DDS IDOL

Each year the dental school puts on their own spoof of American Idol. The students/contestants compete for a scholarship. I think this year it was $600. They usually write up their own words making fun of the school/professors/patients/etc. to popular songs. I think Brett needs to use his creative writing/singing skills and win us some tuition $$!

Anyway, it's a fun....VERY entertaining night to say the least (one kid guzzled....SERIOUSLY....a WHOLE bottle of Listerine in the beginning of his performance....I'm not sure how he was even standing up straight to finish his gig!! Crazy?! Stupid?? Yep!

Even Emri enjoyed herself...free dinner, glow necklaces and noise makers...what kid wouldn't want to be there?!

So.... there was a group of five D1 students that did a full-on choreographed Beyonce dance to "Single Ladies" which most of you know is Emri's FAVOROITE song. The only bad part about this was their costumes! Tights...black leather leotards....and one purple latex glove! They were pretty brave! I didn't film it....but I know someone that did! ha ha! If you want to see it, go HERE! (you'll have to scroll down a little ways to find the video) But don't say I didn't warn you for weird content! Emri didn't know what to think about them! I sort of felt like I needed to shield her eyes!

Flash too bright for those little eyes?!?!

Matt, Averi, Kate, Emri

The kids got a balloon on the way out and it has not left Emri's side since last Friday! As you can see....she cannot even eat without it!

snacks, stacks and puppies, OH MY!

Can you say SUGAR RUSH?!?!? The secretaries at the dental school clinic gave Brett a blow pop for his birthday (how generous)! It's been sitting around the kitchen...so I unwrapped it and Emri went to town! That face just cracks me up!

She was soooo happy! Don't worry...she didn't eat the whole thing (much to her dismay) and I brushed her teeth after! haha!

Emri is really into stacking things lately (ie baby food as pictured, and her blocks that she got for her birthday). Hmmmm, maybe glass jars aren't the safest option for stackables?! Get off my back, I'm a first timer mom! ha!

So...is there some kind of a time frame to be done with baby food? She's so mellow in the mornings that she would rather me just spoon feed her than have to pick something up from her tray and put it in her mouth (heaven forbid)! So she eats baby food fruit and baby cereal for breakfast.

Today we took our car to get the oil changed. Conveniently, there is a pet shop next door to Midas, so we waited there! It was E's first time to the pet store and she LOVED IT! As soon as she saw the puppies she was oohhing and ahhhing and squealing! The employees thought she was so adorable and started bringing puppies out for her to touch and before I knew it they were locking us into one of the corrals and telling us how great certain dog breeds are with kids....and how we needed to take one home! I didn't tell them about our pet fish (and how I struggled to even bring that home).

The little fluff ball in the picture above is a Pekingese pup. Very Cute! Emri was surprisingly gentle with her! Emri also got a kick out of this English Bull Dog (Brett really wants one of these). They were jumping simultaneously at each other through the glass! Silly!

No announcements though....no new additions to the family....we left empty handed! Don't worry, Herman the fish is still alive and well and is doing a great job of fulfilling our pet needs!

14 Months and Feelin' Great!

The past couple day's Emri has been feeling back to her silly, fun self! THANK GOODNESS! Uncle Bridger was in town for business. Luckily he got to hang out one night with us! Emri loves to walk through our backyard to feed the ducks and geese! She stands at the back door and quacks till I take her out!

And she is very insistent on the WALKING part! Can she really be this big already?!

14 MONTHS: This is her belly!

There's her tongue! (Yes, she's obviously feeling fine now)! It's fun to quiz her on her body parts. It amazes me what she remembers!

Emri usually gets tired of her toys sometime during the process of me cooking dinner and ends up trying to climb my legs! So, I pulled out a can of paint and made a really big deal out of her new special "seat" while mom cooks!! She actually fell for it....as long as I was constantly feeding her "tee" (treats) or "naa" (snacks). What a character! We'll see how long she likes her special seat! ha! Oh, and yes...that is a slight shiner on her right eye...she fell into the full length mirror, then the next day at the park fell on the wood chips and got a scratch on pretty much the same spot.

