We've been busy!

We've been buzz, buzz, busy bees. Exploring different sensations, trips to the park, visits with friends, and getting to know dear friend Catrick better- like which foods he would like to sample. 

Cat does not like Peanut-butter-banana pitas but he does like cheese!

Emma played in a pot of dry rice for a while, testing the different sounds it made falling back into the grains, on the blanket, the floor, or in a Tupperware. She explored the texture and how some grains would stick to her hands after she released the handful. 

I probably should have removed her from the grass shoots but those baby feet on the baby grass look so sweet! And Emma seemed excited about the gentle prickling of grass on her bare feet. With that I knew we needed a trip to the park to run around in the field. 

"Bzzzzzzzzzzz!"

Emma met a Bristly Yellow Bee(there are two in the above photo!), like in her Alphabet sensory book by Matthew Van Fleet. She was very interested in what this bee was up to, humming as it danced along the clovers. 

On Friday we had two mom and baby pairs over for a play date and snacks. The Sweet Potato and Apple muffins were a hit and Catrick even put on his social face and joined the babies for some petting. "Gentle" pets, by baby definition. 

(Recipe found here: http://www.babble.com/best-recipes/sweet-potato-morning-glory-muffins/)

Cat with Emma and Millie

The days are full and flying by, and I can't believe that my little baby will be one year old next month. She's so different than the fragile, helpless little person who came home with us from the hospital. It's been 345 days of getting to know you and watch you grow, Emma, and it has been a pleasure. 

The Weekender

What a full weekend! All three of us had a very eventful past couple days full of outdoors, fresh air and sunscreen. Saturday started with an early walk in Depew Park then Emma and I met with friends in Cold Spring. We were out most of the day and Emma was worn out on the way home but perked up in the evening to finish the day with some play on the patio.

A short video of Emma walking around at Depew can be found here:

http://www.iphoneogram.com/p/483877489594296732_1471241/

Chris showing Emma his favorite book.

On Sunday we enjoyed a decent hike on the Charcoal Burners trail in Putnam county. The fresh air and sun had Emma dozing off in the carrier soon after we started. Once home Emma and I spent lots of time on the patio, splashing in a bucket of water and picking rocks out of the dirt where I've put down grass seed. She's mimicking what I do more and more, like picking up a pebble and putting it in the pile I've made and now putting objects into containers. Balls into the basket, laundry into the dryer.  Recently she threw out her first piece of trash! It was a ribbon of tissue paper that she was carrying around an waving like a flag, then she carried it over to the waste bin and carefully lowered it down inside.. Thanks for your help, Emma!

Around 4 on Sunday we went to the Birdsall House to split an appetizer and play bocce ball. 

Emma tried to play but the balls were too heavy for her. She grunted as she struggled to lift them. She enjoyed watching from the sidelines as Patrick or I threw the ball and I made sound effects to get her laughing. She had a great time!

Mom and Dad sampled beers from the everchanging drink menu, ten different brews between our two beer flights. This and the nachos we split were delicious! Emma stuck with water but did practice drinking from her weaning glass.

Wild blueberries we picked on the way home. It looks like Mom needs a lesson in being gentle! 

(For our personal records; I am presently holding two titles. Bocce ball champion. UNO wizard. Patrick remains Monopoly King) 

Growing Independence

That is what we're seeing a lot of lately! Emma going off and doing what she wants to do. It's not always what we want her to do and it's sometimes inconvenient for us but it's a big development and an important one. Yesterday I took Emma to the Waterfront park to meet Patrick when he got home. Patrick and I ate dinner on a blanket in the shade while Emma walked around, back and forth from the blanket where we sat then farther and farther out each time. Soon she spotted a leashed dog down by the gazebo and beelined to it. Patrick followed behind her and they met the dog and owner together as I watched in awe of how much she has grown. 

Look how far off she walked! Didn't look back for me. No "Can I do this?" "Is mom near?"  Just an interest in meeting a little dog and using her ability to go do it. Maybe that is typical toddler tunnel vision but for once its not me she's focused on.

Patrick brought Emma back on his shoulders... One of Emma's favorite spots! However she does now prefer being on her own feet most times.

"Down now, Daddy!"

Emma is really into balls now- what kid isn't? So when she spotted a group of people casually kicking a soccer ball around she headed over to play. The ball happened to roll towards her and she went right to it, picked it up and ran off with it! Everyone enjoyed her antics. 

Before leaving the parks we stopped for a visit with the geese, feeding leftover Pita bread to the goslings to draw them in. It was a nice Friday evening for us all and especially eventful for Emma. 

