Lazy Sunday

We spent Sunday being pretty lazy snuggling early in the day and lying out in the backyard later that afternoon.  It was so beautiful outside that we just had to get out there and enjoy it for a few minutes. She was mesmerized by the sky and the trees...especially when the wind would blow. Sean was a trooper and put her new jumparoo together (yay)!  She is so beautiful and I love watching her see the world. It's so amazing to experience all of this with her.  I am so thankful for her and feel so blessed to have this wonderful little family. 

early morning snuggle

she and Sophie taking it all in

checkin out the jumparoo

still not sure...

my little crab after her bath

Lovin Touchin Squeezin

I was looking at some pictures of the last couple of weeks and I noticed a lot of just loving and squeezing on Emily- by everyone!  So these are just a few.  She is a well loved little girl.  We are blessed!

chatting with Poppy

with Auntie Aimee and Baby P

Mrs Elisabeth

chillin with Daddy

Meeting Nola

late posting this- but a few weeks ago we went to the annual Clemson Club picnic and boy has it changed.   We used to go and there would be a few families with kids, some young couples, some older couples and current students.  In fact a year or two ago we met Stephanie and Charlie at that same picnic I believe.  Stephanie and I got to know each other a bit better through running and have become good friends.  She and I were pregnant together and she had a beautiful baby girl named Nola Grace a few weeks after we had Emily.  Well we finally got together at the picnic and got to meet each other's sweet baby girls.  Nola is just beautiful (like her mama) and I really hope the girls get to grow up together and be friends.  They are such sweet people and I am so glad they are in our lives.

Stephanie and Nola

with Kim

Emily in her Clemson bubble

Ms Janice

Ms Janice is Emily's teacher at "school".  She has been at Calvary for a really long time and her former students all love her dearly.  Every time someone asks me where she is and who her teacher is and I tell them - they all seem to know her and say she is the BEST!  That makes a mommy feel better about leaving her precious baby girl all day long.  Emily usually gets a little bonding time one on one with Ms Janice in the mornings as we are usually the first ones there bright and early at 7am!  Emily smiles her sweetest smile when I hand her off and give her a kiss.  I know she's in good hands.

On The Red Chair

This is one of my favorite pictures from the last week. I hope everyone likes it.

Faces

I love putting the camera on burst mode and seeing what Emily will do and getting a long stream of shots all in a row.  During the "christening dress" shoot, I caught her in a yawn sequence.. her faces made me laugh so hard I had to share.

Rollin- Kind of

No pictures to prove it yet, but Emily rolled from her tummy to her back yesterday!  YAY!  Our little girl is growing so fast.  I will keep trying to get it on camera. Although, it kind of surprised her so not sure how soon she will be trying that again! Stay tuned...

Bumbo

We've been putting Emily in her bumbo more often now that she is getting better head control - a few minutes several times a day.  I wouldn't say she loves it, but she doesn't seem to mind and she does seem to like sitting upright more and more. We are getting there!  She's growing so much. Before long she will be sitting up all by herself I am sure.

Kindermusik

Emily is in Kindermusik!  What is Kindermusik you ask? they describe it this way:

When young children are consistently engaged by music in an age-appropriate, socially accepting environment, they benefit at many levels:

• They gain the phonological processing, spoken language, and comprehension skills that are the foundation of reading.
• They build the spatial-temporal and reasoning skills required for math, science, and engineering.
• They develop social and emotional skills that are essential for school readiness—like the ability to regulate their responses and relate to others in complex ways.

By moving and dancing to music and playing simple instruments, children improve their gross and fine motor skills. Activities that encourage freedom within a fun and friendly structure spark their creativity.

WE just think it is going to be a fun way to spend an hour or so a week with Emily exposing her to other kids and music.  She already loves music and I think this will  just give her more structure- instead of jsut listening to her Daddy play Van Morrison and her mommy play completely inappropriate adult music and sing and dance with her in her room (Kanye West and Katy Perry = inappropriate)! 

We had our first class this past Saturday and while she is still awfully little to be participating, I think she enjoyed it.  I know she didn't hate it because she didn't cry or fuss.  It was a busy busy day and our little girl was a trooper.  After class we went to lunch, the fabric store, Babies R Us and then to a birthday party- whew! a full day for our sweet little girl and for us!

Morning person?

Emily is shaping up to be a happy girl in the mornings- which is so nice for Sean and me. I think it might be my favorite time of the day.  I go in and wake her up every morning to her stretching and wiggling and then she opens her eyes, focuses on me and then the biggest grin spreads across her face.  It melts my heart and makes my day!!!  And all of this at 6am..... here she is from a few days ago.

3 months already?

Our baby girl turned 3 months old on July 29th and I still can't believe it's been that long.  She is growing so much everyday it is blowing my mind.  People say they grow fast - savor every minute and they are not kidding! She doesn't even look like the baby we brought home.  She has changed so much and is getting such a little personality. Sean and I are enjoying watching her learn and experience things and loving her more everyday- is that even possible? 

• Emily is 12 pounds, and I would guess about 24 inches long. (no check up this month) 
• She's cooing and smiling and starting to find her voice
• she recognizes certain people now when she sees them
• she's batting at things and starting to grab and hold on to objects more
• she sleeps most nights from 7:30 to 6am with one feeding at 9 that we have to wake her for
• she can hold her head up for about 20-30 seconds (or longer I am just guessing)
• and everything is starting to go into her mouth!

Tummy Time with Lily

We've been working on our neck muscles with increased tummy time everyday and I've also been trying to get Lily and Emily in a picture where they are both looking at the camera at the same time...........FINALLY!!!  I'm also trying to get them used to being down on the same level since we will have a crawler on our hands in a few months. Where is the time going???

Back to Work

So I went back to work last Monday. I always planned on going back.  I've been working in some fashion since I was 12 years old!  I never even really considered not working. I don't think I would know what to do with myself- even with a child.  So 12 short weeks after bringing our precious girl home, I am back to work. The first week went pretty well. I did a trial run on the Friday before and cried that morning before we ever left the house.  I did okay when I took her and dropped her off- of course I only stayed gone an hour or two! Sunday night I cried some more thinking about the next morning. Monday morning I did the drop off...and while I could feel the tears welling up, I smooched Em on her sweet head and bolted out of there before the tears fell. And all week- it got a little easier.  BUT...this week is killing me!  I don't understand, maybe it's hormones or the fact that since she started daycare, Emily is only awake in my presence for about an hour or two a day, but I have cried everyday this week and I can't make it stop. I miss her so much it hurts.  I pray that it gets better and these feelings will go away or at least subside. If you are reading this, please send good thoughts my way! I know it will get better. Emily did fine- but was wiped after a full day!  here she is crashed as soon as I got her home!