Here's a short clip of my favorite word of hers! She CANNOT .... CANNOT say it without growling! And I cannot hear it without laughing! Maybe growling all the time is what made her throat sore?? Or did she get sick from her new love/hobby of LICKING the soles of any shoe she can get her hands on! What?? Who's kid is she? Gross!

Just for journaling purposes...at 14 months Emri:

• is trying to copy so many words we say...in her own little language of course!
• signs "Please"
• is getting pretty consistent with stabbing her food with a fork and feeding it to herself
• usually still takes 2 naps and sleeps anywhere from 12-13 hours at night (when she's not sick of course...then it's 2-3 hour intervals...eghhh.)
• is walking really well and starting to lose the "frankenstein" stance to keep balance while doing so
• favorite foods are PB sandwiches, "craah-kaaahhs" (graham, ritz, animal, goldfish), pears, grapes, bananas, strawberries, mac n' cheese, turkey lunchmeat, cheese, yogurt, broccoli, corn, peas, and green beans.
• loves to give kisses and squeezes
• No longer uses a bottle (not by her choice, but moms)!! I felt bad because she got sick on the 3rd night without it...I really wanted to give it back to her for comfort, but decided against it. Am I mean?? She didn't seem to really miss it, but she definitely doesn't drink as much before bed now.
• loves to go on walks and play at the playground
• has lots of bumps and bruises from being so independent....and somtimes clumsy!
• loves babies...especially Bexley! She gets SO excited and has to be right next to her whenever she's around!
• is still trying to figure out if she wants to be Right or Left handed
• likes to pull her books out and "read"....i love handing her a book and asking her to read it to me....she'll jabber on and on while she nods her head!
• has added monkey and cow to her animal sounds
• when asked, points to her eyes, ears, teeth, tongue, arms, legs, hair, fingers, piggies (toes), cheeks, and chin.

11 pm

Sadly, our 11 PM's have looked like this everynight since Wednesday....sitting out on the porch in the cool air trying to help Emri breathe a little easier....or shutting ourselves into the bathroom to create a "homemade sauna."

The nasty croup pulled a sneak attack on her during her afternoon nap Wednesday....totally out of nowhere! Nights are when it hits the worst....it feels like we have a newborn again.

Emri goes back and forth between Brett and I as who she wants to hold her or rock her to sleep (the only up-side of her not feeling well is being so cuddly)....I sometimes feel bad that it's not always me she chooses, but smile at the same time that she loves her daddy so much. He's actually been rocking her for the past hour and a half because she's coughing so much she won't nap.

Please nasty, sickie bug go away so my sweet, smiley girl can be herself again.

And so we're not such zombies around here anymore :(

Brett's Birthday Weekend

Brett had to be in clinic all day on his bday...so we waited to celebrate when he got home and then throughout the weekend!

When Emri got up from her afternoon nap we had some quality family cuddle time...

Then, Brett opened his presents with E's help of course! Friday night we went out for a steak dinner at Texas Roadhouse with the Nydeggers and Hagbergs (I was so busy stuffing my face I forgot to take a picture) YUMMY!

We like to do breakfast in bed for birthdays, but Brett didn't really think he'd enjoy B in B on Friday at 5:30am before he got up for school, so we did it Saturday...which actually ended up being "breakfast in the living room." Emri didn't get up till almost 8, so we all got to sleep in a little!

Saturday night we celebrated with a BBQ at our place....Lucky Birthday Boy got to do the grilling! I love that it is warming up enough for BBQing. MMMMM!!

Bretty and Me

Tate, Boston & Isaac

Heather and Brandon

Emri, Kara and Bexley (I can't believe how grown up E looks next to Bex)!

Amanda, E, Samantha

Making a wish!

And it's not an Ohio BBQ without a game (or 20) of cornhole! Landon & Brandon

Dallin & Brett

Brett requested that he end his bday celebrations this year with a guys night....and a Pay Per View UFC party!

What a fun weekend!