Daddies are Fun, Too

Daddy's best "helper".

Shoulder ride...the way to travel.

Best Friends

Sophie and Emma Claire are like "peas and carrots". Best playmates. Partners in crime.

Hotty Toddy!

Rebels shut out State yesterday in a big win. Any win against state is good, but a shut out is even better.

The Twin Cities Alumni group organized again and met at Champps downtown. We had a good turnout. Much larger than for the LSU game. Emma Claire enjoyed herself again. She clapped when the rest of the crowd cheered for the Rebels.

Her new thing is to shake her head. She mimicks us. Funniest thing. She signs "all done" now...followed by a clap and a smile...Very proud of herself.

Turkey Day

We have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving holiday. We are so blessed. Emma Claire had a good first Turkey Day. Watched the Macy's Parade (even Brad participated). Emma Claire napped through most of it, but was awake for the most exciting part...Santa's appearance. I even got a little emotional watching it. She, of course, just humored me and looked at the TV. I am really excited about the holidays and what better way to kick them off.

Paul and Chris hosted Thanksgiving Dinner. Laura, Marjorie, Adrian, Elissa and family were there. Also, a Kadue family friend, Clarissa, from Germany was visiting. The food was good and plentiful and the company...energetic. Family meals have definitely become louder and eventful with the growing number of little Kadues. Kids just make it more fun. Lila and Ollie are quite a pair. They went missing (silent, anyway). I found them in the next room standing in the corner. Lila (with an "innocent" look) said "we didn't eat the marshmallows. Sure enough there was a half-eaten bag of marshmallows on the table.

Emma Claire and Quinn get along well. They have a resemblance. They all enjoyed playing with the magnets on the fridge.


Started putting up the outdoor Christmas decorations. Why is it that if one light is out, none of the lights in the strand work? Ugh...

All Night Long...

I think it is safe to say that Emma Claire is "sleeping through the night". So now when people ask "so, is she sleeping through the night?", which I have found is a pretty common question, I can honestly say yes. We are going on one week of sound sleep. I had forgotten what it was like to get a night of uninturrepted sleep...and is it ever good! I feel like a new woman (well, more rested, anyway). Life is good.

We visited Emma Claire's new class today. It was fun to watch her interact and play with the other babies and all of the new toys. I think she must be bored on the days she is home. Daycare is way better. She was a little clingy at first, but it did not take her long to make friends. Next thing I knew, she had climbed up the mound of mats...all the way to the top. She will do just fine with the transition. Luke, who was the other baby baptized on the same day as Emma Claire, goes there too. His family is friends with the Schaefer's across the street.

We had swim class tonight. I took Emma Claire...Brad is at the T-Wolves game. The favorite thing was playing patty-cake on the big red float with the rest of the class.

Looking forward to Turkey Day tomorrow...Emma Claire's first! My favorite tradition (aside from stuffing myself) is the Macy's Parade. Brad is always less than enthusiastic about it, but puts up with my excitement. Emma Claire will love it growing up too, right?!

Bittersweet

Today was Emma Claire's last day at GV Lutheran daycare...now onto the next (we have been on the waiting list at Calvary for 1 1/2 years...not an easy place to get in). We were sad to leave and they were sad to see her go, but we are also excited about her new school. Her friends made a "we'll miss you" card with their handprints on it. So cute. We are happy that Emma Claire was able to start there. Slowly moving a little farther from home (from nanny to neighborhood to across town)...baby steps for mama.

Playing Catch Up

Playdate with Addie and Jonah at Suzanne's on Monday night. The kiddos enjoyed eating cheerios and goldfish and playing with the cat.

Emma Claire had her first casualty at daycare. Pulled up on the rocking chair and took a spill. Looked like a bruiser the rest of the week with a little spot on her cheek. Lots more of that sort of thing happening lately with the increased mobility and curiosity.

Wednesday night was "daddy" night at swim class. Harrison and Brad were in charge. Emma Claire made it just in time for her part in "Hi Ho the Dari-O...Emma Claire's" in the water. It was apparently a fiasco changing Jonah and Emma Claire after class. Changing clothes and diapers is an aerobic workout these days.

Meanwhile, Marissa enjoyed and I enjoyed a night out with friends...

Thursday was Emma Claire's 9 month visit with Dr. Hobbs. Went great.

STATS: 30th % for weight (17 lbs 14 oz), 11th % for height (26 1/4 in) ...79th % for head.

Emma Claire thoroughly enjoyed herself. Dr. Hobbs though she had "great social skills' and was "very sweet". She screamed with the shots, but was over it before they got the band-aids on. Dr. Hobbs says we should work on the sleep thing...no more feeding her at night, mom! Since that, she has slept through a couple of times. Progress...(only took 9 1/2 months).

Thursday night we went out for a fantastic dinner at the Capital Grill (I highly recommend the ice cream!) with the Grodnicks (Happy Birthday, Marissa!) followed by "Wicked" at the Orpheum. Brad and I had seen it in New York a couple of years ago and enjoyed it just as much the second go around. It is a fun twist on the Wicked Witch... Actually made more sense to me this time. The best character is Gu-Linda and the best singer Elphaba (the "wicked" witch).http://www.wickedthemusical.com/

Saturday...Game Day. We joined a group of Ole Miss alumni downtown to watch the Magnolia Bowl. Ole Miss defeated LSU! It was a small group of us, but it was fun to watch the game with other "midwestern" Rebel fans. There were even a few Hotty Toddies.
Emma Claire enjoyed the outing. She was a trooper (we were out all afternoon). I think she liked the TVs and attention from everyone (and of course, the Hotty Toddies). Her new thing is clapping, so there was a lot of that, too. She caught a ride on her Grandpa Rick's shoulders...

Ahh...Sunday! What a week it has been. We were actually able to "sleep in" today and stayed in our PJs until noon! A much needed day of rest. Tonight, though, was "Turkey Bingo" at GVCC. We sat with the Grodnicks. Emma Claire and Jonah shared cheerios and goldfish. Emma Claire kept holding cheerios up to Jonah. We thought she was sharing at first, but I think she was just showing it off. Wow, are they getting active. Lots of crawling around and under tables. No luck with bingo at our table. Didn't win big this time. Maybe next year!