On Thursday, I had one of *those* days. And
my awesome husband had a good idea, "Want to come to work with me tomorrow?" He had to go to Bucks County for the day, very close to where my sister Robin lives. I texted Robin and she welcomed Emmy and me for a last minute visit for the next day while Bron worked in the area. It was such a fun time!

Emmylou's newest discoveries,

Today, here is a list of Emmy's new little things that make her seem more and more like a little person. Most of these things fall under the category of 'normal baby things that are only exciting to parents', hehe, but I thought I'd share even so.

 A particulary cute one to me is that she has been sucking her little thumb- we are hoping that means our days of running upstairs to put her pacifier back in her mouth during naps shall soon be but a memory. I used to suck my thumb as a little girl, so it is especially sweet to me. We'll try not to let it last till she is 11 though! :)

And here you can see why we have to run upstairs for her pacifier. She figured out how to take it out of her little mouth and hold it, which is usually quite cute.

Her two favorite past times these days: hopping in her jumpy seat, and kicking off one sock when we are not looking. That second one has been going on since her first weeks however. Bron and I pretty much can't take the cute-ness of Emmy when she is in this thing.  That inspired us this past weekend to take a walk with Emmy to a park nearby and see if she'd like the baby swings- and she did, but it was probably a little too soon. It will be fun to take her over there when she gets a little older.

Also, she is now interested in toys and blankets, and likes to snuggle and chew on whatever she can get her hands on. ...She also likes to snuggle and chew and pull hair, which is a little less cute.

 

 And lastly, she is now obsessed with our food! She watches us so intensely and curiously as we eat. I was hoping to wait a bit past the 6 month mark to begin introducing solids, but I don't think I'll be able to resist.

 

sister weekend!

 

My sisters came this weekend and it was such a fun time. We went to BBs first thing in the morning on Saturday, and then to my favorite thrift store. We watched a Christmas movie and drank minty hot chocolate, and had a campfire with s'mores while Maddie read aloud funny lines from the vintage greeting cards she bought that day. We had lunch at Lyndon Diner after church. My sisters are such cool girls! It is so neat to becoming better friends as we get older. Bron and I are trying to gently persuade both Dot and Maddie that they belong in Lancaster and should move here someday:) That's my current biggest dream, I'd just love that. Emmy too.

October updates,

Well, I did not do a very good job of posting this month -so I will share some quick October-life facts.

The first weekend of the month was spent with our favorite people in State College! Tom and Jane hung out with Emmy, while Bron and I got a chance to be together outside in the pretty fall weather. I got to ride Bron's mom's old red bicycle, which was special for me:) And Bron was able to get some outdoor practice shooting his bow- much more space and time for that in his old backyard, than in our basement at 5:30am before work.

 

Also, Jane taught me a really simple method for canning! And we made yummy apple butter together. It was a happy way to begin our favorite season.

Another special thing for us- we discovered it's possible to take Emmy out in a public setting! We chose our place carefully...Lyndon diner, a favorite of ours. It is also where we had our first 'sort-of date', so that is always pleasant and meaningful for us. She did such a good job! I think the big tvs helped, and all the people to look at.

 

The month was full of all kinds of things, like late-ish evenings watching the political debates together (all 3 of us) on the live internet feed, a hunting weekend, and a hurricane-which closed down all the schools, but Bron still went to work because he's that kind of man. Our friends/tenants downstairs moved out, which is sad and marks the end of an era for us. But we have in mind someone who may be able to take that spot:)

 

I started going to a m.o.ps group at a church nearby, a friend invited me- excited about that, except I still haven't been brave enough to leave Emmy in childcare! We'll see. Also began getting milk from a farm on a weekly basis with two friends from church,which I had success making kefir and ricotta with-a fun little endeavor for me during Emmy's naps. And I bought lots of bulk meat from a farm, touched it with my own hands and weighed and seperated it into portions for dinners!- a funny moment for me, to remember how I was a vegetarian before I met Bron, hehe.

 

I think this was the month that we are really getting into a rhythm with Emmylou and feeling more like a family. God is kind and faithful.

 

She is doing all sorts of fun new things-which I shall devote a post to soon.

 

Oh, and of course- the month of the cloth diapers! which we are loving now actually:)

 

Ps-those flannel sheets you see she is laying on have been a desire of my heart since this time last year! The Lord provided them for cheap at TJMaxx- so comfy and warm and worth the wait.







Emmy bear

A scene from the first hunting weekend in Pitman. Clifton's 12 year old daughter recently got her first deer...I told Bron not to get any ideas:)

Emmy is becoming such a fun girl. We are loving all the new little ways she's
learning to interact. Here's a video of Bron and Emmy having a heart-to-heart.

my favorite thing about being a mom,

Whenever people ask me what my favorite thing about being a mom is, it does not take me very long to think before sharing my answer. It is definitely watching Bron interact with Emmylou. She just adores him, and responds to his voice, and gets so excited when he gets home from work. It is so special to be the girls at home, waiting for our favorite man in the world to be home with us.

 

Bron is getting excited to do some hunting this fall, so he's trying to clean out the freezer to make space for all the meat to come. He has been cooking up venison and caribou and antelope from his friend Clifton that we haven't used yet. Here is a picture from our dinner, it is a blurry one- but a happy memory. Someday we'll look back on our days eating antelope roast on the picnic table in the kitchen. Emmy doesn't usually last very long in her seat while we eat!