Belated Christmas in North Carolina

We had a wonderful belated Christmas celebration in North Carolina with Grammy, Papa and Uncle Scott. Emily got so many great toys she didn't know what to play with first. But, she eventually got her hands (and mouth) on everything. Her talking doggy and Tickle Me Elmo are a couple of her favorites. This year, like most years, Karen got coal in her stocking. Stephanie didn't because she was very good.

Who's going to blink first?

My very first Elmo!

Hangin' with Uncle Scott

So, so sad that it's all over

Panda Love

Christmas In Kentucky

We spent Emily's 1st Christmas in Kentucky with Grandma and Grandpa Smith. She loved the baby settee that Stephanie played on when she was little. (Yes, that's a picture of her framed above it.) Em hasn't even had an opportunity to be good for a whole year, and she got so many gifts from everyone!

Yes, Stephanie had long hair... once.

Another helping of turkey and stuffing and Stephanie is going to break the baby couch

Emily is so proud to sit in a chair just her size

Just some of the gifts Santa brought Emily this year

Why are baby toys so well packaged that it requires the child and two adults to get into them? Hello Grandma Smith!

Gifts Galore

"I can't even talk yet; how'd you know I wanted one of these?"

"And this one too!"

"Cousin Mayla and Family, thank you for my red tutu!!"

"OK, we can read for a minute, but make it snappy, I got more openin' to do!"

Love at First Sight

Grandma and grandpa Smith brought Teddy with them on their visit, and Emily fell in love immediately. It was pretty amusing watch her crawl with one free hand as the bear was dragged with her wherever she went.

Fright Night II

So the real Halloween spook came a few hours later. While some of the Halloween crew obliviously hung out in the hottub, a little critter managed to make its way up the deck, through the back door, sneak past an un-fazed Sadie comfortably lounging in the living room, and into the tv room. Thank goodness Scott finally noticed we were a house under attack. Stephanie barricaded herself on the stairs and snapped away.

Yes, that is a broom, a pot, and barbecue tongs. They shared the rodent-safe mits

Is this a baby...possum? Who's more scared, it or Scott?

Fright Night I

We had a great Halloween with Em (aka Little Miss Wonderbread). She was a good sport trick-or-treating (mostly for our benefit because let's be honest, the kid only has 2 1/2 teeth at this point). Not that we didn't have enough candy of our own to pick through, but there's something a little exciting about the unexpected morsels you may score from others. :)

Wes, Karen, Scott and Linda

The Many Faces of August

We obviously have some time on our hands this morning. The jumperoo eventually lulled Emily to sleep, so we're enjoying some quiet, and a walk down memory lane. Here are some pics back from the Summer. (As always, if you click on a picture, you can see it much larger, and in better quality.)

Some Oldies But Goodies

We're hanging with Em this morning and as she joyfully jumps in her oh-so-favorite jumperoo, we were reminded of some good pics we took last month. This is what happens when you jump so hard you pass out.

Up, Up and Up

We've gone from sitting up on our own to flat on our belly up to a sitting position. It's only a matter of time...

And The Winner Is...

WONDER BREAD!

After weeks of heated battle, the little bread that could eeked out a victory by the narrowest of margins over the poor sweet tootsie roll. We had no idea when we put it out there how passionate our friends and family would feel about their favorite costume. We've heard stories that ranged from attempted bribery with cookies, computer hijacking, attempted erasing of one's computer's cookies, to celebrity vote begging. (Shout out to Belinda Carlisle.) One day Emily will look back on pictures of her first Halloween and know just how truly loved she was.

Labor Day Weekend - North Carolina

Labor Day Weekend brought Emily face-to-face with her first lake experience. Granted she was immersed in the jumbo party raft so she only got a taste of the water from the mesh netting that let water in from the bottom, but she seemed to enjoy it. Soon enough she'll be jumping off the boat house roof, unlike her mommy here who was a big chicken and didn't do it.

We're In Trouble Now

Lounging in her boppy tonight, we looked down and realized Emily had pulled herself forward and upright. She was half way home to pulling herself onto the floor and we quickly realized neither our world, or hers would ever be the same again. No doubt, she was quite pleased with herself.

It's an Out and Out War! -- Costume Big Picture - See Photos Immediately Below

So since it seems there is an all out war between Tootsie Roll lovers and Wonderbread dieheards, I thought perhaps I should provide a little more insight into the overall big picture idea of each.

Tootsie Roll:  Our little nugget will be dressed in candy's finest and will be transported door to door while sitting in a large, homemade candy bucket, surrounded by other scrumptious morsels. 

Wonderbread: The same little nugget will be dressed in loaf's finest, and will experience her 1st Halloween from an A&P shopping cart, surrounded by a giant canned ham, mustard, and other sandwich necessities.  

Lil Crab:  If the crab wins, Emily will be sacrificed to a giant pot of melted butter and lemons.

Choose wisely. 

Cousin Kelley and Nick's Wedding

This weekend we attended Karen's cousin Kelley's wedding in Annapolis, MD. It was a beautiful ceremony, and we had such a lovely time at the reception. I don't think anybody had as much fun, with as many dancing partners as Em did.

Karen, Cousin Mike and Katie

Em showing off her new dress with Grammy

Fighting to stay awake with Papa

Losing the battle with mom

Unplanned, but color coordinated outfits for Sunday Brunch!

HALLOWEEN COSTUME...?

What do you think? Halloween isn't far away. We have a number of options, but we want to know what you think. Should Emily be a Tootsie Roll? A Wonder Bread? A Lil Crab? Or maybe there's one we've missed. Take the poll to the right and vote for your favorite...

OTHER POSSIBILITIES TO BRING ABOUT FUTURE THERAPY

I'll Make It Worth Your While

Stephanie will pay top dollar for someone to find Karen a pair of pants like these. And if they can't be purchased, Joy, start working, Christmas is just around the corner...

The Joys of Tummy-Time

Thanks to the gift of a digital slr, we can now show you in quick shutter time, just how quickly tummy time can go from an "Ok, I'll tolerate this" experience to "you have been given your 2 second warning to get me up" to "oh wait, that was a cool sound" to "alright, you've distracted no one, I want up!!"