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| Drooling and grabbing, oh heavenly delight! |
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| Blue ponies are awesome!!! |
Friday, September 28, 2012
My ExerSaucer MEGA Active Learning Center
Now that I am 4 months old, I can play in my ExerSaucer! I love to practice standing up and reaching for really neat things. Myfavorite parts are the spinny toys, and making the circus music play of course. I also love to rotate myself around and around. Who could ask for anything more?
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
The Relatives Came
This weekend Emma celebrated her baptism at St. Odilia's Church. Prior to the baptism, Dan's family came from Milwaukee to spend some time with Emma. On Friday, grandpa and grandma picked up Emma early from daycare. They spent some quality time on their own with Emma before Mommy and Daddy arrived home.
On Saturday, Emma had her first experience at an apple orchard. Daddy, Mommy, Grandma Jan and Grandpa Bruce took Emma to pick apples. It was pretty hot and sunny so we didn't last too long. However, Emma did have an encounter with a goat before the trip was finished. Mommy thinks the goat wanted to get at Emma because her toes looked like little corn kernels.
On Sunday, Emma prepared for the big baptismal event by listening to Daddy and Uncle Mike making weird noises with their mouths. Emma loves bird calls, squeaks and buzzing types of sounds. Carolyn and Mommy drove Emma to the church where all the relatives greeted her. Emma wore three layers of baptismal gowns that were made by one of her great-great grandmothers from Mommy's side of the family.
During the mass, Emma paid close attention to everything that was being said. She also let out a loud burp when the special oil was placed on her forehead.
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| I am having so much fun with Grandma Jan and Grandpa Bruce! |
On Saturday, Emma had her first experience at an apple orchard. Daddy, Mommy, Grandma Jan and Grandpa Bruce took Emma to pick apples. It was pretty hot and sunny so we didn't last too long. However, Emma did have an encounter with a goat before the trip was finished. Mommy thinks the goat wanted to get at Emma because her toes looked like little corn kernels.
What is that you say?
Fingers are great teething tools.
Daddy is so silly!
I never thought of it that way...
On Sunday, Emma prepared for the big baptismal event by listening to Daddy and Uncle Mike making weird noises with their mouths. Emma loves bird calls, squeaks and buzzing types of sounds. Carolyn and Mommy drove Emma to the church where all the relatives greeted her. Emma wore three layers of baptismal gowns that were made by one of her great-great grandmothers from Mommy's side of the family.
I know you all are really into this dress but I would just like to have my bottle.
Are we almost done with this layering thing?
Nobody told me it was bath time.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Some Days...
Emma will need to forgive me for ranting a little bit here. The impetus for all of this was my need to procure a social security card for Emma. The hospital was supposed to order one, but somehow we never received the card in the mail.
So I walked over to the Social Security office on Chicago Avenue, about 15 minutes from where I work in downtown Minneapolis. Some days you just have to hate the government. To start, the building itself is miserable looking. It looks exactly like what it is - a place for the government to submit it's citizens to the humiliation of needing their approval to live your life. I had to wait 30 minutes to even get into the building due to security checks. Some woman seemed to have backed all of her belongings into a suitcase, and brought that with her into the building. I can only guess why. At least she wasn't planning to blow up the place.
Be that as it may, the most depressing aspect of the experience was observing the people both in the building and on my walk to and from it. People with defeated faces, who glance as you walk by and silently say that all hope is lost, nothing matters, I may as well be dead. People who have been tossed aside and disregarded from the day they were born. I wonder what horrible things have happened in their lives to produce such an effect. Sadly, just giving them money to live won't fix anything - for one thing, life isn't so great for them, and money won't fix the root causes of their misery. It will buy food, drugs, booze, and whatever else they need to endure they day.
