A Quick, Overdue, Update

As with most New Year’s Resolutions, mine (this blog and staying up-to-date with photos) has fallen by the wayside and I apologize if it has affected others just as much as it has me. It has been entirely too long since I have been on here and shared the joys of little Miss Emery with you all. I could blame it on the fact that there was about a month that went by that mama’s computer was in the “shop” for sudden needed repairs due to curious little hands, or the fact that The Meyer family has been out of town 3 out of the last 4 weekends, or even maybe try to blame it on the exhaustion caused by the immense heat wave that Las Vegas has entered, but instead I will take full responsibility and do my best to make it up by giving quick bits and pieces of the all the fun we have been having over the last few months.

Emery has really gotten adventurous (as if she wasn’t already) and is really putting the miles on her tiny little legs. We have tried to make the most out of the spring time weather the last few months, and good thing too, because the Vegas heat has already reared its ugly head and is sitting pretty consistently in the triple digits right now. We’ve fed the ducks at Sunset Park, had some good ol' fashion fun with the hose in the backyard, learned how to “drive a car”, helped daddy fix up the house, met the Easter bunny, and hunted for eggs. We took a road trip to Southern California for a visit with good friends, beloved family and to meet the one and only Mickey Mouse, a first for both Emery and Daddy. We then took a plane ride to Colorado for more family time and cooler weather, and mommy and daddy took a much needed, overdue, baby-free weekend getaway to the San Francisco area to celebrate a couple of good friends getting married.

 What a joy it has been to introduce Emery to so many new things, and watch as her face lights up with excitement and delight. We figured she might be a little young for Disneyland and were a bit hesitant on embarking in this adventure, but when we parked her stroller along Main Street to catch the Disneyland parade and watched as she bounced up and down dancing, pointing & clapping along to the music, we knew that it had been the right decision. She also enjoyed the Tea Cups and the Winnie the Pooh ride, but mommy was a bit sad that It’s A Small World was closed that day.  None the less, the half day experience was one that Matt & I will never forget and one that introduced Emery to the happiest place on earth. Huge thank you to Great Grandma Price for making that experience possible!!

As every day passes, we are constantly reminded at how quickly Emery is changing and how fast she picks things up.  She's been communicating with us for about 5 months now with a few signs such as "eat", "more", "all done", and recently "diaper" for a diaper change (hopefully a sign she's on her way to potty training ;-), BUT now her vocabulary is really starting to expand as well and has become a bit more than just baby banter. She is really getting the hang of dada and daddy, not so much with mama or mommy yet but is getting the hang of "duck" and "doggie", is great with “ball” and her most recent, most adorable word “ice”. So funny how cute an everyday word can be coming out of a one year old’s mouth. She tries so hard to say it and gives the cutest look when she does, “eye-shhh”. She knows it comes out of our water cups, or the freezer door, but also thinks it correlates to anything cold, or square, or a small snack even.  We are still working on trying to explain that each word has a meaning, but right now she is enjoying just being able to communicate with us!

 
 As she continues to grow and change on a daily basis, we reminisce about when she would just sit in her bouncer and look at us wide eyed with her big beautiful eyes and sweet little grin.   Now she is bringing us things she thinks we want (like rocks from outside) and claps at us when we are doing something silly. Her giggles are getting bigger and more adorable (if that’s possible) and when she blows you a kiss, gives you a high five, or runs into your arms for a hug, you can just feel your heart melt a little. Although being away for two nights (on our San Francisco getaway) was an incredible, and much needed break from the every days of raising a toddler, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t anxious to get back to her to see that sassy smile.  I swear she grew while we were gone, and although when we first brought her home, we thought we had made a pact with her that she would always stay little… she seems to be throwing that to the wind and growing up before our very eyes. With fast little feet, a smile that’ll melt your heart, and a personality that is bigger than those blue eyes- she keeps us extremely busy and guessing at every turn, but does it with the sweetness that one would never trade.

TILL NEXT TIME.... (soon I promise!)

 

Sun, Sand, and SLIDES (An early start to Spring)

Las Vegas has completely disregarded Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction of 6 more weeks of winter. On February 2 he declared he saw his shadow and that meant more cold, more chill, more low temperatures. Maybe for some, but for us here in Las Vegas it was quite the opposite actually.

 

I can’t remember having an “actual” winter day this year… we did reach freezing temperatures a couple days in December, but since then, we have been getting warmer, and warmer, and warmer. Emery’s birthday, February 25^th, was a bright and sunny day with a crystal blue sky and no need for a jacket or even long sleeves. Most people are loving the beautiful spring weather we have had the last month or so, and I have to agree that it is wonderful and makes enjoying the outdoors that much easier, however- I fear for the upcoming months and wonder, if we are already reaching temperatures in the 80s now, what will July and August feel like this summer?!

