Poll Results: What will Emma Claire do when we take her to get her first haircut?

I wasn't really sure how well her haircut was going to go. I had no clue what she was going to do. We got there at 11:00 and JJ's was a great place. They had slides and tunnels, a kitchen, video games, movies, riding cars to get your haircut in. They had all kinds of things that sparked her interest. Until it was time for the haircut. The lady that was going to cut her hair was named Clarissa. She was so patient. Emma Claire went between 3 different cars trying to decide which one she wanted and then she didn't even want one at all. We ended up doing the haircut in Mommy's lap. I sat in the chair with her facing me while Clarissa cut her hair. A cool side note was that Clarissa had the same birthday as Emma Claire! It didn't take two seconds and then she was done. The most drama came when they wanted to take her picture for her first haircut. She didn't want to have anything to do with them taking her picture. We did eventually get one of her playing in the kitchen. You will have to check out the pictures and video of her first big girl haircut.

Scream bloody murder and not let them do a thing.                                                                2%
Be too involved into all the toys and rides to even know they are cutting her hair.                  67%
Make Mommy hold her in her lap while they cut her hair.                                                     14%
Only let them get half-way through her haircut before she decides they are done!                  18%

Total votes: 57

Comments:


comment by Poppa & GG on 02/27/2009

Emma Claire: Mommy & Daddy found the neatest place for your first haircut and we had so much fun going with you.

Emma Claire Turned Two!!!

Yea!! Emma Claire turned Two!!! She had such a wonderful day. Last night Poppa and GG came in town to be here for the big day. At 1:00 we had a party in her classroom at school. We took cupcakes, a balloon and made treat bags for all of her friends. When we got there her friends had made a sign for her and hung it on the door. We had such a great time and Emma Claire ate 3 mini cupcakes. (Let me just say the next day she had a tint of pink in her diaper from all of the icing. ; )


That night we invited our friends Katie and Leah, along with Poppa and GG, to go to Chucky Cheese. It was perfect for Emma Claire. We ordered Pizza and had 70 tokens to spend on games. Emma Claire and Leah ran from ride to ride putting 'money' in and Daddy ran around playing games too. I'm not sure who had more fun. We were there for a good 2 hours and Emma Claire was worn out. It was the perfect treat for her special day.

I am excited to start the adventure of having a big two year old baby girl.

Happy Birthday Emma Claire!!!

Comments:


comment by Poppa & GG on 02/27/2009

Emma Claire: Poppa and GG had sooo much fun celebrating your 2nd birthday with you. It will always be a special memory for us. We LOVE You BIG!!!

Emma Claire's 2nd Birthday

We had Emma Claire's Birthday Party at School with her friends.

Poppa and GG got to come in town to help us celebrate!

We finished the night at Chucky Cheese for Pizza and Games.

Aunt Katie and Leah also came to help us celebrate Emma Claire at Chucky Cheese!

Cute Stories about Emma Claire

Cute stories about Emma Claire over the last several days:


**On one of my green days Emma Claire was spending a lot of time with me in the bathroom. And let me say she did very well entertaining herself. She decided that she needed to take one of her babies potty. She opened her little potty lid and so carefully placed her baby on the potty. She said "potty, okay", "You want a book", "I be right back, I go get a book, okay?" In a few minutes here she came back with a book for her baby. She laid it in her lap so perfectly and told her baby to go potty and said, "I Cean". She went into the living room and came back with her vaccum. She quickly vacuumed all the rugs in the bathroom and then squatted down in front of her baby and said "Did you go potty? Yea, Yea, Yea." She picked her up looked in the potty and said "There no potty in there!"

**The other night we had a dinner at Benjamin's work for prospective students. After the meal they had someone getting up to speak so Benjamin took Emma Claire into the restroom because it was impossible to keep her quiet for the whole speech. While in the restroom Emma Claire was again entertaining herself. Benjamin said she would go in each stall, shut the door, give herself a spanking, and say "Obey. Okay. Okay." I'm not sure if she was making fun of her mommy or just reminding herself to obey.

