"Daddy - Don't Find Me"

Oh what a joy (read: half sincere/half sarcastic) it is to have a 26 month old little girl in our home. Sometimes I love her so much I want to hug her so tight I pop her eyes right out. And sometimes she drives me so nutty I want to squeeze her so tight her eyes pop right out. I really have to say that 98% of the time she is such a wonderful little person to have around our home. During the 2%, I count to 10 a lot and remember that she is just barely 2-years-old trying to exert her independence.

Her dominant personality trait is that of a "people person". Those who know Greg and I well will wonder how she came from our reserved and non-sociable genes. :) She has quite a knack for remembering faces and names and it never ceases to amaze me. We'll see people we haven't seen in months and she will remember their names and who belongs in their family.

We had the TRULY JOYOUS opportunity to spend the evening with Mima Kearl last night. Mima was in town for a conference. We were thrilled to know that she could squeeze us in for a little visit. Mima and Gary Kearl and their six amazing children lived across the street from my family in Lexington for about 20 years. They are like family to us and it was a highlight to be able to talk and laugh with Mima again. Emma has never met her. I told her on the way - we are going to meet Mima, one of Mommy's favorite people. To which she enthusiastically replied, "I remember Mima!" Below is a picture of the three of us together. Now that Mima has won her adoration and affection by presents, play time and ice cream - Emma is sure to remember her forever more. As it should be. Only sad the Kearls live so far away they can't have an impact on Emma's life like they had on mine.


This month Emma has discovered true childhood living. She has found the happiness in rain puddles and splashing around in them until she is soaking wet. Emma has learned how to blow her nose on her own - making breathing much more enjoyable. She has become a legitimate American by learning the words to "Take me out to the ballgame", her favorite part being "root, root, root" and "1, 2, 3 strikes your out". And she has found the beginning promptings of Elijah as she becomes obsessed with family "full names". She proudly boasts her name as "Emma Margaret Adams", and Greg and I are "Daddy Loyd Adams" and "Mommy Krebs Adams". She likes to adopt people into our family and frequently names others ending in "Adams". My sister is "Laura Jean Krebs Adams" and Rob is "Robbie Gardner Adams". She has also given all of her favorite toys full names such as "Doggie Margaret Adams", "Dolly Krebs Adams" and "Blanket Loyd Adams". When we walk through stores she will point to people and ask me what their full name is. It's always a scramble trying to come up with something on the fly.

Here she is at the Mesa Children's Museum. When playing with these toys she promptly attached the ball to the end and made it into a microphone. Always our little performer.
Get used to that microphone honey, that's how you're going to pay for Mommy and Daddy's retirement.


I have started taking her periodically to LA Fitness with me on Saturday mornings. One day I came to pick her up from the child care center and asked the staff how she did. The worker just looked at me and said, "she sure likes to say NO, doesn't she?" "Um. Yeah." was all I could mutter. Welcome to my life 18-year-old child care worker. Welcome to my life.

She recently found her swimsuits while I was putting away other laundry. She insisted on putting the swimsuit on immediately, which I thought would be just fine. Little did I realize that 1 hour later when we were getting dressed for the day - she would still INSIST on keeping that swimsuit on. It stayed on under her clothes for the entire day. Luckily it was a little chilly, so the extra layer was fine, until I had to change her diaper. UGH.

She is picture below with a little bag of M&M's - which she eats very happily. I literally ate my weight in M&M's while pregnant with Emma - so she comes about her addiction very genetically.

Emma and I were at our church book club last week. The host had made a bunch of really yummy cookies, which Emma continued to eat through the meeting. I would normally have stopped her, but they were keeping her happy and quiet so I obliged. On the way out the door, she stopped, looked the hostess straight in the eyes and said "I LOVE your cookies" - turned around and walked out the door. True that Emma.

She looks a little crazy faced here - but these were her art projects from the art class on "Arizona". And can't forget to tell you about the most recent art class involving HORSES. She peed her diaper FOR SURE when she saw that horses would be the focus for class.

Emma has unfortunately cut her nap down by a little this last month. She used to consistently sleep for 3 hours in the afternoon and now I'm lucky to get 2 hours. I just feel lucky that I get anything.

She still loves to color. A few nights ago she found a highlighter and took the lid off. I had pulled out paper, which I "assumed" she was using to color. When Greg got up from the couch to check on her, she cowered in the corner of our kitchen and started frantically crying, "Daddy - Don't Find Me!" "Daddy - Don't Find Me!". She had been coloring on the walls and knew that this was not OK. Unfortunately, Greg and I were laughing so hard we missed our parenting moment of discipline. Oh well - I'll get her next time! :)

Emma's two favorite things in one beautiful moment. Ride Mickey Ride!

My teaching at South Mountain Community College has concluded for the semester, so now I need to find something else to keep me out of trouble. Any ideas?