Today was crazy.

After a somewhat lazy morning, things really took off after storytime at 10:15 at the library. We got there right on time and Emmylou was her typical self, insisting on being in the very, very front of everything, "helping" the teacher turn the pages of story books and trying to get her mitts on all the felt pieces going on the felt board and every puppet taken out of a bag. I've been taking her for the past couple of months hoping that one day she'll be able to sit and enjoy the stories and songs without having to be told to sit down by the teacher 10 times, but no such luck yet. Mostly I'm horrified because none of the other 40 kids in there seem so impulsive or demanding of attention but I also tend towards thoughts of "can anyone really expect a just-turned two year-old to sit for half an hour without moving?" and "she's not hurting anyone, she's just enthusiastic!" Anyway, storytime is taking a month-long break and I have to admit that I'm a little relieved.

Right after storytime we usually go over to the children's book section and Emmylou plays on the cushy chairs and picks out a book or two to check out. Today was no different, except that when I started to read the book she chose (it was a book about jelly beans-- I'm not kidding) she started re-situating herself on a little wooden chair but somehow slipped and caught her entire body weight by her nose as it smashed into the table in front of us. Her first bloody nose. Got it in a library.

Where did we go from there? Well, after a moderate bout of crying and rushing out to the car, through her tears she told me that she wanted a "buh-guh from Phil's." Is this my kid or what? I said okay, but told her that first we had to go to the bank and then go to her school for next year to drop off a deposit check and her registration packet. Here's a photo of Emmylou in what will be her "purple" classroom next year. She seemed to really like it.



Then we went to Phil's. Yummy and uneventful, thank God. Then we went to my friend's house to drop off some information I've been working on for a charity auction in a couple of weeks. Then we went home for her nap but she fell asleep on the way there and woke up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed just as I was trying to place her gingerly into her bed for more napping. Thus, more entertainment needed for Emmylou by Mommy. At 3:30 we went to music class and straight from there we went to the farmer's market to meet her friend Leo. Here are some photos of Lou playing in the fountains, before she decided to take her diaper off and run around naked. We've been going to the farmer's market for months now and she's been dying to play in those fountains but it was always too cold. Today she didn't hesitate to take part; she was soaked within seconds...





Once I dried her off and put her clothes back on, she ran straight back into the fountains and soaked herself again.

We finally made it home and Emmylou ate dinner, had a bath, read some stories, brushed her teeth and headed to bed.

I'm amazed I can type at this point. However, I did catch myself whispering "I had fun with you today" as I put her down in her bed to sleep.

This happened tonight...

Me: "Emmylou, please go tell your daddy that dinner is ready."

Emmylou: [Running down hallway] "Honey! Dinner is ready!"

You'd think we live on a farm with the number of interactions Emmylou has had with livestock lately. Here she is feeding some goats this past weekend:



Going toe-to-toe with one...



And chasing a poor chicken...



We spent the weekend at Grammie's lakehouse on Lake LBJ and made a trip over to Sweet Berry Farm to pick strawberries (and to see goats and chickens, natch).

Picking with Grammie...



Picking by "I-self" (showing us the rare berry that didn't have a bite taken out of it before getting tossed into the basket)...



Riding with her stash in the wagon...



And enjoying the strawberry ice cream they sell out there...



We went to this farm almost exactly a year ago. To see how different Lulu looked then, check out the post here. She has so much more hair!

Dear Emmylou,

So I almost let April slide without an update for you, but I just couldn't do it because you're doing such hilarious stuff these days! Let me fill you in...

About a month ago you went from saying one or two things at a time to using (mostly) complete sentences. One I hear a lot is "I want watch Elmo Potty Time." Yes, Elmo's Potty Time is your favorite "movie" of the moment and you are so interested in potty training that I think you're getting close to training yourself. I say that you're training yourself because I'm not really sure I'm ready for you to try it for real. I know you're close but I'm afraid that if we start now you may regress when the new baby comes so I'm thinking it might just be better to wait another six months. Who knows if we can make it that long, though, because this weekend you pooped in the potty three separate times! Of course that brought a new little song you keep singing, which is "I poop potty," which you sang me over the phone many, many times.



Something else I hear all the time: "I-self" or "I do self." Self-explanatory.

Another: "I help." Yes, you like to help with everything. Mostly, you can't stand my doing anything in the kitchen without helping. Whether it's baking cookies or making soup or just a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, if you see me head in there, you drag your chair from the table and are up in the midst of everything in 10.2 seconds flat. If we're putting ingredients in a bowl, you absolutely insist on tasting everything and remarking "mmmm, that's good!" to whatever it might be: flour, baking soda, chopped raw onions.

You are definitely exploring emotions. Even though you are the happiest child I have ever seen, sometimes out of the blue, you'll say "I sad." When I ask if you need a hug, you take it willingly and then tell me, "Thanks, much better [nodding and squinting slightly, very seriously]." You also like to say "I happy" at various times and we talk about what makes us feel different ways. One way you like to mark a happy, festive occasion is by clinking glasses or spoons or popsicles in a toast-like fashion when we're eating.

People these days are calling you a "social butterfly" and always remark about how outgoing, confident and independent you are. They can also tell how sweet you are. Lately you have to tuck in your stuffed animals next to you before you can lay down and go to sleep yourself, and whenever you hear a baby crying, you immediately say "I help" and "get baby bottle." I know you're going to be a sweet big sister because you like to talk to your brother through my belly button and softly rub my belly and give it kisses.

I couldn't possibly love you more,
Mommy

P.S. Here you are playing on the bed at Grammie's house...

Just got Lou's birthday pics from Em!

The set-up at the park...



I made Wonder Pets cupcakes...



Emmylou played with her friends and Daddy...



Some of the kids played music with the instruments we brought...




When it was time for a cupcake, she chose Linny and not Ming-Ming!















All the kids loved the pinata...















And Emmylou opened some presents...





Did you notice how most of the other kids were wearing their Wonder Pets capes Lizzie made? Emmylou wouldn't wear one!!!

Thanks, Em, the photos really captured the fun we had that day!

Aunt Emily called this morning to remind us that tonight is the premiere of The Wonder Pets Save the Beetles! Apparently they go to Liverpool and there are lots of Beetles tunes incorporated into the show. It's airing for us on both Nickelodeon and Nick Jr., so check your listings!

BTW, you can also order the DVD of it here.

Where have we been? Hmmm...

Today we went to a birthday party for Emmylou's friend Luke at Kiddie Acres. She also went to one there last week for her friend Tess so she was a real pro. As you can see by the photos, this place is OLD SCHOOL.










For those of you familiar with Kiddie Park in San Antonio (where I always wanted to go when I was little), this place is much like that but without the creepy child molester vibe going on there.

Last night Emmylou and I had movie night because Gary was camping out with some friends at the Old Settlers Music Festival. We made popcorn and watched Ratatouille. She was a little fidgety but we managed to make it through the whole thing!






Last week we boiled crawfish at Lizzie and Khanh's place...




And here's Emmylou in some new PJ's Mimi sent...




This definitely isn't half of what we've done this past week but either our internet connection is screwed up or my computer is about to die, so until it gets a little faster these posts might be a little less frequent.