Little Bird - Big Talker

It seems only fitting that tonight I (finally) got a big video uploaded of baby Emersyn talking up a storm and being just as adorable as ever... See, today at daycare, Emersyn verbally said "please" to her teachers!!! She's been really starting to "talk" a lot lately - a little behind "normal" but still a little ahead of "normal for having such severe ear infections so often and for so long"... Anyways, Emersyn verbally says "thanks", "Ma", "Da", "more", "Maw" and a few other basics. She's still signing everything, which is great since things don't always sound like the actual word, but she is starting to use veral sounds a lot more. Today, Emersyn was asking for more at snack time and the teachers just couldn't move fast enough for her; they said they saw her signing please and were trying to get more to her when they just heard her little voice say "peezzz"!! Of course she wouldn't do it for us though.

So it does seem pretty fitting that, on a day when Toddler Emersyn says a new word, I get the video uploaded of Baby Emersyn really babbling like crazy. She was just about 2 1/2 months when this "old" video... and, as always, it's up on shutterfly with the rest of our videos and pictures. :)

More "Old" Videos

Man, I'm really getting on a roll here... and, more importantly, youtube is cooperating spectactularly so I'm able to get the "old" videos uploaded pretty quickly.

Unfortunately, our schedules have all been a little thrown off so I haven't gotten any new pictures or videos of Emersyn... or anyone else... but I promise to have some soon. At the very least, Friday the pictures from Sears will be ready for pick up so a couple of you will be getting them in the mail, and the Easter cards are almost done so you'll be seeing those too. But, yeah, it's not quite the same without the visual assult of today's pictures like you're used too! LOL! :)

Ok, so back to the "old" videos - Emersyn is just over 2 months old in all three of these. The first one is just her and Chris. Then the last two are of her talking... you'll have to excuse the sideways-ness of those two though. It took us a few times before we realized that the video doesn't flip itself right and that we have no way of editing it (we're still learning the very basics of photoshop for normal pictures so don't expect miracles with the videos) like we could normally just flip a picture to right side up. Still, the videos are cute - at least to us nonbias parents ;) - and it's a small reminder of how insanely fast Emersyn has grown.

These "old" videos and all of our other ones - old and new - are at www.theswaderfarmily.shutterfly.com along with all our pictures! Happy viewing!

New "Old" Video

Well, Chris is finally feeling better after the weekend from hell with the worst stomach "thing" known to man... Emersyn's better too, although we have no idea what was making her miserable. She's just back to a ball of sunshine and that's always wonderful. Brinley is a little fire ball of energy and is starting to resemble a bunny rabbit the way she bounces around in there. I don't know how else to describe it other than a little bunny bounce when she "kicks". The newest thing is that if Emersyn is in my arms or on my lap with me and Brinley moves, Emersyn pokes her sister back... It'd be really cute, them playing together, except that it's not really that comfortable to literally be inbetween them while they're doing it! LOL!

Anyways, here's another "old" video... This one is of a 2 month old Emersyn in her high chair helping me cook dinner. I've forgotten how easy things were when I could just let her sit there while I did things. I guess that happens when you're so used to chasing a 19 month old around nonstop and having to tag-team with your husband just to get dinner cooked though. Happy viewing! :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAMERON!!!!

We love you so much and are so proud at what a wonderful, incredible, and amazing boy you are. Emersyn (and Brinley) are so lucky to have a cousin as loving and sweet as you... And Uncle Chris and I are just the luckiest Aunt and Uncle in the whole world that we have you as a nephew! We love you! Have an awesome birthday!! ♥

Dobie Sings

Cuya picked up tricks pretty easily but Dobie was a little slower in the process. As a result, Cuya knows "finish", "up", "paws", "speak" and she used to know "crawl" in addition to the normal "sit", "down", "off", "stay", "wait", and "shake" that Dobie also knows. Heaven knows why Dobie never picked up "speak" since he's so incredibly vocal, but we did manage to get him to sing kind of on command... While I was maternity leave with Emersyn, her little bouncy seat got used a lot and she always loved music of any kind, which lead to me pulling one of the hanging toys on her seat a lot. The dogs spent a lot of time outside since it was so nice that summer, but Dobie happened to be inside one day when I pulled the toy for Emersyn. The result was... well... just watch...

