Baking Cookies

I think every parent has that list in their mind of things that they want to do with their children one day. Some are lofty dreams, others are more everyday types of activities. Sometimes you just remember things that you did with your parents or grandparents, and you think to yourself I can't wait till I can do that too!

I remember baking as a child with my mother and my grandmother. I remember my sister Carrie and I waiting patiently as my mother scraped even amounts of leftover cake batter on to spoons so we could lick the batter. I also remember making Christmas cookies with my grandmother, and her using the cookie press. It's such a simple little thing really, baking with family, but can leave a lasting impression.

Emilie has become more and more interested in the goings on in the kitchen (especially if it has to do with bubbles in the sink), and I really wanted to make some oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. We had some time to kill before bath and bedtime, so I thought why not!

 I used to bake all the time before Emilie was born, but for the longest time if it didn't come in mix form it just wasn't getting made!

The kitchen was already a disaster, so what was a little more mess right? We washed our hands (she loves that part) and away we went!

Emilie loved it. She kept chanting "cookie, cookie, cookie!" while helping me dump the ingredients in the bowl. She loved watching the bowl turn around and around in the mixer, and listened really well when I told her not to touch the mixer. Her favourite part had to be spooning the batter into the cookie sheet. She never once tried to eat any of the batter, and for a child who sometimes hates getting her hands dirty she had a blast.

She was so focused on what she was doing that she wouldn't even make her "cheese" face for the camera!

I am sad to inform you though that she would not taste the fruits of her labour once they were cooled out of the oven. She cannot possibly get that from me!

Fall Fun!

One of the best parts of Fall has to be the big piles of fallen leaves. There are a bunch of maple trees in front of the house so there are never a shortage of leaves.

This November has been pretty mild so far so you've been spending lots of time outside with your Baba and your Auntie Carrie (and cousin Josh) while Mama and Papa are at work. Auntie was nice enough to grab the camera one afternoon and get some pictures of you and Josh in the leaves.

Josh raking the leaves.

Mack didn't want to be left out of the fun.

Can't leave home without "Bankie".

Helping Josh gather leaves.

Yay! Leaves are fun!

Auntie do you want some leaves?

Halloween

We had such high hopes for Halloween this year. You're walking, and love seeing the neighbours, especially when they have treats for you. It was going to be perfect!

Then you got sick. About a week and a half before Halloween you came down with a runny and nose and just weren't yourself, it wouldn't get better, and then the weekend before Halloween you came down with a fever. We hate seeing you with a fever. You just aren't your giggly, energetic self. The 31st was pretty much your worst day, your fever was slowly creeping up again, and you just wanted to be held, so back to the doctor we went.

You were a trooper, and sure enough you had an ear infection :( We were happy to finally get some answers, but sad that you had to be on antibiotics again. Your poor little tummy is just not the same while you're on it.

Papa carved the big pumpkin that morning, we decided that we would do a Thomas the Train design to cheer you up since you love your Choo Choo's so much.

When I got home from work that night you were still running a fever so I gave you some Advil in the hopes that you would feel good enough to put your costume on and visit a couple houses. Papa tried to snap some pictures before we left the house, but he couldn't get the camera to work.

It was rainy and chilly that night so you were bundled up under your costume. We brought your stroller and for most of the trip you sat in your stroller with a death grip on your little candy bucket. When we were done visiting a few houses we took you over to Baba's house so you could say good night. Outside of her house you spotted a little Doritos bag on the top of your bucket. Needless to say you wanted a treat. After a week and a half of hardly eating, I didn't really care that you were eating chips before bed!

When we got home all you wanted to do was eat your treat.

We got you relaxed with a nice bath and then you enjoyed some snuggles with your Great Baba before going off to bed. Not a horrible day, but I hope that you're healthy next year so you can enjoy yourself a little bit more.

Pumpkin Time!

