A Happy Family

Let's see. We've been pretty busy, so I have been remiss in writing. Besides practicing my seven languages (gaga, googoo, fart noises, cooing, yelling, ahh, dada), I have been watching my parents get our house ready for Christmas!

I guess I should back up and say that Daddy came home from a trip on Friday and it was wonderful to see him!! I got to stay up pretty late that night and see a bunch of grownups welcome him home.

Saturday we did a lot of laundry and organizing. My dad has a keen eye for organization, hopefully I take after him because mom seems to stress herself out with her piles and I don't want to be that way when I'm big like her. After a busy day of house projects, we took a family trip to get a Christmas tree. We saw quite an assortment of ugly trees with wiry stems, Charlie Brown trees, trees that seemed as tall as our house, and trees that were losing needles and still cost $50. After stopping at five places, we settled on a beautiful artificial tree from Lowe's.

Starting Saturday night, our town was glazed over by a beautiful ice storm. We didn't go anywhere all day - just got to decorate the tree, cook, play, nap and enjoy being safe at home. It was wonderful!

Now, it's back to reality and daycare. It's exciting that daddy is home -- now I never know who will drop me off or pick me up, mom and dad keep my routine pretty interesting! I started oatmeal and now have two teeth on the bottom, altho you can feel them you cannot see my little pearly whites.

Daddy got mommy a new computer, and she is having some "technical difficulties" getting things set up. Therefore, you will just have to imagine our family picture from our reunion on Friday night. I'll try to post it soon when mom gets her act together.

Well, sweet dreams of oatmeal...and next week we start the green beans!!!

My first Christmas Party

Mom took me to the Guard Christmas party this weekend. We had a good time. I got to chew on a frisbee, but Santa was creepy. I am scared of wigs.

Music for My Ears

Lately everyone is calling me "Chatty Kathy" because I just love to chat. It's really small talk, meaningless babble and a string of sounds. It will be a good social skill when I get older and learn a few more noises. Mom is mad because I keep saying "dadadadada." She says, "No. mamamamama...you have to say mamamamamama because I am standing right here!!" It's not working. I just look at her funny and smile. I think it really irks her.

Today, I learned that if I lean backwords in my exersaucer, I can make the musical part play by pressing it with my head. I am talented and gifted. (LOL)

Six Months and some pho-toes

This toy makes noise. It is almost as cool as my dog!

My feet are always moving - just like my daddy!

I was stabbed four times today. Stupid shots. It's miserable. They come in and hold me down and swab my chubby little legs with alcohol and just prick prick prick prick. That's FOUR times if you can't count. Oh, (shudder) I just hate it!!!! I scream and then all the big people say, "Oh, look at those real tears...."

Hello. I am a real person, I do cry real tears. Too much excitement for a Wednesday morning. And then we had to drive home in a snowstorm so mom was ultra-focused on the road. I decided to sing and sleep to pass the time.

Here's a progress report on my growth.

At birth:
6 lbs 10.3 oz.
19"

At 6 months
16.1 lbs
25"

I'm getting to be "SOO big," according to mom. My dad is going to FREAK out when he sees me!!

Em

All I want for Christmas ... is a tooth?

Mom did her little happy dance last night when she realized my first tooth has pierced its way through my gums. She looks like a goony when she does that, but I smile to appease her. I must confess, I thought I had her fooled because normally when she looks in my mouth I stick my tongue in the way so she can't see my bottom gums! However, last night she pushed my tongue aside and could feel the edge of my new pearly white. It was a fun game, while it lasted.

Saturday she started "puttying the hole" - in other words, feeding me oatmeal. She says it looks like drywall spackle, but I don't know what that is. Gee, people, why do you have to use such big words and analogies all the time? I lead a pretty simple life, can't we keep it that way?

Yesterday we got a new snowman outfit that I'm going to wear when Daddy comes home. Mom said Greta has to wear her antlers, too. She is going hyper about Christmas this year because she got daddy some awesome presents and he is going to be really surprised!

Speaking of surprises, I think I surprised mom for Thanksgiving because she was really proud of me when we flew to Wisconsin. I really love airplanes and those moving sidewalks in airports are sweeeet when you're in a stroller! That strange light tunnel in the Detroit airport is pretty cool, too.

