A Christmas miracle

I joke that that these pictures constitute a Christmas miracle only because had we taken Emery to see the window displays a week earlier, she would have been captive in her stroller. Now, with the newfound freedom that comes with walking, she can fully immerse herself in the all the magic!

For the most part, she was speechless but mesmerized, though every now and then she would exclaim "a bear!" "a mouse!" "Elmo!" (yes, there was even a teeny tiny Elmo doll in the display)

December doings

December has felt full and fun so far!  Here's a taste of what we've been up to:

Visiting the library, an outing I am beginning to loathe. Despite the fact that the kid's section is loaded with all kinds of puzzles and games fit for a toddler, not to mention books, Emery has discovered that the computers have Elmo games. Problem is, she doesn't know how to play the games, so she just gets excited, then frustrated, then excited as she moves to the next computer to try again, then frustrated, and so on. As you can imagine, tearing her away to help me find a book or to leave because our parking meter has run out is entirely unacceptable and worthy of many loud protests.

Future library trips might be solo, OK Emery?

We also picked out a Christmas tree - our first ever!

 

Last week I got an unexpected blessing - free tri-tip steak from Whole Foods! I think the butcher felt sorry for me after I looked so pitiful upon finding out that the skirt steak, which was on sale, was out. So we had a fabulous, and almost free, fajita bar!

Emery ran (well, rode I should say) with Matt in a short race that was part of a 24-hour festival downtown last weekend - they were both supposed to be in costume, but Emery was quick to rip off her giraffe hood. Matt went as a bobsledder, to my total disbelief. I am stunned that he so willingly obliged to get in costume. Just think what else could be possible!

The festival also included a stunning display of hammocks, which Emery happily played in for a little while.

I'm trying to spend a little more time at home these days, since I'm anticipating this will become the norm once Baby D #2 makes his/her arrival, and I want to get me and Emery used to being more housebound than we might prefer. So this means coming up with fun, new activities for Emery, which now include some water play at her sink.

Yes, I quickly learned that the ottoman would get drenched, as would her shirt (why I thought just putting one of my t-shirts over her would do the job I have no idea), so the next round of water play looked a lot different.

We also had our last Kindermusik class of the year. Emery totally bonded with the teacher, Miss Maria, and often spent more class time in her arms than mine! And it was of course a joyous occasion, given that Emery could finally walk and keep up with the other little tikes as they stomped and danced around.

We still go to the Y almost every morning and after I pick Emery up from the childcare center, we play around on the couches a little. As soon as we sit down, Emery hopefully begins repeating "Mo-yee? Mo-yee? Mo-yee?" This is because our dear friend Molly often meets us on the couches before teaching her dance class. It is always very sad when I have to tell Emery that today "Mo-yee" doesn't teach, but fortunately a little bit of horsing around on the couches alleviates her woes.

What will be even more sad, though, is when Molly moves to Chicago in February and I have to explain to Emery that there will be no more "Mo-yee" on the couches. Any suggestions on how to address this very sensitive issue, Molly?? :)

Yet, the good news is that Auntie Shannon is not moving to Chicago, which means there will still be plenty of fun to be had at her house. Today Emery decked herself out in Shannon's "bling-bling," trooped around the house like a professional walker and even danced to Christmas carols.

Finally, we have been reading ... a LOT. Emery will follow me and Matt around the house, pathetically pleading for "a book? a book? a book?" When you oblige, she happily settles herself in your lap, opens up your hand, puts the book in it and leans back, very satisfied at her success in making you captive to book after book after book after book ... now I know that this is normal behavior with children, but I guess I wasn't expecting it this soon. Talk about laying on the Mommy guilt!  "No Emery, I can't read with you because I have to scrub the kitchen floor?"

Wish I had a picture of us reading, but as you can understand, I'm too busy holding the book and Emery to hold a camera, too!

We threatened her with "the state"

and she got to walking! To back up a little, Emery has been slow to walk independently, as I've mentioned before. Now that she's 20 months old, and I'm about 8 months pregnant, my somewhat laid back attitude about it all has begun to dissipate, and quickly.

