All About Emma!

I thought Emma deserved an update of her own! Oh my, how she is growing and changing...just in the last few weeks alone! She is an incredibly spirited kid! Here is the latest on her:
-She loves to laugh and make others laugh!
-She tells me several times a day that she wants to tickle her daddy when he gets home from work, and then tells him that when he walks in the door! But she never wants to tickle me (I kinda feel left out!)
-She LOVES to dance and sing. We make up lots of songs around here!
-She walks on her tiptoes alot, she even bends in her toes (like a ballerina), we have know idea how this does not hurt!!!
-She loves being a big sister and having Bree more interactive now. I have caught her on several occasions pulling Bree around by her feet to move her to where she wants her to play at...even into the princess castle (yes, 2 1/2 months later that is still taking up half my dining room...but we have had lots of fun in it, I even joked with Shane that if we ever move we could call it a 4th bedroom!)
-Emma took swim lessons this past week and is doing awesome at floating on her back, swimming and kicking on her tummy, and blowing bubbles!
-The biggest change is she is potty training!!! I have been holding off until she said she was ready (per many other mothers advice) and last week she asked to go potty on her potty pot. We didn't focus on it too hard, but the beginning of this week I set a schedule, had her pick out some pull-ups and so far she is doing amazing! I was so surprised at what she accomplished in just 2 days. At first it took her 20-30 minutes of sitting to go potty, and now most of the time she can go as soon as she sits down. She even told me she had to go potty while we were at wal-mart and we were able to get the bathroom in time! She even went twice at church! Shane and I are so, so, so proud of her! She gets 'pennies for her potty' and that has been a great reward so far. Plus, we told her we would take her to the water park once she is in underwear full-time, so I foresee a trip there in the near future!
-She is finally eating more (she has always eaten like a bird!) She has come to love hamgurbers (as she calls them), steak, and pasta. She loves fruit and will eat about any kind, and is also a pretty big fan on her veggies, she LOVES corn on the cob! She is starting to not care for milk much, but still likes her juice and ice water. She has been enjoying a little peach tea and lemonade this summer. She still has yet to try pop, and we don't plan to let her have that treat until she is older.
-She talks and talks and TALKS all the time!
-She loves princesses and pink and is all girl!
-She changes her name everyday and her favorites to be called are Cinderella, Sister Bear (from Berenstain Bear books) Ariel, and Rapunzel. She usually names Bree Honey Bear or Snow White.
-She has been testing her boundaries a lot lately and is strong-willed.
Emma is a true joy and we love her immensely! What a blessing she is! She constantly entertains us and makes us laugh!

Emma rockin' her new pink hat!

We are so thankful to God for her!

Father's Day 2011

For Father's Day, the girls and I went to Menards the Friday before and bought Shane a (badly needed) new grill! Emma kinda spoiled the surprise when she asked Shane where his grill was while we ate lunch that day. So I showed her his old grill out the back door, but she said 'no, where is dad's NEW grill?!'...he said that he didn't know, so she then tells him 'in the back of the minivan!' So we let Shane put his new grill together Friday night. I put his old grill for free on 'muscatine for sale' facebook page and it was gone in less than 15 minutes...like literally! Someone responded to the ad and came and got it within 15 minutes!
We put the new grill to good use on Father's day! We enjoyed lunch outside (brats for Shane, hot dog for Emma, chicken sandwich for me), and then enjoyed a delicious rib eye for supper!
Shane spent his Father's day going to church and then working on the garage in the afternoon. He also got in some play time with the girls and we topped the night off with watching a movie after the girls were in bed...we watched 'Just Go With It'. Below are some pictures from the day!

Shane and Emma with his new grill!

Bree in her new tutu!

Another one of Bree cuz I can never decide which picture to post!

Emma and Bree with their awesome daddy!

Shane and Bree

Yet, another one of Bree ;)
Emma rarely stays still long enough to get her picture taken anymore!

Bree and mommy!

We love you Shane! Happy Father's Day! We hope you know how much you are loved! Our girls are incredibly blessed to grow up with a dad like you!

And Happy Father's Day to my dad, whom I love very much!

Washers Really Do Eat Socks...

So a few weeks back (I am so behind on blogging), Shane dashed my hopes of a beautiful new front loader washer and dryer set...you know, like the kind that you can get in pretty colors!

It started on a Friday afternoon...I washed one load of clothes and put them in the dryer and then started a load of towels. A while later I go back to switch out the laundry to find the washer stopped mid cycle. It isn't that unusual, it seems to blow the little ground fault button on the outlet occasionally, so I went to push the button back in, only to realize that the button was still pushed in. I was confused, so I played with the knobs on the washer...still nothing. The washer was full of soapy water and towels and I had another 3+ loads of laundry to do! I called Shane to inform him of his latest 'fix it' project. So the following is what Shane did on Saturday afternoon:

He took my washer completely apart!
I only freak out a little nowadays when I see my appliances, etc in numerous parts scattered about the floor...my husband has instilled confidence in me that he can put things back together and in working order for that matter! (which is also why I don't have a nice flat screen hanging on my wall...cuz he fixed the old tv too back in December! ha!)

