Poppycorn, phone calls and choo choos!

Where has the summer gone?!?!? Cliche, I know, but I really can't believe it's almost August! Although, we still have lots going on before we start to wrap up our summer. We have lots of fun planned in August. June and July were pretty great, too!

In the last month, Emerson has turned a corner on toddler hood, and is doing so many big boy things! He has such a fun personality, and is always making us laugh! He laughs at himself quite a bit, too!

"Poppycorn!"
We've started a tradition, of whenever possible, to watch a movie together on Sunday evenings. Emerson has really liked Wall-E, Up and Tarzan, so far! About 1 hour into each movie, he jumps off the couch, and runs through his play tunnel, and then gets back on the couch. That must be his version of intermission. And, it turns out this kid loves popcorn as much as his Momma.

"Heyo? This is Em."
Emerson has started having "play" conversations on the phone. And by phone, I mean anything resembling the shape of a phone, including calculators, cars, and the plug-in end of the phone chargers. Conversations usually go something like this, "Heyo? This is Em. Hi Jecka." I'm always interested to hear who he is "talking" to. Usually it's Jecka (Auntie Jessica) and sometimes it's Poppy. I guess those are probably the people I talk to on the phone most, too!

"No goodbyes!"
Emerson hates goodbyes right now. He gets very sad when anyone tries to leave. He'll tell you, "Sit...come sit" and point to wherever he'd like you to be. While this warms our hearts, it also makes for harder goodbyes in the mornings. He gets over it very quickly, though. (At least that's what Amy tells me!)

"Choo! Choo!"
Emerson is thoroughly obsessed with all things choo choo. It seems to be the first thing he thinks about in the morning, and the last thing at night. He loves Chuggington, Thomas, GeoTrax, etc. Can't get enough of them. He nearly has a stroke when we're driving and get stopped by one! Funny, something that used to annoy us (getting stopped by trains), is now something we hope for, to see that little boy so excited. In addition to the trains, he's also very interested in anything with a siren. Ambulances, police cars and firetrucks are what he refers to as his "Wee-ew wee-ew's." He makes the best siren noise, and will, without fail, make it every time we hear one..."wee-ew, wee-ew, wee-ew!"

"Are YOU a beebee?"
When we're sitting at the table having dinner, which I'm thrilled to say is nearly every weeknight, Emerson has started playing a game. He asks us, "Is Em a beebee (baby)?" and then answers his own question with, "Noooooooo. Is Mommy a beebee? Nooooo. Is Daddy a beebee? Nooooo." It goes on. He'll go through about 10 or so names. It's so fun to hear who he'll bring up! Amy, Teddy, Jecka, Dzia Dzia, Mia, etc.

HOARDER!
When Emerson gets up in the morning, he usually calls to one of us to come get him. He greets us with a smile, and a handful. By handful, I mean, he has gathered up every item in his crib, into a ball, and hands it to us. This includes a few small blankets, a few stuffed animals, Brutus, ChewieBobba (THE blankie), a book or two, and the binkie (pacifier). This all makes its way into our room while we get ready in the morning, and some of it makes it downstairs. In the evenings, we usually head upstairs around 7pm so Em can have a bath and some down time before bed (7:30pm). Before we go up, though, Emerson has to collect his things. It's the usual assortment of those things already mentioned. This can also include random toys he passes along the way. A Little Tikes play house. A toy golf club (or three). And there are some nights, these actually make it to the crib.

Kickin' back for a Sunday night movie. He is wearing the super cool Johnny Cash shirt I got him while I was in Tennessee recently for work.

Mad face. Em thinks it's really funny to narrow his eyebrows and scowl at you for a few seconds, then busts up in laughter at how hilarious this is!

Well, well, well. What do we have here? Emerson was going through Jason's wallet while he stole a few minutes of sleep on the couch. I have NO idea where Emerson learned that ;)

Wee-ews. All in a row. Emerson has started lining all his police cars and firetrucks in a row. A procession of sorts, I guess.

Coming in August - family vacation and 2nd birthday parties!