When I called her doctor to see what I should do, she said that we would need to meet with someone from Early Intervention, which is a state-run program that helps children with developmental delays. We scheduled a meeting in which someone from Early Intervention would evaluate Emery and determine if she was sufficiently delayed enough to receive physical therapy.

Since Emery has been showing so much potential as of late to walk on her own, my hunch was that Early Intervention would just conclude that she is stubborn and dead set on walking on her timeframe, not mine ... and hopefully provide me with some tips on how to get her timeframe moved up a little.

Nevertheless, we've been joking that "the state" is coming for Emery and she'd better get her act together before Dec. 12 ... or else!

Perhaps this had some effect, because this morning I stepped out of the room and returned to the kitchen a few moments later only to have Emery walking up to me, albeit a bit like a drunken sailor. And she proceeded to do this over and over and over again today, proving to all of us that she is ready, willing and ABLE to walk.

HOORAY!! HOORAY!! HOORAY!!

(I know news of this nature merits a video, but I wasn't able to get one today. Will try to get one posted soon)

Thanksgiving antics

Learning the etiquette of dipping - "no double dips Emery!"

Riding horsie with Grandpa

Trying out seats ...

Yes, this one is just right!

Time to eat yet?

Peek-a-boo!

 Peek-a-boo again!

Thankfully Emery kept us very entertained while the turkey took longer than anticipated. Her antics were also interspersed with a few mishaps, including one broken serving platter, but I think (and hope!) we will all remember the day as one of fellowship, feasting and definitely more than enough football.

The dish I can't wait to make again, but on a weeknight?  Brussels Sprouts with Fig and Bacon - so simple, and best eaten right away, which didn't exactly happen yesterday. So all the more reason to give it another try soon!

Thankful in all things

For a long time now, I've been trying to practice the discipline of giving thanks in all things, even when circumstances don't make sense or are unpleasant. In things big and small and in between.

Well, I'm tired today and have lots of Thanksgiving tasks in front of me, plus a wiggly, whiny, 20-month who isn't as happy to just watch me cook and putter around the house as she was last year.

This morning I was holding her in the kitchen, along with a container of oats and probably a few other things and boom, there went the oats, all over the kitchen floor. My first reaction was "Ughh, what a pain! I do not feel like cleaning those up."

So I didn't, and I kept getting ready for the day ... while lo and behold Emery fell strangely silent and self-sufficient as she busied herself in the pile of oats for just enough time for me to finish getting ready and get us out the door.

So today I am reminded, again, of why we are to be thankful in all things - in part because much of the time, the things we don't feel grateful for right away, actually wind up being unexpected blessings.

Emery and baby (bump)

Emery is beginning to point to my tummy and say "baby." What that indicates she really understands, who's to say, but it's a start! The scab on her nose is sadly not the result of walking, but of her many dining room chair climbing endeavors.

A "closet" walker?

Many of you know that Emery is 19 months old and still. not. walking. Fear not, we've had progress along the way and things aren't hopeless, at least according to our pediatrician, but nevertheless this mama is ready to get the show on the road. Walk, Emery, walk!

On Friday, she amazed us all with a feat of standing, unsupported, for 48 seconds. Oh the applause, the accolades she received! As if she had actually walked on water or something.

But as Friday turned into Saturday and then Sunday and so on, Emery's interest in standing waned and by this morning, I was met with repeated "No want to's" whenever I asked her if she wanted to practice standing.

Fine. Whatever. I committed to not ask her too much anymore.

Well, fast forward a few hours later and I was picking her up from the Bible study nursery, where I got the report that she was "Great! So happy. She was talking and walking and really having fun."

EXCUSE ME? Walking? I begged them to clarify. Did they mean cruising while holding onto furniture, or standing up in the middle of the room near nothing waist-high or higher and taking steps all by her sweet little self?

They meant the latter and didn't seem surprised in the slightest at her accomplishment of multiple baby steps. As if she's been doing it all along. (Has she???)

So now I'm a little perplexed, wondering if these were Emery's virgin steps or if she's been doing this all along, whenever I'm out of sight?

All I know is that it's time to get real with the YMCA ladies tomorrow who watch Emery every morning while I work out - if she's been walking for them, too, then Emery, you have some explaining to do!