Thanksgiving!... thankful for the sweetest friends!

The inevitable happened last week!!!!!  I heard a loud kur-plunk! and went to find Emery standing on the floor in her bedroom!  She crawled (and fell, I assume) out of her crib!  I was just saying she's on her way but I still thought she was too small to do it.  How wrong am I!!!  So we got proactive and put our long couch cushion in front and pillows on the side.  She hasn't tried it again.  All my friends I've talked to said their little ones did it once and didn't do it again for another couple months.  I suppose it was a fluke versus intentional.  None the less, she's keeping us on our toes!  I can't even begin to tell you how much she is growing and changing.  She is becoming more independent every day.  She doesn't like to be fed but wants to do it herself.  She prefers (if we let her) to use a big girl (adult) spoon. She would rather eat my whole sandwich than me cut up pieces of it for her.  She blows her nose very well (hehe) and just recently has started undressing herself.... mainly her pants.  Sometimes she will help pull them on as well.  She loves to talk and she LOVES her books!! I've started keeping some in the car and she will sit there during our long commutes (15-25 min usually) and turn page after page and sometimes even read them out loud.  She also recently picked up coloring.  Whether its with a pen, pencil, crayons or whatever she can get her hands on.  Of course we are teaching her what is appropriate to write on. lol  No walls yet!  Whew!  Just on some of MY books and dayplanner!

She has been calling for us and acknowledging us as Mama and Daddeeee for a while now! For the most part that has been awesome!  But the other night I had my first feeling of not being wanted.  I knew this would come because of the whole daddy's girl thing.  And honestly, I've dreaded it.  But I'm trying to be okay with it.  But Thanksgiving night we were at our friends.  Emery did not take a nap at all.  So by 6:00 she was beside herself.  Well I decided that I would hold her, give her her pacifier and she if she would go to sleep.  She's never been one to fall asleep easily in my arms.  It usually is a little fight before she finally falls asleep.  So she started crying and fighting me and I held on tight thinking I would win as before.  But such was not the case this time.  She starts crying harder and harder until she is yelling "DADDEEEEE!!!!  DADDEEEEE!!!!!"   It sounded like I was torturing her and she was yelling for her saviour to come!  I finally gave up and gave her over to her dad (with just a bit of attitude) only for her to immediately lay down on his shoulder, take her pacifier and completely calm down.  I was urked but not too much.  I walked away, wiping my hands of her, and went outside to call my brother.  He didn't answer and so as I sat there, I took in the silence.  And then all I could hear, ringing in my ears, was her screaming "DADDEEEE!!!!"  It broke my heart in two.  I'm okay now.  But it certainly is hard to not hold that against her.  I see why parents, probably mostly moms because we're more emotional, can be so weird with there kids and hold things against them their whole lives.  Its not a lack of love, but only their own insecurities.  I won't be one of those moms.  So... I check it at the door and move on.  I love the relationship she is developing with Sean.  It is beautiful and so precious.  I would never wish that away.  It is a season and is so important in our daughter's development.  My time will come. :)

New words now are duck and gack (aka quack!), juice, pease (please), Josh, Nae Nae (for her auntie Renee), Zach, nanna (for Hannah but also for banana), truck, t-t (TV),

 I let Emery walk at the end of my 4.8 mile run today. 

 Getting her own walk in tonight

 Drawing and coloring is just another day at the office!

 She's had a cough the last couple days (I truly think its the whole milk again!) 

so I propped her up on a pillow this afternoon.

 I sad smile for daddy and this is what I got! (shopping at Target today)

 Up until yesterday she would eat her cereal and then ask us to empty out any uneaten cereal 

and then drink the rest of the milk with her spoon (like mommy).  

But now she's gone straight for drinking from the bowl (like daddy)!

So Thanksgiving has come and gone as well as our first holiday spent in Texas.  I was saved from missing my family's get together (though not completely) when I found out all my brothers and their families were scattered for the holiday.  So I didn't feel too left out.  Our friends who most recently moved from Fresno a year and a half ago, the Caughrans, invited us over for the day, along with a college girl, Deborah, who is related to a family we are very close to in Fresno.  Sean and I had a relaxing morning and then headed over around 1:00.  We had a full turkey meal with, of course, our infamous sweet potato balls!  After lunch, the boys headed to Arcadia Park to play frisbee golf on their full course.  Us girls went for a two mile walk at the Park (in sandals... ugh).  In the evening some of their family came over and we had dessert together. And we ended the night playing Nertz (my all time favorite card game that my closest friend, Lisa, taught me... we were extremely competitive with each other... I so miss her!).  We played in 3 teams of 2.  It was a blast!!  And Deborah and I kicked booty!!!

 

 My quiet time in the backyard... :)

Emery messing around with the Uke! (she added the pink headband herself!)

