4/s1600/IMG_0912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTkwLbvmk8ksDeTVSroJ3gvW9h8KF-__h7ktsU_rqPoABv_H3lpifL_PXw95jTxZc9tB1ku6oNaU52tX-k_J5wJmOvs__nwDcXnms6ISNmPEW1hMXXWzbioE7tPp4iHChghBiLQ9im_4/s1600/IMG_0912.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKI8Ip10uBSbguPXkT-Mw5oIV9sNvODlRXB3DvDSwWcNMNpdrLXOJ0llAG83f9S7yZlakevpxP9gT5ZiOKgmbaLVLmo4minzIaWnNeCVXlwE4vVeQ4Lc71794nM2ably61eUY_3Ns0VvI/s1600/IMG_0924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKI8Ip10uBSbguPXkT-Mw5oIV9sNvODlRXB3DvDSwWcNMNpdrLXOJ0llAG83f9S7yZlakevpxP9gT5ZiOKgmbaLVLmo4minzIaWnNeCVXlwE4vVeQ4Lc71794nM2ably61eUY_3Ns0VvI/s1600/IMG_0924.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Y9Ahnjmg059V_CxKE6csOfW0i-S4FP1wvVA_6VkONjEpUUTrW7bQG96Vw_rXuURnAL5Mtcy3KP9ORglJyt3iU6faOVFFWe3gjKHJWUInCyulrWYLO4FTX4UuCnhlcV7d-Wpj9fKqWxI/s1600/IMG_0937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Y9Ahnjmg059V_CxKE6csOfW0i-S4FP1wvVA_6VkONjEpUUTrW7bQG96Vw_rXuURnAL5Mtcy3KP9ORglJyt3iU6faOVFFWe3gjKHJWUInCyulrWYLO4FTX4UuCnhlcV7d-Wpj9fKqWxI/s1600/IMG_0937.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJGi05G0YgXJf4iwpsMp3qqiTBD4xu_OhkCuzpyAhyphenhyphenLJrCvO47h5OsLC7m8g2LjOhb43mw9_h00OSXWPXa7C0kL-by18uEYigQGCkyBreQg6tud6SDQyn6QnkBTZvy0JYbBvqa5erTVE/s1600/IMG_0940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJGi05G0YgXJf4iwpsMp3qqiTBD4xu_OhkCuzpyAhyphenhyphenLJrCvO47h5OsLC7m8g2LjOhb43mw9_h00OSXWPXa7C0kL-by18uEYigQGCkyBreQg6tud6SDQyn6QnkBTZvy0JYbBvqa5erTVE/s1600/IMG_0940.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNiitcAh_Y6YNbPZ0YuIOQbmAe-UHq0RQP3h2Ht1goUvW1zO14aykIlSv7lK1YRquGF6KxEmUxkELlEHgtmXFt2sWvxsoZMPpknK46vC8fZqF_Q6AS4JWbSjmDjk-Ysj8FBrlWB4BUDUs/s1600/IMG_0972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNiitcAh_Y6YNbPZ0YuIOQbmAe-UHq0RQP3h2Ht1goUvW1zO14aykIlSv7lK1YRquGF6KxEmUxkELlEHgtmXFt2sWvxsoZMPpknK46vC8fZqF_Q6AS4JWbSjmDjk-Ysj8FBrlWB4BUDUs/s1600/IMG_0972.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3MtmCOfkSWO18ghUHPdGExT2RiPHJktfD2n6sODEN86GuJP5oZF0BY0goIPRoXnAUd7RSUk2_74gFCEu2Rg4gcVVDUO_nmtmlipOnB9QA_61jpN_o5sE8-oS2O1eSO0b56eWwMXmBq8/s1600/IMG_0978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3MtmCOfkSWO18ghUHPdGExT2RiPHJktfD2n6sODEN86GuJP5oZF0BY0goIPRoXnAUd7RSUk2_74gFCEu2Rg4gcVVDUO_nmtmlipOnB9QA_61jpN_o5sE8-oS2O1eSO0b56eWwMXmBq8/s1600/IMG_0978.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWQxA0_hwRPb1pFepenlxxNrlSx_8hfHWbqHb2v6RHi84X7KU5RuZd5L9EL5CWL7m6GdHIncr9d0NKByvIdfGdZhajKm9wwEIN5f3oHd9MsXoxnQ7jckNG72uDKEf25UEt_YuuqUbNe0/s1600/IMG_0989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWQxA0_hwRPb1pFepenlxxNrlSx_8hfHWbqHb2v6RHi84X7KU5RuZd5L9EL5CWL7m6GdHIncr9d0NKByvIdfGdZhajKm9wwEIN5f3oHd9MsXoxnQ7jckNG72uDKEf25UEt_YuuqUbNe0/s1600/IMG_0989.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFqB3wIM8bn3TuSbEpkUfG50YySIPcKLZR20LDzmGjVNq5RO8fdXdrwKFQ6jZnohaXsukLXMNP6viAp4en1sJwtAoQndFuIx_TKgq1NlUYG4FTRMQ4w1Bo-CYEH_TeYDBZWzEiOGV7d4/s1600/IMG_0999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFqB3wIM8bn3TuSbEpkUfG50YySIPcKLZR20LDzmGjVNq5RO8fdXdrwKFQ6jZnohaXsukLXMNP6viAp4en1sJwtAoQndFuIx_TKgq1NlUYG4FTRMQ4w1Bo-CYEH_TeYDBZWzEiOGV7d4/s1600/IMG_0999.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsEt27BtS-PQOxM5UAm-bB5Gh_6rKUPiL2WiHVCXaL_NVzcl70BiGp1vwVUHN9LQKzJzwx1UkFdUMBGFkrPBfrFthzBh_vD-VSQ0aJn2xqfMpPJp-apjnXKzGzqGC-T5u8pHvew4aMZjk/s1600/IMG_1021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsEt27BtS-PQOxM5UAm-bB5Gh_6rKUPiL2WiHVCXaL_NVzcl70BiGp1vwVUHN9LQKzJzwx1UkFdUMBGFkrPBfrFthzBh_vD-VSQ0aJn2xqfMpPJp-apjnXKzGzqGC-T5u8pHvew4aMZjk/s1600/IMG_1021.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkCO5f-Iu6aNXTJzZJcGKWjAEftleAj21MjTzkRIB3l5JHw1PwpvWx0-zbyHJsooRiNrClluTLm8c25jnC7qZfjtPIhbRzivkV_2eHF9-gcIU2teMt6dIAl_NfoUoDYEXFl7DMDmFdu0/s1600/IMG_1032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkCO5f-Iu6aNXTJzZJcGKWjAEftleAj21MjTzkRIB3l5JHw1PwpvWx0-zbyHJsooRiNrClluTLm8c25jnC7qZfjtPIhbRzivkV_2eHF9-gcIU2teMt6dIAl_NfoUoDYEXFl7DMDmFdu0/s1600/IMG_1032.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdTec5rMmHvwIAZYpz63KdlHU4gsHGglgDM-bN33POqohyphenhyphenBjjvbdKZEW2cS9SBE67ckKQMcehTLa7_qkH4KrScTX1q1LqcKbFS_QvS549n3dKfW8zvG6lgAnP-bNEXQNb2oLY4go66dg/s1600/IMG_1038+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdTec5rMmHvwIAZYpz63KdlHU4gsHGglgDM-bN33POqohyphenhyphenBjjvbdKZEW2cS9SBE67ckKQMcehTLa7_qkH4KrScTX1q1LqcKbFS_QvS549n3dKfW8zvG6lgAnP-bNEXQNb2oLY4go66dg/s1600/IMG_1038+edit.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1SUeIkmV5Alk71GMS8TBDMjduzO9uhGnzl2eI6SY2kebxeSMk6-sQyoglPVjp9XowFrrATBiHR8fnRbWE_uFbTKD9SE-RAlAwATEcmFK_yRoYpK3EjQ5UmuVGWO9hbjf4ulYRLf4n5I/s1600/IMG_1046+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1SUeIkmV5Alk71GMS8TBDMjduzO9uhGnzl2eI6SY2kebxeSMk6-sQyoglPVjp9XowFrrATBiHR8fnRbWE_uFbTKD9SE-RAlAwATEcmFK_yRoYpK3EjQ5UmuVGWO9hbjf4ulYRLf4n5I/s1600/IMG_1046+edit.jpg" height="241" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680518649987868153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001118437285975306.post-1592778629025309742014-03-29T19:55:00.002-04:002014-03-29T19:55:46.481-04:00books and books and booksStella, your favorite thing to do right now is to be read to. This morning, you must have brought me books for 45 minutes. When I tired of reading, you started with the big picture books where you point out pictures that I ask you to find. Your vocabulary is expanding too. This could be due to hearing all these words recently. You try to mimic all our words. There's some things you say very pointedly, but we still haven't figure out what they mean. You've also started tugging and pulling at our leg to get us to where you want us. You are still a climber. Karen gave us the Barbie house that her girls had. At least 3 times I have found you standing on the second tier or sitting on the top tier. I'm just glad you haven't tried to climb out of your crib yet.<br />
<br />
Pretty soon we'll start transitioning you to a big girl bed and potty training. I can't believe you'll be two soon!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680518649987868153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001118437285975306.post-27130835512154500012014-02-28T21:20:00.002-05:002014-03-01T08:17:06.700-05:00More phrasesOh, Stella… your two clearest stated phrases: "I fart" and "I poop". After you say, "I fart" you then smirk. It's so funny. You also now have some possessive phrases: "mama's tea" and "mama's phone.<br />
<br />
You have figured out to mooch food from Emma. She enjoys sharing with you -- pudding, apple sauce, strawberries, anything really. She likes feeding you. You now try to climb into her chair at the kitchen table while she's eating and just take directly from her. <br />
<br />
You both have started fighting over toys a bit too. Usually you put down the toy, she picks it up, you try to take it back, and a pulling match ensues. Emma's plan is to let go and find a new toy. She usually forgets that though. You're slowly learning that you have to take turns too. <br />
<br />
Right now you're into throwing things out in the pantry. You'll find a sticker Emma has put on something -- a coloring book or the inside of one of her purse-things -- you'll pull it off and bring it to the garbage in the kitchen to throw out. You sometimes have to be stopped! You'd throw out everything in your path if you could. <br />
<br />
You LOVE Emma. First place you want to go is Emma's room to see her. Daddy has been off this week so Daddy's been getting her from school. It's just you and me on the ride home. As soon as we get to the car, you question, "Emma?" look in her chair and sadly say, "Emma." You can now climb into her bed on your own. There are nights you crawl in and try to fall asleep next to her, but you two break into giggles so it's a no-go right now. Maybe when you're a bit older. <br />
<br />
You really enjoy <i>Curious George</i>. You like watching it on TV and you like to read the stories in the book we have. You even say "George" when you see him or the book. It's really cute!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680518649987868153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001118437285975306.post-80664897599894467132014-02-05T21:12:00.002-05:002014-02-05T21:12:33.318-05:00More words and dancingStella, you are using more words and phrases although your enunciation is not always perfect. You've moved on from "poo poo" to "I poo poo." Unfortunately you think you have always done #2. As soon as you can differentiate we might start potty training. You've started saying "Layla", one of your friends at daycare. You like the "p" sound: purple, pot pie, pepper. You've also discovered the Dr. Seuss "ABC" book and ask for multiple readings of that in one sitting. Your dancing is coming along as well: spinning, twisting, asking to hold my hand. You often ask for a spoon at meals even if you don't then use it to eat. You don't always finish the end sound of the word though. My personal favorite is your "I love you" which sounds more like "Ow-luv ooo". <br />
<br />
Emma, you had a similar conversation with me as you did Daddy not too long ago (asking our age, then counting up, then getting to a number and saying we'd be too old then and you'd have to get a new mom or dad). Unfortunately you only got me up to 39 before calling me too old. <br />
<br />
Emma, you went with daddy to your first roller skating party at the end of January. I haven't gotten Daddy to get the pictures off his phone yet. You had a blast. He had a lot of fun with you too. You only fell a couple times. You were convinced before going that you knew exactly how to do it.<br />
<br />
I got to preschool to pick you up on Tuesday. You apparently counted all the way up to 108 that day with only some assistance at changes of tens. You also helped your buddy Jacob with his coloring. Mrs. M and said she noticed you helping him -- hand over his hand to guide his coloring -- and she pointed out to Mrs. Rogers to look because she found the moment so cute. On our drive home I asked whether he asked you for help or if you just noticed his need. You said you noticed he was scribbling and decided to help him. I hope you always employ that empathy with friends. I hope we can keep fostering that. We got home that night and you tried that with Stella just to have Stella yell because she wanted to do it herself!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680518649987868153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001118437285975306.post-85389096651047535732014-01-19T20:35:00.001-05:002014-01-19T20:35:18.133-05:00Traverse City in winterThis past Friday was Spencer's birthday so we went to Traverse City on Saturday for his birthday. We stayed overnight at Aunt Kate's house. Teryn met us at our house then drove with us to TC. The first thing discovered was the bunk bed. Stella, you decided you were big kid enough to climb the ladder up. Unfortunately you aren't big kid enough to get back down on your own or to be sure to stay sitting the entire time so an adult (and usually me) had to be in there all the time with you. However, you all did determine that 4 kids can sleep in one twin-size bunk bed. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbHFBBr88oKYLZcCWSFsX4QJdy8S3cu4rB8noMdmIRPdjK_-YSrH6nAcntC4fCT3Ik32B8xHwjMPkIf-t7zCQSFUmICc5NaxVSIX9xXWZuLy5gG_4HIfkE5UE-U1HfaWQNEhuxeAgZ3A/s1600/IMG_1771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbHFBBr88oKYLZcCWSFsX4QJdy8S3cu4rB8noMdmIRPdjK_-YSrH6nAcntC4fCT3Ik32B8xHwjMPkIf-t7zCQSFUmICc5NaxVSIX9xXWZuLy5gG_4HIfkE5UE-U1HfaWQNEhuxeAgZ3A/s1600/IMG_1771.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We hit a point where you all needed to burn some energy so we went out sledding. Stella, it was your first time on a sled. You were up for most anything. Uncle Nate built a pretty good run. James wiped out face first. Spencer was the first to poop out. Emma, you went next. James stayed out despite getting a ton of snow in his face. Stella, as long as you were moving, you were good. Your nose was running two walrus-like tusks of snot, but you were happy still!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQgQtJE3WrJVDBL4SC189nZRfWMX6ajDCFy8K5MIQLj9cGOmsCwT0k1SQJiunsSXLwJzy5UxNDoJclYSUtqmwtI4xAei919yJbXOI_w9GBNHacYm6d06xsg9ByWZ-HJoAfTBcyO3OEXQ/s1600/IMG_0731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQgQtJE3WrJVDBL4SC189nZRfWMX6ajDCFy8K5MIQLj9cGOmsCwT0k1SQJiunsSXLwJzy5UxNDoJclYSUtqmwtI4xAei919yJbXOI_w9GBNHacYm6d06xsg9ByWZ-HJoAfTBcyO3OEXQ/s1600/IMG_0731.