We had fun visiting a lot of people in my fan club. I even got to meet a new girl named Audrey. She is beautiful. Someday she will get big like me and we can be friends! Mom even let Grandma and Grandpa babysit me and she had her first night away from me - I was so busy having fun that I didn't even miss her.

Well, I'm supposed to be at daycare right now, so I should sign off. Here's one new picture before I go.



My love to all -

Emmers

Snow and Sun

A few days ago it snowed here. It has been cold, although today's high is near 60. Mom says it's almost as crazy as Wisconsin weather. She keeps saying that when we get rich and famous we can move to Hawaii where the weather in more temperate. Sounds nice. What is a pina colada? She talks a lot about those.

Last weekend she dressed me up to go out in the cold weather. Here are two pictures from our adventure. I look like that kid from "The Christmas Story" - - you know, Ralph's little brother.

Fun, fun, fun!!

Last weekend I got to play with Jody. She is one of my mom's best friends and I like her a lot, too. We got to play together and go to the farmers' market and Chocolate World. She is cool and I miss her already!
As you can see, I am officially a wiggle worm. Mom said that the game is over and from now on, we're strapping me in (no fun).
Also, mom let me test drive my new green high chair. It's very cool. Soon she'll let me make a total mess and eat cereal in this chair. For now, she just wants me to get used to sitting in it. It even reclines in case I want to take a nap!

Feeling better

I'm feeling a lot better, but the weather is getting cold. Mom likes to dress me up with hats. Lots of people who love me have made me hats. Here are a few that I have worn recently:


PS, Greta is my best friend in the whole world. We like to do everything together. She even lets me poke her in the eyes without making a stink. That's true love.
And, I must confess, I love pulling my socks off. It's a blast!
By the way. Tell mom to knock it off with the camera. I can't do anything cute without a camera in my face right now.

Dad - if you read this from your vacation, I miss you and am sending you a big, juicy baby kiss!

A Little Cold

My nose is stuffy and I am not sure that I like being sick. Mom is trying to go easy on me and keep me inside as much as possible so that I stay warm and cozy. She also put a coolmist humidifier in my room to keep my comfortable.

Now I like to roll in circles - not roll over, just scooch my bottom around 180 degrees. It's fun. Sometimes mom flips me over and helps me out with my (much-hated) tummy time. It's getting easier and my arms are getting stronger.

For the past week or so, I have been getting ready for bed earlier. Now I sleep for almost twelve hours at a stretch! I still love bathtime and mom says I am a really good self-soother when I go to bed. Sometimes I make some noise, but then I find my thumb and put myself back to sleep. She says I'm a good girl!

Here are two recent shots of me. One in my exersaucer and one during tummy time in my nursery. Great Grandma Claire, if you look closely, I am playing with my stuffed cow in my saucer! I can't wait to come see your cows again soon! Mom talks about cheese and cows all the time!

Hope you're having a good weekend!!

The past 10 days in review (photo version)

Go bucky, go bucky, go bucky, go!!!

Stop torturing me! My patience has expired!
Dad, you're the greatest.
I'm taking a nap with my German baby doll.
I'm going to eat my baptism dress if it is the only way to get it off!!
Grandpa, your whiskers are tickling me!
Mom, do you have to dress me up like this for halloween? I look like a dork.
Grandma Poppins...don't leave! Come back!!

I got dunked

Last Sunday was a very special day. My parents got me all dolled up in a beautiful white gown and took me to church for my baptism. The ceremony was nice and I didn't cry or anything, everyone said I did a great job. We got our pictures taken and we invited friends and family to our house for brunch. Mom made great aunt mitzi's brunch casserole, great grandma dorothy's cinnamon buns, fruit salad, carrot cake, mimosas....there was lots of food! Our neighbors brought over potato casserole and I can't wait till I'm old enough to eat it, it smelled delicious!

On Friday night, mom and dad tried to give me my first bowl of rice cereal. Yuck. I sat in my Bumbee chair and kept leaning back to get away from the spoon. Do real people actually eat this stuff? I guess it could be worse, but so far I'm not a fan. They tried to take my picture but the camera batteries were dead. We took a video, but mom had to turn it off when I got super agitated.

