The Last Sunday of the Summer

It was a beautiful Summer day for the last official Sunday of the Summer. Hard to believe we are transitioning into Fall.

We went to church as a family for the last outdoor service of the Summer. We saw a few friends. Emma Claire looked so cute. Mom was able to clip a little bow in her hair for the first time (short lived, but cute!). Emma Claire is going to graduate to the nursery now that the services are moving indoors. We can't sit on the floor on a blanket and play in the sanctuary! She will make lots of new friends there.

We tried bananas again today. Still not a hit, although she sure did have fun at mealtime! She loves to sit in her little chair and look around, grab at anything she can reach (including the spoon). Bananas everywhere. Not sure how much she actually swallowed. We had a good time, though. We have since tried peaches, with success. She was able to "sort of" use the sippy cup today. Still mostly just enjoying playing with it.

Emma Claire is strong and is moving so much more every day. She loves to watch the dogs. She just laughs and laughs at them (especially Rudy...I think he is offended). Sophie lets Emma Claire tug on her ears, paws and fur without blinking an eye. She is a sweet dog. Rudy, on the other hand, keeps his distance, for the most part.

We took the pups on a nice long walk (figured out recently that it works best to tie their leashes to the stroller). We are all getting the hang of it!

More of today's photos: http://cmd.shutterfly.com/commands/pictures/slideshow?site=eckadue&page=eckadue&album=403

Grandma Linda is Here!

Grandma Linda is in town to stay with Lila, Ollie and Quinn while Adrian and Elissa are away. We went to visit them on Saturday and had bluberry pancakes. They were having a great time. Lila let Emma Claire wear a beaded bracelet she made. Quinnie patted her on the head and Ollie talked to her and was very attentive! It is always lots of fun at the Kadue cousins' house!


More of today's photos: http://cmd.shutterfly.com/commands/pictures/slideshow?site=eckadue&page=eckadue&album=393

6 Month Visit with Doc Hobbs

Emma Claire had her 6 month visit with Dr. Hobbs this Thursday (8/28/08). Shots and all. The "stats": She weighs 15 lbs 13 oz. (38th percentile); 26 inches long (50th percentile); head 17 1/4 inches (80th percentile...the "Kadue" head). She is lighter than I thought she would be. She is still a "little peanut". We got a good report. Doc Hobbs thought she was "coordinated" (he hasn't even seen her cupie...I didn't mention it!). He said that now we can start thinking of Emma Claire as a "pre toddler". I guess that means a little discipline. I don't know. She is still a baby in mom's eyes!

There was a lot of talk about solids (by me, anyway). "How-to, how much, when". Overwhelming to me. Sounds like just about anything goes. So...we move ahead!

Shots were fine. She cried hysterically during but was smiling and kicking away as soon as I picked her up. I looked back at her in the mirror facing her carseat on the way home and she had taken one of the band aids off and was playing it, so I guess she felt ok. A future doctor, maybe?

Dr. Hobbs suggested trying a sippy cup with water in it. You can see how well that went the first try! She had fun with it though!

More "Sippy Cup Pics": http://cmd.shutterfly.com/commands/pictures/slideshow?site=eckadue&page=eckadue&album=361

Red Letter Day

Yesterday was a "red letter day" for Emma Claire at daycare. She napped in the crib! And not just once...TWICE (for 1 1/2 hours each time, at that!). Finally, maybe a breakthrough. She is even napping in her crib as I write this. What a good feeling for mom! We did it.
They say she is all over the place at daycare and rolled into another baby on the floor and knocked him over. He was pretty upset, but apparently she just kept going.
Emma Claire has her first cold. Runny nose and sneezes. Bound to happen sooner or later. We see Dr. Hobbs for her 6 month shots tomorrow. I hope he has lots of time...do I have a list of questions for him! She is loving the rice cereal and had banana in it for lunch today. She made a disgusted face and spit it out when she tried the banana puree on its own. I end up with more food on me than she does on her, but the high chair is en route!
We are looking forward to our trip to the beach (Gulf Shores) next week and are excited about Grandma Linda's visit to Minneapolis this week.
Emma Claire is making progress toward crawling every day. She was up on her hands and knees today, but did not make the move. I am just waiting!

