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.

Oldies but Goodies

These pictures are from Thanksgiving last year, at Nana and Pop Pop's house. Emmett was just over 6 months old here. We aren't in the habit of using a bib, so Nana just pinned an old dishtowel around his neck, which seemed to make him extra smiley. We can't believe how small he looks, but the facial expressions are still him!