9 months already??

Our beautiful little Emmie is 9 MONTHS OLD!

Although she is growing up way too fast, we are having the time of our lives watching her grow and are thoroughly enjoying every minute of her stinkin' cute little personality. She is the SWEETEST little thing and we feel tremendously blessed to have her in our family.

Here are her nine month stats:

WEIGHT: 17.68 lbs, 31st %ile

HEIGHT: 27 inches, 34th %ile

HEAD: 17 inches, 28th %ile

Our Little Em is constantly on-the-go and into everything! She is still putting every little trinket she can find into her mouth, and is still OBSESSED with eating paper. I have to swab her mouth intermittently throughout the day to see if she's snuck (is that a word?) anything past me and sure enough, often I'll find paper stuck to the roof of her mouth or packed into the side of her cheek. I'm not sure what this means except that maybe we have a future scrapbooker on our hands???

In case you're wondering, no, we really don't have paper just lying around everywhere... but if any form of paper is to hit the ground, the little stink will suck it until it fits into her little chops... i.e. one of Parker's flash cards or memory cards, a clothing tag that was just removed, etc. etc....the second she sees it, she grabs for it!

The girl LOVES her big brother! If she hears his voice, she has to go hunt him down. Parker doesn't as easily return the adoration, but he definitely appreciates that his sister thinks he is hysterically funny. Emmie LOVES her brother's silly antics and he sure can make her giggle.

She is saying "Da Da" and "Ma Ma" and loves to clap her hands. She is such a happy, happy girl and I am happy to report that she is pretty much back to sleeping through the night.

She isn't quite standing by herself yet, but is constantly pulling herself to a standing position and is cruising a little bit. She tries to climb the stairs and we are having to constantly keep an eye on her. I am so not ready for her to walk so I am hoping she'll keep at this pace for at least a few more months! :) Don't grow up TOO fast on us, Em!

We LoVe YoU EmMiE!

Thanks for all the smiles you bring into our home everyday! We adore you and couldn't have "ordered" a more perfect little girl.

I still can't believe you're ours!

Hello summer BBQ's!

We just got....

A PATIO!

Hooray!

It was just finished on Tuesday and I am so excited about it that I had to share.... I feel like we just added square footage onto our house & it's so nice that Parker can go out and ride his trike around without constant supervision (he obviously doesn't get far, but still!). :)
One summer project down....now we're contemplating finishing the rest of our basement.
If anyone knows of a good licensed electrician in the Salt Lake/Utah Valley area that may be in need of some work, please send their names our way!

Specs

Hey Grandma Jane.... are you missing anything?

I think someone over here may have found your glasses....:)

Might I add that he thinks he's pretty hot stuff in them, too.....

Can't argue with that, can I?

Dear Roxy

Dear Roxy: I owe you an apology. I am so sorry for sucking your tail up into the vaccum last week while I was cleaning the kitchen floor. It was completely unintentional, as was the way I frantically switched it to two other settings making the situation worse before finally turning it off and helping to free what was left of your precious little tail. You had such a hurt look in your eyes, and despite what you may have thought, it was purely accidental. I truly wanted to cry for the pain I caused you. I am so sorry!

The truth of the matter is that

somedays I just have way too many little ones under my feet. It gets really tricky dodging everyone. I will have to try harder though, that is all there is to it.

Oh, and please forgive Parker for thinking the ordeal was hysterically funny. His continuous laughter was completely inappropriate. Someday he'll understand that pain inflicted upon you is no laughing matter, and he'll be sorry for getting a kick out of it.

Please find it in your heart to forgive us.

Sincerely Yours,

Michelle & Family

Spoiled

On Mother's Day morning, the cute boys in my life

(shown here:)made me breakfast and then sent me on a treasure hunt. Yes, a treasure hunt. My sweet husband is not only good looking, but he's also creative & thoughtul!

So check out my treasure: That shiny beauty is just what you think it is -- A NEW LAPTOP!
I was so surprised -- I had no idea that was coming! We inherited my little brother's laptop four years ago when he left on his mission & I have LOVED it, however, it is slowly dying. I've been afraid to load pictures onto it for about a year now and so whenever I want to make a blog post, etc or do anything with photos, I have to go to our office in the basement (the only finished room downstairs). So, he gave me this so that I can do everything I need to from wherever I want to!
What a guy, ay?
Thanks again, Honey.
I LOVE it!

