"Snappy"

This is Snappy...

Brad and Emma Claire found him in the yard and made a little home for him in a Mason jar. Emma Claire named him "Snappy" and said "He is my best friend". "He can't talk or eat cookies yet". Snappy was with us for about 24 hours or so until Emma Claire set him free because "he misses his family".

The Help

Brad, Adrian, Elissa and I saw an advanced screening of "The Help" last night. Outstanding. The movie stayed pretty true to the book.

Impromptu Twins Outing

Brad and Emma Claire mad an impromptu decision to go to the Twins game, and did they ever have fun! Emma Claire came home bouncing off the walls excited about the ice cream they got "from the man", served in a Calin sized Twins batting hat. I heard about the ride behind the man on the bicycle (they took one of those bike carts from their car to the stadium) and the fireworks at the end - Twins won - (good thing she wore her "fireworks dress")

Double Whammie

Poor little Arnold. I took him in yesterday to see Dr. Hobbs for what I thought was a nasty summer cold and ear infection. Turns out he has pneumonia and an ear infection with a perforated eardrum.


He had a neb treatment at the clinic and we had a machine delivered home to use a few times a day. The machine is a frog, so Arnold gets his "froggie treatments" a few times day. He perks up and plays for about half an hour after these, but just feels crummy otherwise. So, here we are, doing a lot of walking the house and cuddling on the couch in the cool AC (during a steamy heat wave here).

Bathtime Blizzard

Little Fairy

Emma Claire: "Arnold looks like a little fairy"

Some Things in this World are Scary...

Emma Claire performs (the recycling bin as her stage) to a captive audience in the driveway.

We had assigned seats to watch the performance. Emma Claire started with a monologue beginning with "Some things in this world are scary. Monsters are scary [etc...]". The American flag was a nice touch.

She also sang a little tune (that she made up herself) about how much she loves Arnold. (The video doesn't do it justice).

Emma Claire's Daily Report (Calvary): 7.5.11

Emma Claire took good care of the baby dolls. She was also being a very good friend and problem solver. When her friends were arguing over a baby doll, she found another to make them both happy.

Arnold: 11 Months

Arnold is quickly closing in on his one year birthday. This has been a fun month. Arnold has really grown and developed quickly the past few weeks. He is on the move. Climbed up a flight of stairs at Whitney's house last night (multiple times) - I had NO idea he was capable of that. Brad and I both agree that he is way more into things than Emma Claire ever was. We did very little "baby-proofing" with her, but I see cabinet locks in our near future.

Arnold is our still our little happy-go-lucky boy. Sweet and smiley. He makes me laugh every day. Arnold and Emma Claire have a sweet bond. He loves to play and is becoming more engaged with her. He is a good sport to be happy in "crowns" and accessories and everything pink. He likes to play in Emma Claire's room.

Arnold is discovering more of the toys and seems to like the school bus and people in it. His favorite game is "drop it and see how many times mommy will pick it up and give it back to me". He (and Sophie) like to hover around the dishwasher and "help" with the dishes.

Arnold "dances" to music. He is really walking around while holding onto things. I thought he was going to take off with Emma Claire's grocery cart the other day.

Arnold loves the water - baths, pool, sprinkler, dog bowl... you name it. He gets a kick of making big splashes.

Arnold is still our super star sleeper. Sleeps around 12 hours every night and takes his naps like clockwork. He is happy to be in his crib. Some nights, Arnold will just lay there talking and singing and playing for 30 minutes or so before he decides to go to sleep. We get a kick out of watching him on the "Arnold cam".

Arnold is still eating like crazy. Loves his meals and will eat just about anything. The messier the better. Has a thing for watermelon. He and Emma Claire like to share popsicles in the bath. He signs "more" and "all-done" pretty consistently. Enjoys clapping his hands, too.

I am having fun thinking about and planning his first birthday party. Rowie and Opa will be in town to help celebrate. We are giving Arnold a sandbox for his birthday (shhhh... don't tell).

Item #1 on Arnold's "Serious Injury List"

We had quite the drama with Arnold last Sunday night. I pulled into the driveway and was met at the door by Brad and a head back, hysterical Arnold. Brad said he had a real injury and Emma Claire said "Arnold burned himself on the grill", "The princess ice pack isn't working, Mommy". Arnold pulled up on our charcoal grill and burned his little forehead. I cried for him - it physically hurt me that he was hurting so.

We called Opa for advice and he thought it was probably a 2nd or 3rd degree burn and Arnold should be seen by a doctor.

So, off we go to the emergency room (Calin, too, because she has a "bad, bad burn" - "she does this all the time, Mommy", says Emma Claire - as Greta pointed out, Calin is lucky she didn't melt :-).

3 hours later, we came home with a bandaged, medicated, happy and calm Arnold. It is a "2nd degree burn, partial flesh" across his forehead and a little burn under his eyebrow and on the tip of his nose. Dr. Hobbs thinks that it will heal nicely and hopefully scarring will be minimal.

The first 2 days after the accident were the worst. Arnold felt fine, but he was all swollen up in the face, his eyes were even a little black-ish. Today, one week later, he looks like himself and the burn is healing nicely. The challenge is keeping it covered. He likes to pull the bandage off.
I couldn't sleep Sunday night for thinking about how bad it could have been.

Accidents sure do happen quickly and I am quite sure it won't be our last visit to the ER with Arnold - hopefully for nothing more serious. He is everywhere and into everything these days.

Both this and the top photo were taken the day after.