keeping up with the hensons...

I was talking to a friend the other day about how I finally feel "ready" to have another baby. (No, I'm not pregnant!) She thought I was crazy because she's reaching the end of her pregnancy and is ready for it to be over. When I look back to being pregnant, I don't remember the bad parts, I don't remember childbirth being painful or the way complete lack of sleep made me go a little crazy.

I mean, I remember it, but it seems like I must have made a big deal out of nothing because I could SO do that. Except, I do know it was hard and besides, we can't afford another kid in daycare and we are so happy how things are for now. 

Emmy's first ride in the car-cart! She drove this sucker around like a mad woman (or was that me?)...

This is all to say, I am reminded at how quickly we forget things.

I can't remember when Emmy started clapping her hands or when she first said "mama". I go through pictures in my phone and the chronology surprises me. I'm going to have to get better about tracking milestones and even little things on this blog. 

So, what's up with Emmy and the Henson's right now?

ake up! (wake up!) while slapping us until we get out of bed
ahbeeahbeeahbee or emmyemmyemmy sometimes she gets it right, but she always says it over and over again like that!
dobby (doggy) I am about to let her rename him Dobby!
momma, mommeee, daddeee. 
hi or hieeee (she likes to acknowledge people when they come into a room)
cup
no (but she prefers to shake her head)
up, up (to be picked up)
okay (pretty much entirely random)
what (she only says this when we say her name to get her attention)

Emmy can feed herself with a fork or spoon, brush her teeth (or suck all of the toothpaste off a toothbrush), walk around the house without help, and even work my iphone! Seriously, she pushes the home button to light it up, works her little fingers until it's unlocked and then scrolls through the apps. She has an app called "peekaboo barn" that I let her play but now that she knows how to update a facebook status, she can't be trusted!

She also loves giving kisses. This is her kissy face and she does it more for her Aunt Ash than anyone else. It was so fun having her around to help with Emmy and just to see the two of them playing together. Emmy is very lucky to have a big family that loves her so much.

Speaking of the Hensons... we have been busy. After getting another solid round of pneumonia and bronchitis (all 3 of us) we are happy to be healthy and able to enjoy the beautiful weather.

We spent memorial day weekend at the lake, at my mom's pool, the park and we even made a stop at Avondale brewery. 

Emmy and Aunt Yelli by the lake - 

Joe feels pretty comfortable at his Nanny & Papa Bill's house - 

Emmy and Aunt Ash playing outside the brewery -

Emmy + Sandy at my mom's pool

Emmy and her cousin, Hannah - (They are going to be best friends!)

This week back at work was long and rough. The mortgage industry isn't forgiving but most things that are rewarding are not easy. I look at these pictures and remember what the work is about. I keep going back to the office so I can enjoy the time I have with my family and especially my little Emmy. 

My day is long tomorrow but it will be family time soon enough!

emmy is walking (and dancing)!

I know I keep thinking that "these" days are the best days but these really are. She has so much personality and as long as  she isn't on steroids and breathing treatments, she is so sweet!

And, now she's a walker!!

Emmy loves music. I can tell that she can feel it in her bones and I literally tear up every time she rocks to a song. She loves this one, "To Build a Home" by The Cinematic Orchestra. There is a piano part that builds up and she waves her head like Stevie Wonder. 

I can't wait until she and I can play Just Dance together!

emmy and the tubes

Tubes have become such a common procedure for toddlers that I thought it would be helpful to post about our experience with them.

Our appointment was set for 6am on Friday morning. The nurses said they make appointments in order of age with youngest first. Emmy was the youngest for our doctor so we got the first slot. 

She couldn't eat anything after midnight and only clear liquids after 4am. Emmy doesn't usually have a bottle until 7:30am but I decided to bump up her night time bottle to 5:30 so I could give her a little more at 9:30 to keep her full longer. 

We woke her up at 5:30 with the car already running. We changed her diaper, wrapped her back up in her blanket and loaded up. She was in a good mood and the most active toddler in the waiting room when we arrived. 

At about 6:30 they called us back and we got a private room with a bed, tv and rocker. They had a room with toys for the kids while they wait and a room for adults to get snacks, coffee, etc. It definitely made the experience more relaxing. We spent most of this time giving her kisses and telling her about how she is the best baby and how much we love her.

She was all, "Mooo-ooooom"

 A round of nurses came through to get her medical history, do questionnaires about any issues that might affect her during anesthesia and check heart and breathing strength. After that, we turned the lights out and I rocked her until around 7 when a nurse came in to get her. 

They let me carry her halfway then I bopped her up and down and told her to be good and she gladly went to the nurse who quickly went behind hospital doors. 

I started a timer and 15 minutes later the doctor was in our room, telling us that she did great and was waking up with the nurse. He said that her ears were really bad, there was still water in both ears and he expected it to bleed later in the day. He gave us some antibiotic drops.

When Emmy came back she was disoriented and loopy. I think this is why they said some kids love it but most hate it. She was so out of it that she couldn't get the bottle of apple juice pointed at her mouth. She cried and flopped around as if she had no control over her body. We laid her flat on her stomach on the bed and she stopped crying immediately. She needed to be grounded.

 She clutched her bottle of apple juice while we waited for another nurse to come in and give us the all-clear to go home. By 8am we were walking out the front doors with an only slightly irritated baby. 

We were not allowed to give her any solids or milk until we got home but as soon as we could we gave her a bottle of milk and put her down for a nap. Only a few hours after the tubes, she was up and running around.

 She slept most of Friday and by Friday night she was in a great mood. We even went out to dinner and she trooped and entertained everyone as usual!

She has already been showing more interest in walking but still won't let go of our hands or her walker or the couch. I think the walking will start soon though and when it does, she will be running!