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.