Last year Emilie was still a little young for the Pumpkin Patch, so instead of doing a big trip and the hayride, we just took a little trip to Bennett's Apples, for a little photo op with some pumpkins. This year though we knew Emilie would enjoy a trip to an actual Pumpkin Patch.

I had done some research on some of the places in the area and what they offer, and we decided on Lindley Farms. They have a corn maze and hayrides every fall, so we thought that would be a fun place to visit this year. Thanksgiving Monday was sunny, and not too cold, so we packed up and went for a short drive.

They had pony rides, some ducks, goats, and bunnies that the little ones could feed, a slide, and other little attractions perfect for pictures and keeping the kiddies occupied while you waited in line for your turn on the hayride. Emilie was a little unsure of the slide when she first climbed up to the top, but after another trip up the stairs she was good to go.

We got on the hayride, and Emilie loved it. She cuddled on my lap for the first part of the trip, but then she wanted to sit on the crate in the middle all on her own. So we let her sit down, and Andre hovered over her to make sure she didn't get up and make a run for it, but she was good.

Family Picture Time!

Finally, they let me sit by myself.

 

Enjoying the ride.

Once we got to the pumpkin patch itself we just let Emilie explore and look at all the "balls".




She loved wandering around the pumpkins with her Mama and Papa, showing us all of the orange "balls" everywhere. We all had a great time, and did choose two pumpkins that we will carve just before Halloween.

On our way out we decided to stop by where the animal cages were. Emilie had such a great time with her Papa feeding the animals.

Next year we're thinking a Pony ride would be fun!

Dear Emilie (18 and 19 months)

Dear Emilie,

There is no denying it now, you are my big girl now. You are now officially closer to 2 years old than you are to 1 year old.

Even though you are a big girl, you're still my little big girl. You had your 18 month doctors appointment, and you were 21lbs and 11ozs, and 31.8 inches tall. You continue to be a tall little string bean. I think you are going to take after your Papa. You received your last two vaccinations. You were such a good, brave little girl that day. I think it helped that your Great Baba surprised you with a little treat after your appointment.

I won't lie the last couple months have been a little difficult for your Mama. You are no longer my baby, although I still call you that. You are a big girl. You run, and laugh, and talk and play. You throw temper tantrums, and go for days on end where I think the only word you will use is "Noooo!" Thankfully you still love your cuddles, and you think that every boo boo can be magically healed with a kiss. I hope that you continue to believe that for a really long time.

There were a couple months that I didn't know when you would ever really start talking. Now you talk all.the.time. You repeat so much of what we say, and pick things up so quickly. We have to be very careful what we say around you for fear of you saying something bad! You still use some of the signs that I have taught you, but you much prefer to use your words now. There are so many words that you use now I can't even remember them all. There have been a couple times you have put two words together in little "sentences" even though I know it is much too soon for that. You have said "Hi Mama!" and "Oh baby!". We're currently working on please and thank you. You have mastered please "pease", so now it's on to thank you.

You love your baby, and baby buggy, your Mega Blocks, your cousin Josh's talking Elmo, balls, pointing out your family in your little photo album, and your play kitchen. You are forever pointing out the "car car's" on the road, and when you're playing outside you will stop whatever you are you doing when you hear an "a pain" (air plane). You love air plane's.

As much as I will miss you not needing me for everything it is really fun right now. It's fun to watch to you play with you cousin and your friends. You are discovering so much about the world around you and desperately trying to tell your Mama and Papa all about it.

Our summer so far

What a difference from last summer! We thought you were fun last summer, this summer it's incredible all that we have done, and that you do.

You showed us how much you love a good sprinkler on a hot day:

           
           

You got your first baby buggy, and you love it :)

We said good-bye to our Corolla. It was sad to see the car that brought you home from the hospital leave us.

We went swimming!

You demonstrated your love for yummy slushy (virgin) drinks.

You "helped" your cousin smash his smash cake.

