Thanksgiving Weekend

I love long holiday weekends, especially when it gives us time together as a family. 

Matt got home from a basketball tournament in time to celebrate Thanksgiving here in Ames. We kept it simple (my favorite) and spent it with my parents, Blake and Alaina. My mom always outdoes herself and gets requests from all of us. Dinner was delicious and the food comas sank in immediately. Emma hardly ate, but we are blaming those dang eye teeth on her lack of eating. She also received her post-Thanksgiving present from Nana and Papa, something my parents did for us growing up, of pajamas and a Christmas book. 

We are looking forward to spending next Thanksgiving in warmer weather: Destin, Florida! Men's basketball has a tournament down there and we are planning on all going. Crossing my fingers my family decides to make the trip as well. 

While Matt went into the office for a few hours on Friday, Emma decided not to nap (rare for her) and instead help in getting our house ready for the tree. This is the third year we have gone to Strautman Tree Farm in nearby Cambridge and love this tradition. We know some day when the kiddos are older we will go on the hunt for the perfect tree to cut down ourselves. But for the meantime, we will settle on the dozens of options of pre-cut ones in the barn. My mom offered to then watch Emma for a few hours that afternoon so we could get the tree in the house and set up without the distraction of a 16 month old running around. Probably wouldn't have ended well otherwise :) Now our biggest challenge will be keeping those little hands off the tree, or at least to be gentle with it. She does great with Nana's tree, so hopefully that continues at our house (probably not though). Life with a toddler! 

Let the holiday celebrations commence….next up: Porth Christmas next weekend! 

Emma: 16 Months

Sleeping: Nothing really new to report here. Taking two naps a day and showing no signs of dropping one (no complaints here). Still getting tired around 6:45 at night and then down for bed at 7:00 and waking around 6:30 on weekdays and 7ish on weekends. She's one too that needs her own time of waking up so we don't go get her right away. Emma just chills there silent or talking for 5-15 minutes before we go get her. Kind of nice so we can wake up ourselves and get coffee brewing!

Eating: Emma seems to not be eating as much as she used to (other than at breakfast). I remember our pediatrician told us at her year appointment that her appetite will lessen and that is perfectly fine, so I am not concerned. She went through a phase of loving raspberries and now refuses them. Although she at one point liked salmon, rice and green beans, she now hates all of that. I know their taste buds change, so I will keep trying but in the meantime, not going to force it.

Development: Some new words that little Miss Emma is saying are "toodles" (from Mickey Mouse Club House), "doggie", "nana" (this makes my mom so happy!), "please", "thank you", "nigh nigh" (night night), "Tor Tor" (daycare provider, Victoria), and more babble that we understand somehow that I am sure others are looking at us like "huh?". She knows where here eyes, nose, mouth and belly button are located. She's cutting her dreaded eye teeth and they are now my least favorite. She has always done terrible with teething, but these are the worst. Constant runny nose, bruised gums, refuses to eat certain things, crying, but lots of cuddles.

Likes/Dislikes: She's back to loving baths, but that is because she likes to shoot hoops in there with dad. Emma loves to give hugs, she is such a little sweetheart and charmer. You could just be standing there at the sink and she will come up and hug your legs so hard. She also likes to give hugs when you are telling her not to do something, she knows the way to your heartstrings. She also learned how to legitimately give a kiss, lip smack and all. No more open mouth kisses. Emma is Miss Independent and wants to do things herself: feed herself, brush her own teeth, decide when she's done with something, etc. You try and help her and she lets you know that isn't what she wants. Snow is one thing Emma was not impressed with last week. But Matt is bound to make her love it :)

Mom and Dad Update: We are doing good and staying busy with Emma and work. Matt is officially into the super busy time of year until April where he is working nearly seven days a week, long days/nights in the office (or at the games) and traveling. I am beyond blessed to have my parents nearby to help out when needed and am going to schedule more play dates with friends to help pass the time. 

Halloween

Can I say that while I don't ever want to wish away time, but I can't wait to enjoy Halloween more and more through Emma's eyes! This coming from the girl that is not a fan of this holiday and hated dressing up.

Our ladybug absolutely loved her costume. So much so, that she cried when we took it off each time, so on Halloween night she wore it for three hours straight.

Emma's pumpkins that Nana painted for her. What a talented lady my mom is! 

We live in the back of the neighborhood and hardly get any trick-or-treaters, so we spent the evening with Nana and Papa for dinner, hit up a few houses and helped Papa hand out candy to all the kids. She loved it.

Can't believe that next year we will have two little ones to be dressing up!