A New Chapter

A first for us - a polo match! She was so
excited to wear her horse dress!

Once upon a time I blogged about crazy travels, adventures living in another country and adjusting to life as a stay at home mom. These days those blogs and experiences seem like a life time ago. Back in June I started a new full time job working on the events team for a non-profit hospital foundation. The work is amazing to be a part of and the events I have helped to put on these past few months have been phenomenal. From countless golf tournaments to a polo match with a world renowned player, a Willy Wonka themed gala, karaoke with the Rams and a gala featuring performances by Cedric the Entertainer and Jill Scott it has been more than just a little busy the past few months.

Between planning and executing these events our family has shifted from a one parent working family to two parents working more than full time jobs. This of course also meant Emma's first introduction to child care in the form of preschool. Thankfully she has done wonderfully with the transition, probably more so than mom and dad, and it has quickly become clear that she loves the social setting that preschool offers her. It has been fun and challenging to watch her quickly grow and develop in many new ways the past few months, several of which we think have been augmented from her time at preschool. Her language development has particularly thrived and we quickly realized why people say you should sometimes enjoy your child not being able to talk yet! However most of the time it is so much fun to listen to her tell us about what she did at school, who her friends are, and for the past month - what she was going to be for Halloween.

Enjoying our last day together as a stay at home mom and daughter.

The first week of my new job we had friends watch Emma as she couldn't start her preschool until the following week. Here our ridiculously talented friend Rachel was teaching Emma to play the drums during their day together! It was so great to know she was in good hands!

Practicing riding her horse at the Glennon Gallop

Emma enjoying herself again at one of mom's work events - clearly she hated the ice cream.

While we watched Emma grow into a happy and fun toddler the past few months we have also witnessed the beginning of the terrible twos and Emma's response to less time spent with mom and dad. We at first expected the introduction to preschool to mean a child that became more patient as she experienced not always being the center of attention, but it quickly became clear that the opposite would result at home. She very clearly understands and knows that at home she is the only child and tries everything she can to ensure she is the sole focus of mom and dad's attention. While we might sometimes call her sassy and stubborn her teachers at school have informed us that she is one of the most "independent" in her two year old classroom. Oh you teachers sure know how to say things nicely don't you?

Fourth of July weekend we tried to do some hiking at a nearby state park - Emma didn't want anything to do with it... this is our retreat back to the parking lot from our failed attempt.

This toddler has no fear!

To sum it all up we've been busy in a whole new way lately, one that has brought us back to how our life used to be 3 or 4 years ago when we both worked full time in St. Louis sans Emma. Yet this time around we're trying to find a new balance and a new take on life yet again, one that has a bit more routine than we've experienced in recent years. Nonetheless, our "routine" is all relative as we've still fit a little travel in between work, potty training, and enjoying a climbing, rambunctious, adorably cute two year old. If you don't believe the adorable part, here's a look at a few more photos and videos...

This girl loved celebrating her second birthday back in June!

A required photo with her monkey to
mark Emma's second birthday! 

We love old Webster Groves... Emma's favorite part is this water fountain!

I have a little time before I have to get nervous about her driving right?

Spent a fun Saturday in August reliving days past with a few of my Cardinal Key ladies. Emma wasn't sure what to make of our crazy photos!

One of my favorite "update" photos sent from Steve when I was working an all day Saturday event... the message went something like this, "Emma has been awake for awhile and playing in her room since she woke up from her nap. I was watching her on the baby monitor and then she disappeared out of sight for a few minutes. When she popped back up she had found two winter caps in her room and put them on." Note - her room was quite warm that day from the baby monitor's status, 83 degrees. Hardly winter cap weather! My daughter loves to be goofy...

Who knew our small one way street would be part of a south city parade route? Emma looks pleased with the end result... candy!

I have always wanted to go to the balloon glow but have never been - was hoping this would be the year, but I missed out due to a work event. However, Steve took Emma and she couldn't stop talking for days after about the balloons "falling down" at the end of the glow.

Playing at a friends house, I had to keep explaining that the baby crib wasn't quite big enough for all of them...

Just wanting to be like daddy!

Some days you just need a diaper both under and on top of your pants...

Dakota not only gets to go on a walk to the playground, but she actually gets to play on the playground too!

Weekend at the lake with friends - this girl is too cool for school!

Emma and her buddy Levi manning the bow of the boat.

Emma talked the whole weekend about wanting to try water skiing - we told her she could try the inner tube - she was not impressed.

Helping daddy with the "trend" of the summer - the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Here's to continuing our next adventure in this new chapter of our lives!