Grandma and Grandpa Poppins are staying with me this week. Dad and Grandpa have been doing a lot of house projects, like painting the basement and patching drywall in the garage. Grandma is doing some little sewing projects for mom because mom is "challenged" in that department.

Tomorrow is my five-month birthday. I'm very excited that I'm already five months old. Only four and a half years till Kindergarten starts. (I have a hunch mom will cry on that day.)

I will add some pictures of my baptism soon. Did you like my giggle video? People are still calling me Gerber baby.

Love you,

Emmy

Apparently, this is funny.

I like to laugh. For some reason mom and dad think it is hilarious when I do. I usually laugh when we're playing with the dog and she rolls over. Here's some footage that dad shot tonight.

Why does everyone say Gerber Baby when they look at me?? Is that a good thing?

By the way, check out my eye brows.

A little PRUNE juice squirts a long way

My mom is a moron. I got a little "uncomfortable" over the weekend. Now that I'm drinking formula that happens sometimes - but she decided to do something about it. So, she called the doctor and overdosed me on prune juice. Let's just say "ewww" and "ewww again" because that stuff is hideous. Never again, never again.

Oh, I just get the heebyjeebies thinking about it.

We had a nice weekend, prune juice aside. I got to take a nap under a big tree while daddy pulled weeds and mommy hacked at the bushes with an electric trimmer. They're getting the house ready for my party - hooray!

Yesterday we went to a bonfire and a 13-week-old black lab kissed my fingers. His name is Drake and I have a crush on him! He was just the perfect size for me! Greta liked him, too. Mom and Dad made "fire pies" (grilled pizza pockets) and kept me snuggly in my pink sweat suit from the Hickens. It finally fits me and just in time for the Fall weather!

Mrs. C took all the kids to a pumpkin patch and we got pumpkins on Friday! Mine is really cute and has a face painted on it! When I get big I hope I can paint pumpkins, too.

Well, time for me to call it a night. This is going to be another busy week!

Roly Poly and an Airshow Update

Dad and Mike are teaching me about the KC-135 at the airshow we attended two weekends ago.

After one day at the airshow, I was pretty pooped. It was warm and sunny. The jets were really loud, but it was cool and it made me proud that my dad is a pilot for the US Air Force.

Here's another picture of me and dad, with our friend Mike, chilling in the shade under an airplane wing. Notice my Badger blood - - I have a UW onesie on (thanks Rebecca Hunt!).

++++

The past few weeks have zipped by rather fast. I am drinking a lot of milk, fitting into bigger clothes and starting to roll over. If I move just right, I can roll onto my side and sometimes onto my belly. The only problem is that if I get onto my belly I have not figured out how to flip onto my back again.

Mommy and I did yoga together this week. It was really neat. I think I get the better deal because I get pampered. There's a whole section of baby massage and she has to do all the work! Hopefully we start to do it more often because it's great bonding for us, too.

Right now, I want to give a big shout out to my dad. He is truly amazing and he is a great role model for me. Dad loves to hold me, feed me, play games with me, and read me stories. He is a very loving man and I love how much he does for our family. I feel blessed.

This weekend I will post some new pictures. Maybe mom and dad will take some new pictures of me, too. They keep talking about introducing rice cereal into my diet and joking about how fun it will be to see me with cereal all over my face. Is that mean? I mean, is it really my fault if I am a messy eater? A girl has got to learn somehow - practice makes perfect!

Time for a nap. I am busy growing some more. Last week I was up to 13 lbs 10 oz and 24 inches long. That's a lot of growing for such a pixie like me.

Ohohoh - I almost forgot to tell you! Pretty soon I am getting baptized and some of my relatives are coming to visit. It will be my first real party and I can't wait! If only I was old enough to eat the family recipe of blueberry buckle..............

Sound Sleeper

We're getting ready to take a trip this weekend. Argh. I'm tired of spending so much time in my little seat. Every day. Back and forth to daycare, on errands, shopping with mom (she has a shopping problem!)...blah blah blah. Dad says it's going to be an amazing weekend because we're going to a "real" air show.