**We were home the other night and Emma Claire started saying "Nanny, Praise Da Lord. Praise Da Lord." We finally figured out that she was singing 'If Your Happy & You Know It Praise Da Lord'. Nanny (Ms. Shelia at church) had taught her to sing it that way and when she would say 'Praise Da Lord' she would put both hands up in the air. It was so cute.

**Emma Claire has learned how to say her blessing before she eats her food. It is the greatest thing ever. She will fold her hands and say "Dear God, Thank You For Food. Amen". The way she says it is even better. Imagine listening to an Old Southern Baptist Preacher say a prayer and that is just what she sounds like. "DEAR GOD. Thank you for food. AaaaMMMMeeeennnn".

**Emma Claire loves to climb. The other night in our living room she had laid down her chairs that go with her table and started climbing on them. To herself she started saying, "No climbing, it's dan-grous". We had no clue where she had gotten that from. After questioning her I asked her if she climbed on chairs at school and her teacher Mrs. Kelly told her not to because it was dangerous. Of course she said yes, so guess we need to be limiting our monkey time at home.

**On Wednesday nights Emma Claire has started going to Puggles at our church. She LOVES it! She will talk about Puggles all week and want to go to class with Mrs. Ashy. On the first night of her class she told us that God made the Stars and then would break out singing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." It was all we heard for a week. This week she learned that God made EVERYTHING and it is so funny because she can't say it without throwing her arms around in the air showing what all God made. It is so impressive how quickly she has caught on after just going for two weeks.

**RaRa sent Emma Claire a package the other day that had a pair of new tennis shoes in it. She thought they were the grandest things. She walked around school the next day pointing her toe out and saying "See my new, new shoes?" She is such a hoot. The funny thing is, is that my classroom is all the way on the other end of the hallway. It took us about 15 minutes to get there because she had to stop and show everyone her new, new shoes.

Random February Photos

Emma Claire, I Love You

Emma Claire, Mommy is so sorry that it has been several days since I have updated your website. Mommy has been very sick with your baby brother/sister and hasn't been able to sit long enough to type anything. There hasn't been much going on the last few days except for your First Art Show at school which Mommy and Daddy LOVED going to, you cutting your two years molars and dealing with your yucky nose, having our friends the Baldwin's (Boone's Mommy & Daddy's) going away party, and you being sooooo sweet to Mommy while she has been sick. There are not many things that can put a smile on Mommy's face when I am feeling a little green but you seem to always do just that. I never knew that I could love something so much until you and your daddy came along. I can't even wrap my arms around how much God must love us when I can't even comprehend how much I Love You. I will always remember the sweet little kisses you have given me and said "Mommy feel better", you rubbing onmy tummy telling your brother/sister to go Nite-Nite and rest, you hugging Mommy's tummy and giving your baby kisses, and sticking your head in the bathroom to check on Mommy and simply saying "I Love You, Mommy". Emma Claire, Mommy will never ever forget those moments and I pray that I will always do everything I can to show you just how much I Love You.


I Love You, My Sweet Baby Girl,

Mommy


Comments:


comment by Chelsey on 02/24/2009

Ok so i'm in tears from reading this one! So sweet! Emma Claire you have a wonderful mommy who loves you so so much! You were so sweet to take care of her while she was sick. I love you both!

comment by bq2 on 02/14/2009

I think this is the best journal entry ever. Emma Claire, you have an awesome mommy! She does so much for you and for me, and we don't thank her nearly enough. I love you both so much!

daddy

comment by GG on 02/05/2009

Emma Claire: You have the BESTEST Mommy! Poppa & GG are sooo thankful God made her for you.

comment by RaRa on 02/05/2009

Sweetest thing I have ever read Ashley!! You have a special mommy Emma Claire! Thank you for taking care of your her. RaRa loves BOTH her babies!

