Learning....

There may be a ton of pictures on this post. But, I enjoy sharing the people I love with all of you!

What have Emma & I been learning lately?

Sewing! I tried to make Emma some shoes. They turned out, but they are too small for her feet. Sew/So, (haha, I'm turning into my mother) they'll make a good gift!

Jay's parents came into town yesterday to enjoy a few hours with us. After lunch, we went to the mall and they bought Emma her first pair of real shoes!!!! We've only heard great things about Stride Rite's. So far, they've stayed on her feet! And, look at how excited she is to wear them!

Daddy putting shoes on. Look at the concentration in Emma's eyebrows!

Emma got a few other new things from Grandma & Grandpa Udey including a walker, some cute tops, toys, and adorable headbands. Here she is showing them off.

Standing! Emma is working on standing!!! She's getting better and better especially with her new shoes.

Don't worry, I stood her up like this. She can't do it on her own yet.

So excited!

Deals! I'm always looking for good deals here and there. Check out this good deal that was sitting in my cart today.

Mom = A chair! (among other things) She just looks so comfy!

Rest is good! This may be one of the only pictures I'll get of her sleeping. So, I'm in love with it. 

Last, for the good stuff: Messes are OKAY!!!!

Could this be Emma's "you-caught-me" look????

As the West Town moms, we read a book together and discuss it on Thursdays. It's been so amazing to discuss being a wife, mother, daughter of the King, etc with these women. Here's a little snip that I enjoyed from today's reading:

"Young moms live in the perpetual state of "what's next?" We are constantly looking ahead to the next stage of our kids' development: nursing -> rolling over -> teething -> sitting up -> baby food -> crawling -> finger food -> pulling up -> walking -> talking (sort of) -> getting rid of the pacifier -> two naps to one nap -> really talking (your ear off)  -> potty training -> etc. .......... If I can just make it to ____________, this will get so much easier. We mentally live in tomorrow while simply managing today. We forget to relish the charms of the present, allowing them to be overshadowed by our daily challenges........ You will never have this day with your children again. Tomorrow, they'll be a little older than they were today. This day is a gift. Breathe and notice. Smell and touch them; study their faces and little feet and pay attention. Relish the charms of the present. Enjoy today, mama. It will be over before you know it."

This book, "Out of the Spin Cycle" by Jen Hatmaker, has been so good for me! Every time I go to Target or Hy-Vee, an older woman will walk up to me and tell me to enjoy each stage my daughter is in. I'm working on it and this devotion reinforced my efforts. Somedays I'm so worried about getting my house super clean and getting this done and getting that done that Emma and I never even get time to sit and play together. Today, as you can see from the pictures above, we've had a blast. I think every toy we own was out on the floor. It was amazing to just watch her study each toy she pulled out and move it around in her tiny, little fingers. I think I'll focus on today and just wait for tomorrow and the next stage of Emma's life to come :) 

Cool Dude

Emma loves standing!! Most times she pushes her table and takes a little spill. This time she took a few steps.... she has yet to repeat this but it's a start!

Best way to start the pictures off, Daddy & Emma!

 I picked this hat up a long time ago for free at a garage sale. Emma has recently found it and plays a little bit of dress up with it. It just screams, "I'm a cool dude!" to me!

My FAVORITE pic of her in this hat! Straight from the 80's.

Yesterday was a beautiful day. So, Cara, Emma, and I did some baking and then Jay joined us in a walk around Jordan Creek Mall and even the pond outside!

While at the mall, we began searching for a hat for Emma for winter. She tried some on but no luck.

MMMMM...... Coffee and pumpkin muffins!

Jay helped lighted the load and used our baby carrier!! Emma loved it!!!

She looks so chunky in this picture!

DIY

DO IT YOURSELF. It is the kind of projects I'm into right now.

I recently made a skirt out of an old mens dress shirt. Super easy! I did the waistband a little different than the picture, but it was so easy! Shirt-2-Skirt Tutorial  It turned out great; I didn't take any pictures. Talk about a first!

Here's the DIY project I just finished!!!! 

I went to the thrift store and bought 2 black t-shirts.

After some cutting, sewing, and sweat (j/k), this is what it turned out to be!

A close up!

How I plan to wear it!

It's not perfect, but it kept me busy for a day or so. If you want to try, here's the tutorial! Shirt Tutorial

Our little bugger is moving around pretty quickly these days. If she sees something she wants, she's off. If you've never been to our house, we don't have any staircases. We have one step, one 1/2 step, and one little chunk that can be considered a 1/4 of a step. Emma encountered the 1/2 step yesterday and this was her response....

Well, it won't upload here... so here's the link to Facebook where it is.

Emma & the 1/2 Step

I love how her little butt gets a little stuck!

Then, this morning before we left, she conquered it up and down! 

Since yesterday was so beautiful, we spent some time outside!

She smiles so much with her eyes!

Last, Emma's newest habit! She mainly does this after she eats. Maybe she's trying to find any left overs on her face :)

Muscle Woman!

Emma is quite a strong little lady. Sometimes she'd rather do this than play with the toy the way it's suppose to be played with. Go figure. :)

Showing off her bling :)

Check out these cute shoes!

Jay thought they looked easy to put on her.... Hmmm

Emma is now learning more and more how to pull herself up. I had the camera on picture instead of video, so here are a few snapshots of her getting up there!

Yeah!!!

Most times when she wakes up, this is what I get to hear. I love it!

New Things!!

With the weather getting a little chillier, I have wore a sweatshirt in the mornings. Emma has discovered the hoodie strings! They kept her content and quiet for 20 minutes at Mom's Circle! Looks like I'll be wearing more sweatshirts while they entertain her!

Emma always enjoys time with daddy, especially when reading a book!

Our fall treat! Warm cinnamon rolls out of the oven and hot cocoa!

 Cara came over this past Sunday and spent most the day with us!

Emma's fun new thing to grab, your cheeks!!

Prepare to laugh.... Cara and I could not stop laughing at this picture!

I feel like she looks like a grown-up librarian!

That's more like it; little girl glasses.

Emma and mommy.

 Another new thing, Emma has been sucking on her top lip. I think it has something to do with her SECOND tooth coming in!!!!! She's a hoot doing it though!

Last, I have taught Emma something! When she's crawling on the ground and would like to be picked up I have her touch my hand. Most times she is crying and I make her make some kind of effort to come to me. But, here's a pleasant video of it.