First words and new tricks

First words are always a little tricky for me.  There doesn't seem to be an exact moment where one day baby is just jabbering and the next day they are clearly saying their first word.  Emmy has kind of been trying to talk for the last month but, unless you are around her all the time, you wouldn't really know what she is saying.  Today I think I can finally pinpoint her "first word."  One of these friends is around her on a regular basis, the other one has never met her before.  Emmy saw a dog and pointed while saying "doh, doh!"  The friend who had never met her, clearly understood what she was saying.  "Doh" is the word that Emmy says most often, most consistently, and most clearly, so I think this is what counts as her official first word.

Also, Emmy has recently become an expert climber.  Last weekend she made her way onto the kitchen table in an attempt to get the ceiling fan.

I don't really remember the other two girls climbing like this... but it could be because I don't have photographic evidence of it.  With the other two girls I probably would have quickly removed them from these situations rather than running to grab the camera.  Poor third child.

The other day we found her on top of the computer desk.... Do you notice the bump above her left eye?  She pretty much always has something like this.  She's a tough cookie.

Well, we're headed to Wyoming!  This weekend Sean was offered two jobs (because he's awesome like that).  We had to make a quick decision on which one we would accept.  Both of them were amazing opportunities, but we ultimately decided on the place that would put us closest to family.  Converse county, here we come!!

God bless Texas

For the past 7 years we've called Texas home.  For the most part, we have really enjoyed living here.  The main problem we have with it, though, is that we are so far from family.  So the time has come to make our way back up north.  

Chances are we will be moving this summer.  There are lots of things that I will miss about Texas.  Not having to scrape ice off of my windshield is probably top of my list.  I'll also miss the humidity - not the middle of the summer, 98 degrees, 95% humidity type days - but the cool winter and spring days, when it is in the 70s or 80s and the humidity makes your skin feel amazingly soft.  I love how people say "no sir" and "yes ma'am."  I love how everyone is so proud of their state.  I'll miss the trees - I love my drive to work, with huge trees on either side of the road.

One tradition that Texans have is bluebonnet pictures.  Bluebonnets are the state flower of Texas and, every spring when they bloom, people go out to open fields and take pictures of their children in the bluebonnets.  For some reason, we've never done it until this year.  Now that I know we will likely be moving, I'm trying to fit in as many "Texas" things as I can.  So, without further ado... our bluebonnet pictures...

Emerson at 15 months

Weight - 22.0 pounds (61%)
Height - 31 inches (65%)
Head - 17.75 inches (33%)

She's trying to talk.  She says "doh" which means "dog" but she will say it to almost any furry creature.  She also says "ni ni" for "night night."  Her favorite "word" at the moment seems to be "gnana gnana," it is her word for "I want that / give it to me / that's mine."

She loves her baby dolls.  Loves putting them "na na" and covering them with blankets.  Loves giving them kisses (she makes the most adorable kissing sound).  Loves bringing them to us to kiss.  Loves carrying them around in her toy car seat.

She recently turned into an expert climber.  A couple weeks ago she climbed onto the bench and then on top of the dog kennel.  She loves to feed the dog.  She tries to feed the cat, but most of the time the can is not interested in what she is offering.  She is also bound and determined to master eating utensils  she gets so excited when she spears something with a fork and is able to get it to her mouth.