Hi Everyone! This is Emily's Mommy writing now, again hijacking Emily's blog so as to give a mom's perspective of this little lady's life. We celebrated the end of summer today as a family by visiting the KC Zoo. The kids and I had been recently, but we were excited to go back with Daddy to experience it with him. On the way home, I realized that Summer 2011, the summer where we enjoyed a three year old and a one year old, is now pretty much past us. That fact made me pretty sentimental as it hit me again just how fast these years of "growing little people" are going to fly by. Every smile, every laugh, and every MOMENT (well, almost - there are some moments we could maybe deal without, ha!)...I just want to memorize it all.
Here are some tidbits of things Emily has experienced during Summer, 2011:
--We participated in our library's summer reading program for the first time and she very much enjoyed sitting for, well, a lot of minutes (she IS 3!!) looking at her library books. Mommy also enjoyed this very much. ;)
--She attended her first wedding where she understood, for the most part, what was going on. And has since re-enacted said wedding a hundred billion times. The bride of that wedding, Ashley Swanson, saw to it that Emily got her own wedding dress, veil and shoes for her birthday. The girl's in heaven. ;)
--When traveling, she now sleeps in the big beds at hotels and condos. On a recent vacation to Branson, she had a king all to herself. Ridiculous. And she looked ridiculous sleeping in it, as well.
--Is staring to get into the whole princess thing, much to our dismay. We swore we would not let this happen. Now, whatever. She loves it. Her current fave? Beauty and the Beast. It's actually been over a month since we've seen The Little Mermaid OR listened to the soundtrack, but she still loves that as well. She sleeps with an Ariel Doll every night.
--Is working on understanding the passage of time by using a monthly calendar on which she "moves her stick" each morning (lollipop stick with her picture on it). The calendar also has important days marked so she can watch how these days creep up on us and then drift behind us.
--Saw her first fireworks, although from the safety of her home. We still aren't interested in tackling all those people late at night with two small kiddos. Our home has a nice view, so that worked fine for She Who Hates Loud Noises (and who consistently wears fashionable pink headphones to help her deal with those noises)
--Ate her first funnel cake AND cotton candy
--Has figured out somersaults
--Drinks without a lid at the table
--Can ride a tricycle and a scooter
--Is getting pretty good with scissors
--Can write an E, and wrote her whole name for the first time, with just help making the "Y," with other letters modeled for her, on a recent birthday card to a friend
--Still naps for 2 to 3 hours, usually. She's usually up by 7, and, unfortunately, doesn't fall asleep until between 8:30 and 9. Lately going to bed involves getting out of her bed three or four times, which we are attempting to manage by coming in to check on her, before she gets up, and by playing soft, unfamiliar music. Quote from last night? "I don't like this music, Mommy. It makes me really sleepy." Ha! Exactly, little girl.
--Saw her first movie at a theater (Winnie the Pooh)
--When wearing a life jacket, can "swim" all over the pool by herself. Even in the deep end. My baby. In the deep end. By herself. SO PROUD!!
--Rode her first roller coaster!!! (Silver Dollar City)
--First haircut!!
--First Gondola Ride (KC Zoo)
--Started PRESCHOOL!!
