After we said good-bye to the Harts, we've been attempting to establish a normal routine.  Evan started his new preschool the 1st of March and loves his new class. It is much smaller class than Apple Lane, I think only 12 kids total, but they do have 2 classes.   He is just one of three boys!  We went the week before for a visit with the class and Evan didn't want to leave! 

Prior to starting school, both kids had check ups. At 16 months, Emery weighs 26 pounds which she has weighed since she turned 1...so I'm not worried at all! The new doctor seem a little inquisitive about her weight, but Evan was the same way and he's been wearing 3T pants for the last 2 years! So, regardless...she's in the 25th-50th % for height at 30.5 in; 75-90th % for weight at 26.5 lbs, and get this...90th % for head circumference...Dr told me her head is the size of a 2 1/2 year old...Evan's head has always been big too...definitely Alex's genes! She has over 10 words that WE can understand:

Mommy (everyone can understand!);

Daddy,
AHYA--Evan,
Didadoor--dinosaur,
Poopy,   the accent is on the PY...like she's speaking French...PooPEY
Diaper,

Nite Nite

Clean-Up

Dog,

Cat,

Owie,

Nana,

No-No (with the finger--thanks Harts!),

Cheese,

up, down,

doll,

mamama-(mine)

Oh-yeah

Jill and she attempted Kallie and Sissa & Josh when we spoke it and she repeated...

and this weekend she said LOVE YOU---more like WUV YOU...but the sweetest most gentle voice (unlike when she says MOMMAH!)

Emery is also very very independent. She wants EVERYTHING Evan has...she even grabbed a whole baby carrot from his lunch to eat it. She takes the stool-step (yes, we call it stool-step, because Evan has always called it that) from teh bathroom and carries it to the living room to stand on, she climbs up and down the stairs, colors drawings, and helps pick up toys, and bring you her shoes to put on. I love how much she's understanding and each day is something new...just hope it's not climbing out of her crib

Emery's Christmas gift from the Harts!!  Finally received the parts and took me 2 hrs to assemble...mostly b/c she kept climbing in it!



I have no idea why this doesn't load correctly..but it's a better picture!



Hope this picture makes someone smile!! It makes me everytime I see her slippers!!  Alex's Aunt Beth gave these to Emery a long time ago and now her chubby little piggies fit perfect in them!  They crack me up!!!

Evan's check up went great too!  Dr said he's right on target if not ahead for Kindergarten.  He passed hearing and sight tests and all of the Question/Answers.  The doctor stumped him when she asked him to draw Mommy.  I had never seen him draw stick figures and knew he didn't know what she meant.. But she showed him and ever since he's been drawing everybody including PowerRangers?!  Yep, they are STILL around!  She was very impressed with his vocabulary.  I inquired about his memory.  Alex and I are blown away by the things he recalls.  He will out of the blue ask about the time we went somewhere or did something and even remembers what someone wore or what we ate?! Crazy...and not just from the week before...usually it's from at least 6 months to 2 years ago!  I figured he remembers things like that b/c he doesn't have as many memories ...so he can remember them...who knows. ..the only thing the doctor said was too bad we don't know another language...hmm...yes, we do...I know some French and Alex is fluent in Spanish...Dora & Diego and Apple Lane have taught Evan some spanish...he can count to 20 and knows his colors.

Evan goes only twice a week and from 9-3pm so, I thought it would be a longer day to get things done, but with Emery into EVERYTHING, time flies!  I've had to wake her from nap to pick up Evan, so I'm hoping to get her lunch earlier in the day and nap earlier too!  I spent the first couple days getting shopping done with just one child, but it doesn't prove any more successful.  So, I'm going to just dedicate the first hours to Emery and I...whether we play at the park, go to the library, etc....wear her out early so she'll be ready for lunch and nap!! ;)

This is also the first time Evan has brought lunch to school!  Funny, how I'm actually enjoying packing his lunch the night before..because I recall it not being my favorite chore growing up....I guess compared to cleaning, diaper duty, etc...it's a piece of cake ...and I love how Evan gets so involved!

Emery and I have had fun playing and we were able to make little bitty pigtails last week.  This has to be my new favorite photo of her...She looks sooo grown up...no longer a baby!

Gosh,  I wrote a lot!  We are looking forward to this weekend's St. Patrick's Day festivities..."Where else but Dublin?"  that's the tag line for the city...no kidding!  Here are some shirts I made for the kids, and mongorammed a couple dresses my mom recently made for Emery!!

Two of four dresses my mom made Emery...I added the applique/monogram!

Getting ready for spring!

My therapy project!  I've got four more dresses cut and embroidered...now just need to sew them!!.

Memorial Day Fun!

Memorial Day 2010 was such a fun long weekend! We enjoyed a Twins Game, cookout with friends and some really nice weather! Emery is 7 months old already!! A few weeks ago both kiddos were struggling with ear infections, strep throat and a mild case of hand-foot-mouth syndrome. After 10 days of rest and medicine, they both seem to be off to a healthy start to summer! Schools get out tomorrow and summer is in the air! We're preparing for our first family vacation in about 10 days! We rented a condo in Hilton Head and super excited for the four of us to enjoy the beach, visit with family and attend Pascale's graduation at the end of our trip. Evan has been taking swim lessons at the Y for about 10 weeks now and really improved his skills. He can swim the lenght of the pool with a bubble and noodle and no assistance. Tuesday night they let the kids wear flippers and they were so cute kickin and regret not having my camera!

When Emery was visiting the doctor for her ear infections, she weighed about 18 pounds!  She can:

sit alone without assistance
roll to where she wants to go
get to her belly from sitting position
pushes up and nearly gets her knees under her (she's soooo close !!!)
scoots backwards on her belly
jumps with lots of enery in her jumperoo
laughs, squeals and reaches for you
eating carrots, peaches, applesauce, sweet potatoes, sweet peas, bananas, pears, green beans and oatmeal


My wonderful husband bought me an embroidery machine and I've been enjoying monogramming and appliquing dresses I've made, t-shirts and bibs.  Most of the items are under wraps because they are gifts or my friends haven't seen yet...I will post after I get more done...but here's a sneak peek at a few items....