Emrey's new "Big Girl" bed!!!

After settling in for a few weeks, we finally bought Emrey a mattress for her new "Big Girl" bed. We thought it would be great if we could transition her to a bed before the baby arrives, so she doesn't feel like she's getting pushed out of her crib when the baby starts sleeping there. I had found a great Jenny Lind style bed at a thrift store and have been painting it white to fit with her room. She came with me on Tuesday to pick out a mattress for it. She loved jumping on all the beds at the store and the salesman was pretty nice to let her do so. We brought it home and have started by just laying it on the ground. Emrey thinks she's died and gone to heaven, with her very own big girl bed to jump on! Tonight is the second night she's slept on it and I have to say, she is doing terrific at night! She has been talking a bit more than normal, but usually goes right to sleep. Now naps have been a different story.... I think because it's light out, she doesn't quite get the idea that it is time to sleep. Both days, I have ended up going in multiple times finding her reading, laying on the floor in the middle of the room, pulling all her diapers out....I finally gave up and put her in the crib, so she could get some rest! She of course, did not like this...but she would make for a pretty unhappy camper with no nap! So, we'll keep trying to do the nap in the big girl bed, but for now, she's doing pretty good! I will try to post a picture or two once I get her bed all put together and get a bed rail to keep her in at night!

Summer is Over???

I am psyched to say that summer may be coming to a close in Houston! That means we go from "hotter" to "hot". It's not fall and there are no changing of leaves, but I'll take it! We just returned from a whirlwind vacation, traveling from coast to coast! Emrey and I got to hang out in NH/Boston with the Hollo clan for a couple weeks and then we flew out to Portland to meet up with Ellis and to celebrate Jesse and Becky's wedding on Labor Day. Below are a few photos in and around Portland, as well on our way to the wedding. I was slightly distracted when at the wedding with a toddler, so no pictures from there...

Hanging out with Zorro before the wedding

Waiting with Aunt Alice for the train....

The wedding itself was amazing. It took place in a beutiful park, overlooking Portland and the surrounding mountains! They couldn't have asked for a nicer day! We got to ride the MAX, eat some great food at the "trucks" and spend some time with the west coast Downs family, as well as the Kings. After the wedding we loaded into the car and drove to Seattle, where we stayed with an old friend of Ellis', way back from his days in Germany. They were so gracious to host us and show us a bit of Seattle! How nice to wear fleece and jeans again, it's been a while! Here are a few shots of our time in Seattle.

Taking the ferry to downtown Seattle

Riding the Ferry

Buddies...born a week apart

When we returned to Houston, Emrey started attending a Mother's Day Out program two mornings a week. I was a little nervous about how she would do, but from day one, when Ellis dropped her off, she ran into the classroom and never looked back! She is extremely social these days and loves to meet and play with new kids. It probably also helped, that she has a special friend in her class, who she's known since being in utero!