At the office I think you see a true cross-section of current American life. You realize that life really blows for a lot of people. There are a lot more desperate people than those who are not. Who can blame them for not trying, getting into trouble with the law, not caring about anything? For some it looks like all they can manage is to make it until tomorrow. I truly wonder about all of the laws and regulations the government has in place, and how they have affected people over the centuries. To what degree is the government to blame for all of our problems? Can they really fix them in our current political environment? Or are they merely perpetuating their own political existence, oblivious to the lives of ordinary people? How bad do things need to get before they actually address our problems?
So Emma, one day you will see these things, and maybe you will understand, and maybe you won't. I hope that we live in a more civilized place when that time comes for you to learn about the true nature of our society.
So I walked over to the Social Security office on Chicago Avenue, about 15 minutes from where I work in downtown Minneapolis. Some days you just have to hate the government. To start, the building itself is miserable looking. It looks exactly like what it is - a place for the government to submit it's citizens to the humiliation of needing their approval to live your life. I had to wait 30 minutes to even get into the building due to security checks. Some woman seemed to have backed all of her belongings into a suitcase, and brought that with her into the building. I can only guess why. At least she wasn't planning to blow up the place.
Be that as it may, the most depressing aspect of the experience was observing the people both in the building and on my walk to and from it. People with defeated faces, who glance as you walk by and silently say that all hope is lost, nothing matters, I may as well be dead. People who have been tossed aside and disregarded from the day they were born. I wonder what horrible things have happened in their lives to produce such an effect. Sadly, just giving them money to live won't fix anything - for one thing, life isn't so great for them, and money won't fix the root causes of their misery. It will buy food, drugs, booze, and whatever else they need to endure they day.
At the office I think you see a true cross-section of current American life. You realize that life really blows for a lot of people. There are a lot more desperate people than those who are not. Who can blame them for not trying, getting into trouble with the law, not caring about anything? For some it looks like all they can manage is to make it until tomorrow. I truly wonder about all of the laws and regulations the government has in place, and how they have affected people over the centuries. To what degree is the government to blame for all of our problems? Can they really fix them in our current political environment? Or are they merely perpetuating their own political existence, oblivious to the lives of ordinary people? How bad do things need to get before they actually address our problems?
So Emma, one day you will see these things, and maybe you will understand, and maybe you won't. I hope that we live in a more civilized place when that time comes for you to learn about the true nature of our society.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Hair!
Emma's newest fascination is...wait for it...hair! She loves to use only her left hand to feel the hair on the back of her head. She likes to move her fingers there and feel the soft fine blond locks that she is so lucky to have. She will often leave it there for quite a while, until there is something more interesting for which she wants to use her hand. We know little girls like playing with their hair, but little did we know it would start so soon!
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| That's right...I'm adorable! |
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Weekend with Daddy
This past weekend, Emma spent some quality time with Daddy while Mommy went to Atlanta, Georgia for a reading conference. During the weekend, Daddy taught Emma how to build a fire. Emma was mesmerized by the yellow flames. Besides campfires, Daddy and Emma went to Crosby Park to do a little exploring. Emma got her first chance to dip her feet in some water that wasn't her own bathtub. Daddy and Emma also did lots of tummy time and even found time to fold some laundry. Mommy was really impressed by all the things Emma and Daddy did together. She was also very thankful that many of the household tasks were completed when she returned. Mommy is very lucky to have such a great husband and daughter. Thank you Daddy and Emma!
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| Emma's first campfire |
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Who is that cute little girl in the mirror?
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Emma wants to help fold some laundry
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Mommy in Atlanta meeting "The Sisters"
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Saturday, August 11, 2012
Leap of Faith
Today Emma went over to Grandma and Grandpa Walczynski's house, so that Mommy and Daddy could go ziplining. Emma began her morning with a late nap while Mommy and Daddy drove down to Jordan, Minnesota. After their arrival, Mommy and Daddy went on a high ropes course and then on three zip lines.
The high ropes course started with a challenge called "A Leap of Faith." You had to climb up a wooden pole, turn around, stand on the top and then leap into the air and catch a trapeze. Both Mommy and Daddy made it to the top, but Daddy was the one that made it onto the trapeze.
