We Have a Toofer

It's official, we have a toofer sprouting!!!

26 Miles for a 26th Birthday

Last weekend the Crane family journeyed to Nashville for the first annual Push Your Tush. For some this was a marathon, others a half. We headed up Friday morning to meet up with the Whitakers and Moncriefs and to attend the Health and Fitness Expo and register for the race. There were people everywhere, exciting vendors, and lots of SWAG!

After the expo, we headed to the Whitaker's new homestead. What a lovely house! Owen and Katie and the Garzas joined us for a pre-race pasta dinner and a yummy chocolate cake (for my birthday - love you girls!). What a wonderful time surrounded by some of our closest friends.

We decided to call it an early night, or try, since the boys were running in the AM. Emma does not enjoy sleeping in her pack and play. She went down like usual, but when I came up to join her and daddy, that was the end of it. Dusty and Emma ended up going for a late night cruise in the car! We also had another unhappy kiddo next door for a bit. Needless to say, there wasn't much sleep going around the house that night!

The boys got up early and hit the road; we followed closely behind. This was the first time for most of us to go to this marathon, so we weren't quite sure what to do as spectators. We decided to hop on the participant bus and try to catch a glimpse of our honies at the start line. By the time we had made it, Jimmy had already started (he was in corral #1 with the Kenyans - what a beast). We actually found Dusty - amazing!! He got to see his Emma and her little shirt that said "Go Daddy! D. Crane's Biggest Fan!" We then looked for Brent. He was no where to be found!

There were 32 corrals!

Dusty's in the blue shirt and white hat!

After the runners started, we quickly realized that venturing to the start line was not the best idea. We looked at our watches and thought if we wanted to even try to see Jimmy finish we better walk fast. We hiked down Broadway (passing some participants even) and eventually made it to LP Field Finish Line. We walked at least 4 miles or so, I'm sure!

We ended up missing Jimmy - he ran the half in two hours. We looked everywhere and could not find him. Emma and I sat down to nurse. While we nursed in a shady spot under a tree, I got to see the first place finisher for the marathon. He was FAST!! He finished the full 26 miles in just over two hours! CRAZY!


Next finisher on our list to catch was Mr. Whitaker. Becca found a great spot just shy of the finish line and we were able to see him. We were so proud. This was Brent's first half-marathon and he did incredible. He looked fabulous!!

Becca running in with Brent.

After catching Brent, we headed over to a shady spot to sit and wait for Dusty. He called us at mile 16. When he was just a little bit out, Emma and I headed to find a spot to watch for our Dusty! He called again at mile 22 and was not able to speak. He just whispered. I was terrified. Part of me wanted to just tell him to catch a ride with a medic and come on in, but the other part of me who knew how hard he had worked for this and how much he wanted it, told him to keep going. Just walk in, I told him. I am, he replied in a whisper. I sat there, knots in my stomach, checking the clock on my phone every two minutes. Every time an ambulance siren went off, I worried.


Thank goodness for our friend Jimmy. He met Dusty at mile 24 and ran in with him. I was so thankful for him! When Jimmy did the Ironman last year, his wife Brittany ran in with him on the last part of the marathon in her teva flip flops with Ada in the front pack. I couldn't believe she had done that at the time and never dreamed that I could do it, but now I understand. I would have run in with Dusty in a heartbeat. I would have done anything to encourage him and give him strength to accomplish his goal.


Finally after the waiting and worrying, Dusty and Jimmy appeared at the bottom of the hill. They cruised by, Dusty flashed Emma and I an I love you. Butterflies filled my stomach and pride filled my heart. He had done it. 26 miles for his 26th birthday. When we met up with Dusty after he crossed the finish line, he and I hugged and cried. What an awesome feeling.

Dusty and Jimm running towards the finish line.

After a long day, Emma wasn't too impressed by her daddy's 26 mile run!

My Marathon Finisher!

Our three runners!

PS check out Becca's blog for more on the marathon and pictures! http://bandbwhitaker.blogspot.com/

Emma's First Easter

What a wonderful first Easter for our little Emma Bear! We enjoyed such a wonderful day surrounded by friends and family and beautiful sunshine!