And here was the diagnosis...the washer ate Emma's favorite sock, well choked trying to is more like it!
The irony of it is, Shane never believed me that the washer ate socks...well this proved me right!
I lost this sock probably 2 weeks before hand, so I had done several loads of laundry.
Bree hanging out on the floor while working on the washer, this was her reaction to the discovery!

"well mom, I guess you don't get a new washer/dryer"

If you are asking yourself, why would she need a new washer AND dryer if just the washer broke...well, they would have to match, otherwise it would drive me nuts! But the dream of a pretty new washer and dryer remains a dream...for now that is!

Bree's 6 Month Check-up

Little Miss Bree Scarlet turned 6 months on June 2nd, 2011!

Wow, 6 months has flown by! We had Bree's checkup June 8th, here are her latest stats:
Weight: 15lbs 13oz
Height: 24.5 inches long

Emma at 6 months was 17lbs 5 oz and 26 inches long. Bree is definitely more mobile than what Emma was at this age. I will put Bree on the floor and turn around for 2 seconds and she is never where I left her!!! She gets around by army crawling and rolling. She is sitting up now and loves to play with her toys. Bree LOVES her big sister and Emma can get her to giggle often, and Bree is always watching her and listening to her intently. Bree is a very curious but mellow baby. She is such a good baby. She definitely loves her mom! She loves to cuddle with me, and loves to give me kisses and nuzzle her head in my shoulder and act like she is giving me hugs. We enjoy our one-on-one time when Emma is asleep.
Bree talks alot and loves to be talked to. I was worried maybe she wouldn't talk as much with Emma always jabbering, but so far that hasn't stopped her. She is making the sound for 'mum mum' which I love and I know soon that that sound will be for me. Bree has such a big and bright smile and all you have to do is smile to get her to smile back at you! She loves her daddy and is quite intrigued with his deep sounding voice and dark features. If she can hear her daddy, then she is searching the room to find him. Dad is often a distraction when nursing Bree in bed just because she always wants to turn just to make sure he is there.
I am still breast feeding, 6 months and going strong! Bree still nurses about 7-8 times a day and has 2 meals of solids. So far Bree is eating oatmeal, yogurt, squash, sweet potatoes, carrots and apples (she doesn't really care for those tho, but she loves everything else) and I have made everything except the oatmeal and yogurt. I plan to make up some more fruits for her, especially since peaches, etc are starting to come in season, and we are going to try bananas and avocado soon. I wish I would have made Emma her first foods too, because it is so much cheaper, healthier and tastier!
Bree is sleeping well too, anywhere from 7 to 9 hours a night, and a couple of naps during the day. She really only gets fussy when she is hungry. She is now wearing mostly 6 months clothes.
Bree's hair is getting thicker and much darker, I think she will have dark hair like Emma and I. Her eyes are still a beautiful blue/gray. She just has the sweetest disposition! Bree also just had her first tooth break through on June 12th and her second broke through 2 days later...they are her bottom front teeth.
Bree is such a joy and we love having a baby in the house again!!! Here are some pictures from the last couple of weeks. Enjoy!

Emma & Bree after church one Sunday

Emma ironing like mommy

Emma dancing

Bree playing on the floor

Emma napping on the chair

I have a picture of Emma in this same outfit...I will post some new comparison pictures of the girls someday soon!

Bree helping mom make breakfast burritos

Bella enjoys the princess castle too! any time we are in it, she has to come in too!

Emma dancing again...

Emma showing off her pink fingernails! She was pretty excited to have to her nails painted for the first time!

7 Years!!!

Shane and I celebrated 7 years of marriage today! A lot of life has been lived during the last 7 years and we feel incredible blessed with all that God has given us! Words cannot express the thankfulness that I have to God for blessing me as Shane's wife. I pray that I can be a Proverbs 31 wife to Shane. In honor of 7 years, here are 7 reasons I love my hubby:
1. Leads our family how God calls him to, loves the Lord and shows that love to me and our girls
2. Never parts from me with out kissing me at least 3 times!
3. Works hard for us and provides for us
4. Always makes me smile and laugh, cheers me up when I am down, rubs my shoulders and back when I am cooking supper, doing dishes, sitting down and lots of other times
5. Has ALWAYS shown me respect and love
6. Is an amazing daddy to Emma and Bree...it is my prayer that they can share they same kind of marriage with their spouses some day
7. Has become an incredible source of Godly wisdom
The list could go on and on, but this are the first that came to mind. I think you get the picture.
Here are a few pictures from our wedding day. I may have posted some in previous years. Enjoy!

The kiss that sealed the deal

First dance to good old Frank Sinatra "The way you look tonight"

Happy 7th Wedding Anniversary Honey! I love you!!!

This morning we opened up all our cards we received in the mail and then spent our day going to church, then our new small group met at a pool and swam til noon (it was pretty chilly, 70 and mostly cloudy...needless to say I didn't get in the water). We then had a BBQ with everyone and hung out til about 2pm. We came home and I put the girls down for a nap, while Shane headed outside to work on the garage. I joined him after the girls were down and we really enjoyed working hard together...we always do (even our neighbor made the comment that we work well together). After supper and the girls were in bed, we enjoyed watching a movie together, the new 'True Grit'. Well, that was our day...now I am going to go cuddle in close to my hubby of 7 years!!!
God bless and good night!