I guess he doesn't realize that I can't see very far yet and I really don't have an affinity for planes. I'll just sit back and enjoy life in my new cabana. Mom bought it for me because she doesn't want me to get "major sunburn" at the show. Good thing she's looking out for me because I try to gurgle and coo and remind them about the important details, but sometimes the message doesn't get across.

Last weekend mom was organizing my clothes and I fell asleep playing with my toys (of course mom had to seize the photo opportunity because she thought I looked silly all wrapped in my toys). And, this week she decided to stop swaddling me cold turkey. That's right - no one arm stuff, just cold turkey.

In the mornings she has been praising me for sleeping so well, so I guess I'm doing pretty good at it. The first night I slept from 8 to 5, then ate and went back to sleep till 7:30. And yesterday I went to bed at 9 and got up at 6:45. I like to fall asleep listening to my sound machine (ocean waves) and chomping on my binky. I usually spit it out after I zonk out.

Not much is new, really. Mom keeps having her girlfriends over to entertain me. Mom's friends pass me around and make funny faces at me. They are fun and I am lucky to have so many big friends to look up to.

Grandma and Grandpa Poppins are coming in just a few more weeks. I'm so excited! They are going to squeal when they see how big I am now! I know we're going to have tons of fun!! They'll be here for my baptism, and hopefully some more of our family members will be able to come, too!

It's past bedtime and mom is nagging me to sign off. Toodle-doo.

Great Pumpkin

Mom's newest form of torture - bright flashes first thing in the morning....during my morning stretching. What does she think I am - a big pumpkin?!

This Weather is Different

This week has been different. Some mornings it was really cold (40s) and mom and dad bundled me like a little Eskimo to go to daycare. Today I'm in a dress again because it's in the 80s. Sometimes I miss the womb, the temperature was more constant!

It has been a while since I've had a chance to write. A lot is new. I know how to make funny noises with my mouth, I blow bubbles, smile a lot, sometimes giggle, and I love to splash in the bath tub.

Daycare is great. Hannah, my two-year-old friend, greets me every day. She runs to the door and says "Emmy, Emmy" and then she rubs my feet. It's so nice to have friends! I get to go on lots of trips with the kids. We go out for lunch on Fridays and earlier this week we got to go to the new Wegman's grocery store. Mom is jealous, she hasn't even been there yet!

Mom is switching me to formula at daycare and nursing me in the morning and at night. I guess it's more convenient that way since dad is out of town so much and she has to do everything solo. Last weekend she bought me an Exersacuer. I LOVE IT. I can push on the buttons and make animal noises. My legs are kind of short for it, so mom put a cookbook under my feet. She said she hopes this will encourage me to like cooking, too.

Not much else is new. I got to go to a wedding last weekend - a very, very formal black tie wedding. It was fun and everyone asked about me. They all want to know how old I am and what my name is. Mom and Dad measured me last weekend and I'm already 2 feet long and weight about 13.5 pounds. They think I'm growing like a weed (of course much cuter!). Dad jokes that Pat feeds me MiracleGro at daycare!

Tonight mom is having her friends over for Margaritas. I'm so excited - my first real happy hour!

Tomorrow I will post some more pictures. Here is one from the wedding last weekend.

Yesterday

Yesterday I got to go on an outing with my mom's co-workers. We went to a bowling alley and I loved watchings all the bright lights. Here's a picture of me with my new friend Andy. We match!

Pat-tycake Pat-tycake Baker's man....

Freak out! I started daycare! Who are these little kids that keep poking their hands and fingers and faces in my personal space? Just kidding! I love it. The little girls look at me and smile and try to make me smile. If I do, they run off and giggle and then come back and try to make me do it again. It's a fun game - they do all the work!

Pat, my caretaker is wonderful. She's a big teddy bear! I get a report card every day and I think she really likes me. I must be a pretty good kid after all - now that I'm not a colic-0-holic!

It's been a while since I have posted, mostly because mom and dad have kidnapped me and taken me all over the midwest and back, limiting my access to the internet (already trying to deprive me of the finer things in life like e-mail from the grandparents).

Let's see...after we came home from Wisconsin mom and I had two weeks to play before dad hauled us to Michigan. We had a big wedding celebration for Aunt Sabrina and Uncle Tom - it was fun. I also got to spend a few days with Grandpa Gene at his lake house. It was really fun! I got to see deer and turkey and witness what mom means about how dad transforms into an animal when he sees other animals.....oh my!