Poll Results: How should we give Emma Claire her Christmas Presents?

Well, for our family Christmas we laid her gifts out "Santa Clause" Style. She woke up (well, we had to wake her up) and she came into the living room to all of her presents.

BUT, for our family Christmas's everyone had her gifts wrapped so she got the best of both worlds!! : )

Either way she got lots of presents and she is still getting great use out of them. : )

Wrap them all and let her open them?                 74%
Give them to her one at a time?                            6%
Just lay them all out for her to see?                     20%

Total votes: 35

Comments:


comment by RaRa on 01/21/2009

Each Christmas will be more exciting and more eventful. We loved seeing the expression on her face as she tore into each and every gift. Fun times!! Good memories!! We love you Emma Claire!

Emma Claire's 1st Snow

We got 4-6 inches!

As Emma Claire Grows so Is her Understanding

On Tuesday Emma Claire had a rough day at school. Ended up that there was this huge misunderstanding and she was VERY upset and had to be taken to the office. Her teachers thought it was because she had been told "no' that she couldn't do something, but it turned out that she had gotten hurt by another child in the class. After the matter was resolved she returned to class, back to herself, and with a scratch under her eye. Although she had gotten hurt she did lose the privilege of watching movies at home (her most favorite thing right now) for the rest of the day because she acteddisrespectful toward her teachers when she was upset. When we got to school on Thursday she went to each of her teachers and told them that she was "sorry for being disrespectable". : ) That leads us up to where this story begins...


I asked Rachael Davis who was a party in this story to journal it for me.

"I was walking down the hall, and Brooke stopped me to ask what I thought she should do. It was circle time, and all the kids in the class were sitting in the circle except Emma Claire, who was sitting at a table. Brooke wanted to know how she should handle that. After a few minutes' discussion, we decided that since she was sitting quietly at the table, participating, and not distracting other children, they would let her remain there. Of course the goal is for her to eventually sit in the circle, but not worth a major show-down. We also talked about how the major point here is for them to encourage Emma Claire to use appropriate language when she doesn't want to do something. Instead of saying "No," the goal would be for her to obey first, and then ask her teachers if she could sit at the table instead - a lofty goal for any 2 year old, but definitely something to shoot for!

I kept walking down the hall, and a few minutes later, I passed their classroom again, and Emma Claire was sitting in the circle just as sweetly as you please.

I asked Brooke how in the world THAT happened. She told me that moments after I walked away, this conversation transpired:

Emma Claire: Mrs. Brooke, I not obeying. I not sitting in the circle. I disobeying my teacher.

Brooke: Emma Claire, come talk to me about that. Do you want to obey?

EC: Yes. I want to obey my teachers. I sit in the circle.

Brooke: OK, Emma Claire. Go sit in the circle.

Yay, Emma Claire!!!"

Comments:


comment by GG on 01/17/2010

Emma Claire: I am sooo proud of you for wanting to obey your teacher. You are my sweet DOODLE DUMPLIN!!

Here Comes Baby # 2

Last Wednesay the test came back positive!!! I was pregnant!!!

I knew something had to be up because I had been very tired and achy. I am very consistant with my monthly and it had come and gone so I knew, knew.

I waited until Friday night to tell Benjamin the big news. I went and bought Emma Claire a "I'm the Big Sister" t-shirt to unveil the news. That night we were meeting Benjamin at Applebees for dinner so I dressed her in her shirt and put her coat on over it; thinking Benjamin would take her coat off as soon as her saw her. After about 45 minutes of waiting in line and playing at the table he finally took it off. I had been videoing Emma Claire doing something funny so it was perfect. I asked him to take her coat off, but he refused. He said that he was enjoying her playing with his hair at the moment. What?!?!?! So... I just left the camera running. I don't think he knew I was still videoing. After a minute he took her coat off and read the shirt. "Are you Pregnant?!?!" He was soooo excited. Right now I believe the due date will be around September 18th unless the doctor changes it.

