Snowy Christmas in NY

Just sharing a few pictures from the recent snowstorm on our still-in-progress trip to NY! We're having a good time seeing everyone and are only disappointed that Sarah, Siena and Joey's flight was canceled due to the weather. Love and warmest wishes to all!

First haircut and other stuff

This morning, we took Emmett to get his first haircut! We went to a children's salon that had a big wooden train set and fun cars for the kids to sit in while they got their haircut, and therefore we had a 90% pleasant experience. After realizing that the car wasn't a ride, a stranger was going to touch his head, and that he'd been duped, he turned into an angry little potato.

Then a sad potato

Then stopped crying for a few minutes

Then we stopped taking pictures when we realized he wasn't actually going to stop crying. But he talked about his haircut the whole way home and kept saying "hair - all gone!"

Delving deeper into his personal business, we were floored this week to learn that Emmett has been going potty at day care (on a real potty) on a somewhat regular basis?! He doesn't have as much interest in this at home, but we're still very proud of his efforts :)

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. We're heading out in a few minutes to celebrate Brian Sutton's VCU graduation - congratulations, Brian!

Big Man Update

Last week, we took Emmett for his 18-month checkup. It turns out we were supposed to take him for a 15-month checkup too. Whoopsie!

He's 34.5" tall (97%)
30 lbs 4 oz (92%)
Head circumference 18.5" (75%)

Everything went well, he is developing just fine in every way, and we're so happy to have that reassurance. However, now that he can express himself in so many different ways, it was really difficult seeing him so upset. We're looking forward to coming up to NY for Thanksgiving - see everyone in just a few days!

Lovely Hiking Day

Emmett kept cracking up when Mommy's ponytail would tickle his nose

All sorts of Awesomeness

Happy Halloween, y'all! We're just sharing some pictures from the last few days and sharing some exciting milestones.

First of all, Emmett's parents are celebrating the 10 year anniversary of becoming a couple! By "celebrating" we mean acknowledging from afar; Andrew is in San Diego for a web development conference and Teresa is with Emmett in Richmond. But we had a pretty solid high-5 before he left for the airport this morning so hooray for us! (Please note, we only semi-jokingly celebrate our 'dating' anniversary but only acknowledge it here because 10 years seems like a pretty significant accomplishment, especially when compared to our measly not-quite-5 year wedding anniversary :)

So the other day when Mommy was not giving Emmett the attention he deserves (and demands!) she heard a loud crash and came upon the scene below. Shortly after, Emmett stomped around in the dirt, then Otis rolled around in it. The fun never ends!

With Emmett turning 18 months old in a couple of days, we had him pose for this picture, which is the first time he's smiled on request for a photo:

Halloween! We've been working on the Lion costume for weeks which Emmett finally, only, wore this evening while playing with his BFF Juddy, who was a Tiger! These two are so much fun to watch - chasing each other around, playing peek-a-boo, playing with cars and trucks and other toys that interest them. On the other hand, their personalities are so distinct - Emmett still likes to sit back and take everything in, while Juddy has no fear or inhibitions when it comes to exploring something new. It is a total pleasure to watch them together!

Emmett chit chatting

Here's mommy, interrogating Emmett! He had a little bruise under his eye which unfortunately looks pretty dramatic in this B&W video.

Fun at the Folk Fest

The huge Richmond Folk Festival is an event we look forward to each year. We were lucky to go with our awesome friends, the Gilberts, and enjoyed the beautiful weather with our great little boys :)

Nana Papa Weekend!

Hellooooo! Here are a few pictures from Nana and Pop Pop's visit last weekend. We had a fairly epic Saturday, starting with a fundraising event for the Junior League of Richmond. The event is called "Touch a Truck" and well, it was awesome! At LEAST 50 large trucks - emergency rescue vehicles, construction vehicles, semis, a car transporter, a helicopter, etc - that children could climb on, honk the horn, etc. We were some of the first people there, which worked out really well because we didn't have to wait in any lines. When it got busier, Emmett became a little overwhelmed, so we headed over to the toddler play area. They really thought of everything. :)

Nana and Papa trying out Segways!