I really don't know how it is possible that our baby girl is old enough to experience all these fun things. Didn't we just bring her home from the hospital?! We have found that, except for the noise, things like roller coasters and gondola rides don't phase her. She loves 'em. Just like her parents. Also, she has learned to manage her dislike for the noise with the headphones. She has developed a distaste for bugs and bad smells (these dislikes have a tendency to make her a little whiny: "I saw a bug!" "It smells in here!" ....Such a princess....) Pretend play is here and here to stay, as she is constantly coming up with new ideas to act out. She also sings and dances often, and whereas she has always been a fan of her Kindermusik CD's, she is starting to take an interest in "Mommy and Daddy's music." She knows parts of Carrie Underwood songs, and can also identify a few Katy Perry and Lady Gaga songs (this mama holds her head in shame...) :) Yesterday, in fact, she said to Brandon, "Daddy, this is Miss Gaga!" HA! She is always wanting to know who is singing a song and what the song is about, which is fairly challenging if Mommy just has the radio on and a random song is on. Finally??? Why why why why why why why why why why why why..... It's here people. Oh man. Sometimes I will say, "Why?? Why?? WHY?!" back to her, and after just a few, she will giggle and say, "Mommy! You're taking all my energy away!" HA! At least she listens. Oh yes, one more interesting tidbit: She will often say things like, "Are you kidding me?!" or "Are you serious?!" when we are telling her something, and it is almost always a completely appropriate and such a teenager-ish thing to say. Oh geez. ;)
I must also blog about preschool. I really thought I would be fine with this whole preschool thing. After all, Emily attended a Parent's Day Out program all of last year and was away from me for 5 hours at a time each Tuesday. I was good with that. Perhaps I was too over-tired and overwhelmed with caring for an infant and a toddler, but dudes....I was good. "See ya, Emily!" (well, for the most part) :) Then came the Meet & Greet at her preschool, where she is one of the youngest in the class. If she goes to Kindergarten on time, she is in a classroom with some of the same peers she could go all through school with, or at least until 8th grade, if we choose to keep her at her current school. That in itself is bigtime, IMO. But, as I wrote my e-mail address on the teacher's communication list, it hit me like a ton of bricks: My baby girl is going to school. Not just to play, socialize, and do art projects. There is a curriculum here. Parent-teacher conferences. We aren't fooling around here. Parents of older kids who have been there, done that, might be rolling their eyes at me now, because, I know - it IS just preschool. But how did we get here?! I am tearing up just thinking about it. I spent the rest of Meet & Greet sniffling with VERY moist eyes as I thought back to my own teaching career, reflecting on how I was now the parent and THIS was MY child. But, I made it out of there without needing a kleenex, so I chalk that up to a win and when the first day came, I was able to high-tail it outta there before Emily or I lost it. (One look at her waving good-bye to me with a serious, wistful face about had me.) The first week is behind us now, but next week is Parent's Night. Will I be able to hold it together for that?? Please God, I hope so. Brandon might not sit with me, if not. HA!
So, there is a summary of "Life with Emily" for Summer 2011. I've written this off the top of my head with no planning/ideas/drafts, so if I think of anything to add, I reserve that right. I am just so proud of my little girl and the young lady she is growing up to be. Three years old. It's a fun time. Bittersweet, yet fun. And I want to memorize all of it. Emily, I love you. You make my heart so happy!!!
Love, Mommy
Couponing with Mommy. Yup, she has her own "Coupon Notebook." It's basically to let her work on scissor skills, but she loves to "coupon" with Mommy!
First haircut!
Post Hair-cut!
Lovely face-painting from Paradise Park. (she did it herself, of course)
Somersaulting!
With Mommy in Branson
First ride EVER! (The roller coaster was soon after, but we don't have a picture.) :(
More Branson fun!
First Day of Preschool!!
Gondola Ride at the Zoo with Daddy!
She loves her brother!! (with the occasional "CONNOR!!! THAT'S MINE!!" sprinkled in there) ;)
We love you, Emily!!!
Playing in Mommy and Daddy's room on our pillow mountain.
(comment from Mommy) 3 1/4 years and the swing is still like crack to her. Amazing how she has yet to outgrow her love for swings!
Rock Chalk!
Here I am with Miss Amy, my Kindermusik teacher. I love her!!
Me and Danny!!!
Me and Sleeping Beauty, aka my buddy Olivia!!
Cinderella joined us for a dance!!
The weekend before Halloween our Playgroup had our 2nd Annual Halloween Party! I've known most of these kids since I was 3 months old, says my Mommy.
Boo! Do I look spooky?? Don't worry, it's just me, Dr. Emily.
All ready for trick-or-treating!!!
First stop: Grandma Jo's!
Happy Halloween!!
Next stop: Danny's house so we could trick-or-treat with him!
Also, recently we drove all the way over to another town called "Apeeka." That's where my friend Caylen lives with his Mommy and Daddy, Shane and Anna. And do you want to know something that's neat? Caylen has (in whispers) bunkbeds!! Yes Way!! Only, I didn't get to see them on this trip, as we ate lunch at Red Robin and then went to the zoo and out for ice cream, but he does. Isn't that neat?! He's fun. Another 5 year old. Sigh....all these older men in my life...what's a girl to do... ;)
Wish we saw you more often, Mr. Caylen!! Can't wait to see you in A Christmas Carol in just a few weeks!! Break a leg!
