Winter wonderland cometh

We got a solid inch of snow.. Just enough for Emma to cry out "Nuuuuuu!" each time she looks out the window. This morning we got to see what this stuff is all about. 

She did some drawing 

Evidence of a visitor of the feline variety

Emma also made footprints and sat on a snowy log. We want more snow for more wintery fun! Hopefully this weekend when we spend a night with P's family upstate to cut our Xmas tree we will have more. Our sled is packed and ready ride!

P is for Persimmon

We always get out our Eating the Alphabet book to match a new fruit or vegetable with the illustration by Lois Ehlert. Emma pointed to the picture of the persimmon when I opened to the P page... Hmm, lucky guess? Or astute pupil! Emma then got her toy knife and tried to cut it. 

(I ended up cutting it with my real knife but you were right on target, Emma!)

We have never had persimmon before. It looks a bit like a tomato.. Before taking a bite Emma held a piece to her nose and smelled it.

The sample.. 

The gobble

And seconds? 

A tale of the birth of Nurse Emma

Emma is growing into quite a caregiver, as evident by the extra love she is showing Patrick and I, her stuffies, and- of course, Catrick.

Catrick doesn't always want to sit for a brushing.. Alright, he NEVER does but he is as gentle as he can be when Emma lays her head on him, gives him kisses, or puts her hands on his face. 

A little digression here...

Later that same day we had a power outage caused by lines down on our block. With the sun down at 430 it was dark in the apartment by 5 and we had to go about our business by flashlight. Emma enjoyed discovering this tool by lighting her path or shining the light on different surfaces. But we thought there was something missing from the apartment... Uh oh, it's Catrick.

I let him out in to the patio thinking that no feral cats would come around to taunt him out into the dark and rain. I was wrong! Emma and I suited up and went out looking for him.

Wearing Patrick's bike helmet and light- which is incredibly bright made finding cat a breeze, but breaking up the cat fight he was in and managing to get a hold of him while wearing Emma was no easy task. My first attempt was a heavy hand on his shoulders which made him howl and bite, then I just scooped him under his arms and carried him home, his legs sticking straight out in front and yowling. We're lucky he didn't put up a fight because with Emma attached to me I couldn't risk her getting scratched, I would have let him go and we could have lost him. 

Emma was upset by Catrick's fury, his screaming and aggression towards me especially touched her. She was so concerned about my injury. It was minor but scary for her. 

I got the neosporin spray and she watched me apply the medicine as I explained that Cat was very angry at another cat and I got in the way. It wasn't his fault. Still, she stayed away from Cat the rest of the night and next morning. It was that morning that we left for New Hampshire to stay with Patrick's family for thanksgiving, where Emma would recall her knowledge of medicinal care.

This is Mitsy. You could probably tell by looking at her that she does not want your hand coming towards her. Emma got too close one day and Mitsy gave her a swat. The scratch on her hand was small but her heart was torn. Through the tears of hurt and shock she held her hand to me, knowing what came next. Medicine! Just like mama had for her scratch. Luckily I had it within an arms reach in that instance. I sprayed the neosporine on the cut and we compared scratches. I'm glad I had been bitten by Cat the night before so I could show Emma that it was okay, we get medicine and carry on. Because of this she wasn't alone in unfamiliar territory. 

Later that night Emma found the neosporine spray and pretended to apply medicine to Patrick and I with a shake and a "Tss, Tss, Tss!" spraying sound. We played a little doctor together, saying that one of us had a cut and needed medicine, then Emma would come in and apply.. "Tss, Tss."

Thanks for taking care of us, Emma. 

 We're not the only ones getting the love. Emma continues to share her food and water with all her animals while making hilariously overdone biting and slurping sounds. Lately though she has been interested in giving them pony rides (with help from us to hold the stuffy on her back) and also doing their nails. Using a small metal clip as her nail clipper she trimmed Panda, Moose, Beary and Pig's nails. All with a "Cuh! Cuh! Cuh!" to sound like the popping of a nail clipper. 

I'm amazed at the sort of imaginary games she is interested in playing as well as what she is thinking up on her own. Today she brought a bean to the spider (mentioned in my previous post) and tried to coax him down from his corner to feed him. Maybe to bury the hatchet... as she also tried brushing the spider's teeth with her own toothbrush when we first discovered it on the baseboard heaters. Poor spider was not expecting that one.

She surprised me too, Spider. 

Dear Emma

This morning you insisted on wearing one of my old tees... I guess that will happen when we share a dresser. It's much to big on you, it hangs past your knees and the V-neck nearly reaches your belly button but you like the beading and seem pleased to have chosen this outfit yourself. Here you are napping in this shirt with your bunny. 

