Wear Em out & they'll sleep..

So we've all heard the brilliant theory, let a kid stay awake and wear themselves out and they'll sleep. Now I knew from friends that this doesn't work. And I read from experts that this theory is wrong and kids in fact sleep better when they have good sleep and routine.
But yesterday quite by accident we tested this old wives tale. We all have to learn the hard way sometimes. and we did. Em had two very short naps and stayed up till 10 pm. Short sleep on the way home and bamn woke up several times, screaming, on the middle of the night. And still woke up in the am at her normal time.
We are all tired today. Planning on some hopefully good naps and a good sleep.
Vacation is fun. We love being with our family and friends. But being off routine sucks!!!!

Yayyyyy

Just overnight night our little genius learned how to clap! Now she does it all the time. Clap clap clap.
She also waves hi and bye. But its a funny wave opening and closing her hand and turning it sideways.
And learning uh ohh. She just says uh, but its close.
the wonderful world of games. I drop it and say uh...and you pick it up and give it back for me to drop out again!
Awe you crazy kid. We love you.

Em first Christmas and teeth

(Naughty or Nice???)

Emery has had a great Christmas so far. Daddy got her a beautiful E charm with a pearl attached. Mommy got her mickey mouse and mm clubhouse dvd. And so much more stuff came from Santa.
Then we drove on out to VP and she has been spoiled by Daddy's family. Nanny enjoyed getting her all kinds of clothes, dvds and blocks and minnie mouse. mimi papa got her a vtech walker and clovis crawfish books signed by her great great uncle who illustrated them. And she got so much more stuff I could write a book. Its too much.
And then Santa decided to give her one moore present...Teeth! Yep top left poked through a couple of days ago. now bottom left broke through yesterday and the rights on top and bottom are swollen.
Being off schedule, lots of simulation and teething make a very unhappy baby!

9 months!

Happy Happy 9 months this week to our beautiful Emery Ruth!
My darling in the past month you have learned so much. You have gone from a couple of ba bas to mumbling consteants and saying Dada, mama and pu for Puppy.
You've moved from an army crawl and snake slither to up on your hands and knees and flying across a house.
You went from pulling up to your knees and freaking out to pulling up to your feet and taking a couple of steps with help from Daddy or the couch.
You are climbing on things and scaring the crap out of your Mom!
From eating Stage 2 foods to wanting a bite of everything we have.
And from having no teeth on Dec. 15, to having a Top left tooth poking through!
You my darling are learning at a rapid pace all of a sudden, with no signs of slowing down.
You are still teeny tiny. Just 15lbs, 27 inches. We moved your diapers up to size 3 only for the lenght and clothes you fit in 6-9 months (though baggy) but your waist is 0-3 months still. So pants are a pain to fix!
You still don't smile much or laugh often, but you are so serious and watch and take in everything. I think you are going to be very smart.

38 Weeks

Miss Emery is moving and shaking. In the last 4 weeks she has grown with leaps and bounds. She is now sitting up on her own with her funny leg position (one out in front and one cocked behind her), she is reaching up to grab for someone, learning cause and effect, pulling up to her feet, crawling on her hands and knees, laughing, talking, trying to say Mama, Dada, Puppy, crawling through a tunnel, liking favorite toys, eating hard books, picking up food and feeding herself and so much more.
We are trying to teach her to use a sippy cup. She'd rather throw it across the room than drink from it. LOL!
She is so funny, she makes the best sounds and tries to say Mama especially when she is hurt.
Speaking of...this weekend she fell off the counter. She is fine, I freaked out, ran grabbed her, cried, took off all her clothes and checked every piece of her body. She has a small light bruise on her cheek. This is the first time she has been hurt. I got her in the rocking chair and just held her and cuddled with her until she felt better. My poor sweet baby girl. I never want anything to happen to her. Everynight since I have gone into her room after she is asleep to touch her and stroke her and cover her and just make sure she is ok.
With her pulling up I am so scared she will really take a tumble soon. Every move she makes my heart flutters and I cringe.How am I going to make through the rest of her life without having a nervous breakdown?