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQF2Em4PqFHLgaqKSifmaVvmMgxsdPalU_ldDeXMgF1NcH5olfu4WxrRKvTMPjLHf12jSO-64bM5jamMpKbO-yi9xual7nG0UoOZ4O3jv1IzjauBixHWUHrd9h4e7QZHGeKK2Q_ekz9yU/s1600/IMG_0732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQF2Em4PqFHLgaqKSifmaVvmMgxsdPalU_ldDeXMgF1NcH5olfu4WxrRKvTMPjLHf12jSO-64bM5jamMpKbO-yi9xual7nG0UoOZ4O3jv1IzjauBixHWUHrd9h4e7QZHGeKK2Q_ekz9yU/s1600/IMG_0732.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmMk3qLIPeSnHdQjVrmyL4poig02kTF31MJfTqEEc5tG73y3ijlDaJjDtrVonO3GChzx4ljAinZ0rayM4xL92uBRkgM97elIMiVGiuMsXsfyZ6bclQbDF9So3IPo3SVCY5GRjdWr1Ovw/s1600/IMG_0734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmMk3qLIPeSnHdQjVrmyL4poig02kTF31MJfTqEEc5tG73y3ijlDaJjDtrVonO3GChzx4ljAinZ0rayM4xL92uBRkgM97elIMiVGiuMsXsfyZ6bclQbDF9So3IPo3SVCY5GRjdWr1Ovw/s1600/IMG_0734.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO168G_wySZZMp8D2uMpiL_YpsJgnT-yQnCnIDYqsC0kFC1YfFbzpwUbtzejR1-ptAMh9mukbcS27Y7G8QWjG0Xs1vIWyp2Wrk05NzWGCkOPk6tWOOrLb8mZ1O9EZGatdcyjP23EgFjv0/s1600/IMG_0737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO168G_wySZZMp8D2uMpiL_YpsJgnT-yQnCnIDYqsC0kFC1YfFbzpwUbtzejR1-ptAMh9mukbcS27Y7G8QWjG0Xs1vIWyp2Wrk05NzWGCkOPk6tWOOrLb8mZ1O9EZGatdcyjP23EgFjv0/s1600/IMG_0737.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcANGWFv21rMvX1HqbJlZ077FtrksRyzBFOLZ_eRss4HEuluFWXk3m7k7tVRiymtmwGPiPsrtEyEZFy73woQkVmVe7DXlKcvQ-5h03Ylmr5keovjllmxRcod7m66iOH4fbpbShIARp0j0/s1600/IMG_0741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcANGWFv21rMvX1HqbJlZ077FtrksRyzBFOLZ_eRss4HEuluFWXk3m7k7tVRiymtmwGPiPsrtEyEZFy73woQkVmVe7DXlKcvQ-5h03Ylmr5keovjllmxRcod7m66iOH4fbpbShIARp0j0/s1600/IMG_0741.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVsgSXXV_k1xZuR3SL_Mil0av5hyphenhyphenUIA_mWCQwiiMYSpSONS0Pb5FFl7HF4m48kutT6Y9xqv8WD3jwUR4RbGCJmuaBCVkiH3S4ePgH4nCVtUt7p8xxXM_354RHhTTqq3aSeedyLkpOYXY/s1600/IMG_0744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVsgSXXV_k1xZuR3SL_Mil0av5hyphenhyphenUIA_mWCQwiiMYSpSONS0Pb5FFl7HF4m48kutT6Y9xqv8WD3jwUR4RbGCJmuaBCVkiH3S4ePgH4nCVtUt7p8xxXM_354RHhTTqq3aSeedyLkpOYXY/s1600/IMG_0744.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9Y0pHKK5Dg1VSuqyam2qzrvcAz4kv5Mnj8cBKNbdtZdlkcCyyN2HCqGXKGWcLZaI_owheaVYwSqu_NBEd9EwUXk0NM2KImrYPBwLDjmjVmrUP2OzzD2CWjay8sYjdOguBG3GZbgc8o0/s1600/IMG_0770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9Y0pHKK5Dg1VSuqyam2qzrvcAz4kv5Mnj8cBKNbdtZdlkcCyyN2HCqGXKGWcLZaI_owheaVYwSqu_NBEd9EwUXk0NM2KImrYPBwLDjmjVmrUP2OzzD2CWjay8sYjdOguBG3GZbgc8o0/s1600/IMG_0770.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
We stopped at Grand Traverse Pie Company for lunch before leaving town and Cherry Republic to get some salsa and chocolate covered cherries. You two were definitely sleep deprived. You both went down easily enough for bed last night, but 30 minutes after I went to bed, Stella started crying so I pulled her into bed with me. Then about 2 hours later, Emma woke up with a bloody nose. Stella didn't stay sleeping through that. Emma, you did much better about not crying during the nose bleed though so that helped. Then about an hour after that, Emma crawled into bed with Stella and I. So, not only do 4 young kids fit in a twin bed, but all three Heck girls do too. Although, I didn't end up getting much sleep with all of us in there. Both of you seemed to want to sleep with your heads on my face. Not comfortable, I can tell you!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680518649987868153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001118437285975306.post-52032401068983508662014-01-04T20:37:00.001-05:002014-01-04T20:37:15.561-05:00From new words to interesting conversationsStella, you are expanding your vocabulary and sounds daily. Tonight you just got down a sound for an elephant -- a "wooo" complete with arm motion. Unfortunately, you do that for about 5 different animals. We'll have to get it attached to the correct animal. You've added applesauce, nose, snow, Emma, Daddy, nana, papa, and doggy. You're working on Kaya, boot, coat, neck, and book. It's just the end sound you have to finish up. You identify your ears, head, neck, leg, arm, hand, foot, toes, mouth, butt, and back. You tend to still reach for your ears when we ask you to find your eyes. You are a climbing machine: chairs, couches, tables, stairs. You're going to break your neck.<br />
<br />
We're on our 2 week holiday break. Emma, you and I have spent all but about 40 hours together. I'm convinced you've only ever stopped talking during the hours your asleep. A couple days ago we were having a family day. Stella was napping. I was ironing upstairs and then decided to read a bit while you and Daddy were downstairs. You two had gone to see the movie <i>Frozen</i> earlier that week and were listening to the soundtrack in the family room. You had complained about a tummy ache. Dad and I were trying to convince you to try going to the bathroom even though you insisted you didn't have to. To convince you a bit, I told you I was going to go to the bathroom too. I went upstairs to use the bathroom and then read again. Apparently Daddy thought I was still in the bathroom even though I was reading. Here's the conversation that wafted upstairs:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 18px;">Daddy: how long is your mother going to be in the bathroom? (I wasn't at the time, by the way.)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 18px;">Emma: maybe she's going poop. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 18px;">Daddy: it's still a long time. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 18px;">Emma: daddy, she's a woman and women take FORRRRREEEVVVVER to go to the bathroom.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Another conversation happened with you and Daddy when you guys when Christmas shopping for my gifts. You were driving in the car and asked him how old he was. He told you 32. Then you proceeded to go on about "and next year you'll be 33, then the next year 34, then the next year 35…" all the way up to 70. Then you said, "And then I'll have to get a new daddy because you'll be too old." He had to explain to you about how he'll always be your daddy.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Today over breakfast we were having a pretty heavy conversation about the people in the family who have died. You said, "I'm really sad that my grandma and great papa died." Then you asked who would be your mom if I died. I had a hard time getting you to understand that I'd always be your mom even if I was dead, but that you could get someone to be </span><i style="line-height: 18px;">like</i><span style="line-height: 18px;"> me (as mom) like Grandma Sandi has kind of become my mom now. You said, "Well, who's going to get me to Grandma Sandi's?" I said, "You'd still have Daddy." You said, "But, what if you're both gone?" I said, "Then Uncle Jeremy would take care of you and Stella." You said, "But he doesn't know where Grandma Sandi's is!"</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg25g5L6RzBPe2WXch6gPnlhO5EDBTlUn4TjOIZwXPI8j1LesgRyqiqcL-2y938lrdQMj4y9_9Ym-p7y3ye2a42n5kOw168ZNckDmTfHzbRz3ZpeeKYrPMJdJk5P4UiDoBtgRpmDqQJrPg/s1600/IMG_0492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg25g5L6RzBPe2WXch6gPnlhO5EDBTlUn4TjOIZwXPI8j1LesgRyqiqcL-2y938lrdQMj4y9_9Ym-p7y3ye2a42n5kOw168ZNckDmTfHzbRz3ZpeeKYrPMJdJk5P4UiDoBtgRpmDqQJrPg/s320/IMG_0492.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Putting up the Christmas tree</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxO-Y7tArdbcojWC6FCPi5C1EBxUwKJCVpyErsWxWUXpBipRcwmdsBPJj3hpExIXadBku2EXP3uCB2ACtvhwo4ufIX7WrbLFSX4arl3424XIe7Sndn6ze5SITboSF-aw7kTjBSKBLDwQk/s1600/IMG_0569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxO-Y7tArdbcojWC6FCPi5C1EBxUwKJCVpyErsWxWUXpBipRcwmdsBPJj3hpExIXadBku2EXP3uCB2ACtvhwo4ufIX7WrbLFSX4arl3424XIe7Sndn6ze5SITboSF-aw7kTjBSKBLDwQk/s320/IMG_0569.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas Eve with Aunt Kellyn and Uncle TJ</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-rQoxcf4T15JTHKqND4mwbilcCBCJCct0pG1NBkEYntARXyIxs5Cbfm2x0OTk18c7bt1zRqB4fgLOm-PVFaBPPocKnDVWCil4WBTjpbv3Bc915ddVaM3gvfhh1ilTQ-y2JzQCrQXqGw/s1600/IMG_0605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-rQoxcf4T15JTHKqND4mwbilcCBCJCct0pG1NBkEYntARXyIxs5Cbfm2x0OTk18c7bt1zRqB4fgLOm-PVFaBPPocKnDVWCil4WBTjpbv3Bc915ddVaM3gvfhh1ilTQ-y2JzQCrQXqGw/s320/IMG_0605.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas morning checking out the Elsa <i>Frozen</i> doll</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIGkzvOML2l98kYgsi44RsYXGQabS7e240IME3kNGROpS3FnSn163N8A_H1UXe7mobSmSNdn6-To2YnV547NRoiQqQu-jKvfdnERwIvqWDsQChdUV8DdHzwgphsAYcsDdxQgjV_Yov8A/s1600/IMG_0617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIGkzvOML2l98kYgsi44RsYXGQabS7e240IME3kNGROpS3FnSn163N8A_H1UXe7mobSmSNdn6-To2YnV547NRoiQqQu-jKvfdnERwIvqWDsQChdUV8DdHzwgphsAYcsDdxQgjV_Yov8A/s320/IMG_0617.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stella opening her basketball hoop</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWy_LzEJFm9yjvF7s3cN-flyM9ytsvxjqcn6Xuus3Sll8R27mRwPNWYR1DDK0g6Z1f-XfxAVSR0x3wkAEn9Ja4WhOf8BY6Ts-YrsxOg60taL9WQmI4geKjE3GKMjEtOrOGhPapgMM5x-0/s1600/IMG_0621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWy_LzEJFm9yjvF7s3cN-flyM9ytsvxjqcn6Xuus3Sll8R27mRwPNWYR1DDK0g6Z1f-XfxAVSR0x3wkAEn9Ja4WhOf8BY6Ts-YrsxOg60taL9WQmI4geKjE3GKMjEtOrOGhPapgMM5x-0/s320/IMG_0621.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emma in her Anna dress</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BqlBCovvuSTcvjQSEs_Q1MnDat7QMhcYJoeuxBbQWJEgvkIIZBYwE-UTJ5C8mx9wdR8ze1JBJ2y1lXFM8i-lIBRDxPus7AS99zsV-zQPwA3g0qgRFKq-Fd1xSD8uwmNUwdQt7vrvNJ4/s1600/IMG_0632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BqlBCovvuSTcvjQSEs_Q1MnDat7QMhcYJoeuxBbQWJEgvkIIZBYwE-UTJ5C8mx9wdR8ze1JBJ2y1lXFM8i-lIBRDxPus7AS99zsV-zQPwA3g0qgRFKq-Fd1xSD8uwmNUwdQt7vrvNJ4/s320/IMG_0632.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas morning</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZWPAzM0ekHGNyiOkZRR6asrCyTGTrTqiInsIhtOVwQzIsOAuaBMnMjS3ujpaHmq8ZkpP-BJJ-zvkoLgjKQmxT02paJj_AsQExIF2bC3n3QEf2osplRN683shZQOyOLrdbTo7Y2fxPLw/s1600/IMG_0685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZWPAzM0ekHGNyiOkZRR6asrCyTGTrTqiInsIhtOVwQzIsOAuaBMnMjS3ujpaHmq8ZkpP-BJJ-zvkoLgjKQmxT02paJj_AsQExIF2bC3n3QEf2osplRN683shZQOyOLrdbTo7Y2fxPLw/s320/IMG_0685.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Year's Eve with James and Spencer watching <i>Despicable Me 2</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680518649987868153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001118437285975306.post-29586434805810675152013-12-02T21:44:00.002-05:002013-12-02T21:45:18.281-05:00Stella the observerStella, I still maintain you will be a scientist of some sort given how observant you are. Here's another example. I've put up the Christmas decorations which meant moving a couple picture frames from the tower of drawers we keep our movies in to the shelves with the media components. They've been there 2-3 days now. I was making dinner today, turned around, and saw you holding one of those frames. I said, "Stella, put that back." You walked over to the tower of drawers and put it back on that. Well, you were correct that it had been there. I'm pretty confident Emma would not have noticed that at 18 months. <br />
<br />
You are more hesitant when it comes to trying foods than your sister was. Tonight we had vegetable noodle soup (homemade might I add!). I put some of it in a bowl for you without the broth. I put some pieces on your tray. You ate the noodles then moved everything onto the table off your tray. When I tried to put it in your mouth with a spoon, you shook your head no, said "no no no no," and waved your hands in front of yourself so I couldn't get a spoon in without you knocking it off the spoon. I got some applesauce and would put a piece of the soup on the spoon, put some apple sauce on it, then you'd eat it. Once you realized it didn't taste that bad, then you ate some of it without apple sauce. You did the same with turkey leftovers yesterday -- you needed my cranberry sauce on it to eat it. On Thanksgiving though you mowed down a lot of turkey and wouldn't eat anything else. You're very much your father's kid when it comes to eating left overs.<br />
<br />