You fell in love with the splash pad at the park.

You had your very first ice-cream cone.

You helped water Mama's roses.

There have been so many exciting things happen this summer. The good news is that there is still one whole month left of the summer to go! I wonder what new things are still in store!

Dear Emilie

Dear Emilie,

My sweet little girl. You are now 17 whole months old. I got an e-mail update yesterday reminding me that in just one month you will be a whole year and a HALF old. I got angry and closed my e-mail. I didn't want anyone to remind me that you are getting older with each passing day. I am reminded every day of how independent, opinionated and amazing you truly are.

You walk, run, climb, talk, throw tantrums, hug, kiss, snuggle. Every day is a new discovery. It's truly amazing getting to see the world through your eyes.

You now have 16 teeth! No more feeling your gums with my fingers to see what teeth have come through the gums. We now have to hang you upside down and tickle you to see! You are so ticklish!

You are obsessed with your cousin Josh's toy cars and trucks. Every time you see a car or truck you yell out "car car!". The other day I had put the Olympics on the tv and you saw the cyclists on the screen you pointed to the screen at the car cars. Everything with more than two wheels is a car! Your favourite game is playing peek-a-boo with Josh and all of your friends. I love seeing the excitement on your face as you hide yourself and then pop back up. You could listen to the "Itsy Bitsy Spider" about 5 million times a day. You've also made up your own sign for it. You start putting your index fingers together with this sly little smile on your face until someone breaks out in song (complete with actions).

This summer has been so fun seeing you wander around the green space outside. Pointing to the birds, and climbing up and down the hills outside looking for your newest adventure on the other side. You love playing outside.

I used to wonder what you would be like as a toddler as I rocked you in the middle of the night when you were just a little baby. Never in a million years could I have imagined how exciting this time with you could be.

I can't wait to see what new adventure you have planned for tomorrow.

Love,

Mama

Dear Emilie

Dear Emilie,

What a roller coaster ride the last year has been. Actually longer than that. As the day of your birthday approached I couldn't help but think of the journey your Papa and I had to even bring you into this world. One day you'll know all that we had to do to have you. All you need to know is we both wanted you so much, and that we loved you from the first moment we saw you.

See that little black circle with the little grey circle inside? That was YOU! Your very first baby picture! You didn't even look like a baby back then, but your little heart, it was beating so fast, and so strong. It made your Mama cry! Mama and Papa fell in love with your right then and there.

How did you go from that to this:



Now that tiny little peanut with the beating heart, is crawling, and walking, and smiling and giggling, blowing bubbles in the bathtub and ripping kleenex out of the box. It's amazing how quickly you have grown up. In one year you went from needing me for everything, now you push me away so you can play with your toys, climb up the stairs all by yourself, and shove Cheerios into your mouth faster than I gave hand them to you!

You are amazing little girl. Don't you ever, ever forget that.

Even when you're teething and waking us up in the middle of the night for a cuddle, or having a temper tantrum because you didn't get your way, we love you so much. You are all of our dreams, and all of our wishes in one cute, opinionated little package.

I hope that this first year has been just as great for you as it has been for us. Papa and I know how much you have learned and how much you have grown. But you have taught us just as much, and made us grow just as much too.

To celebrate your first birthday your Papa and I made a little video. It starts off with that very same first baby picture that I just showed you, and ends on our first birthday. Happy Birthday Emilie, your Mama and Papa hope that your birthday was everything you hoped it would be.

Love, Mama

ONE Year Old!

Better late than never right?

Emilie is now one!

Can you believe it? I can't! I know it's sounds so cliche, but time really does go by so incredibly fast.

Our little girl is now such a little girl in so many ways. She ended her first year with 10 teeth, two of them her one year molars. She's got some chompers on her let me tell you! She loves playing with her cousin Joshua. She squeals whenever he comes over or we go to visit them. They are going to be best friends.

