New House & Little Emma

9 month check up

I know it has been a while since we last posted and a lot has happened during that time!

1) Emma turned 9 months old and had her 9 month check up. She is still growing steadily, even though she is still in the smaller range for her age. Emma is in the 12% for height coming in at 26.25". She is in the 24% for weight coming in at 17lb 7.2oz. Her head is very big though-- 17.6" (71%)!

2) Emma's terrible rash is finally starting to clear up now after trying many new lotions, taking fragrance and fabric softener out of the wash (both laundry & bath), and getting drenched in Aveeno lotion before bed! Even with all of th fuss, she is enjoying every minute of it!

3) Emma has attended 2 weddings--her Uncle Brett and Auntie Ashley Steinbrink out in Spokane, WA and friends of daddy's--Amanda and Coty Wangen.

4) Emma had her first plane ride: actually 4 of them. Fargo to Denver to Spokane. Spokane to Salt Lake City to Fargo! She was a champ on all 4 of them. She slept nearly the entire time on the 2nd and last fligh. During the other two she couldn't get enough of everything that was going on around her.

5) She rode in her first gondola--over Beautiful Downtown Spokane with her great grandmother and great grandfather Overlund (Mommy's grandparents on her mom's side).

6) She rode her first Carousel! Mommy rode with her to ensure that she didn't scoot off. She rode on a stationary giraffe and had a blast. The carousel went VERY fast--much faster than mommy expected while standing!!

7) Emma, Mommy and Daddy visited a new in-home daycare. We decided that the Center she was at was getting too crowded and found a daycare close to the school (across the street) that Mommy teaches at in the afternoons! What a blessing in disguise!

8) Our house is getting closer and closer to being finished as well. Today when we drove by the framing materials were all over the yard and there was a trailer parked in the driveway. Elliot talked to the home builders and they should start tomorrow morning with the framing. Our estimated closing date is still October 31, 2009.

9) Emma's auntie Ashley and uncle Brett moved to Minot, ND, so we will get to visit with them more often!

10) Emma still has no teeth---we are working on one as we speak though. It should be any day that it pops through.

11) Mommy and Daddy celebrated their one year anniversary! (AND WE DIDN'T KILL EACH OTHER! HAHA)

We are now out in Spokane visiting with family and friends! Emma was able to meet her great grandparents Ervin and Sylvia, who traveled from Portland to visit! She is also spending some quality time with her cousin Sonja and aunties Kari and Jenn. We are really missing uncle Ryan!

A few days ago Emma met her new cousin (well maybe it is a second cousin--mommy's cousin's child), Jolynn! Here are some pictures of Emma with Jolynn and her daddy, Taif!

She really enjoyed holding hands with her new friend!

(Far left)Elliot and his dad putting in a beautiful new picture window at my parent's house in Grafton!

(Above) ^Emma in her golfer's hat--she had an ear infection so Nana Cheryl let us know that it would be beneficial to keep her ears covered whenever we were outside! (Left) Our new lot in the Southfield Development in Moorhead, MN. (Below) Emma drinking water out of her 'just my size' Air Force mug! She is so proud of her Uncle Brett!

(Left) Here I caught Emma flashing her beautiful eyes! She knows just the face to make when her face is in front of the camera! I have a feeling she is going to be quite the little ham!

We have been taking a lot of video's lately of Emma with our video camera, but I am still in the process of teaching myself how to transfer them to a form that I can put on the blog. I am guessing I will post a ton of video's when I get that thing figured out. Emma has been changing and growing a lot! She has been scooting around on her belly for about a month now, pulling herself like she is in some sort of army crawl. A few weeks ago she started getting her knees bent up under her. Now, she is finally crawling. It is a little awkward and unsteady at times, but she is doing great. It is a scary thought for Elliot and myself as now we have to vaccuum and sweep the floor nearly everyday to keep her away from finding something that was hiding in the corner.

Also, we were finally able to finalize a location and a style for the new house we are building in Moorhead. We are going to be doing a lot of the work ourself, including the flooring, trim, interior doors, cupboards (I even get a built in wine rack), vanities, and countertops--- so we are able to get into the house in early October! I also am only weeks away from starting my new job teaching ELL (English Language Learner's) at Bennett and Lincoln Elementary Schools in Fargo! I am lucky enough to get a few days vacation right away (the 2nd and 3rd day of school to be exact) to join Uncle Brett and Soon-to-be Auntie Ashley as they exchange vows in Spokane, WA that weekend!

Puppy chasing her tail...

Sweet Home Alabama

Sorry it is sideways. It is a must see!