September 2012

2 years, 3 months and 5 days.  That is how long it takes to raise a human being from an infant into a fully independent person.  Emry has been wanting to do almost everything "all by self" lately, but on this particular day she didn't want to talk to mom and dad or answer any questions.  She was totally engrossed in her world of play and mischief.  Her world no longer revolved around mom and dad and the things we tried to say or do.  Emry truly has developed her own likes, dislikes, interests and favorites.  And on her 828th day of life, Emry ignored everything mom and dad tried to do with her the entire evening.  We wondered if she was mad about something.  We set the table for dinner and went in to get our bowls of soup from the kitchen.  When we walked back into the dining room Emry was sitting in her chair, getting a cracker out of the box.  She pointed to our places at the table and said "cracker for mommy, cracker for daddy."  She had already put a cracker on each of our plates before she got one for herself...she hadn't forgotten about us after all!  Its funny how one second she can have you completely frustrated, then one second later do the cutest thing that melts your heart.  That story describes Emry in a nutshell at this point in her life...miss independent.

She looks like she's got something devious on her mind...

But how can you be mad at a face like that?

 Besides being miss independent, Emry has been busy this month doing a lot of dancing and singing songs.  Maren picked her up from daycare one day and found her dancing around the living room and singing "at Miss Laura's house..."(Miss Laura is what she calls the babysitter).  She likes to make up her own words and just sing random things that she's doing - kind of like Marshall on How I Met Your Mother.  Emry started singing her ABC's back in June, and now she has them pretty well mastered(QRS get left out on occasion, but those letters are overrated anyway).

She's a one-woman band

A lefty, just like mom and dad!

Hmm...maybe some more orange?

Emry can also count to 20 now.  Her favorite book this month was "The Three Bears", although she still likes her peacock books and Curious George books a lot.  Emry is gradually learning her colors.  Its almost like she has a 3 color limit, where she can only accurately identify 3 colors at a given time.  She knows orange and grey for sure.  She's hit or miss on yellow and red.  Often times she'll confuse purple and pink, blue and green, yellow and green, or white and brown.  But she's getting better and better with them as the weeks go by.

Emry's favorite saying this month was "that's kinda crazy."  She uses it all the time, like "Whitney take pants off! That's kinda crazy!" or "Mommy drop her fork, that's kinda crazy!"  Apparently she heard her uncle say it one day and it just stuck in her head.  So this is a warning for anyone who feels the need to curse if Emry is around...make sure you use the "earmuffs" technique!

Whitney got to go on her first camping trip in Sept.  The girls both had a lot of fun.  Emry showed Whitney how to throw sticks in the fire, eat s'mores and get really dirty.  Whitney just watched and learned from the comfort of her stroller, but both girls seemed to enjoy spending the weekend outdoors

Helping build the fire

Just a couple more sticks should do the trick

Taking it all in

Fall is coming...time to bust out the cute hats!

"Whitney, I hope your taking notes"

Pinky up...the most refined way to eat a s'more.

You know its a good s'more when you get
 chocolate all the way down to your shins.

Whitney is rolling all over the place, and its still her main mode of transportation.  She is trying really hard to scoot.  She can scoot backwards, just not forward.  She'll probably be moving all over the place in just a couple of weeks.

Just chillin' under the coffee table

Practicing our earthquake preparedness plan

Yes, its a chick-fil-a ball...its not a social statement,
its just a ball, so relax people.

Whitney sat up for the first time early this month, and by the end of the month she was a pro at it...

Happiest baby in the whole wide room

Multitasking...sitting up and holding a ball.

"Hey look, no hands!"

Whitney had some "real food" for the first time this month.  She had some homemade baby sweet potatoes and homemade baby peas.  She seemed to enjoy them both, just need to work on our table manners....

Yum Yum!

Hmm, not sure what to think yet...

"Whit you got a little something...nevermind"

Apparently Whit was taking notes when Emry ate the s'more!

Whitney had to take some meds for the first time this month.  Luckily it wasn't anything too serious, she just couldn't get rid of a cough and a runny nose.  Whit also had two more teeth break through...the top two middle teeth are now visible!

Whitney has started making some phonetic sounds in addition to the normal baby-babble.  On the last day of the month she kept saying da-da-da-da.  She's just been a really happy baby!

Yep, happy!

Bath time makes her very happy

The girls interact more and more as the weeks go by.  A couple of weeks ago Emry taught Whitney how to play baseball.  She didn't cover the infield fly rule or the importance of hitting the cutoff man, but there's still plenty of time to learn all that...

