Happy 35th Birthday to Kallie

Happy Birthday to me!  But first...

Today's update in "Emmalyn, Hair-Watch" - Clearly getting more length but still curling around in the front 

Look - just barely getting longer in the back but very curly/wispy

Curls

I bit the bullet and got out Emmalyn's 12-18 month clothes.  Here's the pile of clothes.  Sheesh - what a wardrobe!

We also packed away a bunch of the baby stuff like the bathtub, jumper, nursing pillows, etc.  Sad.

Big girl taking on the step in the media room.  She loves going up and down this step.  She can either go down on her belly or basically fall/walk down.  However, she never cries when she falls or face plants.  She's just like, "whatever, I'm good".

For my birthday, we got to spend some with some of my very favorite people who spoiled me more than I feel I deserve to be spoiled as an adult.  They certainly made me feel special.  I adore Tida and Jason.

Yummy birthday desserts!

After dinner, we walked (in the rain) to a pub to listen to some live music.  The night ended with a sleepover at our house.

In the morning we went to brunch at Whiskey Cake.  The wait was tremendously long.  :(  Good thing the food was delicious.  Emmalyn was loving on Jason during this visit.  She went to him, no problem (A pretty big deal!).

That afternoon we took the kids to the park.

Video -  Emmalyn had fun climbing up the slide and sliding down on her belly

Tida had made me a birthday cake but we didn't end up eating it while she was here so we enjoying it on the night of my birthday.  It was the best birthday cake I think I've ever had.

Of course, I had help blowing out the candle.

Video - Maxwell singing happy birthday to me

Emmalyn can stand on her own so well now!  She's walking a little more but gets too exited and leans forward.  If she could slow down, she'd end up going really far.  :)

Based on how she uses her toys and hands, we think she is right handed.

The rest of Shannon's visit

We all enjoy our time with Shannon so much, we don't let any moments go to waste.  I love that we can have fun going and having adventures or we can have fun just sitting around catching up on my couch.  Grateful for our long friendship!

Girls night  - Mexican Food

Peter made some legit homemade scones for breakfast.  He amazes me with some of the things he takes on in the kitchen.  I'm impressed.

We went out to brunch at a place called Whiskey Cake.  I've had dinner and lunch there but this was the first time having their brunch.  It was crazy good (it better be because we had a long wait!).

Max was pretty happy about the homemade whipped cream.

Oh, how I love those lashes and that dimple

Maxwell had a lot of fun with Shannon during this visit

He called her "Miss Shannon" without me prompting him.  It seemed to just fit more than "Shannon".  It was cute and I guess is means he IS a Texan.

After brunch we took Shannon to experience Top Golf.  Of course, she had a good time.  :)  Who doesn't have a good time at Top Golf!?

Daddy Kisses

Apparently she didn't like the daddy kisses.  :)

Rockin' some Halloween style

Maxwell wanted to do it on his own (which always makes me nervous considering how close the edge is).  He had left handed clubs and tee'd off on the other side of the green.

Ready with his "swing"  (sweeping motion)

Sweetness.  

Sitting down to get his ball just right

After Top Golf, unfortunately, it was time to take Shannon to the airport.  I hate taking people to the airport and putting them on planes to leave us after we've had such a good time! :(  Thanks for coming Shannon - we LOVE having you!

That night, we took Emmalyn to her first FC Dallas soccer game!

He was PUMPED to be there (except for the fireworks when they scored)

He was so into the game.  It was super cute.

It was a misty game but we had a lot of fun.  Emmalyn got lots of attention from those around us.  She's so cute that people even stopped us when we were leaving to say how cute she was.

Classy activities...you know... like going to places and eating brunch

All of this is from Sept 8 - Sept 14, 2014.

Video - She coos herself to sleep at night just like this.  It's crazy adorable to me.  Sometimes she will even coo while I am getting her all swaddled.

Video - Maxwell is doing so great at swimming lessons.  In this video he jumps in, swims towards his teacher, then rolls to his back and swims around the pool on his back then rolls back over and swims towards his teacher on by a step at the edge of the pool.  He does all this without the help of his teacher!

She is always so happy

Story time at night

This is how she sleeps with her head pushed back and turned to the side

It looks like he's wearing tights to school but it's just his dark socks that he wanted pulled all the way up.

After I dropped him off at school, I watched again.  I wanted to see how long he'd be sitting there until he either got up to do work on his own or was directed to do something by the teacher.  

Nearly 10 minutes later, he's still just sitting there.  I don't get it?!  Why is his teacher oblivious?  I know Montessori focuses on child driven choices but this was frustrating to me.  He's still new to this routine so why wasn't he getting more help?

Finally he was prompted to go get these blocks that he worked on stacking in order of size.

All worn out after school.

He's not falling asleep during nap time (hopefully he'll catch on to the routine soon) so he's exhausted at the end of the day.

Giving Britt her b-day present - Tortilla warmer and crispy shell taco holder

Cowboy up

Practicing sitting up

How ridiculously cute is Emmalyn!?!

Love that tongue

video - what would you call that sound?? A gurgle?

Rockin' his track suit

We took Maxwell to his first play - it was a local children's theater production of "Once upon this island".  He did a great job of staying interested.  It was a tough story line to follow and he could have easily tuned out.  I nursed the baby so that she'd sleep and be quiet.  

We ended up telling Maxwell the show was over during intermission.  While he did a good job of staying interested, that also meant that he was asking a ton of questions during the show and he was only so quiet.  There were lots of kids in the audience so it wasn't like we totally stood out but I was so hyper conscious of every little noise he made and it was getting later in the evening.  

It's important to me that Maxwell gets experiences like going to plays and things like that.  I want him to be exposed to cultural activities like plays, musicals, the symphony and museums.  This was a good start with the plays.

I can't think of another thing as tender for a Momma as to have your baby sweetly sleeping on you.

Peter and his kiddos (boy, Emmalyn looks chunky!)

All dressed up to go to brunch

She slept for a little bit

If you look in the top left corner, you will see the musician playing the violin.  Maxwell was enthralled with him and loved watching.  He would turn shy whenever he came close but we did get him to wave to the guy once.  :)

One of the, maybe, 5 bites Max ate.

The baby didn't sleep for long...so yup, that's me nursing in the fancy restaurant.  (The lady at the table next to us also had a baby and she nursed first so I didn't feel uncomfortable.)  I'm game to nurse everywhere.  I can't think of anywhere I WOULDN'T nurse, especially with the nursing cover.  I'm grateful that Peter supports me in this and doesn't have issues with it.

All dressed up

Trying on her pumpkin hat

Gotta love that drool

Here's what my front room looked like after I went to a consignment sale and some clothes from the neighbors.  I think I've got everything the kids could need.  I have no problem with second hand clothes.  If it's in good condition, can be used again, and doesn't cost me full price?  I'm there.  

Emmalyn is 5 months old now!  

She will only be quiet during her diaper change if you give her the binky.  

She's arching her back which  makes her hard to hold onto.

She has the BEST BIG SMILES!!! and they come really easily.  Her laughs, however, she will make you work really hard for.

When she smiles, she smiles with her tongue out.

Her hair seems to be coming in lighter.

She is drawn to watching the TV or iPad if they are on.

Commonly now, when she's nursing in the middle of the night, I will fall asleep and then wake up like 45 minutes later and she'll still be nursing or asleep too.  I am using a nursing pillow so it's not like I'm going to drop her if I fall asleep.  It's just interesting because I've completely lost my ability to make myself stay awake.  I am just so completely exhausted that I can't help it.