 

Well, instead of dwelling on the unknown of how excruciatingly hot it may or may not (but probably will) be, we have been doing our best to spend our days outside and take advantage of it while we have it. Emery is an outdoor girl for sure! She LOVES the fresh air and being in the sun. It has been so fun to watch her listen for new noises, like the birds chirping or the rumbling of the garbage truck rounding the corner.  We try to spend a couple hours outside every day walking around the yard, swinging on her swing set, or digging in the sand. She loves to play in the giant sand box that daddy built for her. OH and, her newest obsession is climbing up and going down slides. I was able to track down a “new-to-us” plastic climber set, and good thing too, because Emery LOVES it and boy does it keep her busy and wear her out (double bonus)! As soon as I got it put together she was trying to figure out how to climb up it. She loves being able to do it herself and when she gets to the top and stands up inside, she has the biggest smile on her face. Sometimes she gets so excited she squeals and cheers for herself!

 

She has learned the meaning of “sit down” and will do so when I tell her to before she goes down the slide. It still amazes me how quickly she is going from a baby who doesn’t know, to a toddler who understands and does it. I love being able to teach her knew things and watch as she absorbs the information and uses it the next go around. We worked on and practiced “sit down before you go down the slide” one day, and the next day she would climb up, stand up, walk to the top of the slide and sit down before going down- all by herself. Now, she doesn’t do it perfect every time of course, but for the most part, she gets it and is getting really good at it!!

We have also started getting better about getting out and interacting with other kids (and mamas too, which this mama is very happy about J). She is really liking her weekly playgroup filled with singing, reading and activities. We also go to a tumble class on Saturday mornings with Cousin Liam which is teaching her to jump, climb, grip, swing, and roll. Her favorite thing in gym class right now is the vertical ladder climb, although I am starting to see her trying to “practice” at home- climbing up and down things like couches, and daddy’s office chair. Oops! She also understands the “high bar”, and holds on with a death grip allowing her to swing like a monkey and even flip up and over the bar (with help from her teacher, Miss Lisa). What a treat it is to watch her pick and choose her favorites and see her get more comfortable with these things week after week.

Well, the last 6 weeks certainly weren’t filled with frigid temperatures or chilly storms for us, but they were filled with lots of sun, sand, and slides, as well as birthday parties and lots of friend playtime. Great Grandma Sellan had a Shirley Temple  birthday lunch on March 1st, and we celebrated Liam's 1st birthday March 9th in the sunshine and with Mickey ears on! With spring officially starting at the end of this week, I have to say that I am eager to continue to introduce Emery to all of the beauty and excitement that Mother Nature has to offer, and watch as she discovers new things day after day.

 

"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt."
-- Margaret Atwood

(Quote found on Uncle John's Facebook page)



Great Grandma Fran's Birthday

Liam's Birthday Party

In our backyard

Time to swing!

 

 



Snuck outside with Dallas!
(through the doggie door)

At the Park

Big girl climbing up the stairs

Bye - Bye Baby!!

WHERE DID OUR BABY GO?

Last weekend we celebrated Emery’s 1^st Birthday. Her FIRST BIRTHDAY….. wow- how did that happen? I promised myself that I wouldn’t be that mom who constantly tells her children that “it seems like yesterday Daddy & I were bringing you home for the first time” buuuuuuut  it really does seem like yesterday!  Ok, maybe a few months ago, but not a year. A year already?!  When I say this out loud to other parents, mainly those who have grown children, their response to me is “Just wait, it won’t be long ‘til you are throwing her a sweet 16 party!” Noooo I don’t want to be there already… I want to hold my baby Emmy Bear forever and keep her tiny- with her tiny feet and tiny hands, her little voice and all the adorable babble she rattles off. I want the clothes to stop getting bigger, the hair to stop getting longer, and the pitter patter of little feet to stop getting louder.  Okay-okay, not really- but if it would slow down a little that would be GREAT! ;0)

No- but seriously, it was a few weeks ago that Em and I were at a little boys 1^st birthday party that I finally realized she really isn’t a baby anymore. Well, she will always be my “baby”, but this girl was walking around this party like she owned the place. She had her sippy cup in one hand and a pink plastic robot arm in the other (that was the theme of the party; robots) and she was on a mission to see how many people she could get to tell her how cute she was, and to conquer the step between the sliding glass door and the patio (which she did in about 2 tries). I watched her walk from the kitchen out to the patio where the other, bigger girls were playing with chalk, and thought to myself “where did my baby go?”