August 22, 2008

Emma Claire is really getting with the scooting. She is from one end of a room to the other before I know it. In to everything she can get her hands on. She grabs anything in sight. Time to baby-proof the house, I guess. It all happened too soon! She is becoming more verbal and I am almost sure she does the sign for "milk" sometimes. May be a fluke, but it sure looks like she is doing it when she wants milk.

We played with Jonah and Addie last night. Jonah is crawling and Addie (one month older than Emma Claire) and Emma Claire actually interacted and played. It is funny to see. Emma Claire does NOT like for a toy to be taken away from her. The three of them will be in the same grade and at the same school. Jonah is so cute...all boy for sure. He was most interested in his cat, Mikey. Emma Claire will have him playing "tea party" with her before we know it!

Today is the day I "cracked down" on naptime. We are "in training" to nap in the crib. So, Miss "I don't nap" managed 45 minutes in the crip this morning, after putting up quite a fight. We'll count that as progress, anyway!

The photo was taken last week. I went in to check on Emma Claire and she had pulled some new clothes that were hanging on the side of the crib into the bed with her. She can't get enough of her clothes...I think it is in her blood (sorry daddy!).

"Rice Cereal Party"

New in Emma Claire's world is "solid" food. It was a big night Saturday when we sat down as a family for Emma Claire's first taste of something other than milk. On the menu...rice cereal. It was a pretty anti-climatic event. We had the video camera out and were taking pictures. No big reaction from her. She was way more interested in playing with the spoon than the food she was being fed. I have to say it was messy! No highchair yet, so she sat in my lap. When she had enough, she grabbed for the bowl and knocked it over. Rice cereal everywhere. Sophie and Rudy to the rescue. They just don't know what a treat they are in for. Emma Claire and food will make them very happy.

Since then, Emma Claire has been having dinners of rice cereal and is becoming more enthusiastic about her meals. If she can sit still long enough, she opens her mouth like a little bird to receive her spoonful of mush. It is, however, almost an athletic event trying to feed a squirmy baby! She is looking forward to bananas soon!

More food photos: http://cmd.shutterfly.com/commands/pictures/slideshow?site=eckadue&page=eckadue&album=355

Campaign Update...

Brad seems to be making great progress with the campaign. He sure is working hard. Out knocking on doors almost every spare minute. We attended a picnic for the Republican group for the district last Sunday afternoon. It was at the American Legion here in Golden Valley, so Emma Claire and I walked to meet Brad there. At the meeting preceding the picnic, Brad was officially confirmed as the Republican candidate for district 44B. He delivered an acceptance speech and updated the group on his plans and his progress thus far.

Emma Claire was the real hit of the show, though. She enjoyed the picnic on what was a beautiful Minnesota Sunday afternoon.

In the morning, we went to church at Calvary where they had Monroe Crossing, which is a local bluegrass band. They were very good and Emma Claire loved the bluegrass (we listen to"Bluegrass Saturday Morning" on a local public radio station every Saturday morning!). We enjoy our church.

Roley Poley

Emma Claire sure was all over the place today. Rolling and scooting EVERYWHERE! Even under her crib! I am sure she will be crawling soon. She is starting to figure out how to get up on her knees. Once she starts, I am sure there will be no stopping her!

She enjoyed pushing the buggy in Target today. I wore her in her front carrier (her "pouch") and her little hands were grabbing the bar on the buggy the whole trip. A lady stopped to comment on how cute it was!

More photos from today:

http://cmd.shutterfly.com/commands/pictures/slideshow?site=eckadue&page=eckadue&album=303

Happy Birthday!(s)!!

A big day for two of the Kadues (actually for four of the Kadues...Diana and Uncle David, too)! Brad turned the big 3-0 today and Emma Claire turned 1/2 year. !

We plan to celebrate this weekend by having a "rice cereal party"...more to come!

Highland Lake Park Preserve Playdate

Our ECFE playdate this week was at Highland Lake Park Preserve in Bloomington at the play area there. I have to tell you, I have never seen anything quite like it. It was a mega playground with HUGE slides and climbing areas.

