Late September Evening

Yesterday evening I had a family shoot around sunset. Emma Claire and I got to the location early and just ran around exploring. I love {almost} everything about this age. She is so inquisitive, brave, adventurous, and not to mention cute.

Oh the life of a toddler. 

This weather we've been having lately is just PERFECT. I wish it could stay this way all year long. It's cool enough for open windows yet warm enough we don't need sweaters. I love opening our windows and letting the cool breeze blow through. 

Nothing Special

I've been under the weather this week. It started Wednesday and is just kind of sticking around. I'm thinking it's probably allergies. Which is so unfortunate because we have had the BEST weather this week. So in spite of my feeling bad I've tried to get out with Emma Claire in this gorgeous weather as much as possible. Saturday evening I loaded her in the stroller and we headed out for a walk and some park play time. And I also grabbed my big girl camera so I could video some and get better pictures.

Something new- she LOVES the "srooo-low" And my jogger broke so we've been using the one that came with her infant carrier...she may love it but momma does NOT. Time to fix that jogger ;-) 

Before we went to the park we walked to the gazebo and clubhouse at the front of our neighborhood. I envisioned cute pictures of EC inside the gazebo or running around in the big green space. Did I get those? nope. But you bet I got some of her playing with her pile of rocks she gathered. 

 

When I laid down to get a better angle she laid down too. Cutie pie. 

I did get this one with the gazebo in the background that I love. 

 Once she had enough fun at the gazebo ahem...playing with her rocks, we headed to the park.

She had fun swinging in the "baby swing" for about 10 seconds. Then she wanted to swing in the big girl swings. So I let her...

And then I cried because she looked TOO BIG sitting in this swing! 

But she loved it. And miraculously didn't ever fall out, even when she did THIS! ha!

I tried ALL summer to get a cute picture of her with a dandelion. And I got one on this night. One  day before the official start of fall. Better late than never, right? ;-) 

After playing at the park we headed back to our street where Emma Claire found two of her favorite people. Izzy and Riley, the neighborhood kiddos. If they are outside playing, heaven help her, Emma Claire will go out and say hi to them. Since I had my big camera I asked them to take a picture with Emma Claire. I know she will FLIP OUT when I get these printed. 

Really, I need to just fasten my big camera to my neck. Because I seriously don't ever regret taking it out with me. I love the iPhone and its ability to instantaneously capture moments, but I really do cherish the big, beautiful, high res images that I get with my full frame camera. Especially when those images are of nothing special, just ordinary, every day life.

Dear Emma Claire

I cannot believe that you are is almost 23 months old, Emma Claire . TWENTY THREE MONTHS. That is so close to TWO I can't even believe it. I mean how is that possible? Weren't you born yesterday?

 In all honestly some days I feel you have always been part of our lives and some days it feels like it has gone by in the blink of an eye. Over the past two years we have made so many memories. So today in honor of you coming up on 23 months, here are 23 little tidbits about my you, my very favorite girl. 

1. You have more personality than your little body can hold. I never get tired of your silly faces, funny dance moves, and new made up words. You are entertaining, that's for sure.

2. At almost two you are still nursing. If you had asked me if I expected to nurse this long before having you I would have said "HECK NO. WHO DOES THAT?" well apparently I do, ;-) It's an awesome way for us to cuddle, recover from bonks and boo boos, and just a sweet time. I am so glad we're still going strong.

3. Wearing size 4 diapers these days. And mostly 24mo/2T clothes. Some 18mo things still fit. You are long and lean, miss Emma Claire.

4. Gracie and Dixie are your favorite {fur}people ever. You ask about them all of the time when they're not around. EC speak- Gracie "darby" Dixie "Dick-dee" The way you say their names crack us up. 

5. You LOVE your friends.

6. You love all of our Bekah/Becca friends. We know half a dozen. Poor thing never knows who we're going to see. But she loves them all. And calls them "baba"

7. You have gotten really great about sitting and posing for pictures. I can usually get you to sit still long enough to get a few good ones. This makes me SO happy!

8. You just graduated from the crawler/walker nursery room to the "big kid" nursery room. Now instead of being in "nursery" you are in the caterpillar room! The next step is the butterfly room, for two year olds.

