9 Months

This month started a little roughly for us.  On Sunday, while we were at church, Emmy was playing in the nursery.  After church we went to visit with everyone and out of nowhere, Emmy threw up all over herself.  I hurriedly took her to the restroom and cleaned her up.  Within the next hour, she threw up three more times. By this time, I was getting worried so I went to the store and started her on pedialyte.  She continually kept throwing up everything that I gave her so I took her to the doctor on Monday before school.  Since Mondays is a crazy morning at the clinic, I made sure we were there as they opened so that I would for sure be done before school started.  Our regular pediatrician wasn't on call, so we had to see someone else.  The doctor said she probably had a virus and that I should give her pedialyte and monitor her fluids.  Um, thanks.  I was already doing that.  She also said to give her smaller amounts every 30 minutes.  Thankfully Britt was still at home from the weekend, so she agreed to watch Emmy for the morning so that I would only have to take off from school the afternoon. 

After staying with her all afternoon, I ended up getting sick as well.  I spent the better part of the night in the restroom, and I was thanking God for giving me such a great Mom that helped me take care of the baby while I was sick.  She was paid back by getting the virus from Emmy and I.  So Tuesday Mom, Emmy, and I were home sick all day.  I was still feeling sick the next morning, but I knew I had to go to school since we were giving the TAKS test to juniors and sophomores.  I made it threw the day and Mom watched Emmy since she was still throwing up and couldn't go to daycare.  I decided to take her back in to the doctor Thursday morning before school.  This time, we saw our doctor, and he said that she had lost almost two pounds.  I told him that she had been throwing up for several days, but I was pumping her with fluids so she was still "functioning" normally.  He said that we needed to get some calories into that kid fast, so he had me start diluting her milk and giving her 1/2 an ounce every 45 minutes.  He also told me that she looked a little dry and if she wasn't peeing every 6 hour by the next day, they needed to admit her in the hospital.  SAY WHAT!!?!  I was on a mission because we could not spend Spring Break in the hospital (and I was worried about Emmy...).

After drinking pedialyte for the better part of the week, she was none too thrilled about watery milk.  To add to the dilemma, I needed to be at school, and Mom was finally feeling well enough to get back to work.  So Bradley graciously volunteered to stay up with her (even though he had been working all night).  So Emmy got to spend some quality Daddy time.  On Friday, Brittany was back home so she kept watch over Emmarie so all was well.  After that week, I was never so happy to see Spring Break. 

We had family pictures planned for Saturday, but since she was still throwing up, I was scared about how that was going to work.  Thankfully, Sarah called me to reschedule since the weather was so bad in College Station.  We went on vacation, and finally by Tuesday, Emmy was feeling better and able to keep everything down.

So, can you sense the source of my frustration?

Being sick also had some effects on her socially.  Since she didn't go to daycare for almost two weeks, she got really used to being held and coddled and being with Mommy, Nana, or some other family member.  This made her very attached to us, and a little cranky with anyone that deemed their self bold enough to try to pick up Lady Emmarie.  She was also on the verge of walking, and sadly this has fallen off her "to-do" list for right now.

She loves: Being held (refusing to be put down), puffs, cheeto puffs, playing the piano, the dinosaur ball popper that Granny and Papa got her for Christmas, grape pedialyte, "singing" and dancing (she can drop it), touching EVERYTHING, putting random household items into her mouth, and any iPhone she can get her little fingers on!

She doesn't like: Being put down, the walker, being told no, changing clothes, diaper changes, Mommy's laptop (she closes the lid on my fingers or tries to sit on it), strangers, not being the center of attention, drinking juice from a bottle, peas, and being put in her bed.

She eats: JELLO (not a fan, might be the consistency), Carrots, Peas, Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Vegetable Chicken Dinner, Turkey and Mixed Vegetables, Turkey, Chicken, Beef and Veggies (NOT a favorite), Applesauce, Bananas, Mixed fruit, Puffs, and Milk.

