Tea Time

One of the first gifts Emma opened for Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa Schultz's house was a Fischer Price tea set. The teapot sings songs, encourages please and thank you, teaches opposites (like open and close), and makes pouring sounds. The desserts come in three shapes for sorting on the plate. Our fast learner was pouring, sharing, clinking, sipping, dancing, sorting, pretend eating, . . . and uninterested in opening any more gifts. That's why there are so many pictures to share of one present!

Da Bears

Emma put on her Bears' cheerleader outfit for the last time this week. First, it is the end of the Bears' season. Second, it is getting too snug. Our seventeen-month-old daughter wears twenty-four month and 2T clothes. She even has a few 3T items that fit. On this recent day, Emma discovered the pockets and insisted on walking around with her hands tucked in them. Without her hands for landing in one of the many bobbles toddlers take, we shadowed her every step.

I also thought it would be fun to toss in a picture of her from last season. She was five months old at that time wearing a nine-month-old dress.

Whippin' Ribbon

Emma had a great time with the bags, tissue paper, wrapping paper, and bows. In the days before Christmas as presents began gathering under the tree, she investigated the pretty packages. She was gentle with them and rarely bothered the tree. However, a few gifts showed evidence of tampering. It's funny how none of her own were touched. Here she is attacking a bow from one of Daddy's presents. We had been using this one during our Christmas photo shoot.

Christmas Cutie

Emma posed for a few Christmas pictures in front of the tree last week. She has really enjoyed the holiday decorations and music. When she sees a Santa figurine or ornament, she says, "Ho, ho, ho!" She also likes to point at the tree and say ball (baw), bow, and girl (gir). We are working on the ending sounds. Her latest melt-your-heart word and action is "hug."

Toys for Tots

Last year we began the tradition of having Emma donate to children in need during the holiday season. As she gets older, she'll be able to pick out the items herself. It will certainly be more meaningful when she understand the significance of giving. This year we purchased several games and donated them to Toys for Tots.

Table and Toy Box

Grandma Connie and Grandpa Ross brought Emma her Christmas presents early. She was thrilled with the just-my-size table and chairs and coordinating toy box. Her favorite thing to do is drag the chairs around. I, of course, continually tuck them under that table, and she tugs them out. Likewise, I try to keep her toys organized in the three bins, but Emma would rather remove every item. These are fun games for us!

Read Any Good Books Lately?

I received a set of Baby Einstein alphabet books at a baby shower before Emma was born. She loves to look at the pictures and can say quite a few of the words or make the sounds of the animals. Scott and I read them to her several times a day on request. Baby Beth and Neigh-Neigh were honored with a reading on this day.

Bubbles, Bubbles Everywhere

We experieced nicer weather over Thanksgiving weekend, so Emma was able to enjoy a long walk with her Grammy Jill and Grandpa Mike. They had some bubble fun when they got back.

Cheese!

This family picture was an impromptu shot after dinner out with Scott's parents last month. Say cheese!

Rocking Chairs

Both of Emma's grandmas have children's rocking chairs that she loves to climb into. They were used by us as kids. I should try to get a photo of Scott as a tike and one of me sitting in these rockers. Emma's very much into the climbing stage right now. Her little leg lifts high into the air to get on furniture. She is also attempting to get out of her crib or into the bathtub with the funny maneuver.

He-Man vs. Skelator

Girls sure do like playing with boy toys! Emma and her cousin, Sydney, had a ball with Scott's Castle Grayskull, Snake Mountain, He-Man, Skelator, Battle Cat, and the rest of the gang. I think Scott had just as much fun naming and describing all of the action figures to our curious five-year-old niece and showing Emma the functionality of the fortresses.

Horsin' Around

Emma's friends, Olivia and Jack, stopped by for a visit while in Beardstown over the Thanksgiving weekend. Princess Olivia gracefully trotted on her royal horse as Emma followed in tow. Jack jubilantly galloped on his wild colt, and again, Emma was in close pursuit. Don't you just love the girls' sweet hug!

