Emi's Summer in Reverse

We went to eat with Lolli and Pops at the restaurants in Trinity Grove.

We went back to the splash pad where I got to play with friends!

We went back to Burnet where I swam in the lake for the first time and helped Nonni make German Chocolate cake. 

  

I got my toe nails painted!

I went to the Barnes and Nobel fountain.

I went to the Lewisville library for toddler time.

I tried to feed the ducks a second time. I still just wanted to eat the bread myself.

We visited Kristin in Abilene and went to their zoo.

I went to Fredricksburg and went on my 5th wine tour. 

I went to my first splash park at Parr Park in Grapevine and I LOVED it!

More Pinterest ideas! It was a blast!!

I finally mastered walking!

I went to Babypalooza at the Flower Mound library.

I went to 3 different wineries in Michigan.

I celebrated the 4th in style!

I went on a Pontoon boat.

I went on an architecture tour in Chicago.

I had an allergic reaction to sunscreen in Chicago. :(

I took my first plane ride to Chicago. I did pretty good. 

I got sick AGAIN and was diagnosed with pneumonia.

Mom tried Pinterest projects. This one was fun but short lived!

I tried to feed the ducks but I really just wanted to chase them and eat their bread!

We celebrated Father's Day and ate at Steak and Shake.

Emi's 15 Month Stats

15 Month Stats

I figured I'd keep doing this when we do dr. appointments. 

Weight: 20 lb 13 oz

Height: 32”

Percentiles:

45% in weight

90% in height

Favorite Foods:

BANANAS!!, berries, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, beans

Least Favorite Foods:

Avocados, anything that takes time to chew like meat, potatoes

Bedtime:

We've been staying up a little later since it's summer so closer to 8:30 or 9:00. 

Awake:

She figured out summer quick enough. She normally will sleep until 8:00. 

Naps:

Still take 2 good naps most days but if we're on the go (or on vacation) she'll skip the morning one. 

Clothes:

She had a stomach bug and lost some weight so she's still in 12 mo and can wear some 9 mo dresses.  She can wear some 18 mo things if they run small or are one piece like a jumper, dress, or onesie. 

Words:

Dada, daddy, shoes, uh-oh, dog, bubble, bye, no, ya, what, mama (but only when she wants something), up

Favorites:

She loves swimming and splashing in kiddie pools. 

She loves animals of all kinds. She pet her first horse in Fredricksburg. 

She loves to try to put her shoes on or other peoples shoes.
She loves bubbles.

Latest Accomplishments:

She finally got walking down. 

Survived her first plane ride and family vacation. 

She started saying mama.

She can climb things.

She can get in and out of chairs like the bumbo or her bouncy chair.

Struggles this month: 

She takes mommy's "nos" as a challenge but daddy she stops whatever she's doing!

She has decided she hates baths again despite the fact that she loves all other water types! 

She bites me when she’s frustrated. The pediatrician suggested that as soon as she does it I take her to her room and shut the door because toddlers hate isolation, so we’ll start that now. She doesn’t do it to anyone but me and Anthony a couple times.

Things I've learned while traveling with a toddler

We flew to Chicago on Monday. The plane ride wasn't terrible but as expected Emi didn't want to be held. She wanted down and wanted everything that she wasn't supposed to have. 

We have been in Chicago for 3 days and today we're driving to Indiana. 

Here's what I've learned so far:

1. Technology isn't effective on a plane. Emi doesn't have the attention span and she didn't want to wear the headphones so the laptop/DVD/iPad I packed were ineffective and just made everything heavy!

2. Snacks work. But squishy snacks do not. I had nutrigrain bars that were smashed and fig cookies that are ruined. Gold fish were great and animal crackers were great. The puréed pouches were awesome. I've never given those to her because they gross me out but she loves them.

3. Kids can have allergic reactions to things they have used before. Emi had an allergic reaction to sun screen that she uses almost every day. It was scary. 

4. Even if you're well prepared things are going to go wrong. I caught a stomach bug on day one. And it was my bday! :(

5. Blow outs are worse in another town. 

6. You can't operate on other people's schedules with a baby. 

That's what I've learned so far. 

What's for Dinner?

Monday:

Breakfast- eggs and fruit

Lunch- April Palmer's chicken spaghetti (I didn't get this done last week) 

Dinner- pizza for Anthony's bday

Tuesday:

Breakfast- eggs and fruit

Lunch- Left over spaghetti

Dinner- Memaw's slow cooker sloppy joes

Wednesday:

Breakfast- Smoothie for me and waffles for Emi

Lunch- sandwiches

Dinner- It's our anniversary so we'll probably go out. 

Thursday:

Breakfast- blueberry breakfast cake

Lunch- Memaw's chicken pot pie (recipe for my cook book I'm making)

Dinner- Mexican cornbread

Friday:

Breakfast: left over blueberry cake

Lunch:  Left overs

Dinner: Grilled pork chops and squash/zucchini from the garden.

Saturday:

Breakfast: 

Lunch: sushi for my birthday!

Dinner: Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

Dessert: Memaw's double chocolate coca cola cake!

Sunday:

Breakfast: maybe pancakes

Lunch: Home made pizza

Dinner: left overs since we leave to go out of town tomorrow!

