Early birthday

Today we had a little get together to celebrate family and friends. Last night to get ready for the party, Emma took a country bath - in the sink! No little tub was available :)


Emma got to enjoy a bit of an early birthday party! She tasted everything she received - mmm, just right!


Daddy, I can't read yet. Will you please read the card to me?!


Emma can even play the xylophone with one foot!


Hey, I just realized everyone in this picture has a September birthday - even Zoe!


Papa, I'm not sure if I'm 'sposed to have frosting yet or not?! It tastes funny...


Sitting with Great Grandma!


Finally, Emma got to enjoy some swinging time with cousin Miranda!

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Wheeeeee!

Emma now has her own baby swing on the swingset at my parents' house. She had so much fun in it today! This is nice because it has a high back on it, so she could really relax and enjoy the ride!


Just swinging with daddy!


This is Bella, one of the neighbor country dogs. She absolutely loves to be petted, so Emma gave it a try!

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Say cheese!

Eww, cottage cheese...


Yum, cottage cheese!!!

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This is crate!

Emma has been intrigued by Zoe's crate, so today I let her play in it for a while. It's awaiting a return to the attic after Zoe's surgery! It sure seems roomy when the top isn't on. She definitely likes it more than the dog does!

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Tuesday fun

Come and get me mom, I'm all done napping! Hey, who turned my rainforest box on? Oh yeah, I did, I forgot!


I need to catch up on my catalog reading. Ooh, I think this is my size right here!

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Tunnel time

Emma started to drag out her play tunnel today (I don't remember what it's called?!). I said well, I think you're too big for it, but she didn't believe me so she had to try it out for herself! You be the judge!


Here she is lying on it way back on Thanksgiving!

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Evening play time

Hey, baby in the mirror, you really need to run a brush through that after-bath hair!!


Yeah, I did it, I scored!


We thought Emma's expression was sweet in this picture, but even cuter if you zoom in on just her face!


Emma gives Daddy a baby foot massage!


Okay, off to watch the Olympics closing ceremonies now! G'night.

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Saturday pictures

Quel Surprise! Another picture of Emma standing! We don't play much in this room so I had to get a snapshot of her at the coffee table. She's getting to be a pro at standing at the couch, furniture legs, the dishwasher, my legs, etc...!


I really like the way the light hits her in this picture. Funny how if you move the camera just a slight bit, you get a whole different shot!

Tonight we went to a garden party/barbecue at our friends' house. It was such a lovely setting in their lush backyard! We ended up staying until 9:00, even though it was past the little one's bedtime! Emma was doing really well visiting though. She was eating some squash off my plate and believe you me, that kept her plenty happy! Fortunately it was only 5 minutes from home, so we got her home and to bed without incident.

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It was hard to get Emma to stop and smell the roses...!

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This is how I stroll

I realize that I've posted a lot of pictures of Emma standing lately, but I can't help it! She's just pulling herself up on everything and I think it's too darn cute!

This picture was actually taken after we walked Zoe this morning, but maybe Emma was thinking "let's go again!" That would have been fine with the puppy!


Come on you guys, let's go already! I think this is how I get in...

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Little helper!

The dishwasher was another place around the house for Emma to pull herself up on! Don't worry, I didn't let her grab the silverware, etc.


She also reached up and grabbed a Bruce Springsteen CD today - Born in the USA, of course! Naturally I have to follow her around like a hawk. Thank goodness for baby gates!

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Eleven months old today!

Gosh this little girl is growing up so fast! One more month and Emma will be a year old already. That is just really hard to believe!


Standing at the diaper box. It's about the perfect size for her!


It looks like Emma knows what wipes are for! Either that or they are very comfortable to sit on?!


I started the video camera this morning when Emma wasn't looking, so this is more of a candid performance!

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If you're happy and you know it...

Emma is having fun clapping! She needed a little prompting when I got the video camera out, so Daddy took care of that part. Otherwise, when she's playing she'll just break out into clapping and "singing"!

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Hey good lookin', whatcha got cookin'

Hey, it looks like I'm in the oven! How could that be?! Emma is really reacting to her reflection these days. When we met with the P.T. on August 7th, the first test she gave Emma was putting a little mirror up in front of her to see what she would do. I believe what they were looking for was to see if Emma reached for her reflection or not. Instead, Emma reached and tried to pull the mirror away from the therapist! Probably to chew on. A few days later though, I noticed her reaching for her own reflection. She loves that baby in the mirror!


Emma was having fun with one of Zoe's toy bins today. Would you believe that Zoe has more toys around the house than Emma does?! Well, she is three years older than Emma after all!

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Fun around the house

This is Emma's preferred position when sitting. We think that if she grows up to play softball, she will probably be the catcher! It hurts me to just look at her sitting this way. Ouch on the knees! Of course, since she's slightly off centered she does tip over from time to time. We're working on that sense of balance!


Here she is this morning contemplating how to get over the baby gate. Hmm, I wonder if I can climb over that thing? Can you help Mom?!

Tupper where?! Emma finally discovered the plastic-food-storage-container cabinet while I was putting away dishes. I think she's on cloud nine! Looks like I have a few dishes to wash later today...!

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Saturday

This afternoon we went to a winery event near Dundee (on the way to the coast). Ed's office works with a company that is owned by this winery owner. It was kind of like an open house, and there was live music, food and wine (of course!). Fortunately they had tents and umbrellas set up to hang out under, because it was another scorcher. Today was the third day of the "excessive heat warning," over 100 degrees - yuck! We hung out in the shade while we were there.

Emma nibbled on some fresh fruit, but no wine for her - don't worry! They had wine barrels set up everywhere, so for today's picture I had to get a shot of her in front of one. This is right before we left, you can tell she was also ready to leave!

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Wait 'til your father gets home!!

I think this is the door where Daddy comes home from...


Mom - I'm just going to sit here all day and wait for Daddy!!


Hey wait a second - there's a bear on this toilet paper!!

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