More Tales of the Bed.

So, last night, Emmy fell asleep in our room and I took her into her room. She of course woke up so I crawled into her fancy dancy fairy bed with her (it’s a Thanksgiving miracle that the darn thing didn’t collapse) until she went back to sleep. She slept all night long in her room without waking up once! I, on the other hand, was up almost all night missing her. About 4am, I asked John, who was also awake without his snuggle bunny, if this was how it was going to feel when she left to go to college. Hopefully I can get used to this soon!

 

Thankful for a kids' table--especially the kids part

Finally! A thanksgiving dinner with a kids’ table and I am not sitting there! Aha! So, this is what it feels like! The Jacksons (sans Linda who was out of town but we missed her!) came over yesterday for Thanksgiving and we had a great time. Emmy and Solomon sat at a little table that was Momma’s when she was a little girl. I say that they sat there, more like they  came to the table to pick up food so that they could ‘graze’ while they continued to play. As seen in the pictures, Emmy really likes ketchup.

 

The kids had great fun playing outside afterwards—riding Emmy’s fourwheeler, getting pushed in the Beetle, getting pulled in the wagon and playing at the sandtable.

 

I am so, so thankful for these beautiful children. And for all of the people that love them so very much.

 

Worth the fight

Well, she fought it and we stood our ground and she is napping in her bed!!

Big girl bed

Not sure how tonight will go but for now she loves her big girl bed.

I want that!!

Every commercial that comes on Emmy says "I want that!" I was afraid it was going to be a really expensive Christmas. Then, a Bare Minerals makeup commercial and said she wanted it too.

Me to Emmy: "are you supposed to be in that?"
Emmy: "NO"
Me: "No what?"
Emmy: "NO MA'AM!"

It's a beautiful, chilly morning!

Last night, we got home really late because I got stuck in traffic heading to get Emmy Ruth. She was having so much fun when I got there that we played the whole way home. She had worn a sweat suit to the sitter so we didn’t have a coat to deal with before getting in the car. We were singing to her Sunday School CD and the song “I’ve got Joy” was playing and she would sing out “WHERE?” and I would sing back “Down in my heart!” and she thought that was the funniest thing ever.

 

This morning she woke up on her own about 15 minutes before her normal time so we got to hang out and cuddle on the couch for a while before we left home. It seemed to make a big difference. That and I let her wear her hot pink hard hat that she got in Gulf Shores to hunt for crabs. Apparently, it’s all in the little things.

Fighting a battle--and losing

I very vividly remember a conversation with a coworker when he first started working with us. He was telling me about his two year old son and how the night before he was having trouble getting him to brush his teeth. Of course, I didn’t say this, but all I could think was, “What do you mean? He’s two! Make him do it”. Apparently, even thoughts can come back and bite you. 

 

Now, Emmy’s favorite new word is “NO!” I am trying not to act like it bothers me, because I don’t want to encourage it so I simply say, “No what?” and get her to say “No, ma’am”. I feel it’s a fair trade. She can be a little snot but, by God, she better be a polite little snot.  Last night, Tara and Lucas came over to play. Emmy refused to even converse with me, going so far as to tell ME to stop dancing during Yo Gabba Gabba! and sitting in Tara’s lap and calling her “mommy”. I know that she doesn’t see Tara as much as she sees boring old Mama but I can’t help that it did sting a little. Lucas of course, was the little genius the entire time reciting the states for us, so he couldn’t have cared less. After they left and Emmy was properly bathed, she wouldn’t let me put a diaper on her. I debated the theory of just holding her down and doing it but decided for the sake of everyone’s sanity, I would just let John do it, that she was happy to oblige.

 

I know that she is just becoming independent and testing her boundaries, and of course she loves me.

I know that she is just becoming independent and testing her boundaries, and of course she loves me.

I know that she is just becoming independent and testing her boundaries, and of course she loves me.

I know that she is just becoming independent and testing her boundaries, and of course she loves me.

I know that she is just becoming independent and testing her boundaries, and of course she loves me.

I know that she is just becoming independent and testing her boundaries, and of course she loves me.

