My new ride

So Emma got a new ride, Barbie Jeep, a hand-me-down from her big cousins, Kaylee & Caroline. The jeep is 10-12 yrs old & we haven't got a new battery for it yet, but she still loves playing in it. She is still a bit young to be able to drive it herself so we may still hold off on getting the battery for a while. She really wants us to push her around the yard in her new jeep, which Chris did in the beginning, but its quite hard so I leave that to him. We are so grateful to have big cousins in the fam to give us their hand-me-downs, we probably would have never bought her one of these, they are just too pricey!

 Look it has a phone too.

Swinging in Spring

That is pretty much how we spend most of our time outside these days is pushing Emma in her swing or playing ball. She has a new favorite thing which I will post next, so stay tuned.

 Chris & Emma have this game of kicking the ball while she is swinging & I tried to get shots to show the progression of the game.

 Another one of Emma's new favorite things to do is water the grass with Daddy. 

 "Picking flowers with Spencer" its actually Braddford Pear blooms 

 Last spring she would not play with this popper, she said it was too noisey. 

Procrastation

I am so behind on download photos from my camera & on the blog or fb so beware there is many to come. With the weather being so nice recently its hard not to take pictures of Emma playing outside. Man does she have Spring Fever. She won't even slow down to eat, she is so busy & happy. Breakfast is about the only meal I have been able to consistently get her to eat each day. As for lunch, she has probably only sat down at the table once in the last week or so & at supper she just picks at her food & continually asks if she can go back outside to play.

Bye Bye Crib

Yes, today was the day I have been hearing about from other moms that would happen & it finally did. Emma tried to climb out of her crib, once this morning but I caught her in the act & then again at nap time but she hit the floor with a big thud. As soon as I heard the thud I knew what it was & came running. I think she was still in shock, she wasn't even crying yet until I asked her if she was okay. I never found any bumps or bruises on her but she was terrified. She was sweating like crazy, crying so hard she couldn't catch her breath (on the brink of vomiting) & pale as a ghost. After she calmed down she didn't want to get back in her bed so I rocked her until she was almost alseep & then laid her down. 

Then when she got up I told her Daddy was going to make her a "big girl bed" so she wouldn't fall down & go boom & she cried. She just didn't want to talk about it, just thinking about it scared her. Even telling Chris the whole story over supper brought her to tears. She kept saying "stop mommy" & would start crying again. Every time we mentioned her bed she would cry, we weren't sure she would even sleep in it at all tonight. Could she be that traumatized? After supper we took her upstairs to show her the new "big girl bed" & she just cried, "Emma fall down & go boom" over & over. We kept assuring her it was fine now & she would not fall again, finally she agreed to try getting in the bed by herself. She loved it. The first thing she grabbed of course, her pacie. 

Now the test will be if she stays in it too sleep? Will we find her in the floor in the middle of the night? Thankfully she hasn't figured out how to work doorknobs yet, so at least she will be confined to her room, but so are some of her toys. As if we don't have enough trouble getting Emma to sleep no we have to keep her in the "big girl bed." Yes, we have entered another new phase of parenting, hold on it might be bumpy. 

 Last pic of the crib

 "Big girl bed" aka toddler bed

Her pacie & comforter (only at bedtime)

This is the only smile I could get, she wouldn't look at me. 

 "Ta Da"

 She then proceeds to pull all her stuff animals she sleeps with out of the bed & was so proud of herself. 

She could finally reach them without help.

First night in her new "big girl bed"

Spring in February

That is exactly what it has felt like the past week or to in NC & we are loving it. I can't tell you how many times this winter Emma has asked to go outside to swing or ride her trike & now we can. We are so ready for warm weather.

 I love her hair in this pic, it was very windy.

 sweet smile

She will sometimes slide by herself & this was one of those days.

 This is classic Emma, walking & talking (not real sure what she was saying).

 Her tiny soccer ball. We are prepping her to play next spring on a pee-wee team. 

She will be too young to play this fall.

This was last weekend. Emma decided she wanted to go for a walk (she actually ran) about a mile thru our neighborhood but she wanted to be carried back home. 

CHD Facts

February 7-14, 2011 is Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week. Below you will find several interesting facts you may or may not already know about these life-threatening and life-altering defects. (I borrowed these from a fellow heart mom's blog.)

• Congenital heart defects (CHDs) occur when a baby's heart fails to form properly during early pregnancy. In most cases, the cause is unknown, although scientists feel both genetic and environmental factors play a role.Some environmental factors that increase the risk of CHDs include the mother’s use of cocaine, alcohol or certain medications while pregnant. Some maternal medical conditions – such as diabetes – may also increase risk.

• CHDs are the most common birth defect – and the leading cause of birth defect-related deaths.

• CHDs occur more often than Spina Bifida, Down Syndrome or hearing loss – and kill twice as many children as childhood cancer.

• It is estimated that 40,000 babies with CHDs are born in the United States each year – that’s one in every 100 babies.

• Although some babies will be diagnosed at birth, newborns are not routinely screened for CHDs – and pregnant women are not routinely tested for CHDs.

• There are approximately 35 different types of congenital heart defects.

• Some CHDs may be treated with surgery, medicine and/or devices, such as artificial valves and pacemakers. In the last 25 years, advances in the treatment of heart defects have enabled half a million U.S. children with serious CHDs to survive into adulthood.

• Many cases of sudden cardiac death in young athletes are caused by undiagnosed CHDs and childhood-onset heart disease.

• Early detection is critical to the successful treatment of CHDs. Some heart defects can be detected by a routine ultrasound – but the most effective prenatal test is an echocardiogram performed by a Pediatric Cardiologist.

CHD Awareness Week

It starts tomorrow & wanted to remind everyone that Congetital Heart Defects are the #1 cause of death of babies (sad but true). Luckily Emma's was found in utero & many are but there are also many that go undected until its too late. Please keep all of those families you may know who have been affected by CHD in your thoughts & prayers this week.

Look at this precious picture I found on the internet. I love it & just had to share.