Two words: Di-Saurs

Thanks to my Grandma Donna and Papa Jim, I have something bordering on an obsession with a certain movie: Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (or Di-saurs as I like to call them). This movie has everything I like--adventure, excitement, cute cuddly animals, and most importantly, (you guessed it) di-saurs. Knowing how much I love them, my Mommy and Daddy took me to the Museum of Science and Nature today to see REAL ones. Granted, they didn't have skin anymore and they didn't talk much, but they were still pretty darn cool. And HUGE! One of them was like as big as my house!

Also, I got to see my very first movie! It was an IMAX, so it felt like I was right inside the movie. It was about sea monsters--big, scary ones that lived millions of years ago. I can't wait to go back next month and see the new one! Here are a few pictures of our big day.

Party on, E!

Last weekend, I went to my first big-kid birthday party. You know, the kind where you get in the car, drive a long way to some place special (like a museum, restaurant or park), take a present, sing Happy Birthday, eat cake, and all that jazz. Well, it was my friend, M's, 3rd birthday, and she did it up right. We went to the Children's museum where I got to climb in a cave and even sit in a firetruck (my favorite part!). I am feeling like I got the short end of the stick on my last birthday, since I was still recovering. Therefore, I am already coming up with ideas for next year's festivities, because I want to give Mommy and Daddy plenty of time to save up for it. Don't worry...you're ALL invited :)

Amazingly calm and cool Fire Chief Emmett to the rescue!


Riding shotgun in the fire truck--look out!


Me and my buddies--aren't we cute?

Blogs...they are a-changin'

Soooo....what do you think of my new blog wallpaper? I know, I know...hearts? A little girly perhaps, UNLESS you're a super-cool heart surgery survivor like me. Mama thought it suited me, and I must agree. So, like it or not, I'm rockin' the hearts. At least for the time being...

IF you are a regular blog visitor, I have one little request to make. Before I do, picture my cute little face...big puppy dog brown eyes...pouty red lips...cutest chubby toes in the world...yeah, that's me. Got the visual? Now that you have that picture of me in your head, picture those big brown eyes asking this eensy, weensy, teeny, tiny favor....Will you PLEASE start leaving comments on my blog??? Some of you (Grandma Cookie, Aunt Dana, Aunt Clarissa, etc.) are very good at this, but most of you aren't. It's not that I'm full of myself and need your affirmation, but...okay, that's totally it. I need to know that people are reading this if I'm going to continue it; otherwise, I'm just writing for myself, and let's face...that's just not fun (don't tell my Mommy I said that...she's a teacher). Anyway...it's super easy to do. For instructions, read here.

Thank you! I can't wait to read all of your funny, insightful and flattering comments! :)

Big E

Picture of the Day...

even though it was taken two weeks ago :) Mommy thought I looked like such a natural skiier that I just had to post this picture. Of course, I haven't really gotten to enjoy the powder yet, but maybe next year???

Top Twos of a Two-Year Old

As you all know, I recently hit a big milestone in my life--I turned 2. I like it so far. Feeling good, no aches or pains yet. I think it's going to be a good year for me. When I turned 18 months, I wrote a post listing eighteen things about me. I wanted to do something similar, but let's be honest, 24 is a BIG number, and it would take way too long to list that many things about myself. So, instead, I have decided to list my "Top Two" answers to several questions that I think you may be asking yourself. So, here it goes...

1) Top two favorite foods?
apples and ice cream (hopefully, one cancels the other out :)

2) Two favorite movies?
easy peasy--Ice Age 3 (Di-saurs, as I call it) and anything with Elmo

3) Two favorite animals (besides my cats, Murphy and Gretchen, of course)?
FISH!!! and dinosaurs

4) Two favorite toys?
Choo-choos and cars

5) Two favorite books?
This changes daily, but right now, they are "Bringing Down the Moon" (a gift from Auntie D) and Dinosaurs by Sandra Boynton (are you seeing a theme yet?)

6) Two favorite people?
Why, Mommy and Daddy, of course!

7) Two biggest accomplishments?
Heart surgeries #1 and #2 :)

8) Two favorite places to go?
Three-way tie: Aquarium, zoo and Costco (the last is Daddy's influence)

9) Two cutest things I say?
"Tank tou" (thank you) and I LO! (I love you!) - I actually pronounce many words very well, but Mommy thinks it's cute when I say things my own way.

10) Two comfort items
Li-Li (the Lion) and MILK (and lots of it!)

Well, that is just a glimpse into what make me Emmett. And a darn cute Emmett at that.

Hugs and kisses!
Love,
Big E

Zoo Day

After the aquarium, my next favorite place is the zoo. Mommy and Daddy had been promising to take me again for a while now, and they finally made good on that promise last Saturday. Even though it was a little cold, it was the perfect day to go. The park was practically empty and all the animals were out sunbathing. I even got to take my first carasoul ride! Take a look at our super-duper day at the zoo...

My favorites--the big kitties!


Daddy and I up close and personal with a rhino


It doesn't get any better than this!


Our happy little family!

Full (and fun!) House

Just a day after Grandma and Papa left, Mommy got a phone call from one of her very best friends, Clarissa. She knew Mommy when she was young...a LONG, LONG time ago. Anyway, she asked if she could bring her family out for a last-minute New Year's trip, and of course, we said YES! So, Clarissa, James, Matthew and Charlie arrived the next morning, and the fun began. Take a look!

The crew in Estes Park after a yummy lunch at Penelope's


Just us guys...


Mommy and Baby Charlie


Auntie Clarissa, Matthew and I going fishing...


Look at the size of the snowman's head! (inside joke for James)

Happy Birthday to ME!

Goodbye, baby...hello, toddler! That's right, it's official. I am a big, 2 year old boy now. On December 28, 2007 at 2:13 p.m. my Mommy's and Daddy's lives were forever changed when I entered the world. To celebrate the big day, we went to my favorite place in the whole world--the aquarium. You know how I love those "gish" (Emmett to English Translation: fish). Then we came home and Daddy served up a tasty and messy cupcake, complete with two candles that I promptly blew out. Here are a few pics and a video from my big day.

Do I look older? Because I FEEL older!


Crouching Emmett, Hidden Turtle


Did you see that gish, Daddy???


Happy birthday to me!

Christmas Morning--Hello, Santa!!!

Santa was extremely good to me this year. Apparently, he felt guilty about me being in the hospital right before Christmas, so he went a little overboard :) Here are just a few pictures of me taking it all in...

A Visit from Grandma and Papa!

About 24 hours after we arrived home from California, Grandma Donna and Papa Jim were pulling up in the driveway. They stayed for a whole week, and it was so fun to have them here on Christmas morning! They even brought Baby, their lhasa apso puppy, with them. Here are a few pics of their visit. Thank you, Grandma and Papa, for making my second Christmas so memorable!

Where to begin?

Hello, family and friends. Have you missed me?

First of all, I would like to thank my beautiful, amazing, selfless, intelligent, and talented (she made me say that) mother for taking over my blog while I was in the hospital. She's not the best writer in the world, but I had limited options, and she got the job done.

And thanks to all of you for following my story. As you will see in the following updates, I have made an incredible recovery from my second open-heart surgery. My Mommy, Daddy and all of my doctors are amazed by how well I am doing just four (very busy) weeks later. I am going to attempt to catch you up on my life for the last month...it won't be easy, but I'm up to the challenge. Enjoy and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The happiest day of my life to date--leaving the hospital on December 17th!


Ahhh, real food. My first post-hospital meal...PF Changs fried rice in our hotel room--my favorite!