Friday we had our second Thanksgiving dinner!!!  Our first friends to move here invited us and the Caughrans over for dinner at 5:00.  Well unbeknownst to me, the OR is open the day after Thanksgiving. :(   I had hoped to be off by 3 and was even told so, but it didn't happen.  I worked until 6:30!  I rushed over the the Carlsons just as they were finishing dinner.  Poor Sean was fried after having Emery all day, cooking my sweet potato balls, and dealing with a whiney Emery during dinner.  And yet he still gave me time to unwind and eat.  Then she was off to bed and we both enjoyed the rest of the evening!  It was a fabulous night with friends!  

The Black Bottom Pumpkin Pie I made for the occasion!!!

Cinnamon Graham Cracker, ginger snaps and toasted pecan crust... chocolate and heath bar layers, then pumpkin custard.... and homemade whipped cream.  A-mazing I have to admit!  hehe

Below are some pics from the last few weeks

Just hanging out watching Bubble Guppies together

This past Monday I didn't work so we went to lunch at Freebirds and then hit 

the 'dead zoo' at Cabela's. lol  It was fun! 

Town Square for lunch after church

Corner Bakery

A morning at the park with Tyranie and the kids

Found Emery like this one morning at 5:30 before I left for work

Books at Barnes and Noble

 Curious George at Barnes and Noble!

 My first bike helmet!! (for the bike trailer)

Emery hanging out with me while I did my hair

Out for a run and then playtime!

An Afternoon in the City!

Things have been low key lately.  It's funny... one week off facebook and I blogged 3 times. Now I'm back on facebook (only less), and I have not found time to blog.  Then again I've been busy.  But only in the last 4-5 days.  Before that, it was pretty boring.  I will start with today, because that is what is on my mind most.  Well we are officially down to one car for a while.  Which should prove to be interesting in such a large area and we are both commuting.  But hopefully it will be very temporary.  Well tonight is the Fall Festival at our church and I was NOT about to miss it!  So I decided to take Sean to work (in Dallas).  Upon waking this morning I also decided to make a trip out of it for me and Emery!  So after we dropped him off, we headed to Sur la Table.  Mainly only as a destination because I figured it has to be in a cool area, right?  So we ended up in a district they call Knox/Henderson.  It was pretty cool.  A pretty humble area but definitely with some upscale restaurants and shops.  It was casual, but there was definitely a vibe.  We ended up at a hotdog place for lunch and then shopped at this kids store called Froggies (and Tadpoles).  Once Emery found the book aisle, she was content (we are realizing she LOVES books!!!!)  So she was in book heaven!  I sat with her on the floor for awhile looking at all the books.  Fun times!  We were downtown about 2 hours (ish?) and then headed home.  She slept all the way and is still sleeping.  Now it's time to get her up for the Fall Festival tonight!!!  I can hardly wait!!!  Games, candy, petting zoo, bounce house, train and pony rides.... they go all out I've heard!  

This was Emery this morning watching her Bubble Guppies!  It was a first for me!

Downtown Dallas

She is not a baby anymore!

Book heaven!!!

Lunchtime!

Here's some pics from last week's events!

Just takin a walk at home!

Last Thursday night I met some girls from my bible study for PINK night.  PINK is our Women's ministry.  They have PINK night every couple months I think.  This time, we had an awesome time of worship, our pastor's wife spoke and then they introduced a handful of local, powerful ministries by handing them money gifts given by the women of the church.  It was amazing!  Afterward we went for frozen yogurt (which is where this pic of Emery (above) comes in :))

Last Saturday, one of the girls from bible study had a birthday party for her 3 year old at Parr Park.  We all came out for one very fun, but freezing, morning to celebrate Miss Aspen's birthday!  We're talkin clear blue skies, sunshine and a chilling 48 degrees!  Brrrr!  But I don't think the kids (most around Emery's age) even noticed!  I had such a good time hanging out with the girls outside of bible study!

Emery's first chocolate milk!

Afterward Emery and I had lunch at Taco Casa and then headed to Kathy's house for Emery's nap.  I spent some time alone with the Lord in their backyard and then at 5pm we celebrated Brianna's 18th birthday!  It was a day of birthdays!!

And these two picks were one cold morning of green power smoothies, cartoons and blankies!!!

Here's a couple recipes....

blend 1/2 avocado, large handful of spinach, 2 T unsweetened cocoa and honey to taste.  Makes a pudding consistency.  Add milk or soy milk to thin for smoothie.  Emery LOVED this!!!  Drank all 16 ounces!!!  Super healthy!!!

blend 1/2 avocado, large handful spinach, a pear, frozen pineapple, milk or soy milk and honey to taste (or agave nectar... low glycemic index).  So yum!  May add ice to blend also.

BON APPETIT!!!

My best moment all week!

