Before Emerson becomes a big brother

I don't think Emerson is really prepared for the change that is coming in the next week or so. (Sometimes I'm not sure I am either.)

Before this big event changes Emerson's life as he knows it I wanted to give a special All About Emerson update here on his blog. Here's what he's been up to lately:

I know when Emerson has woken up in the morning and from naps when I hear him shouting a very demanding sounding "Mom! Mom!" or sometimes "Bear!" which usually means he has thrown his bear overboard and wants him back. When I go in to get him he will say "Blanket! Right 'ere!*" and indicate where the blanket hangs while not in use.

Emerson loves reading and regularly demands that we go to the library to get more books. He is getting quite capable with shapes, colors and counting (1-2-3-4-9!) and pretty quickly learns the books so well he can essentially read them to us.

Lately, just reading the books is not enough: as we settle in to read a book, Emerson will quietly demand: "Sing." So then Eric or I will either put the words to music on the spot or, if the book is mostly pictures, improvise both lyrics and a tune. I will admit, I take a special delight in hearing what Eric comes up with. 

Every so often Emerson will take the binoculars we keep by the kitchen table, hold them up to his eyes (backwards), aim them at the pond and say "Alligator!" He also sometimes thinks the alligator would enjoy his food more than he does.

Emerson is a big hugger right now. Many times every day he will open his arms wide and say "honk" which means hug. Sometimes while Eric is at work Emerson will say "Dad" and then open his arms and say "honk" to tell me that he is going to hug dad when he comes home. Emerson will also occasionally hug other children at the playground, most of whom are confused by it and run off at the first opportunity.

Emerson helped us decorate the Christmas tree and insists that we have the lights on all the time. He loved the process of putting the ornaments on the tree and was disappointed when we came to the end. Several times a day we go through each ornament and say what it is. Emerson has become familiar with Santa and recognizes him in pictures as well as on the tree, though I don't think he understands exactly who Santa is. (Does anyone?)
I know that Emerson will be a wonderful big brother. He is such a sweet guy and clearly already has a lot to teach his little brother.


*"Right 'ere" is something Emerson says a LOT. It has a funny cockney sound to it and sounds more like a very punctuated "Rah air!"