We have our first SENTENCE!

Emily said her first sentence. NO SIT. We brought up a bench that I had gotten 10 yrs ago. Its the perfect size for her.. She wanted to stand on it and I told her No Standing. Sit down. After a few times of saying this, she said NO SIT. NO SIT! She is copying a lot of the words we use. The list is getting too long to count. No is her favorite. But literally if you repeat a word to her several times, she will try (although not all that great) to repeat. And she offically became mommys little helper yesterday too (2/20/06). She took the clean clothes out of the dryer and put them in a basket. Then she took the wet clothes out of another basic and put it in the dryer and finally put the dirty clothes in the washer (with help from me--I held her up). It was GREAT. It took a ton longer but was just fun to have her near me. She's also been letting us hold her to read or to watch tv...which I am sure this will change as she gets older. Oh and she's figured out how to finally push her walker around and manuever it around objects. Still not walking on her own but getting closer.

Happy Valentines Day

We had a nice Valentines Day. I started my new job (and like it so far). I got Canio the same type of gift that I got him 5 yrs ago.... movie in a bag... I got him a movie, popcorn, and candy. I also got him a pen that lights up. Emily and I made Daddy a picture album and a valentine. Canio went all out this year. He hid these little heart people figurines around the house and I had to find them. Once I found them all, he gave me my gift... tickets to an atlantic city comedy show and an hotel for that night so we can sight see. By far the best Valentines Day gift I have ever received. We then took Emily to Picture people to get her photo taken. They turned out GREAT! Here is the one we got the 10x13 of. She is a cutie!

Today we woke up to skunk smell...although it was tough to decide thats what it was... so after calling a few family members we decided to call the fire company and we were told to leave the house... .just as we were doing that....our neighbor came out and said he had the same smell... so it had to be a skunk. The firefighter said they have had a ton of calls about this.

Then Emily tumbled down the stairs. She has a brush burn on her nose and a bump on her head but she is OK!!! Shes too darn quick at the stairs and I didnt get to her in time. But she is resting and doing ok. Then I made lunch for myself and scalded my left hand. BOY O BOY.

Hope you had a nice Valentines Day too.

Pictures of Emily

My thoughts on Sleepless Nights....

There is something magical when your child falls asleep in your arms in the middle of the night. When the darkness falls round the room like a thick, soft blanket and the world stands still from its hectic pace; when nothing seems to matter more than being right there, right now. In the dark quiet, the only sounds you hear are the creaking of the rocking chair, the faint melody of a lullaby, and the sweet little gasps from your baby. Such comfort I have found when I feel my child’s warm breath on my cheek. William Wordsworth wrote, “My heart leaps up when I behold a rainbow in the sky.” Well, my heart leaps up when I am alone with my baby in the still of the night. When I know that she just needs to know that I am there, that she needs to be held tight, that she needs to hear my heart beating and that she needs to know that I live for her. There are many things I may forget about in the course of my child growing up. I am sure there will be memories that seep away like water leaking from the faucet. Nevertheless, one thing I know is that I will never be able to forget the peace that I found, no matter how tired I was or what the day had brought, when it was just she and I in her room, rocking and snuggling. Time stands still. The night does not grow old. While I dreaded the cry that brought me to her, somehow, as she drifts off to sleep, I can’t bring myself to put her back in her bed right away. I know these times will pass. I know that one day, one day before I know it, she will no longer need me to comfort her back to sleep. I know that one day soon the serenity that comes from the tranquil melody of the rocking chair will no longer be heard. One day she will grow up. But for now, I treasure the times that I am blessed with to be able to grow closer to my baby. I cherish the peaceful bond that forms in the middle of a sleepless night. I relax with the warm of her little body and feeling her nestle her head on my chest. For in those wonderful times, I thank the Lord for the blessing of motherhood.

GO STEELERS!

Emily was prepared for the Superbowl... she was dressed in yellow and black! She clapped with us except for one time she did get a little scared as we cheered! Take a look....

Feb 3 - Emily stuff

Well yesterday (2/2) Emily was standing at one of the kitchen chairs and came out with "Chair." Totally blew me away because I did not know that she even KNEW that word. She proceeded to go straight to the cat food to dump it all over the floor, in my moment of awe that she could say that. Today we tried drawing with crayons again. Only I couldnt find those big fat ones that we have so I gave her the normal sized ones. She loved them. She just kept scribbling and wanting to change colors. Its cool to see her progress. I am trying to do one art project a week (at least) with her. I want her to be well-rounded. Next week we are going to try glue. I will have to take pictures. I have a feeling this could go worse than the finger paint. We went to Kauffmans to get her some clothes for summer/spring since we had a merchandise credit. She was SOOOOOOOO good at the mall. She ate McDonalds (even though we swore she never would eat fast food before age 2). She had two nuggets and a bag of apple slices. Shes not real big on the nuggets. We also got her Gymboree Bubbles - a MUST HAVE for any baby. The bubbles are made with a sugar base (so they are non-toxic and last a long time---we found 2 left over from last night on the table this morning). Emily loves them. To pop them to chase them to watch them.... its great. Oh, and we figured out how to get Emily to take her meds without crushing them.... we hide them in pieces of bannana and she really gobbles it down. Well dirty diaper alert. Gotta help daddy. (My work is never done!)

New Photos

HAPPY GROUNDHOG'S DAY

Happy Groundhog's Day everyone!!!

Punxsy Phil saw his shadow and predicted 6 more weeks of MILD winter. We all KNEW that was coming though, didnt we? The above picture is Bill Deeley. I went to school with his oldest daughter, Beth. When we were in elementary school we were very good friends and I can say that Mr. and Mrs. Deeley are two very nice people. He owned (or owns) one of the biggest funeral homes in Punxsy....anyways...

Here is Phil's prediction verbatim:

Phil Says Six More Weeks of Winter! Phil's official forecast as read 2/2/06 at sunrise at Gobbler's Knob: It is said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.Around the country there are many imitators of me. In Harrisburg there is Gus who appears on TVworking for the lottery. Then all around town,Cute groundhog statues abound.They all look like me, I found. Today on the Knob as I'm doing my job,I don't like this likeness of me. It's my shadow I see. Six more weeks of mild winter there will be. (taken from www.punxsutawney.org)

I love today! Thursdays are nice anyways. We may have to take Emily to this when she gets a few years older.

Well thats all from here. Playdate was at our house yesterday (oh my god what a mess my house was when everyone left...ikes) Then we had dinner guest.... what a busy day.

OOOOOO I am leaving the osterhout free library and going to work at the Hoyt library as an acquisitions clerk (I will order new books for the library and get them ready for circulation). It pays more and NO MORE nights/weekends. But I am REALLY going to miss the people at the Osterhout. They were so friendly to me and I have made some great friends and hope to continue my friendships. I will now work with a lady I go to church with.

Ok Emily wants to type something..... mm jv j nmcc cn fokj jjkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk mb nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn2122k k gklofvldov; miokjkjnjnfjn,mg,kbnbbnjhbb