Emolyn turns 2 (like 2 weeks ago)

So I know I am overdue for a post but i had to document Emolyn's 2nd birthday! And some updates on what its like to be Emolyn at 2. Emolyn had her first party at my moms house. it was supposed to be outside but the rain kept us in.

Emolyn was so glad to have her family there and loved that uncle tyty came even though he had to work.

She was happy to get a meal she could use her fork but mostly her hands. see how much she likes chicken! Emolyn is like the least picky eater ever, its fantastic.

Finally she got her cake. we did a "colossal cupcake" last year and it was perfect. who else at the party eats cake? Plus she got red frosting with her favorite friend Elmo on top. She sings the "elmo's world" theme song pretty well.

And after a time on gluttony, she is done. and she was pretty clear about it.

Emolyn and her family guests had a great time at the party, she really enjoyed presents but I didn't get any pictures of that sorry. The party ended with the need for a nap, which happened pretty shortly after she got in the car to head home. Thanks family for a great 2nd birthday party!

On Emolyns actually birthday (she turned 2 on 2/22) we went to the science center with the Winzelers, because Baby Addie, as Emolyn calls her has a birthday the day after Emolyn. So thinking it was the childrens science museum we got free culture passes from the library (that you city of phx) and headed downtown.

The girls didn't seem to notice my disappointment in choosing the wrong location but hey it was free. The first stop was this construction area about how homes are built well the girls didn't care for that as much as the play house that was there.

Then we went upstairs and found the "wired" area all about energy. The girls found some things but the dads found lots of things!

Emolyn got to play with this air thing that was pretty fun.

Then she laid on a bed of nails.

Then the dads fixed all the rings so the ball went through each of them in a perfect arc.
We decided to head to lunch next at Tacos de Jaurez, where Emolyn fell out of her high chair. After some tears all was well and we parted ways the the Winzelers. We had the 2nd half of birthday to do!

The final birthday event was the evening of Emolyns birthday and Gigi and Popo's house. Gigi made a big dinner and the family came out to celebrate. Emolyn got some very fun gifts. Aunt Marianne gave her a "baby doll" she calls all the others just "babies" but this one is very fancy so its a "baby doll".
And that any good little mommy Emolyn rocks her baby.
Gigi made special lemon cupcakes for Emolyn. Emolyn still clueless about candles and fascinated by the fire took forever till we blew it out.

At 2 Emolyn can:

March

count to 11 (minus 5, she hates 5)

sing parts of ABC's

Dance with motions to several songs also making up motions to songs that do not have any

she has now been a flower girl twice

some hair is starting to show up

she loves the shower

other than several wiping poop on herself incidents we have been getting better at using the potty (we being Emolyn, shawn and I pretty much have it down)

She loves babies, real and otherwise, and always thinks they are sleeping

like apple juice, altoid mints and cheese

likes talking on the phone, which is usually silence

loves shoes and other accessories, namely purses and sunglasses

loves her mom and dad and calls for each of them on a regular basis!

Our little girl is so loved we had such a fun time with family and friends. Stay tuned for more of our adventures!

January Update

This is my "pumpkin spice latte" outfit.
This is emolyns nose in case you were wonderingGuess who went potty on the potty 2 times yesterday? Well along with candy each time Emolyn got some undies. Its all very exciting.

She might get cuter every day.

We are loving the rain here. Emolyn is "splashing" in puddles.

Emolyn is trying to get over her month long ear infection. I think we might have done it this time!

Christmas part 3- Ellis

Christmas is backwards at my moms house and Shawns parents house. My moms we do eat first and then do stockings before gifts. Shawns house stockings are last and you dont eat until after gifts. Well its all very exciting! And either way you eat and get presents!

We spent Christmas day at my moms house. Jason and Michelles family went to Michelles parents on Christmas eve and the boys had some pretty sweet dart guns to show for it. So we made some targets!

And dont worry emolyn got plenty of very cool things! She got a tiny little baby and a bottle, she held the baby and took off its clothes, rocked it and gave it a bottle, then threw it on the ground to get something else, all with her sunglasses on.
And she got a very cool crocodile christmas book from Aunt Michelle and a stuffed dinosaur, very cool as you can tell by Emolyns face.
This was the only time he was allowed to do this.
We had a great time with my family and our family tradition is a big shopping day on the day after christmas so our gift is money to shop. We all eat together and see a movie. This year no movie as Sherlock Holmes was sold out. so we shopped more! We get all the sales and I cant even tell you what amazing deals I got! I love it!

