Dad and I are really great at making artwork!

Dad and I spent some quality time coloring pictures with the new colors and books that my parents got for me. Note the "amazing" (yes, this is a word I use often) cinderella dress I wore on this day.

I love opening gifts

While we were at the ranch we opened more gifts. I loved the opening gifts part so much that I hardly had time to really look at the actual presents. I have a whole new wardrobe thanks to Auntie Stacy, Uncle Chad and Mas and my Grandparents! Literally mom and dad took home a huge garbage sack full of new outifts for Bobby and for me. I have lots of new toys, my own computer, new dolls...the list goes on. Mom and dad made sure I got a new little baby Belle which I've been taking care of very well. Bobby got great toys too. I helped Bobby open up his gifts since he is still a baby...mom thought I helped him a little too agressively and had to remind me to slow down and let Bobby help open his gifts. I have been doing really well with sharing with Bobby and I always make sure he has something fun to play with. Mom and Dad have both noticed that no matter what toy I am playing with that same toy seems to be the one that Bobby wants to play with. Once I am done playing with the toy it doesn't seem as cool to Bobby. He is an ornery one! Mom says he is just like dad. He walks everywhere now and has gotten pretty attached to mom. Sometimes he doesn't want to share mom either!

I am now going to be a princess all the time

Mom had a hard time trying to convince me to take off my princess costume. I wore it in the car all the way out to the ranch. In the last few days I have also alternated between the cinderella and sleeping beauty costumes....but I like to be a princess at all times. I told mom I'd borrow her my "diamond jewelry" and I told her that all of my friends at school would now tell me, "Emmy Eckert, you are so gorgeous!" Mom agreed! Mom also put on the clip on earrings that go with the costumes, but I told her, "Ouch mom, that hurts!" she told me that yes, being fancy does hurt sometimes...this is part of being a lady!

Xmas Eve at Grandma Candy and Grandpa Bob's house!

You may wonder why Bobby is only wearing a diaper in this picture? Bobby is a good eater but still likes to spit up about a 1/3 of his meal on his clothes and on mom and/or dad from time to time. He had some issues with this on Xmas Eve and dad and his clothes ended up in the wash. Luckily, Bobby has a cute little chubby baby body that he doesn't mind showing off. As he gets older he may not be so comfortable...but this year he was flaunting it!

Xmas Even we went to my grandparents house. I got so many awesome gifts. Auntie Amber got me a gift of dress up princess outfits and I was so proud to be snow white. Bobby got some great gifts too. We got a big red wagon to share from our Grandparents. We took a ride! I played with my cousin Andrew while I was there and enjoyed my new Dora doll that my grandparents got for me.

Let the present opening begin

The night before Xmas eve mom and dad let me open some of my gifts from them. Bobby spent the night at Grandma Launa and Grandpa Kelly's house. This was a nice break for my parents who get up regularly at 5-5:30 which is Bobby's normal waking time. Dad usually feeds Bob his early morning meal and mom pumps Bobby his milk (yes, she is still doing that although she has almost met her goal of getting Bobby breastmilk for a year which means an end to these early morning sessions!)

I got a camera from mom and dad so I spent most of the night telling them to "Smile and say cheese...not a big smile but a little nice smile!" Then I would tell them, "yes, I got it!" once I had gotten the perfect shot of them. I also got my FAVORITE thing - care bears! These are care bears that can take baths with me. I got hair ties, markers, stamps, colors, books....all kinds of fun gifts.

Gotta catch up on my posts!

Mom has gotten behind with the busy holiday season and hasn't written about us like she should, but she plans to catch up. Last week before the Christmas business began Grandma Launa and Aunt Stacy and Mason went to the Alvin and the Chipmunks movie. I had a great time. I ate lots of popcorn and wore the new outift that Grandma Launa got for me. Only one minor snafu when my foot got stuck in the movie theater seat. Auntie and Grandma got it out for me but after that I preferred to sit in Auntie's lap....even though she doesn't have a lot of room since Camron is coming in February!

Bobby stayed home with mom and they had some quality time together. Bobby has 4 teeth now and is working on some more so he almost always has something to chew on in his mouth.

Mom gets proof of her new initials

Mom studied hard last year and the day before Bobby was born she took her American Board of Physical Therapy Certified Specialists test. She passed and so now she can put OCS (Orthopedic Certified Specialist) behind her name. Her certificate came in the mail this past week.