You are also your father's kid when it comes to looking for things. We got home from school today and you wanted a snack. I put you in your chair (booster seat with a tray strapped to a chair) and gave you some graham crackers broken up. Emma then went into the fridge to get something and you saw your milk cup in the bottom of the fridge door (observer again!). You said, "mi, mi, mi" while reaching for the fridge. I gave you your milk cup and returned to making dinner. In about 15 minutes you were crying again for your milk. You had put it between you and the chair down your side. I reached for it, handed it to you, you took it and smiled and said, "Heh, heh," as if you couldn't find it right next to you! I still think you can be a scientist since you look for the details but miss some big ideas at times!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680518649987868153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001118437285975306.post-59042570268249965812013-11-11T21:18:00.000-05:002013-11-11T21:18:11.573-05:0018 months!Stella, you are 18 months old now! I've decided this is one of my favorite ages: you're mobile (although that does lead to some stress at times when you're going into the tupperware, pots and pans, or other cabinets or when you're emptying out my drawer containing all my hair ties and hair brushes), you play on your own a bit, you are picking up more and more words. Within the last two weeks, you've added or clearly spoken "pot pie, whoa, tent, milk, backpack, Emma, Daddy, book, baby, night night, snack". We'll get home after school, you'll pull out your chair at the table, and say "snaaack." We were playing with the tent today and you kept saying "tent". When I put you into the car in the morning next to Emma's backpack, you point and say "backpack." You recognize other words and get excited at them: strawberries, grapes. You have started signing "please", waving, and blowing kisses more reliably. You point to my Ireland mug with the sheep on it and "baa". You roar when asked what sound a lion makes and moo when asked what sound a cow makes. You love standing or sitting in boxes no matter the size. You also love dumping out all toys then wading through or walking on them. There isn't always a lot of playing with them. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe58fN5MuE48eqWcetxOBwPeGSokBR9Lj7FHwPNmxAeIlhCQH1xa91GC2UtmFzvLLbAwnXe1OldyyeJ1TF5mBmoFu6s7CkN1tf_oK-pKLGU21lJkGeyfmlr9oiClM_YMevrHkHoP0ToT8/s1600/IMG_0443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe58fN5MuE48eqWcetxOBwPeGSokBR9Lj7FHwPNmxAeIlhCQH1xa91GC2UtmFzvLLbAwnXe1OldyyeJ1TF5mBmoFu6s7CkN1tf_oK-pKLGU21lJkGeyfmlr9oiClM_YMevrHkHoP0ToT8/s320/IMG_0443.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0yVsYM8PALGKe0GVw1zsLKjurnVrjViQoKLDaBZmJmDfWB2J90ztHp5IHbQDdt66yaiHMHRHAIEfV2DFoL3gVckj68QOV5BzM-IA2E9oMKrZKTByXI3MMhHVj6bQujk6IxvktQ_8Bsc/s1600/IMG_0445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0yVsYM8PALGKe0GVw1zsLKjurnVrjViQoKLDaBZmJmDfWB2J90ztHp5IHbQDdt66yaiHMHRHAIEfV2DFoL3gVckj68QOV5BzM-IA2E9oMKrZKTByXI3MMhHVj6bQujk6IxvktQ_8Bsc/s320/IMG_0445.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UmhAdWfaja7cz38rs6uXMlaO7bnHq6m6xAKG5x4Pnr8qHDNKF-jMb9zXJ8gBVLRbV2nYAvJBQfRUQYJye_67qAqPIWiXbfF-bepYIygWcBEpbsGkBfOd7OboosDnIRaqRPovwEXpl8c/s1600/IMG_0446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UmhAdWfaja7cz38rs6uXMlaO7bnHq6m6xAKG5x4Pnr8qHDNKF-jMb9zXJ8gBVLRbV2nYAvJBQfRUQYJye_67qAqPIWiXbfF-bepYIygWcBEpbsGkBfOd7OboosDnIRaqRPovwEXpl8c/s320/IMG_0446.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4olRr1rcCrM4ebh4IVqS-5QEBc-_3kUlC9mE7WjZ6jPjXo7KR3FKDleITWZ5xZrwwezAfQw5rRYeB8xGFHYtZcC0EZhjcluOpSccavHmxpUwJDX4OKm5PyliswVT8vqkfevP4s_CCegc/s1600/IMG_0448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4olRr1rcCrM4ebh4IVqS-5QEBc-_3kUlC9mE7WjZ6jPjXo7KR3FKDleITWZ5xZrwwezAfQw5rRYeB8xGFHYtZcC0EZhjcluOpSccavHmxpUwJDX4OKm5PyliswVT8vqkfevP4s_CCegc/s320/IMG_0448.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYv9aCH94T7SiVIrylTBKdLC-qRHXxwCF0X-ogEM3IXuVTAgZgcBP158IHKfuFNhMiGhtvsGy46mNw1AknmQq-2a7CBcxfLOXikFlXwl9xqh3vOpGRcRm8BrGFpUbI0HuSLHnsBdQOq_E/s1600/IMG_0463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYv9aCH94T7SiVIrylTBKdLC-qRHXxwCF0X-ogEM3IXuVTAgZgcBP158IHKfuFNhMiGhtvsGy46mNw1AknmQq-2a7CBcxfLOXikFlXwl9xqh3vOpGRcRm8BrGFpUbI0HuSLHnsBdQOq_E/s320/IMG_0463.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3CBEy1Ytvbfq4MPeEjL6Wim3-MpVXfpmeyeCKIAAfGnb_mX8EKNl7jtlIlGLMQSjpj8C-wPE6dFAjeGxEKtEIfEYLr6st7qcaqG3m7EZIDyI8ynWwbQ5eX_h1yL-0wZ_Dc7YPoiOv9s/s1600/IMG_0467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3CBEy1Ytvbfq4MPeEjL6Wim3-MpVXfpmeyeCKIAAfGnb_mX8EKNl7jtlIlGLMQSjpj8C-wPE6dFAjeGxEKtEIfEYLr6st7qcaqG3m7EZIDyI8ynWwbQ5eX_h1yL-0wZ_Dc7YPoiOv9s/s320/IMG_0467.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknUhTK_poduVo-mV-mWlAD-EfP9NUdLVpiQ02WzHd1v92S4v5wQ6uz-b5qDZnyhhSNLdVSsOjLlczXrQP38BveA3UAT2g6bZg57uc-idmjYp_5gNJMsCO41ZRFfadyu39S5-r7V5vQh8/s1600/IMG_0473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknUhTK_poduVo-mV-mWlAD-EfP9NUdLVpiQ02WzHd1v92S4v5wQ6uz-b5qDZnyhhSNLdVSsOjLlczXrQP38BveA3UAT2g6bZg57uc-idmjYp_5gNJMsCO41ZRFfadyu39S5-r7V5vQh8/s320/IMG_0473.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgtTCojIyuABZhK8DmrMXx-j-J95Wl419paOO6l3BwQP1zOFfmJmvmSBiNsojqGTJNKNTGl4Nn0BJXiy-CW0z_yr9xhY0frRhoFAJhYdXkVGKPdoXo5ojrO0QuZnC9nUTR5imsAkRfM8/s1600/IMG_0480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgtTCojIyuABZhK8DmrMXx-j-J95Wl419paOO6l3BwQP1zOFfmJmvmSBiNsojqGTJNKNTGl4Nn0BJXiy-CW0z_yr9xhY0frRhoFAJhYdXkVGKPdoXo5ojrO0QuZnC9nUTR5imsAkRfM8/s320/IMG_0480.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEOrWGizexMkKeUidDCbWs_EnCQXPwX8FdQUyoPIdn7KZO6KbLlhilPE_LC0co2Fxnh97pJ82MOSEDKFj0iDXpRXOOnLgQxr9uAsk3OB5QRMh6UI1mKxT6ZfVoLOJ57Y2_3t5OVPXfX0/s1600/IMG_0482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEOrWGizexMkKeUidDCbWs_EnCQXPwX8FdQUyoPIdn7KZO6KbLlhilPE_LC0co2Fxnh97pJ82MOSEDKFj0iDXpRXOOnLgQxr9uAsk3OB5QRMh6UI1mKxT6ZfVoLOJ57Y2_3t5OVPXfX0/s320/IMG_0482.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6z_jBAmgIDLTI8ze9xoBqkGAnqPvug_fNokEiu_TtAPEqEB92DVaSglUMBpDSftXGXIYTSB5auNuBT9B37n5uiHmAXa5uezi4bF0PH3yEghvih4Qz1YhmhmwCBbAUqFbPxnIc99jl4C8/s1600/IMG_0485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6z_jBAmgIDLTI8ze9xoBqkGAnqPvug_fNokEiu_TtAPEqEB92DVaSglUMBpDSftXGXIYTSB5auNuBT9B37n5uiHmAXa5uezi4bF0PH3yEghvih4Qz1YhmhmwCBbAUqFbPxnIc99jl4C8/s320/IMG_0485.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680518649987868153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001118437285975306.post-15993155459463433512013-11-11T14:07:00.000-05:002013-11-11T14:07:03.691-05:00The 4-year partyEmma, you decided that your theme this year was red, yellow, and orange. Admittedly we didn't do much decorating and your foods weren't color-themed. However it was still good food: a southern BBQ of pulled pork, cole slaw, sweet potato fries, macaroni and cheese, and apple sauce. <br />
<br />
You were really funny opening gifts. You made sure to find the cards first. There was one gift that you pulled a piece of tissue paper out first. You pulled your hand back as if it had been smacked and put the tissue paper back and looked again for the card. You were in awe of each gift you opened and you wanted to play with each immediately after you opened them. You got lots of clothes (you needed pajamas and pants) and some cars, puzzles, play doh, some other art supplies, and some books. Your favorites seem to be the princess dolls with the snap on dresses (that you requested), the music toy Jeremy got you, and the GIANT box of art things -- over 1000 pieces -- from Uncle Denny and Aunt Marilyn. Stella liked all your gifts too. She walked around for 15 minutes or so going, "Whoa!!!" You loved the princess figures with snap-on dresses that you asked for. Uncle Jeremy won with the gifts again though, I believe. What he got you is hard to describe. He has an app on his phone that you love to play that has all different instruments on it. He found a mini-orchestra with 13 different instruments that you can pull out and make different arrangements of and it plays the songs with just those instruments. It tells you which belong to what family, which are accompaniment versus melody instruments. It's really cool. You and Spencer played that for a while.<br />
<br />
You had fun with Spencer and TJ and James and Christopher too. It was really great having family and friends together for the party.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1xchsH4bN7XD3lzKZkjsA9HRmOVR7qjxWjkpE0VCMVdJrocS5Tb0Cdc_rYoEARX_M_55pz3wrha2sLew0b_jq3mlOkvRe0kciDHC0sqiilRJdDjJ-jQwaEBq61IDDzNkI4T9ea1z0RY/s1600/IMG_0340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1xchsH4bN7XD3lzKZkjsA9HRmOVR7qjxWjkpE0VCMVdJrocS5Tb0Cdc_rYoEARX_M_55pz3wrha2sLew0b_jq3mlOkvRe0kciDHC0sqiilRJdDjJ-jQwaEBq61IDDzNkI4T9ea1z0RY/s320/IMG_0340.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4LpEOMz1DMgplk_3Y65BaHGhPNzcqluLT_WTK9GLW3yiiMvJL6KCYgEU0kZ-nJjqEhboHLHfr8Nmyzorx5DYKc3SRqSNV-D1lZ700UhJQVH6t7z6GCqeKMevgy2szwoD6SXT_i9EHOQ/s1600/IMG_0342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4LpEOMz1DMgplk_3Y65BaHGhPNzcqluLT_WTK9GLW3yiiMvJL6KCYgEU0kZ-nJjqEhboHLHfr8Nmyzorx5DYKc3SRqSNV-D1lZ700UhJQVH6t7z6GCqeKMevgy2szwoD6SXT_i9EHOQ/s320/IMG_0342.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOtSxKQ3lCLXpCbcaOQwdrFMfHjem62VrZlErOSbm_r6aKc7DrY6AQDixAu9LrUNRn6K1ybYNpTyKRGZCI7s_jWF6Ghb1MnZXAUwS2Ip8PYeo251s-zVe_v1pEQBUC2wZMWzkF9Qw23E/s1600/IMG_0359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOtSxKQ3lCLXpCbcaOQwdrFMfHjem62VrZlErOSbm_r6aKc7DrY6AQDixAu9LrUNRn6K1ybYNpTyKRGZCI7s_jWF6Ghb1MnZXAUwS2Ip8PYeo251s-zVe_v1pEQBUC2wZMWzkF9Qw23E/s320/IMG_0359.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUs2nnjWWceanoCi7Rzz3DKIGQ_lwA7b2jh-DEXnwYBQOxTkt2ZdFXUyI3zLXnLSvgwOato7JjuzNgzqP9CmRjBaiQFq1WaeHEKQvmwMhdxxGvTAF-nehkMNZ0BJMBbBpAg8btCBKn0wc/s1600/IMG_0376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUs2nnjWWceanoCi7Rzz3DKIGQ_lwA7b2jh-DEXnwYBQOxTkt2ZdFXUyI3zLXnLSvgwOato7JjuzNgzqP9CmRjBaiQFq1WaeHEKQvmwMhdxxGvTAF-nehkMNZ0BJMBbBpAg8btCBKn0wc/s320/IMG_0376.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrpre1hr4tftKTqgSdCfKmfqMgLPz1jRfwoEgzsj95K2YMDeIhYFGhTxAeg7bsDv8BiprjalIV6zDI23FlF9USnK4jxq7szptP1uVLFt-Wimg2u3da7XHBf-a6JnvCooDHu0ZI-axWPBM/s1600/IMG_0381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrpre1hr4tftKTqgSdCfKmfqMgLPz1jRfwoEgzsj95K2YMDeIhYFGhTxAeg7bsDv8BiprjalIV6zDI23FlF9USnK4jxq7szptP1uVLFt-Wimg2u3da7XHBf-a6JnvCooDHu0ZI-axWPBM/s320/IMG_0381.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsn4DhiAM3umpMuzb7oy4DZlzSNG3aHMayDA5k-FLJm_E1u-pHVoidgyXDMiNqStPL_n7Iv2DSh8McmfPfMNccLUCZM8nvYqqrdMuPXiwBTKJr2Q4RqzldvvCQsG2rNYQ2U_4VqFQoMw/s1600/IMG_0385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsn4DhiAM3umpMuzb7oy4DZlzSNG3aHMayDA5k-FLJm_E1u-pHVoidgyXDMiNqStPL_n7Iv2DSh8McmfPfMNccLUCZM8nvYqqrdMuPXiwBTKJr2Q4RqzldvvCQsG2rNYQ2U_4VqFQoMw/s320/IMG_0385.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GZo4RFu8WBWFI2HK79aIQYxd2JOK8woVrY6VYl2RvZtfR_QzjMajiHXNIv8GbRr_V3P_KQdGG0hae_16cZl5nOk3lMGpFq7qXm08j2fkfjlA7vM9c_wYdfM-t_nyUE55X1Uf2iQP3UU/s1600/IMG_0411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GZo4RFu8WBWFI2HK79aIQYxd2JOK8woVrY6VYl2RvZtfR_QzjMajiHXNIv8GbRr_V3P_KQdGG0hae_16cZl5nOk3lMGpFq7qXm08j2fkfjlA7vM9c_wYdfM-t_nyUE55X1Uf2iQP3UU/s320/IMG_0411.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71XAbGNbWoECg91RDFJK3bg31Oryh1RUxSkfknEpBr_yQJunrqYmRvbZzHmTHm3c-8xawbBLrqR8nddvcOnFBXugRcDgFGRW6bBorJMncPrXpX7hMEXPdomYA7Y-JM3kTCx9V8QafD90/s1600/IMG_0417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71XAbGNbWoECg91RDFJK3bg31Oryh1RUxSkfknEpBr_yQJunrqYmRvbZzHmTHm3c-8xawbBLrqR8nddvcOnFBXugRcDgFGRW6bBorJMncPrXpX7hMEXPdomYA7Y-JM3kTCx9V8QafD90/s320/IMG_0417.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gift from Uncle Jeremy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span id="goog_805321192"></span><span id="goog_805321193"></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680518649987868153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001118437285975306.post-57946958503477719242013-11-06T19:49:00.001-05:002013-11-06T19:49:49.288-05:00Emma is 4!!!Emma, you turned 4 and got an ear infection and a bit of a cold to celebrate it. You were well enough to go to school to have cupcakes, and then that afternoon I got a call to pick you up as you had a 101 degree fever. Daddy took you to the doctor today and seem to be better now that you're on antibiotics. That's good since your party is this Saturday! <br />
<br />
You were so excited to tell people you are 4. The problem is you don't lead off with that you just had (or were having) your birthday so people don't realize it's a big deal! <br />
<br />
You are able to write your name but have to work on the lower case letters. You've started doing some addition. Tonight for example, at dinner you were asking what 3 + 5 was. You were able to figure it out on your fingers. I asked you what 5 + 3 was and you had to recount your fingers. The development of those ideas is very interesting to me, and I'm excited to see you grow through those phases. <br />
