Sleepy Time Stroll

Dinner--over.  Bath--done.  Time--6:00.  Baby--tired.  Solution--indoor stroller ride.

Eleven Months Old

In just a few short weeks, Emma will celebrate her first birthday! We're having fun planning it and reminiscing about the past year. This month Emma began to cruise at a quicker and more dare-devilish pace. She now enjoys drinking from her sippy cup, but thinks dropping her food on the floor is funny. Multiple teeth have made their way through. Her smile grows bigger and her giggles get cuter each day. She's our sweetie baby!

Carden Park

Last Sunday afternoon we took a walk to nearby Carden Park nestled behind Prairieland School. Though it was overcast, the mid-70 degree temperature and light breeze made for a nice day. There were a few kids on the playground that Emma watched with keen eyes. She's mesmerized by new people!

Who Took the Cookies?

Do you remember that song . . .

"Emma took the cookies from the cookie jar?"

"Who me?"

"Yes, you!"

"Couldn't be!"

"Then who?"

Mommy's Spa

After her evening bath, Emma is treated to several minutes at Mommy's Spa. She enjoys a full "lotion commotion" body massage, gentle ear swab, and sleek hair styling. The pampering ends with a towel frolic and cozy jammies. It's a gigglin' good time!

Planting Partners

Scott took care of almost all of the flower planting this spring. Emma and I were great at directing the location and kind of flower in the planters and beds as we lounged under the shade of a tree. The yard is so colorful now!

Da-da and Mum-mum

While she's been babbling for over two months with da, guh, buh, and other sounds we haven't identified, now Emma routinely says Da-da and Mum-mum. She began saying "Mum" the week before Mother's Day. What a gift! All of the baby literature tells us that she is just beginning to associate a word with a person/object/action, and it will be many months until she'll truly understand the connection. It's still mighty cute to us!

Supporting and Sportin' the Cardinals

Emma posed for a few pictures with Uncle Chad's Cardinals hat during their visit. Grandpa Mike loves that there is another Cardinals fan in the family. (As if Emma had a choice!)

Celebration Surprise

My brother, Chad, and soon-to-be sister-in-law, Stephanie, showed up on our doorstep last Sunday. They surprised my mom and me by driving down from Chicago to celebrate Mother's Day (the weekend after) and my birthday. Their wedding plans are in full swing! It was fun to hear all of the details. We enjoyed the visit immensely!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Scott brought Emmy to school on Monday to celebrate my birthday. I met them at the front doors at lunchtime. They were adorable strolling up to the school with the birthday balloon and flowers. What a nice surprise!

Steppin' It Up

After a few months of practicing, Emma can now pull herself up quite easily. Her new mission is cruising along furniture or taking a couple of real steps with our assistance. These photos are from Mother's Day weekend at the Schultzs.

Into Everything

Everyone told us that once Emma learned to crawl, she'd be into everything. We've put away many items and added safety features around the family room and kitchen. However, she still manages to find trouble now and again. Sometimes Emma thinks she's being a little rebel, like in his video. In reality, we thought this was one instance in which her curiosity was cute and safe.

School is Cool

Scott brought Emma to Oakland this week for a lunch date with Mommy. She was able to see the baby chicks that just hatched in the second grade classrooms. Observing all of the big kids was cool, too. But Emma thought the neatest part was the long division lesson I showed her on the SMART Board! I handed her a "pen" and let her write on it, which she loved.

Mum-Mum Are Yum-Yum!

We introduced Mum-Mum rice rusks to Emma this weekend. Kristen's parents gave them to her and Chad as babies. She likes the crunch!

Ten Months Old

What has Miss Emma been up to this month? Well, she now says dad, dada, mum, gu, and ba. She can pull herself up like a champ and has begun to cruise along furniture. She tries to escape during diaper changes. Table foods like cereal puffs, cheese, lunch meat, mashed potatoes, and noodles are yummy. Taking a walk in the stroller around the neighborhood, knocking down towers of blocks, crawling around the house, and bouncing to music are her favorite activities. She can wave hi and bye, show "so big," and give high-fives. Clapping is in the development stage. She is growing so much and wears 12-month or 18-month clothes. They have larger openings for her head and longer sleeves and pants. Several top teeth are coming in, for a total of six. This month she also decided that one nap a day is just dandy with her. Fortunately, that means that bedtime comes a little earlier.