Wednesday

Okay, my daughter is really being clingy today. She doesn't want to be away from me and isn't happy about anything. I'm not sure what her deal is today. I don't think she is feeling bad although she is chewing on her fingers a lot. Maybe some new teeth coming in. I hope it passes soon. She is certainly adorable but I would enjoy walking into another room without her screaming.

Emma and I met Melissa and her kiddos, Angel and Mason, and Shelley for lunch today to celebrate Melissa's birthday. Happy Birthday! We ate at a new restaurant in our little town and it was really good. Cafe Ameno has good sandwiches, soup and coffees. It was really good so if you are local you should check it out.

Emma is not the least bit proper. She burps like she just drank a beer. It really cracks me up. We will have to work on our manners, but when she does it while looking up at me with really sleepy eyes I can't help but laugh. I guess I have just been around my boys too long and nothing says funny like bodily noises:)

Today is such a grey day. Rainy, dreary outside. The perfect nap weather. Emma isn't interested due to the fact that she woke up at 5:15 this morning and then took a morning nap after taking the boys to school. I'm not sure what the deal was because she doesn't usually do that. I'm hoping that she isn't starting a new trend.

Dresses Anyone?

Black and white houndstooth with red trim and red hearts. Lydia Jane, 12 months, great condition. It's a red onesie and jumper. $10.00 shipped.

New with tags Christmas dress. Cream colored onesie and red jumper with matching shoes. 12 months. Retail $38 and I bought it on sale last year for $18.99. b.t.kids brand from Belk. $20.00 shipped. Emma is just too tall for these cute dresses.

Catching Up

Before. This was taken in China just a few days after we got her.

After. The same sweet little smile but with "meat on her bones." This child is loving her food. She is still having some texture issues, but overall is doing so well. She loves her vegetables. Her face just lights up when it's time to eat. She is very particular about how we feed her. She wants the jar to be left in front of her and if we pick it up she grabs your arm and pulls it back down to her tray. She is still taking about 2 bottles a day and is having some issues drinking from a cup, but we are working on it.

It is already turning out to be another busy week. I have decided that I am trying to accomplish too much at once. I get busy with so many things that it seems like nothing gets done. I am STILL trying to get all of the stuff moved downstairs to the boys new rooms. I have a huge Good Will stack and several nice clothes items that I am wondering if anyone would be interested in. If you have a boy that is size 16 I have several pairs of jeans and some very nice shirts, some with tags still on them, that I would love to sell. Just leave me a comment with your e-mail address and I will gladly send you some pictures or I can post them here if that would be easier for anyone. I have at least 4 pairs of jeans and 8 shirts.

I am trying to schedule all of the end of the year doctor's appointments and get all of that out of the way. It's time to decide on our insurance plan with Bo's work and what a pain. I hate those decisions. They are now offering a Health Savings Plan versus the Health Reimbursement Plan and I hate dealing with those things! I have a stack of paperwork to complete and I would rather be swimming with piranhas that dealing with it.

Emma is doing so well. She is still clingy at times and doesn't sit for very long and entertain herself. She wants to be where the action is all the time. She helped me vacuum this morning and was crawling so fast that I was really having to watch her. She stayed with my mother and stepfather yesterday while I had an apt. in town and I don't know who enjoyed it more. When I got home she was sitting at the table eating like a pig. This girl is really enjoying her meals.

I must run and try to accomplish some things while she is down for a nap. Pretty sad that it is afternoon and I have not had a shower yet. Ick.

Thursday's Thoughts

Another busy week and I am still behind. Will I ever catch up?

The man from TEIS came again today to establish our plan for Emma. I hate to sound negative, but it's no wonder the state and the country is in such financial turmoil. It has taken 3 visits to establish whether our daughter, who had 2 fingers and 3 toes, qualifies for any early intervention (PT, OT, Speech, etc.). It's crazy to think that they have had to come to our house 3 times to establish this but alas, that is the government for you. OK, so we established our goals today and now he will type up his report and then someone else will contact me about working with Emma. I have to be honest, as fast as Emma is learning to do things for herself I suspect she won't qualify for anything very long. She is doing so well with her little fingers.

Melissa and I took the girls and went to a warehouse sale today. The clothes were adorable and I bought several things for next summer. The other things were not as cheap so I controlled myself although I must say it wasn't easy. The things for next summer were cheap and I hope they will fit her. Rory and Emma were so good and obviously like to shop. We then treated ourselves to a Starbucks and headed home so that I could pick up Ashton. (Thanks Melissa:)

Tonight we are having dinner with my in-laws to celebrate Pam's birthday (Bo's sister). The boys can't wait because they love Kobe's. I hope that Emma does well there with the blazing grill thing. She gets startled easily and I'm sure that flames might scare her. She also didn't get her regular nap in and may be a little testy. She is taking a short nap now. We are meeting our good friend Beth (aka Cool Daughter) after dinner for a quick visit while she is in town. We have not seen her in several years and can't wait to see her. She is our former pastor's daughter and she babysat our boys for years. She is like our grown daughter.

Brady had band practice again today and will be going to Chattanooga tomorrow since the football team is headed to tournaments. He will be riding a bus for 2 1/2 hours up and back. Seems a bit much to me but what do I know.

Okay, so my house is still crazy. I worked so hard yesterday moving things to the boys new rooms and have a large Good Will section started. It's amazing how much stuff you accumulate. I hate stuff.

I am so glad the election is over. It didn't go as I had hoped but I am proud to live in a country where we have the choice. After being in China for 2 weeks I have a deeper appreciation for our freedoms.

Riding in my Car

Brady was trying to convince Emma to get out of the car. She wasn't buying it. She continued to slam the door everytime he opened it.

Loving my car.

Those women drivers:)

Just out for a Sunday drive.

What a handsome young man my son is. Don't be fooled, he thinks he is too:)

Holding her fork. Notice all the laundry and pans in the floor. She loves her pots and pans and I can't seem to make it up the stairs with the laundry.

She is really trying to feed herself. The problem is she only wants to use the fork and not the spoon. She scares me with a fork. Very determined!

Okay, I will use your stupid spoon if I must.

Halloween pictures

Me and my Giggee.

Jackpot at my Nanny's house.

Not too impressed with the whole thing.

My little pumpkins.

Update from Hand Doctor

Emma went to the hand specialist at Vanderbilt today and as we suspected there is little that can be done for her hands. If she wants prosthetics in the future then that will be the plan, but that will be left up to her and as he put it today, they would probably only get in her way. I suspect that is right. I was very pleased with the doctor.

We will be seeing a foot specialist is December. Perhaps by then she will be over the trauma of being xrayed. What a drama queen!

We met my friend Wendy and her mom for lunch today after our doctor's apt. and Emma proceeded to eat french fries. Well, she didn't exactly chew them, but she did swallow several of them whole. That should be pretty on the other end of the spectrum:) She picked the fries up and put them in her mouth by herself. I think she was just trying to impress our friends. She's a ham!