We have also traveled a little bit in PA - visiting dad's new boss and his wife, as well as some friends in Allentown. And, mom even dragged me to the Elizabethtown Fair. She said we're not doing that again till I'm bigger because there were so many cooties there! We had fun, but it was hot and sticky and there were a lot of people.

If mom ever lets me have more than five minutes at the computer, I'll post some pictures. Soon we have to schedule a professional photo shoot for some pictures with dad! Mom and I had pictures when I was two weeks old - I've changed so much since then!!!

Will write again soon, between huge smiles, 10-hour stretches of sleep and hilarious little coos.

Love,
Emmy

The things we do

Mom and I like to play together. She gets a ga-ga face when I give her my big smile first thing in the morning. That's my happiest time of the day. When I get worn out at the end of the day I let her know by screaming. It's a fun game for me - I don't think mom and dad really appreciate it that much.
I like to hang out in my moses basket when mom is at her keyboard. We can make eye contact and laugh. Soon I will giggle out loud - that will really grab her attention. For now I try to coo and smile as often as possible, it makes our days a lot of fun!

Sometimes we play so much that I just have to catch a cat nap so I can keep up with the day's activities. I've taken the swing for a few test drives and it's pretty fun. I hated it when I was a really tiny baby, but now it's not half bad!

Last week on Wednesday I had my shots. OH MY GOSH. That was miserable. I think mom wanted to cry as much as I did. The stupid nurse stabbed me three times and woke me up from a perfectly good nap. You'd think she would realize that Elmo band-aids do NOT make it feel better. Duh. Thank goodness for baby Tylenol.

The doctor said I'm growing like a champ. I weigh 11 pounds already and am right around the 50th percentile (except my head is huge - around 75th percentile). I have to go back around the 4 month mark for more shots. Oh joy.

Dad was home for a few days this week and we got to do some fun things together. He even took me shopping alone today. He's really good at taking care of me -- he gives me bottles, bathes me, changes my stinky diapers, and I've noticed he does a lot to help mom around the house and the yard, too. Gee, he is a nice guy. Maybe someday I'll have a brother like him (but mom says not to hold my breath, it could be ten years or something like that).

This weekend we go for another road trip. We will visit family in Michigan. I hate being crammed in my carseat all day. It's sooooooooooooooo boring. Dad doesn't like to stop and let me stretch, and mom seems to think that making faces at me is entertaining. Somebody give me a stick to poke my eyes out!!! If only they would keep the travel to a minimum!

Well, I really need to catch up on my beauty sleep. Mom keeps the social calendar pretty full. Tomorrow we get to have lunch with our friend Cate. Goodnight for now! I have some dreams to work on.

My Dad is HOME!

Tomorrow mom and dad are cramming me in my carseat to go back to Pennsylvania. Mom and I have been in Wisconsin for more than five weeks. We love it here, but we're excited to go home to our PA friends. Now that Daddy is here with us, we're ready to make the drive.
On Saturday my dad came home from Iraq. He is my HERO and I love him so much. I'm really happy he is home to snuggle with me - - and that he is safe and still as funny as ever!

Mom told me I should put this picture up so you can see my sheep hat that my friend Hope gave me. Her daddy's family loves sheep. I like this hat. Mom said it's a good color on me.

I'll try to write more when I get home to my own computer.

Seven and a half weeks

Last weekend I attended a family reunion at the Leverich farm. It was fun and I got lots of snuggle time with several different relatives. By the time I got home I was absolutely exhausted. It's a lot of work to meet so many new people in one day.

Daddy comes home from his business trip this weekend and I am just dying to see him again. I have learned to coo and smile since he left, and I've grown three inches and gained at least three pounds. In fact, I've even learned to be a little less colicky, so he missed out on all the fun!

This weekend we're going to a cabin for a getaway. My friends Sydney and Jeremiah will be there, as well as their parents. This is my first time and I guess it's an annual tradition. There's rumor that next year we might even take a cruise with these friends, that would be so much fun!

