Meet My Son, Emma and My Newborn, Bela

I always joke that Emma was born our little boy. She loves tools, Bob the Builder, Handy Manny, and anything having to do with trucks and tractors. Grandma and Grandpa got her a little tool set around Christmas and Emma now knows the names of every tool (we are constantly hearing "Scwewdriver.....where are you scwewdriver? Oh der you are!") from the wrench to the hammer! Pretty impressive- that's more than I know! And yesterday she brought me a part of some sort with a screw in it.......Since I had been putting Bela to sleep I had no clue where this missing, but somewhat important looking part, had come from. So I asked Emma (who just replied "hmmmmm" with a puzzled look on her face).....and looked all around. Finally I found an identical part on her crib- turns out she sat next to her crib and took the time to unscrew some pieces. Hopefully the thing won't fall apart! Maybe it's time to move onto a big girl bed. Oy vay!

Emma loves the swimming pool, and her confidence has now exceded her ability level. She's asking to "swim by self" which has led to the purchase of an inflatable swim suit (which by the way is hysterical to see- really, imagine a toddler with a marshmallow looking suit just floating by you in the swimming pool and that's what it looks like). Bela has her own little contraption with a float that has a built in baby seat. Yes, we do take up half the pool when we go!

Every Thursday is Panera night at the Grupp house. Since we can't have date night, we have our own rendition of it, and Emma likes the fact that she gets to tag along. It's funny because Emma knows the building and starts placing her order before we even find a parking spot...."and gwill cheese and treat milk" Well, yesterday we threw her for a loop and went to a restaurant (I know we're brave- a real restaurant!). We passed a Hardy's (which we have eaten at a total of one time ever!) and Emma started shouting "Emma hungwee for hang-ga-bers!" Braden and I laughed so hard- wow those burgers must have left quite an impression on her! That was about two months ago! So we get to the restaurant and I read the menu choices to her (but really, there's no choice when there's macaroni on the menu!). When her macaroni came she was so excited she couldn't contain herself (apparently mom's whole wheat version as of late pales in comparison to the extra fake-cheesy Kraft version- okay okay I get the hint, I'll drop my version!) The portion was pretty big for a kid, but our not-quite-two year old did us proud, munching on our salad veggies and some bread in addition to polishing off (I'm not exaggerating- every morsel was GONE!) her macaroni and broccoli. And she kept herself amused by counting and stacking the butters on the table. So other than some whimpers and goos and gaaas from Bela, we had a real date! And I was very impressed with the counting and stacking going on at our table- that's new, the counting thing. Although she's been able to count very high for a long time (thank you timeout corner!), she hasn't matched it to things, like counting her fingers. She has always just counted and pointed randomly, not matching them one for one. Now she's doing that, which has amazed me. And if you ask her how many of something there are (I asked her how many triangles were in her shapes pile yesterday), she'll count them out and tell you (if in the right mood of course!) I can tell you I won't be homeschooling because the girl will outsmart me very soon!

Bela is back on newborn mode in terms of feeding. She wakes up five or six times a night, believing she truly is starving! I try and try to give her cereal but most of the time she ends up with a thumb in her mouth, and when I pop that out, a toe goes in! So the milk just isn't cutting it for the 17 pounder, and cereal just isn't interesting, so I'll start the real stuff soon I suppose. Too bad the produce is so bad out here......Bela's also now sitting (or shall I say slumping?) all by herself. Emma never did that- she didn't do any kind of sitting until 6 months and it was perfectly straight sitting up.....strange. She's also playing in her exersaucer.....well, sitting in it while Emma gives her "rides". (Yes, Emma discovered that the seat twirls around, so she spins her sister while saying "weeeeee" and laughing hysterically!) If poor Bela turns out normal, I'll be so thrilled!

Bela and Emma shared their first bath the other night (along with mommy who held Bela)- that was a full tub let me tell you! Emma thought it was funny, but now wants only mommy to come into her tub.....baby's not invited. But don't that little attitude fool you. Emma now actually plays with Bela, including her into her imaginary play instead of just giving her toys and walking away. She plays "baby" and "house" with her, which is really humorous! Bela just laughs because she's happy to see Emma! It's cute!