Her personality is coming out---she is funny, strong willed, a bit of a perfectionist, and very determined! Em playing dress up with kitty ears...notice the bunny ears around her neck.
Using the oven as a mirror to check out her new look.

Em frequently goes into the study, closes the door, and then pulls the curtins on the french doors back to peek at us. I love the pancake face :)

Her first bowl of actual cereal and milk.

I had her clothes hamper in the laundry room filled with clothes I needed to fold. Em's dirty clothes were in a little pile where her hamper should have been. She just started picking up the clothes and transferring them to the top of her nightstand. She picked up all of her clothes and piled them up---I guess the mess bothered her a bit. I appreciate my little helper!

Birthday Wishes

Trav celebrated his 3oth birthday on the 18th of January. This is my weak attempt at being the Cake Boss :)
Emma and the Birthday Boy

T also wanted pancakes for dinner---Emma is helping shake up the batter.

Ok...this is not birthday related, but happened around the same time. I would say that this is yogurt eating gone bad :) She definitely had fun eating it!!!

New Routine

Ok...we have yet ANOTHER morning routine. Emma has begun going to her 4th sitter in 11 months..yes...you read it correctly...FOURTH!!! The first sitter wanted to go back into the classroom, the second sitter wanted to be more available to help her child who was having trouble in school, the third sitter was a temp sitter (for 3 months) while we waited for an opening in the 4th sitter's house. WHEW...makes me tired just to think of it. It also makes it look like Em is a challenging child who is getting kicked out of multiple places. I think that ALL 4 sitters (plus T and I) would agree that Em is a piece of cake kiddo. I need to keep this statement for when she is 13 :)

So...I digress :)

Our morning routine has yet changed again, but this time it is for the better!!!! Wanda (sitter #4) feeds Em breakfast, lunch and a PM snack...WOW...what a difference that makes!

Our old routine: T dresses Em, I feed Em breakfast, sometimes throwing together a lunch for Em, myself, or both of us and RUSH out the door---usually forgetting to do something important.

New routine: T dresses Em, I get a cup of coffee, Em gets her milk and a book and we read together. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!! I would not trade our 30 minutes of hanging out for anything! Yes, we could get her up a bit later, but then we would just be rushed trying to speed out the door to get to our destinations on time.

Notice the sippy cup in the cup holder :)

I love you Emma Grace and I will cherish these moments always!!!

Lil' Helper

Trav takes a suitcase to all of the games he refs. He rolls it in, rolls it out each game night. Em is VERY intrigued by the suitcase and was trying to pull it herself. I decided to put her on the handle and see if she would enjoy a little bit of a ride. Obviously, it was a big hit. Lela got Em her own rolling suitcase for Christmas, so she can be just like her daddy. Em and I went out to help T with the BIG job of raking leaves in the backyard. Em needed to work on her technique at first, but then got the hang of it.

Taking a break to examine the leaves.

Don't forget the flowerbed!

Em was very curious about the knots in the fence.

Hmmmmm...what is on the other side?

TWO THOUSAND TEN

Goodness...where did 2009 go? We have stayed sooooooo busy this year with moving to a new house, our jobs and with Miss Em...I guess so busy that 12 months zoomed past us. Somebody posted that they hoped our best day in 2009 is our worst day in 2010. I love that thought and wish that for all of our family and friends. So...we will ring in the New Year reflecting on all of the memories that 2009 brought us and look forward to seeing the joy and excitement that 2010 will bring!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!