Look at this girl. She's the cutest, right? My sweet and sometimes shy Emma Noelle is really showing signs of becoming a toddler this month. Her communication skills have broadened, and she will sign, shake her head no or say "uh, uh, uh" and point to let us know what she wants. She drinks from a sippy cup now--her brother's cups being her favorite--and I think she's completely done with bottles. She's only used them a handful of times, so transitioning to a sippy was no trouble at all. Emma continues to be a good eater, and we're finding that meat is one of her favorite foods. (Those genes most definitely come from her daddy.) When she's done eating, she tells us so by signing "all done" and then wiping the leftovers in her hair. Oy.
Emma weighs 16 pounds 8 ounces now. I know this because of an unfortunate trip to the doctor one Saturday morning this month when Emma woke with a fever and rattling in her chest. She'd had a cold for the better part of three weeks, and just when I thought she was beginning to feel better, she developed pneumonia and an ear infection, poor girl. The good news is that we caught the pneumonia early and with the help of antibiotics, she recovered quickly. Thank goodness.
The biggest news this month is that Emma started walking! She began her training by doing unassisted standing reps, as I liked to call them, just before she turned ten months old, and once in a while would try to take a step, but would immediately fall down. This month she mastered her skill, and took her first true steps. Just like her brother, there was really no turning back once she started. She went from a step here or there to multiple steps to flat out walking within a matter of a week.
Emma is still quite the daddy's girl. Ben and Emma's relationship is really blossoming, and it makes my heart full to see the two of them together.
In other news, we are celebrating Emma's eleven-month milestone in Kansas as we are visiting Ben's family for Thanksgiving. From here, we will continue on to Wisconsin and Minnesota and stay with family for a total of five weeks. This is a big trip for us, especially with two small children, but Ben has the opportunity through his company to work remotely for a month each year. Because I stay home with the kids and Isaac is not yet in Kindergarten, we knew we had to take advantage of the flexibility in our schedule and go somewhere. It's the kind of opportunity you shouldn't pass up if it comes around. After some discussion about where we might like to go this year (The mountains? Somewhere warm?), we agreed to spend an extended holiday with our families. I had a difficult time leaving Wisconsin after meeting Juniper, so personally this trip meant a lot to me. Right now, with three baby girls in the family, it just feels so important to be close and connected to them. Babyhood doesn't last. Emma's first year is nearly over, which has me reeling, and I want to be as much a part of my nieces' first years as possible.
Five weeks in Kansas, Wisconsin, and Minnesota to celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, and Emma's birthday (and a number of other family birthdays). What a trip it will be. After months of prepping and planning, I'm glad to be here in Kansas with Gramps, Jen, and Tess, giving thanks (and celebrating Gramps' birthday!). Then our sweet Emma Noelle will turn one while we are in the Minnesota.
Happy eleven months, baby girl!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment