The Emma Report

Sorry about our missing in action status over the past month…. No excuses, just not much blog-worthy has been happening ’round here.

I mentioned last month that our nanny abruptly quit just before Christmas (she had moved the month earlier and was finding her hour-long twice-daily commute too much to deal with). I’m happy to report that we were able to find a fabulous new caregiver (Liz) quite quickly. I’m even happier to report that Emma has adjusted to her new caregiver amazingly well!

Every morning as we bring her to Liz’s home, Emma happily toddles off to play, often without even a goodbye wave or backwards glance. Not a single tear has been shed! She clearly enjoys her time there, has learned several new songs, and has brought home a portfolio full of new artwork.

Liz has also been amazed at how well Emma has adjusted. She wrote in our daily journal last week that Emma is a delightful, sociable little girl and one of the most easy-going children she’s ever had the privilege of caring for. As a working mom, I can’t tell you the relief I feel knowing that Emma is receiving loving care (in a safe, stimulating environment) when we’re not there to give it to her…

In other news, Emma will be starting group speech therapy in a couple of weeks. While she’s become quite a “chatterbox” she’s still somewhat speech-delayed for her age (not uncommon for a micro-preemie) and I think she’ll really enjoy the group sessions and social interaction…

Finally, there was cause for big excitement at our house this week….Both girls have been taking swimming lessons and today Big Sister successfully completed Preschool level D, while Emma ‘graduated’ from Parent & Tot 2.

Summer 2020 Olympic Swim Team, here we come!

January

saw the arrival of Emma’s first tooth (finally!):

and her first experience of snow as a mobile baby:

February

We celebrated Valentine’s Day:

and had lots of fun at Winterlude:

March

brought Emma’s evolution from crawling baby (at Uncle Dean’s wedding):

to toddling toddler:

to Dancing Queen:

April

started with a freak late winter storm:

and ended with balmy summer-like weather:

May

we spent most of our days outside, enjoying the beautiful weather:

June

saw us working on Emma’s table manners

July

marked Emma’s first ‘official’ haircut:

and our annual summer vacation (this year, to southern Ontario):

August

we celebrated Emma’s 2nd birthday:

September

Emma was finally able to meet her great-grandmother who travelled from Germany to celebrate Opa’s birthday this month:

October

While Mommy returned to work (after being off for 2 years), the girls enjoyed playing in the leaves:

and Emma went trick-or-treating for the first time:

November

after we mopped up from the Great Flood (caused by a broken pipe in the kitchen), the girls had a bit of fun with the industrial fans the renovation crew left to dry out the floors:

we enjoyed the Santa Claus Parade while attending the annual Children’s Christmas party at Eric’s office:

but Emma was not feeling well and slept right through Santa’s arrival:

December

brought us a ton of snow!:

we celebrated Big Sister’s 5th birthday:

posed for some Christmas photos:

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and the girls were very excited to see that Santa Claus had left some presents under the tree on Christmas morning:

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!… May 2008 bring you nothing but joy, peace, good health, and happiness!