Hear, hear!

Today Emma had a hearing test at the Pediatric Audiology dept. at the hospital. This was just to rule out any problems she might have hearing and therefore affecting her speech.

She had lots of fun in the waiting room! She does this at home too, where she lines up all the cars/toys/vehicles outside. I think she'd make a super valet! Speaking of which we had to use the hospital's free valet service today because the parking lot was FULL. Emma was confused as to why the "guy took car?"!


It took Emma some getting used to the idea of the tests, but she was very calm. The audiologist was wonderful. Clearly she knows what she's doing if she has to stick things in kids' ears all day!


This was an insulated testing room. Emma sat on my lap in the chair while we faced straight forward. A noise would come from various sides, and a light would shine in one of these boxes revealing a toy. My job was to not move, speak or turn my head. Emma would just look to the side each time she heard a noise! I actually had to suppress my laughter, it was a weird experience.


Anyway, the bottom line is Emma has normal hearing and passed all tests!

Emma knew that once we were done we would go downstairs and get a cookie with big M&Ms in it! She kept asking "Done now?" during the testing :)

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Under where?

Emma has been making great strides in going potty on the toilet. I haven't had to change a dirty diaper for two months! I thought it might be time to try some training underwear.

We got two kinds - regular cotton training pants and then cotton trainers with the waterproof plastic lining. The latter seemed like a good place to start until she gets the hang of feeling wet in them (but not leaking everywhere)!

She was excited to get them out of the package, and then this is where they went:

She looks like an underwear chef!

Then I got her to put them on correctly, and I couldn't stop laughing because they are the biggest granny panties I have ever seen! They are in her size, but they are still gigantic underpants. She decided she did not want to wear them so off she went to nap in her diaper.


Too funny!
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Oh so helpful!

While watching out the window for Daddy to come home, Emma decided to run upstairs and grab her toothbrush - to give the glass a good scrubbing....

It's definitely not streak free!!

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Tickety talk

Today we were downtown and heading towards the freeway, and a police car pulled up next to us. Later he got in front of us, and Emma said "Follow da pleece-man!"

I said "Sure!" I definitely don't want him to follow me.

She was excited to be behind him for a few miles!

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If you're expecting Emma to say yes, no or up, she might answer you with a yeps, nopes or ups!
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Snugglers

It's nice to have a snuggle puppy and your favorite blankie when you don't feel 100%!! Emma requests that I "cover uppie" her toes when they peek out!

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Mannequin search

Yesterday we checked out Old Navy. Can you find the non-mannequin?!


Emma liked the little dog!

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Park place

Before I forget, Emma is 2 1/2 years old today!

We played at a park that we've always wanted to go to. Except, we couldn't go during the week because it's at a school!! So a sunny Saturday was the perfect opportunity to check it out.

Emma liked racing cousin Miranda down the slides!


Swinging! Or as Emma calls it, finging!


Daddy gives her a boost up the ladder!

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Zoofari

On Friday we all went to the zoo with cousin Miranda, Grammy and Papa! We had planned on going for several weeks because it was a day off school for Miranda, but little did we know then that it was going to be a nice weather day, and that hundreds of our closest friends would also be at the zoo!! That's okay, once we got in the gates it wasn't so crowded at the exhibits.

The girls spotted a giraffe before we even entered the zoo gates!


Unusual looking eagles in the nest!

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Driving the tractor is a must!

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Polar bear cubs!


Swinging like the monkeys!


Who could resist this sweet little (slobbery) face?!


Riding the statues!

Posing with Packy the cardboard elephant.

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You can peek up in this cool bubble at the red-billed hornbills exhibit, while they fly around!

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Emma was getting pretty tired by the time we got to the lions in Africa. The zoo is a lot of walking! She was thankful for a piggy back ride :)

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Daddy wanted another wingspan picture on the way out, but Emma wanted to keep her wings in her pockets!

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Amusing musings

Yesterday Emma was playing with her plastic bat. She was swinging it around and I told her to be careful that she didn't hit me or Zoe. Not long after that she errantly hit me.

She said "I hit da mommy with da bat."

Of course I tried my best not to crack up, but instead I confiscated the bat for when she settled down and realized that we don't hit people with it. I was just impressed with her sentence!

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Today she was eating some M&Ms, and asked for "More please!" I said "Okay, you can have a little more."

She said "BIG more!!"
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((( Ribbit )))

Emma needed some new rubber boots. Her beloved and well worn red boots (from December 2008!) were finally getting tears in them.

She picked out these frog boots! They're on the wrong feet here, but there is room in there for her little toes. She has a fascination with frogs these days. We even saw one in the garden yesterday as he headed for a swim in the pond!!

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An "Arctic Blast" from the past of when she got her red ones :)

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Little seedster

Emma helped plant seeds today. She would get her hands dirty, grimace and wipe them on her pants, and then dive her hand right back into the dirt again!!


We learned that it was better to give her the bigger seeds, because we don't entirely know where the tiny seeds ended up!!


It will be fun to have her watch the seeds grow into little plants and then yummy veggies!!
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Soccer ball

Emma has expressed interest in soccer when we see the folks on the field running around. Last Sunday I made the comment that we could probably get a soccer ball, as much as I am resistant to soccer... Me, soccer mom? I don't think so.
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Today at Fred Meyer Emma spotted a rack of squishy sports balls and she ran right over to it. So, we decided to get a soccer ball! She was very excited and played with it throughout the store.
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When we got home, I did a quick yard check (you know, we have a dog and all) so we could kick the ball around. I set the ball down, and told Emma to kick it to me. She picked it up and ran away! I wonder if she doesn't want to get the ball dirty?!

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Then she did this:


and then this:

(Sidenote, Emma likes to remove her clothing lately!)
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I guess we'll see if we ever actually kick the ball around!
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Friday fun

Yesterday Emma and I got to visit with two friends from Seattle! They took a spontaneous trip down to Portland to enjoy, er, the rain?? We met up with them in the morning for coffee and cold milk (I hope you can guess who had what!).

As is her norm, it took Emma about an hour to warm up to Jim and Diana. While she had never met Jim before, she was excitedly saying "Jimmie!" in the car on the way there!

She shared her mini crayons with Jim as they colored in her mini coloring book!! I think she has a new friend for life.


Diana got to join in the fun too. Emma made herself right at home!


Pat-a-cake with Diana!

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Rainy day

We were at Legacy Emanuel today and decided to walk through the Children's Garden - quickly! It was quite rainy, but Emma was prepared.

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It was also quite windy!!

Emma had to check the mailbox...!

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