I know that she is just becoming independent and testing her boundaries, and of course she loves me.

I know that she is just becoming independent and testing her boundaries, and of course she loves me.

I know that she is just becoming independent and testing her boundaries, and of course she loves me.

I know that she is just becoming independent and testing her boundaries, and of course she loves me.

I know that she is just becoming independent and testing her boundaries, and of course she loves me.

I know that she is just becoming independent and testing her boundaries, and of course she loves me.

I know that she is just becoming independent and testing her boundaries, and of course she loves me.

 

(… I am just going to keep repeating it so that I don’t get too perturbed!)

 

 

 

We kissed and made up

After Emmy spending all night enamored with her daddy, she finally woke up this morning and was okay with me again. She told me she loved me and we bought snacks for her to take to MeeMee’s today. All must be well in her little world again.

 

Every day when we get home, I ask “who lives here” as we pull into the driveway and every day she says “Daddy”. I ask “and Mama? And Emmy?” All I get in return is “no, Daddy”. What is it with little girls and their daddies? It’s pretty darn sweet.

 

Hiding

I am in the bathroom right now hiding from an Emmy tantrum. If she has snapped "no!" once she has a thousand times. She brought me a stackful of books and when I asked if she wanted me to read them she screamed "NO!". Alrighty.... Only sixteen and a half years to go.

Twenty one months

I love love love that when I whisper “I love you” to Emmy, she whispers it back to me and then we give each other Eskimo kisses. It’s quite possibly my favorite thing these days. Sometimes I think that I just don’t realize how many words and phrases that she does say until I sit down and try think of them. She has certainly got “come on, daddy” down pretty close to perfect. She says it all the time and she wants him with her everywhere she goes and for all she does. The other night, John was installing pedestals under the washer and dryer in the basement for me so Emmy and I were hanging out down there, just in case he got trapped under a massive pile of laundry. There is an old chest that was actually my mother’s grandmother’s that I just couldn’t get rid of when we cleaned the house in Wynne. It is in the basement as Emmy’s dress up chest now, with all of Grandma Jackson’s costume jewelry in it. I turned around and Emmy was standing in the middle of her play area wearing about twenty necklaces and needing help getting more of them untangled. She is definitely a little girl—thank goodness, I don’t know what I would do with a tomboy!

 

There is a new Barbie commercial out for the holidays that makes me cry every time I see it. There are several women my age talking about having Barbies when they were kids and one even described the Barbie mansion that I had as a kid! At the end, a little voice says “Mommy, will you play Barbie with me?” and I immediately jump up to grab and kiss Emmy—knowing that all too soon, that little voice of hers is going to be a memory since she is growing up so quickly already.

 

We are still in Yo Gabba Gabba! heaven around here. We watch it daily and still get the same excitement from it.  She wore a shirt with Brodee on it the other day and when I held it up to put on her, she exclaimed “BABBA!” The best part is that when John or I dance to it, she gets mad and tells us to stop. I suppose that is the terrible twos coming a little early.

 

Last night, she wouldn’t let me get into my own bed. Yes, I know, yes, she needs to get out of our bed but she is still sleeping with us. Last night, she patted her pillow and said, “Night, night Daddy” but when I got in bed, she said “NO!” I ended up having to put her in time out because she continued at it for a while. I can’t help but giggle at her in time out, she’s so dramatic! I wonder where she gets that from… her Yia Yia, of course.

Just a normal Saturday

We are getting hardwood floors in our dining and living rooms and hallway today. Emmy, John and I are hiding out in the basement while the work is taking place. Of course, Emmy has all of her costume jewelry on at the same time. And then Daddy had to wear them as well and I am getting bejeweled as I type this.

Socks

Emmy's birthday post will be coming soon for her 21st month. I didn't feel like I could do it right now. I have been sick for two weeks now and found out yesterday I have pneumonia. Argh! I put on momma's red hat socks this morning to see if that made me feel better and it has worked well, I am sure that is why anyway.

Weekend plans are to stay in the house and keep Emmy and John well.
Q

Weekends at AunTees

Emmy stayed with the Salinas family Saturday night. They had a wonderful time!

