TGIF

It's Friday and I am loafing about like I have nothing to do. It's mama's day off and I am enjoying doing nothing. I haven't taken any pics this week which I know is terrible but here's the 411. Emme is doing well. She has added some foods to her diet including green grapes, chicken and meatballs. She has a good appetite and continues to do really well at daycare. She loves them and vice versa. I have no worried leaving her each morning. She has added some words to her vocabulary and now moos, clucks and baaaaaaas with the best of them. She has started to count when we walk up the stairs. I showed her she is two years old on her fingers and she keeps trying to get it right. We have a nice weekend planned including time with grandma so mama can go out on Sunday for a little grown up time. Last night she slept pretty much the whole night and in her OWN bed. She still won't go to sleep in it but once there she stayed. She woke up this morning, yelled, "mama", flashed her grin and we cuddled before starting the day. I am hoping we are on the road to better sleep for us both.

"Schtick" and Catch-Up

My kid does "schtick" aka funny comedic acts. Just a few funnies... A week ago my mom was watching her and had to use the bathroom. As is common, Emme will follow and occupy herself while you occupy yourself. Grandma realizing there was no more toilet paper started to look around. Em exclaimed "oh" and ran out of the bathroom, only to return with her baby wipes for grandma. Last Sunday, we went to the grandparents in NJ. Emme tends to be on the gassy side but tonight apparently mama was. I made a little toot and she checked to see if I needed to be changed. Luckily I didn't. This week she learned the sounds of the cow, sheep and the chicken. In TJ Maxx on Friday she saw a large tote bag with a cow print and proceeded to MOOOOOOOOOOOO (for quite some time). In short she charms everyone, everywhere. She waves bye-bye and blows kisses (we're working on being a little less kissy) to those who make her feel warm and fuzzy. She is doing GREAT at daycare and I think she's surely a favorite. Thursday and Friday she didn't cry and Friday she waved and said "bye-bye mama" and blew me a kiss. Friday she saw a pediatric dentist and they were great. She wailed the entire time until it was time to leave when she blew kisses to the dentist. Her teeth are pretty good except for one chipped one. All her molars cut recently (one since we're together) but they're not down yet so she is still having teething pain. Fortunately she loves to brush her teeth and wash her hands and face. After her appointment I took her to my office so she could see where mommy works and we put her pictures in my office. She met (and charmed) a bunch of people. We had a good weekend and enjoyed a mini road trip yesterday to Connecticut to a restaurant MP and I like and we went to the state park which is also a beach. She ran on the sand, chasing birds and having an all around fun time with her best bud Ra-Ra.

Just add one American

Emme became a citizen when we landed at Newark airport on July 2nd but her certificate of citizenship arrived yesterday making it legal and official. Of course the picture on the certificate is that same AWFUL one of her screaming, taken in Guangzhou. To celebrate the newest American we're going to bake goodies for her to bring to "school" tomorrow. ****** My back is out so the day we bake is subject to change

Workin 9 to 5

So today I went back to work which is sooner than I originally planned. Boy was it busy. If I had waited, it would take me a year to catch up. Emme cried this morning for 5 minutes when I dropped her at "school" but otherwise had a good day though NO nap again. She was out cold in less than 5 minutes but fortunately we live 10 minutes away. I am beat but we got out of the house timely this morning. She didn't eat much for breakfast or lunch but I think she's teething. I have a call to a pediatric dentist for an appointment to see what's going on in there. On another note, grandma-ma bought her these jumbo lego type blocks and BOY did she build a tower last night. An architect perhaps?

ELMO'S BIRTHDAY PARTY

Leave it to my gal pal to have a birthday party for Elmo, just in case Emme hasn't ever had one. She she got out the candles, we sang Happy Birthday, had cheesecake, Rugalach and Dawn's yummy brownies.

ATT? Sprint? MCI?

Emme discovered the phones in the room in Chongqing but this one was her favorite because it was easily accessible next to the bed. I had to unplug it and she was not happy that it had no sound. She was so serious and for hours would run back and forth to check for a dial tone or other sounds. This was day three together.

First day together

On our first day together, we stayed in the hotel room while our travel group went to the Great Wall. Emme and I were laying on the bed with a few guests and I was trying to see if she liked her Giraffe. I had bought the first one when I received PA and sent it in a care package (Raffi). At the suggestion of a few people, I bought a second one (Jaffi) and brought it with me. She was clutching hers when she entered the lobby and I had mine. Since that day she has rejected them both. This is a reminder of the first time I heard her really laugh.

First Sight

Before heading to China I bought a Flip Video Recorder in the hopes of capturing some moments. I didn't really play with it much or figure out how to upload and post. Anyway here is a clip of meeting Emme in the lobby of the hotel in Beijing. Grandma had just given her a cell phone in an attempt to win her over.

That's my girl

Emme slept the entire night albeit in my bed. I got up first, made her breakfast and then woke her for her scrambled eggs and crackers. She then got washed and dressed (a battle) and we left for daycare aka school. I stayed 10 minutes, said my good-byes and left. I called an hour later and she was fine, no tears. I called after lunch and she did well. She was yawning so they took out a cot for her which she covered with her sheet and blanket and took off her shoes and socks. She napped for an hour and woke up happy. When I arrived at 4:30 she was all smiles and yelled "mama". It does my heart good to know she had such a nice day with no apparent problems. To celebrate we went to TGIF with friends and came home for a bath, a story and bed (I hope). I on the other hand came home after dropping her off, went back to bed for an hour and then cleaned some, showered, got a manicure/pedicure and a battery for my watch. All in all, a good day. We are looking forward to the weekend; BBQ and swim with friends on Friday night, time with Ra-Ra on Saturday and a BBQ with her grandparents and Uncle Marc on Sunday. It's nice to know I am figuring out what works for her. I knew she missed being around other kids and suspected she would do well in daycare. Let's hope I'm right! Since I had not initially planned to start her this soon, I am still home in case any needs arise. I will go in a few days next week and then go back FT the week after. Emme is showing her "no I won't go to bed mama" face.

School Days

Today Em and I had a date to visit her daycare aka "school". It's a small group licensed program for ages 2-5. It's a very sweet little place, clean and the staff are very nice. The plan was we'd go visit, have lunch and if all went well we'd start tomorrow 1/2 days. We walked in, she shook her head NO and within 5 minutes asked to go down. She sat at the little table with the other children and ate her lunch sans bib. After lunch she washed her hands and face and went outside to play. I told her I was going to work and said, "bye-bye" and she shook her head no. I tried again and she waved to me. Since she seemed okay I left and waited outside the fence for 10 minutes. She cried (more like a whimper) but I saw the teacher holding her. I called after 20 minutes and again 2 hours later and she was fine. After the initial few minutes she joined the others and had a nice day. They gave her a cubby, a sand pail with her name on it and I gave her a photo of the two of us to hold. Bear went to school today too and had a lovely time. He did not get a pail. (it's dressed in yellow but she thinks it's a boy).