Looking for your opinions

I'm am using my daughter's cuteness to get your attention.... :) I'm doing wine research. No, really. We're throwing Catherine and her fiance, Ryder, a party in a week and I am looking for cheap wine recommendations. I mean, I hope to be a good host with lovely offerings, but we do have a budget here. What are your favorite wines for $8 or less. Thank you.

While conducting online research I noticed that all the wine bloggers get wine samples sent to them. I think maybe Pickles, Wine and Burnt rice needs to expand to more than a family scrap book if free wine is involved. I can also write about which rice is least likely to burn....

This is Emory with her H&M Wayfarers from Vegas!

Emory has a new good buddy named Bell. Bell is a hoot and has such good manners. She even brings you her plate to the sink when she's done with a meal. I didn't know that was possible for a 2-year-old.

This is a good pic for my ghetto phone! Emory really looks like a little girl here. My first attempt at pig tails.

Baptism

Emory was baptized on January 8th. It was a really sweet day. She was very accepting of the water when it was dumped by the handful on her head. Overall, she did great.

But there were a few moments like the one below when I actually felt pain in my face as she yelled, and wiggled, and tried to go hang out with all our friends and family that had come to see her. She really put on a show. Now I know why they call it "INFANT baptism," because it's a little more challenging with toddlers. As she saw the babies with the water, she not-so-quietly said, " That baby SWIMMIN!" She said it one by one for the 5 other babies, and calmed down as she approached her turn...

The Coleys came for the big day. Also, her cousin, Coley, turned 8! She got to ride down with Papa and Grandmama from Atlanta. She and Emory had a very special visit.

We have this ONE tooth that is driving both Emory and me crazy. Push through. Push through.

Our little baby is quickly becoming a Little Miss Sassy Pants. She loves dressing up, pretending to go to the beach, singing, dancing, and talking. She narrates the day from when her eyes open until she falls asleep. She often wakes up in the middle of the night to have crib party, sing and play, and then finish her sleep cycle.

This is from a very creative "construction" birthday party. Emory really liked painting the house.

Christmas morning with Romeo.

Cheeeeese.

"Ohhhh, Elmo. I LOVE him. I LOVEEEE him. Ohhhhhhh."

Just a few little pictures from the holidays. Emory was soooooo excited when we happened upon Rudolf, until she was inches away from him. Then she was very unhappy. And the second we left him, she wanted to go back and asked for him for the rest of the night.

If you want to get a cheesy smile out of Emory just give her a Sesame Street character. Only, we have them all so please don't.

Teaching the girl to drive....

Holiday Spirit

Buddy, my dad, came over to help decorate the tree. Emory insisted that we all keep our hats on. You can't see him, but Brent's in reindeer antlers. And she's named that cute dog she's holding, "Puppy Jesus".

Rocky's a great co-pilot.

Emory's really into changing diapers. Puppy Jesus got his chance here.

"Ohhhhh! Mommy, like da shoooeeesss."

Drama Mama

Emory has taken to calling herself a "Drama Mama". She gets it from Brent. She sings all the time. Today it was, "Going to see Daddy....going to see Daddy."

She's very into emotions, especially "sad". "Mommy, Emory saaaadddd. Emory got tears....." wait for response and, "Emory HAPPY!!!!" The other day we went to Jumpoline, a big warehouse with a bunch of trampolines, with moms and kids her age from the neighborhood. At one point a boy fell on his face. He sat up and was a little woozy. Emory ran over, kneeled by him and said, "Oh, Marshall!! What happen??? Marshall sad. Oh. Come HERE." She stands ready for a hug. Marshall, who does not talk much yet, was understandable overwhelmed.

"Mommy!!! Go pool, PLEASE?? Got Emory's hat!"

Kissing Cousins

A few more Halloween pictures and a couple from Thanksgiving with our cousins.

Cousin Haven. Cousin Lincoln.

Some babies get hysterical in costume. Some go comatose.