The Purse again

MeMaw took a nap today holding her purse in her sleep. Pre nap photo-this is how she dresses on Mama's vacation day.

The Purse

Emmy just emptied her purse on to my bed. There were several crayons, a bracelet, a toy phone and fried rice. I can't tell you the last time we had Chinese food so I am little frightened. That silly pink purse goes every where she goes. Right now, she is sitting on my lap with it while I try to type. Because I am off tomorrow for Veteran's Day, I went ahead and took a vacation day today as well. Since I am home, I thought we could work on wearing big girl panties. She sits on her little potty with her purse right beside her on the floor.

Aunt Pat, you did a great job picking out this purse!!!

Happy Birthday, Momma

I can't believe that it has been three years since you got the floors and windows replaced in your house--because you had just turned sixty and got your first retirement check. I can't believe that it's been three years since you started acting strange. Oh, the things that I wish you had been here to see. I miss you every day and today I told Emmy Ruth that it was your birthday and we sang the birthday song just for you. I love you....

Catching up...

Have I mentioned how busy we have been lazy? I can't tell you what we have been doing but it seems like we are short on time always. I think that Emmy is not quite adjusting to the fall weather--she is so hard to wake up in the mornings these days. But, we have managed to make time to have a little fun here and there.

On Halloween, Emmy dressed up as a pink poodle to go to MeeMee's for the day. She was stinking adorable. Then on Friday night, we went to a party at Neall and Becca's. It was so much fun to see everyone. Of course, I don't know what was wrong with me but I took few to no pictures. But, I did get this one. We tried to get one of them all together and they were having nothing of it but I love it that Emmy is holding sweet Julia's toe in this picture. I can see Emmy's YiaYia holding Julia's JeeJee's hand thinking, "surely we can get through this!"

The rest of the weekend, we managed to hang out at home, or at least close to it. We took a big walk around our neighborhood and decided to let Emmy walk for a little instead of riding in the stroller. She decided to go into the street so that was the end of it. Then, of course, she screamed and screamed to get out again. Which lead to John and I 'screaming' about what to do about her screaming! My theory: she'll quit eventually! His theory: my sweet girl is crying--I must hold and comfort her! So, he walked, carrying Emmy, about six feet ahead of me and the empty stroller the rest of the way home. We are going to try again this weekend if the weather permits... wish us luck!

It's Fall, Ya'll!

Oh we have been so busy that I haven't even had time to write. Once I got home from SF, Emmy has kept me on my toes. We went to the pumpkin patch and she and Lucas had a fabulous times. They had a petting zoo and pig races and corn mazes but also a little hay maze for the kiddos. All kinds of fun.

This was as close as we got to the pony ride. She almost lost her mind when I put her on that pony!! She was all about it until we got there and then, well, things didn't go so well. We even called Dadoo in for reinforcement but no luck.It is hard to get a good measurement on how tall they are with the hugging and all, but it's safe to say that they are edging up on 3 feet tall!

And then of course, you have to carve the pumpkin. Here Emmy is helping Dadoo. "Emmy, how do the pumpkin insides feel?" "Blah!""Emmy, what do you think of Mama's carving?" "Ohhh! Amazing!"Be careful! Pumpkin inards are slimy!!!!But, the best part of this week is our sweet Lucas's second birthday. That boy is part genius, part prankster and all around lovable. I remember the day that sweet boy arrived as if it were yesterday--Tara the whole time trying to convince me that it really wasn't that painful (I was 5 months pregnant!) I couldn't believe how perfect and tiny he was and here he is, just as perfect but not so tiny. And a darn good little golfer! He got a hole in one at his party!

And this picture is so sweet to me... Teri Ann is Jorge's little sister and I remember when I was hanging out with all those Cross County boys, going to BearKat (her mom worked there at the time) and TA would come running up to give me a huge hug everytime I came in the store. And now, here she is, a beautiful, independant young lady. I like to think I have a part in that--:).

More San Fran Stuff...