Some "Old" Videos

Emersyn's not feeling all that great this weekend and Chris is absolutely miserable with a really, really nasty stomach "thing"... so one of the ways that I found to entertain a super cuddly and really fussy 19 month old was with some videos. Emersyn's so facinated by the computer anyways and I can hold her much easier (and longer) when we're sitting. Anyways, in the process of finding some video clips that might keep her occupied for a few minutes so I can sit down, I found a handful of videos that were never uploaded to youtube. I don't know why, I think we just forgot to do them when we started because we had so many "new" ones of Emersyn... Anyways, I've started the uploading of these because they were seriously begging for it. I know at least this first one you kind of have to watch sideways though; it took us a little bit to realize that we don't know how to edit videos like we can pictures so there's no way (that we know of right now) to flip/rotate the entire video... so yeah... Ok, so this first one is Cameron's Easter Dance. It's from Easter 2009, when we had only just found out that Emersyn was a girl and Cameron wasn't all that interested in Aunt Bean because of the baby in her belly! LOL!

This one is from when Kherington came in to Maryland to meet her baby cousin, Emersyn. Labor Day 2009 was a great weekend with Shannon, Jeff and baby Kherington... mostly, Dobie enjoyed having a baby to play with and give tons of big kisses to! Luckily, Kherington was more than happy to kiss Dobie and the result was this clip... On a side note, Emersyn was extremely confused by Kherington since the picture magnets on our fridge show a much bigger Kherington and that's what she's used to knowing.

I have a handful more that I'll try to keep uploading so be on the lookout... Both of these videos, as always, are on www.theswaderfarmily.shutterfly.com along with all the others and the bazillion pictures we have (which are slowly being back-logged just like these "old" videos!)!!

Last "New" Video

Finally, I was able to get this video uploaded... between not having the internet for a while and then youtube deciding it didn't like me, it took quite a few tries. It finally worked though, so you get to see Emersyn in action on the playground in our neighborhood... She seriously loves this slide and we definitely took advantage of the (all to short) gorgeous and unseasonable weather that we had. It's back to being cold again and Emersyn just doesn't understand why we can't go outside everyday like we were doing... hopefully the Spring weather will be back soon though!

This video and all the rest are at www.theswaderfarmily.shutterfly.com with all our pictures too! :)

Big Smile

So I told you that I had a video from the 15th of Emersyn "practicing" for the pictures this past weeeknd... I got it uploaded last night, and as promised happily parade the cuteness here now!! :)

I have another one from the playground on the 16th, but for some reason youtube keeps telling me there's an "unknown error" before I even get the title typed in... I'll keep trying though. For now, this super cute moment should make you smile. This one is also up at www.theswaderfarmily.shutterfly.com along with all our pictures!

Caught Up!! Yay!!

(Since the internet is finally back up and I can actually upload pictures, I'm going to backfill posts... that's about the only way I can think of to describe it. ;) So, I'll "title" each post with what day it goes too. I figure that's easier than posting a ginormous post with a weeks' worth of updates. So happy catching up!)

Woo hoo - this is my "real time" post! Yay! I still have two videos to upload, but I'll do that later this week while another show is on (right now it's the season premier of Dancing with the Stars so I'm distracted enough to upload and post all this at once! LOL!) but for now this officially makes me caught up!