A fun Saturday

Today was a great day. Mom and I went to open gym at the gymnastics academy where I take lessons. It was a blast! I saw my teacher there and gave her a big hug. For one full hour mom and I played whatever I wanted to play. I still remembered some of my old tricks. I have been attached at the hip to my mom lately and have taken on some of her mannerisms too. I like to tilt my head and say, "Weellllll....." while I am considering things. I also like to answer with a "Yep!" like my mom does. I also tell mom often that I love her and that she makes me so happy. She tells me this same thing too. Sometimes I ask my mom if she would like to cuddle and she always says yes!

Later on today dad and I put up some forts in the living room. He made me an awesome fort. Bobby was busy today too. He is now the proud owner of 4 teeth. 2 on the top and 2 on the bottom. He loves to play with all the toys we have but especially likes to crumple up paper, shake paper.....and eat paper.

We visited Great Grandma M yesterday and she had some treats for us. She got Bobby and me skittles that were in a package that looked like Santa. Bobby is too little to eat Skittles yet but he LOVED to shake the skittle package with me. We made up some songs together and had a great time playing with our Santa Skittles.

Emerson's Christmas performance

My daycare had a Christmas Program. I was excited to dress up and go to the program since my Grandparents Eckert and Grandma Launa along with my family were all coming to watch. I got on stage though and I got what is called "stage fright." I saw all my loved ones in the front row but it didn't seem to help me much. I slowly went from looking slightly unsure, to frightened and then to a full on melt down. The big tears started and mom quickly picked me up, took me off stage and held me tight (or maybe I held her tight) for the rest of the program. Later on mom and I went and got a cookie and joined my class for gifts. I wasn't letting mom out of my sight for the rest of the night. I told her several times I loved her and thanked her for saving me from all those men that were staring at me when I was on stage. I just didn't like that. Santa came and that really cheered me right up. I got a book for a gift! Bobby got one too. Maybe next year I will enjoy the spotlight a little bit more.

Bobby reaches another milestone

Bobby is taking some steps now and getting up to stand without holding on to things. He is not actually "walking" but he is moving around pretty great. He also is getting a tooth in on the top of his gums to go along with the two on the bottom. This past weekend mom was out of town for a conference so I spent a couple days with Grandma and Grandpa Moldenhaer and Cousin Mason at the ranch. I rode on the tractor with Grandpa, played hard with Mason, baked cookies with Grandma, read books with Great Grandma M, played and petted the kitties and made friends with the cows. Later on this weekend Grandma took Mason and I to the Elks Christmas party to meet Santa. I sat on Santa's lap and gave him a hug and also told him what I wanted for Christmas. Then I got my face painted and a balloon animal made for me. Mason and I ate lots of fried popcorn shrimp and garlic toasts too. Dad brought Bobby at the end of our time there once he was up from his nap. We were all happy when mom came back home but I think she was the most happy to see us all again. Mom gave me a special letter from Santa that he wrote to me. It talked about the Care Bears and my wish list. It talked about how proud Santa was that I was now using the potty and that I was a big sister to Bobby. It even mentioned mommy! The letter came with special reindeer food and an ornament. I can't wait to feed Santa's reindeer the food on Xmas Eve!

Having a great time outside

This past weekend dad and I got all bundled up and headed outside to shovel the driveway and play in the snow. I loved it! I especially liked to gather up the snow and throw it at dad and mom (who was watching us and taking pictures from the window). I helped dad shovel for a while and then mom thought I was getting too cold and wanted me to come inside. Bobby and I watched dad finish up from inside the house through our front door window. Bobby likes to ring the jingle bells we have hanging on our door.

Later on I heard mom and dad discussing the day and I overhead my name mentioned. I marched right into the kitchen with my hands on my hips and said to mom, "Hey - what are you talking about me now?" she thought I was pretty funny.

I'm really enjoyed the "Elf on the Shelf" book my mom bought. Each night we read the book and I tell the Elf what I want him to tell Santa - usually this includes my many gift requests. The Elf then goes to the North Pole overnight and in the morning I look around our house until I find him. He is always in a new place! He then sits up on our mantel for the rest of the day and watches Bobby and me to make sure we are good all day long. This is hard for me and many times I look up at the Elf in frustration as I try hard to be a good girl. I really am pretty well behaved but I have a hard time sharing with my brother sometimes and I am also annoyed that he is always following me and trying to crawl on me and take my blanket. It seems like that darned elf is always looking when I tell Bobby "No" or try to take a toy away. Many times mom sees me look at the Elf after being not so nice to Bobby and then quickly apologize to Bobby. Sometimes I will just double check with mom to hear if she thinks I've been a good girl....she says yes and then I make sure the Elf knows about this report. I will make sure mom takes some pictures of our Elf which I have names "Elf."