Videos...old and new

I know that I haven't posted much recently. It seems I never have time to sit down and write. I will soon :) Here are some videos (from summer and one today) of Em that we sent to the grandmas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0MZQSGyhjo

So busy!

I haven't updated the blog in so long. It's been a crazy start to the school year. I switched grade levels this year, and it is a ton of work. I am currently teaching 4th grade. Emma is getting so big and fun! She just turned 18 months last week. She is talking like crazy. She understands everything we say. She knows a lot of her colors. She is running everywhere. She is so good when I drop her off at school. She gives me a hug and goes and play. There are never any tears. I am already counting down until our summer together!! I'll try to post pictures soon! :) and write a more in depth post :)

Wow, Where Did Summer Go?!?

I know that I have been very bad about posting this summer. I seriously can't even believe this is my last week home with Emma. I feel like summer just started. Emma starts back at school on Monday so that she can slowly transition back, and so I can go work in my room a bit. I am switching grade levels this year, and I a little nervous about it. Thank goodness he switched me and two good friends to 4th. Emma and I had an AWESOME summer. We got so much mommy/Em time. We took a daily morning walk with Riley, played with everything in the playroom, worked on puzzles, colors, shapes, and matching objects. She is SO smart. I can't believe the stuff that she can do (I know I am little biased :)). We went to aquarium a lot (we were both free and Tom has a pass, so parking was free too). We went to play dates in Tampa and Orlando. We spent many hours at Gymboree classes and open play. Most of all, we just got a lot of time to spend together. Going back to work is going to be so hard (for both of us). We went to her school yesterday to drop off some stuff and she was clinging to me. Then as soon as we got in the car, she didn't want to leave and started to cry. (so funny!).

I can't believe how many words she can say. Every day she says something new. A few of them are: mommy, daddy, riley, bird, juice, eat, night-night, bee, buzz, cow, moo, bath, duck, turtle, mac and cheese, fish, bubbles, (I know there are more, but it's hard to think on the spot, haha).

She is not only walking like a pro, but starting to run. She is also into walking backwards right now. She still loves to push things, but now goes so fast. She loves to dance. Yesterday we were in Lowes and she was walking around and heard music and just starting dancing. It was so cute! She loves songs, books, and puzzles.

I hope that the school year goes by as quick as the summer did!! Emma is transitioning to a new class at school. She is moving up! I'll let you know more next week when she goes back.

Summer!!!

Soooo excited to have the summer off and be able to spend it with Em. I am so excited about all of the fun activities we can do....story times, swim lessons, playdates.... :)

Family Photos

We took family photos with Ashlynn a couple of weeks ago. She is an AMAZING photographer and also a parent at my school. She was the photographer for the "Brag About Baby" photo shoot Em did when she was 6 months old. We went to Howard Park and took pictures at the beach and the park. We are so excited to see how they turned out! Here are a few sneaks...that she posted on her facebook page of Em.

What a Trooper...

Wow, what a year it has been for Emma with sickness. I guess that's what happens when you go to daycare and everyone shares germs. She started daycare in August when I went back to work, before that she never even had a cold, runny nose, etc. In November, she got RSV which was very scary for us. She didn't have a terrible case, but bad enough. Then she had a constant runny nose, cough, and congestion until around February. In February, she got a double ear infection and upper respiratory infection. This was the first time she was put on antibiotics. The antibiotics made her stomach super upset. Poor thing! Then not even a couple days after she finished her antibiotic, we had to take her to the After Hours Pediatrics because she had a fever and was pulling on her ear. She had another ear infection and double pink eye. She finished that round of medicine and we went back to check and she still had the ear infection, which put her on her 3rd round of antibiotics. She also had a yeast infection and thrush from all the meds. UGH! Today I took her for another follow up and her right ear is perfect (yay!), her left ear has a little fluid but no puss or inflammation, and her thrush is all gone. We are going to wait a month until her next well appointment to recheck the ears. She now has croup, which is really bad at night. So she is taking a steroid for the next three days. What a year! Poor baby! You would never know though because she is happy and smiling all the time. We are so blessed! Please pray that Em gets healthy~! 18 more days until 8 weeks off of daycare--yay!!!!

Sooo smart!

I can't believe how much Emma knows. I know all babies are sponges and it's so neat how much they pick up on day to day. Today we were playing in the playroom and I watched her pour tea into her cup and pretend to drink it. I was like wow, she's growing up so fast! She can point out animals and objects when I say their name. She can show me "How Big" and "Peek-a-boo" on demand. She can point out her nose, ears, and belly button when asked. She constantly says, "juice", "ma-ma", "da-da", "gone", "ball", and probably a few more that I can't remember now. She LOVES stories! When I am sitting in the playroom, she will grab a book and sit right in my lap to listen. It's so cute! She knows how to give a hug and what kisses are. She will blow kisses too. I think that her favorite things are clapping and waving which she does all the time. She is no longer toddling around. She is a master at walking. I love how she belly laughs at the simplest things. She is always so happy. Tom and I are so blessed and thank God every day for the most precious gift in the world.