Duke University with Aunty Sharon

Two posts in one weekend....

Today we took Sharon to see Duke University.  We did not get to show her on her last trip.
It was a great day to walk around and enjoy the campus.

I couldn't help but take pics of Emma, as Duke sets such a nice background.
I especially had to take pics of Emma in her Ralph dress that I got for her for our family photoshoot, which she unfortunately did not get to wear.  Also with the weather cooling down, best she wears it as much as possible, as next spring or summer I doubt she'll fit into it :(

25 Months

Another month gone by....Emma is 25 months now.
I'm almost thinking I should give up on the monthly updates, as I think all I'll be talking about is how much Emma is growing, becoming more and more independant, expressive, talkative....

I'm really loving this age now, it's like we've really formed this mother/daugther bond - sounds weird, but it's true.  Emma will now ask for hugs, or just come up to me and place her head on my shoulder, or tummy, sometimes wrap her arms around my neck.  She's now starting to call me "mommy".  Funny how is started off with Ma, then Mama, now Mommy.  Rod has also noticed that he feels more loved by Emma and has some purpose to her life.  haha
 
There is no more walking for Emma, it's all about running lately, skipping, hopping.  Em has a new friend from across the road, Madelyn, she's almost 3, and Em just loves watching her and copying everything she does.  They have a ball together, Emma cannot wait till she sees her next.  It's kind of crazy how quick Em will catch onto the bad habits - I guess it's bound to happen eventually.  It's funny how you think, I've taught my child to never do things like that, and then there she is learning from someone else.  The two girls were drawing with chalk on our driveway, our garage has now become the driveway with their artwork on the floor and walls.  Then Madelyn decided to draw/color her legs, and there's Emma doing exactly the same.  Guess you can only control so much and they're just being kids.

With all the running and skipping and hopping, Em works up quite an appetite.  So sweet when I tell her it's lunch time or dinner time, she'll come running to the table saying, "Emma Eat, Emma hungry" and  get comfortable in her chair, waiting for her food.  Such a great feeling too, seeing your child actually enjoy your meal and ask for another mouthful after her first.  It's become soooo much easier having Emma eat what we eat now...and if I make sometihng that I don't think she'll like and give her something else, she'll want to try what we're eating.  Hesitant to take that first bite, she'll just put her lips to the food, taste it and if it appeals will open her mouth wide.  I can see she does not trust me fully, I've probably tried one to many times to force things into her mouth!!

Sweets and treats are a big thing with Emma right now.  Every now and again, if she's been really good, ate all her food, made a pee or poop on the potty, we reward with some treats.  This poor girl gets so excited about it,  you'd swear it were Christmas or her birthday.  We've been to the mall once to have some haagen daaz, now each time we walk past, Emma will shout, "ice cream, Emma want ice cream".  I'm glad to say that even tho we don't get it for her, even after asking so nicely, she won't throw a tantrum or keep asking.  Times like that I think, we have it too easy with Emma.  What will Baby #2 bring??
Em caught a bit of a cold the other day and thought I'd give her some apple juice to make sure she drinks her liquids.  So we're sitting in the car and I ask her to drink some water, Emma doesn't take a sip, I ask her again and nothing.  Eventually I tell her, take a sip Emma, maybe there's a surprise inside.  she looks at me confused and lifts her cup....I tell her to take a sip and try it, again she looks at me...then says, "apple juice?"
So I said to try and see, again the happiest girl in the world, because she gets to drink apple juice.

Like identifying the ice cream stand at the mall, Emma will mention things like, Mama driving on the highway or big truck infront of us, lots of cars infront of us, bulldozers digging sand, man sitting in bulldozer.  Emma will point out the obvious and it's so great to hear her string more and more words together.  We've been looking at photos from our Hong Kong trip in December 2010, we've looked at them so many times, she thinks that her Ma Ma and Yeh Yeh live in Disneyland.  There is also one photo of Yeh Yeh sticking a Tinkerbell sticker on her t shirt, so this morning when I put that particular tshirt on, I asked if she remembered this shirt, and she replied with "Tinkerbell sticker", I then asked "who stuck it on your shirt?", she replied, "Yeh Yeh", then I asked where were we?, Emma, "Disneyland", and my final question was "which Disneyland?", she said, "Hong Kong".  Obviously when I tried to repeat the conversation with Ma Ma and Yeh Yeh on skype, it didn't go as smoothly.

