Ahhh the joys of the flu

So, here is the reader's digest version of the past month. I got sick, started feeling better, then Emmy got it. We spent 4 days where her temperature was the only thing either of us discussed. We were so worried we would end up back in the hospital with her. She got better thankfully.,
Then in some weird mutation, I got it back and spent a week at work constantly losing my voice and blowing my nose. Fun stuff when you work in a call center.

Now we are all feeling better and just waiting for Keith to come down with it. So far, he's managed to avoid it.

Other than the crazy germs, everything is good. We have decorated for Christmas and Emmy asks daily if Santa has come yet. She's just a bit excited LOL.

I have attached a video of her singing "Fifteen" by Taylor Swift. She absolutely adores this song. She knows how to find it and play it on her Dad's computer which impressed me to no end.

Halloween 2009

The days leading up to Halloween were full of a very excited Emmy telling us tales of spooky ghosts and introducing her to some classic Halloween TV specials like,"It's the great pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Keith and her carved a pumpkin (he carved, she said, "Make it a happy pumpkin, Daddy!"

She went as a Princess this year, which she was very excited about. Keith and I took her around to about 5 houses this year, and she did perfect! And she didn't even try to go into the houses like last year LOL!

The Wiggles invade Prince George

On Saturday, the event that Emmy had been counting the sleeps down to finally came. That would be the Wiggles concert, of course. To be honest, I was kind of dreading it as the last concert we went to (The Backyardigans) was so terrible that Emmy wanted to go home at intermission and we had to convince her to stay. So, I was expecting the worst.

And I cannot express just how wrong I was. Yes, internets, I am admitting I was wrong.

This was no cheap production. The sets alone were beautiful and colourful. There was no guy dressed in black that we had to pretend we couldn't see operate a puppet on the stage. *cough*Backyardigans*cough*
The Wiggles themselves were energetic, charming, funny and proved themselves to me anyhow that they know how to entertain.
Emmy had a great time, was clapping along, woohoooing after the songs and singing and dancing. I have to admit, I had fun as well. I was never once bored and the 90 minutes flew by. It was a great family afternoon out (Keith came home early to come with us).

I have added some pictures and video. The video is of my favorite part where Emmy sings along.

Things I will miss when she grows up...part 5,71

As infuriating Emmy can be at times, this is such an incredible age as she is such a little person now rather than a baby or even a toddler. She comes out with things that are so mature for a 3 1/2 year old!

Some of my recent favorites are:
-When I pick her up from daycare, on the way home she says, "So, how was your day?". She asks Keith as well when he gets home.
-She asks us to turn up music in the car and she sings along, which is the cutest thing ever.
-She asks where my coworkers are. Apparently she is concerned they work too hard and too long. LOL
-The nights she comes and sleeps in bed with me. There is nothing better than snuggling with my baby girl.
She recognizes Keith's work, my work, and the "Princess castle" aka the Sikh temple as we drive by them. She has only been to our workplaces a couple of times.
-She has an incredible memory. She was telling me yesterday that the book I was reading was from our neighbour.This is true - when I broke my ankle back in 2007, our neighbour dropped off a bag of books to keep me entertained while being laid up. It's not like we talk about it often, but she remembers!

Here are some pics and a short video from her most recent swim lessons.

Fall in Prince George

I have absolutely NO complaints about our fall so far. We have been enjoying a beautiful late summer, even hitting 30 degrees C last week. 30 degrees!!!

This weekend has been more normal as fall is making it's way here with blustery, cold winds. You will notice in the pics that Emmy is sportin' fall attire for PG - sandals with a winter jacket LOL.

October will be a fun month - Em starts swim lessons again, The Wiggles are coming to town, and "Where the wild things are" will be released to the movie theatres. This was one of my most beloved books as a child and I will admit, I am excited to take Emmy to the movie.

Here are some pics from today...

Swimming Lessons, Part Two

Emmy officially passed "Sea Turtles 2" last night and is officially a "Salamander". She had to repeat Sea Turtles 2 the last time, as she just wasn't showing her comfort in the water. She also was the youngest in her class and it was her first lessons ever. However, repeating it was all she needed as she did great this time. Her comfort levels with blowing bubbles, putting her head under the water and jumping in have all improved greatly. Even Keith said last night that he saw a huge improvement from last time he went.(He attends the last class each time). She will start her next lessons on Sept 29, 2009. I am also hoping to put her into a dance class and/or a gymnastics class but I am awaiting for our new Leisure Guide to come out to see what is offered. Keith is not so excited when I mentioned gymnastics...after all, she in 50% my DNA, but I just calm him with the fact that I didn't start breaking bones until my 30's*GRIN*.

Here are some pics from last night...

