moments

Emma loves to be held.  Often when she is fussy and she's been fed, changed, etc., all she needs is to be held and cuddled.  I know it won't last forever, and I just love these sweet moments with her.

 Many of you saw this on FB, but I have to put it here, too, for my records.  This is how Sara walked around while we were shopping at Firewheel the other day.  She was so thrilled with her "outfit" ... we got some weird looks, but mostly kind smiles from fellow shoppers.  I wrote on FB that I'll remind her of this one day when she's embarrassed to shop with me.  Her innocence and confidence make me smile.

 The other morning Sara decided that she and Emma should have Circle Time because "Baby Emma has a lot to learn."  This is Sara teaching Emma about how she gets e-mails on her computer.  For her part, Emma was very attentive and didn't take her eyes of Sara.  Precious girls.

Wall Art

For the longest time, I've wanted a canvas to hang in our living room, but I've never had the photo that I thought would be perfect to use.  After Allison, the talent behind eleventhirtysix images, took pictures of the girls a week into Emma's life, I realized she had managed to snap just the picture I had unknowingly envisioned putting on a large canvas ... and shortly thereafter she let me know that one of her vendors was running a special on canvases.  Sold! 

Allison brought over our canvas last night, and I wasted no time getting it on the wall.  I am totally obsessed with it. I feel like the candid shot captures Sara so perfectly as she is right now: hair a little messy and in love with her little sister.  For me, this image will always render the feelings of magnified love and absolute completeness that filled me from head to toe when we brought Emma home.  I just love this picture of my beauties, and the canvas makes it such a special focal point in the room.

Wordless Wednesday

recent goings on

That space between being so busy you don't have time to blog and not busy enough to have anything to blog about?  Yep.

Last week flew by, and I'm not really sure what we did.  I would try to recap the monotony if I had any recollection whatsoever.  Things spiced up when my parents came to town Friday morning for a long weekend.  We hit the pumpkin patch and Cindi's before spending the weekend putting together a swing set (my mom and I weren't actually involved beyond spectating and holding the occasional post) and being disappointed in our football teams. 

 After looking at a variety of swing sets and considering the size of our yard, we settled on a metal one with a slide, two swings, a trapeze bar, and a glider. It wasn't a huge investment, so I won't feel bad when it goes untouched during our hottest days or if there comes a time when we have to leave it behind. It certainly serves its purpose, and Sara is thrilled to finally have a play set in her backyard.

I mentioned our football teams.  This weekend we cheered for the Cyclones, the Cowboys, and the Vikings.  If you watched any of those games, you know the disappointment of which I speak.  However, we did manage to smile long enough to get a family picture in our Cyclones gear.

I have a feeling that this is how our pictures will look for quite some time: everyone is clean and dressed, but a couple people look totally worn out, someone is crying, someone is looking the wrong way ... you get the idea.  But this sure captures us where we're at.  Loving our Cyclones through it all, of course.

I had been doing so well with my Weight Watch 2012, but then my parents came to town, which warranted making Rice Krispie bars (with Halloween sprinkles, of course) and chicken pot pie and BBQ chicken and cinnamon rolls and (turkey) bacon and eating at Matt's and drinking margaritas.  So I'm a little off course.  And I go back to the doctor tomorrow.  I'm not looking forward to my weigh-in, but I do have grand plans to get back to my diet first thing tomorrow morning.

My mom and I were able to sneak away for about an hour yesterday evening to do some shopping.  It was so nice to have a little time together on our own.  We got some items for the girls at Carter's, and walked out of Loft with matching clothes for ourselves.  Don't ever let me say I'm not turning into my mother!  My parents left tonight; it was another tough goodbye, and we're all anxiously awaiting our trip north over the holidays.  Sara tried on her boots today, and is ready for some snow in MN come late December.

In the meantime, I'm ready for some fall here.  Anyone else want to boycott the 80-degree temps with me?

iPhone photo dump

Our life lately, documented by my phone ...



bounce house birthday party  

tummy time 

watching her brand new copy of "Cinderella" that daddy brought home its first day out of the vault

 trying out the Bumbo

my new favorite Boulevard variety

game day gear ... go State 

riding the Texas Star at the State Fair

sleeping through the fair 

State Fair photo op 

birthday party face paint, about to come off in the tub 

touchdown 

enjoying the beautiful day

Game Day

 For the first time in many years, Steve and I had the opportunity to see the Cyclones play live!  When TCU decided to join the Big XII Conference, and yesterday's game was announced on the schedule, we knew we would have to be in attendance.  We had been looking forward to yesterday's game for months, and the Cyclones did not disappoint: they won 37-23, defeating No. 15 TCU and ending their 12-game winning streak. 

 We sat in a sea of purple because one of Steve's coworkers, who has season tickets, offered us two of her seats.  With the exception of one super obnoxious lady who had everyone in the section rolling their eyes, our experience sitting with the other team was decently pleasant. 

There was a ton of cardinal and gold around campus and in the stands (and even at the State Fair the day prior). One parking attendant made a comment about how impressed he was by the number of Cyclone fans in attendance.  Rhoads and the boys made us proud, and it was a great day to be part of CyclONE Nation!

One Month

Emma Grace is one month old today!

At one month, Emma enjoys short amounts of playtime on the floor or in her bouncy seat.  But mostly she just likes being held and snuggled.  She no longer minds her baths, and she sleeps incredibly well during the day.  We don't have much consistency with nighttime sleeping, but Emma has mastered the art of sucking down bottles as quickly as possible so at least when we're up, it's usually not for long.  Emma makes our family feel so complete, and I just love her to pieces.

 

Sara continues to be a wonderful big sister.  In the mornings before she leaves for school, she likes to go in and say goodbye to Emma.  Usually Emma is sleeping, so Sara just gently rubs Emma's head or whispers, "See you later, Baby Emma.".  One of Sara's new favorite things to do is to help burp Emma.  She thinks it's especially fun when Emma rewards her with a loud burp.  Simple pleasures.  I have to laugh because Sara has started speaking for Emma; she'll say things like: "Me and Baby Emma don't like this show" or "Me and Baby Emma want to take a bath."  It's just so incredible to watch Sara love her little sister.

 

What a beautiful month; it'll be a year before I know it...