Today the Verizon guy came to fix our internet... unlike the rest of the company, the Tech was unbelievably incredible and super awesome! But while he was working with Chris, Emersyn and I took a little walk to enjoy the fresh air and unseasonably warm sunshine. We had a quick dinner and, since it was so early, we were off to the neighborhood playground. This kid of ours just can't get enough of the outside and is just so happy to be running around playing. It's enough to make anyone love the outdoors too... or, at least, not dislike being outside! LOL!There are more pictures from today and the whole month in the March album at http://www.theswaderfarmily.shutterfly.com and a new album for all the Sears pictures from this weekend is up too! I'll get the two new videos there soon, but you can always check out the many other ones for a little smile-enducing-entertainment! Happy viewing! :)

20 March 2011 ~ Part 2

(Since the internet is finally back up and I can actually upload pictures, I'm going to backfill posts... that's about the only way I can think of to describe it. ;) So, I'll "title" each post with what day it goes too. I figure that's easier than posting a ginormous post with a weeks' worth of updates. So happy catching up!)

After pictures with Ali, we headed over to my parents' house and Emersyn got to play outside in the beautiful weather again... I don't know where she gets it from, but she's an outdoor Bird for sure!!! All the pictures are on at http://www.theswaderfarmily.shutterfly.com and so are the videos - which I have two more coming soon!

20 March 2011 ~ Part 1

(Since the internet is finally back up and I can actually upload pictures, I'm going to backfill posts... that's about the only way I can think of to describe it. ;) So, I'll "title" each post with what day it goes too. I figure that's easier than posting a ginormous post with a weeks' worth of updates. So happy catching up!)

This morning we did our Sears pictures with Ali and they turned out beyond amazing! I swear Ali works miracles since it started out like the whole session was going to be really rough... That's why we love her work though!! (Watch for Emersyn's "big smile" that we've been practicing!)

Easter Outfits Spring Outfits Cameron's Special Birthday Pictures (it's hard being a big cousin... sometimes you have to deal with so much, like a little one trying to sabotage your special pictures!) Emersyn's Bonus Outfit (yes, we bribe her with fruit snacks... it works though) All these (and, yes, a TON more) pictures are in the Sears Spring Pictures album at www.theswaderfarmily.shutterfly.com so check them out! There's a lot of really great ones of both kids! :)

17 March 2011

(Since the internet is finally back up and I can actually upload pictures, I'm going to backfill posts... that's about the only way I can think of to describe it. ;) So, I'll "title" each post with what day it goes too. I figure that's easier than posting a ginormous post with a weeks' worth of updates. So happy catching up!)

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!!! :)

Things were crazy today, so we didn't get a chance to get a belly picture or even an Emersyn picture in her St. Patty's Day shirt... I'll make it up to you later with Emersyn's picture and we'll just pretend it's from today. LOL!

So our 24 week check up went ok... Brinley's heartbeat sounds great and I'm measuring "good". We talked to the doctor about Brinley's due date moving and, well, it wasn't exactly good news. I have to go get another sonogram as a "growth scan" to see how she's measuring. If she's consistant and growing well, our due date will stay the same. If she's growing and looking healthy but still measuring small, they'll discuss moving my due date. There is also a chance that I can be considered high risk because of Brinley's size, but they'll discuss that after the sonogram.

That doesn't exactly make me feel all warm and fuzzy, but Chris swears that the doctor seemed to only be calling for the growth scan to appease us. We're both just hoping that "we just have little babies" since Emersyn was a few days behind the whole time and has since been averaging just under 50% for everything. We'll see though. For now, we'll go get our growth scan on 5 April and see what the doctors say at our next appointment on 11 April... where I also get to do the glucose/blood test.

16 March 2011

(Since the internet is finally back up and I can actually upload pictures, I'm going to backfill posts... that's about the only way I can think of to describe it. ;) So, I'll "title" each post with what day it goes too. I figure that's easier than posting a ginormous post with a weeks' worth of updates. So happy catching up!)

Another sick day... I'm feeling much better although still not totally "normal" (whatever that means right now). Emersyn seems to be feeling better too, but she's not back to her normal self either. We did go to the doctor's and we need to do the drops in her ears until Friday. Technically, she doesn't have an ear infection because the tubes are doing their job of draining everything which is keeping it from building up and causing an infection. Still, the drops will make sure that there's no possiblities of getting one. Chris is, well, feeling worse and is totally miserable... hence the reason I'm staying home again so that I can watch Emersyn and let him rest a bit.