I have a pair of black shoes that are really cute. If anyone would like them, they are going to be left on the window of the sixth floor of the Mark Hopkins International. I will never put them on again in my life. Today, I thought I would jump on the cablecar and hop on over to Lombard (the crookedest street in the world) to take a few pictures and then just hop back to the hotel. Since I was so sure that this was going to be an easy trip, I didn't even bother changing clothes or shoes after my conference today.

At the first misstep, I should have known. The cablecar was out but they said that there was a bus that would be a substitute so there was no problem. I did get to Lombard, but I got dropped off two miles downhill from the crooked area, but the cablecar goes directly by the tourist spot. Off I took walking, from a spot somewhere in the midst of where the trees are. I am really glad I did so that I could get some pictures but wow. My feet!!!!!

So, I get back on the cablecar to go back to the hotel and of course, went the wrong way and ended up back down at Fisherman's Wharf. ARGH! I ate down there again and then got in line to get on the cablecar coming back to the hotel. Finally! I get on the car and I am in the middle of about twenty fifty-ish year old French people. Of course, being the Southern girl, I offered a lady my seat... and she took it! "Merci!" she said. Not sure of how to reply in French, I just smiled, and tried not to step on her as I got thrown around the cablecar. Then, the car says it's last stop... what???????? I asked the conducter what was going on and he said that I was a lovely healthy woman and I could certainly make it three more blocks. So, here I go again, trucking it... but this time I took off my shoes.

Someone told me that there was a grocery store about three blocks down so I thought as long as my feet were bleeding, I would head down there to get a beer and a coke for the morning (there are no vending machines in the hotel). I walked and walked and walked. I befriended some residents on the way and we discussed the rental rates of the really cool apartments. I found out that the one bedrooms were about $3k a month. I told them about MY house with the full basement that was around $150k to own. They were not amused.

Finally getting to the grocery store was a treat since I got to see the first real parking lot I have seen since my arrival!

On the walk back, I heard a doorman ask a valet to get his SUV (one of the very few SUVs I have seen this week by the way) and told him that it was a tight squeeze but he knew he could do it.

Yep, that is pretty tight! As I rounded the corner to the hotel, in my sockfeet, I heard a car alarm and I am almost positive it was the valet hitting either the car in front or behind him.

As I was looking for a restaurant last night, I saw this stand. The idea of clam chowder from a temporary stand kind of freaks me out.

I ended up eating at Tarantinos' last night because, well, it was calling my name.
Tonight, I ate at Cioppino's. As wonderful as both meals were, and as much as a I have enjoyed this trip, I can say that any of this would have only been better with a buddy.

Rice-a-Roni, the San Francisco Treat

I am sure that Rice-a-Roni is a treat for some San Franciscans. Mainly, a treat when you open the pantry and see that box and think excitedly, "I don't have to walk up and down those hills tonight! I get to eat Rice-a-Roni for dinner!" I had no Rice-a-Roni in my super snazzy room at the Mark Hopkins Intercontinental and I wanted to get some sightseeing in so I took off walking. Finding a great sushi place, I decided to stop in, even though I bet this place has sangrias that are just as good as those at Cafe Ole :). Okay, maybe better.

Walking back up the hills to the hotel, I absolutely had to stop and take a little break so I called to check in with Daddy. I called to check in on Emmy Ruth and Neall and Becca claim that she is being just an angel, so as Becca said her mom said about her, I am afraid of her hanging up her halo when she gets home. I miss her so much already; I can't imagine how ready I will be to get her by Friday night when I get home.

I like this sign about preventing runaways.

And here is the most romantic restaurant (see! it says it right there on the awning!) and I am without John. I tried to make him feel really guilty about not being here with me and he pretended to feel badly but I am pretty sure he will be over that guilt when he enjoys all of his faux bachelorhood.My conference starts tomorrow morning at 7am so I have to be up bright and early but I hope to go see some more fun stuff tomorrow evening. I really want to get down to the Golden Gate Bridge and take some photos and maybe even Fisherman's Wharf. For now, I am going to go to sleep listening to the trolley right outside my window. It's quite neat.

I really, really miss my girl. I can't wait to get back to her soon!!