Chillin Emma Style!

This past week Emma has become a lot more chill. She hangs out, she smiles, she flirts with customers, and the best part of all she spends more time awake than sleeping. Its getting to a point where she cries for a reason, and cries a lot less. I can go all day and pick up on her cues before she goes into meltdown and have an almost cry free day.

Yesterday Emma had her first swimming lesson. Brian was out walking the dogs and I wanted to relax in the bathtub so I thought I'd take Emma with me. I didn't really get to hang out and relax because her fat little thighs were too bouyant . . . so I turned it into a swimming lesson. She floated like a champ! She kicked. She flailed her arms. I accidentally submerged her head and she acted as though nothing happened. It really excites me that she's a water baby! I can't wait to take her to the pool and actually start teaching her to swim!!

Today I laid her on the couch for tummy time and Truman thought he'd have tummy time with her. They're so cute together!

I'm freezing the baby!

Before Courtney left for South Africa, Emma and I spent a fabulous day with her out at University Village. Being a new mom I was unprepared and Emma was underdressed. Courtney took the advantage of the situation and proceeded to tease me about it. . . .but my reply remained, she's fine . . .I keep the house cold (mom you can verify this).

On our way out, we stopped in this upscale designer kid's clothing store and Courtney found Emma a coat. I would have said NO WAY, but it was 75% off, and those that know me know I'm a sucker for a deal. So here's Emma's feminine, expensive, designer coat. . .the only one she'll ever have as long as I'm paying for it . . .unless we find another for less than $15.. ... ha!



and her reaction when I told her it was coming out of her allowance.




Emma recently has started enjoying the tub. Here's our wet, well fed baby . . . . We had our final midwife appointment today and Emma is now 12 lbs 9 oz. Holy Cow!!













Here's a couple more pics from yesterday's photo session!







and I expect to see this face a lot during her teenage years!!

Head cold, but feeling good!

Emma and I were lucky to catch Brian's head cold. Actually, not really. I've felt awful for the past several days, and even though Emma can't complain as much as I do, she's definitely made us very aware that she isn't feeling great.

















I believe that today we reached a turning point. I feel almost human and Emma has returned to her smiling self. She has returned to giving out her smiles for free. . .and smiled at all of my customers today. She really likes interacting with everyone she sees, and gets really mad if I don't turn her chair around so she can flirt with anyone that will give her attention.
















Emma is now sleeping for 5 hour stretches at night. Everyone involved is ecstatic to get more sleep! and I've stopped waking her up making sure she's alive. . . ha!

Why I love these dogs

Today, Emma was down and I had a few minutes to tidy up the house. I was picking up the living room and put the dog bed on the couch so I could sweep.

Truman saw me do this and thought he'd take advantage of the super comfy addition to the couch. He hasn't moved for hours. That's my big goof!!

Later, Truman got up, and Tucker took advantage of the new "throne".

How are the dogs adapting?

I keep getting asked how the dogs are doing? How are they adjusting? Do they like the baby? Have there been any problems?

I don't know. . . . . what do you think?

Um. .. .excuse me. . . .do you know that there's a baby on my pillow?

Hey you over there. . .can you pass me the remote?

I guess I'll use your pillow then.

and I think Truman is having the hardest time adjusting. . . . . .

Another day and a whole lot bigger!

Its amazing how quickly a baby grows! Emma is getting bigger and bigger everyday and is responding more and more. She now coos and squeaks and moves her mouth like she's trying to talk. She can see things further away and watches my every move.. . which is kind of creepy if you think about being watched all of the time. . ha!

We had a major breakthrough today. While getting her bath, I sat her in the baby tub with her legs and bum partially submerged. She looked up at me and started kicking her legs in the water and smiled and squeaked with joy. The best part about it, she didn't cry during the entire bath. Not even when I washed her hair, which usually is sure to set her off. Since I was on my own, I couldn't get pictures, but I think she's going to be a water baby after all.

Truman and Emma have figured one another out. Apparently Emma screaming at the top of her lungs means, "Truman bring me a toy!" This morning I put Emma in her swing so I could eat my breakfast. After about 5 minutes she was done and let the entire neighborhood know. Truman hopped up off the couch and ran to his toy box. He pulled out his favorite duck, ran over to the swing, and dropped the duck in her lap. It was absolutely hilarious!

Here's a video of Emma enjoying her light up singing mat. She's really not doing anything, but I thought the grandparents would enjoy it!

and one more

The anatomy of a smile

I've been trying to get Emma's smile on film for a few weeks.

Today after her bath, she finally cooperated!

Holy Giant Baby Batman!!

Emma went for her first visit with the Group Health. We discussed her breathing "issues" with the new Dr and he informed us that he wasn't too concerned. He said that we already had all the tests done that he would have orderded, and the results look good. He stated that he had recently seen two other babies with the same problem and one grew out of it at about 6 months. His direct quote was "there must be something new in the air." We go back in 2 weeks for her 2 month check up.

The big news for the visit was. . .

We have one GIANT baby!!

Her stats are as follows

98.99 percentile for length

96.55 percentile for weight

63.72 percentile for head

She weighed in at 11 lbs 14 oz. No wonder my back hurts!

Having tummy time on the couch

Helping me out at the store. Her hair is getting more and more auburn everyday.

Showing her muscles today at the Bump Brunch

Here are four of the newborns at our bump lunch. These are all new babies of friends. Guess who's the youngest in this picture. . . . .

If you guessed giant Emma. . you are correct!

A Great Holiday!

Brian's parents came to visit and were here from Christmas Day until New Years Day. We had a good visit and look forward to seeing them again in March.