Christmas 2008

We had a wonderful Christmas! Emma loved opening gifts! She would say "ohhh" as she saw packages come her way! Needless to say, Emma had plenty to open. New clothes, new toys, new books...now I'm asking for some new storage! Here are some pictures of our long weekend!

The Zinser Family

The Weatherwax Family I love opening presents!

Emma's bouncing pony - she actually got one from each of her aunts! Great minds think alike!

Hailey and Emma in their new big girl chairs!

Another Christmas tradition includes having some of my HS friends over on Christmas night. The best gift that John and I could have ever asked for!

Building confidence!

Emma has been practicing taking a few steps since early October. In the past few weeks, she's really started to take off. So now her movement repertoire includes scooting, crawling and now walking! She's getting pretty good at turning corners, although she still resembles a drunken sailor at times!

We hope everyone has safe and blessed holiday! Merry Christmas!

No No No...Ho Ho Ho!!!

Emma is a very happy girl. Not many things make her cry...hunger, extreme fatigue, and now Santa! We headed to the school's holiday open house and Santa was there. As we were approaching him, she was waving, smiling, and saying "ho ho ho." But as soon as we got within 3 feet - watch out - she was terrified. We snapped a quick picture, and went on our merry way.

Maybe next year?

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble!

We hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving weekend! We headed to Nashville, TN to visit John's family. Emma loved the food and would say "mmmmmm" after most bites! She also drove around looking at homes of country stars with the boys while the girls shopped in downtown Franklin. Here is a picture of the whole Crider family.

http://www.squierphotography.com/slideshows/EmmaW12mos/

Above is the link to Emma's 12 mos photo shoot!

(I forgot to post earlier) Emma's 12 mos stats: 26lbs 10 ounces and 30.5in

Sweet Home, Chicago

Last weekend we headed to Chicago for my annual reunion with my girlfriends from PA school. Stephanie is a family medicine PA in Denver; Kristen is a pediatric PA in Milwaukee; And, Kate is an Emergency Room PA at various ERs in Illinois. Kristen and Greg welcomed Audrey in September, so it was our first time meeting her. What a cutie! On Saturday, the girls and I headed down to Millennium Park where we could see the famous "bean" and the Crown Fountain. The boys were at home watching Audrey and Emma, as well as football, of course!

On our way to Chicago, we visited John's cousin Katey who is a freshman at Wheaton College.

Happy 1st Birthday Emma!

Its hard to believe our little girl turned 1 on November 6th. This first year has flown by, and what a wonderful year it has been! John and I have had the pleasure to watch her grow, mature, and develop the cutest personality ever! I miss those days when she would just sleep on my shoulder or wear those cute knitted booties from GG. These days Emma is strolling around with her walker toys, signing "baby" and "more," calling out "mama" and "dadda," and holding up 1 finger for how old she is! She's even developed a mini-attitude and she'll let out a grunt or grrrr if she doesn't get her way! I wonder where she gets that from? :)

Emma had a very very rough birthday week. Poor thing was very sick and has been through a lot for anyone, let alone a 1 year old. She wasn't up for much on her actual birthday, but fortunately she turned the corner for her birthday party on Saturday. Here are some of our favorite pictures from the weekend!

Future President?

Only 17 years and a few days until Emma can vote!

Happy Halloween!

The Little Lady!

Tonight we headed over to the Beatty's house for Emma and Isla's first Trick-or-Treat night. The girls looked too cute - a ladybug and a cowgirl! I can only imagine what next year will be like!

Lil' Buckeye

This past weekend we hosted our Warehouse party for the OSU/Penn State game. Unfortunately, the buckeyes lost, but Emma looked too cute! Here's a pic that Aunt Bec took! Have a great week!

Play time and pumkins!

This weekend we celebrated James' 3rd birthday at Bananas in Mason. Basically its an inflatable play center. Emma was able to jump, scoot, crawl and slide! She had fun with her cousin and his friends!

Today, we headed to Shaw Farms in Milford. Emma experienced her first hayride and she liked to play in the pumpkins. Here Emma is showing us her #1 choice for a pumkin!

First Steps!

Emma hit a milestone on Friday night when we were visiting with the Jeager's and the Conley's. Becky even got it on video for us! Take a look! She had quite the audience! Go Emma!

