Fall 2011

Austin's been great! We're actually pretty busy, hence the lack of blogging. Here are a few recent pictures. We did a trip to Georgia.

Cowgirl Emory discovered candy during Halloween and she LOVED it. Everyday for several weeks she asked for, "More condies???"

A Cupcake Day

When I was a kid and had a bad day my mom always made me feel better by taking me out somewhere. Usually it was Los Tios, but there was the occasional Olive Garden visit for the yummy breadsticks.

Today is rough. Emory has had a cold for a week, hasn't been sleeping well, woke up at 5:30, fell on her face and got a bloody nose at 7am. So now her nose is not only sore from tissues, but crusted with blood. She coudn't nap because of the cough, and got up from the crib sobbing and miserable. So I did what my mother would do.... bribery. I went through the list of all the things that MIGHT make her happy: Chick File, Elmo, visiting daddy, wearing boots, a cupcake??? And she bought it. A slight smile. I started to bake, but the sobbing started again so we took off for a trendy little shop nearby and hurried home to eat it since I left the oven on. I bought a $3 cupcake that tastes a little like vanilla chalk, but she's happy and it's worth it. She is presently eating it with the spoon she insisted on.

Took this over a month ago. Is there anything better than naked porch dancing?

Emory insisted on wearing goggles and keeping them on. She also likes to do that with her bike helmet.

Going to the chapel

We are in the middle of visitor season, which I love, being an E on the extrovert scale. One of our recent visitors was Caitlin, a 22-year-old adventurer, who was traveling the south by planes, trains, and automobiles. She visited the coolest spots: New Orleans, Charleston, Savannah, Wilmington, Dallas (well, one not so "cool"), and Austin. Her trip made me hunger for the old days when I did many a random road trip- eating pickled pigs feet in Virginia, rolling down grassy Tennessee hills off of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and trying to understand rural North Carolinian when I locked my keys in the car.

But for now, I'm getting a whole new adventure in Toddler Land. Caitlin is a photographer, amongst other talents, and she took some great pictures of Emory. The top three pictured are hers. Emory had a cold, was snotty, drooly, and not-so-happy, but it was a glimpse of her new sassy personality.

Grandmama and Papa Coley are here, and Emory finally got to go to the sandbox- something Mommy has been avoiding, well, since childhood. I'm not so into dirt.

Catherine may use my veil for her wedding so we had it out. Emory makes a pretty cute baby bride. She wears those beaded necklaces all the time. She's into all things that are choking hazards.

http://caitymurphy.wordpress.com/2011/10/05/baby-emory/#comment-126

Go to the above link for more of Caitlin's pictures...

A different perspective

Here is a typical Sunday night in our kitchen from Emory's height. Jen Kilgo's really cool boots are included.

Little Flirt

This video makes my delay of posting totally worth the wait. Pictured in this is Emory and Beckett who was with the family visiting us last weekend. We were out at Freddie's for dinner, playground time, and live music. In case you haven't heard, Emory really likes boys, as demonstrated here. Her flirtation goes so well to the blues music in the background ("It's a Man's World"). Beckett was really shy and intimidated by her bold flirtation, but by the end of the dance she had him eating rocks from her hand.... literally.

18 months

Eighteen months happened on September 12th, and man-oh-man do we have a toddler! She is busy, feisty, and even calls herself "Drama Mama". She's been a big talker for quite a while, and the things she's saying keep me smiling. Today was a pretty big sentence: "Daddy ride bicycle, too!" as she went on her first ride in the trailer seat. She lets us know exactly what books she wants to read, when she wants to brush her teeth, and when her incoming teethe hurt and she needs pain relief, "Mouth hurt ouch, Advil?"

She's really sweet most of the time, but she can be pretty defiant, too. Below she's holding a rock from the bar/playground/stage area in her mouth looking at me knowing she's not suppose to do that. She holds it until I finally get up, and then spits it out at the last second. So gross. She is also not at risk of being bullied...or at least putting up with it. In fact, we have a bit of a hitting problem. It usually appears with teething or sleepiness, but also when ever she feels it's necessary. For instance, a three or four year old girl shoved past Emory on the playground the other day. Emory looked at the girl, then me as if to say, "HOW rude? Who does she think she is?" When the girl pushed past her a second time Emory turned before I could stop her and shoved the girl from behind with both hands and all her strength. I grabbed her and moved away before it got ugly- not sure whether to scold her or give her a high five.

Dancin' away to a blues band at Freddie's kid friendly happy hour.
The Zilker Zepher...the little train in Zilker Park in Austin. Emory was not scared of the tunnel or the bridges- if anything I just had to worry about keeping her inside the car. When it was over she said, "Again? Again??"
At the zoo in Denver banging the bongo (before we moved).

Updates

So far behind.... we've been really busy here in Austin. We're having so much fun and it seems to be a great fit. Brent continues to enjoy and be challenged in his new job. We've found a church and plan on joining soon. I made friends at the playground, and Emory is invited to play groups and I'm invited to neighborhood Bunco. We've had quite a few visitors come through recently and have enjoyed that, too.

Meet Liam Waggener! Trey and Elecia's son is adorable. We got to meet him at Canyon Lake over Labor Day weekend. In case you can't tell, I've totally forgotten how to hold a new baby. That's why I look awkward.

Do I need my putter or the 9 iron? Fyi, Texas is too hot for swim suits.

If Aunt Catherine, (AKA to Emory as "Aunt Kitty") is throwing a party I need a good outfit.

This will do.