Mom has me in a routine a little bit now. We nap, eat and play during the day. In the evenings we go for a long stroller walk - usually grandma and grandpa come, too. Sometimes my aunt and uncle and my dog Greta also join us. After the walk we come home and I take a warm bath. I just LOVE my bath time. It's so soothing to hang out in the water and get all squeaky clean! Then mom feeds me one last time and I go to bed. Sometimes I sleep as long as nine hours, that is heavenly.

Well, mom is begging me to go to Target with her. We have to get more baby essentials. Always something to do!

Nearly six weeks

I'm growing fast and weigh nine pounds already. Mom took me to a really nice pediatrician to get a check-up and they told her that my fussiness is just colic - they blew my cover!

Yesterday mom took me to a farmers market and dressed me in a special 4th of July outfit. It was a busy day and I got myself all worked into a tizzy in the evening. My mom, grandma and Aunt Dorothy gave me a nice, warm bath and it helped me calm down. I love baths!

Time for me to snuggle with my aunt. She's the greatest!

Self Portrait

Great Grandparents

I had a nice visit with my great grandparents on the Leverich side on Sunday. I even carried on the tradition and filled my pants while great grandpa Tom was holding me in his arms. I guess my mom did that when her great grandpa Earl held her 28 years ago. We must have strong genes. Anyway, my great grandparents are really nice and they both held me and kept me warm and snuggly while they visited.

Now I have met all of my great aunts and uncles on the Leverich side except one - but I get to meet him in a few weeks at a big family reunion. That will be a fun time - and my first campfire of all time.

Today mommy took me out for breakfast on the East side of town. That is the hippy part of Madison. She even whipped her boob out at the table to feed me, I was embarrassed so I pretended to fall asleep for the rest of the meal! Good thing her nursing wrap arrived in the mail today so I can eat in private if this happens again!

Next week my friend Jeremiah is coming to meet me for the first time. His parents and my parents are really good friends and mom thinks I should marry him. Just kidding. She does hope that we can be good friends though! I'm excited to meet him, and I'm jealous because he can already eat solid food and is starting to crawl! That must be so nice instead of being limited to a crib or a blanket all day and night. He goes to a daycare, too, I should ask him how he likes it! Mommy says I have about two more months before I have to spend my days at Mrs. C's house...but mommy promises we will have quality snuggle time at home when she is done with work. And I know daddy will spoil me when he gets home from his trip.

Guess I have to sign off now. Mommy has some things she needs to do before Grandma comes home and before I get hungry again!

Oh...forgot to mention, this morning Grandpa weighed me and I think I'm about 8.5 pounds already! I'm growing like a champ!!

Bye for now!

Four Weeks

Yesterday I turned four weeks old. Mom measured me and I have already grown two inches since the night I was born. The weeks are going pretty fast and I try to keep mommy and grandma on their toes by making every day different. Who needs a routine when you have the whole world wrapped around your pinky? :)



On Thursday I started making a few cooing noises, but I'm not really sure what I'm doing. It will be fun to learn to make more noises in the weeks and months ahead. Maybe I'll wait till daddy's home before I make more sounds. Only a few more weeks till I can see him again - and I can't wait. Mommy says I take after him in a lot of ways - like some of the little squeaky noises I make in my sleep and how often I poop! Hehee!

Today I get to meet my great grandma claire and great grandpa tom! Yippee! Gotta go get ready. My grandpa AJ wants to take me for a cruise in my stroller.

Love and kisses and I'll post pictures soon!

Emily

Two weeks

Yesterday I had my two week check-up. I weigh 7 lbs. 4 oz. and am doing great! I think I wear my mom out because I'm a night owl, like I was in the womb, but I try to make up for it by sleeping 5-7 hour stretches at night. She likes that a lot.

Since arriving home from the hospital, I have learned a great deal about my new house. It's not bad. My nursery is really cozy and I spend a lot of time in there. The rest of the house is neat, too, but I don't like it quite as well.

Mom and dad used to sit on the patio a lot when they were waiting for me to arrive, and I can understand why. When mom takes me out to the patio we sit for endless hours listening to the birds, feeling the breeze, and soaking up some fresh air. I think it makes both of us feel better, especially while we're missing daddy. Hopefully his business trip ends on time, because I know mom and I cannot wait to see him again! He's the greatest.