Strollin and Santa Fe!

Emma spent the weekend with Grandma and Grandpa Z as John and I went to Santa Fe with his Mom and Dad for work! We missed her like crazy, but she enjoyed her "vacation" too! Emma was cruising with this toy - so we had to borrow it and bring it home to practice with it!

This is a self portrait on a hot air balloon ride! It was an amazing ride and a spectacular view! Santa Fe was a beautiful city with fabulous food, drinks, shopping, and culture!

Team Zinser

On Sunday, the Zinser family walked in the Komen Race for the Cure in memory of my Aunt Jeanne. It was a beautiful morning (little did we know what was in store for us later on).

The 75mph winds that blew through Columbus ...TIMBER!!!

Look Mom....No Hands!

Emma is testing the waters with standing. After about 5 seconds or so, she plops onto the ground just to try it again.

Road Trips/10 mos old!

Labor day weekend was a fun weekend - a jam packed weekend! Friday Emma headed to Grandma W's to spend the day! Emma loves to get into Grandma's cabinet and pull everything out! Saturday was Aunt Rebecca's birthday and we had a celebration lunch, then we headed to Aunt Kim's house for the annual cornhole party. Emma enjoyed playing with her cousins! Here is James showing off his Michael Phelps impression!



Sunday we headed back to Columbus to cheer on Aunt Bec as she ran the Spirit of Columbus half marathon! She did a great job! Our cousins Ryan and Julie and their 2 week old baby evacuated New Orleans as Gustav approached and headed to Nashville. So on Sunday, John and Emma headed with the family to Nashville to meet the newest addition to the family, Caroline Elizabeth. Emma got to hold her first baby!

More Pics!

Emma had her 9 mos pictures taken last Saturday at Scioto Park in Dublin. She wasn't her "normal" smiley self- as her top teeth are starting to make their debut! Emma continues to scoot around, and she's pulling her self up on anything she can get her hands onto! Have a great week!

http://www.squierphotography.com/slideshows/EmmaW9mos/

9 months old!

Yes, our Emma is 9 mos old today! She continues to blossom into a sweet little girl and bless our family each and every day. She may look like John, but I think she's inheriting my personality (an even trade I think!). She loves to laugh and smile! Emma has a few tricks up her sleeve these days -she loves playing peek-a-boo, performing "how big is Emma" and she even dances when music comes on !

We went to the doctor for her 9 mos checkup and here are her stats: 24lbs (97%) and 28.5 inches (75%). She just laid there with her feet crossed while the doc examined her - quite a site!

Yesterday we had a few visitors! The LePage's, Great Grandma Crider, and G&G Weatherwax and Grandma Zinser! We had a great visit! We always get asked "where did she get that red hair?" Can you see the resemblance in the picture with Aunt Anna?

GG and Grandma Z took advantage of Emma's cat naps!

Bad Hair Day!

Emma's hair has taken on a world of its own! She has this adorable "fluffy" strawberry blond hair! Her hair has earned her the recent nicknames of troll, Woodstock, and "Woody" woodpecker. Can you see the resemblance? Too cute! We had to take pics this morning when she woke up! HA!

On the move...

Yes, for the past month or so, Emma has been making her way around the house. She has a unique way of moving...on her behind! It's a riot to see - the video doesn't do it justice! She can get from point A to point B very quickly if she wants too! She'll have buns of steel before she's walking!

Emma also had her first tooth pop through last week. Cold teething rings and tylenol helped out!

Atlantic Beach, NC

We had fantastic week in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina for our Zinser family vacation! Emma loved her first trip to the beach and loved playing in the pool with her cousins James and Hailey. She played in the sand and never once put sand in her mouth - which I swore she would do. John played a couple rounds of golf, while the rest of us relaxed. Grandma and Grandpa had a blast with the kids, and Kim and Jim celebrated their 4th wedding anniversary on the trip.

Update (delayed)...Emma had her tubes placed June 18th and did great! She was back to herself by that afternoon!

Daddy's Little Girl!

Emma (with help from her school teachers) made John a Father's Day hat that was too cute! What a proud father! We were blessed to be able to celebrate the weekend with both of our fathers. Today we lounged in the back yard poolside, while Daddy and Grandpa W golfed. Emma loves the water!