Kisses For Emma

Ok, so I think I will be bypassing the catch up I need to do and leave it at we've been busy and a bit sick. So After this post I am hoping to just be back to posting current images and facts! Grandma and Grandpa Leppink will be here next week so there should be lots of fun to add to the blog while they are here. And Auntie Linette is feeling tons better so we may meet up with her and Uncle Gabe and cousins Victoria and Sarah in a few weeks in Vegas!! So much to look forward to. But for now I will leave you with Kisses for Emma

After comming in first while out racing sailboats, Daddy gives big kisses to his Little Bean

Big Kisses to her Little L Antie Andra loves any opertunity to get in some love.

More Park Fun

I am so sorry about being so behind on my posting (very busy with a sick little girl and mommy and daddy haven't been feeling so good either). Just wanted to take a moment and post some photos taken a few weeks back of Emma at the park playing with Grandma and Daddy. Hopefully I will be able to catch up soon!!

Knight in Shining Armor

We went to the park this morning just like most morning, but I was thrilled that it was cloudy and grabbed my camera instead of Emma's swim suit. I was really hoping to spend the morning at the San Elijo park on the top playground and not at the bottom in the sprinklers. I got lucky all the way around. When we got to the park it was almost empty and no one was using the sprinklers so it didn't have the appeal it would have. Emma was happy to plant herself right down in the sand and start playing. I was happy to watch and take photos.



And since we practically had the park to our selves Emma could jump on the horse and ride like a cowgirl for awhile
But then more kids stated showing up and then came ...

the Knight in Shinning Armor

This had to be the cutest sweetest little boy to ever play at this park!! He introduced himself to Emma and I as a Knight in Shinning Armor and then proceeded to play with Emma for quite some time. Unlike most little boys we have encountered, he was kind and patient with Emma, helping her when she needed help and letting her do what ever she wanted. They both played so well together I wish I knew this boys mommy so I could plan more play dates with him. I have found that most boys are either really rough tough and very very boy (which is a good thing), or they are wimpy, whinny, crying, mamma's boys (which is a bad thing) but neither of the two usually make for good play pals for Emma (since she is all girl, but with out the wimpy, I can't do it attitude). I didn't know little boys could be so gentle and so kind and still so "boy like" Please note the sword that is sticking out of his shorts. Not once did he pull it out to hurt, tease, or frighten anyone. At one point he did get on the horse and pull it out proclaiming loudly, "I'm off to slay the dragon!" Otherwise he was off to play with Emma.

Tuesday Book Review

I Love these books and so does Emma!!

This is only four of the books in a huge series of about 14 books. All extremely well written. They are the perfect beginning tool to help your young toddler and school aged child with wonderful social skills.

I do hope it's OK to quote what Dr Stephen R Covey had to say about these books "Children and adults will love these gentle, empowering books. The Learning to Get Along series is a powerful tool for teaching children essential social skills such as empathy, respect, cooperation, and kindness. This straightforward and insightful series helps children visualize how their appropriate behavior positively impacts themselves and others. I heartily recommend this as a solid, classic resource for teaching affective skills to young children."

I know my little Emma is still very young and that some of this may be very overwhelming for her. But I don't underestimate her intelligence and feel that starting on these social skills sooner rather than later is so much better all around. She loves looking over the pages and expressing the words she knows as I read them to her. I give her the opportunity to say please and thank you when the book does and we talk about what's going on in the pictures. It's great because now when we are out and about be it the playground or the department store I can use words expressed in the books to reminder her how to behave and it works! On the playground to share and take turns going down the slides, and that you don't touch other people's things when we are in public and that she needs to respect what is theirs and it's private and meant for only them.

The series covers all kinds of challenges you may encounter with your little one, we already own the 4 books above and are looking to get "Be Careful and Stay Safe" so Emma will understand why she needs to hold our hands when crossing the street and in parking lots. I can't believe how much she has already picked up from us reading these books even at 17 months of age, children are like little sponges ready to learn. What's best is that in the back of each book are ideas on ways reinforce what the book is teaching on each page and games to play, of course this is for when Emma is much older, but it's good to know that these books will have loads of value for years to come. Another must for the personal library of a parent that wants to discipline in a fun and positive way!

