Growing up with Emily

Yesterday our stake had a pioneer days celebration at a park at the stake center.  It was great fun.  Will and Kaytie came along and played with me.  At the activity, we had a picnic, everyone was supposed to bring their own food so we brought some KFC popcorn chicken.  Someone went around and offered potato salad to everyone so i ate some of that too.  After eating, there was a play about some pioneers that I watched.  It was very interesting.  I tried to make friends with a girl in front of me.  I walked up to her and looked up at her and she seemed friendly, so i put my hand on her shoulder, but she scooted away from me.  I went back to mommy and then decided to try again, so I went up to her again and started to play with her hair.  She seemed annoyed so I started to hit her on the head so Mommy grabbed me and took me into the field to walk around.  After that there were games and dancing and watermelon and homemade icecream and sweet breads!  I loved the banana bread and the icecream.  And I had my first taste of watermelon!  It was good!  The music started playing a funny song that made everyone start flapping thier arms like chickens, and I wanted to dance to so I walked up to them and tried to dance.  There was a boy a year or so older than me that started dancing around me and it was fun.  Mommy helped me dance the hokey pokey and I had fun with that too!  After the dancing was over, we went home and Will and Kaytie visited for some time, while Daddy pulled me around in the wagon.  I ended up going to bed late and without a bath, so first thing this morning after breakfast I got a bath to be all fresh and clean for church.

At church today I got to take the bread and water just like everyone else for the first time.  I don’t understand why it is done but I felt a reverance from it that stayed with me throughout the whole day.  The rest of sacrament meeting I stayed sitting on the bench or in mommy or daddy’s lap and sat reverently reading my books or eating my crackers.  I did play with the young woman sitting behind me named Britney a little bit though, she is so pretty! (No wonder Uncle Brady likes her)  I was quiet during the lesson Mommy and Daddy taught and sat in Taryn and Sabrina’s lap, and then during Sharing Time I helped participate in the lesson by pulling the things off the bulletin so the teacher could re-tape them up higher in the order she was supposed to put them in.  Now I’m exhausted and need a nap.

Thats me devouring my birthday cake.  The next video is of me unwrapping my presents.  I also got a big red wagon that was brought in a little later, so there is pictures of me with that.

Today is my birthday!  I am now one years old!  Mommy is getting ready for a huge party!  I’m gonna eat lots of cake and icecream and open presents!  I am so excited today, I cant help it, I just keep running around the house (literally running) with a huge grin on my face and giggling randomly.  Mommy and Daddy will video the party for those of you who are going to miss it, then I will blog it tomorrow!

I’m finally back from Vacation.  I had lots of fun and handled it well.  Early sunday morning, as soon as daddy got home from work, we left to go to Pocatello, ID. I enjoyed the ride at first and even took a small nap, but after a couple hours I started to get antsy and needed a diaper change, so we stopped at the $10,000 dollar silver mountain gift shop.  We looked around a little bit and changed my diaper, then we headed out again.  We traveled another couple hours and I just played in my seat reading my books and playing with toys.  Then we stopped in Missoula to eat at taco time. I ate an orange daddy brought in, and also helped daddy eat a platter of food that had rice, and pork quisidilla and other things.  I ate the guacamole because daddy doesnt like it and I love it!  Another diaper change and we were off again.  I took a long nap after lunch, and when I woke up I was upset to still be traveling.  We stopped at a rest stop about an hour away from Rexburg, ID to walk around a bit, then we left again.  Once we slowed down onto a smaller highway passing Rexburg to go to St. Anthony to visit my Aunt and Uncle, I got really upset and started screaming.  Finally we reached St. Anthony and I got to see Aunt Maran and Uncle Devin!  I was really excited to see them, and also glad to be out of that car seat!  I kept crawling outside and getting really really dirty so daddy gave me a bath after they fed is dinner there.  I also explored Maran’s purse.  After my bath, we headed back onto the road AGAIN!  But it was only an hour and a half (thanks to construction) till we finally reached Pocatello and I got to see my Great-Grandma and Grandpa Stewart.  I explored and made some messes and got some energy out, then we went to bed.

