August 2010

So August kept us just as busy as July.  Emma started her new school Sunrise Montessori and she is part of the butterflies class. Her teachers are Ms. Kelly & Ms. Barbara. Emma has loved going to school and usually prefers going over staying home.  A couple of times at pick up she has told me, mommy I want to stay at butterflies class, you go home and daddy will pick me up! 

In the middle of the month we headed to Maryland to visit my Mom and Grandmother.  We were joined by my Cousin Sarah for a few days.  It was a nice change from the hot weather here in TX. My mom and grandmother were thrilled to see Emma and we were glad to be there for my Mom's 55th birthday. My grandmother tried a hibachi steakhouse for the first time. A highlight of the trip was heading to baltimore and going to the National Aquarium. It was pouring down rain and we were soaked, I ended up buying a membership so that we did not have to wait hours in line.  Unfortunately we did not get to explore the Inner Harbor like I had planned but there is always another time! 

A week and half later we headed to cool and sunny CA for a trip to DISNEYLAND, Emma's first one there, but that's another posting.

July 2010

Wow! Where did July go?? It is hard to believe that its been 2 months since Emma's birthday. We had a busy July here in the Putman household. The most important thing that happened is that we welcomed a new member of the family: Brady Richard Putman, Emma's new cousin.  We are all very excited for Aunt Carlin and Uncle Damon.

Well, heres a recap of the month:
On 4th of July we headed downtown to the Round Rock Parade.  We thought it was time Emma got to see a good old fashioned hometown parade. She is used to the giant spectacles Disney puts on! The fireworks were cancelled so she & daddy just watched the ones being done by our neighbors.

We went to Kiddie Acres for the first time with Mom's Club and Emma had a blast. She especially liked riding the airplanes. She had so much fun we went back later that weekend. 

Next weekend we decided to head to San Antonio to try out Six Flags. Emma is a theme park champion so far but we have not been there.  As Six Flags go, this park is very nice and in a great area.  Emma loved the Wiggles World area where she rode on cars, airplanes, and buckets. We watched a couple of shows, rode the train around the park, the carousel, and played in the sprinkler areas.  The next day we got to see Grandma Sherry and Cousin Cathy. We had a blast hanging out with them. That night I went to the Michael Buble concert with Sherry & Cathy. He was terrific. 

We got to spend some time with mommy's good friend Aunt Amanda and her kids Andrea & Aaron. Even though I was tired, we went to lunch and to the pool on a very hot day. My friend Maricelle and her girls joined us at the pool that afternoon. It was such a fun and relaxing day for all of us. The guard was playing some awesome 70's & 80's disco/dance music so it felt like a pool party.  Emma was dancing and shaking her booty for all!

Finally we ended the month with a trip to the Dino Park in Cedar Creek TX.  Emma was pretty tired but did ok despite me leaving our food & $$ at the house. Thankfully Maricelle helped us out and paid our way, shared her food, & bought Emma a gift. She also drove which helped since I had to work that night! Emma loves dinosaurs but does not quite have the knowledge everyone else had about them. We are hoping to take her to Glen Rose, TX to another Dino Park, Dino Valley State Park, and Fossil Rim Wildlife Area this fall.

OHH, WE ARE FINALLY POTTY TRAINED!!! Well, mostly . . .

This August has us busy with starting a new school: Sunrise Montessori . . .

Pictures to follow

Emma's Third Birthday

Last year Emma got sick before her 2nd birthday so I went a little overboard this year.  It started with me taking pizza and cake to her 2 classrooms at stepping stone. All the kids and teachers enjoyed the treat. 

Then Ryan's family came into town and we had a small family party of presents, fajitas, and cake.

FINALLY, we invited all of Emma's friends to join us at the Arrowhead Ranch for pony rides and a petting zoo. Realizing how hot it was going to be at 3p in the afternoon, I decided to get the Snow Cone truck to stop by for a refreshing treat.  I had to work the 2 nights before the party so I was pretty tired and have a limted memory of it. Glad we have some pics and video to jog my memory.