Tonight when we came home after a spontaneous dinner out, our neighbors were outside with their granddaughter, Alexis.  Emery loves playing with her.  They color on the driveway with chalk and ride bikes.  Alexis gives Emery her toddler bike and she rides her big bike.  Alexis is about 6 or 7 and Emery is just in awe of little girls that age!  She follows her and jumps when Alexis jumps (showing she can do it too!) and spins with Alexis spins.  And we adults get to hang out and chat for as long as we want!!  But what this post is really about is this one specific moment of this time with friends.  Emery gets off her bike and all of the sudden she just laid down right on the driveway. After only a split second, I decided the only thing to do was lay down with her. Side by side, we stared at and pointed out the quickly moving storm clouds and giggled together.  It was my best moment all week!!!   Aaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!

More fun stuff!

 Emery has been eating like a champ lately!  Last week, after church, we went to Panera.  I broke egg, bacon and bread off my bacon, egg and ciabatta sandwich.  But did she eat it?  noooooo....  she simply took my entire sandwich from me and began enjoying it for herself.  She didn't want those baby bites!  She wants the real thing!  Sean kept telling her to give it back to me, but I was like "if she's gonna eat, then let her have it! Yeah!".  And eat it she did!  I would say she ate about 2/3 of it!!!  You go girl!!

A couple new words are truck and, this morning, eat (as she signs it as well).  I have got to write these down because I know there are more but I forget.  It seems she picks up new ones every couple days.  It's so fun!  Yesterday, she was playing with Sean.  I was watching them, but she would stop and say "Ma!" and look to see that I was watching and then repeat what she was doing.  It was so cute.  I love that she is looking for me and waiting for me to respond to her "Ma!" now.  She does this constantly now!  She is becoming a little girl!  (oh, and poop.... I think she said poop this morning as I changed her diaper... lol!!)

She continues to grow taller.  3/4" since we moved here.  And she is finally into a size 3 shoe.  I even bought her a black dress shoes in a size 4 the other day simply because they actually fit her!  lol  I couldn't pass it up.  

Last week was pretty low key.  But one day, I took Emery to Liberty Park (closest one to our house).  She played with other kids, climbed up the chair/bar 'thingy' into the play gym (by her own strength, but with mom standing right behind her).  She is one petite, but strong, little girl. She loves to climb!  Up on every chair, on our bed, up the side of stairs, over the side of the recliner, up us!!  She is a little monkey just like her mommy was!  I would climb or swing on anything I could get my hands on!  My mom knew that all too well.  She would laugh regarding Emery if she was here.

I feel so incredibly blessed by the church God led us to.  We visited Gateway last year with our friends when we visited.  When we went after we moved here, we knew it was a fit.  It is awesome to be in a church that is so strong in the teaching of the Word, yet also moves in the gifts of the Spirit.  There is a great balance here.  This picture only shows a very small part of the auditorium.  But to my left was a sea of hands raised, praising and worshipping our Saviour!  It was amazing to see and be a part of.... worshipping together with the body of Christ.  It was such a tourist move, but I had to capture that moment.  It meant so much to me!  God continues connecting us with people, groups, ministries.  It has been so great!

This past Sunday, we had planned to go to the Zoo, so I had gone to church Saturday night.  But while Sean was at work on Saturday, he pulled his back.  So walking for hours was not going to happen for him.  So instead, we slept in a little and then went out to breakfast.  By far, it was the first, and honestly only, horrific food experience we've had so far in Texas.  It was a small "home cooking" kind of a place.  Sean had a feeling, but I insisted we try it out.  We didn't judge the inside or outside, cuz sometimes the hole-in-the-walls have the best food.  But.... not this time.  I will say my breakfast burrito was pretty good.  But poor Sean, the breakfast king.... his plate came out with light yellow eggs (we're guessing from a carton), 2 round sausage patties that looked like they came frozen in a bag and cubed potatoes with no flavor.  It was a very sad sight.  We ate, paid and left quickly.  So we made up for it by going to Starbucks!  Then Sean took me to "their" park.  It was beautiful with, once again, trails winding all through the park.  As we walked, I started noticing the ground of moving as far as you could see.  There were small yellow butterflies hovering above the flowers in the grass!  It was awesome!  I caught one for Em, but she was a little afraid of it, signing "all done".  But then she kept wanting me to catch more. lol

This is one of my favorite places to run now... Arcadia Park (pics below).  I mentioned it in my last post I think.  Its so beautiful!  I got to go out by myself (no stroller to push!) Sunday afternoon!  It was a beautiful day!  I found new routes to take and also found the neighborhood that I want to live in!!!  (we checked out some houses for sale and they are in our price range!)  They are up on a hill and the backyards back up to the trail and have an open view of the park valley below. 

Well that's about all of my boring life for now. hehe  I'll keep the pics coming!  Miss ya'all!