What are we doing this week?

I have already found it helpful to have activities on hand ready to go so that no one complains about being "bored" and Emi doesn't have a melt down because she has too much stored energy. I don't like to be married to a plan so this may totally fail, but hopefully it will keep us busy without busting the budget. I'm titling this post what Bella asks me every weekend, "What are we doing this week[end]".

Monday:

We're going to start taking walks right after breakfast and then Emi can take her morning nap.

Mother Goose Library time- 11:15-12:00

Grocery shopping

Exchanging clothes for Bella and shoe shopping for summer/camp

Afternoon swimming!

Tuesday;

Training for me! :( Stupid trade days!
Bella will hang at the house and probably swim and watch TV and nap- typical teen summer.

Emi will go to Rose Ann's to play with friends. 

Dinner with homegroup!

Wednesday:

Morning Walk- Emi and I may feed the ducks

Bella is leaving for Burnet.

Meeting mom at the Dallas aquarium.
Miranda is coming in town.

Thursday:

Morning walk

Afternoon Swimming
Lolli and Pops are coming over for a cookout for Father's Day/Mother's Day Celebration with Miranda.

Friday:

Morning walk

Barnes and Noble to read and look for books

Splash pad in Highland Village Shops

Saturday:

I will be taking Emi to Lolli's because we are going out for Anthony's birthday party

Sunday:

Sleeping In!
Church

Picking up Emi

We will be packing Bella for church camp.

What's for Dinner?

Piccolo Cafe didn't go well last week, because Anthony thought my meals were too high for the budget so I ended up scrapping it altogether. That caused us to eat out a lot. After 2 breakfasts, more than 3 lunches and at least 3 dinners out this week I think it's easy to say that sticking to a menu and eating as many meals at home as possible, would be better for the budget and the waste line!
So we're going to try again!
We're also doing a family recipe each week. I want to make a family cookbook for Christmas this year, but you have to make recipes and take pictures so I'm going to start that this week too. 

Monday:

Breakfast- eggs and bacon or bagels

Lunch- sandwiches 

Dinner- Tacos

Dessert: Blueberry Cheesecake Bars

Tuesday:

Breakfast- bagels

Lunch- I have training so I'll be eating out, Bella will eat a sandwich and Emi will eat at cafe Rose Ann!

Dinner- Dinner out with our homegroup- Palios!

Wednesday:

Breakfast- Cinnamon muffins

Lunch- April Palmer's chicken spaghetti

Dinner- Spicy Chicken Enchiladas

Thursday:

Breakfast- Cinnamon muffins

Lunch- April Palmer's chicken spaghetti

Dinner- Burgers and home made fries with mom, dad and Miranda

Friday:

Breakfast: 

Lunch: left over chicken bake

Dinner:  Creamy Chicken Bake, brown rice and broccoli 

Saturday:

Breakfast: Eggs and bacon sandwiches

Lunch: I'm sure we'll be tired from Friday so who knows. 

Dinner: Going out for Anthony's bday

Sunday:

Breakfast: Biscuits 

Lunch:

Dinner:

12 Month Stats

12 Month Stats

Weight: 18 lb 7 oz. Only 4 oz more than last time.

Height: 29.75"

Percentiles:30% in weight/70% in height.

Eating:

She’s eating pretty much all normal food. She’s drinking from sippy cups and feeding herself. I try to feed her veggies and meats myself though so I make sure she eats them.

Bedtime:

Closer to 8:00 this month.

Awake:

She’s still up by 6:30. She caught another stomach bug and cold this month so she did sleep in a few times.

Naps:

Still struggling with this one especially on the weekends. She’s only taking about a 45 minute nap in the morning and then 2-3 hours in the afternoon depending on the day.

Diapers:

Still size 3. We’re getting our wear out of these!

Clothes:

Mostly 12 months. Some 12-month pants are a little baggy but 9-month clothes are too small.

Favorites:

She loves standing. She loves to eat and feed herself. She loves her baby doll.

Dislikes:

She doesn’t like bath time still. Sometimes she hates is less than other days, but for the most part she hates it.

She has been really frustrated with everything this month. She can’t express what she wants and she can’t walk so she was upset a lot this month.

Latest Accomplishments:

She took her first steps this month. Then a couple days later she caught a stomach bug and then she hasn’t been well since.
We now have 10 teeth. The top molars and 2 more bottom ones came in. Those were rough.  

Struggles this month:
She got 4 more teeth this month and they were awful!
She caught another stomach bug and another cold.

She had an ear infection at the beginning of the month.

Basically this was a hard month!

First bluebonnet experience at the Bluebonnet Festival in Burnet

This would have been such a cute picture if mommy hadn't ruined it!!

First Easter

First experience with live bunnies. She had no idea they were there! The plastic eggs were way more entertaining!

First Easter basket

Her hair is finally long enough for pigtails 

First wedding as a flower girl

Such a cute flower girl!

The beautiful smash cake that she had zero interest in!

Just a couple professional birthday pics. I haven't gotten them all back yet.

One of my favorites!

Her party cupcakes

I think they were a hit!

She was double fisting it!

Opening her gifts

She loved her happy meal!!!

I can't believe how much she's changed!