BTW: We did get to reschedule her 9 month pictures with Sarah Giles of Butterfly Chaser Photography, and we are super pumped to see those!  Emmy did such and good job, and she acted like a big girl for Sarah the whole time. Below is a picture I took of Emmy and her Daddy on Spring Break. Aren't they both just breath taking in blue?

Below are some of our family pictures from our first shoot with Butterfly Chaser Photography.  I was so very happy with the results!

8 months!

I believe I saw a gray hair today, and Emmarie gave it to me. This little girl is fearless. She loves to beat on the popcorn tin at Nana's house. She is really cute and can keep a decent beat. She also loves to drink water from a glass. Since she can pull herself up to the end tables, we have had to start being careful about where we leave our drinks. She was sitting on the floor beating on her drum and minding her own business very innocently. I was drinking a glass of water, and I set it on the end table. She stood up and tried to grab the glass so I moved it to the middle of the table out of her reach. She looked at it, but then went back to banging on the drum. I turned around to talk to Mom a conversation ensues only to be interrupted by my mom saying,"NO EMMARIE!" I personally thought that she might be trying to eat the power cords again, so imaging my shock when I turned around to see my little baby with both of her knees up on the can trying to climb onto the end table. She had already made it to the cup and was sticking her hand into the water to drag it over to the edge when I grabbed her. Things that make you go...hmmmm.

She loves: playing at Nana's house, Cheeto puffs (really any kind of Gerber Puff...Emmy is high dollar though...she doesn't like the store brand), playing with her dinosaur ball popper, dancing, being held, shopping!, sitting like a big girl in the cart, snuggling, playing/singing "Mr. Brown," MOMMY (she has gotten a tiny bit clingy), daycare and her teachers, paper, and putting things in her mouth.

She hates:  Being left behind in a room, not getting her way (can you say strong-willed?!), regular applesauce (I guess it is too much texture for her yet), being told No, the store-brand puffs, and being taken from Mommy if it isn't her idea.

She eats: squash, peas, chicken, turkey, applesauce (both the baby kind and the regular organic kind), bananas, carrots, sweet potatoes, and any kind of puff you give her. We are also trying to work on using a sippy cup, but that is moving at a much slower pace than I would prefer.

7 Months

You crazy little girl, you are growing up much too fast for my liking.



We got to spend a lot of the past month together since I was off of work for two weeks for the Christmas Holidays. We spent our days running around trying to get things ready for Christmas and then recovering during the aftermath. It was an entirely wonderful time that I am truly blessed to have the opportunity to have. We stayed up late, made Cookies, tried new recipes, WENT SHOPPING, hung out at Nana's house, played Kinect, listened to Christmas music, played on the floor, read books, and watched movies. We did anything and everything that we wanted to do. Perhaps we/I did not get all of the "projects" that I had planned to do during my time off, but we enjoyed quality moments together and I think that is what really matters. The dirty house will still be there, but you may not always want to snuggle and watch movies.




Since last month, you can really sit yourself up all on your own. You can pose yourself like a model as you move around trying to reach all of your toys. You are also becoming SUPER SPEEDY when it comes to crawling. In the blink of an eye it seems you shoot across the room in search of the buttons on the blue ray player at Nana's house. AND YOU REALLY TURN IT OFF! You also started pulling up on the couches, your toys, my legs, and anything else that you can get to. I try to make you slow down, but you are intent on becoming a big girl.





You love: Being held (if it's your idea), crawling, drumming on the Christmas tins, chewing on the outside of your pacifier, eating, playing your piano, saying "DaDa," chasing the puppies, giving kisses (especially to Maggie), your wooden rolling toys, and getting your way!





You don't like: sitting in your exersaucer, the johnny jump up, your carseat, the dark, being told "No," being put down (if it's not your idea), being around loud groups of people, and being held by strangers (you are starting to realize that strangers do exist).





You are eating: Milk (of course!), Green Beans, Peas (if we make you), Squash, Sweet Potatoes, and Banana Puffs. Some days you can eat a whole jar of baby food in one sitting and still look at me like what else do you have and other days you seem satisfied after a couple of teaspoons.

