Emmylou's 3 year, 5 month update

Dear Emmylou,

You are three. And you've gotten really good at it.

I'd heard from lots of people that the "terrible twos" were a misnomer and that three year olds were the real challenge. I couldn't agree more.

That's not to say that I don't still love you with all of my heart or that we don't have good times together, because we do. It's just that those good times are usually squeezed in between you or I (or both of us) throwing a temper tantrum when we don't get our way. I keep trying to explain that mommy's the boss but it's taking you a little while to grasp that concept.

Over the past few weeks you've been testing out some new emotions, mostly mimicking what you've heard me say. For example, one of your favorite things to tell me is "I'm just not happy with you right now," accompanied by a scowl and crossed arms. You've also decided to try the crying thing when I drop you off at the gym or cooking class but I just don't believe you're actually upset.

Why don't I believe you? Because right now you are constantly wanting to play a role. Lately you've been me and I've been you or you've been Max and I've been Ruby or you've been Ariel and I've been "Ariel Mommy." Everyone around us has supporting roles: Daddy might be King Triton and Miller might be Flounder. I think Grammie is usually Sebastian. You also love to pretend that we are the Riley family. You're Tripp, I'm Miss Elizabeth, Miller is Baby Tate (or "my pet rabbit" which is what Tripp likes to call her) and Daddy is Mr. Wes. In fact, the other day, out of the blue, you saw Miller heading down the hall into Daddy's office and screamed "Miss Elizabeth! My pet rabbit is heading straight into Mr. Wes' office!" I admit it took me a second to decode that.

Grammie told me about something funny you did a couple weeks ago. You were being grumpy (surprise, surprise) so she said "Where's that sweet Emmylou? Where did my sweet, nice Emmylou go?" Your response: "She's in the back." Then a second later, "I'll go get her." You got up off the couch, walked down the hall and re-emerged all smiles and niceness. Too much.

More proof that you're figuring out this world of yours: you finally noticed that Emily and I look alike. Before, you always acted like we were crazy when we asked you if you thought we looked alike but last week Emily took her hair down and you cocked your head and said "why do you look like Mommy?" Oh, the wheels they are a-turnin'.

While it's been a great summer, I think you and I are both ready for you to start school again. Really ready. Problem is, we still have 27 days to go (but who's counting?). Surely we can make it and still be friends in the end, right, my love?

Hugs and kisses,
Mommy

Miller is walking!

Miller started walking last week and we actually have video to prove it! How long it takes me to post it here is another question, which is why I thought I'd go ahead and tell you so that if he ends up running a marathon before you see it you won't be surprised.

Eat Me!

Fun with French toast:

Port A with the Riley's, Round Two

Some photos from last month's trip to the beach...

Miller rode in the very, very back, tucked in next to all the luggage and gear (see him in there?). We couldn't decide if he was lucky or not. He ended up sleeping almost the entire way there so I think we were the lucky ones.
One night we went out to the Crazy Cajun for some boiled seafood. It was pretty good and Miller loved the hammers.

What's the best part about Port A? The beach? The seashell collecting? Swimming in the pool?

Why the luggage racks, of course.

Or, perhaps, hanging seashells on the branches of a ficus tree that's seen better days.

Turns out mommies and daddies like luggage racks, too. They make a fantastic impromptu playpen when you're trying to grill dinner down by the pool (just anchor it with the beer-filled ice chest).




3 out of 4 ain't bad, folks!

The Snotter

Miller's been super congested lately and luckily I found something that really works for him: the Graco Nasal Clear Aspirator, or what Emmylou has affectionately termed "The Snotter."



Normally I don't go for things like this (just like I refuse to have anything in my kitchen that serves only one purpose), but it was an impulse buy at Walgreen's and I'm quite happy with it. It removes a ton more snot than a kleenex could ever wipe away and although it's gross to see the snot collect in the reservoir, there's definitely a feeling of satisfaction when it does. Miller doesn't even seem to mind the nose-vacuuming too much and likes the music it plays!

In our princess dresses

Ever since Emmylou saw the movies Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, she's been obsessed with getting a long "princess dress" that covers her feet. She specifically pointed one out she saw on a girl to Grammie and Grammie was sweet enough to search several places until she found one just like it.

Emmylou finally got to wear her special dress out last week when I took her to see the play Cinderella at the JCC. And not only did she pick out that special dress to wear, but I also let her pick out what I would wear. Surprising choice? I think not.

Rib-Friday

In our house, Friday is Rib-Friday.

Gary always goes to The Pit, a restaurant around the corner, to pick up their Friday special of pork ribs, beans and coleslaw. It wasn't until I went once to pick up our lunch that I realized the "special" on Friday was really just a mere 25 cents off their normal price. I laughed at the time but now that it's become such a tradition, the savings are really adding up.
Lou is definitely a rib girl.

Miller is 11 months old!

Dear Miller,
Happy 11 months! I can't believe that you'll be a year old in a mere 31 days. How could that be?

It's gone by fast, but it's been great. Here's what you've been up to over the last few weeks...

First, you're as close to walking as one could possibly be without actually walking. You stand, you squat, you pick up toys off the floor. But when it comes to taking an actual step, forget it. You sink to your bottom and then crawl as fast as lightning. I'm actually happy that you're a little careful about all of it. It makes me think I'll worry less about you when you're out playing football or skateboarding one day.

