Getting his "crazies" out.

After dating for about a year, Jason and I ventured into the world of dog ownership together. We rescued Sheffield, our cocker-spaniel-ish mutt. Sheff has his quirks, and is goofy as all get-out. We initially attributed his goofiness to being rescued. Sheff gets really wild with toys and will just roll wildly around the floor or bed. We call it "getting his crazies out." I've recently discovered that this may not be due to his past. It just may be environmental. You see, Emerson apparently has to get his "crazies" out before bed. When we go upstairs with Em around 7:45 for PJs, we hang out on the bed, and Emerson gets to climb up the mountain of pillows. Everything is something to be climbed and he's truly fearless. But his wildness is what we are amazed at currently. I got a couple quick videos of him rolling all over the bed. (Sorry for the low quality...cell phone videos.) They don't quite capture the wildness...but a nice sample. And you may not believe it, but come 8:00, he goes down in his crib without a struggle, is asleep in 2 minutes, and wakes up around 7:30am. Earlier this week he was standing in his crib when I went to get him. That's a milestone I wasn't ready for, and another blog entirely.

Clap, clap, clap!!!

Always a busy weekend! Friday morning, Emerson, Auntie Jessi and I headed to Lancaster to spend the day with Mia. Emerson even got to play in one of her many closets! It was a great way to start the weekend. Emerson cozied up in their pack and play and took a couple naps, and we got to hang with my mom. Emerson showed off all his new tricks...speed crawling, pulling himself to standing on everything, eating puffs and small pieces of food, and clapping. Yes, that's right, clapping! Miss Sylvia has been practicing clapping with Emerson, and this weekend, he started doing it on his own. At first, I couldn't figure out what he was doing. He would get SUPER excited and throw his hands together and cackle. There's a short video of him doing this before I could figure it out. He's the absolute goofiest.

Clapping and loving it!

"I think you should wear these, Mia."

This afternoon, we headed to the park. It was beautiful outside, and warmed up enough for a walk, so off we went! Jason, still injured and very limited with his right arm, pushed Emerson in the swing and tried to push him in the stroller. Lucky me, I got him all to myself in the big swing!

I love having a park less than a half mile away!

Big guy, big eater! (He actually has a shirt that says this!) Emerson is loving all the new foods he gets to taste. In addition to eating 2nd and 3rd foods, I've been giving him small pieces of most everything we eat. He loves picking up the food and feeding himself. I have to give him his primary food before I do this though, otherwise, he wouldn't eat his pureed carrots, green beans, etc.

A short video of Emerson feeding himself shredded cheese and puffs

This last video is just a snippit of the crazy "little" monkey, we like to call Emerson.

Not only do I stand up...I teach other kids how to do it.

Emerson proves to be an adventurer! He has been pulling himself to standing on things for the last couple of weeks. He started by climbing over everything...legs, toys, boxes. He will now climb someone like they are Mt. Everest. I have a red step-chair in the kitchen that he loves to climb. As you can see, he is VERY proud to show off his skills. At daycare yesterday, he was climbing into bins, onto shelves, and up onto everything. There is a little boy in his class that is 3 months older, and until yesterday, had never pulled himself to standing. His teachers tell me that Emerson must have shown him how to do it! Hilarious!

If you're enough lucky to be Irish...

Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling

From glen to glen, and down the mountain side

The summer's gone, and all the flowers are dying

'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.

But come ye back when summer's in the meadow

Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow

'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow

Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.

And if you come, when all the flowers are dying

And I am dead, as dead I well may be

You'll come and find the place where I am lying

And kneel and say an "Ave" there for me.

And I shall hear, tho' soft you tread above me

And all my dreams will warm and sweeter be

If you'll not fail to tell me that you love me

I'll simply sleep in peace until you come to me.

I'll simply sleep in peace until you come to me.

And one of my favorite Irish sayings...
Dance as if no one were watching,
Sing as if no one were listening,
And live every day as if it were your last.

