Leaves are falling all around..

Fall is full of color, crafts and appreciation of nature as we transition into the colder months.

Yep. No shortage of Fall here. Emma is enjoying making nests in leaf piles, running through them and watching leaves drift down in the breeze. We've started eating our hot cereals for breakfast again and having a cup of tea every afternoon for a warming up. We're also rediscovering how extra cozy it is snuggling up on the couch with a few books and a blanket on a cold day. There have been some cold days (50s) both out and inside but Emma hasn't minded. A lot of the time she tells us that she wants to be cold and will protest putting on a sweater. 

Grandad and CoCos visit

Last weekend we had two special guests, Grandad and CoCo! We all had a great time at our home, their hotel, and some local spots. We've seen Emma being very adventurous and engaging with her environment in different ways, during their visit especially. Definitely moving out of her comfort zone lately. Or is it that the comfort zone has broadened? She is speaking more confidently and has a lot to say, to everyone and about everything. Sometimes she has so much she needs to say at once it comes out as the same two or three words over and over again as she struggled to remember every detail in queue, and with a lack of verbal dexterity. To me it seems like that would be frustrating, because I know Emma's comprehension is far beyond what she is able to express, but she remains the patient and calm girl we've gotten to know the past couple of years. I hope that by repeating some things she tells me she feels I'm understanding what she means and also others can better understand her. Someone else's two-year-olds voice is not always decipherable! 

Emma doesn't like being put on the spot, but if she's got an idea everything else seems to be blocked out. Like galloping down the hall to my parents suite shouting "Come on, Emma! " Same with playing on the steps of the hotel pool; she could have had a thousand viewers but she would have been so focused on her imaginary game as a sea lion or feeding the fish that she wouldn't have taken notice.

Emma having the opportunity to go swimming at the hotel in Tarrytown where my parents stayed and explore water and her own buoyancy was amazing. She was letting go of fear just enough to laugh about it but still clinging on so tight to Patrick or I, or the handrail as her body started turning horizontally. It's a little different every time we take her swimming, always an adventure!

After my parents departure Emma still has a lot to say about them. Even today seeing a plane had her informing me that Grandad and Coco were on it. Little things remind her of their visit and she states sometimes made-up facts about them, or tells me about swimming or going to Muscoot with them. The whole visit made quite an impression on Emma. 

My mom got this great shot which I love; on the way out Emma climbed up into a barstool and ordered a drink to go! A milk shaken with a cherry, on the rocks. She looks so pleased with herself, that's the big smile I live for :-)

Hello, this is fun!

Floors messy from feeding the animals. Movements larger than life. Wearing dolls in blanket carriers. Bread transforming into camels at tea time. Toddlerhood is absolutely wonderful.

Into the wild

Gearing up with fall coats, hats, sneakers, and a little green bucket we ventured through the woods behind our home and out into a hilly clearing with interesting landscape and variety of plants and wild flowers 

A little girl of Two

 A little girl delighted to have some of the chocolate covered fruit her mother received as a birthday treat. Thanks CoCo!

A little girl so excited about new shoes she couldn't take them off all afternoon

A beautiful feather overlooked by a mother but not missed by an observant little girl.

An interesting sort of beetle found by a little girl who inspects each piece of grass when she walks. 

A week of Emma Quotes

Sept 3rd: Sitting in her garden, lazily digging around. Singing to the tune of Skip to my Lou

Lost my peanut, what'll i do? Lost my peanut what'll i do? Hey, hey, didlly iii-o...

Sept 4th: After reading a few short stories, while showing me her "pouncing" on the couch

let's see some jumping!

Sept 5th: These quotes were taken by Helen, not at my request but I was so happy to receive them, it's what inspired this post! Emma spent a couple hours at Helen and Millie's home so I could work.

"Emma's working like Mama. A little brush on his coat... Make him happy. Scrub scrub scrub. He's looking good!"

"He has a tongue. He's breathing. Sneaky Pete looks happy. I'm brushing him up. He's a little dog. Sneaky Pete lay down! Emma's asking him to lay down"

"Dog, need some? Yes, dog, yes." (Walked over to play kitchen)

On the way home in the car we talked more about our morning and the dogs we worked on.

Sneaky go on couch and lay down and... Emma groom him!

Sept 6th While on a walk, getting excited about hearing our neighbor's rooster crowing and nearing their house. 

gonna SCOOP! Up the rooster, and.. THROW! Him down in the water, SPLASH!

Sept 7th: After a bite of chicken fell off her, looking down to see that it had fallen on the floor.

 Nice catch, Emma!

Sept 8th: Walking through the woods at Depew park, keeping an eye out for animals especially snakes. Emma imagines how she'd handle a snake.

 I put snake in pocket. Having lots of fun with him!

Later that day, after dinner, I say to Timber who was so excited to see deer on our walk, "what would you do if you caught that deer?"

chomp him up!

