Thursday, May 31, 2012

May 2012

There is a lot to talk about from May, and we'll start with Whitney.  Whit has been smiling a lot and has even laughed a few times recently.  Her favorite thing (besides mom) is playing on her playmat.  Within the last week or so she has started trying to roll over from her back to her stomach.  She can't get over her shoulder yet, but she's getting really close.  Whit is also holding her head up very well, and she has started sitting up in her Bumbo.  Whitney has also been babbling a little, so she's changing a lot but she's still just a cute little infant to us!

Emry still enjoys helping out with Whitney, she is even helping her learn how to roll over.  E's vocabulary and social skills continue to expand each day.  She's at a point in her life where she is trying to do more things physically, but she's either very clumsy at most of them or doesn't realize how to do them properly.  For example, we have to watch her pretty close when she's around Whitney.  She means well, but she's accidentally hit Whitney in the head with her feet, knees, toys, a cup of apple juice, etc.   Another example is she likes to color, but she doesn't realize the paper is the only thing she should color.  (Thank the Lord for magic erasers!)  Needless to say, Emry is starting to become a handful, but its a lot of fun to experience.  She also likes to imitate actions mom and dad do.  She likes to brush her own hair in the morning and one day she took a bottle opener out of the kitchen drawer and said "shave."  Then proceeded to rub it up and down on her cheek.  When doing these things, especially coloring, we've noticed that Emry has been favoring her left hand a lot lately.  Maybe we'll be able to teach her how to write after all! 

The family also took an airplane ride to NC this month.  It was Whitney's first airplane ride, so Emry had to show her the ropes.  We were worried if Emry would get stir crazy from sitting in her seat for the whole 90 minute flight.  Luckily she had a little video player from the library and she watched some Elmo's World to keep her occupied most of the flight.  Emry also spent time trying to figure out the seat belts, opening the food tray on the seat in front of her, and looking out the window.  We kept asking her what she saw out the window and sometimes she would say "Cloud" and other times she would see the wing and say "Airplane."  We actually lucked out and had a full row to ourselves both on the way to NC and back.  The girls did well on the plane, no crying baby or screaming toddler!  So that was a relief for us!

While in NC, the girls slept in the metal cribs provided by the hotel.  Our room was super crowded looked like a Russian Orphanage.  Near our hotel was a Harris Teeter grocery store, and we took Emry there each morning to shop.  They had small carts for little kids, and Emry loved pushing it down the aisles and putting random things in the cart. 

The girls also got to do a fun Mother's Day project for their grandmas this month.  They painted some flower pots and put their hand and foot prints on them.  Another project we started for Emry on Memorial Day weekend was a wooden swingset, which will be a present for her upcoming birthday!  You can read about both projects in more detail on runningthesmiths.(once it finally gets posted!)

The last big adventure this month was going to the zoo.  Emry went three times this month!  WE could bore you by writing about it, but we'll let her tell you about it herself...



Helping paint some flower pots for mothers day...I think
we've got another southpaw in the family!

Planking..."Get with it Emry, that's soooo 2010."

Experimenting with the pony tail...looks like she's getting ready to sign
the declaration of independence or fly a kite in the rain. 

After seeing these first 4 pictures you're probably thinking, "Did they
allow their kids to wear clothes this month?"  The answer is yes, see below...

The obligatory sleeping baby picture for the month


Emry is quite the stylist!

Her trademark is using lots of water when styling her hair.

We can't resist the sleeping baby pics...here's another one of Whitney
after a hard afternoon of playing on her "playmat."


Watching Elmo's World on the airplane!


Free apple juice!


Hopefully these girls will find a loving family
to take them home one day


At least one of us could sleep on the plane...note the wing outside the window.


Reading labels at the Harris Teeter....way to much sodium!


What is the most hazardous thing in this picture?
1) the ladder the child could climb and fall from
2) the clamps the child is playing with that could pinch her fingers
3) the power drill with 3/8" bit that could mangle the child in a multitude of ways


Won't be long before Whitney moves from this position to her stomach...

Emry's first time on the swingset deck. She was so excited and kept
stomping her feet like she was marching.  It was pretty funny! 

Decorating the swingset...she's a lefty for sure!


Whitney had become a pro at the Bumbo
by the end of the month

"Seriously dad, put down the camera!  Show some videos...



Shopping at the "teet"



Helping Whitney roll over




Talking about the zoo




More about the zoo







Monday, April 30, 2012

April 2012

As each month passes by, the days seem busier and busier.  There were lots of family events this month, with Easter being the first.  Emry had fun getting into the holiday aspect of Easter this year. She liked to say "egg" a lot.  She had a lot of fun hunting eggs with her cousins DonDon, Z, and Chris.  Emry got a new bike
helmet and some sidewalk chalk from the easter bunny.  Whitney got a weird stuffed animal(see picture below).

The other big family event this month was the girls got a visit from their cousin Weesie from NC.  The girls got their pictures taken together, went swimming and attended a formal event called a Sip 'n See.  It was a party where all the local friends could get a chance to meet Weesie for the first time.

