Happy Birthday, Emma!

Our sweet little Emma Grace turned one this month! We can hardly believe that one year has flown by! We threw Emma a birthday party to celebrate the big event. We had lots of fun with family and friends. We weren't sure how Emma would like all the people in the house, but she did wonderfully! She is such a social butterfly. She cruised around the house with her little stroller, socializing with all her friends! She was most interested in the huge pile of presents and even managed to get her new little froggie loose from one of the packages. Cake wasn't as interesting to Em. Aunt Becca had made two beautiful cakes for Emma, one for the guests and one for the birthday girl. Emma carefully picked off each little yellow dot from the flowers. She did not really care to "dig" into the cake. Daddy tried to help her squish her fingers in it, but she was very timid about it all. She ended up eating a little bit and trying to feed more to Mommy and Daddy! All in all, it was a wonderful day!

The beautiful cake Aunt Becca made!

Presents!!!!

Emma trying to get into her presents!

Cake time

Emma actually enjoyed opening presents and looking at all her new toys!

Would you like a plastic cookie? It's very tasty.

Going to the Zoo Zoo Zoo

Week before last, Dusty and I took Emma on her first trip to the zoo. The only time we were able to go was the middle of the day - note it was quite hot and it was most of the animals nap time. However, we had a fabulous time. Emma made sure to be very polite, waving at the elephants and the zebras. My favorite happening was the visit to the rhinos. Emma was in her stroller, so we did not want to take her out, knowing all too well that she would not want to return to her cozy seat. We lifted her up, stroller and all, to see the rhino that was about 10 feet from us. At first she seemed interested, but then she realized a cheerio was left on her stroller tray. Yum! MUCH more interesting!

Emma keeping an eye on the animals.

Pointing at the zebras.

My Cranes in Tennessee.

Ahhhh, fun at the zoo.

Eleven Months

Emma Grace, my little Sugar Plum, I can hardly believe we are one short month away from you being an entire year old!

In eleven short months, you have gone from a sleepy little newborn, to full out mobile kiddo who is into everything! You crawl quickly all over the house. A new favorite is walking with your stroller. You make motorboat sounds as you push your stroller all around the living room, kitchen, and mommy and daddy's room. It only took you a few days to figure out how to turn your stroller as you cruise around. You love to stop and pick up toys, especially Plopper or Perry, to ride in your stroller.

You're beginning to be our picky eater. You don't like anything green. I hope that will change soon. You love finger foods though- cheerios, bananas, watermelons, cantaloupe, pancakes, bread, zuchinni, squash.

We took another trip to DC, well actually Bethesda, MD, for mommy's work. This time we drove. You are such a traveler. Car or plane, you seem to do just fine. You also took a trip to the aquarium with your buddy Owen and a trip to the theater to see mommy dance in the ballet.

Plopper continues to be your favorite stuffed animal. He naps with you, goes nite nite with you, and cruises around the house with you. Pretty much, wherever Emma goes, Plopper goes.

Your new favorite sign is doing "I don't know" with your hands. One of the first times you did it, we asked you where Plopper was. You looked all around and then looked at us, turned your palms up as if you were saying "I don't know". You consistently did those hands afterwards, so we know you understand its meaning. Any time we ask you a question about where something is, or when you throw Plopper from your crib, you throw your hands up!

You have also learned point finger at what you want or what you want to show us. You will point and say, "tsssss". We think this is you saying, "see". You love to point at your tree branch in your room and your tutus. You smile when I say tutu and say "tuh tuh" back.

Your little hair is growing and has a bit of curl in it, especially when it gets humid. You have three teeth now, one on the top and two on the bottom. What a big girl!

Emma, every day it seems like you have something new to share with us. You are such a happy, fun loving girl, a true joy to be around. I love you so very very much.

Splish Splash

The sun was bright, the water was perfect, and the squeals of a cute little girl could be heard all over!

We found out Saturday that we have a little swimmer on our hands. Aunt Robin and Uncle Pete had a cookout to celebrate Jessi's graduation. They have a fabulous pool and Emma enjoyed every bit of it. This was Emma's first adventure in a big pool! Cousin Katie was swimming all around the pool when we first arrived and Emma was intrigued!

We first tried her little feet in the water, and she was timid, as we suspected. She kept her eyes on Katie, though. After we ate a little bit, the splashing fun started and Emma wanted to be a part of it!

Emma and I slowly made our way down the stairs into the water (partly because I didn't want to scare her, but mostly because the water was a bit cold). The cold water didn't seem to bother her one bit. Once we made it all the way in, Emma was eager to swim from my arms! She kept reaching out away from me. She wanted to be like her big cousin Katie and splish splash all over the place! We tried out her floats while we were in the pool. She loved them too! I would push her back and forth in the water, chasing after Katie. She had a blast!

Next on the list, signing up for swim lessons at the Y! What fun!

Emma and Aunt Robin

Toes in the Water

Emma and Katie

Splish Splash!

Audrey and Natalie with Aunt Robin by the pool

Swimming is hard work