Christmas At Thanksgiving

Emma's cousin, Sydney, travels many hours from North Carolina to visit us every Thanksgiving. We all gather at Grandma Connie and Grandpa Ross's house in Beardstown. Since the family is all together, the girls get to celebrate Christmas early. The tree is trimmed, the stockings are hung, and the presents are wrapped. Sydney loves Tinkerbell, and Emma is into Fisher Price Little People. The grandparents, Great-Grandma Charlotte, great aunts, and great uncles got in on the gift-giving action, too, with books, ornaments, DVDs, and PJs!

Great-Grandma Helen

Last weekend we took a trip to visit Great-Grandma Helen. She lives at Masonic Point in Sullivan. Emma loved meeting and entertaining her G-G Helen. She danced and talked and blew kisses.

Fancy Nancy

Borders held a "Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Holiday Celebration" event on Saturday morning. It was an unusually warm day, so Emma wore a skirt for the final time this year. You may have noticed that she has been making a cheesy face more often in pictures. What a funny girl!

105.1

Have you ever heard of a 105.1 temp? I didn't think it was possible! Well, according to our ear thermometer, Emma spiked this terrifying temperature on the Friday before Halloween. She was on fire and shaking uncontrollably, so we went immediately to the ER. They moved her through check-in very quickly and a doctor entered the exam room right behind us. After a battery of tests (blood, urine, chest X-rays) and a few hours of waiting, the results all came back negative. Tylenol and Motrin finally brought her temp down to 101.5, so they sent us home. The official diagnosis was a possible ear infection/sinusitis/flu. Scott had taken her into her pediatrician earlier that day, and he said that she may have an infection in her throat. She had no other symptoms other than the fever and being cranky/needy and lethargic. I think it was just some virus, not necessarily the flu or otitis media. It took a few more days before the fever broke. That meant that all Halloween festivities had to be cancelled. Luckily, she bounced back and is a happy camper again!

Jack-o-lanterns

Construction paper + scissors + glue = FUN! Mommy and Daddy cut out the facial features for a family of jack-o-lanterns. Emma helped arrange the pieces and rearrange the pieces. Tearing off the eyes and mouths before they were completely dry was entertaining as well.

BPL Halloween Story Hour

When Grandma and Grandpa Foley found out Scott was taking Emma to the morning Bloomington Public Library Halloween Story Hour, they just had to see little Emma dressed up as a ladybug, so they drove all the way up that very morning! Emma the ladybug and Scott the entomologist started out on the top floor of the BPL to take part in the children's parade. There they both met their hero, Curious George! After the parade, all the children worked their way down to the story room on the main floor, where the kids delighted in a Halloween-themed story. Emma loved checking out all the other kids and putting on a cute show for Grandma Connie and Papa Ross!

NPL Halloween Story Night

The Normal Public Library always puts on spectacular events for children, but they outdid themselves with the Halloween Story Night. All of the employees were dressed up and, along with the stories they read and songs they sang, had a room full of games, activities, and treats for all the little ones. Emma loved seeing all the fun costumes and fluttered about from station to station, just like a real ladybug! We dressed up as entomologists and wore lab coats with bugs hanging out of the pockets. Emma was our prize specimen!

Art Time

We were looking for an art activitiy appropriate for a 15-month-old, so I tore up pieces of construction paper like leaves for Emma to manipulate on a torn paper tree. Then we showed her how to use the glue, but sealed it up before letting her "glue" her own pieces. She LOVED it!

P.S. This is our 250th post!

Borders Spooktacular

Borders' Bookstore held a Halloween Spooktacular for little ones on the Saturday before All Hallows' Eve. They read aloud books, held a mummy wrap competition, gave away candy, offered coloring pages, and paraded around the store for customers. Ladybug Emma preferred to flitter around and explore the books and toys. Corny, the B-N baseball team mascot, posed with us for a picture as well.

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie

The Normal Public Library had a family story hour on Saturday morning with a special guest. The mouse from If You Give A Mouse A Cookie by Laura Numeroff came to reenact his most popular story. There were coloring pages, a matching game, snacks, and a photo op, too. Emma wasn't too sure about her new furry friend. Can you see how she is clinging to Scott?