As of yesterday Emma can count to 4, and today to 5....before it was always, 9, 10, 9, 10....now she's finally getting the hang of it.  Normally when Emma does not listen, I'll say something like "Emma I'm going to count to 5, and if you don't come over and change your diaper then we can't go for our walk." or whatever threat I need to use.  Then when I start to count, Emma will lift her fingers and start pointing to each finger as I count.  She takes all the seriousness out of it!!  Most times she'll then listen, just funny how she'll stop doing what she's doing and starting counting and pointing to her fingers.  "Oh this child!!"

Then reading...a few times I've caught Emma in her room "reading" her books.  She knows quite a few of her books, but the Dr Suess ones she knows pretty well.  So the one day I see her paging thru her books and memorizing a few words from the story.  Just such a sweet moment to watch.  You think, all my reading has not been done in vain.  Same with songs, I was cooking dinner the other night and she's sitting at the table waiting for her meal, and I hear her singing something, very quietly.  I listen hard and try make out what she's singing.  I finally figured it was "you are my sunshine", so when I started singing, she looked up at me and just gave his huge smile - big enough to melt my heart.  Emma will read, sing and repeat things back in whispers.

So much is said and done with this little one, it's quite amazing.  I try keep a journal of all the things she's done but with the lack of energy by the end of the day, I keep saying I'll write tomorrow and then a week later, I'm trying to remember everything, and obviously I've forgotten some things.

Rod has been travelling back and forth to Columbus for work, gone during the week and home for the weekend.  Rod's sister, Sharon is visiting this weekend and arrives tomorrow.  So I asked Emma this morning, "Do you know who's visitng you this weekend?"  Emma said, "Dada! Dada come play with Emma"
I had to laugh that she thinks dad is visiting, which is partly true, as he is likely to travel again next week.

Oh the cuteness.

Baby sister is 34 weeks tomorrow....and lately I've been feeling really excited about her arrival.  I cannot wait to meet her.  Em doesn't talk much about baby sister, but she knows she's in mommy's tummy and occassionally give her hugs and kisses.  I think though she's more fascinated by my belly button.  At times Em will be rough and push my tummy or accidently squash.  When I say, "becareful Emma", she'll say, "so so baby sister", thats, sorry baby sister and give a little kiss.

I've been blessed that this pregnancy has been really smooth, I haven't even felt the backache and other aches and pains as much as I did with Emma (besides by the pelvic area, when I lie down too long, or roll over too quick) - guess I don't have time to think of all the aches and pain with Emma keeping me on my toes.

Before I know it another month will pass, and I'll be close to popping, crazy to think.  Right now just trying to keep the energy levels up and keeping up with my little Emma.  Even tho I'm run off my feet by the end of the day, esp when Rod is out of town, I just love watching Emma enjoy being a kid, absorbing everything said and done around her, and being fascinated by the little things.

Our Morning walk on the American Tobacco Trail

Today was sadly, my first form of exercise since falling pregnant.  The weather has been great lately...not humid, not too hot - just right!!  (Sad to think that our summer has come to an end, and soon we'll be complaining about the cold.)  We didn't have any errands to run, or playdates to go on, I decided to go for a walk with Emma along the ATT.  Would be great for Emma to see other walkers/runners, bikers, dogs etc.

After about 30 minutes into the walk, Emma got antsy and did not want to sit in the stroller anymore, she wanted to walk.  Although she didn't walk...she started off running.  So she sure got her exercise this morning.  So sweet to see her little legs go and her arms at times tucked in at her sides while she waddles, I mean runs! 

And then, it was time to cool down....

Since turning 2 and Bald Head Island

Since Emma turned 2 it's like we have a new child on our hands.
One blink and we have this little girl who now seems so tall, talking endlessly, becoming so independent and really expressing herself.
I've lost track of how many words she can say now, it's endless words and trying to figure out what she's saying.  We're caught by surprise many times when she repeats something we've said either from a while back or instantly.

