Emma Victoria: 2 1/2 years old

2 1/2 years old!  How is this going so quickly?!  We love our Emma and all the fun and giggles she brings us at this age.  

At 2 1/2, Emma loves…

her brother!

Emma always wants to do exactly what Isaac is doing, whether or not she is actually capable.  :)  This morning he climbed the tall ladder on our playset that goes up to the tunnel, and she was right behind him.  After a few steps up, she realized it was way too tall for her, so she raced to the shorter ladder and met him at the top.  Emma also loves sitting by Isaac at the table and in the car.  (I love this picture where they're holding hands in the car--she is always reaching for his hand!)

….swimming….

Emma and Isaac are taking swimming lessons once a week all year, and Emma usually isn't too thrilled with her lessons.  She tells her teacher, "I no like it."  Isaac was almost done with this week's lesson, and Emma said, "My turn now?"  And, she smiled at her teacher!  A definite first!  

Apart from swimming lessons, though, Emma loves to swim.  Her favorite is to swim to you from the step, and then she turns right around and swims back to the step.  Emma would easily do this 30 times in a row.  She also jumps (falls) in the pool.  :)

…her daddy….

Every morning, she asks, "Where's Daddy?"  Oh, she gets excited when Daddy comes home!  Emma loves when Daddy puts her to bed each night because he rubs her back for such a long time.  Emma loves having her back and her neck rubbed.  She often walks up to us, lifts up her chin (like this picture), and asks, "Wub my neck?"  

…her mommy…

"I sit on your lap, Mommy?" 

"I help you, Mommy?"  

"I do laundry, too, Mommy?"

I love my little girl!

…dressing herself…

Most mornings when I go into Emma's room to get her up, I find her waiting by me for the door with her pajamas off and wearing a new outfit.  Lately, she has even taken her diaper off and thrown it in the trash!  

Here's one outfit she put together on morning.  She put her turquoise swimsuit over her striped shorts.  And, she has socks on.  Her outfits always include socks.  If she can happen to find a pair of Isaac's socks that she can pull up over her little knees, that's even better!  :)  (I have found her sneaking into Isaac's room to find a pair of his socks.)

…talking…

Wow!  In the past few months, our Emma has become QUITE the little talker.  In addition to how much Isaac talks, there aren't many quiet moments in our house…and I wouldn't want it any other way.  I love hearing them chatter.  When I got Emma up this morning, she said, "Good morning! Fank you for getting me up!"  

She asks questions all the time.  When I dress her, she asks, "Did you wash this?"  If she sees me eating, she asks, "What are you eating, Mommy? I have some?"  Today at lunch, Emma took a bite of her sandwich and said, "I love this one, Mommy."  

But, my favorite thing to hear her say is, "Nuggle me, Mommy?  Nuggle?"  ("Nuggle" is Emma's way of saying "snuggle".)

A few more pictures of our favorite 2 1/2 year old!

helping Uncle Mike and Isaac with the level

A few nights ago, Emma was in Dave's lap but was crying on and on.  "I want my mommy," she cried.  Dave told her that she had to stay in his lap for books and prayers.  She cried even harder.  "I want my Uncle Mike!" she sobbed.   Emma must have been very exhausted, because she is usually so happy to be in her daddy's arms.   

One night, I was cleaning up after dinner.  Emma found the tupperware of steak fries and sat down on the floor with them.  She looked at me and asked, "Where's the ketchup?"  Ha!  She makes us laugh!

making messes!  :)  

Emma, we love you!