Happy Day!

Yesterday was a happy day! After being unemployed for almost 2 weeks, Brian got a job offer from KDW Architects. He worked for KDW when he first moved to Seattle and is really excited about returning to their firm and for this opportunity!

This is Brian and Em yesterday after walking the dogs. That's one happy fellow!

Emma is getting really curious about the dogs. She watches their every move and recently started to try to pet them. Mazie and Truman are usually happy to oblige, and Tuck .. . well Tuck is Tuck.


This morning, Truman jumped up on the couch next to Bri and Em after breakfast, and Emma decided she'd take the opportunity to pet him. Emma is really gentle (for now) and Truman is content to take any pets that he can get.

Hey Pop, do you think he'll mind?

I'll be gentle, I promise!

He's so soft!

Since Brian has been home more, our morning routine has changed. Emma wakes us up around 7. Bri hangs out with her for about a 1/2 and hour and then he feeds her "real" breakfast. After breakfast she gets changed into her outfit for the day, and then down for a nap around 9.

Here's Em after an exhausting morning of rice cereal/banana breakfast and petting the dog. Boy is it hard to be a 5 month old.

Rabid Baby!

Will it ever get old? Feeding Emma is better than television. She grabs, leans in, makes happy baby noises and is really loving solid food. She's so enthusiastic that we've tried giving her a spoon so she's involved in her feeding. . .but she quickly throws her spoon onto the floor and she's grabbing for the one with food on it.

We've successfully given her rice cereal and sweet potatoes. She didn't seem like a big fan of the rice cereal, so I thought I'd spice it up. She's really digging the sweet potatoes. . and gets really engaged when she realizes that she actually gets a little flavor. The rice ceral just seems so boring! Next food . . . bananas.

Come on Pop, let me help!

Mom, he won't give me the spoon!!

Fine, if I can't feed myself I'll rub rice cereal on your camera!

Check out my rabid dog impression!! Grrr. . . . .

And a couple videos for your viewing pleasure

Big day out!

Sunday was our monthly bump lunch (side note: I am happy to announce that all the bumps are now babies!!) so we got Emma all dressed up for our outing. We had a great day.

Em, all dressed up and ready to go! It was sunny out so we broke out the sunglasses.

Ankur and Amy had this really cool contraption. . . .

Emma stayed occupied for at least 20 minutes


Standing with the help of mom.


Back home hanging out with Ragedy Andy . . she likes to poke him in the eye!

Knuckle sandwich!!


Doesn't she look innocent?? Em says, "I didn't do it!"

And it all began with rice cereal

Saturday morning I decided it was time. Emma told me she was hungry, and breast milk was no longer enough. She informed me of this by waking me up every two hours to feed for the previous 5 nights. I was slow, but I finally got the hint. We mixed her up some rice cereal and the rest is history.

She's ready for the swim team!

One of the benefits to Brian being home during the day is he gets to join Emma and I on our morning outings. This morning we went to aquatots as the gym as a family, and had a great time. Brian got in the pool with Em, which allowed me to take pictures.

Emma loves the pool, but does not have an adequate fat layer to keep her warm. Because of this she's only able to stay in the pool for about 15 minutes. I was told last week to get her a wet suit, and I scored a cute little a pink wet suit on Ebay. I was hoping it would extend her class time, but after 15 minutes her appendages were purple. It really didn't keep her any warmer than her regular suit, but she sure looked cute!

Floating on her back

Swimming in circles while the teacher sang silly songs.

Emma --not so hip on the music selection.

Blowing bubbles! (aka, licking the water)

I think I'm ready for the Olympics!

And a video of the event!

She Sits!

Emma continues to amaze us, and is now sitting on her own. She's up, but is still very wobbly and likes to do face plants so she can lick the floor.

She starts with a lean, and pushes herself up.

She'll stay upright as long as I provide her a constant stream of toys.

She's so proud of herself!

