Emmy the Explorer

Lately Emily has become obsessed with all things Dora. Our typical day starts something like this...

Me: (opening Emmy's door in the morning) "Good Morning Emmy!"

Emily: (rolling over and leaping up) "Hey Momma...I'm awake!"

Me: (scooping her up) "Yes, I can see that...come see me!"

Emily: "I want to watch Dora!"

From here we proceed into the living room where I set Emmy up with breakfast and put on a Dora episode. Generally, she becomes so entranced with Dora that she forgets to eat, and doesn't even acknowledge my prompts to get her to eat until I pause the Dora, when she immediately looks at me and states "more Dora". We repeat this cycle several times until she has eaten all of her breakfast or it has gotten so late that it is time for mid-morning snack. Emily is so enthralled with Dora that she has been known to go about spouting "Dora-isms" frequently...here are a few of the latest:

Down at the park throwing rocks in the water: "I'm gonna need YOUR help!"

In the bathtub: "I want to be a starcatcher! Reach up and catch them, catch them!"

Swinging on the swings: "Buckle up so I can be safe!"

Getting dressed on her changing table: "I wanna go to Play Park!"

And, my personal favorite: "Oh Man!"

During our second episode of Dora the other morning, Emily expressed her wish for a backpack like Dora. How could I resist, right? I managed to find one small enough for her this afternoon, and Emily was thrilled with her new gift...taking it off, putting it on, putting things in it, how great is that! If only she will always be this easily amused.

First Day of School

Last week I sent my second baby off to their first day of school. I have to say, this time went much more smoothly than the first time around. Emily was in the throes of some freakishly-early separation anxiety when she started school, and I was so afraid that she would cry when we left her there or be traumatized in some way. Turned out she loved it. Adam is such a laid-back little dude that I wasn't worried about him at all, and he seems to be getting along just fine. Emily has graduated to the "Big-girl Room" (i.e. Toddler Room) next door to her old room, and she gets to visit Adam in the "Baby Room" daily. Now comes the real mommy challenge for me...exactly how to get not one, but TWO kids dressed, fed, out the door and to school in time to start my day when I head back to work next week!