Fishing Fun

The weather was absolutely perfect today--little bit cloudy, so you didn't burn up the minute you went outside, and it wasn't the boiling hot temps that we've been having lately. So Timmy suggested a break from drywall and housework and we headed over to MD to go out on the boat to a little cove called Swan Point. Emily, being a team player, stayed with Grandma since we don't have a life jacket that small. We loaded up the boat and headed out!

We found a beach ball washed up in the cove and every time the tide started to take it out, Timmy yelled out "No! Wilson!" from the movie "Castaway". The kids had no idea what he was talking about, but I just about laughed myself to the ground.

Fishing champion of the day! Garrett caught the most fish (3) and was the first to catch one.

Momma caught one too! And took my first fish off the line!

After no catches for about an hour, we got in an oyster shell skipping contest. Timmy won for # of skips (4) and distance.

That pile of driftwood we collected to the left (in the box) is for our fire pit. For Timmy's birthday cookout, the kids want to do s'mores, so we said "Go find wood, and we'll do it".

Time Travelers

Caroline and Garrett have been quite the travelers this summer. First it was our trip to Dallas, then a few days in Virginia Beach. Then it was to Nags Head, and finally, this past week, back to Virginia Beach! They went to stay with Cammy while I had a couple of professional development classes (nothing like getting 20 hours of recertification points finished in the summer!) so Cammy took the kids for a few days and Emily went back to daycare. Caroline and Garrett went swimming in the pool, shopping, to the beach, and other exciting activities that make you glad you have a summer vacation :)

Hot Rod

Emily isn't a big fan of being left behind in a room while I go do "fun" activities like load the washing machine or scrub dishes. She usually throws her head around, searching for me in vain like she's been abandoned in a forest at midnight and then shrieks until I come running back into the room. So I've been carting her around the house with me, and at almost 18 pounds, she's not exactly what one would call a lightweight. My solution: putting her in the walker more often. And with all the practice she has had in the past couple of weeks, the girl is getting pretty dang good at getting where she wants to be! Here is a video clip of her charging at me:

And with this new freedom of movement comes the ability to reach things that used to be just beyond her grasp. Like outlets, which required a visit to Lowe's last week to get plastic plugs. And the broom propped in the corner, which is promptly pulled over several times a day, to the absolute delight of the cats, which go skidding down the hall like they are under attack. And my purse, as seen below:

Recess with Ryder

Emily (and her mommy!) needed a little playdate time with people who are not related to us, so Melissa and her little boy Ryder came over for a couple of hours. Emily and I had been oversaturated with family time in the past couple of weeks, and it was nice to talk to a person that I hadn't given birth to. The babies were great, playing together on the floor and getting into some fantastic staring contests.

Hmmmmm, I see teeth in there....let me just take a quick peek

Emily can balance while holding onto something, but I still have to be about an inch away in case she decides to fall over with no notice.

The piano toy that I got at Once Upon a Child was a huge hit with both kids! Actually, all four--my older two wouldn't leave it alone the whole day!

Emily: Eight Months Old

Eight months old today! Yay! Emily is growing by leaps and bounds this summer. I'm pretty sure that her daycare ladies won't even recognize her next month! She's getting sooooo big and developing so many new skills.
Weight: 17.6 pounds
Sizes: 3 in diapers, mostly 12 mos. in clothes (can still fit in 9 mos. if Carter's makes it)

What I can do: sit up by myself, stand up while holding onto furniture or pull toys, speed walk in my walker and go in any direction I choose; dump all my blocks out of a bucket; knock over towers; clap my hands; wave "goodbye!"; bop up and down if music is on; use a sippy cup; shake my head from side to side when mommy says "no"

I'm waving "Hi!"

What I Like: most fruits and veggies, meat, yogurt (I like to eat small pieces of what everyone is having for dinner) ; wagon wheels and puffs (likes finger foods); going in the pool; "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" (favorite song); toys that make noise; having someone sit with me on the floor while playing; being out and about; "petting" the cats

What I Don't Like: getting sleepy; changing my clothes; long car trips that distrupt my sleep schedule; being bored; being told "no"

Back to the Beach

I took the kids back to Virginia Beach last week to visit my mom and help her out. She broke her wrist and had to have surgery on it, and getting things done around the house has not been a priority while she heals and goes to physical therapy. I cleaned up her house while she watched the older kids in her pool. Emily was a very happy, although needy, baby during the visit. She amazed Cammy with her need for little sleep and no naps! Once I got home, I discovered a reason for Emily's crankiness--actually, three reasons. All three top teeth are coming through at the same time! Her middle two broke through at some point last night, and the one to the left of her middle teeth is showing through the gum. We were only there three days, but we got plenty of time in the pool, a visit to Skinny Dips (frozen yogurt), a trip to Barnes and Nobles (where we discovered that Sweet Valley Twins books are out of print!), the Norfolk Zoo, the French Deli for orange donuts, and dinner at Bubba's Seafood. They definitely act like monkeys and sometimes they smell like monkeys!

The tiger is a "big deal" around Norfolk--they spent over $100 million on a new enclosure for him and his sister.

The monkey let me know how he really felt about me taking this picture...

At Mount Trashmore park...