Here's our bad attempt at a self portrait. Believe it or not, its the best of the MANY we took!

Food!

Bri: Emma, one day you'll be able to eat breakfast just like me.

Not now though. The pediatrician said that you have to wait until you're 6 months old.

Em: Ooh, looks like eggs are on the menu. Here comes the airplaine. BZZZZZ!

Em: Hey wait, my mouth is over here! Dude, that was my bite!

Em: Did you just see that?? He ate the whole thing. Can you believe that?

Em: Since you were a pig and ate all the eggs. . . .get me some coffee.

I need a pick me up! It's right there!

Em: Yeah, that's coffee. And its just for me.

Em: Come on, quit stalling. . . . .I'll help!

Em: NOOOOO, WAIT!!! That's mine!

Em: Can you see how abused I am?

Someone please call CPS, this is definitely baby abuse!

Good news . . Bad news

The bad news.

Brian got laid off on Thursday. After the shock wore off, he hit the ground running and is being proactive in his search for work. He's holding it together. . .. me not so much. We'll be okay. I keep telling myself everything happens for a reason. . . . If anyone knows of anyone needing design work, please let us know.

The good news.

Emma has officially received a clean bill of health. She hasn't had a nose bleed since Chicago, and we met with the pediatric hematologist last week who says all of her blood work is back to normal.

Woo Hoo!

We went to the pediatrician on Friday for her 4 month vaccination and check up. Emma is still off the charts for length and is now in the 70th percentile for head and weight. I like to refer to her as my little string bean. . . . long and skinny like her dad!

I got reprimanded by the pediatrician for not giving Emma enough "tummy time." I told her that it made Emma mad, and asked, "why do something that you know will piss your baby off?"

Her reply was, "How do you think she's going to learn to crawl?"

Um. . .well. . . my answer of "I don't want her to crawl" went over like a lead brick.

She informed me that sometimes we need to make our children do things that they don't enjoy . . . .and I'm not convinced. So, I'm trying to work in a little tummy time everyday and end it as soon as Emma tells me enough is enough.

Hey Lady. . . .you're kidding me right. Tummy Time?

Come pick me up!

Did you hear me?

I'm not kidding! Put the camera down and get me off this floor!

I'm not a dog. . I'm a human. . .get me off the floor now!!

Hey guys, tell mom that I'm going to go from sitting to running. Why worry about moving around on all fours? Humans are bipedal after all!

See. . upright on two feet, that's my style!

Sales, sales, sales!

Our new move has proven to be a good business decision. Our sales are up. Our customer base is increasing daily. I am no longer in a cave and instead am inundated with natural light all day long. Things couldn't be better. Needless to say things at the new store are going wonderfully. I've only had one or two disgruntled old customers that are having a hard time dealing with the loss of our designated parking lot . . ..but for those few customers lost, we have gained many many more!


Emma continues to be the center of attention. Even when she's sick. . that girl has charm. I've been busy stocking the store, so our photo sessions are far and few these days. . . .. but here are a few from the last few weeks.

Sleeping with Frog Man

The only girl on the block with her own pony!

Check out my new kicks!

Happy Baby!!

Teething. . . .

I don't know who's suffering worse. . me or Emma. Emma is teething. She is so miserable that it makes me hurt. She's no longer sleeping through the night, she barely takes naps, and she spends the day vacillating between gnawing on her hands and screaming her fool head off.

I put everyone on notice. Everyone that walks into the door is warned that I have one super cranky baby. Just my luck I have a skillful child and I all get that "you're crazy" look. Emma has a knack of turning the freak-out off on queue. She hears the alarm chime. . . beep beep beep . . . as the door opens and she instantly morphs back to my smiley happy charming girl. They leave. . .the demon teether returns.

My friend Erin stopped by the store yesterday with her beautiful boy Samuel and was able to catch the "good" Emma on film. Erin got some really good shots. Would you even think that this child had spent the last 3 hours screaming in utter pain??? She can work it for the camera!