Target

I used to love going to target. It was kinda like my happy place. Sometimes if I needed something to do I'd just go walk around the aisles and creep on people and buy some stuff I didn't really need. I think some people would call that retail therapy. Maybe it is, but that is not the point. The point is, that target is now a representation of how my life has changed:
 

1. I never ever ever need something to do.

2. There is no room in the budget to buy things we don't need.

3. Retail stores are terrible horrible no good very bad places to bring one year olds. Especially at nap time, meal time, before nap time, before a meal time, after a nap time, or after a meal time. Therefore... all times = bad times.

I don't mind. I really love Em. But every mama needs a break every now and then.

Besties

My lifelong bestie and I grew up doing pretty much everything together. One of our favorite things to do was to dress up in matching outfits and dance and put on "programs" and plays for our parents and siblings. Nerdy. But awesome. And I so desperately want E to experience that with a lifelong bestie. I don't know who her bestie will be, but my dear friend Rachel had a baby just 8 weeks before Emberly was born and we have had lots of "play dates" already to encourage their bonding (and who are we kidding, we selfishly love to hang out too!). Rachel found these adorable matching little dresses and we have seriously been waiting MONTHS for them to both fit into them... but today was the day! Just brace yourself for some Harper and Emberly cuteness.

 

Emberly is a lover. She just had to give Harper some love...

and a kiss. :)

 

and once we changed them out of their dresses they weren't all that interested in getting dressed again. It's a one-year-old thing. So we captured a few more sweet moments. :)

 

 

 

 

Kindergarten Quote

Me: You write a big capital Q by first writing a capital O and then putting a little line through it at the bottom.

Kinder Kiddo: Oh! So it's kinda like shooting a lazer out your belly button!

Seriously??

 

No Nap Tuesday

Em decided yesterday was a no afternoon nap kind of day... and after close to an hour and an half of talking in her crib, I gave up too. Around 5:00pm she was drooping in a major kind of way, but still seemed happy. I figured we'd shoot for an early bedtime, which meant we just had to make it two more hours... but... E disappeared into her room for a moment and emerged with her pajamas and said, "nigh-nigh" and signed sleep. She sat down and cooperated while I put them on her, she snuck back into her room and emerged this time with her snuggle blankets and teddy bear and insisted again it was time for "nigh-nigh." So what's a mama to do? 5:00pm naps yield a messy crabby baby an hour later... but I'm choosing to believe it probably would have been the same and worse without a nap. :) Thankful for a communicating little bambino... even though she wasn't smart enough to take her nap in the first place.

 

Favorite Words

 

Em's new words are "up" and "help" (which sounds more like hep) and end with a question mark in her sweet little tone. Pretty much everything Em does all day long requires "hep," or she volunteers her "hep" {which isn't that helpful, let's be honest} but it is still sweet nonetheless. Loving my job as a mama.

 

Who wouldn't with this classy lady??

 
 

Hat

First thing E says to me in the morning when she wakes up is, "haaaat?" as she pats her head to sign it. So we put it on and she walks around the house saying "hat. haaaat. hat!" She then peeks in the mirror to admire how she looks in her fancy winter hat and says, "woooow!"

I think it's also a (not so subtle) hint to go outside... and I usually don't acknowledge it... but today I did, pjs and all.

 

 

 

 

Full Heart

Dear Life,

Emberly has turned into such a cuddle bug lately... and it melts my heart. She cannot sit still during the day, but before naps and before bed she just mushes her little body against mine and we read stories and talk in quiet voices and it is all kinds of heaven.

Today we were sitting in the living room playing when I could tell she was getting tired... so I said, "Hey E, it's night-night time." She said, "nigh-nigh?" Then she stood up, walked into her room, grabbed a book and threw it on the rocking chair, and waited for me to sit down. I sat down and read her the story, said "goodnight. Love you." She kissed me (right on the lips) and said "nigh-nigh" and I layed her down and walked out. I love that girl. She's just been singing in her room ever since.

I know, I know... I'm kinda mushy... but... too bad. I love her a lot.

Sincerely Yours,

Molly