The day started out with Easter in Coolidge Park with our good friends the McKennas and Moncriefs as well as some of the McKenna/Christnacht klan. Emma, Ada, and Owen are becoming such good little friends. Emma especially likes her Buddy Owen, she even smiled when she saw him this morning! Her and Owen sat together for a good bit of the morning, staring at each other, exchanging Easter eggs, and eating each other's outfits. Ada cruised the surroundings, making sure everything was in order!

OK, so poor little Emma did not have an Easter hat, hence the beenie for the services. In my defense, it was below 50, so she needed something warm...

Emma and her little buddy Owen

The three kiddos

This is my new favorite picture of my two lovelies.

After church, it was off to Grammy's house, but not without a little nap first and some shots with Emma and her new Easter basket.

At Grammy's, Emma enjoyed time with lots of her favorite family members. Her and her little cousins, Audrey and Natalie, ended up wearing the same cute little dress. Good taste must run in the family!

Alicia, Audrey, Spencer, and Natalie

Natalie chilling in her cute little bunny ears!

Emma and her cousin Jessi

Emma loves to clap!

I realized when writing this post that I got lots of pictures of Natalie and not of Audrey! Audrey was sleeping a lot today!

Playing with Aunt Robin

Emma and Natalie hanging with Papa

Chatting with Grammy

After Grammy's we had one more stop, the Northey household. We enjoyed dinner and dessert with Mom-mom, Pops, Omi, and Poppop. Emma enjoyed showing off her almost crawling skills for her favorite audience!

Keeping Poppop on his toes

Yay for Omi!

Mom-mom and Pops

What a wonderful day. Now it's 9:13 and Emma is so tired from the long, exciting day that she's wide awake in her crib. Hopefully sleep will settle in soon!!

9 Months

Just three months short of a year, kiddo! Gracious! Unfortunately, I have not posted much since your last monthly post. Needless to say, the days have been busy busy for all of us.

You have contined to grow each and every day. Daddy took a picture of you the other day while I was at work. When I saw it, I thought, my Emma looks like a big girl! My baby girl is growing up too quickly!

You love to lean as far forward as you can when you're in your stroller!

Your favorite thing to do this month has been clapping. You learned this fabulous trick and love to do it! If daddy or I say, "Clap! Clap!", you smile and clap! If we say, "Yay!!" You clap! Daddy was upstairs the other day and you and I downstairs and he said Yay, and you smiled this huge, open mouthed smile, and clapped! If I say, "If you're happy and you know it..." You start clapping before I get to the clap your hands part. And of course, if we say "Patty cake" you start clapping! What a smart girl you are!

Another new feat this month is your crawling stance. You now get up on all fours and rock forwards and backwards as if you're about to take off! You haven't quite mastered the crawl yet though. You have attempted to move forward, but collapse down on your tummy. You can move backwards though, and tend to get yourself stuck under furniture or in other crazy places!

"Guys, I'm uhhh.....stuck..."

"But it's Ok, I'm good!"

You started riding in the shopping cart this month. You just think you're big stuff when you cruise around in the shopping cart. Everyone else does too - people are always stopping to say how cute you are. Of course, we already know that!

Your hair is growing back in slowly. There still is a baldspot on the back of your little head! I think it's because you love to rub the back of your head on things: on the mattress when you're sleeping, on pillows, on the back of your high chair.

Still no teeth! We've had some rough nights where we thought SURELY you'd have a tooth pop through, but still nothing. You like to bite things (and me!) to soothe those little gums. You discovered that your tongue can twist around in your mouth. You just love to twist it!

You've spent this month playing with daddy, playing with mommy, and visiting with friends and family. Daddy started working part time on the weekends, so you and I have lots of mommy and Emma time during the weekends. I'm not going to complain! I love getting to play with you!

You and your buddy Owen

Spring is in the air, so I am looking forward to us getting out as a family and playing in the park! What a fun spring we're going to have. Until next month my little sugarplum!