After Emmett's nap, we visited the horror that is Chesterfield Berry Farm. You can't tell from the below pictures, but it was not good. Expensive admission, uninspired "activities", and the animals were in bad shape. The important thing is that Emmett had fun, and we kept our sense of humor! :) Pictured below is Nana, Pop Pop and Emmett with our $28 pumpkin.

Emmett at School

A week or two ago, we received these pictures from Emmett's great teachers at the VCU Child Development Center where he spends his time when Andrew and I are both working in the office. They treat it like school -- PTA meetings, Open Houses, field trips, lesson plans, etc. It was difficult to leave our old daycare where we knew that they loved him so much, but we are thrilled that he seems to be loving the new place. He has turned into a total sponge, and I think a major benefit is being in the same classroom with children up to 2 1/2 years old or so. The older kids know the routine, have great verbal skills, know how to sit down, line up, follow instructions, eat with a fork and spoon, drink out of a "big boy" cup, etc.

The teachers are always saying that he's one of the mellowest kids they've ever had. He HAS been having tantrums at home, but it appears he SAVES it for at home :) He doesn't really cry or fuss, he doesn't mind if other kids push in front of him to get their turn at something, but he is coming out of his shell more - not just sitting on the sidelines and observing. They're thrilled with his fascination with books and with storytime. During open play he pretty much plays with toy cars and trucks, or goes and finds a book (pictured below.)

They have "cooking" lessons - here, he's tasting a lemonade-yogurt smoothie. They said he was the only child who made an appropriate face at the sour taste of the lemonade. Sniffle.

Some new Emmett Videos!

Thanks to Andrew's (slightly paid) hobby of writing about sports, he now has an iPhone 4, which means that we now have a video camera again! Here are a couple of brand new videos - one of Emmett delighting in the glory that is the Dyson Animal DC25, and one of Baby Book Club which ended with buddies Jake and Kate having a pretty awesome dance-off.

Andrew + The Giants

Hey, Andrew's writing is on NFL.com's Blog Blitz! Check it out:
http://blogblitz.nfl.com/new-york-giants/entry/battle_of_the_backfields

Also, he had an exclusive phone interview with one of the Giants earlier this week, a guy named Kenny. Exciting times, if you're a sports fan, in the Ilnicki household!

Fabulous Emmett Weekend

Hi there everyone on this gorgeous VA weekend, it's perfect weather here at 80 degrees, no humidity, and not a single cloud. Emmett has had a fun filled and exciting weekend already:

• a Friday night reservation at his favorite Mexican restaurant featuring a plate of black beans



• attended his friend Kate's 2nd birthday party that featured cupcakes bearing the likeness of Elmo...








which of course he enjoyed immensely...




and a giant bouncy bounce house with slide that was a huge hit...





and then Emmett made his way over to Maymont park and children's farm where he saw peacocks, pigs, goats, and chickens... and was especially taken with the massive stinky pot bellied pigs...








the dogs are back and doing well too, breaking in the new wood floor in the kitchen...



And Emmett will be asleep for the Colts/Giants game tonight, but that doesn't mean he won't be wearing NY blue to bed. Mommy and Daddy will be dining on some of Andrew's famous no nonsense crab cakes for the Manning Bowl, if you want the recipe head over to GmenHQ for the tip.

Emmett reads and wears a Giants jersey

Just sharing some more recent pics of our little man! Here he is reading and cuddling with Daddy:





Playing with the dogs. He loves that crate.

Ready for the first real Giants game of the season! It wasn't televised here in Richmond, so Daddy was forced to go to a bar for the day while Emmett and Mommy went to the playground and relaxed around the 'hood.


Emmett has learned to use utensils at his new day care. It doesn't keep him clean, but he's very proud of his ability to do this!




After the Giants won (I think) we went to Music in the Park where Emmett refused to give a Cowboys fan a high-five. No kidding.