A few days later, while Matt and I were out shopping, I picked up a pack of baby hair ties to attempt for the ba-gillionth time to pull her ever growing hair out of her eyes. When we got home I took two hair ties and gave her pigtails. She reached back up to me looking for her sippy cup, and off she went with her cup in hand & pigtails bouncing on top of her head. That was it…that was the final straw…. no more baby- we officially have a real-life little person! She knows what she wants & where she wants to go, and she knows how to get there! 

Farewell 2013!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR FAMILY AND FRIENDS!! 

Whoa…. I cannot even begin to explain how quickly the last month flew by for us and I can hardly comprehend that we are waking up this morning to a new month and a new year! Good morning January 1, 2014, nice to meet you.

Our New Year’s Eve was certainly unlike any we had ever had before. We had a pizza party over at Grandma Chris’ house and left Emery with her so that mama and daddy could go out and have a wild and crazy night............. at home watching a movie and casually drinking a glass or two of wine. YEP- we were baby free and all we wanted to do was put an action movie on with no regard to how loud the speakers were turned up, open a bottle of wine and ring in the New Year when the clock struck midnight. Emery is off to a great start for the New Year as well, she slept a solid 10 hours at Grandma’s house with not so much as a peep.  Hopefully that is her New Year’s resolution! 

Let me back up a little and explain what led to the want and need of a little R&R for mama and daddy. December proved to be a very exciting one with lots of Christmas excitement. We trimmed the tree, strung the lights, carried out old and introduced new traditions, hosted family at the house, paid a visit to the Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick, baked cookies, opened presents, started walking, cut FIVE new teeth, grew an inch or so, and learned to get really good at waving hello and goodbye.  Ok, those last few were only Emery’s accomplishments, but we were there every step of the way- so it feels like we worked on and achieved them as well. J

Let’s start with the big one, YES- she started walking!! We knew it wouldn’t be long, as she had looked as though she was strong enough to do it for about a week or so, and finally one Sunday afternoon (December 15^th to be exact) she let go and took her first steps. I was in the middle of making her baby food for the week when I looked up and saw this little person in her baby blue footed pajamas, with her arms stretched out in front of her, cautiously balancing her wobbly legs as she took one step, and then another and then another. I stood in awe with my mouth literally opened as I watched her take 4 or 5 steps, and then gracious fall back down to her bum. She turned her head back to see me and we both smiled a large grin and applauded the big achievement. She was so excited, and I was even more so. I grabbed my phone and stood her back up and made her do it a few more times so I could capture it on video to show to daddy, who unfortunately had just stepped out to run to the store. Since that day though, Matt has been able to see many more steps as she keeps on practicing her new “trick”. She has gotten pretty darn good at it too! She is starting to pick up speed and has really figured out her balance and the grace of falling. Luckily we haven’t had many hard spills (knock on wood!).

It was a month jammed packed full of a babbling baby now on the move, lots of holiday fun, an overdue visit from the Meyers and many-many tireless nights as Emery worked on cutting 5 new teeth all at once.  Needless to say by the time midnight rolled around on the 31^st, Matt and I looked at each other, clinked our wine glasses, kissed a New Year’s kiss, and headed off to bed. It was the perfect way to end a very exciting year full of new beginnings, and lots of firsts. We woke up this morning without the usual New Year’s Day hangover, feeling refreshed and ready to start 2014 out right. Matt is finally able to focus 100% on his real estate business and has bid farewell to the Palms Casino shenanigans for good. I have made a pledge to myself to focus more on finding a better balance of motherhood, work, and time for myself. We even talked about the possibility of me reentering the workforce on a very part time, simply to allow a little more daddy/daughter time, and a change of scenery for this homebound mama. It’s tough to say what this year will bring, but one thing is for sure- it will be full of new adventures, and possibilities!

{ EMERY'S FIRST RECORDED STEPS ARE BELOW THE PICTURES. SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW VIDEO :) }

 

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

                      

Well, it didn’t happen as fast as I had hoped, and today we are still working on getting the bulbs and ornaments on the tree, but getting the tree in and the lights on proved to be very fun for Emery!  Daddy put the tree up during bath time Sunday night, so Emery woke the next morning to a tree in her living room. Needless to say she was very interested in why this large tree was in her play area! She didn’t race over to it though, she admired it from afar. Then, last night, mommy and Emery put the lights on the tree, and she really enjoyed that!  With Christmas music blaring in the background, we took the, oh-so-very popular baby in lights pictures, played with some jingle bells, and finally - were able to get the lights on the tree.  Daddy and I were (and still are) very worried that she would want to use the tree to pull herself up, or want to put the branches in her mouth- pulling it over, but she was actually very gentle with it. She used a chair and table to pull herself up and get close enough to it to smell it and of course, taste the lights, but she didn’t pull, tug, or grab at the actual tree. Even this morning, she is playing around the tree with her toys, but has left it alone so far. Fingers crossed her curiosity won’t peek and cause a big crash. (Just kidding- we wouldn’t let that happen!)