In addition to coaching Whitney, Emry still shows her plenty of love, although she needs to learn to be a little more gentle...

Showing some sisterly love...

Whoops!

Emry still loves to help mom and dad take care of Whitney too...

Helping to brush Whit's teeth

All in all, September was a great month for Emry and Whit!

August 2012

Where to start and where to end?  That is the dilemma we have this month with so much happening.  August was a roller coaster month for the little two little girls.  Needless to say that's why we're a little behind on getting this updated.  The girls had lots of opportunities to do fun things together, and also had a couple of low points.  But the good times far exceeded the bad(at least from the girls' perspectives.)  First we'll start with some good times...

The girls went to their first live football game this month.  We left about midway through the second quarter(bedtime is such a pain), but Emry cheered and clapped for the Huskies the whole time we were there.  She learned to throw her hands in the air and say touchdown every time we scored!  Whitney just sat in mom & dad's laps and tried not to poop herself.

Emry helped Whitney with a big milestone this month - eating food for the first time.  Whitney was introduced to rice cereal and she seemed to like it.  Emry enjoyed helping mom and dad mix the cereal and milk together, and even helped feed it to Whitney...

Did you hear about the Bumbo recall??
That red warning triangle on the side says to
never set the bumbo on an elevated surface...Oops!

Not sure what to think about that first bite!

Emry even helped to clean her up!

Although she missed a couple of spots

That wasn't the only food Emry made this month.  She also helped decorate a cake for mommy's graduation...

Go Clemson Tigers!

In addition to eating some real food(calling rice cereal real food is a stretch), Whitney has also been doing a lot more baby babble this month.  Her motor skills have vastly improved, as she now rolls over to get to objects that she wants.  She is reaching and grabbing for objects(especially people's faces) a lot more too.  She hasn't started scooting at all, but she is beginning to kick her legs a lot.  Whitney has also been attempting to sit up on her own now.  She usually holds it for a few seconds then falls over on her side.    

Whitney has a very serious demeanor.  She is constantly canvasing the room to check things out.  Who knows, maybe when she grows up she'll be an agent in the CIA or a member of the secret service??  Although she is plays it pretty cool most of the time, she's a sucker for kisses on her neck and blowing raspberries on her tummy.  That'll make her laugh every time.

Whitney has really taken a liking to Emry.  She seems to laugh at almost anything Emry does.  Its been really fun to watch as the two of them play and build a sisterly bond together.

Apple vs teething ring...winner Emry

Comfy lawn chair vs diaper/tennis shoes combo...winner Whitney

The girls also started going to a new babysitter this school year.  You've all probably heard the story by now...we thought Emry would have to protect Whitney from being hurt by the bigger kids.  But when Emry came home with a swollen face and part of her cheek missing on the first day, we had to ask Whitney to protect E from being bitten by the little babies.

To help Emry get through each day at the new babysitter, we promised to do something special for her each night during her second week.  One night we got some glow sticks to throw in the bathtub, and we came out with some pretty cool pictures.  

Pretty neat when the lights are on....

Turn off the lights and its like being at a rave!
(No photo edits here, this is how the picture turned out)

Although she had a rough first week at the new babysitter, Emry has been all about being independent this month.  Her favorite phrase is "all by self."  She brushes her teeth "all by self", gets into her chair "all by self", etc.  As we mentioned last month, Emry makes the sign of the cross before prayer(when she feels like it) and can say most of the dinner prayer(when she wants to).  Every night we set Emry's plate in front of her and say "You have to wait until we pray before you can eat."  One day Emry was standing on a chair by the kitchen counter helping mom get dinner ready.  Emry was really hungry!  Mom had put some broccoli on her plate and Emry quickly put her hands together and said "Blessus OLord and thesethy gifts 'bout receef.  Father, Son, HolyPirit, Amen!" Then she popped a piece of broccoli in her mouth.

Emry's new big development is pretending.  She likes to put Whitney's diapers on her stuffed animals.  One day recently she was putting a diaper on Ali, her stuffed lion.  She scooped her hand into and empty tupperware container and wiped Ali's bottom.  When asked what she was doing she said "Put desitin Ali right here!"  Later Emry was wiping her own leg with one of the baby wipes and when we asked what she was doing Emry said "Ali spit up.  Emry clean off."  She continues to amaze us everyday by the number of words and phrases she understands and knows how to use.

Last month we mentioned how Emry was helpful by getting things out of the fridge when we were cooking.  Now she opens the fridge all the time.  She'll take out a bite out of a random piece of fruit and put it back, or loosen the lids on salad dressing and ketchup bottles(consider this your warning to go easy on the condiments if you ever come over to our house for a cookout.)

