The Proof (movie)

Auntie Celeste showing Emma the water (movie)
Originally uploaded by Adam W.

Thank you, Auntie Celeste, for introducing Emma to the water. Spencer is not a HUGE fan of being TOO close to the water because the waves are a bit unpredictable, so I didn't think Emma would be so elated. (That's the risk of having more than one child - I tend to think one will react the same way as the other, but let's hear it for individuality!)

Watch Emma walk TOWARDS the water as each wave recedes. We have a beach babe on our hands!

Emma LOVES the beach!

Emma LOVES the beach!
Originally uploaded by Adam W.

Here is today's photo update. This may be my blogging style for a bit. A picture a day.

Last year, Ems was just 6 weeks old for our beach vacation. This year, she was old enough to understand just how marvelous it is to put your toes in the sand. She LOVED walking around the beach and, to our surprise, even loved the chilly H2O. Video proof in the next post.

Sandy Spencer

Spencer LOVES being buried in the sand
Originally uploaded by Adam W.

In past years, Spencer has experienced some hesitation about the sand. He LOVED the digging part, but did not like getting sand between his feet and his sandals. (Who does, really?) This year that phobia seems to have found a comfortable seat in Spencer's past...wouldn't you say?

5 Dangerous Things You Should Let Your Kid Do

I'm trying not to be a "wuss" dad. Here's someone I agree with. Get ready Spencer and Emma!



In case you don't have 10min, here's what he covers (if I have first-hand childhood experience with it):
Play with fire (check)
Own a Pocketknife (check)
Throw a spear (check)
Deconstruct appliances (check)
Break the DMCA (check... wait...)
Drive a car (definitely, ask me later)

Both Kids Looking

Kids' photo - Emma and Spencer - pretty cute
Originally uploaded by Adam W.

Rather than do a completely fluid, well-written post with sundry pictures showing our glorious time at OBX over this year's Memorial Day Cummings Reunion, I am taking the copout and using Flickr. Iphoto is not cooperating, and if I put it off any longer NOTHING will get written.

This little photo captures the best of our attempts to get Spencer and Emma looking and smiling at the same time. We settled for looking. Notice the shovel in Spencer's hand. We couldn't convince him to drop his "tools" for the photo shoot. Too much digging to be done with all that sand.

More to come...keep checking back!

Which Austen Girl Are You?

I found this online quiz through a friend's blog. (Thanks, Chelsea!) As much as I might wish I were the glamorous Emma Woodhouse or the sharp-witted Elizabeth Bennet, I am, quite predictably, Elinor Dashwood. It comes from being the eldest sister in a large family, I think.

Take the Quiz here!

HAPPY Birthday girl Emma

HAPPY Birthday girl Emma
Originally uploaded by Adam W.

Emma reached her one year mark on April 18th. We had a FABULOUS day, starting with making a cupcake-cake (in the shape of a flower). Emma loved licking the bowl (mmm...chocolate) and "helping" to frost the cupcakes. Then it was off to the library for some bum-scooting/crawling amongst the shelves, another favorite pastime for our lovie. After a good nap, all the family arrived for a BBQ and a birthday party. We sang "Happy Birthday" many times throughout the day, and each time Emma would get her big grin; she knew this was her day. After staring at her lit Tinkerbell candle for a while, Emma allowed big brother Spencer to help her blow it out. (Incidentally, now she has figured out how to blow candles out - just a little after the fact. It was the same with Spence. The milestone seems to occur just a year after the first birthday. Ah, well). Then it was time for presents. Emma was thrilled to receive Baby Einstein books, a new swimsuit (pink - the color of her first year of life when it comes to clothes...Mama was excited to have a girl), a Fisher Price phone (Emma LOVES to talk on the phone - cute now, by age 13...watch out), a Disney t-shirt (also PINK!), bowls, a fork and spoon (for a girl who LOVES to feed herself), and a lion-shaped walker/bike combo. (If I haven't mentioned it before, Em enjoys roaring like a lion. Often that is the first sound she makes when she wakes up or when she first sees Spencer. Always ready to play!)

We had cake and ice cream, said goodbye to the family members who had to rush off to curtain call time for the Pickwick Players production of "Little "Women" and then took Ems out to the swing to finish her big day in her favorite spot. That's when we snapped this photo of one HAPPY birthday girl.

Emma - we love you! You bring such joy into our lives. You have the cutest crinkle-nosed smile, the sweetest temperament, the best hugs, the sweetest kisses, and such good snuggles. We are so proud of the sweetheart you are and the big girl you are becoming. It is a joy to be your parents. Every day, your Daddy and I look at each other in wonder and thank our Heavenly Father for our wonderful little ones. You are our sweet girl, lovie munchkin. Here's to many more wonderful years with our Emma Marie.