 

So the lights are on the house, the tree is IN the house, and with the arrival of a special package full with Christmas gifts for Emery (thank you Great-Grandma Jan, and Great Aunt Jody!) it really is beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here! Vegas has also complied with winter standards and has FINALLY dropped down into the 5low 50s the last few weeks, with it currently in the mid 40s. Sure - it isn’t in the 20s with negative wind chill (like our relatives in Colorado), but we are just grateful to finally have weather we can wear our coats and hats in.

 

VIDEO: Sorry it's a little fuzzy- we had the lights low so we could admire the Christmas lights.  

If you listen closely you can hear her say "Dadda".

 

November Has Come & Gone

Another month has come and gone. I can’t hardly believe that we are a mere 4.5weeks away from Christmas, sure to be followed quickly with a big New Years Eve bash and then we will be working our way into 2014. YIKES!!

Ok, rewind….. back to November. Yes, it sure went fast but lets try to take it back and reminisce about all the craziness that Emery has started to embark on. Well, we all saw that she is well on her way to walking. Thank goodness she isn’t quite there yet, but she gets braver by the day, and is picking up speed both in her walker and with her push cart. She has almost mastered the art of “driving” forward in her pink car walker, backwards is not a problem, and is working on her turns. I think she’s a ways off from parallel parking, but who knows- the girl surprises me every day.

She is becoming a master pianist with her Fisher Price Step’N’Play piano. She made me remove the infant chair so that she can get the full effect of both sides of the toy and really work the keys. She loves it when she strikes the keys that play the songs. I swear she is starting to recognize the songs, and will “sing” along to them. Ok, maybe sing isn’t the right word, but I think it is her kind of singing, and she definitely goes along with the melody (sometimes)! She even sang us a few songs on Thanksgiving! We were all very impressed, and who knew we would be getting dinner and a show at the Thanksgiving dinner table?!  We all just listened and laughed, while Emery belted out her own tune and had we not all be so full, she probably would have earned herself a standing ‘O’.  Her very first Thanksgiving and she has already made herself the star of the party. She enjoyed the turkey and even the occasional brussel sprout (thanks to Auntie Laurel), but she stayed true to her mama’s colors and spit the mash potatoes right out.

Emery’s new favorite “trick” is clapping. One night, after Matt got home from work, she was sitting in the middle of the floor doing something that impressed daddy, so he clapped for her. She watched him, with her furrowed eyebrows of wonder, and mimicked him with her hands. The first couple times she missed, but it didn’t take long for her tiny little hands to connect and make a small little pop. Her eyes lit up and a giant smile dashed across her face. She has been showing off ever since. She is that much more animated now when she gets excited about something. She will drop her jaw, bounce on her little fluffy bum and clap her hands. Makes it a bit harder to take her pictures these days though; her fast clapping hands usually come out all blurry and sometimes make her look armless.

 

Ahh yes, November was full of great fun. We are working on more teeth. She is up to 3 now on the bottom, and if my tired mama sensor is correct, I would say she’s got a few more on the horizon. We are also in full fledge stranger danger mode these days. We started to see signs of this about a month or 2 ago, but look out, she’s got it bad these days. This wouldn’t be such a bad thing, if the “strangers” were in fact strangers, but when it is her Uncle John, or one of her aunties who just want to hold and hug her, feelings are hurt more often than not. Fortunately, I think most of the “strangers” understand that this is just another phase that will come and go, and she will soon be giggling at their funny noises and silly faces!!  And although this phase makes it extremely difficult for mama and daddy to find time away, we just keep reminding ourselves that it is a good thing that she is attached to us, and that one day soon she will realize that she doesn’t need us all the time (that day will probably be harder than dealing with the wails of today).

 

Well, I think that about sums it up and brings us back to today. We just took down all the fall décor and tomorrow the stockings will be hung and the Santas will be up. This is going to be such a special holiday season. I can’t wait to spend it introducing Emery to the wonder of Christmas and the good-ol’-fashion spirit of the holiday. We started it off right two nights ago. We watched the local Christmas tree lighting together, saw our first glimpse of Santa Clause, and felt a bit of Jack Frost on our noses. Daddy put the lights up on the house today, and the Christmas tree will hopefully be trimmed next weekend….. hmmm—I wonder how that will be with an almost-walking, busy little curtain climber buzzing around?!?!?!

 

Bath time, Fun time! 
 

Christmas tree Lighting