Christmas

This year was a special Christmas for us since it was Emmy's first Christmas. We spent the Sunday before Christmas with Susan and Robert. They came down to see Emmy and to bring her some presents.



We spent Christmas Eve in Channelview with the Nelson Clan. Bradley had to work, so Emmy and I rode with Mom and Dad. We had so much fun this year. There were so many babies, and we set up a little photo place in front of the tree.




 Christmas day, we were in EC. My grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins came down from East Texas to spend the day with us. We always have such a good time every time we get together. Bradley had to work Christmas day as well, so as soon as he got home at 8:00, we opened presents with Emmy. We wanted him to be able to see her open presents and still get to sleep. Emmy enjoyed opening presents, and she got better at each sitting. The only problem was that she was more interested in the paper and usually left the gift behind!

6 Months

This past month was a busy month of firsts for you! You tried green beans and LOVED them! As we were feeding you, you kept trying to grab the spoon out of our hands so that you could do it yourself. It made me seriously wonder if someone had already been feeding you solids...hmmm. You also tried green peas...those were not your favorite. I think I will blame the consistency of the peas. You kept rolling them forward and backward with your tongue as if you were trying to figure out whether or not you should spit them out or swallow them.

You also started crawling! You are now everywhere and we cannot contain you to any given area. This poses a problem at our house since we have all tile floors downstairs. We are currently in search of a good rug so that you can play at will.


You said your first word this month as well: DaDa. The way you said it is really a story all in its own. We were sitting at Nana's house and I told you that you could not do something (far be it for me to correct the perfect little miss Emmarie), and you started crying and said "dadadada." It was as if you were threatening to tell on me when your Daddy got home. I promptly called him and filled him in and he laughed and said I shouldn't have been so mean to you. (I THINK/HOPE that he was joking...) We are going to have to stick together when it comes to keeping you in line. You are so cute and can be so sweet that I am afraid it would be all too easy to give in to your angelic smiles.


You are also sitting up on your own. The sitting up and the crawling came about really quickly. One day you were pushing up on your hands and knees


At six months, you love: sleep!, Sometimes you can sleep until 11:00 a.m. if I let you, Playing with your toys, hanging out in your exersaucer, eating, saying DaDa, playing with your toes, MRS. RITA, throwing fits (you may have my temper), and crawling everywhere. You scoot, roll, bear crawl, or do whatever is necessary to get to what you want.

You eat: Milk, Green Beans, and Peas.

You dislike: the car seat (no big surprise there), the dark, being put down, being told "no," hunger in any shape or form, and not getting your way.

This month was a month of big changes for you, and it makes me very nervous/sad/excited about what we can expect this month!

5 Months

You are getting to be such a big girl! You are becoming a little bit mobile and love rolling all over the floor to get to whatever you want. Gone are the days when I could leave you in the middle of a blanket to play in the living room while I cook. You are trying to get into everything, and require CONSTANT supervision. The only way that I can get anything done without another person there to play with you is to put you in your exersaucer. You will play in that thing for approximately 15-25 minutes, and I madly dash around the house trying to get a few things done.

You love: having us sing to you (the Acorn song is still a favorite), rolling around on the floor, jumping and stomping the keyboard in your exersaucer, eating, playing with toys, eating your toes, doing stretches, watching the puppies play, "talking," and having things YOUR way.

You dislike: the dark, being ignored (or even perceiving that you might not be getting some one's full attention), your pack-n-play, the words "bye-bye," startling noises, and your car seat.

This month you are going to start trying baby food so we shall see how that goes. You seem content with milk right now, but your Nana is freaking out that she doesn't get to feed you baby food. We shall see how that goes.

April's Baby Shower

April's baby shower was a lot of fun.  If you know April, you know that she likes to travel the past of least resistance if possible.  This is not in any way supposed to be a way of calling her lazy.  There were several hostesses, myself included that made the shower a success.  Dana made the beautiful cupcakes that you see below.  They tasted SO good.  They recieved a lot of amazing presents that they can put to use once Oliver Liam gets here, and I know they were very greatful to everyone that helped.  Below are a few shots that I stole from Facebook since I took all of the pictures with her camera. :)