Thanks for always making me smile, making me stronger, more patient, more brave and even sillier. Thanks for making me a mom, my sweet girl. 

<3, Mama

The Girl Likes Bugs!

Today was filled with 6-legged friends.

-A pair of Oil Beetles

on the side of the road in Depew Park, mating- get a room guys! Kids around here!

-An ant

 on the playground that Emma admired for a while, then tried to get to chase her, and inevitably tried to tickle and squashed. I said Oh No, Emma! We have to be gentle with little bugs! But the big bully clenched her fists in front of her and made a horrifying crushing sound. All the other ants went running! (She didn't mean to squash the ant, she's not a bully. And the ant was just dinged up, I'm sure his buddies came to his aid when the coast was clear. Get off our case PETA) (or PETB) 

-A cricket. 

Mama does not like crickets but this little guy was strolling into our bathroom looking lost. I called Emma over and as soon as she spots it on the floor she plops down onto her belly, practically face to face with this new creature. My brave girl! My hero! We got the cricket into a container with a secure lid that Emma was able to carry outside for the release. 

BLLEUUGH don't need to see that. Wait. He's kind of cute. I don't want to have any fears or aversions to bugs or beasts because Emma will be looking to me for how to respond. That's why we did this catch and release instead of getting the shoe, and I made it clear that the bug wont harm us but belongs outside. 

There is a little character in our daily day. He's got eight legs and is full of mystery. 

Enter, Spider.

A bit of an Elf on the Shelf, we spot Spider here or there, in new corners and even in the bathroom waste bin once- but never in the same place for more than a couple days. We catch him walking across the floor on his way to the next big thing. We wonder what this Spider John is up to and where he goes when we can't find him. 

With an old guitar across his abdomen,

He's here one day then gone again.

With eight worn shoes on his feet,

He rides the wind right down the street.

Long and lanky and so laid-back,

He plays for a fly and then he's gone out the back.

Who's that traveling Spider John? 

Web to web and gone!

(Caspar Babypants - Spider John)

Hey there

We have a lot going on that's pulling my mind and hands away from writing in this blog. Emma is developing new interests and hitting milestones. I'm in the process of marketing my pet services again. My blogging time has been replaced with browsing Pinterest and stashing away craft and DIY ideas for the future. Autumn has brought a whole new line of nature related activities for us to enjoy before the last of the leaves fall and winter takes over. Some of the things that we've been doing have involved collecting leaves for wreaths and garland, spying on squirrels as they nibble on the pumpkins outside our window, and playing Boo! at home or the playground. Emma is very quick now and loves to run while yelling. 

 We still play and learn lots at home using  Emma's farm animal toys. They've been on the shelf since I picked them up from Michael's Crafts and I don't think we've got a single day without bringing them out (we have a toy rotation and switch things out based on Emma's interest and use). Those animals are always up to something new! Base jumping, hide and seek, swimming, piggyback rides.. Watching how Emma's play changes, mimics mine, and takes on shapes of its own is very interesting :) Sometimes she surprises me with how aware she is. I am aware that she is aware but just how much is she keeping track of? I remember putting my hands in a puddle of runoff from a potted plant outside my parent's front door to remove the bulk of dirt from digging around the yard with Emma and that two second action did not go unnoticed. Sure enough she marched to the puddle, placed her hands in the water then rubbed them together. 

We have to be careful, everything we say and do is setting the example for her. How we treat others and ourselves, home, and the environment will be what she knows as normal. I could tell her to pick up her toys, but what about my laundry left on the floor? I've got to follow our rules too!

Anyway! Things I'd like to do soon: 

 Get an area filled with portraits and pictures of the friends and family we see often and not often enough. We have a cluster of photos forming on our fridge but I'd like to arrange it better, neaten it and have a more appealing frames than masking tape. 

 Have a picture of her farm animal figurines taken and paste it to her farm animal bucket.

 Try watercolor paints, other mediums. 

 

15 months and rocking it

Emma at her 15 month appointment, loving their new toy selection in the waiting room. And that Green Toys school bus is on my favorites list, too! Play away, Emma! 

She brought each toy to me to hold when another child entered the room, to keep them away from the competition. Toddler girl does not share.

Emma is nearly 30lbs and 33 inches tall.

Fall fest at muscoot.. She actually had a good time, I promise! 

Bronx Zoo bug carousel in costume with daddy and loving it! (Unlike the last two times we tried the carousel) 

Bundled up at our playground. That hat is from last year, I think she needs a new one!

Digging.

Emma climbs into bench seats and asks for snacks :)

One.

Two.

Three!

Different day different playground 

Walking along the lake ... Love these moments

More Florida Fun

So much fun!!