On Saturday, our niece was having her birthday party in Mississippi so big thanks to our brother and sister in-law they let us share the news with them then. We were talking to everyone at the party on the webcam and then held Emma Claire up with her shirt on. They Screamed. Everyone seemed very excited.

On Sunday, I let Emma Claire where her t-shirt to church over her dress. (After I washed it, of course) It was very funny because no one read it. Benjamin had to announce the news in church for everyone to know. They were all very excited and had been asking for weeks when we were going to have another baby.

It has been very fun sharing the news with everyone. A quick story, even before we explained the whole baby thing to Emma Claire she knew. On Saturday we were sitting on the couch and she started rubbing my tummy and saying "My, baby". It was so amazing! I know that she is ready to be a big sister.

Please pray for our new baby growing inside of me, and for Emma Claire. I want to make the most out of the next few months that I have with she and I. I love my baby and I want to make this the best transition possible.

Comments:

comment by Jon and Lindsay on 01/16/2009

YAY! We are so happy for you also! We would go on and on and on about how wonderful this addition will be for you and your family, but we wouldn't know!! Fill us in sometime!! HA! We love yall (and the new one of course)!!

comment by GG & Poppa on 01/16/2009

Emma Claire! You're going to be a BIG SISTER! How exciting!! You'll be able to teach your new baby all kinds of neat things and I know you'll be a BIG helper for your Mommy & Daddy. We Love You SO BIG!

comment by MARY ANN ROBERTS on 01/15/2009

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

WE LOVE YA'LL!

comment by RaRa on 01/14/2009

WOOHOO!! To say that I am WAY excited is an understatement! I have already begun praying for the transition from 1 precious baby girl to 2 precious children. God is Good and you are a TERRIFIC mother (and daddy). It will be a wonderful time for us all! We love you very much!

Emma Claire's First Reward

Emma Claire finally did it!!! She filled her reward jar and was able to get a treat. We took her to Wal-Mart and she picked out a Zoo Barney Movie. She was soooo excited. It was her first Barney movie and she loves to watch it! Barney isn't our first choice but it is something she loves and it was her reward for a job well-done!! Way to go, Emma Claire!!!


Comments:

comment by GG & Poppa on 01/16/2009

Hooray Emma Claire!! We're so proud of you. Tell Mommy & Daddy you want your next reward to be a trip to Mississippi!! We love you SO BIG!!

comment by Grandpa and RaRa on 01/14/2009

Good Job Emma Claire! We are proud of you. Obeying and helping out Mom and Dad is also obeying Jesus. Good Girl. We love you!

Christmas 2008

"How deep the Father's Love." This is the title and the first line of one of my favorite songs. Of course, the Father in the song is God the Father, but I can't help thinking about my own position as a father and wonder "how deep this father's love?" Christmas is my favorite time of the year, and this year was another great one. Emma Claire was a blast. She had her few days of fussiness after a long drive and a lot of crowded houses, but I can hardly blame her for that. She loved opening presents, getting presents, handing out presents, and playing with other people's presents. It was a lot of fun to watch. The best story from Christmas 08, however, is not about presents. It's about Ashley and Emma Claire by the Christmas tree. Ashley was showing Emma Claire the ornaments on the tree and she pointed at Santa Clause. Emma Claire had no clue who Santa was, but when Ashley pointed at Jesus EC knew exactly who He was. Now, we're not the boycott Santa type (though it is way overdone in many families), but what a blessing that Emma Claire knows already what Christmas is really about. I couldn't have asked for a better Christmas gift; I've gotta say I really love my girls! "How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure. That He would give His only Son, to make a wretch His treasure." And may we always make Him our treasure.

 Emma Claire was an angel in the church's Christmas Program.

 We're headed to MS!!

 Comments:

comment by GG on 01/08/2009

Emma Claire: I am sooo thankful to know that your Mommy & Daddy love you so much that they make sure you're learning what the REAL reason is for the Christmas Season.