<br />
Your listening skills aren't so great lately, and it's not just due to the ear infection. I have to ask you multiple times to get you to stop doing something. It's very frustrating. I try to praise you when you DO listen the first time. I try to prep you with my expected behavior for you prior to going places. I'm definitely learning it takes a TON of repetition. I have more patience than Daddy (amazingly), but I'm running out. I feel bad some days because by the time I see you after school, my students have already used up all my patience. You're quite a trooper and rise to my expectations more days than not. I hope you only remember the good times and not when I'm frustrated with your behavior or just frustrated in general and seem to take it out on you. I hope when you're older, you call me out on that as well. We love you!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQxicXe6C9LyGLnsLuGiaflQZsN9e48Amuy6s_KG9grfOksJLN_4JbBoWgF0t_93nsCjX0QQoNXg4Y1Mvyi1mAa2qjmdkGspnd2hOk-u_LZGoouyO_AFMSqjHuRdDQ2-Vs4ApfbKMIzM/s1600/Photo+Nov+04,+8+29+09+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQxicXe6C9LyGLnsLuGiaflQZsN9e48Amuy6s_KG9grfOksJLN_4JbBoWgF0t_93nsCjX0QQoNXg4Y1Mvyi1mAa2qjmdkGspnd2hOk-u_LZGoouyO_AFMSqjHuRdDQ2-Vs4ApfbKMIzM/s320/Photo+Nov+04,+8+29+09+PM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Hh8mLNAn2ZUGWZs4sf7drZmkoan_nGpkbBk3lqpEPbKmpQmv2PkbGT0tBr_FmlLhMaYecF6pFfjxbX9htQDSPNxd-O7hjYGkL3sCzEaZdMEXZHPW7bJwQblXaYOp8ki7JETPbnkHb50/s1600/Emma+04_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Hh8mLNAn2ZUGWZs4sf7drZmkoan_nGpkbBk3lqpEPbKmpQmv2PkbGT0tBr_FmlLhMaYecF6pFfjxbX9htQDSPNxd-O7hjYGkL3sCzEaZdMEXZHPW7bJwQblXaYOp8ki7JETPbnkHb50/s320/Emma+04_edited-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680518649987868153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001118437285975306.post-70331161646613602022013-10-25T21:26:00.000-04:002013-10-25T21:26:01.272-04:00Emma's first field tripEmma, you had your first field trip this past Wednesday. Your class went to the Country Mill. Unfortunately, it wasn't exactly a new place for you to go as that's where we go apple picking every October. I have a feeling being our kid you'll experience many field trips like that -- places that you've been already. You were super excited to ride the bus though. I can remember you being just around 2 years old pointing out every school bus we passed on the way home from daycare. Your teachers were doing a good job telling you the expectations prior to the trip too. Two days out you told me, "We have to sit completely on our butts facing forward in the seats." I couldn't go with you as I had to work. Daddy was out of town on business. Fortunately you are in class with Owen Carmody whose parents we are good friends with. His mom sent 3 pictures from the trip.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXJsiQTTl-V46gDuEr9SXxaL3Z03OLtILMOijUiJZ2G5KvfDyXpoOS4A9MAhYPMZ2xxcsDHKQAs3r3dkKzVIKntKapq0-ibFn_fXi-dpTcKnxOvhp1YxyMJya3e0S8Yv7KSLw_ZFU_3o/s1600/IMG_4121.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXJsiQTTl-V46gDuEr9SXxaL3Z03OLtILMOijUiJZ2G5KvfDyXpoOS4A9MAhYPMZ2xxcsDHKQAs3r3dkKzVIKntKapq0-ibFn_fXi-dpTcKnxOvhp1YxyMJya3e0S8Yv7KSLw_ZFU_3o/s320/IMG_4121.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left to right: Owen, Emma, and Jacob.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpjOhjWwExyOeKhEoipb7TBprZZbwa675l0CYXmwSopvY_asZEBUA5cFnQLc9EzemJJXfn4aFrVE_bu1LIwz-kQ53VVFDtl2cEvZyKShAutdy_nKFcaxmH3UxcJcz7R7hFbFMRPYE2e8/s1600/IMG_4977.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpjOhjWwExyOeKhEoipb7TBprZZbwa675l0CYXmwSopvY_asZEBUA5cFnQLc9EzemJJXfn4aFrVE_bu1LIwz-kQ53VVFDtl2cEvZyKShAutdy_nKFcaxmH3UxcJcz7R7hFbFMRPYE2e8/s320/IMG_4977.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picking out pumpkins in the pumpkin patch.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95Ed8QT-ii7dbGZ3t-fZAXVs_gEIkbzHV7wJbNynwBV0q193pjWeauPxKePMBcvW2D7JeKsH6FKeD53sFNjBpHO2NWFnlR392yFzbVoEI7UghLoW_nJiWu_aY_UkAqYpKHwaZ2R3wjow/s1600/IMG_9688.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95Ed8QT-ii7dbGZ3t-fZAXVs_gEIkbzHV7wJbNynwBV0q193pjWeauPxKePMBcvW2D7JeKsH6FKeD53sFNjBpHO2NWFnlR392yFzbVoEI7UghLoW_nJiWu_aY_UkAqYpKHwaZ2R3wjow/s320/IMG_9688.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bus ride there! I love your smile in this picture.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On the way home, you informed me there was a second Jacob in your class that I hadn't met yet. "There's two Jacobs. The Jacob who loves me and the Jacob who doesn't. Sometimes we just call them little Jacob and big Jacob." Jacob is your buddy with braces on his legs. There's a second girl in your class who started after the field trip day who has braces too and a walker. You seem to think nothing of the difference, it's just what those kids need. I wish more people kept that nonchalance longer. I did use that as an opportunity to reinforce that you need to <i>walk</i> across the classroom so you don't accidentally knock one of those kids over. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680518649987868153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001118437285975306.post-70535090821956269402013-10-18T21:05:00.001-04:002013-10-25T21:26:26.734-04:00Stella's wordsStella, you have acquired some new words and refined some more. You have "all done," "baby", "mama," "no no no no no," "uh uh," and "uh oh" very clearly down. "Book," "milk," and "more" all have unique, repeatable sounds although they aren't quite the actual word yet. You've started blowing kisses and waving although mostly to Emma. I'm trying to get you to sign "please" and "thank you" as well. <br />
<br />
You love lying on your belly on a blanket on the floor. You love watching Super Why. If Daddy isn't home, that's the only way I get a dinner made. Otherwise you're under my feet, pushing me away from the counter, crying the entire time. <br />
<br />
You really enjoyed our annual cider mill trip. You ate a doughnut, had some cider (spilled some all down the front of you), and ate an apple in the orchard with your sister. You enjoyed the wagon ride as well. By the end of the day, you were skilled at putting the apples in the bag. You didn't quite figure out the picking part, but you were definitely integral in the whole process. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtCRMNXTVnv2ZrEyFd8p_xoQHzRfHmBGQhLY9b8xbPeXfEUQu-W26Te4JeIxJozQw2smTpznYPmWstUT7sWeZPF27daw5vDa4OA5ItkV1PkkGJT0_zBP6vNqZG0TYkWWMQ22DgT2zeI1Q/s1600/IMG_0102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtCRMNXTVnv2ZrEyFd8p_xoQHzRfHmBGQhLY9b8xbPeXfEUQu-W26Te4JeIxJozQw2smTpznYPmWstUT7sWeZPF27daw5vDa4OA5ItkV1PkkGJT0_zBP6vNqZG0TYkWWMQ22DgT2zeI1Q/s320/IMG_0102.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1744xORyjWcOqEFUnAOafmMncggbJJm9aKOVFBf0if9Ed4A7r4kHG_jHIjbWLi2Ji5P9N158lnKBWFtzWlNS46KT_q0rrDHz6RewOgQhVQeC7UK8_5GlSeasZzEDu8UYec6HZwiRGoIc/s1600/IMG_0109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1744xORyjWcOqEFUnAOafmMncggbJJm9aKOVFBf0if9Ed4A7r4kHG_jHIjbWLi2Ji5P9N158lnKBWFtzWlNS46KT_q0rrDHz6RewOgQhVQeC7UK8_5GlSeasZzEDu8UYec6HZwiRGoIc/s320/IMG_0109.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguc10RGZj1-W5-PKyJfsZ38mT1gqbK1qUDlv2C5bAExoppEbfeCdaxkBXVXlkqrkpBzlXGj6VFHygekzZ9LT1esKoATzkbDBhDoYNC6UWBkYi1Ii0zsgdLvx7p_GtseOmroorK_sTyDsU/s1600/IMG_0112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguc10RGZj1-W5-PKyJfsZ38mT1gqbK1qUDlv2C5bAExoppEbfeCdaxkBXVXlkqrkpBzlXGj6VFHygekzZ9LT1esKoATzkbDBhDoYNC6UWBkYi1Ii0zsgdLvx7p_GtseOmroorK_sTyDsU/s320/IMG_0112.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8g5K2vBW72c_JuReJmiEZ0jbjVRl7WPWZ93krGIR6A0n7I2YnZwTgCFDEktTPuurTbn2BsLi62sH3wePZ8uNmgusVfd-ck44ioytm0NMmEUVApo9trCDBuFSxAdM0_bmO73tuiNqDPU/s1600/IMG_0121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8g5K2vBW72c_JuReJmiEZ0jbjVRl7WPWZ93krGIR6A0n7I2YnZwTgCFDEktTPuurTbn2BsLi62sH3wePZ8uNmgusVfd-ck44ioytm0NMmEUVApo9trCDBuFSxAdM0_bmO73tuiNqDPU/s320/IMG_0121.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DwLkCEGUy_efgc6vSvmJRRbcCP23DZb2WUrW9kX-f1_rRWsKjvNnlQPgUKxXC4zqzpnrbvb59Gt-K23RGZN53NPJgIE6HIjcrQTZx2qrdEX4Rc6fa-5AFz1Xldw7cmOwElNGa3F-ous/s1600/IMG_0123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DwLkCEGUy_efgc6vSvmJRRbcCP23DZb2WUrW9kX-f1_rRWsKjvNnlQPgUKxXC4zqzpnrbvb59Gt-K23RGZN53NPJgIE6HIjcrQTZx2qrdEX4Rc6fa-5AFz1Xldw7cmOwElNGa3F-ous/s320/IMG_0123.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht69hGg5BqJ1NShFgFVUDIbHbofG-VeCU5yjVMvkAN-mISOjRePaZTqDfR98Udzc4b74WsuilEnOrVw7Xgs2gu5cAXB9Oobwy6R7kZZb-V0nSFzTF8qzzkrbrD9MqGM3XhENIGqQAwrEI/s1600/IMG_0125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht69hGg5BqJ1NShFgFVUDIbHbofG-VeCU5yjVMvkAN-mISOjRePaZTqDfR98Udzc4b74WsuilEnOrVw7Xgs2gu5cAXB9Oobwy6R7kZZb-V0nSFzTF8qzzkrbrD9MqGM3XhENIGqQAwrEI/s320/IMG_0125.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh985FJthontz66HwpD5rC2zv3wsxVwx0WRxphLR__NZNxIXAYYneyg0gJLpEwYWwsZFo_wCu7z07ewZ-I_PoGgxRSlAeR3QzsILvXLIvprdfiCoq0LWeVbX6BIbMfXGZZ7sK1IIbi-ns8/s1600/IMG_0139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh985FJthontz66HwpD5rC2zv3wsxVwx0WRxphLR__NZNxIXAYYneyg0gJLpEwYWwsZFo_wCu7z07ewZ-I_PoGgxRSlAeR3QzsILvXLIvprdfiCoq0LWeVbX6BIbMfXGZZ7sK1IIbi-ns8/s320/IMG_0139.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCbdFjLzf5EPQY8ZKvOotnY18XSthjsHIGSjNkazWpvA2RLMFsUP0BVixbl5IAtarN6KypzrFPhEfofx6pLc6b3xpA4k5CC39cXIhcA6L_NdAgMWulboEyXaBGBkQ2a-4ZCvgVSA2ldM/s1600/IMG_0157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCbdFjLzf5EPQY8ZKvOotnY18XSthjsHIGSjNkazWpvA2RLMFsUP0BVixbl5IAtarN6KypzrFPhEfofx6pLc6b3xpA4k5CC39cXIhcA6L_NdAgMWulboEyXaBGBkQ2a-4ZCvgVSA2ldM/s320/IMG_0157.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvW4peNxOqDp6gs7S0U-Y1Ct732B8mmhUskQCyg5Iwd7WofBP3A4FNUSMggTg8H5_odQdqeKgiAGof2AZ14h8UZfoo-HUvdtfn2NpllUx-bb0apGGmhC9_Tu9E9IP7NTYnKLx7iP3yLk/s1600/IMG_0171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvW4peNxOqDp6gs7S0U-Y1Ct732B8mmhUskQCyg5Iwd7WofBP3A4FNUSMggTg8H5_odQdqeKgiAGof2AZ14h8UZfoo-HUvdtfn2NpllUx-bb0apGGmhC9_Tu9E9IP7NTYnKLx7iP3yLk/s320/IMG_0171.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Q02fuoLvNKaepVitYyPJ0_5vkpIzuQ2qsJJvLwBi8gmHReCQ_dFkMSJ5j8qsfUnw-qqziOtsMFspH9NZCC_xR-akBpzApQwgU1Tj3W6c9hezTGjE8fLw7InXOfvQgQHPWrX9K-DrBYA/s1600/IMG_0197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Q02fuoLvNKaepVitYyPJ0_5vkpIzuQ2qsJJvLwBi8gmHReCQ_dFkMSJ5j8qsfUnw-qqziOtsMFspH9NZCC_xR-akBpzApQwgU1Tj3W6c9hezTGjE8fLw7InXOfvQgQHPWrX9K-DrBYA/s320/IMG_0197.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680518649987868153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001118437285975306.post-46955250131741267562013-10-07T20:57:00.002-04:002013-10-07T20:57:48.959-04:00First parent-teacher conferenceEmma, tonight we had your first parent-teacher conference. It was a bit different being on the other side of the table for a change. You are young for preschool: your birthday is actually 4 days past the birthday cut off. (You'll do a second year of preschool for that reason.) Mrs. Rogers said there are times she can tell you are definitely one of the younger kids but other times it seems like you're one of the oldest ones. There was a lot of great feedback both things you're already doing well and things you can improve on. One thing you have to be able to do is identify 4 out of 6 shapes. On the way home, your dad asked, "Which shapes? She could probably have asked about a dodecahedron and she would have gotten it right." I don't know about that, but you'd definitely be able to identify some polygons some junior high kids can't. A lot of the knowledge things we expected -- counting to 20, recognizing and naming colors, identifying all capital letters. You need to work on figuring out "b" and "d" and "p" and "q" better. I expected this. I notice this when you're reading your words at night with me -- you'll read "be" as "de" sometimes. Hopefully putting it in context of words will continue to help that. We also have to work on you writing your lower case letters. <br />
<br />
I think some of my favorite things to hear about were things not related to knowledge. Apparently most often you are very caring and a great helper (although you like to draw attention to the fact that you helped). You seem to have a soft-spot for a boy named Jacob. He wears braces on his legs and seems knock-kneed. I'm not sure if it's MS or just legs that didn't form right. He is always excited to see you in child care. He always pops up to hug you when you leave for the day. Apparently you let him touch your hair but no one else can. It reminds me of one of my current students who has taken a student with Autism under her wing to mentor completely of her own volition. I hope you always are open to all students.<br />