Changing Before My Eyes

As I was nursing Emma yesterday, I stared down at her sweet little face and started thinking about how she has changed before my very eyes. My how far we have come since the first time we nursed in July. How awkward and natural it felt, all at the same time. She was a pro to begin with, though, loving milk any way she could get it. She was so little and needed help finding mommy at times. No longer do I have to direct her. No longer do I have to rub her little shoulders or use a wet washcloth to keep my sleepy little newborn awake. Now we struggle with keeping our attention focused. There's so much more to do and see then to eat! Emma used to fit so snugly in my lap on the boppy. I'd support her little head and neck while she fed. Now she stretches across the boppy, her head touching one arm of the fluffy white chair, her toes touching the other. I would play with her long, dark, soft hair while we nursed. I loved the feeling of it between my fingers. Then one day, out of nowhere it seemed, the hair started to disappear until it was merely some peach fuzz. I now have hair to play with again, but it is different. Not as soft as that newborn hair, and definetely not as dark, but just as beautiful. Her little hands would lie still while she nursed as a newborn, now they are everywhere. Rubbing mommy's shoulders, grabbing mommy's glassess and necklaces, reaching for the burp cloth. And those little pinchers! Ouch! I used to just sit and stare at my little dearest, thinking of all sorts of things. I still sit and stare and think, but now there is interaction that is so much fun. Her eyes lock on mine and we just smile at each other. She is changing before my eyes. Growing so quickly. She is this special little person with such a huge personality, my daughter, my Emma-Bear.

I love my weekends with Emma!

What more is there to say!?

8 Months

When you were born and we were still in the hospital, I told Dr. McLelland that I wanted you to stay just like this (itty bitty and snuggly). She told me that you couldn't stay that way, but as you changed, I would love each stage and that each stage would have something wonderful that I wouldn't want to live without. She was right! Every stage has been my favorite through these eight months, and this one is no different. Here are some of my favorite things from this past month!

Last month you really started getting a kick out of Peek a boo. This month you've started playing with us! You like to take a blanket (or anything else that will work) and cover your face. Then daddy and I say, "Emma! Where are you!? Where did you go!?" You quickly pull it from your face and laugh with that big, gorgeous smile of yours! It is so much fun!

You have learned the word bye-bye. At first, you would just hold up your hand. Now you hold up your hand and open and close it. Sometimes you turn your palm in towards yourself and look at it, other times you open and close it towards whoever is saying "bye bye".

You are just like your mommy and daddy - you love to talk! You are always gibber gabbering, saying things like mamama, dadada, tatata, aD, aG. Most recently, you like to hold a conversation, especially when we're driving in the car. You say "dadada" and then daddy says, "dadada". Then you say, "aD" and then daddy says, "aD". This goes on for quite alwhile. It's really neat!

Toys, toys, toys. Emma bear, you love your toys!!! You love to just sit and play with your blocks, stuffed animals, fishies, and more. You especially love any remote control. You started pulling out toys from your fishbowl. You don't like to put them back in yet. You now realize if we take something away from you. You get quite upset. You also get upset when you drop a toy and cannot reach it. In addition, you have also started tossing your toys on purpose to play a little "pick up" game with mommy and daddy.

You've graduated to forward facing riding in your stroller. You absolutely LOVE it!! Even though you're buckled in, you lean forward, sitting straight up (pulling the back of the stroller with you), and hang on tight to the tray. It is the cutest thing!

One of my most favorite things, and has been for awhile, is your open-mouthed smiles. You light up the room when you smile! I also love your open-mouthed kisses! They are just wonderful!

Crawling is coming soon. For awhile, we didn't think you really had any desire to crawl. We'd put toys out of reach. You'd try to get it for a second and then just give up. In the past few days, you've started a little rocking/wiggling motion from left to right. You slowly make your way to a toy that you want to play with.

Teeth are coming soon too! You don't have any "toophers" yet, but we're sure that one will make a debut soon. The other night, as we were snuggling before you went to bed, you started gnawing on my arm. You actually left two bruises! Ouch!

You lost all of your gorgeous, dark hair that you were born with (except the little mullet at the bottom of your neck), but more is growing back. It is more of a dirty blonde color right now, growing slowly, but surely!

It's amazing that having a child fosters a love in your heart so strong that you never imagined existed. Emma, you'll never quite understand how much your daddy and I love you until you are grown and have a little precious one of your own. You are the love of our lives little one. Each day you bring sunshine into our home. What did we ever do without you?