Taking a nap

Emma at the Renaissance Faire, September 17, 2005

Emma on her walk-behind toy

Emma loves to play with her walk-behind toy. It makes noise when you touch it, and she can walk behind it or sit on it and bounce.

She is getting to be such a big girl. Last night she took a record 7 steps in a row towards Mommy. She would probably take more steps at once, but she just gets so excited she can't stand still. She is also progressing verbally. We can make out different sounds she makes now for "Mommy", "Daddy", dog, ball, duck, dolly, and possibly even "brother". In addition, she is able to drink very well from a straw, and will eat toast or even a grilled cheese sandwich when we go out to eat!

Emma took her first steps today!

Emma took her first real steps today at daycare! She has occasionally taken one step away from the furniture recently or stood by herself for a few moments but until today has not done any more than that. Hopefully we'll be able to capture some video of her walking!

Holding a balloon at Krystal's graduation party

Patty cake!

Eating cake at Aunt Karen & Uncle Bill's anniversary party

At Grandma's House

Archived photo from December 6

It is hard to believe how much Emma has grown!

Sleeping in her crib

I love peas!

Emma's first ferris wheel ride

Eating goldfishies at Chung's

Emma's first Tigers game

July 9

A picture I forgot to post from January 18

After swimming at Grandma's house

This is one of my favorite photos! She's all snuggled up in a beach towel after swimming, and munching on Cheez-Its.

Bath time at the cabin

We decided to give Emma a bath in the wash basin at the cabin. It's the same bathtub that I apparently took baths in as well as both Aunt Karen and Aunt Vicki. Emma loved it. She got to pound on the side of it with a tin cup, and splash around and have a great time.


Emma loves her bath!


Emma taking a bath in the old wash tub at the cabin, June 26, 2005.


Mommy and Daddy giving Emma a bath.

Traverse City, June 2004

On a hot summer afternoon, we went to the beach to play in the water of Traverse Bay. Emma loved it! She splashed and crawled in the sand, and seemed to really enjoy the water even though it was a bit chilly. The sun was out and the temperature in Traverse City hit a record high of 94, so we didn't spend much time out in the hot sun, but Emma still had lots of fun!


Traverse Bay, as seen from our hotel.


Emma playing in Traverse Bay, June 24


Emma loves the water!


Emma playing in the sand in Traverse City.

Father's Day at Grandma and Grandpa's House

Today we spent the afternoon at Grandma M and Grandpa M's house for a Father's Day lunch. Emma gnawed on a teething bagel outside on the deck, then after lunch zoomed around the living room with Uncle Aaron on a Mickey Mouse 'big wheel' bike. Emma can't quite ride the big wheel by herself, but she can now crawl very quickly, and can even pull herself up and cruise around furniture. She seems to have a pretty good sense of balance, although this afternoon Grandma S came over and Emma fell while standing next to an end table and bruised her cheek.

At the doctor's office, June 14

Emma went to the doctor for her nine-month checkup today. She is still in the 90th percentile as far as head size, but is in a much smaller percentile as far as weight and body length. Everything checked out just fine!

Sleeping on Mommy's lap

Emma plays in the sprinkler

Crawling June 2

I can crawl!

As of Sunday night, Emma can crawl! She started crawling while we were staying over at the Holiday Inn in Grayling. She doesn't seem nearly as easily frustrated now as she used to be when she would lay on her tummy. Tonight I snapped these photos of her in the living room, crawling to get her dolly. She can occasionally even crawl over to something, like the coffee table, and then pull herself up to a standing position.

She's also started becoming more mobile in general... up until now, she wouldn't willingly roll over onto her back from her tummy, but now she has no problem doing it. In fact, quite often she will move from a crawling position to a sitting position as though she's known how to all along. It's amazing how fast she has grown these past 9 months.

Emma loves to swing!

This is probably one of my favorite pictures of Emma so far. She was SO happy to be on the swing set at the park in Presque Isle. For her, I think this was the highlight of the weekend!


Jordan gives Emma a little push


Abbi, Eric, Jordan and Emma have fun on the swings in Harrisville Harbor Park during Memorial Day Weekend

Emma and Mommy visiting the Old Presque Isle lighthouse 

Emma's not too sure about the grass.

Very first haircut

On the way to get her first haircut! 


You can really see how long her hair was getting in this photo. In a couple of places it was nearly to the middle of her back. She loves to ride in her stroller, by the way.  


Emma sits on a carousel horse for her first haircut at Carousel Cuts.  


She sits very still for the trim. There was a lot to see in the salon... including a Disney movie on TV! 


Emma's hairstylist has to work fast before Emma pitches a fit or decides to eat the carousel horse! She never fussed or cried at all the whole time. What a big girl! 


Emma, sitting in the grass at our house, just hours after we shelled out $25 for a 3-minute haircut! (Did you notice the very stylish belly-button ring t-shirt she is wearing?)