In addition to saying "hi" and waving (more sporadically than on demand), you're now saying the best word ever: "mama!" I can't tell you how much I love hearing it and I try to get you to say it all the time. Thank you, Little Man.

This month you really started loving your little blue car that Grammie gave you (you push it all over the house) and any kind of ball you find rolling around. Your other favorite toy of the moment is one of Emmylou's magic wands. It's sparkly and shiny and fun to wave so I completely understand. Let me just apologize now, though, for the times I wasn't fast enough to find you before you were subjected to Emmylou's full princess treatment. Yes, you've worn tiaras, but really I'm not sure you minded too much because you think anything your sister does is hilarious.

Little Man, I love you so much. Although I seriously treasure a full night's sleep, I'm always so happy to hear you in the morning and I look forward to scooping you up, kissing your cheeks and spending the day with you. You are easy-going and fun to be with and I couldn't love you more.

All my love,
Mommy

Miller is 10 months old

Dear Miller,

It's been so long since I've written you an update! You probably haven't noticed, but ever since you started crawling a couple months ago I haven't had much free time. Yes, it's different with two of you who can move.

The changes in you over the last few months have been unbelievable. Really, it's like you're a completely different child. First you got your two bottom teeth right around 8 months, one followed by the other only a day or two later. A few weeks went by and then you got your two top teeth, one followed by the other only a day or two later (I'm sensing a pattern).

You also started rocking the army crawl around 8 months and got to where you could really motor from one end of the room to the other super fast. A few weeks ago you took up the "normal" crawl on your hands and knees (rather than your elbows and thighs) and now that's all we see. Of course, I should have prefaced all of this by saying that we anticipate you to be walking within a matter of weeks, if not days. You just started standing on your own for several seconds! I'm sure first steps are just around the corner. ...God help me.

Recently you've also learned how to wave while saying "hi" (but you haven't done it for a few days now) and you learned how to sign "more" last week. You're still ticklish and laugh like crazy a lot-- the most whenever your sister makes funny faces or sounds for you.

Your favorite things right now are climbing up Grammie's stairs, playing with any breakable non-toy item in the house, trying repeatedly to open the kitchen cabinet with the cleaning supplies (I got new latches today, thank God), trying to stick your hands in the toilet, and eating graham crackers. Seriously, I think you'd be happy to eat nothing but graham crackers for a very long time. You still have a sweet tooth and don't want vegetables unless they're in the Gerber Chicken Noodle Dinner. You love that stuff so I buy tons of it. You've also started eating bits of grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken and fresh fruit but it's always a crap shoot as to whether you'll really like it that day.

One thing you hate: getting your diaper changed. Actually, it's not getting your diaper changed that bothers you but the sitting still long enough to get your diaper changed. Pure torture! I'm pretty sure I'm in store for a pretty active little boy.

Another thing that changes every day: you just seem to get cuter and cuter and sweeter and sweeter! How exactly do you do that? I really could just eat you up. I'm sorry if you find it annoying that I still gnaw on you a bit every now and then. I can't help it.

You're such a good little man and I'm so excited to see you learning so many new things and being so proud of yourself. I love, love, love you-- more than anything.

All my heart,
Mommy

O Canada

Here are a few photos from our trip to Whistler last month. It was a trip Gary won at work and you can tell from the last picture how excited he and Chris were when getting their awards at the big final banquet.

This is a mama bear with her two cubs on the golf course...

Whistler village is all pedestrian and looks like a new European village.
Inside the Peak to Peak Gondola that links two mountaintops.

I scream, you scream

Since we were in Whistler over Father's Day, we finally celebrated with Gary last week by taking him to the Austin Land and Cattle Company for dinner and then out for the finest dessert at Dairy Queen.

I love my family and I love these photos. :-)

Tiny Dancer

Grammie found out that the Austin symphony has been playing on Sunday evenings outside the Long Center this summer and has taken Emmylou three times now. We sit out on the lawn and picnic and Emmylou dances with the other kids.
Her favorite part? There are these ballerinas who dance to the music at the bottom of the hill. Emmylou is always in complete awe of them and is never too shy to go up and talk to them. They taught her how to do "ballet arms" and then Emmylou took it upon herself to show them her awesome moves.

Little Tornadoes

A few weeks ago when Gary was in Dallas we had a big storm blow in, a complete surprise to me since earlier in the day I'd heard the weatherman forecast no rain for at least a week. Instead of just enjoying a nice thunderstorm, I, stupidly, listened to the weatherman again and nearly had a heart attack preparing for the string of tornadoes apparently heading down 183 straight for our house. How much did I believe him? I actually woke up two happily sleeping children to cram them and our dog into the hallway with all kinds of pillows, a crib mattress, my phone and a flashlight. When Miller wouldn't stop crawling out of the hallway I had to drag his pack and play in to trap him. We were a little snug to say the least but at least my two little tornadoes were safe and sound.

Anti-Blogging

Obviously I've been neglecting the blog lately and now Gary's giving me hell, so here goes... some photos from the last month or so:

Mud and Water Day at E's school...
Miller the football player...
Emmylou's last day of school with one of her teachers, Miss Mary Lee...

More to come soon...

P.S. To my friends on Blogger: Is there a way to upload photos in the compose mode where they post in the order you select them? It's driving me bananas how they post backwards!

New haircut

Here's Emmylou after her second haircut ever, looking like a 40-something with the blow-out the lady gave her...


And here she is looking a bit more like herself today. :-)