Sorry, just tilt your head sideways... :)

This one's for you, Uncle Maffis!

Emma's 11month milestone!

Yesterday was Emma's 11month birthday! (or do you call it a milestone???)  There's been another big barn building weekend here, and we have two new huge barn aisle doors! :)  Emma's playhouse is well on its way to being done!

Daddy's been making Emma a baby smoothie in the afternoons, she likes drinking from a cup like a big girl!

Emma's been enjoying her new toy- an activity table- 
Emma's showing off her keepsake rattle from cousin Peggy- we plan to engrave it with Emma's birthdate and weight/size at birth-
Emma's been pulling up more and more, and really likes the dishwasher- it's just the right height!
We've been enjoying our visit with Mimi and PopPop and have had the most beautiful day today!  Hard to believe it's still August, with sunny, blue skies and a nice cool breeze... :)

Visiting friends in NC

Mommy and Emma went down to visit some friends in NC this past weekend- we had a great time hanging out and playing with their little boy, Gregory!  Emma especially liked sorting the wine corks...
After getting delicious ice cream, we sat outside at dusk, listening to some live country/bluegrass music.  This is Rachel (from vet school) and her husband Matt, with Emma and Gregory.
Gregory, waiting for his dinner! This was shortly before Emma decided to whack over a big glass of beer right in poor Gregory's face!  Maybe he subliminally offended her??  No, I think she just likes to try to get her hands in drinks... Gregory's not like that! :)
Emma's getting ready to order dinner- she wanted the filet mignon, but we told her she was having banana and o's... she said that was ok too.

We had a relatively uneventful drive back this evening, and Emma is fast asleep after a good long bath.  

More beach pictures have come in!

Ok, some new photos have come in from the beach trip!

Pointing and other things

After talking with a coworker at daddies work we think Emma is pointing.  She just uses her whole hand.  We have given names and colors to mailboxes, trees, grass, signs, barns, poles, fences, cows, chickens, dog, and cats.  We only have a few things we see on our walks so we have a lot of repetition.   Emma enjoys getting out of the stroller and touching all the street and stop signs.  

We've had a lot of folks asking what she is eating now so here is the list:

mashed potatoes, mashed cauliflower, pears, peaches, bananas, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, avocado, blueberries, yogurt, peas.  Tonight she tried quinoa mixed with shredded squash and some chicken.  The chicken was not popular but she didn't mind the quinoa and squash but oh man did that little stuff get everywhere since she wanted to use her hands and not the spoon.  I'm sure I missed some of the things she is eating but this gives you some ideas.  

Passing things

Emma is passing things to mommy and daddy now very nicely.  She will pass us anything she can palm letting it go in our hands so gently.  We're very impressed.

Ok, folks, get set for some pictures!!  They're essentially in reverse... I just barely had time to put them all in, then I realized I was doing them in backwards order... oh well.  We had a wonderful vacation!!  The trip down was pretty good although it rained about 90% of the time.  Despite a dreary forecast for the entire week, we actually had excellent weather all but one afternoon.  We spent part of pretty much every day with Emma down at the sound side of the harbor of the neighborhood where the house is- several times we motored down to the beach in the boat.  The sound is so shallow that even far out, it's still just about mid-thigh deep, and the water temperature is really nice.  There is a sweet little beach there with beautiful trees draped in spanish moss, and a great playground!  Each day, there was a little nakey time after swimming, to air everything out!  You can see in a couple of pictures the little "Flintstones-mobile" we got for Emma- it provided a little shade and she loved floating around in it.  She also absolutely totally enjoyed just being held and floating on the water- she would totally relax and zone out... it was too cool!  We got to visit with tons of family on both sides, and really loved getting to see everyone!  We just wish we could have stayed longer... :)

Above- here's Emma and Daddy sitting with Aunt Kathy and cousin Silvio.  Aunt Kathy is the one Emma's named after (Emma Katherine).
Above: Emma and cousin Silvio enjoying the swings at the beach playground
Above: Emma in her mermaid dress, getting into everything!
Above: Just so you can appreciate the cuteness of this little outfit!
Above: Mimi and Emma watching PopPop get the boat cleaned up
Above: Emma and Silvio meet for the first time!
Above: Reading with Auntie
Above: Daddy and Emma checking out the swings
Above: Nakey time!!!
Above: The harbor beach- just about everyone had left, it was nice and quiet!  Note the "Flintstones-mobile" at the edge of the water... :)
Above: Emma's new favorite pastime of pulling off Daddy's sunglasses
Above: Cute little nakey bottom!
Above: Having fun in the water!
Above: Testing out the "Flintstones-mobile" before getting out in the water
Above: Emma waving!  She's showing off her cute little ladybug swimsuit on the beach!
Above: Up close and personal with Emma Kate
Above: First time into the water- it tastes funny!!
Above: Getting ready to head to the beach
Above: Getting the boat loaded up to head down to the harbor
Above: Hanging out with Mimi at Uncle Chris' shop while everyone went paddle-boarding

So we haven't gotten many pictures up yet...

Mommy and daddy have been super busy this week trying to get back into working and the house. We'll post a few pictures for now to keep the fans happy.

The reverse peek-a-boo

Today, Emma was playing with daddy by moving her head back and forth behind his pillowcase and then a bucket on the kitchen floor playing peek-a-boo with him.  She would hide her face and then move so she could see me and I would say peek-a-boo and she would giggle and hide again.  Before, it has been me hiding and coming into view.   She is also much more talkative all of a sudden.  Maybe words are on the way?

Back from the beach

We are back from the beach!  We'll obviously have more pictures and stories later on.