Fingerpainting...

So I wish I were more of an "arts and crafts" kind of mom and since I stay home with the girls you would think I would be a bit more. I don't have a creative bone in my body and it takes a lot of energy (and patience!) to do crafty things but a girlfriend of mine (thank you Jayme!) fingerpainted with her two boys so I figured we should let Emerson give it a try. She made a picture for Grandma Margaret and Grandma Wood that we sent to them in the mail.

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves...

I do just need to point out the handprint on her shoulder... Wow.

She loved it though. Perhaps we'll do these sorts of things more often... :)

Summer wrap up

I believe she was enjoying some carrots.

Our friends (Jared and Cathy Froese) were in town and the kids were in Emerson's room getting EVERYTHING out of her closet. Since my shoes still take up the majority of it, Will was having some fun.

Can you spot the four kids in the picture? (Bailey and Cooper Froese and Will and Emerson...)

I'm trying to get Easton "attached" to this dog blanket whether she likes it or not. Emerson doesn't have a "lovey" so I'm trying to get Easton one. I'm not sure if that's how it works but we'll see!

This is what my husband did on a random Tuesday night. It's normal, right?

I met up with an old high school girlfriend, Jayme, and her two adorable boys Luke and Evan. Luke and Emerson are about a month apart Evan is 18 months old (ish) and she's having a little girl in a month! Whew! We went to the Bass Pro park and Emerson insisted on holding Jayme's hand...

Ryan gives Emerson some of his shave cream when he's shaving and she's in the bath. He called me in one night to take a look. How she didn't get any in her eyes and have a meltdown is beyond me. Wow.

Getting ready to see Dora Live with Grandma Margaret. It was awesome- she's still talking about it.

Easton is in her big girl seat in the bathtub and absolutely loves it.

The girls and I are going up to Graceland Homecoming this weekend (Ryan would rather stay home and work around the house- wierd) so hopefully it'll be fun and not too stressful. Pizza Shack- here we come!

7 Months

Another month gone by! She's getting more and more fun by the day, playing with toys and scooting around on her belly. She's figured out how to get up on all fours-I think she'll be crawling in no time. She is a marvelous eater- LOVES everything we've given her except rice cereal. I've been a bit more adventureous in the purees I'm making this time around- she really likes the apples and blueberries mix. I've been adding prunes to a few things (carrots and peaches) and she seems to really like those as well. She's such a smiley happy baby and Emerson is quite the good big sister.

1 Week
1 Month
2 Months
3 Months

4 Months

5 Months 6 Months

7 Months!

I've been waiting for this day...

And... she started dance class. Getting ready was half the fun...

Her friend Court-a-ney is in the class with her. What fun they'll have.

This is the first organized activity away from me she's been to. Away from Ryan. Away from Grandma. Just her, her teachers, and her friends. I had to just let go.

I only cried a little bit.

Labor Day Weekend

Labor day weekend was a success again this year. It's become a tradition to go up to Red Oak to see Ryan's family and a lot of his extended family made the trip as well. Saturday night Nebraska had their season opener so there was a packed house for that.

Emerson still rocking her Blackshirts shirt from last year. The pink cowboy boots complete the look, I think. The only thing cuter than those boots are the size 2 ones my mom bought for Easton to match.
Easton wearing Emerson's old cheerleading outfit with her Great Aunt Linda.

I'm not sure...

On Sunday we headed to Villisca for the Wood Family Homerun Derby. I was a bit nervous about having Easton outside for so long but she fell asleep for her nap. I was going to leave her at Ryan's aunt and uncle's house and just check on her a lot. (It's about 100 yards from the baseball field.) Ryan's aunt came down to the field from the house and said her neighbor came over to the house to read and sit while Easton slept so we could relax at the field. I love small town Iowa...

Emerson got to "hit" with dad just like the big boys.

Aunt Linda holding a cuddly Easton after her nap- such a good baby.

The Wood clan- Ryan successfully defended his title.

Ryan's cousin, Ben, is getting married in San Juan, Puerto Rico in March. Ryan is a groomsman and we're making the trip so we're looking forward to that.

I took the girls back to the farm while everyone stayed and had a campfire in Villisca. Emerson usually talks my ear off in the car and all of a sudden it got quiet. This is how the girls were when we got home. Emerson always holds Easton's hand when she falls asleep and I guess Emerson followed suit. So sweet...

Looking at her book with Great Aunt Patti.

On our way out of town we saw this sign for Emerson Days with the water tower in the background. We always tell her, "it's your town!" when we're going to the farm. As we were leaving she said, "is that my town, mom?" Soon it'll turn into, "I KNOW MOM! You tell me that every time!"