Monday morning when I woke up, we went upstairs to have a delicious breakfast!  It was pancakes with eggs and sausage and I ate it like it was my last meal!  I loved it!  Then I played with Great-Grandma for most of the day.  She pulled out some toys for me to play with that Mommy says she used to play with when she was little and would visit her.  There was also a little dog (shih tzu) named Buffy, that I loved to chase around and give hugs to and pet.  After a while I got tired and we went downstairs to watch a movie and take a nap.  When I woke up, my mom’s cousin Becky was there and I got to meet her.  A little after she left, the rest of Becky’s family came to visit and we followed them out to a Ranch.  I got to see some cows and some dogs.  One dog could even smile!  I played outside in the grass and soaked up the sun.  I loved it!  Then we went back to Great-Grandma’s and had spaghetti for dinner.  I learned how to eat with a fork and spoon and did really well.  After dinner we went and found a wal-mart to buy a few things (ice-cream for root beer floats, and stuff to fix the A/C cuz it went out on the trip there).  I fell asleep on the way home so I missed out on the root-beer floats.

Tuesday morning started with another great breakfast that i devoured. Then we went to Idaho Falls.  First we stopped at the Idaho Falls Temple and saw the newly remodeled visitors center.  There were lots of TV screens with lots of videos to watch about the church and about Christ.  There was also a giant statue of Jesus, that you can go up to and touch.  I was kind of afraid of it because it was so big, but I felt the spirit and knew we were in a special place.  After visiting the visitors center, we walked around the temple.  There were LOTS of pretty flowers there.  It was also closed down for cleaning and it was getting some new carpets so there was some construction going on there.  After the temple, we went to some mormon stores like Deseret Book and D.I.  Mommy and Daddy bought me some of my birthday presents there.  After that, we ate lunch then headed to the mall.  At the mall, there was a little red car/stroller that you can rent and I got to go in that.  I loved pretending to drive around (daddy was pushing me) and watch all the people.  Everyone thought I was really cute!

At the mall, we looked through some stores, and Mommy bought some new clothes for herself.

After that, we headed back to Pocatello and went to my Great-Aunt Vickie’s to have dinner and games.  She runs a daycare so there were LOTS of toys for me to play with.  They also had a little dog that I loved to watch.  He kept playing fetch with a ball.  Daddy and Mommy and Mommy’s cousin and Aunt and Uncle all played a game called “Scum” while I sat it in the middle of the table helping with the cards.  Then I got really tired so we went back to Great-Grandma’s and went to bed.

Wednesday started with another great breakfast and then we left to go to Rexburg to see that Temple.  At the temple Aunt Maran and Aunt Becky showed up.  I was happy to see them!  We all walked around the temple and then waited for Uncle Devin to come meet us.  We then headed to a zoo in Idaho Falls.  I LOVED looking at all the animals.  We watched penguins be fed, and we saw alot of really big cats called tigers and lions.  We also followed a peacock, saw some really big tortoises, and went into this place that had monkeys.  There was these monkeys that just sat there hanging from a branch with thier arms and stared at me.  Then they climbed really high really fast and it was so cool to watch!  There were some lemurs and when I turned around and stopped looking at me it jumped towards me but the glass stopped it.  It scared mommy!  I clicked my tongue at the animals I liked because I wanted to pet them, but none would come like my kitty’s at home do.  There was one animal in a little petting zoo section that was a goat.  It came right up to the fence and stuck its nose out so I could pet it.  I didnt mind at first bet then I got scared so we moved on.  After the zoo, we went to a park and sat in some shade and I played with my Aunts and watched people play in this fountain getting all wet.  It was a high-powered fountain that would hurt and drown me so mommy wouldnt let me play in it.  After we played in the park for a while, I said goodbye to Maran and Devin and Becky and we went back to Great-Grandma’s for dinner, and spent more time with them.  I really enjoyed spending time with all my family.

Thursday morning, we packed up and left right after a quick and easy breakfast.  I wasn’t as happy to be back on the road, but I tolerated it.  We stopped at walmart to get a few things to make the trip more tolerable on the way home, and then we left.  I fell back asleep at first because I was really tired.  Daddy had to wake me for us to leave before, even though I had slept in a couple hours longer than I normally do.   I was exhausted from all the new experiences. We made just as many stops on the way home as we did on Sunday, minus visiting Maran and Devin.  When I tried waking from my nap after lunch, i was still so sleepy but I was in a good mood.  Mommy would look back at me so I would smile at her, but I couldnt keep my eyes open.  Mommy said it was the cutest thing I have ever done.  I kept smiling but was half asleep and trying to wake up, and it was such a sweet smile.  I kept sticking my tongue out while smiling too.  After I was really awake I got really fussy, but I was satisfied with animal crackers and I even got to eat an oreo.  The oreo made a mess of my face and hands and feet, but it was sticky goodness and fun.

