Winter Update

I apologize to the few of you who actually get on to check that I haven't been posting lately. Once I encountered repeated difficulty in posting pictures, which is what everyone really wants to see, I switched over to posting pics on Facebook. And while I would love for you all to see how gloriously adorable Emma is these days, I'm not even going to attempt it today. Instead, here is a written update of what's been going in our lives over the last few months...

1. Early November Jon and I went on our first official vacation in our 8+ years of marriage. We took a Norwegian Cruise to the West Carribbean, docking at Cozumel and Grand Cayman. Emma stayed here -- my parents came for the week to stay with her. We had a wonderful time being in a warmer climate, seeing the expanse of the ocean, and enjoying one another's company. We got to swim in the ocean, Jon had Ben & Jerry's in another country, we ate tons (but didn't gain any weight, thankfully), I had an exfoliation treatment (won by raffle), while Jon had a pedicure (yup, you read that correctly) and a haircut. Emma did well with my parents, but toward the end of the week was acting mopey...and clingy. We were happy to get home to her, and she perked up immediately.

2. November 17 was Jon's 31 birthday. We invited the neighbors over to celebrate, and our good friends, Tim & Kim were also able to stop by. I made a cake from SCRATCH!!! I'm not kidding. If you know me, and my aversion to cooking, you will be impressed by my efforts. However, it didn't ALL go smoothly. I managed to make a royal mess trying to transport the filled pan from the counter into the oven. It is one of the round "bundt" type pans that has the insert. Well, I wasnt' thinking AT ALL, and my fingers ended up pushing the insert up which then allowed a bunch of cake batter to come down. Yuck. Fortunately, despite my mishap, the cake turned out well and was enjoyed by all. Jon received his requested first season of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, something he has watched ad nauseum...to the point he has Emma requesting it!

3. November 26 marked Emma's 2nd birthday. My little girl is growing up too quickly! We had a small party at the house for neighbors and friends, and she received many wonderful gifts that she thoroughly enjoyed getting to open. I tried my hand at making her a cupcake butterfly, and discovered I need to take cake-decorating lessons before her next birthday!!! Didn't quite turn out like the picture on the box. Next year we'll make either a purse or a flower, and I think I need to pursue a tasty frosting recipe. I was disappointed this year with how bland the cake mix and strawberry-flavored frosting turned out. It did NOT make me sad to throw away the cupcakes that were left over.

4. In December we enjoyed a neighborhood "progressive supper" with those families we've gotten to know and love. We had appetizers at one home, came to our house for the main course, then went to another home for dessert and for the kids to decorate sugar cookies. It was a wonderful experience. We've all missed each other terribly during these cold winter months. During the summer we ended up having a virtual "block party" every Sunday afternoon, then would see each other many evenings out with the kids. I think we all feel like we're experiencing a relationship drought!!! We have a brunch scheduled for this Saturday, and I'm really looking forward to it. Many tasty items on the menu...my mouth is watering already!!!

5. Christmas was more fun this year. Hard to believe it was actually Emma's THIRD celebration of the season. I came down with the flu on Christmas Eve and missed church services -- spent most of the day in bed while Jon kept Emma entertained. My parents had a horrible time trying to get to Ohio, but that's another long story in and of itself. They arrived late in the day Christmas Eve. Christmas morning we got up and had our traditional cinnamon rolls and tried a new breakfast casserole. I was still feeling pretty crummy but managed to eat some of each. We moved onto opening gifts and it was fun to watch Emma pull out tissue, tear off paper, and exclaim over whatever was in the package. Because she's at the age of wanting to open everything - COMPLETELY - right at that moment, we decided to let her take her time and play with toys AS she opened them. The intent was to allow unwrapping to stretch long into the day. Well...it ended up stretched over a few days...because Emma started throwing up early afternoon and spent the next 3 days miserable. I'm not kidding -- I think we did 12 loads of laundry over Christmas weekend. She was glued to my side for those 3 days and wouldn't let my parents do anything for her. I am so thankful we had the extra hands, though. There were a few occasions that required THREE of us to get Emma cleaned up, change sheets, change diapers, etc. because of how widespread the carnage was. I cannot even begin to express the relief I experienced when she started acting like herself again. Hope she doesn't remember this next year, or she won't like Christmas AT ALL.

6. January was pretty uneventful overall. Jon and I did go, at the end of the month, to the District Ministerial Retreat up in Sugar Creek, OH (Amish Country). Aunt Wendy stayed with Emma for the 2 nights we were gone. On the last day of the retreat, and the day we were driving home, a major snow storm swept through the area. Daycare was closed, so Wendy had to try to work from our house while keeping Emma entertained. And it took us an extra 1 1/2 hours to make the trip home. Emma was good overall, but there were some sleep issues the first night, and she ended up sleeping on our bed both nights we were gone. (Thanks again, Wendy!)

7. So far February has been marked with a split lip and an ear infection. Emma got the split lip last Tuesday...chasing after her friend Austin who was riding a bike in the "Big Room." Austin stopped suddenly and Emma fell into the bike. Then, later in the day, she came down with a high fever. I spend last Wednesday at home with her (daycare regulations), but she acted completely fine and no other symptoms appeared. She was fine Thursday, too. Then, Friday, her daycare teachers told me she was complaining that her ear hurt, and then she woke up from her nap crying over her ear. We got her in to the doctor that afternoon and he took one look in her ears and confirmed a double ear infection. Now we're struggling with getting Em to take the medication which, unfortunately, has to be taken twice a day for TEN DAYS! What were those drug manufacturers thinking??? Don't they know how atrocious it is to get a 2 year old to consume icky medicine? She's had the equivalent of 5 days of medicine, which means we still have a dreaded 5 days ahead of us. Grrrr...

8. Emma is talking more than ever. She tells stories, reads books herself, sings lots of little songs, can count up to 20 (almost without error), knows her colors splendidly, does her ABC's pretty well starting with "N", definitely has a sense of humor, and is proving to be quite a strong-willed and stubborn child. We are having issues brushing teeth which has led to either numerous time-outs and spankings, or us pinning her down on the bed to get it done. She is sleeping through the night from 8am to anywhere between 6:30 and 7:10am, which is a huge victory for us. And she's using her "paci" less and less, hopefully to go without it altogether soon. Her hair is growing like crazy, and it flows beautifully down her back. I can't bring myself to cut it for fear of the little wave at the ends being gone forever and ever. We're a bit biased, of course, but we think she is just the most beautiful child! No matter how many cute kids you show me, I would insist she rivals them.

Well, this is certainly long enough. Hope you feel caught up. I'll try not to let it go this long before my next post.