Emry likes to race mom and dad when we go on walks around the neighborhood.  And she loves to race on the Nintendo, which you can see video of here.  She is pretty good on the Nintendo...for a two year old.

Learning all the tricks of the Nintendo!

Emry has also really taken a liking to Whitney as well.  She plays with her, shares with her helps her do things and teaches her...just like a big sister should.  The girls had a happy August and are looking forward to what September will bring!

"If you shake it, it makes a rattling noise..."

July 2012

Its been one hot July! Luckily we've had lots fresh watermelon to help keep us cool...

Watermelon definitely seems to be Emry's favorite summertime food.  Although, if you ask her what her favorite food is she will tell you "turkey and cheese."

As far as talking goes, Emry continues to learn more words and say longer sentences.  If you ask her what her full name is she will tell you "Emry Conner O Smith."  She also knows mom and dad's real names too, and its really funny when she uses them.  One night when we were getting her ready for bed, dad was changing her diaper.  She wanted her blanket, so she said "Maren, B!.  Maren, B!  Maaarennn, BEEEEEE!"  (B is what she calls her blanket.)  She is also participates in nighttime prayer too.  She can do the sign of the cross, although sometimes it looks more like she's a baseball coach giving signals to the batter.  But she will say things that she wants to thank God for.  It ranges for cute things like Whitney, mom & dad, relatives, friends, animals etc.  Other times its very random...the funniest was one night she was thankful for doors, carseats and boats!  She is also singing a lot more.  She actually follows along with the songs and sings the correct words now!  She loves playing with her karayoke player, and "Old McDonald had a Farm E I E I O" is at the top of her playlist.

Emry can sing herself to sleep

Emry competed in her first race on July 4th, the Big Bang 5k, and she came in first place in the stroller division....although she was the only one in it.  Emry has enjoyed entertaining Whitney this month.  She plays, shares and tries to teach Whitney new things.  At church one day when the congregation was singing, Emry started singing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" to Whitney and showed her how to do the hand motions.  Later during the Mass(when the church was completely silent), Maren was holding Emry.  Em was playing with Maren's necklace, then pointed to her chest and said "Mommy's boobies!"

Best Buds!

Emry has been really helpful around the house this month too. She can get things out of the kitchen cabinets and fridge that we need when we're cooking dinner.  She can open doors easily now, and lets dad back in the house when he leaves his keys on the counter in the morning.  Its really weird, but Emry also loves wiping up spills and messes too.


As far as playing goes, Emry still likes playing outside a lot.  Although its been hot, she'll go out to play on the swingset any opportunity she gets.  She is comfortable climbing the tower and going down the slide all by herself now.

Hopefully this is her only picture behind bars

Way to stick the landing!

This is a good problem to have, but some evenings its a struggle to get her to stop playing and go inside for bed....

"Emry, its time to go inside..."

Whitney has been hitting some milestones this month.  She slept through the night for 1st time on night of July 10-11th! Mom and dad woke the whole family up at 6:40am by sending text to let everyone know!  At the time of this post, Whit has slept through the night 12 of the past 14 nights.  Way to go Whitney!

Whitney also got her first tooth to break through this month!  Although she is gaining teeth, she is unfortunately losing her baby hair.  A few people have commented recently that they think she is starting to look like her dad...sorry Whit! 

Even a stellar comb-over can't hide the inevitable....

Despite losing her hair and people saying
she looks like her dad, Whit
is still a cutie!

Whitney is one of the drooliest babies ever!  With all that drool, Whit has been blowing raspberries and bubbles a lot lately.  She has been relying on the chew toys a lot too.  Whitney also discovered recently that she has hands.  She's still trying to figure out what they are for, but occasionally she'll use them to hold a chew toy in her mouth or try to reach and grab at things.  And strangely enough, Whit really gets comforted by playing/biting Emry's "B".

It smells like Emry!

Emry has been a good sport about it, and enjoys sharing her "B" with Whitney.  Whitney rolled over from her stomach to her back a couple more times this month, but isn't a fluid ambi-roller just yet.  Her favorite toy is still the play mat.  She grabs at hanging toys a lot more now since she realized she has hands.  Whitney started playing in her bouncer this month.  Emry likes to help Whit bounce up and down in it.  

Don't quite have the bouncing down yet.
Whit just kind of hangs around.

  

Whitney also used the baby swing on the swingset for the first time in July.  She looks pretty cute in it!

So serious!

The summer months have definitely been a lot of fun for the girls.  With school starting next month, hopefully everyone will be able to adjust without too many problems.  We'll just have to wait and see!