Once we got home, I was so happy!  My kitty, Boba, came right up to me and started rubbing against me and wouldnt leave me alone.  I snuggled with him alot, and played with all my toys.

The next morning, mommy got me up and we went to Grandma and Grandpa Mitchell’s house.  I missed them so much!  Daddy was there too (busses were on holiday schedule so he couldnt go home from work so just bicycled there instead).  I spent most of my 4th of July there in the backyard playing in the wagon.  I climbed in and out and everyone gave me rides in it.  I love being outside!  We had a barbeque and I showed everyone how I can eat my baked beans with a spoon by myself.  After dinner everyone played croquet, and I played in the wagon.  I kept hopping out though and walking around and stealing everyone’s balls.  I walk really good now.  It’s alot more smooth and I can go long distances.  I rarely crawl anymore.  Mommy and Daddy are really proud of me!

Last night I had a dream that I was walking, climbing down the stairs, and standing up without pulling myself up onto anything. It all seemed to be pretty easy so I studied hard at how I did it in my dream and got right to work this morning. As soon as I woke up and mommy let me off the bed I walked away. I made it all the way out of her bedroom and down the hall to my bedroom without falling or sitting down! Thats more than 20 steps! I also realized that from crawling I can just put my feet under me so I’m squatting and then just stand from that without grabbing anything to pull myself up. I’ve been doing it all day! My last surprise was climbing down the stairs. Mommy and Daddy have been trying to teach me how to do it since I learned how to climb up it. I HATED IT! I wanted to be carried down! I refused to even TRY to learn. About a week ago, Daddy left in a major hurry and was kinda mad and he ended up knocking down the baby gate at the top of the stairs in his hurry. Mommy hasn’t put it up yet and didn’t worry because I’m rarely upstairs unless Mommy or Daddy is with me, and I’m afraid of going down the stairs because of the few times (when someone besides mommy was watching me) I have fallen down them. So I avoid the stairs when I am upstairs. Not this morning though. I saw Boba playing and eating and wanted to play with him. Mommy heard me playing at the top of the stairs and ran to watch me. When she saw that I was climbing down them, she grabbed the camera of course! Then in the video, I get distracted by Daddy walking in the door from work, so thats what I’m looking at when I reach the bottom.

Sorry about not posting for so long, my week has been busy spending time with Aunt Becky.  She came to visit me all the way from Provo!  I have been practically living at Grandma Mitchell’s house, I even spent the night there Saturday night and went to church with them on Sunday.  I have another tooth!  This one is on the top, it looks a little weird at the moment because its above my gums, not sure if that is normal or not.  I’m also walking here and there, just a few steps at a time.  I also got to see my new cousin Damian!! He is adorable!  I can’t wait till he grows up a little bit so I can play with him!  He definitely looks like his parents.

I am getting into alot now, mommy caught me completely stuck in my toy chest.  She has no clue how I got in there but thought it was hilarious so she snapped a couple photos.

Also, I love to play computer games (as well as blog obviously) So mommy took a picture of me on the computer at Grandma Mitchell’s house.

And of course, some more pictures of my curly hair that is getting so long!

And here is a picture of me looking out the window resting my head on the back of the couch.

Guess what!?!?! I’m officially a walker! Mother’s day was a bit of a spoof, just a suprise for mommy. Now, I’m officially walking. It started with Monday. On Monday, Aunt Becky came to visit! I was so happy to see her! She is so much fun. Mommy said that when Becky comes, I can start walking. So when Grandpa was playing with me, I decided to take a couple steps. Grandma wasn’t around though, so we didn’t say anything. Then yesterday, after my bath. I walked back and forth between Grandma and Grandpa several times till I was too tired to do it anymore. I even got it on video! Also there are pictures of me taking a bath, of my kitty Boba, and a video of me with Boba and a video of me giving kisses. Enjoy!

This last picture is of me after my bath with how curly my hair gets.

