Emma at almost 3 1/2

Life is good for Emma, not to mention Mommy and Daddy. She is learning to control her emotions and express herself better. She is learning to do more things by herself. She is more patient. She is more obedient.

Of course, she thinks she is big stuff, and that gets her into trouble. She tells us what to do and still has an explosive temper. She whines ... way too much. The biggest way to keep her on an even keel is to make sure she eats regularly. (True for most people, I think.)

She knows she is 3 and that next birthday she'll be 4 and then, when she's 5, she says she'll be all grown up! I think she thinks once you use all the fingers on one hand, you're done!

I started compiling this list last week as a way to remember her just as she is at this moment in time.

EMMA'S LANGUAGE

She knows her address and how to call 911 (no cranks ... yet). She recognizes most letter sounds and can almost count to 20 (she gets confused around 16). She can write a few letters, O, E, S, T, H. She knows how to spell her name but can't write it yet. I'm working on getting her to memorize my phone number. I make up songs for everything I want her to remember -- she has it down in no time when it's set to a tune.

Mispronounced or otherwise mixed-up words:

aminals — animals

twyers — pliers

scrape — rake

sunscream — sunscreen

She still gets breakfast, dinner and lunch confused, as well as yesterday, tomorrow, last night, last week, etc. ("I want lunch," she'll say when she wakes up the morning.)

She says "none" incorrectly; e.g., "There are none raisins left!" She also uses "my" incorrectly: "Can my do it?"

Fave joke: Why did the banana go to the doctor? Because he wasn't peeling very well.

Recent Quotes: Emma: "Who's your mommy, Mommy?"

Me: "Granny Jan."

Emma: "Who's your daddy?"

Me: "Grandpa Bob."

Emma: "Hmm. ... But I love you, Mommy. I don't want you to be part of anyone else's family!"

"Mommy, time is in and time is out. Everything gets away."

DAILY LIFE

Emma can dress and undress herself, wash her face, brush her teeth, comb her hair (although she still likes -- and needs -- a grown-up's help most of the time). She is still wearing Pull-Ups at night. She has a daytime accident maybe once a week.

She is fascinated with hardback books. She raids our bookshelves, takes off the dust jackets and carries them around. Her favorite is "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers -- I think she likes the fancy gold lettering on the front.

Fave foods:

Cheese slices

Shredded cheese

PB&J

Chicken nuggets

Watermelon

Raisin Bran, Honey Nut Cheerios or Frosted Mini Wheats, usually with walnuts

Waffles or pancakes

Fave drink: White milk

Kid-friendly foods Emma doesn't like:

Mac and cheese

Chocolate milk

Cheeseburgers

Fave ice cream flavor: Vanilla

Fave colors: "Red and blue and purple and pink and blue and purple and red and alsoooooo ... pink and red and blue. And also purple ... and pink."

Emma goes to preschool two days a week, and stays home with Grandma three days.

Fave part of preschool:

Water play and trips to Heritage Port Playground

ENTERTAINMENT

Fave toys:

Cars and trucks

Mermaid Barbies (hand-me-downs from a friend)

Stuffed animals

Any kind of ball

Dress-up clothes

Piano

Fave books:

"I Love You So Much" by Carl Norac and Claude K. Dubois

"I Love It When You Smile" by Sam Mcbratney and Charles Fuge

"Mulan"

"The Little Mermaid"

"So Many Bunnies" by Rick Walton and Paige Miglio

"Hop on Pop" by Dr. Seuss

"Go Dog, Go" by P.D. Eastman

"Snuggle Up, Sleepy Ones" by Claire Freedman and Tina Macnaughton

Fave cartoons: Dora, Diego, Caillou

Fave games/activities:

Memory

I Spy

Tag

Shark

Emma and Abby dressing dolls

Cars

Putting stuffed animals to bed

Alphabet and numbers puzzle

Going to the playground

Swimming

Fave DVDs: Changes week to week --

"Charlotte's Web 2"

"Finding Nemo"

"101 Dalmatians"

LeapFrog "Letter Factory"

"Cars"

"Mary Poppins"

Fave songs:

"Scotland the Brave" (a bagpipe march she "sings" constantly — while playing, on the potty, in the car, eating)

"So Many Animals" by Hi-5

"Jumping in the Middle" (an Emma original)

Imagination Movers' Theme Song

"Amazing Grace" (for bedtime)

Friends:

Elliot Henry

Matthias Sacco

Brooke Corrick

T.J. Scott

Taylor Remp

Imaginary friends: They're not really friends; they're scapegoats -- Emma blames Tinky and Winky for anything bad she does