My dog Greta is nice. She is kind of nosy sometimes - sticking her nose in my face - but I love her. Her barks can be loud, but she protects us while dad is away.

I have been visited by so many relatives and friends already - it's great! My aunt Sabrina and Uncle Tom came all the way from England to entertain me (Uncle Tom is hilarious!) and Grandma Diane came from Cincinnati. Grandpa Arlin took a thousand pictures of me and Grandma Judy is helping mom with so many projects....my dad likes to call her Mary Poppins! Maybe I will call her Grandma Poppins when I get a little older.

Time for me to take another nap. I will try to write occasionally, but it is taking me a while to get adjusted to life outside the womb. I think mom and I will both feel better when we get into a bit of a routine. She has signed me up for a professional photo shoot on Thursday....gosh, I don't know what to wear! Guess I'll sleep on it for now.

Sweet dreams of breast milk and snuggles.

Ems

A few shots of me, and my family

I'm here

Hello!
I arrived on May 25 at 12:36 a.m. I was 6 lbs 10.3 oz. and 19 inches long. My daddy squealed when I was born - it was so fun to see mom and dad for the first time!

We're all home now trying to get settled and learn some routines. My grandma Judy and grandpa Arlin are here to help out around the house. We're all very tired from the excitement of my arrival.

I'll ask my mom to help me post some more pictures soon, but here's one of my first glamour shots with my daddy - sorry it's sideways.

Do I have your attention now?

It seems that everyone is ready to meet me...I realize this. I'm basking in these tropical womb waters and enjoying the idea of keeping everyone in suspense! Besides, it sounds like a cold front came through and I hoping for a warm, sunny day for my first day on the stage of life. Less layers, less stress!

Mom and dad have been pondering a lot of things lately - such as how much hair I will have, what color my eyes will be, when I will arrive, will I be as observant as my father, etc. They sound really eager to meet me!

I promise to keep you posted. I'll even put up some pictures when I make my debut. Be patient...not much longer now!

Just hanging out

Last weekend was great. Mommy and daddy were laughing a lot and sounded so happy. They're all set for me to arrive - when I decide the moment is right. My daddy started "nesting" this weekend, which surprised me. Mowing the lawn, caulking the shower, packing his bags...Normally that's what mommy's do, right? But mommy let him cross projects off his list as she sat back and relaxed (her list has been crossed off for weeks!).

It seems that mom has an inkling I could arrive soon. She stayed in bed till 10:00 and then spent hours at the bookstore looking at cookbooks of meals that are "freezer friendly" so she has food when she's tired. It's her first day not working and it is strange for both of us.

She's kind of tired now from her errands, so I think she will probably take another nap. Tonight daddy is taking her to the hospital to drop in on a class with the doula. Daddy will practice some comfort measures that can help mommy through her big day - which is coming right up. She will probably love it - massage, breathing, relaxation...my mom is a sucker for that kind of stuff!

I think I'll go with mom and take a nap after a big glass of moo-juice. Talk to you soon!

Why do big people worry so much?

This morning my parents gave me a hearty chuckle at the Brownstone. They woke up early to share a leisurely breakfast before daddy had to hop on a plane for an overnight mission. Over coffee, eggs and toast they started talking about the future - things they dream about such as living in the country, having quiet time in a natural setting (no more cookie cutter neighborhoods), and someday maybe making a little brother for me.

Mommy laughed and said that it's up to daddy if he wants a little boy. I'm not sure I understand how all this works... She said she is secretly relieved I'm a girl because she thinks girls are easier to take care of. Daddy said he's already nervous about me going to the prom.

Geesh, dad! I won't have a boyfriend for a long time! He makes me giggle.

Mommy says I need to sign off now so I can go with her on some more errands and get the house all clean. Does she ever stop?

My new headquarters

Sorry some of these are kind of dark. It's hard for me to photo direct from the womb. My new headquarters is really taking shape. Mom and dad have worked hard to get it ready for me. Actually, all of my grandparents have contributed some form of love or labor to this room, too. Enjoy the pictures. Mom said the first word I am going to learn to spell is L-O-V-E, which is why she had Grandpa Gene hang it over the closet.