Unfortunately, rather than getting to go out on the lake and soak up the sun as we had planned, we spent the day dodging torrential downpours in between running errands and going out for lunch. But we still managed to have a good day and Emmylou got into the spirit of Memorial Day by waving a flag that was on the table at Chez Zee.



And after her bath tonight, as usual, Emmylou helped brush her own hair, my hair and her mouse's hair...

Last night was a little rough as Emmylou had a bit of a fever and woke up over and over again crying. This morning I figured out why-- I felt around her gums and felt that 3 of her 4 molars broke through last night! Poor baby. Here she is this morning, running around with her tongue sticking out of her mouth pressing on her new teeth...

As if Emmylou's obsession with going up and down, up and down, and up and down wasn't enough, now she's obsessed with turning things on and off, on and off, on and off. Here she is operating her most favorite switches: the light switch and our TV...





And just for kicks, here she is with another favorite thing (I think Maria Von Trapp's about to break into song)...

Yesterday we got home from South Padre Island with Keith, Ashley, Cole and Reagan and several other families who we typically go down there with. We had a very fun and relaxing vacation and Emmylou loved the ocean. She kept running straight into it! Here she is in a few photos with her dad...







Playing with Cole and Reagan...




and wheeling her suitcase back to her room to unpack after the trip...

Dear Emmylou,

Wow. Fourteen months old today. Fourteen! Fourteen of the best months of my life, a life that only gets better with each passing day because of you. It's hard to remember what life was like without you and now it's even hard to remember what it was like when you were really tiny, just that little red-faced critter writhing around and chirping between strings of 8 hour naps. Daddy and I were looking at pictures last night debating whether you still look like this one, or if we can see 'you' in that one. I think we determined that once you hit about 6 weeks you started looking like 'yourself.' There is no question, though, that today, you are a real, little person-- no longer a baby, but someone with distinct thoughts, ideas and feelings and, in addition, quick legs that will take you wherever the impulse directs!

Yes, these days, you are a real character. Not only are you so sweet and lovable, you are funny and smart. I'm amazed by how you can point to pictures of people I name and go get things for me that I ask you for. Yesterday at Grammie's, you went and got the book "Hamilton Duck's Springtime Story" when she asked for it! You have finally figured out that all dogs, even if they don't look quite like Lola, say "woof, woof." You still absolutely love all things musical, dance when a song comes on and clap whenever one's over, and you always show us the part about the sun coming out when we sing "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider" together. There aren't enough steps on this earth for you to climb up and down, up and down, up and down, and up and down on. It gets really old quickly for someone who's been climbing steps for, oh, 30 plus years by now, but I have to admit it really is hard to resist climbing up and down with you when you look up at me and ask for my finger to hold onto. And now that you give hugs and kisses on demand (which I totally love, of course), I figure I get paid back pretty well.

For the past few days you've been a little fussy, but it's understandable: your one-year molars are coming in! You have been chewing like crazy and drooling all over the place, so hopefully they'll break through soon and give you some relief. The last of your bottom front teeth just broke through last week, so you certainly have a mouthful arriving all at once.

Emmylou, I can't tell you how badly I missed you those three days while I was in New York! For both my sake and yours, I do believe it's best that I have some off-duty mommy days where I don't have to touch a single chicken nugget, diaper or juice box, but that doesn't mean it's easy not getting to see you. Of course I thought about you all the time on the trip and got excited thinking about taking you there one day to see it all. I know you'll love it as much as I do.

This month, I think I mostly just want to tell you 'thank you.' Thank you for the incredible amount of joy you bring me and the love you give me every single day. Thank you for being the reason we call ourselves a family, and thank you for letting me see everything from a new, fresh perspective through your eyes. Thank you for challenging me and rewarding me, for both the laughter and the tears. I didn't know life could be this sweet. I love you, my sweet girl.

Love,
Mama

Emily and I were in New York for several days this past week, so I haven't posted in a while. Before we left, Emmylou and I went to Pawpaw and Nana's house for dinner on Monday night. It was so nice and they even put up this horsie in their front yard for Emmylou to ride! She got on several times and we tried to get her to say things like "giddy-up" and "yeehaw," but to no avail.



Emmylou stayed with Grammie from Tuesday to Friday while Em and I were in New York and Gary was traveling for work all week. They had a great time and did lots of fun things. It was the longest I've ever been away from Emmylou and I have to admit I cried a little when we were reunited! Grammie just bought Emmylou and herself some matching Crocs-- so cute!




And today was Mother's Day and wonderful as we got to spend time with Mimi, Grammie, Lizzie, Emily and Gary. We went to Silo for a lovely brunch (with only a minor mishap in that they ran out of highchairs) and then sat out by the pool in the sun. Here's a photo Gary took of Grammie and her girls and Emmylou playing on her favorite step at Grammie's house, wearing a necklace she made:

Gary wanted me to post this picture so he could save it as his computer wallpaper:



It'll be a little fuzzy because it's from my phone and Emmylou has marks on her forehead from where she was sleeping on her hands, but I still think it's pretty cute.

In other news, Emmylou is getting braver every day. After being terrified of the rocket ship that Pawpaw and Nana gave her ever since we brought it home after Christmas, she is finally working up the courage to ride it around the house. I still can't turn the sound on because the "3-2-1 Blast-Off!" and engine rumble sounds scare her half to death, but I'm confident that even that will come in time. These photos are also a little blurry, but you can see that she's enjoying herself...

Emmylou and I have a new game we play called "How Long Can You Keep a Clip In Your Hair?" She set a record yesterday at about 30 minutes when she managed to forget about it, but her average is more like 6 seconds. Here's how you play:

First, Mommy puts the clip in Emmylou's hair...


Then, Emmylou immediately pats her head until she finds it and pulls it out...


Then, she chews on it a little...


Then, she hands it back to Mommy to put it back in...


Then, Mommy puts the clip back in her hair...


Then, Emmylou immediately pats her head until she finds it and pulls it out...


And so on, and so on...

FUN GAME!

Yesterday we went and applied for Emmylou's passport so she can go on the Mediterranean cruise (!) Grammie's taking us on in July and August. I think her picture is kind of hilarious:



It's a cross between a deer-in-the-headlights look and one of those really bad celebrity mug shots.

I kind of felt bad about sticking her with such a crap photo, but then later that afternoon I released myself of all guilt when she started cracking up at my reaction to almost breaking my pinky toe when I accidentally kicked the wheel of the basket she was riding in at Academy. As if it wasn't humiliating enough that I almost broke a toe-- not while actually working out but while shopping for new work-out clothes, I had my toddler squealing with delight as I fought back tears and gasps, hopping on one foot fighting through the pain shooting up my leg. Good times... But possibly good information for anyone who might find themselves babysitting Emmylou and at a loss for how to entertain her.

We spent a very fun weekend out at Grammie's lakehouse. Here are some photos of what we did...

On Friday, we went to a berry-picking farm and Emmylou picked lots of yummy strawberries that later topped homemade vanilla bean ice cream...








Here she is wearing her new bathing suit and matching hat I just bought her. Grammie set up a baby pool just for her so she could splash around...



Then she enjoyed a boat ride, even getting a chance to drive...