Packing

Just because it is cute.... Here's our girl helping mommy pack.

Chanukkah

Last week was Emma's first festival of lights. Grandma was here celebrating with us for the first few nights. Emma kept trying to grab candles and she was not feeling the latkes. She liked playing with the wrapping paper and she is learning to get on the move with her new walker.

Mommy's Helper

When I am cooking in the kitchen, Emma often crawls in and gets into the cupboards. She thinks that she is helping, but she is usually just making a mess (a really cute mess)! Here she is caught in action.

1st Thanksgiving

Patrick's mother came to visit for Thanksgiving and we had a blast. She and Patrick attending a Pickling Class and they loved it! (I know its weird, but it was the only class being given this week and I decided they would have fun AND I was right.)

We went to my parents' for dinner and I milled up the turkey so Emma could eat some too. She loved smearing the feast around he tray and dropping it on the floor.


We saw three movies and played Yuker. Emma went to a Gymboree class and enjoyed her first, early morning, Black Friday shopping trip.

Snoopy

We decided to tour our own town and went to the Schultz museum last weekend - maybe because we had just watched The Great Pumpkin. There were some cool cartooning displays and Emma liked crawling around on the different Snoopy statues and beanbags. What I love about Peanuts is that most of the comics are timeless.

Up and About

So the day after halloween, Emma woke up from her nap and I came into the room to find this.....



and ever since, she has been pulling up on everything. She had only stood up once or twice before (video to come!) and now she is cruising along furniture. Look out, here she comes!

Party

Emma and I went to a Halloween party last night. Patrick was supposed to come as a farmer, but he's sick again (as usual he didn't get a flu shot.) We had a potluck dinner with my mommy group and then took the kids down the street to trick or treat at a few houses. Emma loved grabbing something out of the bowl and chewing on the wrappers. Her favorite house handed out little containers of playdoh - she liked biting the hard plastic.

Carving

Yesterday we carved a pumpkin while daddy was at work. Emma was a big help. She liked to grab the pumpkin strings and suck on pieces that were cut out. She even managed to crunch a pumpkin seed (and then gag it out.)

Before:


After:

Preschool Pumpkin

Emma dressed up for her Halloween party at the preschool. She made a spider craft and I gave her a slinky to enjoy since she wouldn't be eating any chocolates or candies.

Coupons

My new hobby is couponing. I found this website called grocery coupon game and it tracks sales in the stores. Every week there is a list of best deals and which coupons to use. Here is our girl helping me clip and file for the week's shopping.

Pumpkin Patch

We took Emma on her first trip to the pumpkin patch last sunday. It was unusually hot, but she still had fun. We climbed the hay mountain,



went through the corn maze,



rode in a wagon and fed the donkeys.



Emma loved the textures of the gourds, but hated the hay around the pumpkins. We picked a big one for Daddy and Emma picked a mini to chew on in the car.

Rockin Her Skulls

Emma can't wait for her first trick or treat!

Halloween

We just love Halloween; it may be my favorite holiday. Emma is getting into the spirit too! We haven't picked out costumes yet b/c I have been searching for a Strawberry with no luck. Any other ideas?

Baby Gym

We went to baby gym last weekend and Emma loved it. She danced all through the music circle, crawled up a wedge and chased balls. She tried to sit up on the wedge and rolled over backward. There were tears - poor berry.

Rosh Hashanah

We went to the Tot shabbat and it was really cute! The teacher sand songs, told stories and had lots of props and instruments. Emma was the only child dancing - which she does frequently to any music. She isn't allowed any honey, so here she is rolling an apple.

All my tricks

Here is a short clip of Emma doing all her best tricks: rolling, sitting up, crawling forward and backward and her favorite pose: downward dog!We are thankful that she is still slow with her crawling, but it is really fun seeing her so active now.

Photo Shoot with Sophie

Sophie is Emma's french giraffe and she took her along to a photo shoot last weekend. Here are a few of her adorable shots.

Sitting Pretty

Yesterday was a big day at our house. Emma started crawling forward (just two steps) and sat up on her own. She has been getting on her knees and rocking or pushing up on her toes for about 2 weeks. All of a sudden she has figured out how to lean back onto her bum or move her arms to go forward. We cheered - Patrick can't wait til she gets going fast so he can chase her around the house! These pictures were taken right after the big moments; she's such a big girl.

IT FINALLY HAPPENED!

She slept through the night. After a visit to our pediatrician and a few painful nights of sleep training - we all got our first night's sleep in over a year (if you include my sleepless pregnancy.) We have had a couple of perfect nights and many more that are much better than before! She is so much happier after a good night's rest. Here she is that morning - so proud!

More Alaska

Ketchikan - Patrick went zip-lining and I say totem poles and a logger show with the berry.

Juneau - Patrick went hiking and I went on a bus tour and to museums. Did you know that the Alaska purchase was signed on the Riggs' desk!?!

British Columbia - I went to high tea at the Empress Hotel and Patrick and Grandpa did Butchart Gardens and Pubs.

My school nurse Cynthia's husband was the pilot on our cruise ship so we got to go onto the bridge and see the glacier with just a few other people. This was awesome!

Overall, a great family vacation. (minus my respiratory infection and the 90 degree weather.)

Out of order - Garden Bounty

When we got home, we did a first 'harvest' of our backyard garden. We had lots of large heirloom tomatoes, but my basil is flowering like crazy and attracting bees. Also, I discovered that japanese eggplant have thorns. Patrick made some sun-dried tomatoes and I made pasta sauce. I think bruschetta and some homemade baby foods are next on the menu!

On the ship

Believe it or not, Alaska was hot. Much hotter than at home! We did not pack well for our vacation because weather.com said 60s, but it was 80-90 degrees everyday! The boat had 12 floors and a packed schedule everyday. 

Some of the things that I loved were: hearing the naturalist, Brent Nixon, talk about sea life each day, the Celebrity dancers, not cleaning or cooking and BINGO! Some of the things Patrick loved were: getting a hot stone massage, naps, walking around the decks with ocean air and NOT WORKING! Emma liked getting held a lot, staring at her cousin and playing in the toddler room.

Vacation - getting there

We went on a cruise to Alaska with Emma and my all of my family. She did great on the flight and overall things were good. The first and last day were seriously long traveling days, but the days in between were fun and busy. 

Some observations: cruises are not relaxing  - the amount of food  and activities are stressful And babies are pretty good traveling companions (except in the evening hours). I got a upper respiratory infection half way through the week and was out of commission for the first time since I recovered from my morning sickness.  

Here are me and the bug in her first plane ride, Patrick getting onto the boat and our girl in our tiny room.