Next up was the high ropes course. First you climbed up on a rope ladder which led you to the first challenge.
The first challenge had you crossing by swinging from rope to rope. Mommy thought the cable you had to walk on was slippery.
Please don't let me fall. Please don't let me fall...
The next challenge was called the "Charlie Chaplin" because you had to walk with your feet like a duck. Both Mommy and Daddy found this one challenging because they slid down the first part of the rope.
The third challenge was a breeze. You had to cross on one wire but you pushed out onto a rope sideways.
I think I can, I think I can...
The fourth challenge was like being on a jungle gym for adults. Mommy liked this one best. She loved swinging back and forth.
The final rope to cross was like a bridge with some parts missing. Both Mommy and Daddy flew across this one.
Last stop was to get to the ground using a zipline. Mommy held her breath before she let go and went flying. It turned out to be not as scary as Mommy thought. However, the longer, taller ziplines were still to come.
After climbing back up the hill, Mommy and Daddy went through three longer zip lines. One went over a gorge, another over a small river and a third that started out as a slide. The slide made you feel like you were going to drop down into the river. At one point, Mommy and Daddy were crossing different zip lines at the same time.
The high ropes course started with a challenge called "A Leap of Faith." You had to climb up a wooden pole, turn around, stand on the top and then leap into the air and catch a trapeze. Both Mommy and Daddy made it to the top, but Daddy was the one that made it onto the trapeze.
This is going to be easy...
I'm about halfway.
Still climbing
Okay, now I am scared
Daddy checking out the view
Daddy is almost to standing on the post
Daddy made it to the trapeze! Whoa!!!
Next up was the high ropes course. First you climbed up on a rope ladder which led you to the first challenge.
The first challenge had you crossing by swinging from rope to rope. Mommy thought the cable you had to walk on was slippery.
Please don't let me fall. Please don't let me fall...
The next challenge was called the "Charlie Chaplin" because you had to walk with your feet like a duck. Both Mommy and Daddy found this one challenging because they slid down the first part of the rope.
No pictures of Daddy on this one because there were some hidden bloopers
The third challenge was a breeze. You had to cross on one wire but you pushed out onto a rope sideways.
I think I can, I think I can...
The fourth challenge was like being on a jungle gym for adults. Mommy liked this one best. She loved swinging back and forth.
The final rope to cross was like a bridge with some parts missing. Both Mommy and Daddy flew across this one.
Last stop was to get to the ground using a zipline. Mommy held her breath before she let go and went flying. It turned out to be not as scary as Mommy thought. However, the longer, taller ziplines were still to come.
Daddy made it to the end of the high ropes course...and down he goes
After climbing back up the hill, Mommy and Daddy went through three longer zip lines. One went over a gorge, another over a small river and a third that started out as a slide. The slide made you feel like you were going to drop down into the river. At one point, Mommy and Daddy were crossing different zip lines at the same time.
Ready or not, here comes Mommy!
Zip, Zip, Zippppppppp
What an amazing, unforgettable, trust-building experience!
Happy 4th Anniversary! How are we going to top that one?
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
National Night Out
Today Emma, Mommy and Daddy went to the neighborhood block party for National Night Out. Emma had her picture taken with the fire truck and ambulance. Besides meeting quite a few of her neighbors, Emma was introduced to the twins, Chloe and Drew, who live on her street. Chloe and Drew are about four months older than Emma and could become some neighborhood playmates in the future. The big hit of the night was the cat that came wandering over to Emma's blanket. We have no idea where the cat came from and Emma wanted nothing to do with him. However, all the other neighborhood kids wanted to play with him. Mommy wishes that there were more chances throughout the year to get to know your neighbors. It seems like very few people have time to just stop by and chat these days.
Mommy and Emma inspect the ambulance
Emma was tempted to touch some of the instruments on the fire truck...Luckily she was distracted by her strong desire for a bottle.
Emma meets Drew her next door neighbor
Practicing rolling over in the setting sun. What a perfect summer night!
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