Happy Memorial Day!

Robert is on call this weekend, so we didn't have any big plans for Memorial Day.  Luckily, we haven't had temperatures much higher then 90 degrees, so Robert has been able to stay home and we have enjoyed a relaxing 3 day weekend with him.
Emma got this neat paper plate bug art set for her birthday.  It has everything you need to make different kinds of bugs.  She had a great time making them, and did really good at putting body parts where they were suppose to go!

I decided to brave the grocery store today and was so excited when I found this...

Emma can have any type of nut except for peanuts, but it is so hard to find nuts that don't have traces of peanuts in them.  Every time I am at the store, I read all the Almond Butter jars just in case there is a safe one.  Until today, they all had that they contained trace amounts of peanuts on the label.  I was so excited when this one said Peanut Free right on the front!  I personally think peanut butter tastes better, but Emma seems to like it.  I think she will try her first Almond Butter and Jelly sandwich for lunch tomorrow!
On a side note, I almost have Emma's two year old photos done.  They should be on the photo blog in the next couple of days.
Hope everyone had a great Memorial Weekend!

Baking

The other day I tried out a new recipe and Emma got to try out the new mixer.  We made White Chocolate, Oatmeal, Craisin cookies.  They turned out yummy and Emma loved being able to actually "bake".  I think we will do a lot more baking this summer!

A Minnie Mouse Kind of Day!

Complete with a new t-shirt, hair bows, and a necklace!

Hope everyone has a great Monday!

A Week of Doctors

Ok.  That title makes it sound like things are worse then they really are!  On Monday, Emma had her 2 year Doctor's appointment.  It started like any other, and then turned into an hour and a half visit!  First let me say that Emma DOESN'T like the Doctors!  She started crying from the moment of being weighed!  Second,  Emma looks great.  She got a finger stick to test her iron levels, and they came back perfect.  She weighs 26lbs (47%) and is 34.5 inches long (70%).  I knew from a previous appointment that she had a hard piece of wax in her ear.  Since March, we have doing over the counter drops nightly to try and loosen it.  I knew it hadn't come out, so I let her Doctor know that I wanted to get it out today.  The wax went from being hard to being super soft so they had to flush it out.  Emma of course didn't like it, but she did ok.  This is when things went down hill.  It turns out she has a horrible Ear Infection.  She hasn't had any signs of one, so this was a complete surprise.  Her ear has so much fluid in it that we have to come back in 3 weeks for her Doctor to look again.  She is already preparing us that she might have to refer us to an ENT and Emma may already have to get tubes!  I am just hoping that this ear infection isn't something that has been going on long term and has caused damage her ear.  But for now she is taking her medicine with no issues, and we will go back June 6 for a follow up.
Then today we headed to the lab for Emma to have some blood work done to check and see what her peanut allergy levels are doing.  I told her she needed to have a pokie in her arm and she did well until it was time to sit in the chair.  She of course cried, but the nurses were able to get the blood with only one poke so I was happy about that.  We go see her allergist June 8, so fingers crossed that her levels are trending down.
I was worried that the lab would get busy, so we went first thing this morning before breakfast.  The lab is down the street from the Olive Mill, so we stopped there for breakfast after.  Emma and I shared a waffle with strawberries and blueberries.  It was yummy, and it was so nice to sit outside, enjoy the weather, and take our time.

I am sure she is probably thinking "this doesn't look like my normal frozen waffle!

I think she liked it!

After breakfast, we walked around the mill, and then headed to Schnepf Farms to pick peaches!

Emma didn't enjoy picking peaches as much as I thought.  She was excited to hold the bag (she loves all bags and purses!), but the ground was not the smoothest and there were lots of stumbles and scraped knees.  I think this combined with getting poked, it was a little much for her.  So I held her and picked peaches. 
After we got home and I let the puppies outside, I turned around and this is what I saw.

She ate the whole peach!  She might not have liked the process, but she is enjoying the fresh, juicy peaches!

So I think that catches things up for the week.  No weekend plans expect for relaxing, and cleaning.  Last weekend I took Emma's and Sophia's 2 year old photos, so I will be working on those also.  They look cute so far!

A Trip to the Zoo

Our plan today, was to head to the zoo with Stephanie and Sam.  As we were pulling out of the driveway, Stephanie called me to tell me that she got a call from school that one of Sam's brothers was sick and they couldn't go.  Since we were already packed up, sunscreen on, and it was probably the last day we didn't reach 90 degrees, I decided to go anyway.  We didn't stay too long, but we had a great time.  The weather was beautiful this morning, and it was so nice to walk around outside.  Emma had fun seeing the animals, and if you ask her which one was her favorite, she says the giraffes.  We can't wait to go back when the weather cools down again!

Ready to head in!






































































This is the first time that we got to see the new Orangutans Exhibit.  It was pretty neat, but would be hard to see when crowded.  You can see one of the monkeys in the top left corner.

I don't know these other two little girls, but all of us moms were talking about how cute it was that they all had hats on!

2nd Birthday Weekend

We had a great weekend celebrating Emma's 2nd birthday.  We had her birthday party on Saturday and even though it was 100 degrees, we had a great night.  Emma is one lucky girl to have so many people that love her and wanted to help her celebrate! 

Emma wanted to help Daddy get the backyard ready for the party.  Not sure how much help she was with her bear in one hand and purse in the other!

Instead of having one big desert, I decided to have a desert table filled with a small amount of different ones!
We had...

Rice Krispy treats

Cake cookies

Angel Food Cake with berries

And decorated brownies.  ( I didn't make these!!)

Waiting for her guests

We didn't really have a theme for the party, but did make sure to include her some of her favorites like balls and bubbles.  This is a blow up "tent" that has balls on the inside.  I was hoping to have it outside, but at the start of the party it was too hot.  But even inside, it was a big hit!

Since one of Emma's favorite meals in rice, beans, and a tortilla, we decided to have a yummy Mexican Feast!

Eating with her Great Grandmas.
















Thanks everyone for squeezing in!  We are already working on some different options if we are in the same house next year!  ( I didn't even realize that TV was on!!)

After dinner, the sun was finally low enough for the backyard to be shaded.  Once it was shaded, it was actually nice outside!  I had gotten a bubble machine which was a hit!

 

Ayden

Sam

Amanda, Jamie, Jenni, and Jessica

Robert and his Dad

The mommies and honorary Aunts

Time for presents!!

Singing Happy Birthday

Checking out her new easel while we cleaned!


Sunday we spent a low key day getting things put away, resting, and celebrating her official birthday.  I knew she was 2 when I asked her if she wanted pancakes for breakfast.  She responded with "how about....waffles"!  Emma had so much fun checking out all her new things.  Honestly by the time Sunday was over, she had managed to play with everything!

Telling me she is 2!  How do you like her birthday outfit she picked out?

Ever since wearing a tutu at Sophia's, dancing in a tutu seems to be the new thing.

 Robert and I saved our presents for her until after her nap.  She had no problem opening them, and after opening the last one she looked at the couch and said "where's more?"  And then wanted us to sing her Happy Birthday!  Oh Boy!  So far, she hasn't asked for any more presents today, but did ask to sing Happy Birthday!

A new apron and cookie cutters

She loves to play in my wallet.  So she got her very own, complete with credit cards! ( I have been saving the "cards" that come with the credit offers they send in the mail)

 She loves this ball thing so much, this is how she watched Mickey this morning!

I would have to say that Emma had a great 2nd birthday.  Thanks to everyone for helping to making it so special!!