End of 2011 wrap up post! Finally!!!

Since I have neglected my blog and not kept everyone up to date on Emma Kate happenings, I am going to try to do one post to wrap up 2011.
 
In September, we visited the zoo, had our 2^nd haircut, had our 1^st ear infection and battled over a Halloween costume. Emma Kate is also talking so much more and seems to add words in to her vocabulary every day. She will now say Cooper (our dog’s name) but when she says it, it sounds like pooper. She can say TV, cookie and jacket (but she says “garcus”). When she sees something and does not know what it is, she will say “iz a whaz”. It is really cute!

War Eagle!

Being silly in the kitchen

 In October, Emma Kate fell 2 days in a row at mother’s day out and had a big boo boo on her nose, we went to a pumpkin patch for a day of fun with friends, we battled more over our Halloween costume and we went to the pumpkin patch at the mother’s day out church Emma goes to. The Halloween costume battle consisted of Emma refusing to put the fleece bumble bee costume I had for her. She was not afraid of it she just did not want to put it on. We did not pressure her but just kept giving her the opportunity. We ended up buying another costume (Snow White) and she would try that one on. Once Halloween came, it was cold and I wanted her to wear the bumble bee costume and she did. Emma Kate’s vocabulary continues to grow. She can now say happy, Sylvie (her friend from China) but she says CeCe, glasses, scratch, and tickle. She tries to jump and she is running much more.

Here is the "look" she gives me when she wants something.

2nd Halloween costume

Trying on glasses at Costco....see the boo boo on her nose? Ouch!

Hanging with the pumpkins.

Daddy love!

At the farm in the cow train with mommy

Hayride!

Finally in the bumble bee costume!

Shy little bee

In November, we went to Nashville for an early Thanksgiving celebration with family. Calvin has been traveling more so he went on two business trips this month. During the Thanksgiving holiday, the three of us went to Seaside Florida to relax and enjoy some quiet time. We had to stop at the doctor’s office before leaving town because Emma had another ear infection. While we were in Seaside, we hired a photographer to take some family photos to use for our Christmas cards this year. Emma Kate was not interested in smiling at all for the pictures. The photographer just followed us around with her camera but was not able to get too many good pictures. She ended up not even charging us because there were so few pictures. Emma Kate is now saying some 2 word sentences such as daddy car. She turned 2 on the 28^th. We celebrated quietly at our house with presents and cupcakes. Next year, I want to have a birthday party for her with her friends.

Birthday cupcake!

Card from granny

Opening presents

Playing in the sand.

A swing for Emma at the beach.

This is the play kitchen we gave Emma for her birthday... it took a lot of work to put this thing together but she absolutely loves it.

 In December, we went to see the pediatrician for Emma’s 2 year well care visit. At this visit, she weighs 24.7 pounds and is 33 inches tall. During this month, Emma had another haircut and had bangs cut, we visited Santa, we played more with Cooper, we went to visit our friends Brian, Stephanie and their little girl Sylvie who is also from China. We had a very nice quiet Christmas at home. Emma Kate enjoyed putting cookies and milk out for Santa.

Ready to see Santa

Not impressed with Santa at all!

Watching TV with Cooper

Waiting for daddy to come home.

New haircut with bangs.

Exploring her Christmas stocking that her granny made her!

Visiting with Sylvie.

The girls took a bath together. Emma was ready to get out when I took this pic.

Stephanie with Emma Kate.

Cal and Brian

That’s it for our 2011! It has been a year full of growing and learning for Emma Kate (and for us!) She is turning into a spunky child with a strong personality! For a while, her favorite word was “no!” as is the case with most toddlers. We have used the time out method when she becomes very difficult and are having great success with it. I believe time out is as much for the parents as the child because it gives us a moment to breathe and regroup! Hope everyone had a great year. Not sure I can promise to be great about blogging in 2012 but I hope that I can. I do enjoy it and I love that it keeps everyone up to date with Emma Kate! Love to each of you!