We had a very busy but a very happy Holiday. My grandpa was still in the hospital on Christmas so we went in shifts to see him and my grandma.

He is home now and regaining his strength. Less than 1 week of IV antibiotics left! Thank you all for your prayers and concern. By all I mean the 2 of you that read this. You guys are really great.

Christmas 09 pt 2

Emolyn loved wandering around checking out everyones toys on Christmas Eve. She opened all of her presents very well and was always thankful. Ten she would go to Pop Pop so he could get them out of the package for her!

Mimi and Santa collaborated to get Emolyn so many fun things! She got a ton of fake food and dishes to eat it off of! She loved it. She is so good at pretending. Mimi also got her some rags to "clean up". Emolyn loves walking around and cleaning.
My big gift. A quilt rack! I am so excited to display my quilts! Now I just have to get them all finished...
Emolyn got an awesome table and set of chairs to do her playing on. She loves to draw and these washable markers are perfect! I do have some of her art on the fridge, very moving. She is very talented.
Emolyn got a Elmo play set from Uncle and Tyler! This was her going to give him a hug and say "Dak Un" (Thank you)
We had an awesome day with the Thompson clan, followed by a night of worship and the Christmas Eve service at church.

Christmas 09 pt 1

Well between my grandpas illness and working hard for the money this holiday season flew by. It was a little good in that I didn't do any last minute impulse shopping. So our gifts were a little more meager this year as I stuck to the budget and did most my purchasing pre-holiday.

Here are just a few snippets from the big day!

Emolyn was so excited to get to Mimi and Pop Pops house on Christmas Eve. It was our Christmas round 1. She went and woke up "Randa" and "Tywer" and said "shh ty ty sleeping". Just look at the excitement on her face.

Pre-Christmas Sunday morning Emolyn looked soooo cute in this fabulous coat from Mimi. And she knew it! She danced for Benjamin and his friends once she got to church.
Shawn and I always exchange our gifts the night before Christmas. Well since Christmas Eve is our Thompson Christmas we exchange gifts on the 23rd. I would exchange gifts in october if Shawn would let me. I love presents! I got him this awesome new Onion book!
Here is my tree collection! It grew by 3 trees this holiday! But this was before the "spouting" of the newest trees. I love the variety! Look at my littlest tree all the way from Germany! Thanks Miranda!
Here was our tree this year. Morten in all his glory. Sad really. Only 3 ornaments made it up. All new this year. We just didn't have time to do much decorating.
Tis was only a glimpse. I assure you when I have time (never) there will be more to come (hopefully).

Fun treat!

My neighbor across he street and down one gave us this super cute horse for Emolyn!

As you can tell she loves it! This lady is so nice and I can never remember her name but I did watch her son once when I let her borrow my car. Funny story.
Oh and Emolyn was strutting in a winter wonderland today. She looked so cute!
We went to say hi to Mimi for her birthday! Emoyln cant say "Happy Birthday" yet. But she can say "happy" and "birthday" just not back to back! We had a special girls only weekend with Shawn being out of town in Disneyland. It was super fun while also exhausting. She makes me tired, but I love her! We jam packed the weekend and were going going going the whole time. And Emolyn seems to have a cold (runny nose, no fever, but it sure makes her grumpy!). Oh well Shawn will have to deal with it tonight. He is finally home!

Christmas tree shopping

Tonight we went shopping at our local Whitfill Nursery for Morton Thompson (our christmas tree's name). We named him the first year and decided that would always be his name. So now its Morton the 5th. It was extra cold here like 45 degrees so we bundled up and headed to dinner. Our family tradition is dinner first. This is Shawn's year to pick the place so we ate at The Yard House and got there in time for happy hour! We shared 2 appetizers and they were huge! Sliders and Chicken nachos. And Emolyn had some soup. Her new thing is soup she loves to say "soup" and to eat soup.

This was what tree shopping looked like for us.

Emoyln sat next to the HUGE inflatable snow man. Just to give you a little perspective...Here is the tree at home! We usually only get a 5 foot tree due to our enormous cast iron tree stand!