Jumping into the Deep End

Today, I had the opportunity to accompany Miss Emma to swim class. I watched from the sidelines, my little one paddling and kicking, taking instruction from her teacher. During the 50 minutes of class, I watched Emma nervously, unsure of her ability to be in the water without me by her side. Worried that I wasn't close enough to save her if something went wrong. Near the end of the class, the little swimmers walked in a neat line to the deep end. Emma jumped in, without hesitation, 12ft of water devouring her 3ft something frame. She wasn't afraid, completely sure of her ability to tackle the deep water and conquer it.

I am proud that I get to watch Emma tackle the deep end, of any water. Soon, she will start to accept guidance from adults other than her parents, form her own opinions and ideas, embrace her independence. I will be watching nervously from the sidelines, reminding myself that Dan and I encouraged her to be capable and confident, that she will make wise decisions, that she is prepared to swim in the deep end.

Mother Daughter Bonding

Yesterday was a monumental day in the relationship between mother and daughter. Emma discovered the Beatles, via The Wonder Pets. Listen, I'll take it any way I can get it. Since the day she was born, she has taken great pleasure in liking the exact opposite of what I like. It's my mother's fault really, she cursed me by saying, "I hope you have one just like you!"

And I did, willful, opinionated, sassy, that's my girl! I just didn't realize it would all be directed in opposing fashion.

But, she likes "Yellow Submarine" and "Strawberry Fields" so I'm a happy mama.

Here is some great music I found to get Emma started on her musical journey with the Fab Four:

Bedtime with the Beatles (thanks Mom!) and two
The Bingo Kids
Across the Universe (because I like it!) I would filter out some of the more heavy stuff for the childrens though.

Catch Up!

A mama tomato, a daddy tomato and a baby tomato are walking. The baby falls behind. The daddy tomato goes back, squishes the baby and says "Catch up!"

Ha ha, very funny. Thank you Pulp Fiction for bringing that joke into my life.

I am playing catch up though. D&E are visiting Grandma up North. Dan's mom Grandma, not to be confused with my mom, Grandma fa fa away. I thought I could clean the house, get some sewing done, even watch a movie that I know Dan has no interest in seeing. Alas, these things did not come to pass. Instead, I went to work. At work. For 8 whole hours. On a Saturday. And now. I blog. Priorities you know.

Here are some new pictures of Emma. Why? Because I am a bad daughter(in-law) and never mail photos to the respective Grandma's. Did I mention that I worked, on a Saturday? Who has time to send pictures? Although, Walgreen's certainly has the right idea. Maybe I will upload said photos and send them to the nearest Walgreen's for pick up. What do you think Grandma(s)? Please post your reply in the comments section of this blog. Welcome to the new millennium. Conversation via comments.

Random Picture Monday

Emma enjoying some fries and a philly cheesesteak, in Philly.

Puzzling

I am humbled and amazed at the talent that Emma possesses. She is four and can put a puzzle together like nobody's business. I stand in awe (no bias) of my child!

Perception vs. Reality

In Emma's eyes, it looks just like the picture.

Apple Dapple

Emma has learned to ryhme and she has become quite adept at it. She tries to ryhme everything, at times it is quite comical.

She says to me, "Mommy, does tree leave rhyme?"

And I say, "No, honey, tree bee rhymes though."

To which she responds, "Why?"

So I begin to explain that in order for words to rhyme, the must have the same ending sound, like tree ends with ee and bee ends with ee, she starts to understand. Amazing.

No, she has moved on to creating her own words to make things ryhme. I just laugh and think that one day she may grow up to be a talented wordsmith.

Emma Does Video Email

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

A Post A Day In August

Here it is already, August first and I promised a post a day. I almost forgot. Right now, Emma is crying because she was running around like a wild child and fell. She hurt her pinky toe, on her left foot, it really hurts she says as she stands behind me. Real time people.

I took the day off from work so that Emma and I could spend the day together. We had some waffles, went to the water park and now, we are going to take a nap because mama's whooped.

I can't imagine having more children, I think I would be in a constant state of zombieism. Yes, I totally just made that word up.

I can see Emma walking down the hallway from my computer nekki (naked) with her blue blankie. I guess she's whooped too!

Sunday in the Garden

Dan was kind enough to build a little place for Emma to do her gardening. Currently, we have watermelons growing, and, that's all. Emma would like to plant pickles, which I think we can accomodate. She would also like to plant peaches. When we told her that peaches grow on trees, she said that was fine, we would just pick a peach from the tree and put it in the ground.

Emma's Fancy B*&% Hole

Family laCarter had a wonderful day at the beach yesterday. One of the benefits of living in a city named Virginia Beach is that there actually is a beach close by and we can go whenever we want, on a whim even, which is what we did yesterday.

Emma loves to play in the sand, and one of her favorite things to do is dig a little hole, plant her hiney in it and cover herself up with sand. Imagine my surprise when she announced happily, and quite loudly, "Look at my fancy B*&^ hole!"

You see, I understood, she meant look at the hole, which is fancy, and to which she placed her hiney in. It made perfect sense to my innocent four-year old that this sandy hole should indeed be deemed a butt........hole.

To the beach goers nearby however, all they knew is that there was a child, saying dirty things and her parents were laughing at her.

Makes you think twice about giving a parent dirty looks when you overhear a conversation to which you are not privy to don't it!

Emma, The Mermaid

Emma is obsessed with Ariel, ya know, Disney's The Little Mermaid. She even went as far as to ask me to dye her hair red for halloween. Let us not forget that she is 3. (Apparently her hair dying mother is a terrible influence, but that is another story for another day now isn't it)

Since E is faced with a typical 3-year old case of fantasy (something I promote whole heartedly), she pretends to be "Ariel" in the tub on a regular basis.

So, what's a mom to do but take a picture complete with sparkly lights (flash on the water) and flowing mermaid hair?

Emmaisms

Conversation in Emma Speak:

E: Knock Knock
Me: Who's there?
E: Emma
Me: Emma who?
E: Emma Lou Who, that's who. Mama, you're so silly

Emma at a party last weekend:

"Everyone come look, I made a monster poop!"

As heard from Emma across the room after I declare to Dan "Emma might like this"

"I DON'T LIKE THAT!"

Emma before bedtime

"Mommy, I need some medicine" (pathetic attempt at coughing) "Mommy, can you lay with me for five minutes? I'm not feelin' good" (weak attempt at coughing)

Conversation for two

Me: Emma, what do you want for Christmas?
Emma: All that I wish and hope for you and daddy, and a jingle bell.

Harvest Festival

Taking a hay ride.

Playing in the hay.

Yes, much like sand at the beach, there was hay everywhere.

The Great Cake Bake

I have a little pastry chef in the making. Here is Emma "helping" make Melissa's wedding cake.

She did a great job. Go easy on the butter there kid.

Emma Gets a Bike

Because we don't do things the normal way in our family, Emma got her first bicycle on Saturday. I asked Dan Dan why we didn't wait until Christmas and his reply was "It's so far away!" This is what happens when you have a big kid in the family. The art of patience is lost.

Emma was very excited to have Daddy put her bike together, complete with horn and bell. Emma nearly burst with excitement to ride her bike! After gearing up with elbow pads, knee pads and helmet, we were ready to roll.

Emma hopped on the bike and Daddy pushed her along when all of a sudden she pedaled backwards and screeeech, came to a stop. She can't figure out how to pedal forward and everytime she pedals backwards she stops. Needless to say, she got frustrated and our bike riding adventure was over.

An hour of aniticipation from store to home, 20 minutes putting bike together, 2 minutes of bike riding and we were done.

I cherish these times.