First Day of School 2010

Today was Emerson's first day back at school. She is attending the same school as last year but will be going 3 days a week. When I registered her for 3 classes in the spring I was thinking that it would be super helpful to have 3 mornings a week with just Ashton at home in addition to Emerson getting much needed special attention. Now that his birth is just days away, I am pretty nervous as to how the heck I am going to get out the door by 8:45 am 3 days a week with Emerson AND a newborn! Oh well, too late now:)

Even though she has a new teacher and new class, she was still really excited about going back. Unlike last year, there were no tears at drop off this morning. She just went straight to playing and barely gave me a goodbye. It is bittersweet to see her growing up so much.

When I picked her up this afternoon, she had a lot to say about what they did at school today. She seems to really like her new teacher and has already learned most of her classmates names. She was REALLY fussy when we got home though- I think it is just a readjustment to how stimulating school is as opposed to being with boring mommy all day:)

Here are the only decent pictures I got of her this morning. Barely enough to say that the first day was documented!

Back-to-school was fun for me too. It was great seeing other friends and mommies at drop-off and pick-up and catching up on what everyone did over the summer. While this fall is certain to be crazy with a newborn I do love the routine of school and all that comes with it.

My little ballerina

Emerson loves to dance. She has loved music and been a little dancer since before she could walk. Her passion for dancing has continued to grow with each day. Just last week Emerson spent a good 30 minutes twirling around the house saying, "mommy, I just love to dance". It was precious.

Her first dance class could not have started at a more perfect time.

This morning when Emerson woke up, the first thing she said was, "I go to dance class today!". To say that she was thrilled would be an understatement.

As soon as I put her tights and leotard on her she would not stop twirling and dancing. She was just so happy. She kept looking at herself in the mirror saying, "I am such a pretty ballerina".

We got to class and she turned a little shy at first when she realized that mommy was not staying in the class with her. I assured her that I would be right out side the room and would be there to pick her up when class was finished. When she saw the other girls being brave and going with their teacher, she got brave too.

I tried my best to sit at a cafe table with the other parents and enjoy the quiet time, but I could not help but peek in the window several times to see what was happening in there. Most of what they did this first class was practice walking in their tap and ballet shoes and learning the stretching routine. It was still pretty cute though!

When class was finished, the teacher walked them all out the door to a room full of eager mommies. The girls were all beaming with pride and anxious to show off the stickers that they got. Emerson could not stop talking about all the things she learned in class today.

I think this dance class is perfect timing with Ashton coming in a few weeks. This is something that is super special and is just for her. She loves it and I really think it is going to continue to help her to grow and blossom.

Instant twirling in her room seconds after she gets her leotard on.

Showing off in the front yard before we head to class

Trying to get a sweet smile before class. It is already too hot and sunny out.

How cute is this?!?!?! This is before class started when the girls are all lining up and sitting on their designated numbers on the floor.

First Haircut

We finally took Emerson to get her first haircut last week. We have been so lucky in that her hair has grown out just beautifully and we could get away with not having it cut for almost three years. Some kids have hair that grows in backwards- you know, the front grows long and the back does not grow at all. Then other kids have the mullet look- hair in the back grows much faster than it does in the front. Not Emerson, hers has grown in evenly and pretty well proportioned.

Anyways, we really built up the first haircut and how much fun it would be. She really enjoyed it and knew how pretty she looked after it was all finished. In the end, Emy only had about 1.5" taken off the back.

She thought sitting in the fire truck was pretty cool
Getting a fancy style after the cut was all finished. Emerson loved getting mousse put in her hair.
She got two pink sparkle stars put on her cheek when she was all finished.
Avoiding taking a picture with mommy. She had fun, but is still a two-year-old after-all.

Summer Fun

The last week of summer is here. We have lots of fun things planned this week and then next week it is back to school! I can't believe it is already back to school time (mainly because that means we are days away from having another baby!) Even though Emerson has really enjoyed this summer and the free time, I think she is super excited to go back to school. She will have a new teacher and lots of new friends to meet.

Daddy braved the heat on Saturday and took Emerson on the Forest Park Train. They went on the first ride of the morning. Emy loves the train!

Having a popcorn snack on the train ride is a "must", even if it is 9:30 in the morning.

And because it has been all summer and I have not posted any swimming pictures, here are some of Emy swimming with daddy and granmom last week.

Keeping Cool

Playing outside only happens after 7pm because it has been so unbelievably hot lately. We are talking heat indexes between 102 and 110! Despite the heat, Emerson still loves to play outside.

Shooting bubbles at mommy.

Airplane! (Notice the Cinderella sticker in the middle of her shirt!)

Finally, stripping down to enjoy some cool water. A must in this heat!

Hope you are keeping cool!

There is a dog in my bath!

Things are changing

Emerson, you are such a big girl now. I cannot even fathom how you got to be so grown up. We had a big summer! You transitioned to a big girl bed, became potty trained, gave up your baba and matured so much. The best thing is that you loved every single step and change. You love that you are becoming a big girl too.

You are so excited to become a big sister. You are always talking about things that you are going to teach Ashton. When you see a newborn baby you instantly swoon. You are just completely in love with babies and I know you will adore your brother.

While this summer was big, this fall will be even bigger. It holds such treats as starting dance class, starting school 3 days a week, a 3rd birthday and of course, welcoming a new baby into our home. I certainly hope you love all the transitions that are to come as much as you have loved this summer.

This summer has been really challenging for mommy but looking back, it has been really sweet and I don't think I would have changed a thing. While we spent *a little* too much time in front of the tv because of the baby in mommy's tummy, we got lots of snuggle time together! I definitely wouldn't change that.

This fall is certain to be chaotic and fast paced and I hope that when things get crazy we can both remember the special mommy and Emy time we had this summer.

I promise that once we adjust to life as a family of four I will carve out special girls-only time for us. I know how much you have grown to appreciate and love all things girly, especially when you get to do them with mommy. We will still do all those things when baby Ashton comes, I promise.

Emerson, mommy and daddy love you so much. You bring us more joy than we can even comprehend. Don't you ever forget that you were the first precious angel in our lives.