<br />
She had a sheet with numbers 1-9 that you had to trace and then glue the appropriate number of Froot Loops on it. She initially thought you might struggle with it, but turns out you were fine (of course) AND that you were helping some of the older kids! She said you also have some days when you have to go to the bathroom a lot -- sometimes it's right around clean up time or when another student has to go too. She said she'll distract you with something else if you've gone not too long ago, and by the time you're done you no longer have to go (magically!). <br />
<br />
We're super proud of you and all you're learning about your letters, math, and being a caring, generous person. You've put in a lot of hard work to get to this point, and I hope you continue to reap the benefits of working hard!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680518649987868153noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001118437285975306.post-996484929088963442013-10-02T21:32:00.001-04:002013-10-02T21:32:50.074-04:00You broke 20 pounds!Stella, you finally broke 20 pounds (at least by my weighing). You are still in 9-12 month clothes even though you are 17 months old. You are pretty long though as most of the clothes are short in the arms on you. The pants still seem to fit ok. If we could get your height to grow too, the added wingspan would definitely be a bonus in volleyball.<br />
<br />
Your new phrase is "Uh oh..." You did that the other morning as you dropped your milk on the floor during breakfast. You like to repeat it too. You are signing more reliably although at times it seems like you forget you can do that to communicate and you just point and gurgle a bit. <br />
<br />
You love Emma. I think you may miss her a bit now that you're at daycare and Emma's at school. When we get home in the evening and Emma is laying on the floor, you just lay on her and hug her. <br />
<br />
You respond to more requests now. If we ask you to get a toy or put some toys or books back, you actually know what we're talking about and will do it for the most part. You enjoy flipping through books more although you tend to look at them upside down. If we tell you to look for something or look at something, you tend to squat with your hands on your knees, lean your head forward and peer off for it. It's really adorable! You also have a surprised look that is great. I haven't been able to snap a picture of it though. <br />
<br />
I've decided my favorite ago so far is the 18-24 month time so I'm really looking forward to the next 6 months!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680518649987868153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001118437285975306.post-70106852981675574182013-09-14T22:01:00.000-04:002013-09-14T22:01:02.328-04:00SoccerOur friends, the Cotters, have a daughter who is about 6 months older than you. They put her in soccer in the spring when we did another round of gymnastics. We didn't want to do gymnastics again because you weren't listening well to the teachers. We put you in the same clinic as Bella. <br />
<br />
You were super excited to start. We got you shin guards and soccer socks and shorts. Your Great Aunt Chris (Daddy's aunt) mailed you a pair of cleats. You did pretty well your first day. The club is Chill Soccer. All their coaches are from the UK or Ireland (2 of them!). They really focus on building good team players in addition to soccer skills. They give out green cards if you are a good sport. You earned one. I think you were a good sport but could probably have done a better job listening. (You thought so too.)<br />
<br />
On the way home I said something about soccer next week. You said, "I don't want to go back to soccer. I just wanted to do it the one time." You were near tears after a 15 minute conversation on the way home saying you didn't want to go back. I figured you were just tired and we'd talk about it tomorrow. You were frustrated the ball didn't do something it was supposed to do on some "back and forth" move you were doing, but you thought your toe touches were really good. I think you expected to be good at it right away or have it be easy. I tried to keep telling you that you had to go back more to practice and get better at it, that you couldn't do everything at gymnastics the first night either. That seemed to fall on deaf ears. (I KNOW your grandma and I had moments like this as well. You get that attitude from me apparently.)<br />
<br />
We got home and did bath time right away. You sat down to pee before getting in the tub. You said, "I had a lot of fun at soccer. I can't wait to go back!" Really?! Sheesh. You agreed to do the rest of the weeks at least. I said if you didn't like it after that, you don't have to do the winter one indoor if you don't want. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5I18XCLTsZhe5XvQPeZvKNt5EDEjlKjS1grZBRVJZ18qsZrhKOTUYzyIBZWL3zCjYvVqeLOonhb-nyEqS5UEZ37WS6AUsVjlnSl5jkVbfIAy74p1Er7cnwXwe0eI98bAwDHC3IeNfKiQ/s1600/IMG_0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5I18XCLTsZhe5XvQPeZvKNt5EDEjlKjS1grZBRVJZ18qsZrhKOTUYzyIBZWL3zCjYvVqeLOonhb-nyEqS5UEZ37WS6AUsVjlnSl5jkVbfIAy74p1Er7cnwXwe0eI98bAwDHC3IeNfKiQ/s320/IMG_0016.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What Stella did while Emma played: she put herself in the goal!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSv2d-1Y1tZRdXB9hUUHpfBwPWRlUePcIrrafAbhUe3XfgY1XXPDmWFSOWnoA0ffGfjkar0oJxmfuu8tJBw2VUYIjlK9hK4kr63Zjk8iPdjsIgBWBJWJpdHShNcK5-H-BrcM9-df6VVU/s1600/IMG_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSv2d-1Y1tZRdXB9hUUHpfBwPWRlUePcIrrafAbhUe3XfgY1XXPDmWFSOWnoA0ffGfjkar0oJxmfuu8tJBw2VUYIjlK9hK4kr63Zjk8iPdjsIgBWBJWJpdHShNcK5-H-BrcM9-df6VVU/s320/IMG_0031.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emma is on the far left in the yellow jersey.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBCQB-vlq7kMD82BjjYwaRJgDhdzav4enzlSi0tZUAJMAdxe4ZRVTe5iXYlDGIZIU8hx0t3l3Yyusq1Slm5ydAAnh0IbGXc7V4Y1ISEG6VKB9iqkaIhvn3Wm6M2I9Q2kReBqsET5iic8/s1600/IMG_9963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBCQB-vlq7kMD82BjjYwaRJgDhdzav4enzlSi0tZUAJMAdxe4ZRVTe5iXYlDGIZIU8hx0t3l3Yyusq1Slm5ydAAnh0IbGXc7V4Y1ISEG6VKB9iqkaIhvn3Wm6M2I9Q2kReBqsET5iic8/s320/IMG_9963.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Warming up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJisNmj1xPNOR7PmLJToS6vW_jt7G5JzJgG3nrF7KIkXD17KfMU7UlJCXvOz6YlxcvuasFgahvhxC_LDET8GkGoCwAotZQsdNBTBMF04jzDxlm4g1RGysGTr_skL0TrOyXWQRAiIXKr8/s1600/IMG_9972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJisNmj1xPNOR7PmLJToS6vW_jt7G5JzJgG3nrF7KIkXD17KfMU7UlJCXvOz6YlxcvuasFgahvhxC_LDET8GkGoCwAotZQsdNBTBMF04jzDxlm4g1RGysGTr_skL0TrOyXWQRAiIXKr8/s320/IMG_9972.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1S9NaKYJ6zW59o2PhTfw2nGbmS_3reavDGlUvr9-422POzfWze65intY-naswx-xdJStwLqVrU8H6KHPdABltsRMeEqDkZHsa2lhMLOdlbevZ90pn7SrfQiXS6tt-0KNcuMYr5Szigi4/s1600/IMG_9977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1S9NaKYJ6zW59o2PhTfw2nGbmS_3reavDGlUvr9-422POzfWze65intY-naswx-xdJStwLqVrU8H6KHPdABltsRMeEqDkZHsa2lhMLOdlbevZ90pn7SrfQiXS6tt-0KNcuMYr5Szigi4/s320/IMG_9977.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toe taps</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_bm5kb_zKEFuL5tdW90XiRu8F74g68lXaVcF8BSeQnBVnn3EsB3QeHzgaQlinYBPO2na1ypJd4fu5spZ5Zp2j77t55pftTOvr3jtxj7I02gybKfs8Ajb4HFyOnO8-S5B8k2pbF7fg7GE/s1600/IMG_9980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_bm5kb_zKEFuL5tdW90XiRu8F74g68lXaVcF8BSeQnBVnn3EsB3QeHzgaQlinYBPO2na1ypJd4fu5spZ5Zp2j77t55pftTOvr3jtxj7I02gybKfs8Ajb4HFyOnO8-S5B8k2pbF7fg7GE/s320/IMG_9980.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bella in the pink coat on the left</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680518649987868153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001118437285975306.post-7144404910360923112013-09-14T21:29:00.001-04:002013-09-14T21:29:33.741-04:00First day of preschool!Emma, your first day of preschool was September 3, 2013. (Today is the 12. I also started school. I've been trying to figure out schedules and splitting time between you girls, school, myself, and house things. It's taken me awhile to figure that out and get to this. Sorry!)<br />
<br />
You were super excited! Daddy took the day off to take you in the morning. He was pretty nervous that you might have a meltdown and he wouldn't know what to do. Fortunately you were awesome. He said you were great -- talking to other kids even before you went inside -- until the little boy next to you had a meltdown. Then you started getting a little whiny. Fortunately Mrs. Reynolds quickly had you come up to the front of the line to lead everyone in. Daddy said he poked his head in after you were in the class already and you had totally stopped crying.<br />
<br />
I've taken over dropping you off in the morning since your school is 3 minutes from my school. You go to child care in the morning and see Madeline Carmody every day. Owen, her brother, is there 2 days a week and also in your class those two days. <br />
<br />
You've already made 2 friends that you talk about often: Victoria and Abby. (It's funny to me you also have "Abby and Emma" dolls with magnetic clothes -- think old-school paper dolls.) You've also talked about a Joshua from morning childcare, who I think he might be the brother of one of my current students. You also talked about a Tristan the other day. <br />
<br />
They provide a rest time just after lunch. You never sleep though. You have fallen asleep on the car ride home a couple days. We've also started putting you to bed about 15 minutes earlier. You're out much quicker at night -- we don't still hear you around 9:30. <br />
<br />
You've had all good days so far. You had to go to timeout once for running across the classroom. Otherwise I've had no bad reports. In my head I keep debating between putting you in Dewitt schools next year or waiting until you and Stella can ride the bus on your own. If we start you next year, Daddy will always have to work a later shift and will never be home in the evenings, unless it's his day off. He and I have to keep talking about it.<br />
<br />
Here are some pictures Daddy took in the morning.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU88uoy9qA5D3qohAJpHum5-gCAIltFVMo32CrDBR2Z5rFaX7pK6BtGoRq5Vdsd-IZsQvqDX_KkeUa-T47_vWge6P4BkcOs7nLDlSpvyJ8NQTgWJtqkfQjQvBCSyu6sfDUu8D7maqr8LY/s1600/Preschool+01jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU88uoy9qA5D3qohAJpHum5-gCAIltFVMo32CrDBR2Z5rFaX7pK6BtGoRq5Vdsd-IZsQvqDX_KkeUa-T47_vWge6P4BkcOs7nLDlSpvyJ8NQTgWJtqkfQjQvBCSyu6sfDUu8D7maqr8LY/s320/Preschool+01jpg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgNQGzL-gvNe_T1-pgcTF4D3m-Kule3qRPxMkMCSPnWyG5xRKecmLVXJR53GGMbhqxr7dKjb7h6z2AHysVKih5Ln_vC57rISOceE7LErdGJwVGBdmPgT8hyphenhyphengNhBz15RLDLXuPMCAkhP0/s1600/IMG_9928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgNQGzL-gvNe_T1-pgcTF4D3m-Kule3qRPxMkMCSPnWyG5xRKecmLVXJR53GGMbhqxr7dKjb7h6z2AHysVKih5Ln_vC57rISOceE7LErdGJwVGBdmPgT8hyphenhyphengNhBz15RLDLXuPMCAkhP0/s320/IMG_9928.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnc51dfK5ZB2OKZ0wI2vvOZodZbOhqCBWdPhC3CxWchAVEYSRYb3UePtFdJ9B9sLS9SE0GKfapys3RdZ1OdcUHqcrGTOhI4aFV3hwQ3ueBmLLzBkZ8ggAzTzzDoEMTQr-BL3vuO3-8gFQ/s1600/IMG_9930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnc51dfK5ZB2OKZ0wI2vvOZodZbOhqCBWdPhC3CxWchAVEYSRYb3UePtFdJ9B9sLS9SE0GKfapys3RdZ1OdcUHqcrGTOhI4aFV3hwQ3ueBmLLzBkZ8ggAzTzzDoEMTQr-BL3vuO3-8gFQ/s320/IMG_9930.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOb_tNqxywdi09M_Fml3jhd9lfkTK008dBvk259xL10NEnoz2WZYe1ra-3A6TwxNGXL9rfWfBOliN9Hj82rJf0s5Wz4sXWWCGHD-cobBxWgjFO63BSBXa_g3z_LQNpAnf_yyA0UFf_E4U/s1600/IMG_9936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOb_tNqxywdi09M_Fml3jhd9lfkTK008dBvk259xL10NEnoz2WZYe1ra-3A6TwxNGXL9rfWfBOliN9Hj82rJf0s5Wz4sXWWCGHD-cobBxWgjFO63BSBXa_g3z_LQNpAnf_yyA0UFf_E4U/s320/IMG_9936.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMF3T_5YeZ4vp7x9Rj3BlOI-J_stXCC83lfFrK_I9J3GaHNet_pcI8a9R01U34emr7ixLm8JBatqJwpGC9bffdsmT4AAwDvpgFkofYsG6TSq64KkpP1tb7qByYJ2nmaX1glNEh9TB0UjU/s1600/IMG_9945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMF3T_5YeZ4vp7x9Rj3BlOI-J_stXCC83lfFrK_I9J3GaHNet_pcI8a9R01U34emr7ixLm8JBatqJwpGC9bffdsmT4AAwDvpgFkofYsG6TSq64KkpP1tb7qByYJ2nmaX1glNEh9TB0UjU/s320/IMG_9945.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680518649987868153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001118437285975306.post-28447414704973329752013-08-19T07:12:00.000-04:002013-08-19T07:12:09.790-04:00The first of manyAunt Kate, Spencer, and James were down at Grandma Sandi's and Big Mike's for a while to take care of their dogs. We went down Friday and stayed through Sunday. Friday we went to the splash zone at Metro Beach. Saturday we had Christopher's birthday party at Jason's house. Sunday we went for a walk through the neighborhood and did a bingo (of sorts) of finding things on our walk. Some of my favorite moments:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Stella snuggling with Spencer on the couch as we watched a movie</li>