Beach Day

Emma was back at the beach last Sunday. I thought I better get these photos posted before the 4th of July weekend gets going and then I might really be behind on my blogging.

We spent Sunday morning at the beach and had a blast. I think Emma found it strange that it wasn't like the playgrounds we visit and everyone shares their toys. Luckily there was one little boy about 7 or 8 years of age that didn't mind Emma's help digging a big hole. Being super social, I think it's hard for Emma to understand why some people don't say "Hi" or why some kids don't share and want to play with her.

On Tuseday Emma and I went to the Post Office to mail out about 25 images to her Great Grandma Padgett (whom we named our little Emma after) Great Grandma has a big get together every year at her home in Dixon for the 4th of July. And this year is suposse to be the biggest turn out yet of family and friends, so I wanted to make sure that Great Grandma Emma had plenty of pictures to share of her little Emma durring the weekend. So of course Emma made friends with everyone in line and all the postal workers too! And when we left everyone was sad to see us go and gave Emma big goodby's and were blowing kisses to her. I swear sometimes it's like traveling with a rock star and I'm just the roady mommy.
Everytime I look at this picture the Monty Python movie "The Holy Grail" pops into my mind, the scene where the king anounces to his son "One day son this will all be yours" son-"What, the curtains?" I can just see Emma and her daddy having a similar converstaion here. As she's pointing out to her daddy and saying "What, the sand?"
We didn't bring our suits as it was a bit overcast, the water was really cold but didn't seem to bother our little girl. She loved it, but also respected the water and relized the pull it had and was much more aware and safe than she has been on past visits.
Daddy took the camera a bit and got in a few shots of Emma and I. I also took a bit of really fun video that I hope Donald gets a chance to post over the holiday weekend.

Discipline

Just read a really fun article for disciplining children. Check out this link Parents.com

Tuesday Book Review

My goal is to do a Tuesday book review, lets see how good I am at keeping up with it.

First up is "Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child"
It seems that no matter where I go, sleep and children ALWAYS comes up! Only a year ago I was struggling with Emma's sleep. She had outgrown her baby sleep habits and was now cat napping in the car, not taking good naps and starting to get cranking during the day. Her night time sleep was surprisingly great. She started sleeping through the night at 8 weeks and I mean from 7 in the evening until 7 in the morning. It was great, but during the day I was really struggling. I was also starting to have problems trying to rock her to sleep at what I thought should be nap time and at bed time. And by this time last year naps and bedtime had become a huge stress for me. A few of my friends had told me about a book about sleep habits before Emma was born, but of course I had blown them off. Thinking I was way smarter and didn't need that kind of help. Well a year ago I put out a desperate e-mail to my friends begging for the books name. They were all to happy to help. And within just 2 days, and I mean 2 days!!! Emma was going down for her naps with no problem and bedtime with no hassle. She was putting herself to sleep in her crib while I was off doing other things. She wasn't crying when I put her down, and thanks to the book I knew exactly when the best times were to do it. No more stress and a much happier baby!! When Emma started giving up her morning nap, the book guided me through what to do and it also continues through school age children. So I am set for a long time to come. The advice works like a charm and is kind and helps you to understand why you shouldn't do things like take away a child's sleep time, think it's OK for them to sleep in the stroller or car seat, or why you shouldn't rock your baby to sleep. The book covers everything from colic babies to good night sleep, naps, and travel. Thanks to this book I have my afternoons and evenings to do my art, spend quality time with Donald, exercise, go through e-mail or get to go out with friends!! As much as some people say that this book must tie me down, I find great freedom and mommy time (time for me). I can pretty much guarantee that Emma is a much happier and healthier baby thanks to her getting lost of quality rest that her little body needs, and that leads to a very happy, healthy and no stressed mommy and daddy! If ever there was a book to go and purchase, this is the one. I am so grateful to my good friends Julie and Natasha that insisted on me getting this book and I love hearing all my friends stories on how well it has worked for all of them. It doesn't matter what age your little one is you can use this book for any sleep problems you are having at any time. This is truly a magic book to happy healthy families and a must for your personal library. So if you are off to a baby shower or have a grandchild on the way, give a gift that any tired parent will love! Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child