Once again Emma refused to ride on a pony or even the stagecoach. She simply loved having friends around and petting/feeding the animals.  It was a great time and the snow cones were a great addition.  By the end of the party, it was overcast and some much needed rain showers took over.

Not sure how we are going to top this for next year?

A New Era of Sleep

So we have been putting off transitioning Emma from a crib to a toddler bed as long as possible. My theory was why ruin a good thing? At night if Emma is not sleepy yet she will crawl out of her crib & come running into the living room.  In the mornings she still would call out for one of us to get her.

Well, this am around 6:45 (mind you we did not go to bed until 10p & I nicely asked her to sleep until 8am Swhich she agreed to!) I hear her stirring. So I get up & find that she has met me halfway in the bathroom, Baby in hand!  Time to figure this all out! Things have been WAY to easy with getting her to sleep and now I feel we are about to be handed some real fun. 

Earning her Sea Legs

Umm Papa can I drive the boat now?

Papa I wanna go in there!

St. Simons Island

A few weeks ago my mom was visiting GA so we decided to make the trip down there as an early Mother's Day present to Grandma Kathy & Meme.  It was nice to see 2 grandmothers in one trip & we got to spend some time with my sister Aunt Erica and my friend Kim & her daughter Addy Ruth (another child whose mom is trying to give her a combined 2 name :).

The weather was great so spent one afternoon at the beach looking for shells and digging in the sand.  My sister is spending the summer living at beach shack (not really but its a tiny room on the bottom of a VERY nice beach house) & it has its own mini sand beach. So when Emma got tired of the water & jellyfish we headed up to the shade.  This was her first time at the beach since she was 9 months old & we were in Barbados.  Now she could spend all day there! 

Emma kept asking Papa about going out in the boat so finally on saturday we took her out in his smaller boat. The only problem was that this boat must be launched into the river & then we have to walk out to it.  At first we tried putting Emma in the boat & then walking out to it.  Well, Emma did not like that idea & then refused to get in it.  Dad reminded me that he had this same experience with another little girl about 33 years ago!!! So the next idea was for me to get into the boat & then he would put Emma in it.  After that it was smooth sailing. Emma kept reminding Papa to go slow but about 10 minutes into the ride she was moving around & wanting to help papa.  We pulled up 3 crab traps so Emma could see them.  Our ultimate goal was to find dolphins but we were not having any luck so Papa just drove around.  Then all of a sudden Emma stated she wanted to go IN the water soooo we let her. She practically jumped out of the boat but quickly realized the water was cold.  Dripping wet she got back in and 15 minutes later she wanted out again.  At the end of our journey we saw a dolphin but he escaped our viewing.  One of ways I convinced Emma to go was telling her it would be like the Jungle Cruise. For the most part we were in the marsh so it had a jungle feel to it.  She kept asking when we were going to see the Monkeys & Elephants!!!  By the end our biggest concern was going to be getting her out of the boat.  I see many more boat rides in our future!

Sweet Berry Farms

A few weeks ago I headed out to Marble Falls with some friends to go Strawberry Picking.  I did it back in 2007 about 2 months before Emma was born. Then again in 2008 when Emma was 10 months old.  We missed it last year because of working full time.  I was anxiously awaiting strawberry season to open at Sweet Berry Farms.  I had to work that night but it was SO worth the drive.  I was the most beautiful day and a gorgeous drive into the country with all the wildflowers in bloom.

Emma's First Trip to Sweet Berry Farms

Future Strawberry Helper

Emma absolutely loved picking strawberries.  I taught her to pick the red strawberries. "You pick the red ones, the green ones are not right (ripe)". She was very serious about finding them and even starting helping my friend Sara find them.  Emma carried the "heavy" baskets around moving them from place to place. At the end we enjoyed a strawberry popscicle and ice cream.  The only bad part to the day was having to rush off becasue I had to go to work :(