Playing Dress Up

Emma has been on a dress-up kick the past few weeks. It usually involves her winter hat, scarf, and mittens.

But last night, she wanted all her hair clips in her hair. So I twisted her hair strands and placed about 6-7 clips in her hair. She then added all her hair bands wrapped around her wrists and mittens for the last shots.

Trying to Capture Christmas

This past weekend I, along with my friend Megan, took Emma to see Santa Clause at the Barton Creek Mall in Austin. I waited until she got up from her nap and headed up to Austin to meet Megan at the mall. We found Santa right away and the line did not look all that long so we got into place and waited. Thank goodness for the mini-train that went around the Christmas scene. Emma was captivated by the train. She did not ask to get on the train, but just wanted to watch it go round and round. That made the 1 hour and 15 minute wait a little more bearable. When it was our turn to finally see Santa, Emma promptly threw herself onto the ground in front of him and refused to move. There I am, 9 months pregnant, appearing in front of a line of what seemed liked hundreds of judging eyes, under the gaze of Santa, with a child that appears to be about to throw a tantrum. I do not know what I did, but there was no leg kicking and the crying didn't start. I persuaded Emma to sit on my lap as I sat next to Santa. She conceded, but wanted her stuffed dog to hold onto for comfort.
That is why I am in the picture of Emma with Santa. That is why Emma looks sceptical. That is why Santa is trying to comfort me. That is why in this picture I am smiling like a silly, stressed-out mom.

I hope your holiday photo's capture the essence of Christmas.

Post 100

I feel like this post is a milestone not only in its number but in the information it brings. My sisters traveled down from Dallas last weekend to help me move furniture, steam clean the bedroom carpets, build a headboard, decorate/paint Cam's nursery, redecorate Emma's bedroom, clean out closets, and organize.
We accomplished many of the things on the list, and the things we didn't get to, are small and I will be able to do them on my own.
We got the carpets cleaned and the furniture moved from the guest bedroom (now Cam's nursery) into Emma's new big girl room. We decorated both and were able to get Emma's room completely redone. Here she is on her big girl bed.

She has adjusted well to the change. The first night in her new bed she slept through the night, the second night, not so much. The third night, we didn't hear a peep out of her until after 4:30am, that counts as through the night.


We painted one wall in Cam's room, moved the crib and dresser in, and the glidder chair. Here are some shots of the guest bedroom now nursery.


Thanks to my sisters for all their help as well as to my brother-in-law and husband who kept out of our way and pitched in when we needed them.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween. Last year Emma was a ladybug and just helped pass out candy, this year she went as a ballerina and actually got to go trick or treating. Here are the best shots of the night.



Here she is in her costume before we ventured out.






Let's go mom!


Walking the sidewalks of Plum Creek with her daddy.


A picture with our neighbor who is just a few months older than Emma.


Trick or Treat? Treat please!

Fall Festival

Emma's daycare had a Fall Festival at the school on Friday. Parents were encouraged to dress the children up in their Halloween costumes and to come prepared to play games. There was a ring toss, a dig for hidden treasure, face painting, a bounce house, and a knock the duck.
Emma tried her hand at knock the duck, but got frustrated at the line and went up to the ducks and started knocking them over with her hands instead of the bean bag. She had fun and looked very festive in her snow princess costume that her Aunt's bought for her.

Random Pictures

I misplaced (not lost) my camera usb cord. I could blame it on the phenomenon known as pregnancy brain (a temporary yet inconvenient short term memory loss) but I will not. So, I called my mother, who has the same camera, and she sent me her usb cord. Thanks mom. I now can download some pictures I took during the labor day trip as well as post pictures of the new outfit Emma's grandma made her.

I do not know what face Emma is attempting to make here, perhaps we just caught her unaware.


Emma taking a break from jet ski riding and boat driving in her pint sized lake chair which came equipped with the sippy cup holder.
And now Emma in the new dress...

Labor Day weekend lake adventures

Emma, T and I drove to Marshall to see the grandparents and my sisters and brother-in-law. We got up early on Saturday and went to Lake O the Pines. However, after only 20 minutes of calm weather, the wind picked up and white caps appeared on the lake and the time for boating and riding the jet ski was over. Before the waves hit, Emma was able to take a ride on the boat with Grandpa and Daddy and go jet skiing with Aunt Dana.