Picture Perfect!

We headed into town today for 8 month pics (don't think that I follow a very strict schedule of professional pictures--this was just our second time at Picture People...ever). The photo shoot went so well that they asked me to sign a "model release" so that they can frame and display a picture of Emily in the store! She was great, and Garrett and Caroline did a wonderful job of jumping around and getting her to smile.

(my favorite above--it shows her two perfect lower teeth! I got it in 10 x 13).

Soaking up the Sun

I went to a fellow teachers' house (Mike and Jen) for their daughter's first birthday party about a week ago. Mike and Jen had just gotten a new 20 foot metal-frame pool, and their old pool (18 foot inflatable) was in great condition and hiding under their back porch. Mike offered it to me free of charge and Timmy and I jumped on that offer! It took a lot more work to level out the yard than we first thought (lots of digging and a truck load of sand that I didn't plan on) but in the end, the pool looks great, and according to the kids, feels terrific in this hot weather! Just starting to fill the pool. My water bill is going to be scary next month.
Few hours later, we were making some progress. Long way to go to 4 feet deep!

Success! Filled to the brim and ready to go with floats and noodles.

When the kids got home from Chris's house, they were dropped off in the front yard and didn't even see the pool. Timmy told Caroline to go "check out the backyard". Being the funny girl she is, Caroline came back in and said "Oh, you got out the s'more maker for us". This is funny for two reasons: (1) she obviously saw the pool but was pretending that she didn't and (2) my children refer to a fire pit as a "s'more maker"--like it would have no other job but to create delicious gooey desserts!

Timmy pointed out that I like to create seating areas for two all over the yard. In addition to the "s'more maker" area, I also put two Adirondack chairs next to my hanging flower pot.

Blowing Raspberries

Another milestone reached: blowing raspberries at people! Tim came home from work two days ago and when he walked in, he gave her a big smile, said her name, and blew a raspberry at her. To our surprise, she blew one right back at him! Tim asked how long she had been doing this new trick, and I said "That was her first one!" What a quick learner! So we grabbed the camera and took a short video of her newest skills.

A Cry in the Dark

Emily is one of those babies who seeks out the tags on every toy. I had heard about these toys covered in tags for that very purpose, so I did a quick search on Amazon and found Taggies. I ordered Emily an elephant toy and a blankie. I thought that the tags on the blanket might help her sooth herself back to sleep at night instead of screaming out for me. I would love to write "screaming out for her parents", but let's be honest, when you are nursing a baby, there is no "we" at 1 and 4 AM. I'm not bitter, but direct. And after eight months of fronting the nighttime duties, Emily wouldn't be too thrilled if someone else came to rescue her in the dark.

Do the Taggies work? Yes and no. I do notice her handling each of the tags around the blanket while she's falling asleep for naptime. But nighttime is a different story. She used to be such a great sleeper! She routinely covered 7 hours in a stretch, even as young as two months old. But after her first bout with teething, all that sleep training got thrown out the window. So now I have an almost-eight month old who goes to bed at 8 pm and gets up at 1 am and 4 am, finally waking for the day around 7:30 AM. This series of "naps" that I get every night are draining me. So my next plan of action? Crying it out.

Last night was my first crying it out session. Emily was down at 8 pm. She usually passes out while nursing and I put her sleeping body in the crib (not a great way to teach her how to put herself to sleep, but I digress). I placed her gently in the crib and the minute her body hit those sheets she was wide awake. I put her blanket on her and said goodnight and headed for the door. Waterworks insued (her, not me). I went to my bedroom to ride it out with a game of Solitaire on the computer. Emily cried from 8:02 pm to 8:13 pm. Not exactly the horror stories I had heard from other people about how their baby cried for 2 1/2 hours the first night. I heard her stir at 9 pm and she whimpered from 9 pm to 9:02 pm. I got up to feed her at 1:20 am. Then at 4:45 am. So now that I have the "going to bed" crying it out down, I am moving on to the nighttime feedings. Tonight: no 1 am feeding. In a few days: bye bye 4 am feeding. Wish me luck :)

Independence Day

Tim has been working like a ninja on crab pots this weekend, so I decided to take the baby over to his parent's house for a little visit (and possibly a chance for me to visit the bathroom without my "attendant" with me). I timed my drive over in the morning so that Emily would be in the perfect mood to take her 9 AM catnap: She put her hands up beside her head, the same way she sleeps at night! It looks like she's tired of listening to my music...."Turn it down, Mom, I'm soooo tired of hearing Zac Brown band again..."
Emily got to spend some time with her cousin, Brooklyn! Brooklyn is almost 6 months old and the girls really interacted with each other (code for: stole toys from each other and screeched)

Peggy, who never throws away a thing for fear it might be needed in the next thirty years, got out Timmy's old walker! This thing should be on Antique Road show! I think we could get some moola for it! Notice the distinct lack of safety features...

Peggy got the girls matching dresses, so Mary and I set up a photo shoot in the living room...

"Talk to the hand, sista!"

"Your green apple shampoo smells fantastic. Does it taste like a Jolly Rancher? Let me check..."

Grandpa Joe is only a fan of quiet, smiling babies. Emily made the cut!