Potty Training Journal...Part 1

We bought Emily a potty last night. Actually it is three things in one: On the floor potty, potty chair for a toilet and a step stool. Emily and I sat down in the bathroom last night and discussed the potty. I told her we were going to learn how to go pee pee and poo poo in the potty like Momma and Da Da. She sat down on the toilet fully clothed, open and closed the lid, expressed a general curiosity about it. Over all I thought it was successful.

This morning when I got her out of bed, she had a wet diaper so I didn't bother with discussing the potty. When we got home from school today. I discussed sitting on the potty with her and took her diaper off in the bathroom and asked her to sit on the potty. She started fussing at me. We quickly put on a new diaper and pulled her shorts back on. She immediately ran back to the potty and sat down and smiled at me.

I am writing this down now so when we are both older we can laugh.

Awww Sweet

April was an exciting month in the Ellis household. Emily's verbal skills really took off. Her vocabulary includes animals and their sounds, simple words and we are quickly adding complex phrases including, "Do you wanna a bite?"
Her recognition of objects has really become obvious, especially with animals. Whether is is a duck at the zoo, in a book, a toy or a drawing on the TV, she can point and name it and then make it's sound.
She is also starting to show genuine affection among other emotions. Her hugs are the best.
She participated in her first Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, and while she was only mildly entertained, her dad and I had a blast.

Trick or Treat?!

Emily had her first trick or treating experience this year, and though it was very few houses (because dogs are cooler than getting free candy). Daddy and Emily had a good time.

I Will Walk 500 Miles...

Emily mastered walking at 14 months. Devon and I are starting to chase her everywhere now. We ventured to the park last week and she had a blast running around and playing on the playground. Check out her first swing adventure.

These are a Few of my Favorite Sayings...

Emily is now 13 months old and is getting very close to walking. We are teething, too, which has been a very interesting experience for us as parents.
However her biggest achievement of late is her ever growing vocabulary!
She mastered the phrase "I love you" early on, but lately she is understanding that saying certain words accomplishes certain acts. We are currently working on "up" to be picked up.
Other words/phrases include:

• Momma/Da Da
• Good
• Wake up Da Da
• Hi There
• Up
  
• Duck

Her favorite game is Peek-a-boo. She is also trying to mimic the "spider" game with her own hand.
It has been such an enriching experience to see this little personality spring to life in our daughter. It also hard to believe she will be in a new room in preschool next week.

Every day is a new adventure with Emily, and we wouldn't have it any other way!
Now if we could just get "GO STATE!" down before September!

1 Year Old

Emily celebrated her first birthday this past Wednesday. Her father and I are still amazed at how much she has grown is her first year. She is almost walking and can repeat several words. It's been an amazing year and we are ready for another one.

Emily Laughing

Here is a video of Emily laughing at her Daddy while they play the Waving Game.