She Sells Sea Shells

I wish I had a picture of it...
Emma Claire could give or take her pacifier. She mostly uses it for entertainment value. Carries it around, pops it in and out of her mouth, chews on it, etc... Yesterday, she was carrying it around on a little porcelain seashell.
The seashell was one of those "pretties" that a toddler should not be playing with at grandma's. Apparently it was just in her reach and she picked it up, placed the hot pink pacifier in it and oh so carefully walked across the room with it, carrying it in her little hand like a platter. No harm was done to the seashell, thanks to the carpet. Maybe she values the pacifier more than I thought.

Tiny Tim

A had a little turtle, his name is Tiny Tim...this has long been our (or, mine, anyway) favorite bath time song. It has hand motions. At the end, after Tiny Tim eats up all of the soap, he of course has "bubbles in his throat" after this (at which time, you pat your mouth with your hand to sound like bubbles...you get the point).
I have sung this song ever since Emma Claire has been taking baths. This week, during bath time, I was singing it for the thousandth-something time (not doing the hand motions, coincidentally) and Emma Claire, out of the blue, did the bubbles over her mouth. I thought for sure it was a fluke (maybe she is signing "eat"...she is always doing that). But, low and behold, she did it the second time around.

Amazing what this little person is learning. Something new each day. Watching her change and grow and learn is more fun than anything else I have done in life.

Side note...the new camera should come in tomorrow. I promise more pictures once I figure out how to use it.

First Steps

Emma Claire has been taking 2, 3, 4 steps here and there for a couple of weeks. Wednesday, however, she decided it was time to stop the baby steps and walk for real. It happened at ECFE, which was fun because she had a captive audience of mommies (and one daddy) and early childhood educators to cheer her on and feel genuinely proud (I may have detected a couple of tears).

What happened was, she was playing with the other babies with some old vitamin bottles filled with stuff to make them rattle (these people are much more creative than I). I think another baby tried to take one away from her, which was not OK with Emma Claire. She spotted mommy and with one bottle in each hand, pouted her way over...upright!

Ms. Kathy (teacher, who I love) thought the bottles may have helped her with balance. I think they probably prevented her from being able to crawl...the last thing she was willing to do was let them go with the possibility that someone else would grab them.

Sweet beginnings.

Days with Dad

Emma Claire did not have school Monday because of President's Day. Brad and I came to a compromise that he would stay home with her and I will take off work Thursday for the one year Dr. Hobbs visit.
There is nothing like a day with daddy. I came home to find Emma Claire in a maroon and gold Golden Gophers jersey (which is adorable, but too big in the shoulders and too tight in the belly), orange and green polka dot onesie underneath, brown and pink pants (worn the day prior), complete with brown and pink polka dotted shoes...on the wrong feet.
The afternoon snack...organic whole milk yogurt (sounds healthy, right)...with "a couple tablespoons" of cream added. Brad thinks she needs some fattening up. This should help.

(Unfortunately, our camera is broken. Otherwise, I would post a photo)

Valentine Baby

The big day has come and gone. I have been quite reminiscent over the past week. This time last year, I was..., Emma Claire was...

I was up (for our Saturday run) the moment Emma Claire was born a year ago (4:20 am). I reflected on the exact moment we saw her. Where did the year go?

The party and the whole birthday process was a blast. What better day for a little girl to have a birthday. Lots of red and pink and hearts. Complete with red velvet cupcakes. The whole Kadue clan was there, including Rowie and Opa along with Marissa/Jonah and Suzanne/Addie. Rick and Diane were gracious to offer up their home for the event (still "a couple weeks away" from being back home...which I have been saying for a few weeks, now).

Lots of activity. Lots of children. Lots of fun. Emma Claire gingerly went for the cupcake, then managed to eat most of it. She was completely happy all afternoon, enjoying the activity.
The gift opening was complete chaos, as all of the cousins assisted Emma Claire with the unwrapping (the shopping cart was the big hit). I can't imagine a better first birthday or Valentine's Day, shared with family and friends.

...A great weekend and amazing year of Emma Claire. (I will post photos as soon as I can get to Caribou and Wi-Fi!)

A side note... Emma Claire took 4 step for her grandparents on Friday night.

Photos!...
http://cmd.shutterfly.com/commands/pictures/slideshow?site=eckadue&page=eckadue&album=910

Signs of Hope

Getting ready to head out the door for our 9 this Saturday morning...above freezing at 4 am. Should be a good day. Maybe the sidewalks will be even be clear.

Uh Oh

Emma Claire said Uh-Oh last night, even in the "appropriate" context. She threw her food on the floor and said "uh-oh"...