We're still working on eating with a spoon, but in true Emilie-style, she will throw it to the side because it's faster eating with her fingers. It is the same with walking! She has been taking steps since 11 months, but favours crawling since it's just easier for her. She's a little Cheerio monster, and anyone who sees our pictures will tell you Emilie is eating one is almost every single picture. She loves to rip up paper, look through her books, "talk" on the phone, sort the shapes into her shape-o-ball (with some help of course), open and close doors, chase after her kitty cat Mikey, and give kisses and hugs to everyone she loves, including her little baby doll.

Unfortunately Emilie came down with a cold on her birthday, so she was not at her best for photo shoot this month.

Aww Mom! Why do you need to take pictures?

I'm going to get you!

Our cutie after her morning nap.

11 Months!

It seems like ever since Emilie turned 9 months old she has just developed at lightening speed! Before that it seemed like things were more gradual. Every new milestone was a thoughtful process. Something that she worked very hard at. Then she turned 9 months, and suddenly she was crawling, and climbing up onto things. Things have been so much busier since then!

Now she not only crawls, climbs up on to furniture, cruises along furniture, she climbs up the stairs, and will stand on her own for a few seconds before she slowly and carefully sits down so she can crawl off to her next adventure. She is fascinated by books,  and will look through them on her own while we're changing her. She loves putting things into things. Her new favourite toy is the Tupperware Shape-o ball! She loves to open and close doors, and discovering what fun things are behind the cupboard doors in the kitchen. She initiates peek-a-boo, and claps her hands when she knows she's done something good. She's also trying to use a spoon when eating, but always quickly puts it aside since her fingers are just so much more effective!

So many changes, and we know so many more are around the corner!

Here are some pictures from our little photo shoot this morning:

Dear Emilie

Dear Emilie,

As we get closer and closer to your first birthday I can't help but think back to what things were like a year ago leading up to your birth, and how much has changed since that day.

I am constantly amazed by your transformation over the last 11 months. Even before I was pregnant with you I always thought how magical the first year is. How this tiny little being goes from being completely dependent on parents for everything, to this (possibly) walking and talking little person! Watching you this transformation has been even more amazing.

Those nights in the beginning when I would be up multiple times during the night to feed and soothe you I would just stare at your little face. You would turn your head just so and I could see little glimpses of the little girl that you would become. Now it seems like every day there is something new you are discovering and learning. Not to mention I swear you grow overnight! Now I can see those changes that were just glimpses months ago. They make me so happy, and so sad all at the same time. Happy that you are this smart, daring, energetic, beautiful little girl. Sad because everyday you are one day older, one day further from that tiny, helpless little baby that I held in the hospital.

Sometimes when you start to cry in the middle of the night, I go to your room just a little happy that even though you're my little big girl so desperate to conquer the world, you still need your Mama. I rock you in your glider and you snuggle into my arms the same way you always have, and even though your legs are starting to hang over my lap, you are still my little girl.

Love,
Mama

Seven, Eight, Nine, and Ten months

Okay, okay, I've been a slacker when it comes to blogging. I haven't been a slacker when it comes to monthly photos though, so here they are:

Our little hunny bunny is now 10 months old! Where is the pause button?!

A photo update to catch you up

November 2011

Trying to distract me for Daylight Savings.

Out to a breakfast date with my Mama on my 8 month birthday.

Pigtails!

My first haircut!

But Mama can still do pigtails!

What-is-this-white-stuff?

Whoa!

Big and Little!

DJ "E" hard at work.

Co-ed bathtime!

December 2011

Yummo!

"Josh, I have some things I need to tell you..."

Pears are so yummy!

Papa showing me what snow feels like for the first time.

Le Sigh

Santa you have great taste in presents!

Papa helping me open one of my first Christmas presents on Christmas Eve

"Mama, the phone is for me!"

My Uncle Andrew helping me open my present.

Thanks for the car Baba!