How do you erase a memory?

It is with a very heavy heart that I write this blog.

On Dec 1, 2011 we lost our baby. Being surpised pregnant with this new baby was nothing short of a miracle. We didn't worry about a thing the whole time. We just felt it was ment to be. God showed us that we could get pregnant on our own. Our pregnancy was realitivly uneventful. I was sick with morning sickness the 1st 12 weeks or so and had to take medicine. I've always heard that having such sickness ment the baby would be healthy. Yet another old wives tale. We found out a couple of weeks ago that our baby was going to be another girl. We started making plans to get a new crib, new toys and started talking about names.
I went in for a routine visit to our perinatologist, hoping to verify the sex and see our little girl move around. It was just me and Emery because my hubby had to work. I didn't think anything about it. That was when I heard the words I truly never thought I would ever hear in my life. "I'm sorry to tell you this, the baby has no heartbeat." I was told these things happen, it happened in the last week or so, the baby is starting to have some demise. So much that I don't remember. I just remember the Dr leaving the office and calling my husband. Barely inking out the words and hearing the terror in his voice. I don't remember the drive home and as much don't remember the next few days.
Our OB talked to us about options and we settled on being put to sleep and letting her take the baby out. I went into the hosptial. I don't rember going to sleep, I barely remember waking up and going home. I have layed around while dealing with the pain both physically and emotionally for the last few days. Today is my first day being on my own with Emery. She is what gets me through the day. Without her I think I would have gone into a depression that I don't think I could get out of, and at this moment I wonder if that can still happen.

Our second daughter Kristen Frances was born at 3:45PM on 12/01/2011. Our sadness cannot be expressed. I pray that God has wrapped her in his arms and told her of how her parents loved her and wanted her and she was just not ready to be with us.

8.5 months and 17 weeks

(We were trying to take Christmas pictures for cards)
In the last two weeks things are progressing fast with my Emery. She has learned to sit up on her own and crawl on her hands and knees! She is "talking" more too. We have gone from three naps down to two naps. And she plays longer by herself. She is so mischevious! Always trying to get into something. One second she is right next to you and the next she is down the hall almost to the front door. And boy does she love trying to open the fireplace glass doors. I am trying to figure out how to baby proof those but haven't come up with anything yet. Emery is also pulling herself up to her knees on just about anything she can get her hands onto, even if its not sturdy! She loves shoes and untying them and eating the shoestrings. And will put just about anything in her mouth she can find!
Her 1st Thanksgiving was great. We spent it with her Parrain and some friends of ours. Lots and lots of food for us and Emery ate her baby food. She is still on stage 2 foods and we have tried Stage 3 but she doesn't like it. Oh and still no teeth. I think that's on her list to Santa, some teeth! We moved her crib mattress down to low so that if she does get up to her feet she won't topple out!
Still the ever inqusitive baby, she watches everything anyone does and is so serious! We went to see Santa and boy oh boy, placed in his hands it was a no go! She cried and started at him with the look of "oh no!" We got a picture but both Santa and Emery look scared! What a fun memory!
Ah and she eats or chews on her toes alot. Not sure what that is is about, but she wakes up with wet socks or feet on her jammies most days!

The baby #2 is looking good. Everything is going fine. If I could just get rid of this sinus infection and cough and be able to breathe again! I still haven't put on any weight, but the Dr doesn't seem concerned. A couple of more weeks and we will know for sure what sex the baby will be. I still can't believe in about 5 months we will have 2 babies in our house! After everything we went through how blessed are we?!

Well gotta run Miss Priss cannot get to one of her toys and is whining!

