A camping we will go...

A camping we just went! Today we returned from Emma's first camping trip! Even though we only camped for two nights it was a fun little adventure.

Emma was very interested in helping Daddy set up the tent (once she stepped off it!).


The inside was even more fun! Oh, and it didn't take long at all for Emma to kick her shoes off and she ran around the campsite barefoot or in socks half the time! I had to really try to just let go and accept that she was going to get dirty, no matter how hard I tried to keep her clean!!


Hello ocean! This was the first time Emma's been over to see the Pacific!

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Our first day there was Ed's birthday. Happy birthday Daddy!


We camped at Beverly Beach, so we took a walk under the Highway 101 bridge to dig our feet in the sand. Emma wanted to be in charge of Zoe!

Later Emma had her first real campfire s'more. She studied it, then kind of took it apart!

...and the end result!

Good morning sunshine! Thursday morning. She was probably still trying to figure out why she's sleeping in this tent, but Daddy was snoozing right next to her. Emma slept very good the first night, but the second night she woke up a few times, go figure!

The next day we visited the Yaquina Head lighthouse.

Very scenic!

Poor Zoe had to be on a leash at all times when we were at the campsite. She was always trying to get in the tent where her dog bed was!

Brr, it was much cooler on the coast than in town! We're talking 60-something vs. 100-something! It was a nice retreat!

Phew!

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Last few days

The last few days we've spent a lot of time playing with water! Each night Emma plays outside before her bath and gets nice and soaked. Just some silly pictures!

Emma takes her tiara and puts it over her eyes so she can't see, then she stumbles around and laughs and laughs!

Chalk it up to art!

Yesterday Emma played with Benjamin. He loves Emma but I don't think he was too happy to make room for her!

Now down to her diaper as her clothes were soaked. Scoop... and pour! Talk about a soggy diaper!!

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I said it was bath time. I think she took me too literally.


Today Emma got her bangs trimmed with no fussing. Hooray - she didn't cry or anything! I "practiced" with her beforehand and I don't know if that helped or not, but I pretended to cut her bangs with my fingers. I think next time she'll be able to sit in a car on her own, rather than on my lap! She showed Zoe her lollipop treat!

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Wednesday evening

Last night we went to Dairy Queen for a yummy and cool dessert. Emma had a strawberry sundae, and she ate about half of it before wanting to try what we had!

We got home and the neighbor boys were riding their bikes and scooters. This always fascinates Emma! The 3 year old has a pretty sweet Schwinn tricycle, and at first he didn't want Emma coming near him. Then, he let her ring the bell. Next thing we knew she was driving and he was on the back!!

Around 9:30 Ed knew the International Space Station would be passing over. Emma got to see it and she waved at it! She loves to wave at airplanes and helicopters too. Ed tried to teach one of the neighbor boys about what we were looking at! It was just nice to be out in the evening there since it was so much cooler!

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Summer fun

Today we played with David and Evan. Conveniently there was this playground right by their house! Wheee!


Love those steering wheels!


Emma tried to hug Evan, but instead he wanted to check out the camera!

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and the little one said roll over, roll over...

Emma's just about got her somersault down pat. She usually flips to the side, but tonight she was almost straight on!

Warning: For safety and comfort you should be free of back or neck problems, or else you might want to avoid this ride(!).

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Big dogs

Today we went to visit our friend Kim and her two big dogs, Homer and Moses!

Here's Homer - he's not so much into little kids, but he had to see what this Emma was all about. Especially since she had his ball!


Here's Moses. What a gentle giant! Mama Kim said he's up to 180 pounds - huge compared to a 23+ pound little girl!


Emma was very comfortable with him :)

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Twenty-two

Emma girl is 22 months old today! I have to pause and think when people ask me how old she is. I don't think of her corrected age anymore, but all these months run together so now I just say "Uh, she'll be two in September!"

We've been playing outside after dinner on the hot days. It's the perfect temperature and shade at this time of night!


Ed and I think Emma is our little jungle girl! She loves running around in her swim diaper - took her swimsuit off again tonight :)

.....................................................((Mowgli and Baloo!)
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Jeepie!

Beep beep, Emma in a Jeep! Emma loves Jeeps. Our neighbor's home-from-college kid parks his outside, and everytime Emma sees it she says "Jeepie!" and runs over and tries to climb up into it. Yesterday we were eating lunch at A&W drive-in and a Jeep drove by on the highway. She said "Jeepie!" and we were surprised she had even seen it drive by!

We thought maybe she didn't realize Daddy has a Jeep too, so today he was going to take her for a first ride in it around the neighborhood. Here goes the cool baby!

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Afterwards she wanted to pretend she was driving. (Notice how her hair is a bit messed up from the wind?!)

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Tonight was more fun in the pool! This time Daddy got in first and Emma followed.

Emma inviting Zoe to come and splash with her! Zoe stuck her head over the edge but that was as far as she got. I really don't see Zoe jumping in there any time soon!

Perhaps the funniest part about playing in the pool tonight was when Emma wanted to take her swimsuit off because it got wet. Apparently it's okay to get her swim diaper wet, just not her swimsuit!!

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Cool in the pool

Today we stopped at the store to (finally!) get a pool for the yard on these hot, hot days. I was thinking of getting the small one, but they only had the big ones left and it was on sale for $10. So, I grabbed the pool and carefully made my way out to the car with the cart (Emma was driving!), groceries and the pool in one hand. I got some funny looks and a couple of offers to help!

We made it to the car and loaded everything but the pool. One problem - I didn't take into account how big the pool actually was! I was barely able to squish it in the car, but I did. I didn't want to have to come back later!

It had to go over Emma's carseat. Now it didn't sit on her head at all, she had about two inches of clearance. Thankfully she was kind of amused by it and didn't seem to mind on the way home!


Then Zoe had to check this pool thing out. Ooh, a big water dish? A dog lap pool?


Since I filled the pool during Emma's nap, we went out to play in it after dinner. The water was not too cold, but not hot either (I wonder how warm it would get if I filled it in the morning!).

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She played in it for about one minute after I put her swimsuit on :)

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