A trip to Fishkill Farms or Father's Day 16x9s or a compilation of unflattering photos of Emma

Sunday was a happy Father's Day with a trip to Fishkill Farms to mark the occasion. Berry picking, cherry picking, music blaring, hens were staring, hat had fallen, good times calling. You get all that?

The fields had seen a lot of rain and they put a one pint per family limit on the berry picking to ensure there was enough to go around. This was fine for us because as we discovered: we are berry picky. Emma is not picky and ate a few berries that didn't make the basket. She also ate the leaves if we didn't retrieve the stem from her in time. She loves strawberries!

Patrick stood in a line of Dads waiting to get his free scoop of icecream. Being a dad has perks! 

Emma made funny faces for her first taste of icecream. I thought she'd love it but she seemed to think it was just o-k, and a little strange. That's alright Emma, you were only allowed a taste anyway! 

Lets hear it for dads!

(Emma, in the style of Emma, fell asleep on the drive home and continued to nap in bed after we arrived.)

Temp Tee, Temp Tee!

My name is Emma and I picked out my own dress today!

I've recently set up my closet so that Emma's clothes are hanging on a low bar. She gets a kick out of pushing the hangers back and forth and looking at the different clothes she has hanging up. This morning her attention went right to this striped purple dress, so with my help she got the hanger off the bar and with her help I got her dressed. We make a good team.

 It's a rainy day. It rained all morning but that never stops us from going out. I wear Emma and keep us dry under a big green umbrella.

We stopped at the library to return some books and Emma had a little free roaming time to explore, look at books on the shelves, and point at everything she sees. A couple days ago she would point and hum at everything, point "Mm?" point "Mm?" And all today she points and says, "Bah?" On hikes she gets both pointers going over both of my shoulders, one after another, "Mm? Mm? Mm??" Trees, rocks, streams, bringing everything to my attention. She cracks me up!

We got a few errands done while we were out and made it home for lunch. Emma had something new today: whipped cream cheese in a pita with shredded cucumber. She was crazy about cream cheese (that's my girl!) and enjoyed holding slices of the sandwich herself to bite off. I actually tried giving her a bite of my portion of the sandwich which resulted in her grabbing on to it with her hand and tearing away a hunk. She wasn't looking to share this new, delicious food, but she did eat it very carefully with her hands. 

旦(•˘>˘•)

This draft never posted and here it is weeks later:

It was a gorgeous morning. It was pleasant and the earth was still wet from yesterday's rain. As soon as we finished breakfast I packed up Emma for a walk around Depew Park. It's so close to home- walking distance, yet wandering through the trails you feel like you're a hundred miles from town. Some days we don't even encounter anyone else on our hike, at least not humans! We often see deer, snakes, many birds.

It's so still and peaceful on the trails. We're very fortunate to have Depew Park in our neighborhood and have been taking advantage of it a lot since Spring began. I know as Emma grows and becomes a more confident walker she's going to want to be down rather than in the carrier and discovering the forest for herself. I'll welcome that day and match her enthusiasm for whatever she finds that interests here. Ready when you are, Emma!

The Weekender: first edition

Saturday started with a fantastic breakfast and a trip to the farmers market. We got a pint of the most delicious strawberries, they are so fresh and flavorful, and Emma agrees they are the best she has ever had! We spent a few hours at a friends home celebrating the 1st birthday of her son but Emma wasnt much for sitting and chatting. She was up and all over the backyard, working on her walking and coordination and being chased by mom and dad.

She looks a little silly walking in that skirt, but notice that look of intense concentration. She's working hard to master her steps!

Weee!!

Emma fell asleep on the ride home and continued her nap once we arrived. She must be having good dreams because she smiled and chuckled in her sleep a few times now. Such sweet moments I'm always happy to have witnessed. 

Sunday. 

I'm always expecting a 5 AM wake-up call from Emma, it's when she sleeps past this that I'm surprised. This morning wasn't one of those surprising mornings. Since we were up so early we also went to a few stores right when they opened. By the time we were heading home, Emma had fallen asleep in the car. I moved her to her bed without her waking.

After the nap Emma "helped" pot a Dill plant. She was content to watch me do the repotting but eventually put the soil through testing.

Done! The dill has joined our basil and green onions in the sunny nook. 

Next, a trip to the Blue Mountain Park.

Watching the Canadian Geese 

Today's excitement wore Emma out and she fell asleep in our bed next to Catrick. It's been a great weekend together as a family.