I can do some new things. I can give real kisses now instead of just smearing my lips onto everyone’s faces. I pucker my lips out and suck in my cheeks. It is a really cute face because I have so much cheek. I also click my tongue at the kitties. I can also shake my head “no” whenever mommy says “no”, and wave bye bye when told and also I love to smile and clap when mommy says “yay! Emily!” It shows me doing that a little bit in the camping video actually. Mommy realized she is having problems with the sound on her phone when she is taking video so sorry!

Camping was so much fun this weekend! First I’ll tell you about church though. At church on Sunday, all of mommy’s and daddy’s students were really reverent, which was a miracle because they always behave very badly. Then mommy and daddy taught sharing time, so I got to sit it Taryn and Sabrina and Makenna’s laps (they are in mommy and daddy’s valiant 9 class). They play with me and I LOVE the attention. Once church was over I took a good long nap while we drove out to Grandma and Grandpa Stewart’s property to go camping. As soon as we got there I got really excited that I kept smiling and laughing and clapping my hands. I even helped mommy and daddy put up the tent! I also got my own little lawn chair that is just my size! Once the tent was set up and we were all settled in we went up the driveway and met Grandma and Grandpa and also Aunt Areilla and Lydia and Michael and Jaspenelle. Aunt Jaspenelle has a big belly and I can tell I’m gonna have a cousin soon! After meeting them we went back down to the campsite and daddy built a campfire. I was mesmerized! It was so cool to look at! I grinned so big everytime someone put more wood on and it got bigger! I cried everytime the fire started to die down also. Daddy cooked me a turkey dog on the fire and I ate the whole thing! I also got some s’mores and marshmallows. Yum Yum!! I got so tired watching the fire that finally i just fell asleep right in daddy’s lap and the next thing i remember is waking up in the middle of the night wrapped up so much in blankets and sweaters and a sleeping bag i could hardly move and i was still cold. Mommy and Daddy took me up to the house and I went back to sleep cuddled up with them on the floor. After that we played at Grandma and Grandpa Stewart’s house. I was so overwhelmed with everything going on though that I was extremely grouchy. More grouchy than I have EVER been even when I’m sick. After a while mommy and daddy finally took me home. We were going to get my kitten from the store but they closed 30 minutes before we got there. That was ok though, I got to hold and play with a 4 week old kitty that belongs to my Aunt Lydia. My Aunts kept taking the kitten away from his mommy so that he didnt get to eat often enough that he was really malnourished and was dying. Very sad because he is so cute! I even got some pictures of him. Also the other morning I cuddled and played with Padme so I’ll put some of those pictures up and also the video of me camping. Mommy found ANOTHER feature on her phone and realized it can take video up to an hour not just 30 secs, so we can get longer videos now of me being my cutest!

Today mommy went to the orthodontist for a retainer check-up, then we picked up Tabitha and brought her home with us. On the way home we went and picked out my kitten!! He is black and white, and I named him Boba Fett, but I just call him Boba (it sounds a little more like baba right now from me) We will take some pictures of him later as I play with him more. We picked up Tabitha so she could cut Mommy’s hair. It is REALLY short. She calls it an inverted bob. It looks really cute. Anyways, here are the pictures and the video I promised!

This weekend was a big one for me. It started with Saturday morning, I woke up with a bit of a runny nose, so mommy gave me some extra tlc and let me play in her purse. Here’s a picture of the mess I got into.

I went straight for the credit cards.

Then something really exciting happened… I went to my very first parade! It was the annual Jr. Lilac Parade!

I was given a sucker from some girl scouts passing, so daddy let me eat it. I shared a little bit of it with him.

Later that night when I got home I was feeling even more miserable, I had such a runny nose, a fever of 101, and I could hardly breath.  Mommy and Daddy gave me a hot bath, some tylenol and humidified me while I slept.  The next morning I was still feeling miserable, but it was mothers day so I kept giving mommy great big smiles!  She shared some of her toast Daddy and I made for her breakfast in bed with me.  We then went to church and then to Grandma and Grandpa Mitchell’s for some extra TLC for me.  We were planning on camping but I was too sick so we skipped it.  I still feel a little miserable.  Here is a picture from me yesterday.

Yesterday, for mothers day, I decided to take my first steps without any help!! Yes, thats right… I’M A WALKER!!!!  Daddy starts me walking with me holding him, then he lets go and I take a few more steps before I fall down.  It will still be a little bit before I really start going, but I’m getting there.

Here is a picture of me standing all by myself.

And then a funny picture of tissue stuck to my bum!

Lastly a picture of my kitty sleeping: