IT'S BEEN AWHILE...

It's been a bit since I've typed about how amazing Emma is.  We've been too busy being lazy and enjoying the awesomeness of the kid and not enjoying the 2-year-old-ness of her.

Emma has now celebrated Christmas and New Year’s (her third official NEW year).  We just wrapped up Valentine’s Day and are gearing up for St. Patrick’s Day.  She had an amazing holiday, filled with family and friends – the people that love her and that she loves the most.  She received lots of gifts – to play with, to learn from, and to shape her future.  She finally figured out what Christmas means, which resulted in some birthday songs for Jesus and the ripping of wrapping paper.  Her Christmas program at school was absolutely delightful and I only cried for 5 minutes….the preciousness of it was overwhelming.  David and I had some time off from work to enjoy time together and time with Emma.  It was awesome and I think we’d both benefit from 2 weeks off every month.   Anyway….

She is two and a half years old.  TWO AND A HALF?  Which clearly, she had her 30 month appointment and dominated all of the categories...  She is only 2 pounds heavier than her not quite 9 month old cousin.  We are totally pleased with how she's coming along, but really could up her game on colors and not sticking her hand down her shirt.  Baby steps.

I am not sure where the time has gone, despite the middle of the night hugs and paci recovery.  We continue to be in awe of all of the new things Emma is learning.  She will now hold conversations which are fairly recognizable for the most part.  She does as asked most of the time and the rest of the time she just wants to make life into a game.  This is not always fun.  She enjoys doing things herself without help (until she asks for help), which includes climbing the changing table, going potty, putting on her shoes, etc.  Emma still enjoys a few rounds of going potty each day, which is more or less sitting/running around diaperless than actually going into the potty.  Working on that.  And the paci.  So much to do, so little time.

 Her favorite word is “Nope” and it never ceases to make me laugh just a little.  She retrieves her own yogurt for breakfast, opens the top and without stirring it, can eat it by herself with minimal mess.  And speaking of mess, she will call you out if you or her friends or anyone else makes one.  She’s watched Frozen approximately 22 times in the past 3 weeks, so please ask us to join in when you sing “Let It Go.”  It’s affectionately called the “Snowman” movie and has replaced Elmo as of now.  She insists on giving high fives and will not go to bed without about 20 of them between Daddy and me.  It's annoying and endearing and all sorts of go to bed now please I love you and will see you bright eyed in the morning.

Instead of asking you to help her, she will say "Mommy Imma help you."  And she'll keep saying it until you come help her out.  Do not correct it, because it will come out exactly the same the next time she says it.  She likes to run around.  In the most inappropriate times.  She ran back to the kitchen in several restaurants and one gave us a t shirt for her since "she wants to work there so badly."  Bless her heart.  That drives me bonkers and she laughs maniacally when doing it.  She loves to sing Rock a Bye Baby and Row Row Row Your Boat.  On and on and on...  She asks to watch Santa Claus, who regrettably has returned to the North Pole to make more toys for next year.

 Her favorite thing to do is put her baby dolls either in Time Out or sleeping on the floor in unnatural positions.  To accomplish this, she drapes them with my dish towels, so at various times our home looks like a crime scene.  She also enjoys dumping her Legos onto the floor and building small towers.  Let’s face it, her Mommy loves Legos too and has had loads of fun building a circus.  She attended her first birthday party for a friend and had a wonderful time climbing and eating pizza and grabbing candy from a piñata. 

So, she also now loves candy and chocolate and juice.  Who doesn’t?  Emma eats very well for a 30 month old and loves to snack on her peppers, grape tomatoes and all sorts of fruit.  If she spies chips, she’ll opt out of the veggies and fruit.  Emma loves to run around…..and color…..and look at pictures of baby Max on the phone.  She can open songs on Mommy’s phone, which is always surprising to hear.

 The not so little not so baby Emma invades our hearts even more on a daily basis and we are so glad she’s ours.  Even at 2 am.