The final big event this month was Whitney took her first trip out of the state, as we went to a wedding in Louisville, KY.  While in Louisville, Whitney got to meet her namesake for the first time, so that was pretty cool too.

Emry is talking more and more everyday.  She knows all her aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins names and even knows several friends and neighbors too. Emry is also saying lots of phrases and identifying/associating/matching objects like Daddy's bike, Whitney's bow,  Mommy's ring.  She also matches people together too.  She'll see one of  her grandparents and ask about the other.  And the last couple of weeks she's been working on saying please, thank you and your welcome.

Emry has also been identifying places.  When we make the turn onto either grandparent's street she'll say Mia's house or Grammy's house.  Same thing when we turn on our street, she'll say "home."  Any And when we drive by Good Shepherd she'll say "Emry's church."

As far as playing goes, Emry still loves being outside and going to the playground.  If she sees Ken's bike she'll say "Bike ride!" and "Daddy bike, daddy helmet." Or "Emmy helmet."  Emry's behavior has been really good lately, but she tries to test us on things we tell her not to do, like playing in the fireplace and climbing on the tables.  Oh yeah, she's also starting picking her nose too!

Emry is always concerned for Whitney.  If get in the car to go somewhere without Whitney, Emry will repeat over and over, "Whit!  Whit!" 

As for Whitney's activities this month, she has been working on lifting her head and taking a bottle.  She will sometimes give an occasional smile.  She enjoys being awake and letting people know that she's awake...although she's not a big screamer and cryer, she just likes to fuss and grunt a lot.  Its not like she's upset, but more just saying "Hey, look at me, I'm over here!"  I guess that's pretty typical of the second child.

Whitney's not a big fan of being swaddled, because she likes to be able to move her arms around.  That is one of the few times where she really belts out her cries.  She also doesn't like getting shots or being kicked by Emry(even though it was an accident).  Both of those brought out the dreaded silent cry!

But both girls are happy and healthy, and we couldn't ask for anything more.  Here are some pics from the month of April...




Easter Morning!

Emry usually is not allowed to climb on the coffee table,
but she was wearing a helmet...


So we celebrated Jesus's resurrection by getting Whitney a strange
duck/bunny thing that does not exist in His creation
 
Emry kept saying "Egg! Egg!" when she saw the easter baskets,
so we went outside to look...


...but the Easter Bunny hadn't hidden any eggs yet... 


...at least it provided a good opportunity to take the
obligatory "Easter outfit photos."
 
"Dude, what do you mean there's no eggs?"


Whitney's Easter outfit!


All Emry's eggs were filled with money, so she had to give them
a good shake before she put them in her basket


Jackpot!


Whit couldn't let Emry have all the fun


Two eggs was enough for Whit


She was tired from all the hunting


Emry was pretty tired too, hence the fingers in the mouth


Luckily she's got her mom's toes!


Whitney is in bow training right now.  Emry never got used
to wearing a bow, so we are staring early with Whit!
Hanging out at the Sip 'n See for cousin Weesie

Friday, March 30, 2012

March 2012

Wow, its been hard keeping up with these two...there has been so much going on this month!  Where to start?  Emry has become quite the big sister.  She is always wanting to hold, pickup and carry Whitney.  She is always looking out for her by bringing Whitney her blanket, toys and clothes.  Emry has certainly accepted Whitney with loving and open arms! 

We were a little nervous she'd get jealous of all the attention given to the baby, but she loves to jump right in and help out.  Emry has really taken on the role of teacher, as she loves to play on the floor with Whitney and show her different things.  Emry's vocabulary has exploded recently, as she has added several phrases and new words.  She loves to point things out to Whitney and talk to her in giberish. 

Since the weather has been so nice, we've spent a lot of time outside.  Playing outside is by far Emry's favorite thing to do right now.  Whether we're going on walks, runs in the jogging stroller with dad, bike rides, wagon rides, exploring in the yard, swinging or going to the park, Emry can't get enough!  

Playing outside has caused some added danger, as Emry suffered her first skinned knee this month.  She cut it pretty good and some blood & tears were shed.  But she liked showing off her band-aid and saying boo-boo.

As far as Whitney this month, she did have her first bottle feeding, but other than that she has been doing the normal 1 month old routine: eating, pooping, crying and sleeping.  She has pretty blue eyes and still has a full head of brown hair.  It has been another great month watching our little ones grown and develop!  Here are some pics from this month to keep track of all of Marches adventures...




 

Wiped out after a long day of helping take care of Whit



Practicing with the Baby Bjorn...
...for when Whit is big enough to fit in it... 






















...but who needs the Baby Bjorn when you have
a perfectly good set of shoulders!



Just hangin out together...



...getting ready for a nap!



One of the many faces of Whitney



Teaching Whit how to use the crocodile rattle!



Emry wanted to put Whit in her baby doll
stroller one day.  Then decided she should
get in her own stroller too.



Emry loves to give the baby kisses


Ouch! Next off the pile is skinned-knee D.
(One of her favorite books right now is Chicka-Chicka Boom Boom)



Showing her boo-boo off to Whitney!



Its hard work being a baby



Time for a nap.  See ya next month!