A few videos

 few videos we've taken over the past few weeks which I've failed to post on the blog.  

Emma is 15 months old today and still not walking.  She is very good at cruising around furniture or walking when using her walkers, but still not interested in walking on her own.  She is still a good "knee walker" (I'll post a video of this sometime), so until she realizes that knee walking is not the most efficient way of moving around, we won't be seeing a walker anytime soon.

This video was taken this morning at breakfast.  I love it because it reminds me that although most of her words continue to be in English, she understands Spanish very well.

At the table

These are just some random pictures I've taken of Emma during meal time.  This first one is of her indulging herself with dried strawberries.  This is a very special treat either her Memma or daddy buy her when they walk together to the Fresh Market.

This is not a great picture, but it shows her most resent facial expression.  When she seems to be thinking hard, or when she says "no-no," she sticks her lips out like this.

Eating peanut butter straight out of the jar.  She loved it!

 There was peanut butter everywhere!!!

 

This was taken last Friday night.  She had not taken a nap that day, and was not her sweet self by night time.  During dinner she refused to sit in her high chair.  So she sat on my lap to eat her chicken and vegetable soup.  She loved it!  My most favorite thing about this meal is how she enjoyed eating the carrots simply because they looked like "balls" (Emma loooooves balls).  

Daddy's helper

I woke up sick this Saturday morning, so Byron took over Emma-duties for me.  He had planned on racking the yard, and it was a beautiful day for it, so he took Emma out to have her "help him."

Emma did very well with him, and of course I couldn't resist taking pictures of such beautiful scene -- my two loves outside having a great time together.  Emma caught on pretty fast as to what was going on.  She would put things in the bucket for daddy, such as this stick --

We took her walker outside to allow her to explore the yard a little so she wouldn't hurt her knees (no, she is still not walking).

"Let me help you, daddy"

Emma even got her own yard bag to put the pine straw in.

Like father, like daughter.

Emma's vocabulary continues to expand.  Her latest words are:  "no no" (how fun for me!), "bae bae" (for baby -- mostly when she sees a picture of herself or her own reflection), "nai nai" (for night night), "nowe" (for nose -- loves to point out people's noses), "duck" and "cheese".  Sadly for me, most of her words continue to be in English.  But she does understand Spanish, she is just not verbalizing it yet.

She is also getting three molars in, which make for a fussy and tired little girl every day :'(

She loves books, balls, cars, airplanes, and balloons.

Pan de Muertos

My goal is to begin making something Mexican once a week -- a meal, a dessert, or celebrate a holiday.  This has been non-existent so far, but now that we have children, I realize that if I want them to know their Mexican roots, I need to be intentional in bringing it to them. 

In lieu of Day of the Dead, I thought it would be fun to make Day of Dead Bread.  Though one week late, I decided to make Pan de Muertos with Hot Chocolate Abuelita.  So good!  The bread does not look like it should, but it sure tasted wonderful!  I am excited for next year.  I think I know how to perfect it.

Fun at the park

Last Saturday was too beautiful a day to be spent indoors.  We went to a park and then out for dinner on a "family date."  We had a great time enjoying our little girl together.

Down the slide...

Happy to have made it down :)

Julie's babyshower

I helped host a baby shower for Julie and her coming baby girl today.  We had a great turn out, and 6 out of our 9 guests brought their babies.  It was a fun play date for them!

All of our guests minus Thomas, who was taking a nap.

Emma's good little buddy Charlie.  We tried to get them to hold hands, but it didn't go too well :)

All the kiddos minus Thomas -- TJ, Louis, Emma, Charlie, and Sam.

 Anna, Julie and me :)

Halloween

We dressed Emma up as a Bunny this year.  We went "trunk or treating" with our church and our downtown community last night.  Emma was in *shock* the entire time we were there, so we did not get more than just one smile out of her (when she saw the balloons... she loves balloons!  And no, it is not pictured).

With her (only 3 weeks older) friend Eva.

Emma & Ames.  These two are growing up so fast!

Ring-ring!

"Need to call cousin Ames today to see if he wants to come over and play.  Let's see, I think his number is 85#5-*3"

 

"Hello? Ames?  Want to come over and play today?"

  

"I am 14 months old and just started standing up on my own.  You should come see me do it.  I also took my very first (5!) steps this week.  I haven't done it again since.  I am taking my time."