<li>Spencer helping Stella with the car door</li>
<li>Spencer climbing in the car to say another good bye to Stella</li>
<li>Listening to Emma and James run around yelling about "Deceptacons" coming. (Spencer was too, but since he can say the word completely, it wasn't quite as funny!)</li>
<li>Stella's first experience at a splash zone while being able to walk</li>
<li>James snuggling with me the first night in the chair to watch a movie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1eBgmDk34IvOBCVyGMT5yDlxeIhmXP4oaoB8nyX0M2M9DIdSCgk6M4mFsclGLEJAN6wgIcNoHsljLDCBXQT1dJiR5dvVBHqyUjlj9uMQq3_v7yTidADbTp4MjyNV8uivXqkaC-xzu0c/s1600/IMG_9720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1eBgmDk34IvOBCVyGMT5yDlxeIhmXP4oaoB8nyX0M2M9DIdSCgk6M4mFsclGLEJAN6wgIcNoHsljLDCBXQT1dJiR5dvVBHqyUjlj9uMQq3_v7yTidADbTp4MjyNV8uivXqkaC-xzu0c/s320/IMG_9720.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIalpcEGOruJ9Ca1Z1lbFG16jFeuYc5IClK5KPtfwfQn-gYBBP6i-ywvRNNZqG6wAw3aBKoJuCryIdFibQjJbbw8ScXwU6tkWA0wvXCeL_5vYyM1MKww1l6N3mIuiPhKvZfkiYMUvKVA/s1600/IMG_9778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIalpcEGOruJ9Ca1Z1lbFG16jFeuYc5IClK5KPtfwfQn-gYBBP6i-ywvRNNZqG6wAw3aBKoJuCryIdFibQjJbbw8ScXwU6tkWA0wvXCeL_5vYyM1MKww1l6N3mIuiPhKvZfkiYMUvKVA/s320/IMG_9778.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAeWRYQVFdkalwZ6UZHK1hQ3JINE3zbzrLtap3DHVCLgbZZ_zTuNp-u-ewJ6VDCLCS2locyOm3T-kqj2m5YxupdT3QN4SDD9x3TJG3X_2En5oB9yW2FbH3gIjspkCA-UmtofcHcnOA6LM/s1600/IMG_9807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAeWRYQVFdkalwZ6UZHK1hQ3JINE3zbzrLtap3DHVCLgbZZ_zTuNp-u-ewJ6VDCLCS2locyOm3T-kqj2m5YxupdT3QN4SDD9x3TJG3X_2En5oB9yW2FbH3gIjspkCA-UmtofcHcnOA6LM/s320/IMG_9807.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtq2sA8s1vHac9_D1z4_we6g8bRjEzMxIXFKqQBimyt0JQ2Yww4RaaeLVYh3Y95zpHqbIqm2u2d0gVM2hWhtGbrVO6NU1PUlYI9EnRF29Z7VAHga8inOa8OzdQ-9anT-Rd7dr6KyC0xkc/s1600/IMG_9819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtq2sA8s1vHac9_D1z4_we6g8bRjEzMxIXFKqQBimyt0JQ2Yww4RaaeLVYh3Y95zpHqbIqm2u2d0gVM2hWhtGbrVO6NU1PUlYI9EnRF29Z7VAHga8inOa8OzdQ-9anT-Rd7dr6KyC0xkc/s320/IMG_9819.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqTUnGDL2in2XYuFyufY82nI13-4kZtJcutdC6MR0XqaYwICZly0-M36eoBJM0OvV2XfpRRhWF9laPjnNBTvmNPlgHGStgIBjnMNIJrZOpeYRJoIStuhX4KQINK2AZ38gQdiXxoSpvMs/s1600/IMG_9845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqTUnGDL2in2XYuFyufY82nI13-4kZtJcutdC6MR0XqaYwICZly0-M36eoBJM0OvV2XfpRRhWF9laPjnNBTvmNPlgHGStgIBjnMNIJrZOpeYRJoIStuhX4KQINK2AZ38gQdiXxoSpvMs/s320/IMG_9845.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMM9fWmB0jYii1-4QEXaz9hdxdmJvabHcvXToqplECtuaj479s6C6oUnxdA0Bb0iSwXdVNdjF1xZZyy3aLZ7TSfxGGHvhQoJd8CKJt3HA38kAqeHSo24ja0F96kvEB-hAK0WIilQ4EEs/s1600/IMG_9892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMM9fWmB0jYii1-4QEXaz9hdxdmJvabHcvXToqplECtuaj479s6C6oUnxdA0Bb0iSwXdVNdjF1xZZyy3aLZ7TSfxGGHvhQoJd8CKJt3HA38kAqeHSo24ja0F96kvEB-hAK0WIilQ4EEs/s320/IMG_9892.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYssXu9zNUfOkWBLCaT8Yn20AcMbHBv4PHE4FwXg04sdOb5KlnYBtaHr8VB_j3ruiiJirToVOjNMz-up0Kb1KL_b_X7iOui1y7GeDks0-xvTaM2POfyzfm6E9cskDcSv3LPwjMR9HI_Yw/s1600/IMG_9910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYssXu9zNUfOkWBLCaT8Yn20AcMbHBv4PHE4FwXg04sdOb5KlnYBtaHr8VB_j3ruiiJirToVOjNMz-up0Kb1KL_b_X7iOui1y7GeDks0-xvTaM2POfyzfm6E9cskDcSv3LPwjMR9HI_Yw/s320/IMG_9910.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</li>
</ul>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680518649987868153noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001118437285975306.post-50181111098552785132013-07-28T13:11:00.002-04:002013-07-28T13:11:39.016-04:00Blueberry pickingWe went on a second blueberry picking trip. This year Daddy had to work, but Teryn was up to go with us. This time with Stella it was a totally different story. Stella, you were in the Baby Bjorn facing forward. It was near lunch time and you decided you wanted to eat blueberries. You first started pulling them out of the bowl. Then you pulled them off the bush as I was picking them too. You didn't stop just at the berries though. At one point you grabbed the twigs the berries were growing on and ate some of those too. Since I couldn't see you, I figured it out too late. Daddy found some from the other end this morning. You ate at least 4 ounces or so. We picked about 8.5 pounds. I had to have Teryn look at your face for evidence before we went to pay!<br />
<br />
Emma, you did a great job picking this year too. You avoided eating any too. You would keep yelling out, "Teryn! Look at these!" like you were the first to discover them.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680518649987868153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001118437285975306.post-84868495615759624692013-07-25T20:45:00.000-04:002013-07-25T20:51:08.706-04:00The Detroit ZooThis was Stella's first trip to the Detroit Zoo and Emma's second. Emma said she didn't remember the trip, but she did remember it when we got to the Prairie Dog exhibit where you could crawl underneath. I'm not sure if she remembers it or just remembers looking at the pictures of it. <br />
<br />
Stella, you seemed to love the meerkats and the seals. You were not too thrilled by the big headed turtle. It was swimming in the tank and as it got closer to you, you scooted back as far as you could in your stroller.<br />
<br />
Emma, you said your favorite was the giraffes and the "ancient Egyptians." You spotted the decorations they use in the giraffe enclosures and wanted to get closer to see those. The giraffes played second fiddle to those apparently. You didn't like the penguins because the exhibit stunk.<br />
<br />
I had just enough cash on me for Emma to ride the carousel. Stella got on for free. Stella liked pointing at Daddy. Emma squealed with delight.<br />
<br />
After the penguins, I took you both into the butterfly house. Daddy couldn't come because we couldn't bring strollers in. As soon as we walked into the butterfly house, a huge blue butterfly (probably the size of my hand when its wings are down) landed on Stella's leg. Stella, you went to reach for it to touch it. I wasn't sure what would happen to us if you killed a butterfly, so I pulled your hand back quickly. Emma, you said, "Shake her leg! Get it off!" The people near us said, "Look, the butterfly landed on the baby's leg!" I shook Stella's leg and it eventually flew off. It then circled Emma's head. Emma, you screamed bloody murder and ran around my legs like the butterfly was a lion and was going to eat you. All the people must have thought you were a crazy banshee! After that we walked out as quickly as we could. I didn't have a hand to take the camera in. Here's a <a href="http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/kids/species-profiles/blue-butterfly">link</a> to the butterfly that landed on Stella.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8QUhPJ4tFSoiBhRLjH1TGCePyjnOJ6SRImUMLjz5jDyQf4W1agjpDet8n6fC3kQrL9MZSd50-diPSN15ZfVRC5abdBmBeYM7PsaJgI9uK0BrAM-Hp4P0bTx8VYvV3kEhGVYmcieVo7xE/s1600/IMG_9562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8QUhPJ4tFSoiBhRLjH1TGCePyjnOJ6SRImUMLjz5jDyQf4W1agjpDet8n6fC3kQrL9MZSd50-diPSN15ZfVRC5abdBmBeYM7PsaJgI9uK0BrAM-Hp4P0bTx8VYvV3kEhGVYmcieVo7xE/s320/IMG_9562.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yhHyRAEdHPACBVE_E8QIFhyzXcBgHUDuzy5Yv0Aj1pHcev8jzr-K1ZGImWUT1bIO1fN3PWSvmQVfy1o30uhacN3WEZg0i7pMqREb4O6-4HapInRGvpX9uU3V999XrndhnOV9DFzX8mg/s1600/IMG_9566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yhHyRAEdHPACBVE_E8QIFhyzXcBgHUDuzy5Yv0Aj1pHcev8jzr-K1ZGImWUT1bIO1fN3PWSvmQVfy1o30uhacN3WEZg0i7pMqREb4O6-4HapInRGvpX9uU3V999XrndhnOV9DFzX8mg/s320/IMG_9566.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkAEUheMQwKo-IRuyN_z1h5AlfRQMzPpo-kdrD34xcWyWrIIdlDAQFuMZ0-kbwSCyPK_qvJvA6slXmhLZax133TUcsS2LGkZYO2Ro1r7yG5JH8AVI7q5wQxhoNU62ERly86rcIWrBQcs/s1600/IMG_9571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkAEUheMQwKo-IRuyN_z1h5AlfRQMzPpo-kdrD34xcWyWrIIdlDAQFuMZ0-kbwSCyPK_qvJvA6slXmhLZax133TUcsS2LGkZYO2Ro1r7yG5JH8AVI7q5wQxhoNU62ERly86rcIWrBQcs/s320/IMG_9571.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The big headed turtle Stella wanted nothing to do with.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTPFIHROF05M0gXVK4pF1nSFjR6bPaKyuEd0uxIi7GrOl7X9nuCcQ9QHqFUL-SMVJj1pq4SXZqv1ITNMYIMtBIhmVix_WsYeLCM-dIMSxO8PGsWbJxhpQ2Hvb8nbZuVPUGHFDQAIEuBQ/s1600/IMG_9572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTPFIHROF05M0gXVK4pF1nSFjR6bPaKyuEd0uxIi7GrOl7X9nuCcQ9QHqFUL-SMVJj1pq4SXZqv1ITNMYIMtBIhmVix_WsYeLCM-dIMSxO8PGsWbJxhpQ2Hvb8nbZuVPUGHFDQAIEuBQ/s320/IMG_9572.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pointing at camels</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwum2JPKzpFEjjDjrmXWWKvTH3hm22R25M1npMRGVuVkxKIXfIIiquRcOs7OBOkw7YIw-Q3RLhRqjfdpJtNYEdjwqYwf9zEWEnWAMgvmiOPShlR155B1iwGwRpGPG4CRhK2BXgkFViR-Q/s1600/IMG_9574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwum2JPKzpFEjjDjrmXWWKvTH3hm22R25M1npMRGVuVkxKIXfIIiquRcOs7OBOkw7YIw-Q3RLhRqjfdpJtNYEdjwqYwf9zEWEnWAMgvmiOPShlR155B1iwGwRpGPG4CRhK2BXgkFViR-Q/s320/IMG_9574.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tVFP54E1GJ2Nt8mBmx9sQ-uFhScS6_FQLUPQVbpnWWop3jgcucApshH8GS8Z_TTLuF1zDhdoufkThg77SEJlE4-7PdHySfY9LepjyTqC-QIkPw0npgxHHxxyU2rP-8GadpS1j2h2G8M/s1600/IMG_9580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tVFP54E1GJ2Nt8mBmx9sQ-uFhScS6_FQLUPQVbpnWWop3jgcucApshH8GS8Z_TTLuF1zDhdoufkThg77SEJlE4-7PdHySfY9LepjyTqC-QIkPw0npgxHHxxyU2rP-8GadpS1j2h2G8M/s320/IMG_9580.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgRZhsAkib8bMfkUt58uEXbGshz0I4srlTqsaJyq-UxSfXn5XyOsD1wMz7HdH7bWfM4ny4eULMhWcrqdN0jY349aS66HrtQ5bDbaPniJ1ZEmxpQTyH-o2SMwB_tXmJv52SSM9dTtUE04/s1600/IMG_9583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgRZhsAkib8bMfkUt58uEXbGshz0I4srlTqsaJyq-UxSfXn5XyOsD1wMz7HdH7bWfM4ny4eULMhWcrqdN0jY349aS66HrtQ5bDbaPniJ1ZEmxpQTyH-o2SMwB_tXmJv52SSM9dTtUE04/s320/IMG_9583.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock on her palm. She refused to walk at all. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGzWQ_Xljw2kq20PblBwHYltqsd3u-A-m_jQSBXD1qK9gtY_cphfefZadonZie9TEGXM8mI1jP1Pq9HHHdGVscylc5veRurAuiYYoCQrs9OZB1wLBW4kNTIcjP5ysnCT8HbFAp2aUwWQ/s1600/IMG_9589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGzWQ_Xljw2kq20PblBwHYltqsd3u-A-m_jQSBXD1qK9gtY_cphfefZadonZie9TEGXM8mI1jP1Pq9HHHdGVscylc5veRurAuiYYoCQrs9OZB1wLBW4kNTIcjP5ysnCT8HbFAp2aUwWQ/s320/IMG_9589.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meerkats</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9yAKgNLdk6vSbtHeqqRkMsYAvq24_LAbiVhu_O2BSqVtYvmWtPcWiGQAJR8HD_XBdKXCDPgpHnaF4QnqAgVLYvbm_jMt9JDYANl7VKgUyxO587VnSOGmfn489EaOxYIDRCTyCB4cZsg/s1600/IMG_9595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9yAKgNLdk6vSbtHeqqRkMsYAvq24_LAbiVhu_O2BSqVtYvmWtPcWiGQAJR8HD_XBdKXCDPgpHnaF4QnqAgVLYvbm_jMt9JDYANl7VKgUyxO587VnSOGmfn489EaOxYIDRCTyCB4cZsg/s320/IMG_9595.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ancient Egyptians...oh, and the giraffes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDji1cLFwiQFSGSd8GXVP6KJWv-6WWQiTXN1n2G8UjwaR1HsXCoM7Ad-OTBNhJMIZq7hqOGuERGW1xy87ALtv_cEo-8atZ1il3T9kZE_xPytUnHOT1lsTOBcIlDarnQngtr9Xgb5Nox0/s1600/IMG_9597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDji1cLFwiQFSGSd8GXVP6KJWv-6WWQiTXN1n2G8UjwaR1HsXCoM7Ad-OTBNhJMIZq7hqOGuERGW1xy87ALtv_cEo-8atZ1il3T9kZE_xPytUnHOT1lsTOBcIlDarnQngtr9Xgb5Nox0/s320/IMG_9597.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seals!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZiDDX6HWpFdXTXA-leAp3MyjJ24pZ0mgBFAOIYGo5BxYSZjf7MqQ6NvzlgEyshbADqcsUYg2q60N6D9wrTZjPgy7HzZgI8ugc44xYEEFLKkj-rIL5RVVTjTyagtS4Z5jtTmbwujmLhM/s1600/IMG_9600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZiDDX6HWpFdXTXA-leAp3MyjJ24pZ0mgBFAOIYGo5BxYSZjf7MqQ6NvzlgEyshbADqcsUYg2q60N6D9wrTZjPgy7HzZgI8ugc44xYEEFLKkj-rIL5RVVTjTyagtS4Z5jtTmbwujmLhM/s320/IMG_9600.