9. Pickles are one of your favorite foods.

10. You LOVE babies. Love love love them. But if I ask you if you want mommy to have a baby you say "NOOOO!"

11. It's common for you to string together two or three words now. "Okay momma" "no momma" and "hi {insert name here} are your favorites right now.

12. Outside=happiness.

13. Fruit snacks also=happiness ;-)

14. Bows and shoes are your bread and butter. You love them. And love to put bows on me as well.

15. Stickers are your love language.

16. Reading is still your favorite thing to do.

17. You also love drawing, painting, coloring, and "writing". Whenever we draw together you want us to draw all of our pets. Which include; Gracie, Dixie, and our imaginary cat.

18. You are OBSESSED with cats See #17

19. Pretend play has made its appearance. A lot of the times we have animals roaming around our house ;-) Especially your pet horse. He likes to hang out on our ceiling. And there is an annoying group of bees that like to hang around our living room. Don't worry, you "shoooo" them away for us.

20. You finally like food! Some of your favorites are pineapple, oranges, turkey, eggs and sausage, pasta, quesadillas, black beans, you always ask for bananas...but then take no more than two bites, you also LOVE tomatoes, and macaroni and cheese.

21. You are sensitive to what is being shown on television. I noticed this when you watched an episode of sesame street and Elmo fell down. It REALLY upset you.

22. Speaking of...right now you LOVE sesame street, you call it "ElmoAbbey" and will repeat that over and over until we watch an episode ;-)

23. One of the funniest words you say right now is "Sammy". Grammy and G-Pop {my parents} have a yellow lab named sammy and we LOVE to listen to you say his name. You say it almost like "sabby". So if you're reading this, say "Sammy" but plug your nose. That's what it sounds like.

 So in conclusion, sweet girl, you are the light of our lives. You make each day better, and always keep us laughing. I can't wait to see what this next year with you brings.

25

Somehow my birthday came and went and I just never acknowledged it on the blog. That's probably because as I get older I feel my birthday becomes less important. I am way more excited to celebrate the Husband's birthday and Emma Claire's birthday than mine. 

This year thankfully my birthday fell on my husband's day off so we were able to spend the day together! We had a lunch play date with friends, and had a blast. 

We ALL enjoyed the yummy cupcakes. 

Is this little guy not THE cutest?

Trying to share a cozy coupe. It was cute...until they decided they DIDN'T want to share anymore. ;-)

We played some games while the kid's played. 

And then THIS happened. This might be my favorite picture ever.

These three. Too cute. And EC is SUCH a ham. And she knows it. 

After our play date, we came home and EC took a nap. Then when she woke up we got ready and headed to dinner at Uncle Julio's. Before we left I insisted that I get just ONE good picture of Emma Claire and I. 

 Taking a picture with a toddler is easier said than done. But I love all of these pictures. Very "us" :-) I had a great birthday and here's to my twenty fifth year!

Chit Chat and Coffee

On Friday morning Emma Claire and I dressed up in some nice FALL clothes and headed to Starbucks to meet two of our fav gal pals. My friend Bekah and I  decided we HAD to take our girls to Starbucks for some coffee and of course a photo shoot as soon as PSL's were back.

I mean really...I don't think it could get ANY cuter than this. These two just love each other and each time they are "reunited" after a few days it's like they haven't seen each other in months.

They love each other, that's for sure. 

These two didn't' waste any time, they started shopping the second we got inside. 

Drinks for mommas, check. Drinks for babies, check. 

She was intrigued. 

Pretty sure miss Gracie was a fan. 

 It's like EC is thinking, "um....girlfriend. You've got a little something on your face"

I think they both enjoyed themselves. It was totally worth the collective $6 for their mini drinks ;-) That being said I think we'll try this again...next year. ha!

After Starbucks we met up with a big group of friends at CFA and then after that headed to a park to play. I've decided open fields=a toddler's natural habitat.  I mean look how happy they are!

As hard as we try we just cannot get a picture with BOTH girls looking and smiling at the same time. 

The classic head pat. I love it. 

We love spending days with friends. I am so excited for cooler weather so days like this can happen more frequently.