Emma - 18mths - 20 mths

In the last couple of months...almost three actually.....Emma has really started talking more clearly.  So no more screeching or yelling to get our attention or ask for something.  I think Ben and I never thought that would end!  In fact we may have thought, if even for a brief time, that she would never talk and only screech and yell at us.:)  Well that time did end and our sweet E is talking up a storm.  Her two word sentences are now turning into 3 words.  Its fun to hear her vocabulary grow.

I have said this before and will again....I am fascinated by the differences in Cash and Emma.  Their personalities are different in a lot of ways and then similar in others.  Both are so independent...and stubborn...but we clearly know they come by both traits honestly.   Traits we know will benefit them as they grow.  Cash is a child that needs to be entertained...loves to have friends around to play with!   Emma, though, is a pretender.  She loves to get her dolls out or the tupperware and pretend....whether its pretending her dolls are taking a nap as she covers them up or turning her sippy cup upside down to pretend like she is pouring water in to each container....she just loves to pretend.....and plays so well on her own.  The one thing we know for absolute certain is that Emma and Cash love each other beyond words.  Its so great to see their relationship evolve and grow.

Emma's questions, words, statements and answers.....

1. "What happened?"
2. "What's that?"
3.  Emma do you love me? "No"
4.  Emma did you have a good Christmas? "No"
5.  After tasting something good..."hmmmmmm!" or when she gives you a bite of something good...she will say "hmmmmm!"
6.  "Cash"
7.  "Where's Cash?" "Where's Papa?" "Where's Nana?" "Where's Daddy?" "Where's Mama?" - all of these questions come together and of course depending on who she is asking them to at the time.
8.  Anytime the phone rings...."Hi Papa"...no matter if its really him or not.
9.  "Want some?"....of whatever she is eating
10.  "Pretty"....usually when she is putting on my pj's or gym clothes...all of them...all at one time.
11.  "Princess"....when she is putting a tiara on...or something that looks like a tiara....just like her favorite princess...Princess Sofia the First.
12.  "Minnie"...I actually should have put this first on the list as this is a name she still says and was literally her second word after dada.  Minnie is her favorite Disney character outside of Sofia the First.
13.  For a few days we got the question, "what's up?" ...which I think came from Sofia the First ...the Tea Party episode.
14.  "Turna" - this is said when she wants us to turn the channel to her cartoons.
15.  "Outside" - this girl loves to be outside....any chance she can get she wants to be outside.
16.  "Where Cash go?"
17.  "Ben" - she was listening to me closely one morning as I told Ben breakfast was ready and since she has been calling him Ben ....still Daddy but also Ben now.
18.  "Potty" - if she sees me or Ben going in, in, or coming out of the potty she lets us know we are in the potty.  She has shown some interest in using the potty but not quite ready.
19.  "Sure" - when asking Emma a question...."Emma you want to lay in your bed?" "Sure" "Emma do you want to watch Minnie?" "Sure"
20.  She will ask if we want to dance..."wanna dance?"
21.  If we tell her to be careful or not to make a mess...."I know"
22. "Shoes"/"Socks"

These are just some of her sayings/words...she says what seems like a million others.

As noted above Emma loves to be outside.  She can't get enough of being outside!!  She will play in the dirt, rocks, sand....doesn't matter...she will play in it...and possibly eat it.   She loves to explore and really doesn't have a fear of anything.  Cash was so cautious at her age and still is in a lot of ways.   She also wants to do everything Cash is doing ...which could have a lot to do with it.

Second behind going outside Emma loves to watch cartoons.....Minnie and Sofia!  Her chair is her favorite spot to do just that...and usually in this position.

Even at almost 2 years old Emma still puts anything and everything in her mouth.  Crayons, dirt, rocks, sand, chalk ...you name it ...she will eat it.  This is one toddler phase we are hoping passes sooner rather than later.

Emma adores her Nana and Papa ....and cannot get enough of them.

We call her a "one woman wrecking crew" as she will literally destroy a closet or kitchen in about 2 minutes.  She loves to go in our closet...or her brothers closet ....or actually her room and take absolutely every piece of folded/hung up clothing out and throw them on the floor.  That is what she doesn't put on first.  Sometimes she walks out with every workout top I own.  She will come show me her little fashionista self and say, "pretty"!  What else can I say but ...oh yes..you are so pretty!!!!

She loves to dress up.  Stephanie Leavelle gave her some of Leighton's tutu's that she would play dress up with and E just loves them!!  She in fact loves them so much that she puts them all on at one time.  The more the better!

I could go on and on about Miss Emma Beth but I think when I look back on this post I will have captured the true essence of who she is at this very sweet age.