The rest came in handy because it was nice enough to take a little walk over to the playground in our neighborhood and Chris got to play with Emersyn (as I'm having more and more trouble keeping up!) in the gorgeous weather... These are just a couple of Emersyn on the slide - her most favoritest thing now and something she does all by herself - but there's more pictures at www.theswaderfarmily.shutterfly.com from the whole little trip!

15 March 2011

(Since the internet is finally back up and I can actually upload pictures, I'm going to backfill posts... that's about the only way I can think of to describe it. ;) So, I'll "title" each post with what day it goes too. I figure that's easier than posting a ginormous post with a weeks' worth of updates. So happy catching up!)

Today everyone in the house was sick... but that just meant that we got a special breakfast (donuts!!) and a little extra time to practice for our pictures at Sears this weekend with Ali. I have a video but I didn't get to upload it yet.

"Emersyn, show Mommy your big smile.""Emersyn, can you stick your tongue out?""Emersyn, let me see your silly face."
Priceless!!!!

13 March 2011

(Since the internet is finally back up and I can actually upload pictures, I'm going to backfill posts... that's about the only way I can think of to describe it. ;) So, I'll "title" each post with what day it goes too. I figure that's easier than posting a ginormous post with a weeks' worth of updates. So happy catching up!)

Today was such a gorgeous day. We went to my parents' house as always, but Emersyn got to take her new bike for it's very first ride. It was quite a hit... but so was the giant cardboard box that Pop's new lawn thingy came in... and the swing set out back... and the sidewalk chalk... well, it was just a fun day all around!

Little Miss Movie Star on her new bike
The coolest kids ever in the bestest toy known to mankind!Drawing with sidewalk chalk with Maw Maw... guess who's totally into chalk now?!?!On to the swing setEmersyn and Cameron on the swingsEmersyn actually did the lean back and forward like Cameron was doing on the swing... and she got really mad at Maw Maw for holding on to her. I tried to get video but apparently I didn't push the button hard enough or something so you only get this awkward looking picture! LOL!Two of Emersyn's favorite things - a slide and her Cameron! As always, all the pictures are up in the March album at http://www.theswaderfarmily.shutterfly.com along with all our videos. :)

Gymnastics!! :)

Although at 19 months old today Emersyn is still the youngest in her gymnastics class by almost a month, she's really keeping up with the other kids. Today she was not nearly as into it as she normally is, and she was very insistent on Mommy being with her the whole session. Yeah, that was really awesome for me and my now huge belly that really should have it's own zip code at this point... but the good thing was with Chris and I both out there we actually remembered and were able to get some pictures to share with everyone!

First, let me just say that Emersyn didn't use to wear the little leotard. It's starting to get a little warmer out and Old Navy had it (in her size no less!) for $10, plus I had a coupon so... yeah... Anyways, this is one of the many obstacle courses that they set up for the kids to maneuver. For the bigger girls in Emersyn's class, they follow the little "cards" to put their hands on and roundoff off things or jump from one piece to another; for the smaller ones, it's just fun to crawl all over and helps with their balance.We also do the balance beams... some are real low like this one with obstacles they're supposed to step/jump over and others are much higher up like the real big girls use.Another part of a different course has a slide that you walk up...... to another balance beam...... and after doing a roundoff or donkey kick off the mats around the beam, there's a tunnel to go through under the beam...... that leads you up a ladder...... and after going across another balance beam, you get to The Pit. Normally, the pit is for the big girls to throw themselves off a piece of equipment into but the little kids get to play in it too. Our class gets special mats to help them move through the pit too.And then it's on to another piece of the obstacle course, where Emersyn had to climb up a few steps (a giant mat) and forward roll a couple times down another big wedge mat... we did this twice but Mommy only caught the second and less-enthusiastic attempt on camera.
We start and end the class in a circle on our carpet squares, and today we got to do something new - the parachute. Emersyn showed me her carpet square and how she stretches while the other kids were still coming over...Then it was time to play with the parachute... Emersyn kept trying to run under it, but she held on and did everything just like she was supposed to do (as long as Mommy kept up too).