Happy Play Mat

Jeff's mom Linda bought Emma the Little Einstein's play mat and gave it to her over the Thanksgiving vacation. It comes with a star that plays music and lights. Every time we have put her under that little star she starts giggling and laughing with out fail. I don't know what it is about it but she loves it.

Vacuum Cleaner Possessed

So, we borrowed a robotic vacuum cleaner from Jeff's parents to see how it would do on our floors.  We set it up and haven't had the time to program it and such so it is hanging out in between our entertainment cabinet and the closet.  I went to pull out the yoga mat and blanket that we use to play on the floor with Emma and left the closet door open.  Our cat Calvin went in to investigate and on her way out hopped on the start button for the vacuum.  I was feeding Emma in our chair and could only watch in amusement as the robo-vac made its way around the little bit of floor that was available to clean.  It bumped into everything, the cabinet, the walls, the basket, everything.  Finally it got caught up on the blanket and sat there munching on the blanket then beeping for help and I couldn't do a thing about it.  It finally gave up and powered down.  It's kind of hard to see in this picture but the vacuum is the round dark gray disk that is eating the upper right corner of the pink blanket on the floor.  You can just see the closet door that is open in the left corner and the chair I was sitting in with Emma in the right.  The cat hung around ready to attack it for a while but then lost interest.  And there is our tree that only has lights on it right now but we will be decorating it tonight, yeah!  Then I can move the decorating boxes back up to the attic.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

Every year we tell ourselves that we will get our tree early in the season and never do.  This year we finally managed it.  We went with Jeff's family and had a blast.  One of the funny things that seems to be becoming a tradition is tree hunting in the dark.  This has been I think the third year that we have gone tree hunting in the late afternoon and haven't gotten done until after the sun went down and the colors had faded from the sky with only the moon and stars to watch us.  And we have done this regardless of who seems to be with us.  So, if we ever ask you to go tree hunting with us in the future know that this is what you are getting yourself into.  We were very successful though and left the tree farm with four trees, one for us, one for Jeff's parents, one for the little bro, and a small one for the cousins.  This is certainly a tradition that we treasure.  I was just looking at our tree as I sit here and was thinking that next year Emma will be much more mobile and that is a crazy thought!  For now I will enjoy her being my little reindeer because it won't last for long.  

Poppa and Emma 

Our favorite little reindeer!

Our tree

What fabulous memories!  Emma really did quite well in the front pack the whole time.  This was during the cutting of the tree and we dropped the binky.

Little Bro's tree.  The tree farm folks said it was a "junk tree" and gave him a deal on it.  I believe it ended up taking up residence in Jono's extra bathroom toilet until he could get a stand for it.  I hear the room mates and their girlfriends were quite surprised.  This is his first christmas tree for his own place.  

See, I told you she did just fine.  :)

Hunting in the dark.  This was the last tree that we found which was for the cousins.  There was a friendly older gentleman who followed us around helping us.  I think it was more to get us out of there so they could go home than anything but he was very helpful if not a bit pushy in an old man sort of way.  But very cheerful.  

Some Mommy Time

Yesterday was my first outing by myself.  When I say by myself I really mean by myself.  I left Emma at home with Jeff and treated myself to a haircut at Gene Juarez, lunch, and a little bit of shopping.  I only had one moment where I envisioned myself tearing out of a store, jumping in the car and speeding home to make sure Emma was okay.  That didn't happen, it was only a fleeting moment.  As you can see Poppa did just fine and this was the picture I got home and saw.  

~Momma H

Sleeping Milestones

Well, it has finally happened... i think.  Emma is starting to sleep through the night!  At first I thought it was just a fluke and we had worn her out during the day but now I am starting to think it is for reals.  So, nine weeks old and sleeping for more than five hours at night in a chunk.  We put her to bed at 10:30 last night and she didn't wake up until 5:30 this morning.  Amazing!!!  I will let y'all know if it was indeed a fluke.

~Mamma H

I Loves My Poppa!

Does this even need words of explanation?

Blocks of Mass Destruction

We have found a new game!!! Emma has a set of soft blocks that make different noises and have different textures and such. She likes the blue and red blocks the most because they have a soft jingle that she likes. Today Jeff was playing on the floor with Emma and dropping blocks on her tummy and making an exploding sound. The first time he did it all I heard was "blocks from heaven! " followed by explosions and happy Emma noises. It seems like this may be an Emma and Poppa game that will be around for a while.