Check out the new video of Emmett that Mom uploaded… It’s called Emmett with the Bag.
It’s hilarious!
Riley and Tessa
We Went to the Aquarium!
So, for the first time, Mom and Dad took us to the Aquarium and it was really great. First off, there is a HUGE bubble machine in front of the building and Emmett couldn’t get enough of it. He ran around, chasing one of the older boys, squealing and laughing. Second, did you know that fish live in water? Water that you can splash? Riley tried, every single time Mom took him close to one of the open tanks, to reach in and splash the water. He didn’t love it when the fish swam close to him, but he loved that they were in water.
But the best part was seeing all of the fish that we’ve only seen in Finding Nemo and in our books. Emmett liked the shark tank and thought that it was fantastic that there was a diver in the tank with them. The diver even came over to the glass and gave Emmett and Riley high-fives. Emmett kept following the diver along the glass, putting his hand up to the glass for the diver to mirror on the other side, all the time Emmett was jabbering away in Emmett-speak. (For those of you that don’t know, Emmett-speak is a combination of known and unknown words. The inflection, however, and the gesticulations convey the general meaning.)
There were HUGE fish in that tank. Riley was initially interested in a puffer fish that was slightly bigger than he was. He would reach out and touch the glass, pointing and saying “oh!” Then when the puffer turned around and began to swim up to him, he backed into Mom’s arms shaking his head. Finally, when the puffer-with his great big eyes-was right up against the glass, Riley would make the sign for “all done! all done!” Once the puffer turned around and started to swim away, he would begin again.
Emmett was very interested in the other kids at the Aquarium. Mom and Dad think that he is going to love starting preschool in January. He would follow the kids around, or just watch as they interacted with each other. He would copy them when they climbed up, over and through displays meant for this sort of interaction. He was quite curious. Maybe more curious to see what the older kids would do than to see what the fish were doing.
The morning at the Aquarium was finished off by sharing a breakfast burrito with Daddy. All said, it was a wonderful day. And it came in a string of very tiring, active days. Memorial Day at Grandpa’s, playing for hours in the backyard; going to the garden store and planting a garden; and, of course, the visit to the Aquarium. Busy, busy.
Next week we are going to the zoo! Stay tuned to see how we like that…
We’re out,
Emmett and Riley
PS If you are wondering why there are no posted pictures of our trip to the Aquarium, it’s because the flash wasn’t working and nothing came out. But Mom posted some video recently of us doing crazy stuff, so there is that.
We Say Goodbye to a Great Friend
We are all very sad to report that we lost one of our doggies on Wednesday. Arlo died, probably of a heart attack or a vascular tumor in his heart. He was a fantastic cuddler, kisser, and all-around playmate. He also loved to help us clean up after meals, to play with us in the yard, and to be generally goofy and fun. The house is quite a bit more quiet without his rambunctious energy and it will be some time before we get used to it. Arlo, wherever you are, we will miss you and love you, always.
We posted some pictures of Arlo, as a final goodbye.
I Got a Roommate!
Mom and Dad decided that Riley and I weren’t close enough, being across the hall from each other, so they moved Riley into my room. At first, I wasn’t sure what was going on. But when Mom and Dad put us to bed and Riley went into his crib in my bedroom, I thought that it was fabulous. I started laughing and I just couldn’t stop. I ran from one side of my crib to the other for quite a while. Then I started throwing my bunny up and catching it. And after that, I just started talking a ton. To Riley. Who was in my room too!
Riley, of course, loved being in there with me. Why wouldn’t he? Everyone loves me. They love to hang out with me. And I have a lot to offer, so its not so much of a surprise. I am funny. I am smart. And I am very handsome. We chatted for a few hours until we both finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad didn’t seem so happy come morning, though, when both Riley and I were a bit tired from going to bed so late.
What I like to do is keep Riley up late and then wake him up early. Mom and Dad are hoping that this will wear off soon, but we’ll see. I have a ton of energy and I think that I can keep it up for longer than they expect. Sometimes when I don’t sleep really well, though, I am kind of cranky. I’m not sure why no one likes it when I am cranky, but they don’t. They keep telling me that I need to sleep more. Why sleep? That’s not when all the fun happens!
Well, check in next time to see if I get on Riley’s sleeping pattern or if he gets on mine.
Emmett
Mom’s Plan Seems to be Working…
I’m not sure if I’ve told you about this yet, but I am kind of addicted to the television. I throw huge temper tantrums when the TV is off and I can’t get someone to turn it on. This went on for a good while before I heard Mom tell Dad that she was going to give in. At first, Dad told me that he wouldn’t negotiate with terrorists. I kind of think that he was referring to the fact that when I didn’t get my way I would push Riley over or hit him on the head or steal his pacifier. But after a while of that, Mom said that this was not a fight that anyone was going to win, so she started turning on the television whenever I wanted her to. And I mean whenever…
First thing in the morning, I would run over the TV, tap the screen, and say ‘this! this!’ And she’d turn it on. After one movie was over, I’d go downstairs and throw a tantrum because the TV down there was off. And guess what? She’d turn that one on too! This went on for almost a month. I only had a few things that I watched-Monsters vs Aliens (an oldie but goodie), Finding Nemo, and Cars. But I loved them all and since I felt that I had really outgrown Dora and Diego, it was movies for me.
But once I’d seen each movie about a gazillion times, something happened. I didn’t ask to have the TV turned on so much. And when it was on, I would no longer stare at it like a thirsty man seeing water for the first time. I’d wander away and play with something in my room or in the library. When I realized that the movie was still on, I’d run into the TV room and the movie would be over. And that was just OK with me. So now, I have a more limited amount of television each day and it’s working well for everyone.
I heard Mom say that she was hoping that if I was able to watch my movies all the time then I would get sick of them. I guess it worked. Don’t tell her that, though.
Although maybe she should feel good about it, as this is one hurdle down and only a gazillion more to go.
Emmett out.
A list of stuff I like…
* I love to gallop. I gallop everywhere. I don’t run. I gallop.
* Since I’m not too keen on talking, I like to make up sign language signs for stuff. I made up my own sign for “toothbrush” and for “bubbles.” You know, important stuff.
* I LOVE bubbles. Can’t get enough. I ask for bubbles with breakfast, in the tub at night, and all hours in between.
* I can’t get enough of the television. More specifically, the movie Finding Nemo. Mom and Dad decided that keeping me away from the television was not a battle that they were going to fight. And since if I don’t get to watch Nemo when I ask for it, I throw tantrum of historic proportions, I watch it a lot…
* I’ve become a shy-guy. I don’t like for people to watch me do stuff. So when we are supposed to demonstrate something at the Little Gym, I wait until everyone else has gone. That way if I’m the last person then not as many people are watching.
* I have a few, new favorite books. I really like Cinderella and The Three Little Pigs. I don’t always want the entire book to be read to me, and sometimes I thumb through the pages and read the book to myself.
* I like to be wrapped up in a super soft blanket and snuggled before bed.
* I still love to be outside. I am totally in my element in our backyard. Going outside can even pacify me if Mom or Dad won’t turn on Nemo. And that’s saying something…
* I like to chase Riley around the house. He’s not walking yet, but he can cruise with the help of his walker. So I will chase him around, and then he’ll chase me. It’s great.
* I like to have my bunny give people kisses.
Life is good.
Emmett