2009 PGX

This afternoon, we took Emmy to this years Prince George Exhibition. To say she had fun would be an understatement. Such a difference from last year. A. She is a year older and just that much more aware, B. it was a gorgeous day, unlike last year.

We had some fair food for lunch and then Emmy went on two rides. It was the first year she got to try the rides and makes me wish we had a bigger fair where she could have tried more.

We toured the animal barns, but Emmy just wanted to get back to the "Fishy ride", so it was toured quickly. Emmy got another ride on the fishies and even won herself a stuffed duck at the duck game. Daddy won her a mini guitar at another game.

I have to admit, I have fond memories of my Dad at the PNE when I was young. My room was always filled with HUGE stuffed animals won from the games. My dad was a wizard at the baseball into the basket game, although now I think, "what didn't I know at that time?" since I tend to be jaded about my youth now. Ahh, that's a whole other post...lol

Bottom line, Emmy had lots of fun, we spent lots of money without much to show for it and she had more sugar than she's ever been allowed before. Sounds like a great family day to me.

Here are some pictures and video...
Emmy on the fishy ride




And Again...




And yet again...





on the fire truck on the car ride



with her goodies from the fair

NOTE: The only kid screaming (even in joy)is Emmy lol

I don't want to jinx it...

But the weather for the past week has been beautiful!! We have been outside as much as we could be to take advantage of it. The weekend has just flown by with the gorgeous weather and being outside. Emmy is still enjoying her swimming lessons, and did learn the hard way on why you don't run in the change rooms as she fell hard on Thursday, but was fine - just lots of tears and hugs. Didn't even get a goose-egg..Other than that, everything has been good. Good news? We have had a fabulous week. Bad news? Absolutely nothing witty to say. So here...look at my kid instead...LOL
I think she's pretty cute!!!

Swimming Lessons

Last week, Emmy started her first swimming lessons. She is in "Sea Turtles 2" which confuses me as she has never been in Sea Turtles 1...oh those wacky lesson names!
Anyhow, her first lesson last Tuesday, she played shy the whole half an hour, but still threw a fit when it was time to go. Thursday's lesson she was much more social, and interacted well with her instructors and keeps asking daily if she has swimming lessons tonight.

Here are some pics...

Another Optomitrist appointment

I took Emmy for her check up on her eyes since getting her glasses. All was going well, and then the optometrist said Emmy would need a patch as she has a lazy eye. What????? Since when????? He mentioned nothing of this last appointment!

Images of my daughter playing pirate for the next few months went through my mind. I mean, come on now...she was in a brace for the first 6 months of her life, now needs glasses and a patch????

My initial panic was for nothing, as Emmy passed the sight test the second time with absolutely no hesitation. Sometimes, a 3 year old just doesn't want to tell you what the pic is Doc...she can be a bit moody.She's 3!!

So, all is well, Em doesn't need a patch and her eyes are working well with the glasses.

Lactose Intolerant?

Emmy has never (since switching off formula) been a big milk drinker. It often stressed me out as I would offer milk consistently, but she would not drink it. I gave her calcium and vitamin D enriched orange and apple juice instead of milk, figuring she just didn't like it. I also gave her appropriate calcium supplements depending on how much juice/cheese etc she had consumed during the day.

The past week, I have discovered she will drink flavored milk, her favorite being strawberry. Eagerly, I pounced upon this as I could control the amount of flavoring/sugar that she was getting in the drinks.

Coincidentally, this past week, she also has had more stomach issues this week. I have been trying to figure out if it is just a bug or whether it is something else.

Today for example...I have changed 3 poopy (nasty scale of 10+)pull-ups. Em only wears pull-ups when she sleeps at night/nap time - so to have 3 in one day is nasty! She has complained twice that her tummy hurt today and she has had 3 cups of milk today in total (breakfast, lunch and snack). So I am wondering if she is reacting to the milk or just has a bug? She is not acting sick,no fever or sluggishness etc which leads me to believe its the milk. And then my neurotic mind starts thinking maybe the reason she wouldn't drink milk before was that it made her tummy hurt but didn't express it? And by me flavoring it, she thinks it's a different drink??

So I will maybe switch her back to juice for a few days and see if that changes things? Gosh, will I ever feel secure I know what I am doing at this parenting thing???

"Where did it come from?"

"Why?" phase passed? Check.

This weekend, Emmy has entered into a new phase. She asks where everything comes from. I do mean everything. From the food she is eating to the shampoo I wash her hair with to the grass on the lawn. Everything. Anything. Cannot escape the questions.
Ah, I kid about trying to wanting to escape the questions. It is cute and it's all learning. It's just how many times can you say something came from the store? Or from a friend? Or from the store?

I admit I have started to mix it up a bit and answer "China" or "Auntie Poppy's" to keep myself fresh and excited about the questions. It doesn't phase her in the least either way.