Yeehaw

WeDnEsDaYs.... I love them!

They are Chris' day off so I either am able to get a lot accomplished on those days because he's home to help with the kids, or we get to go and do something fun together!

Last week we opted for FUN and went to the

Thanksgiving Point Farm. I love that place. It's cheap to get in and it makes for a fun family activity. (Oh, and I really really love the precious little goats!) This was our first trip there this year and Parker was finally old enough to actually want to go on a pony ride. He rode twice and our little cowboy was all smiles. As was Emmie - from her stroller.

It was great to be outside and enjoy the nice 70's weather.

It's so nice to be out of hibernation. :)

Who knew?

LIVING PROOF THAT

BLIND DATES

REALLY CAN BE A DREAM COME TRUE: After being set up on a blind date a year ago last December, Chris' sister, Bethany got married to Brett last Saturday!

It was an exciting day and we are sooo happy for them!

Congratulations, you two!

Hope you're living it up in Hawaii right now.

And who is the genius (I am of course totally kidding here) behind getting these two together? Ahem. Not to take credit or anything, but it was none other than myself! :)

It's amazing how what is simply meant to be is MEANT TO BE and how it all just comes together as it should.... with a little help from the Mastermind above that is... :)

8 Things Tag

I was tagged by my friend Sara...it was fun to read hers, so I thought I'd play along, too.

Here goes...

8 Things I’m Looking Forward to:
1. Disneyland with my kids (coming September 2009)
2. Getting out of grad school student loan debt (coming 2050…)
3. Finishing our basement
4. Finding bedding I love so that I can finally decorate our master bedroom (low on the priority list however)
5. To be done with nursing so that I can have my body back and my hormones “normalized” for a minute
6. Summer… warm weather, playing outside with my kids, parks, barbeques, snow cones, the zoo…
7. Watching my kids grow and develop their talents
8. Honestly, life is pretty good these days….I’m just trying to enjoy the moment - as cliché as that may sound


8 Things I did yesterday:
1. Took care of my kiddos
2. Played ‘hide and seek’ the blocks with Parker at least 7 times
3. Negotiated (successfully) with Parker to eat some chicken at lunchtime
4. Went to the Hansens and ate some authentic Mexican homemade tacos whipped up by my brother in law, Zach (which by the way were delicious)
5. Jumped on a tramp with Parker and our nephew Atticus

6. Played Wii Fit for a few minutes while being instructed by my bro in law, Dustin

7. Drove home with 2 screaming kids an hour and a half past their bedtime

8. Watched Little People Big World with Chris before crashing into bed

8 Things I wish I could do :
1. Take my kids to the grocery store without Parker having a major meltdown

2. Snap my fingers in the morning and have my hair done and makeup on

3. Afford to have all of my laundry dry cleaned or done by someone other than myself

4. Go somewhere tropical with my husband

5. Leave the house without it taking a good hour to pack everything/everyone up

6. Go back to school and get a masters degree in Occupational Therapy or counseling

7. Sing (I’m with you Sara – I can’t carry a tune to save my life)

8. Ensure my Emmie and Parker’s protection from all the scary things out there in the world

8 Shows I watch
1. American Idol! It makes me so happy….

2. The Bachelor (I admit it too, Sara – you’re not the only one!)
3. Little People Big World
4. The Office (although I’m like 5 episodes behind)
5. The Today Show… no – not all 3 hours – I’m lucky if I get 10 minutes in but I LOVE to watch the news and be up on current events
6. Jon & Kate plus 8 (on occasion…)
7. What Not to Wear (maybe once every few months?)
8. Little Einsteins
(The only one that is a priority these days is American Idol… I’m always so sad when it ends!)

8 People I tag
Jeanine
Ali
Jill
Amanda
Alicia
Marsha
Karen

Cami

Curlers for calics

I bought these curlers for Emmie a few weeks ago in hopes to try and tame her unruly calic that sits right up front and insists on standing straight up at all times....

(I just wanted the tiny ones but had to purchase this whole pack to get them, in case you were wondering.) After spotting them in the drawer the other morning, Parker exclaimed,

"Hey Mom! What are THESE for?

BIG BOYS???"

The sweet little guy was so serious about his question & then his own immediate guess at the answer that I couldn't help laughing & I smiled about it the rest of the day.

Oh how I love my little P....