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2KmE0p1juYDaPAALleGh7Ur1Izbl7hcPw2nU7UBdxIyKhJF0lLB-PajxDglCxDz8lHGkEgcbx7kv8cT7pGElYLjMBnlaRwG9SYfB0c7jUZC9_bX5TaLMaBHkf0D4J4oYU9CF36ZF9ZQ/s1600/IMG_9609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2KmE0p1juYDaPAALleGh7Ur1Izbl7hcPw2nU7UBdxIyKhJF0lLB-PajxDglCxDz8lHGkEgcbx7kv8cT7pGElYLjMBnlaRwG9SYfB0c7jUZC9_bX5TaLMaBHkf0D4J4oYU9CF36ZF9ZQ/s320/IMG_9609.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQyjHRLJHWc2N1NcIuT_zgcROcTB4fiF31qJhywmoKHrEIdDAW9HFZUlERNy978OP_sdufaLaGEFFj9Nk1Q_VzJQ-wkGdPT3eupLmIspFOwKYKetJfAOT1bLKeLd1hHO2tEEk38rNq10/s1600/IMG_9618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQyjHRLJHWc2N1NcIuT_zgcROcTB4fiF31qJhywmoKHrEIdDAW9HFZUlERNy978OP_sdufaLaGEFFj9Nk1Q_VzJQ-wkGdPT3eupLmIspFOwKYKetJfAOT1bLKeLd1hHO2tEEk38rNq10/s320/IMG_9618.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXdaiVGVbIEcZz89H8CId9nGpJmsOPsg57X5JHLi6OYayt34zbW752hIGoa6m8zTks8wqNBFJL8BkCfVpUWuCrOBocWZqMPAF5v18C35d81utDFPAAaLxu_eoty0XregHofPPt39NczQ/s1600/IMG_9619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXdaiVGVbIEcZz89H8CId9nGpJmsOPsg57X5JHLi6OYayt34zbW752hIGoa6m8zTks8wqNBFJL8BkCfVpUWuCrOBocWZqMPAF5v18C35d81utDFPAAaLxu_eoty0XregHofPPt39NczQ/s320/IMG_9619.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I felt some kinship with the mother chimp on the sign today.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpLglHIbXZU5QcEpboM-MHUrsiZLPSOdUv-Uzby1xMFNNjH3fqwPKbv8lQFyqqaFaHsWh-RkyN9IFzBeWPPazh5z6tDwlhBgwm-j1ZLp9bu49xpy0xLCFyktoNNA_b2zKPzx-uYNXcsw/s1600/IMG_9623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpLglHIbXZU5QcEpboM-MHUrsiZLPSOdUv-Uzby1xMFNNjH3fqwPKbv8lQFyqqaFaHsWh-RkyN9IFzBeWPPazh5z6tDwlhBgwm-j1ZLp9bu49xpy0xLCFyktoNNA_b2zKPzx-uYNXcsw/s320/IMG_9623.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She didn't actually kiss him so we came home just the 4 of us still.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680518649987868153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001118437285975306.post-73330994211652116272013-07-16T14:20:00.001-04:002013-07-16T14:20:40.249-04:00Story time at the Children's Gardens<br />
It's been really hot lately so we've been trying to go and do things in the morning before it gets too bad. Yesterday we went to the zoo with Tammy. Even walking around for an hour, we were all sweating. Dad has Friday off and we had thought to go to the Detroit Zoo. We might opt for indoors at Impression 5 instead. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It's been a challenging summer so far with the girls. Stella, you're pushing your boundaries. In spite of all the toys to play with, you prefers to be in the kitchen cabinets, pantry, or mudroom just pulling things out. When anyone removes you from such places, you sits on the ground and cries. Emma, you are also pushing buttons lately. Some typical comments from you: "I want to just do what I want to do. Mom (in an exasperated tone). Watch what you say to me! (She hears that one from us a lot lately.) No (to just about anything)." Needless to say, outings have been interesting. We're probably good birth control for anyone under 24 right now. Here's how today went...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Stella slept past 7 AM, which meant mom got to sleep past 7 AM even though Emma was up shortly after 6. Dad left for work early today so he was gone. We got sod in last week at the house so I ran outside to get some water on it before it hit 88+ degrees today. We woke up Stella and sat down for some breakfast. Emma, you just wanted cherries and a fruit cup and then cereal after. I said you had to eat the cereal first then you could have the fruits. You sat on the floor, yelled no, and cried. (This is typical lately.) I said if you weren't going to listen to me then we weren't going anywhere today. You finally caved and started eating the cereal while I pitted the cherries for you and Stella. (You ate half the cherries I pitted for the record after eating your cereal.) While you guys ate, I got some food together to take for Stella for lunch. I was still going in and out moving sprinklers every 20 minutes or so. Dixie crapped on the stairs again. I was trying to get you guys and myself dressed. We had to leave by 9 in order to stop at the bank and gas station and get to MSU a bit early.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We managed to leave by 9 by some miracle. We were putting on shoes. I told you to put on the purple sandals. You wanted to wear your pink Dora sandals Nana got you. I said you should wear your purple. You said, "NO!" I figured this wasn't a fight I needed to have. (Time #1 you should have listened to me today.) We made our two stops no problem. Got to MSU. The parking lot into the children's gardens is blocked off by some construction. Signs showed to park in the lot before it. They were metered spaces. I was going to risk it. We all got out, got the stroller set up, sunscreen on, began to walk towards the gardens, and saw another sign directing parking for the children's gardens into the normal lot. I figured it would be better to be in there because it was closer to the gardens and I knew they didn't ticket in there at the meters. So, we piled all back into the car and moved spots. I strapped Stella in her car seat so she couldn't get out. I just had Emma sit in her seat since we weren't getting back on the road. (This later backfires.)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We get there about 15 minutes before story time. We wandered the garden a bit. Emma, you remember going the time we went with Julie Lawatsch and her family. We then went over to sit under the pergola to hear the story. Both of you sat through the story great. Emma, you then made an ant from the story out of some pipe cleaners and spoons and googly eyes. We went to wander around the garden again. All of a sudden, you yelled, "I have to go potty!" and took off running. Not sure where you thought you were going. I had asked before we left the house if you needed to go. You said no. I said, "Why don't you try?" You said, "I don't have to go potty!" (Time #2 you should have listened to mom today.) They had a port-a-potty. I figured since it was at MSU's gardens it might be ok. It was large. I left the door open and propped so I could see the stroller. You walked in, looked in the toilet, saw there was poop and other waste, and said, "I don't have to go!" We finished walking around the garden and playing. Then we went to the Dairy Store.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I figured it would be easiest to walk since we were already parked for free. We made the 10 minute walk no problem. I told you that before we got ice cream, you were going to use the bathroom there. You cried and insisted you didn't have to pee. I said, "I guess you don't get ice cream then. You have to go before getting the ice cream." You kept pitching a fit. I said I was done talking about it. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We got there. We went into the bathroom. You were insistent you didn't have to go all the way up until you were peeing on the toilet. We cleaned up then went to get ice cream. I realized just before walking in that I hadn't brought my money with me. It was back in the car. I apologized. We both said it sucked that we'd have to walk back. I said we'd just drive back over. You said, "I don't want to drive back over. I want to walk!" I said it would be easier to drive because then after we could go right to lunch. You said, "Fine, but I don't want to be strapped in." I said you had to be because we'd be on roads. Meltdown over that.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We got across a couple streets and were by the plant biology building when you said you had something in your shoe. I said to sit down, take it off and shake it out. You didn't want to because the ground was "dirty." (It was the sidewalk.) You still did and it seemed to be better. Then we walked about another 50 feet, were in the parking lot of the plant biology building and you had another meltdown of nuclear proportions. Jumping, screaming, crying, face crinkled up, people walking by thinking who knows what. When you finally stopped and I could look at your foot, you had developed a blister from the shoes. (Gee! Who would have thought rubber shoes on a hot day where your legs and feet would be sweating would be a bad idea? Oh, wait...) So, I pulled Stella out of the stroller to carry her, and you got in to ride. I told you if you couldn't walk then we couldn't do the Dairy Store or lunch because you had to walk from the car to each. Then you thought you could manage. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Got to the car, made it to the Dairy Store, and had our ice cream. We were about to leave when I thought I'd try something. I asked the guys working the place if they happened to have any bandaids. They sure did! They were our rescuers today! You still wouldn't put your foot back in the shoe; you were walking on your tip toe with your heel out (the blister is on your inside ankle). You did stop throwing a fit enough to make the trip back to the car.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After that it got less eventful: lunch at Potbelly, you walked from the car to the restaurant just fine (although you had to fix your shoe at least 24 times!), ate half your sandwich, your Sun Chips, and then we went home. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Stella, through this whole trip you were a peach! I helped you walk through the maze. You ate your fruit and green beans at the restaurant. If only you'd start walking on your own, you could have much more fun. I can tell you're tired of the stroller as you twist and turn and reach to get out of it any chance we stop. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUY7BEsRfLmUXiYOQlimycYgK4Xj58J6ygVS9ZBqiAP41I9DnvhGuW0jXOLGPDntLpi0V5-1lQu3b63Xnqxb5kQsg-IfsGYFfl2LT2TU7Rkv-aBPuchf567iIlKgJ2yJoCOvCuaPwRvxw/s1600/IMG_9520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUY7BEsRfLmUXiYOQlimycYgK4Xj58J6ygVS9ZBqiAP41I9DnvhGuW0jXOLGPDntLpi0V5-1lQu3b63Xnqxb5kQsg-IfsGYFfl2LT2TU7Rkv-aBPuchf567iIlKgJ2yJoCOvCuaPwRvxw/s320/IMG_9520.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGFfK9yX-iSJ_S2U79HC2vAZzVfSBx6xB4pC-W33Km7xcmKH7M6-QxTFAj-SnUeCQeRHVaLraEXLYQty4gU_En22rxsNQPGqbSewZ-rk_CaVeqR8EzrdoHggxQMv3w09z4myMrQ-xJp0/s1600/IMG_9522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGFfK9yX-iSJ_S2U79HC2vAZzVfSBx6xB4pC-W33Km7xcmKH7M6-QxTFAj-SnUeCQeRHVaLraEXLYQty4gU_En22rxsNQPGqbSewZ-rk_CaVeqR8EzrdoHggxQMv3w09z4myMrQ-xJp0/s320/IMG_9522.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNOdjbvkzR4x5SHco75Idx8Ulnfx8o_oY5TGHLwTuL-ottQr_O811GUbuusWieL9bs2NgGTj8h1eyrfYNzOnGkPdvE8gQ4vpM7HtuxoAQJXidpnv_QOuQPHPBYM1Yw0x2JG94mz9jmCg/s1600/IMG_9525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNOdjbvkzR4x5SHco75Idx8Ulnfx8o_oY5TGHLwTuL-ottQr_O811GUbuusWieL9bs2NgGTj8h1eyrfYNzOnGkPdvE8gQ4vpM7HtuxoAQJXidpnv_QOuQPHPBYM1Yw0x2JG94mz9jmCg/s320/IMG_9525.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNyoNJtqZMPALoo-k0VDa1SXWKwSCus2wU686GwzD3yoHjn7FRVLtLM-eReutKIH6T-khMtq9fciZp2UMTEXvKpxKxgqsw59G8z38lIov2AINzrcAf3enq7OEoVzOtYZyFH10i8kImgc4/s1600/IMG_9527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNyoNJtqZMPALoo-k0VDa1SXWKwSCus2wU686GwzD3yoHjn7FRVLtLM-eReutKIH6T-khMtq9fciZp2UMTEXvKpxKxgqsw59G8z38lIov2AINzrcAf3enq7OEoVzOtYZyFH10i8kImgc4/s320/IMG_9527.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgfHl_1q7uZXH6KddKVpibIuuUQhUT1IuKY6B59_g7ToElyVVO1dBTL2UljLlZDRNdqUwOuYifH1MppA5GKb8gKksCJ6l5bTddn6HQlNFt3faxE45sAxdpQ-SY2L9dzgw3h_kD42sCBg/s1600/IMG_9528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgfHl_1q7uZXH6KddKVpibIuuUQhUT1IuKY6B59_g7ToElyVVO1dBTL2UljLlZDRNdqUwOuYifH1MppA5GKb8gKksCJ6l5bTddn6HQlNFt3faxE45sAxdpQ-SY2L9dzgw3h_kD42sCBg/s320/IMG_9528.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBd9rKhx3cddHA7IndsXhCfQWnrq5tim5WZ97IwrhrgGGuoqfGfDFEFzHOA26WbByV5DlV3iOuBaBaclbBZcCWz8wFLVCb5vlmvxapp-7UnwMAL3eJuNJr1oRw2OpWJ8Nx2BLNqGaiC2s/s1600/IMG_9532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBd9rKhx3cddHA7IndsXhCfQWnrq5tim5WZ97IwrhrgGGuoqfGfDFEFzHOA26WbByV5DlV3iOuBaBaclbBZcCWz8wFLVCb5vlmvxapp-7UnwMAL3eJuNJr1oRw2OpWJ8Nx2BLNqGaiC2s/s320/IMG_9532.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56CeKd36xl5a67X_e4HHAesZit8CPYK-_4A0MaW5aq4tQ11utrLvzJe0GtNjYrDDNA4Jq1ud2SvnjUV1_TAyYUUn4_VKFQwKHtHuN951OZxP_-decXXv6ZuZZKGwnsMWFfWx5lMBSXy8/s1600/IMG_9534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56CeKd36xl5a67X_e4HHAesZit8CPYK-_4A0MaW5aq4tQ11utrLvzJe0GtNjYrDDNA4Jq1ud2SvnjUV1_TAyYUUn4_VKFQwKHtHuN951OZxP_-decXXv6ZuZZKGwnsMWFfWx5lMBSXy8/s320/IMG_9534.