It was crazy with kids of all ages. We stayed in the more "tame" toddler area. It had a slide and sand.
Emma Claire loved playing in the sand and watching the other children. She enjoys playing with her ECFE friends!

More Photos:
http://cmd.shutterfly.com/commands/pictures/slideshow?site=eckadue&page=eckadue&album=295

Splash Pad

We went to the "Splash Pad" in St. Louis Park with our ECFE group last Wednesday.

It was fun. Emma Claire liked putting her hand in the water spewing from the little spouts. The "walkers" especially liked it!


More Photos from the "Splash Pad":
http://cmd.shutterfly.com/commands/pictures/slideshow?site=eckadue&page=eckadue&album=263

Emma Claire meets Aunt Diana

Emma Claire met her Aunt Diana for the first time today. (She is in town for a nurse anesthestist conference...how'd I do on the spelling?!) Emma Claire and Diana look a lot alike! We went to the Farmer's Market with Diana and her friend from school, Scarlet. We went to dinner with Diana, Scarlet, Grandpa Rick and Diane at Pepitos in the evening, where Emma Claire got her first taste of a high chair (notice the photo!).
It was fun. Such a beautiful weekend here.

We had dinner at Grandma Marjorie's Sunday morning. The cousins (minus Lila) were there. We also had a birthday party for Daddy (the bigh 3-0!) and Aunt Diana at Diane and Rick's house. There was quite a crowd there. All of the Kadues, Joyce and family and Scarlet. It was lively!

See photos of the weekend's events:

http://cmd.shutterfly.com/commands/pictures/slideshow?site=eckadue&page=eckadue&album=285

Movin'

Emma Claire "scooted" for the first time today (Friday, 8/8/08). She is rolling everywhere...nothing stops her from getting to something she wants (including Sophie's rawhide, which she was playing with yesterday!). She desperately wants to crawl and today she wanted a little ball badly enough, that she did the "army crawl" a few inches. No long distance, but a start to mobility!

Emma Claire had a good day. She played and giggled at the dogs a lot! She is looking forward to meeting her Aunt Diana, who is coming to town for a few days.


See the video below of Emma Claire in "action"!

Emma Claire's First Day of "School"

Emma Claire started daycare this week...a BIG step for both she and mom (likely moreso for mom!). She is going 3 days a week to the little Lutheran church in our neighborhood. They are very nice and Emma Claire loves it. Brad and I walked her there on Monday to drop her off. There were no tears. Her teacher called me mid-day to say that everything was going well. "It seems like she has been here forever. She doesn't act like it is her first day", I heard from multiple teachers! No naps really for Emma Claire. She just doesn't want to sleep there, so far. Too much to do and see, I suppose!

They send home daily reports with nap times, meal times, diapers, etc. and a "Guess what I did today" section at the bottom of the page written by the teacher. "What I did today"

Day 1: "I had lots of fun at my first day of school. Getting to know all of my friends and teachers. My best toys were the rattles and my feet".

Day 2: My first week is going very well. I went outside today and had fun. Everyone loved my hat! I really like it here.

More "First Day" photos: http://eckadue.shutterfly.com/8

National Night Out

Tuesday night was National Night Out, now observed in Minnesota as "Minnesota's Night to Unite". Our neighbor, Jenny (Olivia's Mom), hosted. There was a band and lots of food and fun.
Emma Claire rode in her "pouch" and kicked to the music. She had fun with her neighbor friends. We have a fun neighborhood!

BYOB (Bring Your Own Baby!)

Emma Claire LOVES to do yoga with Mom. She has been going since she was 6 weeks old!. We go on Saturday mornings to BYOB at Blooma. Jennifer is the teacher and she is very good. We see some of the same and also some new babies every week. Our best yoga buddies are Jasper and Charlie. They are twins that were born on the same day as Emma Claire (all Valentine's Day babies!). Their mom always brings a buddy to share in the responsibility.

Rowie and Greta have both come to class with us. Emma Claire's favorite poses are "upside down baby, "down dog", and "airplane ride". She loves to drool on Mommy during "baby bench presses" and laugh during her "airplane ride".

More photos:
http://cmd.shutterfly.com/commands/pictures/slideshow?site=eckadue&page=eckadue&album=14