Smile for the Camera - Take Two

Lauren is not a fan of the camera . . . hence few pictures of her on our blog  This was our second attempt within a week to take a professional family picture.  Tears and screams sent us home the first time.  It took awhile to warm up on this day, but a couple of pics show her smile.  Emma was a trooper.  She loves to cheese, but I do remember her two-year-old photo session being rough with rare smiles and lots of tears.  It's just a phase that comes with that age, right?  I just adore the first photo of the girls in their white dresses!  It's one I will always treasure!

Miller Park Zoo

It was another warm day, but we braved the zoo one morning.  The animals were not very active, but Emma enjoyed our adventure.  Lauren was more interested in snacks, but that goes with the toddler territory.

Professional Portraits

Lauren was not a fan of family pictures . . . when she wouldn't let go of Scott or stop crying, we had to cancel our appointment and try again a few days later.  It took a while for her to warm up, but thankfully the photographer got a few good shots.

Order in the Court!

Here are a few pictures from Scott's phone of the girls visiting the Beardstown Courthouse, well known for the Lincoln Almanac Trial.

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!