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZkCxNlWLwtmMUs6BqFftT2ZBZhs1pyyO441Ws7QlVHWmdl8AvgqVew6dbltut73I9Heymk2NR_oUyjnLLOBaePx3wXHEgCJIQc171ZG9n4JWc8HUINh1S-tpvEEzuA9qkANbhcntZ-Q/s1600/IMG_9537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZkCxNlWLwtmMUs6BqFftT2ZBZhs1pyyO441Ws7QlVHWmdl8AvgqVew6dbltut73I9Heymk2NR_oUyjnLLOBaePx3wXHEgCJIQc171ZG9n4JWc8HUINh1S-tpvEEzuA9qkANbhcntZ-Q/s320/IMG_9537.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQN19uBLjGFPskl0s4rfSQ5RUUwkxt2ARnWtRYgat-cq5hPP8yQo2-b5QmLoiGB1klMpQiB0J8kiblwKL7zywr3pOH_MlE68EuqUJvA1_bcRw-9iuMQrF2QRaxOTCw5Pm4Gak43RW4t8/s1600/IMG_9539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQN19uBLjGFPskl0s4rfSQ5RUUwkxt2ARnWtRYgat-cq5hPP8yQo2-b5QmLoiGB1klMpQiB0J8kiblwKL7zywr3pOH_MlE68EuqUJvA1_bcRw-9iuMQrF2QRaxOTCw5Pm4Gak43RW4t8/s320/IMG_9539.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZd0HLkLXuAsqcH47_HQ-dw909F84te4L_m-r4PkPZOIh__1YKXCUmpFBYFu5vg6pXs24pa2veWEUGs1pXEGlAwNuCU_TrQPOhPFoNdQn7XcIId11e3r1dXETwvKNTCTfJYc4MCZ8_FJI/s1600/IMG_9540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZd0HLkLXuAsqcH47_HQ-dw909F84te4L_m-r4PkPZOIh__1YKXCUmpFBYFu5vg6pXs24pa2veWEUGs1pXEGlAwNuCU_TrQPOhPFoNdQn7XcIId11e3r1dXETwvKNTCTfJYc4MCZ8_FJI/s320/IMG_9540.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygdIzX7dzR4AqJMyvc9KemHsHQzPHMUBD7Okc2Ysc7XobKLH9SoRapc05jkgXnGEc_XH2L-gN42KjhTdh4Z0CQogIEy6qO78J6yI50vQZNkAf69XoJhyUhY_ZsZpxRa0u_sq9DOCpTNs/s1600/IMG_9544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygdIzX7dzR4AqJMyvc9KemHsHQzPHMUBD7Okc2Ysc7XobKLH9SoRapc05jkgXnGEc_XH2L-gN42KjhTdh4Z0CQogIEy6qO78J6yI50vQZNkAf69XoJhyUhY_ZsZpxRa0u_sq9DOCpTNs/s320/IMG_9544.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Lp_tdhH2WBNkcSEJdqcshkvCaJpIWMNgDEgwAWihX5ICzKZr9uta4ibN-o8Lc1Zj-3ninzywsGTCz-mUF3M3t8LXEI67EfUQo1XaOmrgVVdTZrY6qTI7-y3HLVdX4vLo-RQLdSM4wqI/s1600/IMG_9546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Lp_tdhH2WBNkcSEJdqcshkvCaJpIWMNgDEgwAWihX5ICzKZr9uta4ibN-o8Lc1Zj-3ninzywsGTCz-mUF3M3t8LXEI67EfUQo1XaOmrgVVdTZrY6qTI7-y3HLVdX4vLo-RQLdSM4wqI/s320/IMG_9546.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqlSwz52oh9yXhf_35ZSWperrkyGeKid8Of4rkWqFaVV1w1qaV2rW4KRULf92FHbdkl08xAqRuCWPs5P9ulQ5nL3BYqEfpfDaDg7f3PDu_LP23q7PQJubzLqcmT5zY0AfWhApkAzSYnW0/s1600/IMG_9550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqlSwz52oh9yXhf_35ZSWperrkyGeKid8Of4rkWqFaVV1w1qaV2rW4KRULf92FHbdkl08xAqRuCWPs5P9ulQ5nL3BYqEfpfDaDg7f3PDu_LP23q7PQJubzLqcmT5zY0AfWhApkAzSYnW0/s320/IMG_9550.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgqDbmwpiRtwkfO4x1R4w0hoMaRMJgRol8VBzpMOigj8-tgjDqC1fOptKJunSuT24gOQQN-Nq2M0SddMMDfJRJ_O64HGDvFiSR5ZBZzyxWKFdEInH8OAMC52EOQgbO5GfW2EL63aqDMA/s1600/IMG_9551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgqDbmwpiRtwkfO4x1R4w0hoMaRMJgRol8VBzpMOigj8-tgjDqC1fOptKJunSuT24gOQQN-Nq2M0SddMMDfJRJ_O64HGDvFiSR5ZBZzyxWKFdEInH8OAMC52EOQgbO5GfW2EL63aqDMA/s320/IMG_9551.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp62FRRMHAaxARBabkFg4iw9hBqvf-lmVzMCBMiJHjNOdoCAAJ3kbPBUhrO0szGNtzIVxlrY8ywA0PEM2vNWAFvv50Xh9-HvQsr8HNVRJ6vPqA0elVY-twloQFFQj0ZbCGhkzt0rnpo24/s1600/IMG_9553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp62FRRMHAaxARBabkFg4iw9hBqvf-lmVzMCBMiJHjNOdoCAAJ3kbPBUhrO0szGNtzIVxlrY8ywA0PEM2vNWAFvv50Xh9-HvQsr8HNVRJ6vPqA0elVY-twloQFFQj0ZbCGhkzt0rnpo24/s320/IMG_9553.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQB_QL-5hjun9Js5on9Yq0GXN39KF0A0QyhDK04dw-EiP97H7shajBvBQUzuSOABjl3-X1qWZx18mWok3ZRRo-6aQ89BfDm_HTtTypT_i72omVRjfTFQRzCvp67NoFKQcUQFFUrOWI8ug/s1600/IMG_9557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQB_QL-5hjun9Js5on9Yq0GXN39KF0A0QyhDK04dw-EiP97H7shajBvBQUzuSOABjl3-X1qWZx18mWok3ZRRo-6aQ89BfDm_HTtTypT_i72omVRjfTFQRzCvp67NoFKQcUQFFUrOWI8ug/s320/IMG_9557.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBQ79_Jw4U6KGb_qUyHgEAfZL5KlfapsZpd2Ft5AoEOdvLc5jjr0-BLMqNL_Vp419-_PlCOzSbsU9kdDdNUBQ60ZCiOPRIfoaMmvEVS9Iczquw6vm8gIhSkRA17EelQLUSqLiEmKF9lQ/s1600/IMG_9558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBQ79_Jw4U6KGb_qUyHgEAfZL5KlfapsZpd2Ft5AoEOdvLc5jjr0-BLMqNL_Vp419-_PlCOzSbsU9kdDdNUBQ60ZCiOPRIfoaMmvEVS9Iczquw6vm8gIhSkRA17EelQLUSqLiEmKF9lQ/s320/IMG_9558.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680518649987868153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001118437285975306.post-1428374410862015472013-07-16T13:43:00.002-04:002013-07-16T13:43:37.196-04:00Beach day with the DeFordsThis was Stella's first time at a beach. After one initial taste of sand, she was cured and had no desire to taste it again at least. The water was really cold so we didn't go in. Emma did decide to dump a bunch on her head though. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLVYLPPyyWMDtA1mlhlLWNmuS07nWmosjjNr4EQNARW4BuKo8fPXXMz3KjedSq6GurK6vFCtgZAcb6S8YY0TIsF-8ofK5xkDqzL3OI9egb6NuhX7jnqda08uzsIRXnH1ae9LZKmAcBf4/s1600/IMG_9388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLVYLPPyyWMDtA1mlhlLWNmuS07nWmosjjNr4EQNARW4BuKo8fPXXMz3KjedSq6GurK6vFCtgZAcb6S8YY0TIsF-8ofK5xkDqzL3OI9egb6NuhX7jnqda08uzsIRXnH1ae9LZKmAcBf4/s320/IMG_9388.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6v_U0tufVVoALrK3z9oGmfb5yb-IwaqC8Ia7kcia8qn62x-ZxeilsZlckGH-AVO1bEStfVcwVo-_FLyJU9JbhtDUaebBGBRwNVFjqrft359kaCLXSqw8gvsbXb0m8xodpDicT_v_zx4/s1600/IMG_9396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6v_U0tufVVoALrK3z9oGmfb5yb-IwaqC8Ia7kcia8qn62x-ZxeilsZlckGH-AVO1bEStfVcwVo-_FLyJU9JbhtDUaebBGBRwNVFjqrft359kaCLXSqw8gvsbXb0m8xodpDicT_v_zx4/s320/IMG_9396.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokQte0aDm7wmUQKv2rhahHcbIm85wEG3NFw5vM8oTanLfGbyMB-aRk4KmGsFDEGQDodqUSPLFj9ANSjklSVpcaSZEjSwUIqAeT7u2DI3KqrUQxKvW_qaKGYHpuRkvRmHhuVcuDVfVBuc/s1600/IMG_9398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokQte0aDm7wmUQKv2rhahHcbIm85wEG3NFw5vM8oTanLfGbyMB-aRk4KmGsFDEGQDodqUSPLFj9ANSjklSVpcaSZEjSwUIqAeT7u2DI3KqrUQxKvW_qaKGYHpuRkvRmHhuVcuDVfVBuc/s320/IMG_9398.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVtZ4y5M3yvfJKntUrkqZrnMrEDntHdCVyOSM_nyQBMAv-6ho4JlYPW2q6GAxQMqU4xE1adIC1lX7kXxaMLk8aVmr3h0cmyDm93uqhD_V45FgZMrkwosTY1liny9RQc38qixtQ405cWY/s1600/IMG_9402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVtZ4y5M3yvfJKntUrkqZrnMrEDntHdCVyOSM_nyQBMAv-6ho4JlYPW2q6GAxQMqU4xE1adIC1lX7kXxaMLk8aVmr3h0cmyDm93uqhD_V45FgZMrkwosTY1liny9RQc38qixtQ405cWY/s320/IMG_9402.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiOXM2kTppYlNKbA__kTbZuQOIZ3w11K5xcSmS8YnBU_E7TOkp4Kxxd-7wvJqDrtweb4AwQR-ETKifXwi2bti9mbq3hnM5HGZ2krVJTqPRTYldW34NwepGeNLGhDdNPbU3EHAea-Fe_pA/s1600/IMG_9410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiOXM2kTppYlNKbA__kTbZuQOIZ3w11K5xcSmS8YnBU_E7TOkp4Kxxd-7wvJqDrtweb4AwQR-ETKifXwi2bti9mbq3hnM5HGZ2krVJTqPRTYldW34NwepGeNLGhDdNPbU3EHAea-Fe_pA/s320/IMG_9410.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4jwJ4PMYLYvwVL-9eQNJYrEwX_qqQzKuDjpQQuraud8OYxKXNxXyRhV75V5GqvDeBuTNOni5fdc3nD5MjeLXRc-oJvKasRGS_L1hRltITkZckvDw7b1jEvfwom3gcmHlOEGZMmkGMhu4/s1600/IMG_9416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4jwJ4PMYLYvwVL-9eQNJYrEwX_qqQzKuDjpQQuraud8OYxKXNxXyRhV75V5GqvDeBuTNOni5fdc3nD5MjeLXRc-oJvKasRGS_L1hRltITkZckvDw7b1jEvfwom3gcmHlOEGZMmkGMhu4/s320/IMG_9416.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxuyyEpW5kgqXgDRp9b2KrwH73-n151_2zRHTFhE3zzlux3c8T6m_p90cm0uguio4nNKCOiqLEhY6LnDaQunXcWIpsAZ2uQGFJH2cSC8QwcGOn8OVK9WvuRNmLXaTJlX4encXLHh54qU/s1600/IMG_9420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxuyyEpW5kgqXgDRp9b2KrwH73-n151_2zRHTFhE3zzlux3c8T6m_p90cm0uguio4nNKCOiqLEhY6LnDaQunXcWIpsAZ2uQGFJH2cSC8QwcGOn8OVK9WvuRNmLXaTJlX4encXLHh54qU/s320/IMG_9420.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Alexis DeFord. Emma loves playing Mama Hen to her.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQE4x2cBitx6rxJA60PBRbyj-G9USCQV32Rjhx_W-1NRnhiY6QZAbWd_jzPXFXIav0n-X7Kd62pQGbKlIy5AKdTk7tsVN0juhdYvoRPqOi4t0XxvNFvwuBOHHv8HCYqiyDVzVNX-qnJPk/s1600/IMG_9426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQE4x2cBitx6rxJA60PBRbyj-G9USCQV32Rjhx_W-1NRnhiY6QZAbWd_jzPXFXIav0n-X7Kd62pQGbKlIy5AKdTk7tsVN0juhdYvoRPqOi4t0XxvNFvwuBOHHv8HCYqiyDVzVNX-qnJPk/s320/IMG_9426.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxWzPrFqTSfinyv3IeC0I9J-F1I-BCNGwq-otRFd5_unPaNurc4Inl1ANxjDUML8N6v2sALZhBPVx2nuO0KblK87bZXyk1y6C4JyiLpu1T_3FHkLvNnTUkM8ERLOSJrEam_cbSc5qm54/s1600/IMG_9433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxWzPrFqTSfinyv3IeC0I9J-F1I-BCNGwq-otRFd5_unPaNurc4Inl1ANxjDUML8N6v2sALZhBPVx2nuO0KblK87bZXyk1y6C4JyiLpu1T_3FHkLvNnTUkM8ERLOSJrEam_cbSc5qm54/s320/IMG_9433.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0b7QqIlBVNTS_5vtivfWq4khVCDlOCPk11BnsPGYoboSDUMTFzHjTP8p3xzfLfFmlEPaNIOHUI22GRwxYlOLpjQ5fDASkBhVOpOdxjkH9U6HzJD5TRKBNnzoY5LZm3VW7QNONdbusl8/s1600/IMG_9437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0b7QqIlBVNTS_5vtivfWq4khVCDlOCPk11BnsPGYoboSDUMTFzHjTP8p3xzfLfFmlEPaNIOHUI22GRwxYlOLpjQ5fDASkBhVOpOdxjkH9U6HzJD5TRKBNnzoY5LZm3VW7QNONdbusl8/s320/IMG_9437.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stella loves getting dirty.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifgR7qPDNpXbMRCyrMo4TTX1fKnqjMXO66VbpsSHHc_4bPFSpVN0Ts19Ai4mFVYIScPA0ezbKveAfGz3BZe0QqZKSNTAovvzE7EBhyphenhyphenqIC4k5EIznasYJqyu9_tScnkdOQkb2i3VymPod0/s1600/IMG_9453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifgR7qPDNpXbMRCyrMo4TTX1fKnqjMXO66VbpsSHHc_4bPFSpVN0Ts19Ai4mFVYIScPA0ezbKveAfGz3BZe0QqZKSNTAovvzE7EBhyphenhyphenqIC4k5EIznasYJqyu9_tScnkdOQkb2i3VymPod0/s320/IMG_9453.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680518649987868153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001118437285975306.post-6278949376927768022013-07-16T13:32:00.001-04:002013-07-16T13:32:10.290-04:00Painting funEmma wanted to paint one day. I wanted Stella to be able to use them too without eating them or painting herself. (I know they're washable, but still.) So I put some in a ziplock baggie for her to play with and she was happy with that for a while.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5xD0X1mT_6G4EP1oblpBeltTiZh15yBf7IcgEAmVAhWm29fKZrjeAkpm2aYNByo7g9wy4CjWR8M9D1VzhaPG42w6Y2izC1ngubraJ2aqCY2V0CMvtIqNT3avkefUTILDqQLR6OJrl4g/s1600/IMG_9382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5xD0X1mT_6G4EP1oblpBeltTiZh15yBf7IcgEAmVAhWm29fKZrjeAkpm2aYNByo7g9wy4CjWR8M9D1VzhaPG42w6Y2izC1ngubraJ2aqCY2V0CMvtIqNT3avkefUTILDqQLR6OJrl4g/s320/IMG_9382.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdrpuMH3jcE22ZZnat7HvhDw84tTDwRg_hzO2LnJCPRK18dQVuysGpKljs7LVGlLWcodTSnPkcnDAPIJdHhLs3fY-Hx5joAlKI1vfIZYRTbhbVu2ULCIqHw1y1QKww3MRCUpyswwHTME/s1600/IMG_9384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdrpuMH3jcE22ZZnat7HvhDw84tTDwRg_hzO2LnJCPRK18dQVuysGpKljs7LVGlLWcodTSnPkcnDAPIJdHhLs3fY-Hx5joAlKI1vfIZYRTbhbVu2ULCIqHw1y1QKww3MRCUpyswwHTME/s320/IMG_9384.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680518649987868153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001118437285975306.post-24420156497334669132013-07-05T19:01:00.002-04:002013-07-05T19:01:32.798-04:00still not walkingStella, you still aren't walking. You're nearly 14 months. You're really close. You can stand on your own and free form squat. You can walk assisted, you cruise around furniture, you can even walk holding onto us with just one hand. You took some steps on your own a couple days ago, but haven't repeated it since. We (well, I) were worried you would walk while we were in Ireland.<br />
<br />
You are a climber! Emma and I came into the playroom one day to find you had climbed onto one of the chairs to the play table and then onto the table! You stand on the rocking chair and have flipped it over on yourself at least three times. You're in the destructive phase: knocking down towers of blocks (hard and soft), pulling books off shelves, emptying my tupperware cupboard to climb into it. <br />
<br />
Emma has learned the art of redirection. If you are doing something she doesn't like (interfering with her toys or playing with a toy she wants), she will give you something to distract you instead. <br />
<br />
You make time-outs hard. When we send Emma into time out on the steps, you just crawl over to her and hang out. <br />
<br />
You're starting to dance when music plays. You <i>finally</i> started signing more about 4 days ago. You've figured out "up". You say "all done". <br />
<br />
You've discovered you love the play tent. You throw yourself against the red side, squealing in delight. You also have figured out to yell and scream when you don't get what you want. You still don't get what you want, but you sure do try. Calliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16353693486853370393noreply@blogger.com0