Emerson was NOT in the mood for a photo shoot this morning,

but being that it was his first St. Patrick's Day,

I had to share his festive attire!

7 months old...and Captain of Destruction

Emerson turned 7 months old last week! And with the last 6 or so weeks, he has been MOVING! He has moved from army crawling (starting at 5.5 months old) to full-fledged, up on all fours, speed crawling (just last night!). He has started to climb up on things to standing, like the dishwasher and ottomans. He'll then just stand there like, "Check me out!" He'll crawl over people's legs, and climb up just about anything in his way. I finally had to order a baby gate for our family room, which is where we spend most of our time. I also ordered a high chair that can withstand his path of destruction. We previously had a seat that was attached to one of our table chairs, but with his rambuctiosness, we've had a couple close calls on tipping.

Emerson is all about games right now. He loves to hide his face in a blanket and peek out and then dig his face back in. He loves sitting on your lap and double-high-fiving and playing any game with your hands and his hands. We've been setting up blocks, cups, stacking toys, and he will come from anywhere in the room to knock it down. He won't allow any to stay standing. If he gets all but two, he'll come back for those two! He apparently cracks himself up, because he'll just laugh and laugh the entire time. He also loves to laugh with people. If Jason and I are laughing about something, he'll join in.

Trip to Toledo / Spring weather / New toys / Waterbaby

We hadn't seen some of the Toledo family since the week before Christmas, so a trip was in order! We spent all of last weekend in Toledo, and got to see most everyone! We celebrated Grandma Zielinski's birthday, and Emerson got to spend time with Aunts, Uncle, cousins, Grandma and Grandpa Z, and Greats too! Including the recovering Macy! We were so glad to get to spend time with her, despite having just had her tonsils out. Kendall and Spencer were equally fun. One of my favorite moments of the weekend, was when Spencer was saying goodbye to Emerson, and looks over at him before walking out the door and says, "Bye, buddy."

Emerson with Great Grandma Z, and Great Grandpa Z in the background (the hat finally fits, Uncle Gary!)

This sequence of pics is hilarious! We could never get more than 2 to look up.

And bring on the headlocks!

Despite still trying to recup from surgery, Macy thought she could lift her own body weight!

(seriously, they aren't far off in weight!)

Good try, Macy!

I love this one...it's almost a plea for help!

Good enough...lots of love from the cousins.

Like most areas, we're experience a dose of Spring and loving it. On Friday (my day off), Emerson and I headed down to our neighborhood park for some swinging and watching the big kids play. I set him on the slide...I love the face in the last one..."Um, what do you expect me to do here?"

Last trip to my parents' house, I raided the attic with Mia (Grandma L) and found some great toys to introduce to Emerson. I could definitely buy a new toy every trip to Target, but trying to restrain myself, and bring out some of the oldies, yet goodies instead.

This one was a Christmas gift, and he loves it!

He topples, but doesn't really mind.

He's playing with a rattle and links that were his Auntie Jessi's and mine.

He has some serious rhythm, loves dancing, and can now make his own music!

(this originally belonged to Uncle Jared)

He climbs on EVERYTHING! And isn't phased when he falls. I love his durability.

He was playing music with his feet...show-off.

Dependent on how much time we have in our evenings (limited!), we'll sometimes just put Emerson in the shower with one of us. He loves to play on the floor of the shower, but also loves to be up close to the water. He is a waterbaby and will allow us to put his face in the stream of water. In case anyone wondered, I am working to develop my "pool baby" so that one day I can be a "pool mom". I grew up in the water, and basically lived at the pool growing up. This is also incredibly convenient to just pop him in the shower. Gotta love a kid who loves the water.

Patiently waiting to get in the shower with Dad. I adore this picture.

Playtime!

I have a feeling he will be tough to get out of the tub when he's older.

Maybe he can be like his Uncle Jared and just have dinner in the bath. No joke!