New Hampshire!!!!

I am in New Hampshire…where I have learned that taking a vacation with a family is nothing like taking a vacation by yourself. I mean, I knew that in my head - I just didn't know it in practice. Which means our plans have changed a bit from our original plan. So while I am very disappointed that showing Ed and Emry where I'm from (Newport, RI) isn't going to happen, at least we have gotten to come to New England and see some of the places I love so dearly.

And, really, Emry is a very good little traveler over all. She is especially good at being around her never-sit-still-for-a-minute Cousin Jay. So far he hasn't done anything to phase her. Neither have either of my sister's dogs. Both Coda and ten-week-old Chloe have licked her face, stepped all around her, and sniffed her to death. She just takes it in stride and puts out her hand to pet them. The only issue we have had (besides being extremely tired of being put in a carseat) is our first tumble. We were trying to sit up among the pumpkins with Jay and tipped over on our side - we have our first bruise on our cheek now. On the brighter side we have also tried real food for the first time: bananas are very, very yummy!

I've got tons of pictures I could post, but we'll just select a few for now:

The Cousins

Aunt Jenny and Emry

Emry with the pumpkins

Two sisters - two kids: Katey, me, Emry and Jay

Cousin Jay, can I have a bite of your apple?

The Rocking Chair

Sometimes I have an excellent memory, but some things I have completely forgotten or don’t quite remember the whole story. It’s funny how things you have “completely forgotten” can come back to you in a flash. For instance, we were at a huge children’s consignment event this past weekend to get Emry clothes for the fall and winter. As I wandered past the toy section I came upon a little Fisher Price stove top – the one with a timer and when you turn the “burners” on, the “flame” (aka: red plastic) comes up so it looks like it’s “on”. I had one of those!!!! So many memories…I had “completely forgotten”.

Meanwhile, things I don’t quite remember the whole story of never seem to come completely back. One of those things is my little rocking chair. What I do remember of its history is that it had been my dad’s little rocking chair, and I received it for my first Christmas from my grandparents when I was ten months old. What I can’t remember is if my grandfather had made the chair or if it had also been his. But it is quite safe to say the little rocking chair is quite old. It’s a memory of my past and is now a piece of my future.

Me and my rocking chair nearly 35 years ago!

Emry and what is now her rocking chair today.

Happy Birthday, Katey!

What She Doesn't Do

I realized the other day when talking about Emry that I spend a lot of time focused on what she does. She does roll over. She does sleep through the night. She does look like the Camus side of the family, with a little bit of me splashed in. And she does have a easy-going, happy personality most of the time.

However, there are things she does not do. I don’t mean she doesn’t have any teeth, or crawl, or walk…those are all things we have yet to come. And I also don’t mean that are adorable little girl is a little sinner. For she is. She gets frustrated, and angry, and doesn’t always obey (like taking a nap when I put her in her crib and tell her to). I just mean she has quirks in her personality like anyone else.

Firstly, she’s not a cuddler. Which makes this picture very unusual:

Emry and Papa.

She doesn’t like to snuggle, or lay her head on your shoulder, or even sit in your lap for very long. I’m afraid she gets this from the Sturm side of the family. She has too much to do, too many wiggles to get out and too much to see. At church it takes me quite a while to bounce her to sleep – if I can manage to do it at all. She simply doesn’t want to lie in my arms and relax. There is far too much to look at. Meanwhile, a very adorable little one a couple of months older than her fell asleep on his father’s shoulder, looking so peaceful and sweet. Sometimes I wish she would do that…but then I remember I’ve only myself to blame for that character trait.

Sadly, I believe she also has tendencies towards being a perfectionist – yet another Sturm trait. If her toy or book isn’t doing exactly as she thinks it should be doing, she starts grunting, and crying, and waving it about. If she doesn’t throw it over her head, I take it away and we try a toy that might not be so frustrating…at least for the next five or ten minutes. Equally frustrating is the inability to roll over as quickly as she would like. If she can’t quite get her body to move in the right direction, the cries begin.

Of course, we’re only five months old. There are going to be a myriad of things we do and do not do – like and do not like. And they will doubtless change over and over again as the years go by. But, regardless, we love her very much. And at the end of the day, she is quite cute, isn’t she?

Emry and Mama celebrating Papa’s birthday.

Happy Birthday to my husband!

 

Little Eddie Camus

5 Months Old

Today Emry is 5 months old! How time continues to fly. She is now almost rolling over. She can go from her tummy to her back very easily, but when rolling from her back to her stomach she always gets one arm caught under her. But not to worry. If she sees something she wants, she somehow manages to squirm, and twist, and roll her way over to it. Her hair continues to grow and thicken. It won’t be long before I need a barrette to keep it out of her eyes. She has found her feet, continues to lie on the floor with her cloth books and “talks” as she “reads”, and she can handle the one bottle she gets a day (while Mama’s at work) quite well by herself. She is happy, and healthy, and a joy every day even though she remains a little thing…she might weight ten pounds now!

Yea! Five Months Old!

Just being cute…

Now she can get her sticker!