This past weekend we managed to go on our Summer Holiday.  Our first family beach holiday which I've been looking forward to for a long time!  You can imagine my dissapointment when I heard that Hurricane Irene was on it's way and we were right in her path.  With continuous calls to the lodge where we were to stay, they convinced me that we'd be arriving after the storm and we'd be good to go.  Still unsure about going. What the weather would be like after the storm? Will the beach be covered in debris?
It turned out beautifully, sunny skies everyday and it was so hot!  Just the getaway we needed with our little Emma before Baby sister arrives.

Emma showed so much excitement as we were packing the car before we left.  It was so cute to see, reminded me of how excited I would get going away on holiday, but I never thought a 2 year old would react that way.  She was very vocal, jumping around, shouting.  She had her little suitcase ready, sat by the stairs waiting for her shoes to be put on, then climbed in her carseat and was ready to be strapped in.  We eventually leave the house, and Emma asks to see Ella and Amy...hmmmm.....

So our first stop on Sunday was Wilmington, where we would visit the aquarium and try get to the beach before sunset.  Fort Fisher has a small aquarium, but adequate enough for Emma explore the sea life.  She seemed to have enjoyed herself, she got to touch a horseshoe crab, starfish and some urchin.
All excited about taking Emma to the beach later that day, turned out to be quite the ordeal for Emma.  We went to Wrightsville beach, Emma hated the sand, which I expected, as she never wants to play in the sandpit.  But thinking the water might entice her, it didn't.  Our little girl, squealed and whined about the sand in between her toes and on her hands, when we sat her on the towel she would continue to whine and have both hands and feet in the air.  Funny girl.  Dad tried to take her to the water, if Em could climb on top of her dads head she would have.  We knew we were in for a "good beach weekend" with Emma behaving this way! :)
That night we were all in bed by 9pm and fast asleep - Em loved being in her own bed, jumping up and down, so happy, and crying for just a bit before falling asleep.

Monday we made our way to Bald Head Island, this involved 2 ferry rides, one being a vehicle ferry, ie we take our car on the boat, and the other we had to park our car and catch the passenger ferry to Bald Head.
Once on Bald Head Island we were transported by tram to our place of accommodation - Marsh Harbor Inn.  We checked in and were assigned a golf cart, the only means of transport on this island.  This was fun for all us.  Em got to sit with mom and dad in the front, put the key in the starter and at times even helped dad drive.
Bald Head is a small island, that takes 15 minutes to get from one end to the other, has one little grocery store, one main restaurant (which sadly had poor reviews, so opted to not even eat there, luckily there were two deli's we could eat at and the grocery store), and just a few little boutique-ish stores which we didn't get to see.

So the next 2 days we spent exploring the island, trying to get Em used to the beach - which was not quite successful, we hope it's just an age thing.  As soon as Em walked on the sand she froze and would not move, as though she were stuck in concrete.  The only time she took a few steps was when I had her sneakers on, but obviously sand would eventually get in and Emma would hate it.  Only our girl wants to wear sneakers to the beach, and sit on her towel while digging in the sand.  I hope next summer will be a different story.

priceless!

We also rented bikes and rode around the island, Emma loved this sitting behind her daddy and just taking it all in.  She found it funny when Rod would stand and peddle going uphill as she would rock side to side.  An hour into the ride Em fell asleep, and we had to head back, poor girl was all slumped in the child seat.

All in all, a wonderful, relaxing little getaway.  Emma was so easy going, we just love how big she's gotten, expressing herself and commenting on things, showing her excitement and talking about things after.
She has become a little cheeky these days, but we hope to nip that in the bud.  Em got to fill up on lots of fries, chicken tenders and grilled cheeses, funny how this is all what eating places offer kids.  The night we got home, I steamed carrots and I was surprised that Emma went for them and said, "nice"!!  I guess she missed her veggies, we did too!

We got some really great shots this holiday - these being our favourites, so much love from our little Emma, we can't get enough!

Now we wait for our next exciting adventure, arrival of baby sister, just shy of 10 weeks to go....