Growing Up So Fast

Emerson is growing up so fast.  One of the ways I notice it is watching her play.  She "pretends" so much more now and it is hilarious to listen to her when she is playing.  She is also playing by herself in her room a lot more.  Before she never wanted to play by herself.

 "Mommy, Abby likes apple juice."  She put a bib on Abby Cadabby and then went to her kitchen to get her some apple juice.

 "Cheese!"  How about that hairdo?!  We'll do just about anything to keep her bangs out of her eyes!

 We love our new video monitor!  Shawn happened to look at it in time to catch this scene on camera!  This is her watching The Jungle Book with all her animals!

She keeps us smiling and laughing all the time!

Daddy's Girls

It has been a great week just spending time together at home before Shawn has to start back to football next week.  I love watching him with Emerson and Braelyn...he is such an amazing Daddy and they both love him so much.  Yesterday, we were tired of watching TV so Shawn turned it to the music channels.  Emerson jumped up and said "Dance with me Daddy!"  It was so precious!  After they danced for a while, I got to join in and the three of us did the Hokey Pokey while Braelyn looked on from her swing...special memory!

 Very content snuggling with her Daddy

 So sweet

 Daddy doesn't even dance with Mommy...Em is a very lucky girl!

 Watching a little TV with the little princess

My Daddy is the best!

Total Relaxation

Yesterday we got a little off schedule with Braelyn so I was giving her a bath and getting her ready for bed about an hour later than I usually do.  Shawn was taking Em to bed while I was giving Braelyn a bath and brought her to say goodnight.  She gave Braelyn a kiss and said "Night, night Braelyn."  I gave Em a kiss and then looked down at Braelyn to find that she was totally asleep in the bath!

Cookie Monsters

Emerson definitely got my sweet tooth so I thought it would be fun to have our own little cookie decorating party today while Daddy went to play golf.  We had so much fun and made a huge mess! 

 Notice the lack of icing on the cookies and how clean Em is!

 The blue icing was her favorite...can't say that I blame her!

 Better taste the sprinkles first...if they aren't any good we wouldn't want them to ruin the cookies!

 I wasn't sure how she would do with this undertaking but she did great!

 Definitely my daughter-I turned to put something in the sink and turned back to find the spout on the icing in her mouth!

 She insisted that there were "E"s on several of the cookies.  I am not sure if that is to mark the ones that she is going to eat or what!

 Oooo...something smells good!  How long before I am big enough to have a cookie?!

 I love Chef Emerson soooooo much!

The best part:  taste testing!

Shreveport, Here We Come!

This past weekend we made our first road trip as a family of 4(plus a dog!) with a new family vehicle!  We put the new truck to the test with a trip to Shreveport loaded down with enough gear to stay for a month rather than 3 days!  This trip proved how you change as a parent with baby number 2.  As soon as we got to GranSan's house, Shawn and I stayed just long enough to unload the truck, give a rundown of the girls' schedules and borrow an overnight bag from GranSan and then we headed out to spend the night at Diamond Jack's Casino!  We didn't leave Emerson overnight until she was over a year old!  Braelyn wasn't even quite 5 weeks old!  Shawn and I did a little shopping, then went to the casino to check in and do a little gambling.  We ate dinner on the boardwalk at Buffalo Wild Wings and then went back to the casino.  We had the best night's sleep we have had in as long as I can remember!  The girls did great without us.  Emerson got to have a slumber party on her new princess air matress in GranSan's room and Patsy was on Braelyn duty.  On Sunday, we got to spend time with the whole Fielder crew which was great.  Monday morning GranSan had to go in for surgery so I was able to take her to the hospital and stay with her until she got to her room while the girls had a morning with Daddy.  She came through the surgery with flying colors and we all have our fingers crossed that she is going to feel much better now! 

 First time to have both GranSan's girls at the farm!

 Em and GranSan's marching band

 GranSan has to have a new toy for Em every trip...this trip was an Aqua Doodle.

 Braelyn couldn't be left out of the new toy rule!

 She was so excited about her new princess bed.

 Braelyn loved snuggling with Patsy

 Looks like Braelyn loves staying at GranSan's!

 Jon and Em playing in the water on a hot day

 Jaf, Shell, and the girls came down to meet the new addition

 Jordan and Emerson tracing Jenna with sidewalk chalk

 Uncle Jerry trying to get Miss B to stop showing off her temper!

 Surprise, surprise...Em got Jordan's cell phone!

 Jenna and Jamie loving on Braelyn

Nate and Aunt Janet taking their turn with Braelyn

 It was great having everybody together!

Time to Workout!

Shawn and I are slowly but surely trying to get back into the routine of exercising.  Emerson and I have been breaking in the new stroller in the neighborhood in the evenings and when we get back Daddy gets on the treadmill.  In watching us do this, Emerson has decided that she needs to start "running".  Nobody panic, we have not put our 2 year old on an exercise plan but she was begging to give the treadmill a try!  I was amazed at how coordinated she was on it!  I only wish it was as much fun to me as it is to her!

One

Braelyn is one month old today!  Where did the time go?!  She had her check-up today and got a great report.  He said that she was doing fantastic.  She was 21 1/4 inches(50%), 8 pounds 14 ounces(30%), and her head was 36 1/2 cm(25%).  Needless to say she is on the petite side!  She is a great sleeper-last night she went 6 hours before I had to get up and feed her!  She may be small but she definitely lets her presence be known-the child can scream with the best of them!  The plus is that she can be consoled...she is very partial to being held!  It is so amazing to see how much she has already grown and changed.  She doesn't even look like the same baby that I took pictures of at the hospital.  It is hard to even imagine our happy little family without her already!

 Emerson hated being on her tummy...Braelyn obviously doesn't mind it!

 She is already ga ga for her Daddy!

 She hates it when you put her in her car seat but once the car starts moving she is great.

 That tiny little head fits right in Daddy's hands!

Bright eyed with a full belly!

Sunny Days

There is nothing like your big sister letting you watch one of her favorite shows with her...Emerson introduced Braelyn to Sesame Street yesterday!  It was one of the cutest things I have ever seen.  It has already been so fun watching Em take on the role of big sister.  The other day we were on our way home from eating out and it was past time for Braelyn to eat and she was definitely letting us hear about it.  Shawn and I were talking in the front and then noticed that Emerson was quietly saying something in the back.  We listened and heard the sweetest little voice saying "Almost there baby".  She told her that several times and then started singing to her...precious! 

 A relaxing day in our jammies

 Making sure sister was covered and comfy before Sesame Street started

 Watch Braelyn...that's Elmo.  He's one of my favorites!

 I think it is safe to say that she loves her little sister, even if she does cry a lot! (She says all the time: "Baby crying AGAIN!")

 I could eat them both up!

Braelyn has the best big sister!

Squeaky Clean!

Braelyn got to take her first real bath last night right before she slept in her room for the first time!  She didn't like it at first but once she gave it a chance she loved it-she was totally relaxed.  She was great until it was time to get out to get dried off.  This child hates being uncovered and hates being cold!  As for sleeping in her own room, she did great.  I put her down a little after 10 and she didn't get up to eat until about 3:30 and then again at about 6:30.  I think she likes her new room!

 Please just put my clothes back on!

 Oh...maybe this isn't so bad.  It's actually warm!

 Oooh...I think I could get really used to this!

 Why weren't we doing this sooner?!

I think I might REALLY like showers!

Do I really have to get out now?