B's 9 Month Pics

Jen really had her work cut out for her for Braelyn's 9 month pictures for several reasons.  First, she is VERY mobile.  Trying to get a certain pose was next to impossible, it was more just letting her go and hoping she landed in a decent pose.  Then there is the issue of her tongue ALWAYS being out and the drool associated with that as well as with teething!  All that being said I think they are precious!

Biting that little top lip!

The horse rocked a little more than we expected...I think she was a little surprised at first!

10

Little Miss Braelyn is just growing too fast...we have now hit the 10 month mark!!!!!  She is absolutely hilarious.  She is crawling 90 to nothing still with very little interest in walking.  She is a lot more likely to give it a try if nobody is watching.  She has no intention of trying it when you cheer her on and try to get her to walk.  If nobody is looking, she will walk a little bit pushing her little rolling toy.  As for standing, she can definitely do it but it usually happens by accident.  She will get really focused on something and not realize that she isn't holding on anymore.  When she finally does realize, she sits down immediately.  She loves to play games.  She still thinks that when we get on to her about touching the entertainment center that it is a game.  She will go over to it reach out her hand like she is going to touch it and when she sees us get up and come over to her, she pulls back her hand really quick, smiles, and sometimes even claps her hands!  Clapping is now her new favorite talent and she actually combined it with standing!  Her hair is definitely starting to fill in but certainly not enough to really show in pictures as you can see below!

I could just eat her up!

I laughed so hard when I looked over and saw her sitting in the drawer of Em's kitchen!

Emerson's kitchen and Emerson's room are her most favorite places to play!

Sad Similarity

While Emerson and Braelyn are opposites on just about everything one sad similiarity is their trouble with ear infections!  Braelyn unfortunately started the struggle even earlier than Emerson with her first infection at just 4 months.  Over the last couple of months she had to be on antibiotics 4 times so Dr. Fershtman suggested that we go ahead and see Dr. Raney, the ENT, to see if she needed tubes.  He suggested that on a Wednesday, Dr. Raney acutally had an opening that Friday and before we left we were on the schedule for the following Wednesday!  We hope that the similiarities don't end with the infections because tubes did wonders for Emerson and we are hoping for the same result for Braelyn.  Her surgery was scheduled for 7:30 meaning we had to be at the surgery center by 6:30.  Thankfully Gransan was able to come down the day before so that Emerson did not have to get up at the crack of dawn with us.  Braelyn did great.  We were a little worried about not being able to feed her but when they ran behind, she just decided to go back to sleep and slept til they were ready for her.  Dr. Raney said that the surgery went great and sweet Braelyn was home playing with Emerson by around 8:30 like nothing had ever happened!

One of the Target purchases...water balloons!

Emerson loved the water balloons...if she was the one doing the throwing!

Better run faster next time Gransan!

I don't know if Gransan or Maggie was the target this time!

After water balloons the fun moved to the front yard to try horseshoes.

Who knew being the big sister of the patient could have such benefits!

The little trooper finally got up from her nap to see what she got out of the Target run!  She loved it!

Pearly Whites

Emerson had her first visit to the dentist and got a perfect report!  I was very anxious to see how she was going to do but as always she did amazing.  When we first went back she was a little unsure about laying on the chair to have her teeth cleaned.  She would lay down stiff as a board and as soon as they showed her something they were going to use she would pop back up again.  She really liked the hot pink sunglasses she got to put on so we started making some progress there.  I then moved from the stool I was sitting on to sit right at her feet and she finally relaxed a little bit.  The hygienist said that she could not believe that Emerson actually let her clean her teeth saying that very few 3 year olds would do that.  Dr. Andersen said that her teeth looked really good but could tell without even having to ask that she likes to suck her thumb!  He said that there is no harm done at this point but if she continues to around the time she is 5 he will intervene!  When he finished taking a look they took their picture together then it was off to the treasure chest to pick her prize!  Such a big girl!

Easter Weekend

Our Easter weekend could not have been any more perfect.  The weather was absolutely beautiful so the majority of our weekend was spent outside.  Gransan came down on Friday afternoon and stayed until Sunday after lunch.  Of course on Friday she came bearing gifts.  For Emerson, she brought the new colored bubbles bubble machine by Crayola.  They are very serious when they say that it's a messy outdoor activity...messy, but so much fun!  Emerson was entertained for what seemed like hours!  Saturday was a pretty lazy day and Saturday evening we decided to head down to the Woodlands Waterway.  We had dinner at Coal Burger and then went outside to let Emerson play at the splash pad.  Afterwards it was back to the house for "pink" ice cream!  Easter Sunday, the girls got their Easter baskets and we went to early service.  During class time they had an egg hunt for the kids.  There are not that many pictures of Emerson because from the moment they said "GO!" I was chasing her from behind!  We had lunch at 7 Leguas, our favorite Mexican place, and then it was time for Gransan to start for home.  After the girls had their naps, we had our own egg hunt in the yard.  The egg hunt at church was more of an egg gather...the eggs are scattered all over the grass and you grab your allotted 30 eggs and you are done.  We decided that we needed an actual hunt!  Emerson loved it...so glad we got it on video!  After our hunt we grilled hot dogs on the grill and ate out on the patio...a perfect end to a perfect weekend.

Bubbles!!!!

I had to include all these pictures!  She had soooo much fun!

Gransan, there's a purple one!!!

She insisted that Gransan do everything she did on the swing set...even going down the slide!

Braelyn thought it was great getting to try out Big Sister's tricycle!

I'm not sure she ever even saw a bubble!

Em and Gransan at Coal Burger

Mommy, Daddy, and Braelyn at Coal Burger

This splash pad sprays water much higher than the one at Market Street!

Braelyn didn't quite make it to the splash pad!  She was much happier snuggling with Daddy!

We are ready for pink ice cream!

Happy Easter!

I love those smiles!

Emerson's basket was full of things to play outside...flashlight, magnifying glass, "noculars", and gardening tools.

Hey Mom, what else is in my basket?

Hey Dad, look at my "noculars"!

First Easter as a family of 4!

So glad Gransan could be here to celebrate with us!

Gransan, Em, and Braelyn

Hi bunny!

A last minute egg hunt pep talk!

And she's off...

Her basket filled up very quickly!

Braelyn wanted in on the action even though we didn't bring her basket!

Very proud of her huntin'!

Hmmmm...I wonder if there is anything in these things.

The sisters made quite a haul between the two of them!

When we got back home they got to open their bags from Grandma and Papa.  Emerson loved her bunny!

Braelyn did too!

Trying out her "noculars" watching Daddy practice his golf swing!

I found something!