Optical Appointment

Emerson went to the Optometrist today for her first check-up. She was referred from Northern Health as she didn't pass one portion of her eye check-up at the preschooler health day last Saturday. On their referral, she passed everything except they noted her left eye was not at a passing level. Today, it was determined that Emmy needs glasses, and a pretty strong prescription at that. Since I wear glasses and have since I was 14, I am not terribly surprised, but am a bit sad about it. I was truly hoping she would get to miss out on that 'treat'.

I worry that she will be teased in elementary school. I was never teased for my glasses, as I was older when I got them. The amount of teasing I got in elementary school about my weight...I shudder... Kids are merciless.

So we picked out some cute frames and paid for them (ouch!) Thankfully, my insurance from work will reimburse $200 which is 2/3 the cost anyhow. Thank you, insurance! I just got paid yesterday, and I'm broke already - daycare, car insurance, and now Em's glasses off the one paycheck. OUCH! As Keith always says - you can't take it with you.

Holidays, dentist and more...

I have been home with Emmy for the past 11 days as her daycare was closed for holidays. It has been utterly fantastic to have this time with her - waking up when we were ready to, not to an alarm - having the time to spend together. We went swimming twice and she is signed up for lessons for June. We also went shopping, had lunch out, and just enjoyed the time together.

On Saturday, I took her to a development check put on by Northern Health. Emmy was tested at the 42 month level (she is 38 months) and she scored above average in all categories (fine & gross motor skills, problem solving, and communication) which is fantastic. The only thing she couldn't do was say her full name(first, middle and last) as we have never taught it to her - just her first name obviously, and she couldn't throw a ball overhand (we always encourage underhand). Her vision/hearing was fine. They did recommend an eye test as they noticed something with her left eye, so we are heading there next Saturday.

I took her for her first dentist visit today which went perfect. No cavities and Emmy was an angel for the dentist and hygienist. She had her first cleaning completed and laughed when she had to use the suction - it was very cute.

We are back to the grind tomorrow - back to work and daycare. Makes me a bit sad but I know I am lucky to have a job that has such good hours, and EDO days (every second Monday off with pay) to give me that extra time with her that other working Mom's may not get. I am thankful for that.

Emmy's first driving lesson

Easter Sunday

Emmy's Easter Basket full of toys, and the basket to collect eggs

I have to tell you, this day has been just amazing with Emmy. I could not have asked for a better one at all.

Emmy slept with me last night, as she has been requesting lately. I don't mind at all, as it gives me a sense of peace to see her and to hear her sleep soundly beside me. We watched Dora the Explorer before drifting off to sleep.Keith, as usual was snoring on the couch downstairs.
This morning when we awoke, I bathed her and then we went downstairs where I had hidden 9 eggs with toys in them, 3 Dora eggs and 6 Little People, for Em to have a small egg hunt. Then she opened her Easter Basket that had a Princess theme,. It had a Princess dress, tiara, earrings, ring and wand. It also came with limited candy which was a big selling feature for me!

Emmy also got a new game for her Leap Pad My First Computer, appropriately a Disney Princess one which Em absolutely adores. Keith then took her up to see Grandma for a couple of hours (I didn't go as I am not feeling well).

I rested as they were gone, and the first thing Em did when she came home was hug me and tell me that she missed me. Awwwwww. Then later as I was on my computer, she said that she wanted to sit on my lap because she loved me. Double Awwwwwwwww.

My little girl makes me so happy.

Emmy and the Easter Bunny

Click the picture to enlarge


As you can see, Em's picture with the Easter Bunny went far better than last year's Santa picture. However, Emmy still was not too excited about it once we were there. All week, I had been telling her we were going to visit the Easter Bunny on Thursday, and she was extremely excited. Then when we got there, she got all shy and wouldn't smile. She also looks like she is trying to get away from the bunny. Despite no smiles, she is adorable and was so cute afterward when she got her bunny ears and was pretending to be a bunny and hopping around.

Backyardigans Concert

On March 18, 2009, Keith and I took Emmy to see the Backyardigans live in concert. As we had seen Sesame Street Live a few months earlier, our hopes were high for this concert, since Sesame Street was awesome.

Sadly, we were disappointed.

Given, I was worried as Backyardigans is not Emmy's favorite show, but she was really excited to go. I figured seeing them live would help.

My first and foremost complaint would be that there was a lack of audience interaction. The characters never once left the stage to interact with the audience, and outside of one character, they never really involved the audience at all.

Second complaint was that one of the 'characters' was just a stuffed animal being moved by a very obvious set person. They would crouch on stage and move the stuffed animal around. So.very.lame.

Overall, I would say it was quite boring, not at all well-produced, and even the characters didn't seem to know what they were doing. Emmy actually wanted to go home at intermission, but we did stay until the bitter end.