Emma's World

I really believe that, if she could articulate as much, Emma would let us know that it's her world ... and we're just living in it.  Don't get me wrong: we love Emma's world; it's a  very special place.  Anyway, I realized that I went an entire year giving monthly updates on Emma, and I haven't done any posts like that since she turned one.  Figured I would take a few minutes to jot down where she's at now.

Although she was 15 months a few days ago, we don't go back to the doctor for her well-child visit until after the first of the new year.  Sometimes scheduling convenience for mom wins.  But aside from doctor stats, there's plenty more to share about Emma.  Still a little thing, she is full of personality and opinions.  For example, she doesn't like the fact that she has to watch Sara at gymnastics but can't participate herself.  A few weeks ago, we had to watch from outside ...

 Emma is playing with new toys, and likes looking at books.  While we try to steer her toward the more age-appropriate board books, she's fascinated by the ones in Sara's room.  Surprisingly, she's gentle with them and hasn't torn up one yet.  She is also attached to the red rocking chair.  She'll take a book, a snack, a drink ... or whatever, and go sit in it.  If Sara nabs it first, Emma is pretty persistent in trying to crawl on Sara's lap until Sara just gives up and lets her sister have the seat (Sara's patience with Emma continues to amaze me ... she's the best big sister).

 While G & G were here over Thanksgiving, Emma enjoyed wearing Grandpa's hat.  She also started getting angry about having to wear pants.  I don't know why, but she suddenly started throwing a huge fit whenever I tried to put pants on her.  I really just think that was the battle she chose to pick ... as long as she's not still picking it in about 15 years, we should be okay.

 Emma loves to empty her spoons and forks out of the drawer.  Sometimes she'll place piles of them in her red rocking chair, and sometimes, like below, she'll just throw them all over the floor.  She flings them with gusto and supreme concentration.

I've been growing increasingly concerned about Emma's lack of language development.  Aside from "dada", "tata", "baba", and other similar sounds, she doesn't use words.  She does depend on her sign language, and will make a "roof, roof" sound when asked what a dog says.  I know Emma understands a lot because she'll respond with the appropriate actions to requests such as "go get your shoes", "put that in the trash", and "please put that back where you found it" (i.e. the spoons and forks!).  We'll see what happens over the next couple of months.  It's hard to know whether her lack of talking is by choice; based on her personality, it wouldn't surprise me.  I'll be interested to hear what our pediatrician has to say.

I love thinking about who Emma will become based on her behaviors now.  She is so feisty yet so loving.  She pushes boundaries just to see how far we'll let her go, and she wants to do anything and everything her sister does.  And she's pretty sure she rules the roost (which is mostly partly true).