It was warm enough the past two days to go outside for a few minutes without a coat for a quick fashion show or three. lol 
We need to try the Daddy's Sweetheart again for her Valentine's Day card. :)
Update: The potty training is going so well. She is down to almost no accidents and lets us know when she has to go even when we are travelling and out at places too. :)
Emma received a little potty for her 1st birthday and shortly after we started sitting her on it before bathtime. She would look at us strangely but she went on it a handful of times then she decided she was over it. We started pushing the issue right before she turned 2 and she was absolutely not interested! She had a spell where she was anti-big girl anything - she wanted to be held like a baby, called a baby, etc. So we let it be. We kept pushing the potty dvds and books on her and she liked to listen to them. Since I have been home with her the past few weeks, after the Christmas craziness passed, we have been trying again. She wore her big girl panties a few mornings last week and woul sit on the potty every 30-40 minutes but she wouldn't go on the potty. She would wear them from around 8:30 AM to around noon when we would go back to the diaper for naptime. She would then pee in the diaper every. single. time. It was a little frustrating but I kept telling her she needed to pee in the potty to get the M&M and that only babies peed in their diapers and it was a good thing to become a big girl who peed on the potty.
We were having a lazy day at home this past Saturday so we tried again. I kept on to her, "Emma, need to go potty?" and "Emma, are you sure you don't need to potty?" I was starting to annoy myself. lol She had accidents in her panties twice while playing but then started to realize it and would run to the potty. Progress! She had more successes than accidents by Monday. We are working on the rewards plan of 1 M&M for a pee, 2 M&M's for a poo. She repeats this to us while she is on the potty so I know she completely gets it. Papa also talked to her on the phone Sunday and told her he would give her a $1 for each time she pottied this week...I think that was a motivator! She had a poo on the potty on Tuesday and immediately asked "Mommy two M&Ms and $2 monies from Papa?" I told her she would have to discuss the details with Papa if that was part of his deal. Girl is all about the monies - she is up to $10 "monies" now - it is so cute how she has turned dollars into monies! So far today we have had two successes and no accidents - knock on wood! Here's hoping that the potty training only goes UP from here.
We welcome any advice too so feel free to share any tips...especially night time training and also travelling with a potty training toddler!
It has still been a little crazy around here after the holidays...Great Aunt Becky and Uncle Billy came to visit and so did Nana and Papa. This is another quick pictures share for everybody we don't see all the time. Enjoy!
Nana, Papa and Emma have gone fishin'...
Emma wants Papa to rock it like Hannah Montana...
Settling in for a nap with Magenta, Boo, Periwinkle and Blue...
Emma's adorable "fake sleeping" face...
Little stinker at the mall with Daddy...
Hangin' out with her Nana last weekend...
Just a swingin' and looking back at Papa...
Oh deer! It is goofy eyes Emma...
Goofy eyes Papa...
Goofy eyes Daddy and Emma's mondo sundae at the Mayberry Cafe!
Nana, papa and Emma in the lobby at the Mayberry Cafe...
Jon and the old sheriff's car in front of Mayberry Cafe...
Emma waiting somewhat patiently to meet Santa on 12/23...
Walking up to Santa...
Why didn't I think to bring the Nikon?
Showing GeeGee that Wubbzy has mad skills...lol
Grandad singing with Emma...
An attempt at a picture with Great Aunt Becky...
Papa, Emma and Boo rocking on the Jack Daniel's Distillery tour...
Emma did not like how the barrel rooms smelled...lol
Playing checkers at the barrel shop in downtown Lynchburg...
Modeling her new Matilda Jane dress for us...she has everything for 60% off this month! It is my weakness, lol, especially at 60% off so Jon let me have a little after Christmas splurge. Thanks honey!
Go check it out - she even has a limited boys line! http://www.matildajaneclothing.com
We spent Christmas with my family while we were in Indiana the weekend of 12/19. Bennett, Peytonn & Emma were all spoiled by Nana & Papa. A work bench with tools for P and Emma received a kitchen with plenty of pots & pans. Clothes, clothes, clothes too. Nana loved the plate Emma had handpainted for her and Emma loved showing Nana how she did her handprints. We didn't manage to do our annual Christmas photo in front of the fireplace at their house. Maybe next year? We also took Emma through the Christmas lights at the park...she loved it! 
We gave Nate one of his favorite presents, a MAJOR award. lol If you've seen A Christmas Story then you understand what I am talking about...that movie has been a staple in our family for as long as I can remember. I had to introduce Jon to it about 5 years ago - his family had never heard of it!
We went to our 4:00 PM church service on Christmas Eve and Emma was enthralled when the lights dimmed and the sanctuary was lit by candlelight. She kept making Daddy raise his arm higher and higher. We then had Jon's dad, sister and grandparents over for Christmas Eve dinner...unfortunately his mom had to work that night. Gee Gee & Grandad had the Wubbzy that Emma had asked Santa for so she was crazy for awhile! She had seen him in stores and wanted him so much but I don't think she realized he stood on his head!
After they headed home, we headed outside to toss the reindeer some food out on our porch so they would know to stop here. Emma loved tossing it all around!
Emma was so into Christmas this year...we read her board book, Christmas in the Manger about 5 times on Christmas Eve and she kept telling us to Shhhhh! for Baby Jesus. She loved the star in the book too. She loved keeping up with our elf Isaac. She loved decorating our Christmas tree and looking at it every day. She asked to go see Santa at the mall and actually walked up to him, sat on his lap and talked to him without a single tear. She loved handing out presents. We were in a little rush Christmas morning but she opened her presents and stocking before we headed out to Aunt Sally's house for brunch. She loved her camera and the pictures aren't too bad!
These are from her VTech camera:
We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas and I hope you all did too! Happy New Year!
We were planning on seeing Santa while we were back home visiting Nana & Papa but we ran out of time with Aunt Debbie's funeral and trying to visit everyone like we usually do when we're back home. Plan B was the Santa at the mall here that we met a few weeks ago during the hot air balloon fiasco. Emma decided she wanted to see Santa on Tuesday and she did so well - walked right up to him and let him sit her on his lap. She told him she wanted a Wubbzy and Christmas feet. lol We're not sure what Christmas feet are because she said no when we asked if she meant shoes or a Christmas tree. She also told us she wants a "quick-amera like Daddy's" which means camera, by the way - we think she picked up "Click" from Go Diego Go!
**Ugh...I apologize for the picture being so wonky - it is the picture we bought and our scanner doesn't do well with glossy photos.