Sept 9th: After every time I gave her a big push on the swing at the playground this morning, yelling to the geese down in the field,

 SEE THAT TRICK?

Emma do lots of amazing things!

This girl is such a character. (ʃƪ˘ﻬ˘)

Eat, Play, Love

This was Emma's idea!

So busy this past week, what a whirlwind it has been! We got together with friends nearly every day since Wednesday.

We had three mother/child pairs over on Wednesday (one was a mother-child-child  actually!) for play inside then in the yard with the pool to cool off. We're really taking advantage of the hot summer weather that has snuck up on us as the season is nearing its end. This little pool which we found for free has been used nearly every day by Emma, and her friends when they are over.

Thursday was Emma's 2 year Pediatrician visit, which was very difficult for Emma. We have a kind and gentle pediatrician but Emma still has anxiety, likely anticipating the shot at the end of the visit. We are told it is not uncommon for children to have doctor anxiety at two years and the third year should be better. I'm glad we won't have to have another well visit until next year! After the appointment we did go to our new favorite ice cream shop, the blue pig which is just around the corner from her Drs office. This place is a gem. They use local dairy and pick and prepare all their ingredients and have a huge variety of flavors that changes daily. On this day Emma got Pig M&M icecream, and a scoop of peanut butter chocolate swirl for mama. So tasty!

Friday was a wonderful play at our friends Tricia's with her daughter Shea and a few other girls. At one point Emma declared she is helping Millie, then the two girls pushed a doll stroller together. When Emma stopped this game she said "Millie's turn!" And released the stroller to her. She has really been practicing sharing lately. Later in the yard Emma took it upon herself to bring the girls cups of water that were placed on a table. She makes my heart melt every time she says "He go!" (Here you go!) She also collected tennis balls and piled them in front of the family's dog Rio and would move the pile two balls at a time when Rio moved to a new place in the yard. My little caregiver! 

After play we were invited to go for MORE ice cream and is saying no to icecream something people do? We cannot, not if it's at the Blue Pig(which it was!) on a hot summer day(which it was!)!(!!) So Emma and Millie got to enjoy their treat and play while the moms chatted. I brought home a pint to have around for Daddyman who has been unable to join us on our ice cream excursions.

Saturday we had grown-up friends over, a couple from Brooklyn. It was a nice get together, they got to see our new home and how much Emma has grown. It had been a long time since we saw these friends so Emma's has changed quite a bit but she is as sweet and patient as she has always been. This is confirmed to me when they complimented her well behavior, her independence and merry manner. It goes without saying I'm Emma's #1 fan and I see all these wonderful things about her every day but when another person observes her and vocalizes to me what they see... Well I appreciate it very much!

Sunday was an easy morning at home starting with our tradition of homemade pancakes --and home made syrup to compliment them. Emma's Pop Pop (Patrick's dad) taps maple trees and boils down the sap himself. This is a time consuming process and a good amount of work from start to finish so we're thankful to have a little bit of the fruit of Pop Pops labor! So sweet and lovely, pancakes are not the same without real maple syrup. Later Sunday we went to a friends whose little girl is a year and a half. Emma and Orla played so well together, jumping and rolling on beds, sharing snacks, hugging and making each other laugh. Everyone enjoyed themselves!

We were pretty worn out by Monday morning but being Labor Day we had plans to go to a BBQ in the afternoon. It was a restful day up until then. This BBQ had a couple familiar toddlers for Emma to play with, and some new little boys as well. We hardly ever see boys! Emma concluded our visit there by getting a dance party going in the kitchen. These girls have moves! Emma and Esme exuberantly stoping their feet and jumping around was so entertaining to the audience they had attracted. It was a perfect ending.

Phew. So now it's Tuesday and I'm catching my breath as Emma naps. She has been skipping them a lot lately and this mama needed a break. Though we have no social plans today we did start the day with running around the dog park, groceries (at an unfamiliar store, that always makes it tricky!) and a pop in to the book store to return a book. We saw heavy equipment working in the parking lot on the way out and it was as good as icecream for Emma! She was so interested in this "tractor" scooping and leveling, and the sound of continuous tread on the pavement as the machine seemed to be heading toward us sent Emma running behind me. A thrilling experience! We worked up our appetites so back home I made seared tuna steaks for lunch which were incredibly tasty and quick to prepare and Emma cleared her plate so I'll be making it again in the future. 

Okay. No more typing, I will pluck away with my thumb and post the past weeks pictures as I enjoy my ice coffee, before returning to my domestic duties. Thanks for reading, all!

With love.

All Tall!

Lunch before icecream :-)

Oh gosh the best banana bread is any banana bread stil warm 

Emma leading the way to the dog park this morning.

Seared Tuna steaks

Rubbed with lemon and cooked on a preheated pan over med/high heat for 1-2 minutes each side, then covered with a sauce of soy sauce and grated ginger. Scrumptious!