Toilet Paper

Emily has discovered the joy of unrolling the toilet paper!!  The first few I let her explore with the roll to discover what it was like.  Emily would take a bunch of the roll and then rip it apart.  In an effort to conserve the toilet paper we have, we have taken the rolls off.  Emily is disappointed I know!

16 Months

It is hard to believe a month has come and gone, yet so much has happened with Emily. . . .

• Emily is getting quite mobile and working on her confidence to walk.  
• If there is something to investigate, Emily is one to try it out.  This week she discovered how to unroll the toilet paper.  I saw her make each movement towards the roll and didn't want to stop her from the fun.  She is a silly girl!!!  
• Emily has quite a collection of words: mama, daddy, doggie, outside, car, Nana, cracker, cookie, baby, go-go, and today Emily.  WOW!  She is a chatterbox.
• Emily loved going up north for the Christmas holiday.  She loved seeing family and playing with the cousins.  We are excited to see them again soon.
• Fun with cousins happened a few more times after Christmas as family came by on their way to and from Disneyland or running a race.  We were able to see Nana, Grandpa, Sissa, Baker's, Peterson's, and Emery's.  It is fun to be in a place to see family often.
• Emily loves to read books.  She loves to have you read them to her, and she likes to read them herself.  It is fun to see her point to pictures and babble out loud.
• Emily and I enjoy playing at the park and going for walks often!  She loves to be outside, or "oside" as she says.
• Just on her 16 month birthday, Emily had a high fever of 103.  It was scary to see her sick, but we were grateful to see her get better.
• Teeth keep popping up in Emily's mouth.  She has 6 showing and 2 more trying to get through!  Hooray!
   

Fever

All day today, Emily seemed fussy and not herself - clingy and sad.  As the day progressed, things seemed to be getting worse.  We were playing in her room, when all of the sudden she climbed on my lap and feel asleep.  For the next hour and a half while I taught piano, Emily was lethargic in my arms.  Finally, after my last piano student I asked Joanna (my piano student's mom) what she thought.  She was so sweet to drive home to get her thermometer.  When Joanna returned, we found out Emily had a 103 fever.  I was so worried! 

After talking to our doctor's nurse, they suggested we go to Instacare.  I stripped Emily to her onsie, called Nelson to come home, and we left for Instacare.  By the time she was seen, her temperature was 101.  They checked her over and thought she may have a UTI, so sent us home with an antibiotic.  Gradually Emily's temperature went down over the next few days, but it was sure no fun to see her sick!  It is times like these I wish family was closer.  I was grateful for a friend to provide support in a time of need.

Little Chair Entertainment

The other day I went to the eye doctor.  We had a little wait, so Emily was investigating their play area.  She found a little chair, just her size.  After getting on the chair, Emily provided me with some entertainment: singing, clapping her hands, and showing me where her nose is (I'm not sure why she inserts her finger there?!?).  What a cute entertainer!

Reader's Theater

Emily has discovered a new favorite place to read stories - in the rocking chair.  She will read stories to you and have you read her stories while rocking in the chair.  I guess she is making her own Reader's Theater!

Messy and Clean

Emily loves spaghetti!  Her hands and face are always messy when she is done, but so cute!

Emily looks so cute in dresses.  My parents dropped by this weekend on their way to Disneyland with my sister's family.  She gave Emily this cute Valentine's dress.  Sweet Valentine!!

A Happy Helper

Although Emily is one of the best mess makers, she is also a fantastic helper.  She especially loves to help me dust.  Like my mom always says, "Many hands (even little hands) make light work!"

My Friend Emily

One of my favorite children's picture books is, My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann.  The first page of the book begins, "My friend rabbit means well.  But whatever he does, wherever he goes, trouble follows."  This sums up "My Friend Emily."  She means well, but whatever she does, wherever she goes, trouble follows.  Emily leaves a trail of uncovered treasure hunts, although I am not sure what she has found.  The pictures below show Emily emptying my dishtowel drawer and taking clothes off their hangers in the closet.  Some of the other things she likes to do is "help" unfold laundry, unpack groceries, and dump snacks on the floor.   Oh well, all this "trouble" is a full day of play for Emily.

New Quiet Activities

This past week Emily has found two new quiet activities: reading the Ensign & drawing.  Whenever I am writing something down, she wants a paper and pencil to draw something herself.  Her pictures of abstract and amazing.  As far as reading magazines, Emily loves to pretend to read the Ensign each night during family scripture study.  What a cute mimic!

Christmas Joys

 

While at my parent's house, Emily found two toys she loved - the Disney Kitchen and my old rocking chair.  She loved playing with the food, dishes, and cupboards of the kitchen.  Emily is an excellent cook!  She also loved sitting in my little rocking chair with her monkey.  It was a sweet moment to see her rock the monkey and give her loves.

Monkey on the Bed

Today I caught my Little Emily playing behind my bed.  I lifted her on top of the bed where she became a monkey.  Emily crawled around the bed and giggled each time I pulled her to the center by her foot.  She also loved laying on the soft pillows.  At one point Emily found my phone that was laying on the bed and dialed Aunt Sissa.  She jabbered away, saying, "Hi!" lots.  Finally, I realized she was really talking to someone.  What a silly monkey!  I was just glad I didn't have to call the doctor ;).

 

Reading Nooks

Emily loves to read and can be found in little nooks around the house with her feet crossed, pretending to read story after story.  She turns the pages and babbles along, at times even pointing to things in the book.  Emily is a sweet "Bookworm!"

Nana and Grandpa

While at home, Emily had fun with both grandparents.  Grandma Yates played lots with Emily on the floor with blocks.  Grandpa Yates enjoyed the Air Force Museum with us.  Nana let Emily investigate her drawers, cupboards, and purse.  Grandpa Handy love to hold and take pictures of Emily.  Unfortunately I didn't get a picture with Grandma and Grandpa Yates, but will be sure to next time. 

Christmas 2014

Nelson, Emily, and I have been anticipating our trip up north to visit family for Christmas for some time.  We were excited to see, visit, and spend time with our sweet families.  On Christmas Eve we left for Salt Lake to spend the evening with the Handy Family at the annual Christmas Party.  Emily loved seeing all the cousins, especially Ellie.  She was shy at first, but gradually warmed up.  We spent the night there and enjoyed a exciting Christmas morning with Mom and Dad Handy & Sissa.  Emily loved opening the presents and playing with the new toys.  She enjoyed the clothes just as much in pretending to put them on.  Sweet girl!  We were grateful for the gracious presents from Santa!

 

Later Christmas day, we headed farther north to Layton to enjoy some time with the Yates family.  We enjoyed a Christmas dinner and present exchange with everyone.  Emily loved to play with Addison and more new toys.  We had a good time the next few days visiting, going for a walk, playing at Addison's house, and going to the Hill Aerospace Museum.

 Nelson & his friends

Emily tuckered out from all the holiday fun

On Saturday afternoon (December 28), we went back down to my parent's house.  Nelson left Sunday afternoon, so he was able to enjoy a little time with my parents and even had time to visit my Grandma White.  I was sad to see Nelson go home, but excited to spend some more time with my family.  Emily and I savored our time with my family playing games, meeting my dad for lunch downtown, shopping, and simply being together.

My Siblings at our annual "Adult Game Night"

Our trip up north went by too fast!  Like always, we wish we would have had one more day together.  Gratefully, we will see them again soon.