Monday, December 29, 2008

The aftermath...

Holy cow does Christmas take on a whole new life when there is a baby in the mix!! Emma was just a tiny bit spoiled this year, though I'm sure that tradition will continue. We had a wonderful week.... my brother and Sam came into town (it was Sam's first Christmas too) and we spent a couple days with at my parents' house, eating good food, playing games, and hanging out.
Emma's big developments this week: She can clap, wave and she kissed "the baby" in the mirror. It amazing to watch how quickly she catches onto things now, she is so much fun!!

Auntie Sam knitted Emma this hat and scarf

My baby, the joker

Family photo


Oh my, look at all the presents!!


bows!


The paper is the funnest part!



Where's Emma?

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

We wish you...

We in the final stages of preparations for Emma's first Christmas. I know it will be an emotional one for me, as I cried when she first laid her eyes on Santa the other day. My brother and Sam are getting in tonight (weather permitting) and we're excited to be spending our first Christmas with both Sam and Emma. I have a feeling that Emma will enjoy the wrapping paper more than the gifts, but we're looking forward to it all the same.
I hope that all of you have a wonderful holiday, we love you!

Monday, December 22, 2008

HO HO HO!!

Or as my favorite pin in elementary school said :


(yes, I've been a nerd that long)

Last weekend we went to Vail. I promise I had fun, even though it doesn't look like it here

Yeah, that's right, no shoes

Wills and I had our first sled ride


it was fun!!!


I think we're ready to go back inside now


I've been helping with the wrapping


Mommy went shopping yesterday and when she got home she found Daddy letting me play with plastic bags


and some pictures on her camera documenting our afternoon!


I don't really fit in here, but it's fun!



Grandpa and Grandma came to visit and I practiced my drums on Grandpa's head!


I tried on Wills' bow tie and it fit around my head



And I got to meet this cool guy named Santa, he says he's going to bring me presents if I'm good. I'm always good!




Don't Wills and I look so cute? We clean up pretty nice



Oh, I want to pull your beard!!


Merry Christmas everyone!!


Thursday, December 18, 2008

New Haircut!!

I chopped my hair off today and I'm SUPER excited about it!! My goal was to lose the length but still be able to pull it back in a pony and I think I succeeded. I love it so far, we'll see what I think when I have to do it myself ;)


(Jamie is going to be pissed I used this picture of me, because the top of my head is cut off, but I looked the best in it)

Monday, December 15, 2008

9 months!!

Yesterday was Emma's 9 month birthday!! She had her appt on Friday and weighed in at a whopping 12lbs 13.5oz and was 25" tall. She's still not on the charts, but the doctor thinks she'll be on the height chart by 12 months and the weight chart by 15 months :) They do a developmental check at the 9 month appt and I had to fill out a questionnaire. The doc came in and told me "I was prepared to give you the talk about how Emma was a preemie and how we don't expect her to be able to do all the things that most 9 month olds can do and it's okay, but I guess that isn't the case with Emma, she aced the test!". Well of course she did ;) The only thing she couldn't do was get on all 4s in the crawling position, but she's working on it. She also got the go ahead to start dairy and meat so I picked some up at the store this weekend and she'll be introduced some new foods this week. She had yogurt for the first time last night, holy cow is full fat yogurt creamy!! She shouldn't have any problems packing the pounds on now!

Emma got this shirt when she was born and it finally fits! Thanks Molly!

Grandma and Grandpa came down last weekend to watch Emma while I got out of the house. Emma loved waking up from her naps to find them here!

Look Ma, I'm standing!!


Wills came over to play this week, it's really hard to get to babies to look at the camera at the same time (well not Emma, she knows what is up when the camera comes out). Wills does not look amused.



There was some wrestling that went on



We also decorated for Christmas!



The outside



And I finally have a mantle!! (you can also see the blue color we painted in the living room)



Here Emma is deciding if she wants to take after her mom or dad :)




Emma's very first barrette!


Sunday, December 14, 2008

Emma is famous!!

click here

and don't worry, I have more pictures and updates coming :)

Saturday, December 6, 2008

The best sound in the world!

I finally (!!) figured out how to upload video onto my computer (yes, I'm an engineer and I'm blaming the fact that it took so long on a missing cord) so I can now share with you the best sound in the world, Emma laughing! She thinks it's so funny when you blow raspberries on her (otherwise known as giving her the business) and I could do this all.day.long. Seriously, I LOVE her laugh!! Enjoy :)


Wednesday, December 3, 2008

I am a domestic goddess

Tonight I made turkey potpies and turkey & wild rice soup, all to freeze! I have 5 nights of dinners made and frozen, woo hoo!!

Sunday, November 30, 2008

That's all she wrote

November is over. A lot of you have written to say that you enjoyed the daily blogs and pictures, and I'm glad, however I will NOT miss having to come up with something everyday. I am a engineer, not a writer and trying to be creative is very, very hard for me.
So in honor of the last day of November, here is a cute pic of Jamie and Emma. They went to watch football with the boys and Mama got some alone time... woo hoo!!

photo courtesy of Trevor Brown

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Grandpa is back!!!

My dad and Gramps made it back from Minnesota today and Emma was so glad to see them :) Dad promptly gave Emma the business and she loved it!

look, matching hair styles;)

Hey there Gramps!

cuddles with Grandma :)


Friday, November 28, 2008

And the scale says....

12lbs 9oz!!!

Emma gained 12oz in 14 days!!! Woo hoo!!! Her doctor was very happy and I'm so relieved!! I guess all that avocado paid off!!

We had a great day yesterday celebrating Thanksgiving with friends and my Dad and Gramps are on their way home and we'll have a wonderful family day tomorrow!!
Emma looked exceptionally cute yesterday...

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Giving Thanks

I have a feeling that there is no way that I can adequately express thanks this Thanksgiving. This year has been a roller coaster of emotions for me and as I look back on all the scary parts we have SO very much to be thankful for.

Jamie, thank you for being my rock and the voice of reason through all of this. I know that this year has been a difficult test on our marriage and I couldn't have survived without you. I love you so much, thank you for being my husband.

Mom and Dad, I know that I can never show you how much I appreciate everything you've done of us this year. your support has been amazing and watching you with Emma is truly one of the best things in my life. I love you :)

To my friends and family, thank you for all you've done for us. From the prayers and positive words to the meal and gifts, you guys have been amazing. I never would have survived our hospital stay and the hormones of motherhood without you. You keep me sane and listen to me vent about our struggles and give me a shoulder to cry on, thank you. To those of you that I didn't know a year ago and have jumped on during this journey, thank you for being there for me.

To the AMAZING doctors and nurses at Rose, there is not enough thanks in this world to express the gratitude that I feel for you. You were our family and the reason that Emma is doing as well as she is today. We will never forget you :)
Emma, you are such a fighter and I hope it continues through your life. We are so blessed to have you in our lives, your smile lights up the room and melts all of our hearts. You make every drop of blood, sweat and tears worth it. I love you baby girl :)

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Emma's many hats

Emma is a total hat girl. I think she looks so good in hats! I'm not sure if it's her nice little round head or those big blue eyes, but she looks so cute :) I'm slowly amassing a collection for her. Some of them have generously been made for us, some are hand-me-downs or hospital leftovers, but I love them all :)

My aunt Susan made this one, she says it goes this way
but it's cute this way too!

One of grandma's co-workers gave this to us



Ella wore this hat 2 winters ago :)



This little french number was also Ella's



This one was made by Jamie's friend Kitty





This is the hat she came home from the hospital in (click here)



auntie Sam made this, it's a little too small now!



quack!


so cute!

Ribbit!!