Andie's Graduation May 17, 2012

No Not One
http://youtu.be/PVCluvg98VU

Happy Birthday Papa!

Whoosh!

Andrea was so proud of herself the other day. She "filled up the plop hole!" She was so proud, she said was waiting to flush until after Daddy got home to see it. Luckily for Daddy, she flushed out of habit.

Did I crack you up?

I know, I know, it has been sometime since I've last blogged. Plenty has happened.


Emelyn's physical therapy for her neck has been going really well. She is making nice progress. She had avoided using the one side of her neck when she was having the issues with her paratoid gland. Her strength has built up nicely. The main thing we are working on now is the tilt of her head. She still avoids activating the muscles on the one side.



Emelyn had her 4 month check up. She weighed 15 lbs 1o 0z (75-90%ile), height 24.5 inches (50-75%ile), head circumference 42 cm (75%ile.) Her favorite activity is watching her big sister play. Of course, that was over a month ago.



In February, while my mom was visiting, I was working on my computer while sitting on the couch. I said something about our Tucson office. Andie said, "Where is oneson?" I didn't get what she was saying until Mimi pointed it out. Another cute thing she said was she needed some medicine on her butt hole, while walking through the living room. Mimi laughed out. Andie said, "Mimi, did I crack you up?" Needless to say that had us all busting out laughing.

We are so blessed. Andrea and Emelyn really love each other. Andrea is constantly taking care of Emelyn. If Emelyn starts to fuss while I am reading Andrea a book, Andie will take the book, save her place, and instructs me to get Emelyn. Andie doesn't like for her little sister to fuss. Even when it is for her own good like working on tummy time.

For Emelyn's four month wellness check, we drove through to get breakfast on the way to the doctor's office. At that time, Emelyn wasn't a big fan of the car, so she cried most of the time, especially if the car wasn't moving. Andie only ate about half of her biscuit because she spent the entire trip singing and dangling a toy to distract her sister so she wouldn't cry. How absolutely sweet is that!

It is hard to believe that my almost 3.5 year old comes right up above my bellybutton. She is so tall. She is practically off the charts for her age in the 95+ %ile. Let's see, I finally gave Andie her "first" haircut. I took off almost three inches. I have trimmed her hair before, but this was the first time I took any real amount off.

Of course, Andrea is Emelyn's favorite subject to study. I can often distract Emelyn by asking her to find Andie. Emelyn loves to watch Andie jump, it makes her laugh and laugh. She also loves to rock with her sister, this also brings on the giggles. Their Valentine's gift to us was their first ever squealing contest. It was too much fun.




Last weekend we went to the Austin Rodeo, well the Fair portion of it. Andrea said she wanted to ride a pony, so we stand in line. When it is our turn, I go to pick her up to put her on the pony, and she starts crying. The pony looks at us like you've got to be kidding me. I make her get on; yes she is trying to resist. The ponies start going around, and hers bucks some. Ugh! One of the workers had to come over at one point & readjust Andrea in her saddle since the bucking had made her start sliding off. As you can see by the picture above, she loved it in the end.
This was Andrea's first time on the carousel. She LOVED it. She talked her Daddy into ridding it three times. We eventually talked her into trying a couple of other rides as well. The line for the spinning bears took forever. While, Nana & I waited in line, Andrea wanted her daddy to win her a stuffed animal from a water gun shooting booth. So they head over with Papa. They did return with a firefighter mouse, but they didn't exactly win it. They played three times, and lost. The man running the booth had pity on Brian and Papa since Andrea had a super sad, disappointed face, and gave them the stuffed animal.

Emelyn enjoyed watching the spectacle at the fair. However, she spent most of her time wrapped up to avoid the wind.

Is it Green?

It is green, but that is an inside joke for those of here in Austin for Christmas this year. I couldn't help but title this entry with that question my lovely Andie asked that cracked us all up.

Another super cute thing she said was, "Mama, I ate my chicken and ducklings!" She really meant dumplings.

Two of God's greatest gifts of love.

Andrea heading out to sprinkle reindeer dust in the front yard. We don't want Santa to pass up our house! So we are leaving out more than just cookies and milk for Santa. Actually, Andrea thought Santa might need some water instead of milk. So we left him a glass of water this year.

On Christmas morning, sweet Emelyn wasn't concerned that Santa had left her goodies. She would rather sleep.

Andrea woke up at her normal time, but wouldn't come out of her bedroom. I kept trying to coax her out. She asked if I would bring her toys Santa left her. Finally, after Brian and I played with her for a while in her room, I realized that she believed Santa was still IN our living room. Once, I explained that Santa had already returned to the North Pole with his reindeer, she came right on out.

Her she is enjoying some of her stocking goodies.

We wish you all a blessed New Year!

Laughs

Emelyn's favorite toy, her bear mobile. She flirts with the flying bears, cooing and giving sweet smiles. I was jealous for awhile since they received all of her cute smiles, but finally I've started earning the same affection.

Here she is looking up at the bears. Yes, she is our little "rocker" with her spiked hair.

Earlier in the week while working I exclaimed, "That stinks." Andrea asked me what, and I explained my email wasn't working. She comes over, climbs into my lap, & starts sniffing at the monitor. I burst out laughing.

Many thanks to Mimi for coming to visit while Brian went to the Big 12 Championship Game. I managed to get out of the house and do some errands, one of which was washing laundry at the laundry mat. Yuck! It had been years since I had to do that. Thankfully my new washing machine arrived. So, Mimi, Andie, and I caught the last of the game. I've never heard my mom yell at a football game like she did in the last minutes as UT played Nebraska. Even Andie asked to rewatch the winning field goal three times.

Thankful

We started our Thanksgiving day participating in the Thundercloud Subs' Turkey Trot 1K kid's walk. Andrea wasn't interested in walking, but preferred her daddy pushing her.

Nana was humming Jesus Loves Me while walking Emelyn around the house. Andrea was walking next to her singing the words. Then Andrea informed Aunt Brandi she was singing it to show Nana how to since Nana was going humm, humm.

Papa, Emelyn, Nana, and Andrea (wearing her Turkey hat)

After posing for so many pictures Andrea declared, "Shows over." I am pretty sure Emelyn agreed.

On Friday, we decorated our tree. Andrea has been talking about doing this for months. So she was pumped when she woke up from nap and the tree was assembled. She enjoyed it so much that once all of the ornaments had been hung, she wanted to keep going. She started yanking ornaments off the tree and throwing them on the ground so she would have more to hang.

“A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.” –Cicero