Ok sorry 34 weeks and 15 weeks

Yes I know BAD BLOGGER! Its been a while. SORRY! Things have been a crazy mess here. We've been to La and back, DH has been out of town, Emery has learned to crawl around the house and pull the dog's ears. Em is working on sitting up, but not on her own and pulling up in her bed, so time to move the bed down. Then she got a cold, I got the cold, and now DH has the cold. The poor dog doesn't know what to do anymore, he just runs out the way when he sees us coming. Lord, he is going to be sad when the new baby comes.
Speaking of the new baby...everything looks good so far. Heartbeat is at 159bpm, growing on target (in fact a little bigger than where it should be, which is great since Em measured small), and we still don't know if its a boy or a girl...couldn't see anything at the last ultrasound. Hopefully we will know soon so we can start planning. Of course we are still a little freaked out but so happy to have such a miracle happen after everything we went through!
And we are off again to another family wedding this weekend!
Oh and Emery is starting to realize if she cries we come to her...so she cries all the time now. Where oh where is my happy little baby girl??? Time change has affected us all. None of us can get use to it.
Em also learned to crawl on the bricks of the fireplace and open the doors. Ugh I have no idea how to baby proof that so time for some research.

28-29 weeks and 9-10 weeks???

Princess Emery is moving and grooving in the last few weeks. She has accomplished the "army man" crawl (you know the one where they use their arms to pull themselves forward while slithering on their tummy with flat legs to get to something they want). She is sitting up, assisted still, but trying to do it on her own. She can sit on her own for a good 30-60 seconds before she topples over. She does this adorable little fake laugh (ha, ha, he, ha) in little short spurts so it sounds like she is about to giggle but she doesn't. She is forming together sounds like...ma, da, di, hi, ba, ga. And if she gets hurt (wether her feelings or pain) she calls mama (well at least thats what it sounds like to me anyway). She also still does the fake cough and to which I reply "awweee baby got a little cough" and that usually makes her stop.

On another front we found out a couple of weeks ago...SURPRISE SURPRISE SURPRISE we are "naturally" expecting another baby. This brought emotions of joy and sadness all at the sametime. Sadness because I truly thought that I would have giving Emery my full attention for sometime before we introduced another sibling into the mix with her and I wanted to devote everything to her...but Joy because now she will have a brother or sister to play with and love and grow up with and become friends with during her life. And they will be awfully close in age (13 months). As with any pregnancy we are still making sure things are moving along and not stressing over anything so that the baby isn't under any stress. After reading back in the blog I truly never thought this would happen to us. I mean did you read how hard it was to concieve Emery???

I am feeling pretty awful. Morning (or call it ALL DAY) sickness is bringing me down. I feel bad that I can do as much with Emmie right now as I would want to since I am sick most of the day and tired all the time...except for the last couple of nights...INSOMINA! Thank goodness Em is sleeping 12 hours at night. Though her naps are changing from 3 down to 2 naps a day.

Tomorrow I have to take Emmie to the Opthomologist to have her blocked tear duct in her eye probed. I am scared to death for her. After reading what they do I am sad and happy that they won't let me in the room when they are doing it. Sad because I want to be there for her so she knows everything is going to be ok and that I love her more than myself but happy because if I have to hear or see her cry I freak out and cry myself and she really doesn't need to see Mommy as a crazy crying freaked out Momma! I do hope this works the first time and she never has to go back. And I am very glad she will not remember this as she gets older.

A late 6 months

I know I am a horrible blogger sometimes. What can I say, time escapes me.
This month our little Emery turned 6 months on 09/14. My little darling is learning to sit up, with lots of support and help but do it none the less. She loves the outside and adores Sammy the doggie! She loves to eat, mostly veggies, she is not overly happy to have fruits but will tolarate them if you have oatmeal mixed with them. She doesn't really like thin baby food. She has also tried eating on her own. Crackers work great and she loves em. Bananas and avacados are slippery little suckers and she eats them by mashing them around on her gums.
She is also no longer sleeping in her swaddle. Nights are fine, first nap goes well but second and third nap, not so much. So we are working around this. Emmie is also trying to get rid of her last nap of the day. UGH! She is still in 3-6 months size clothes and size 1 diapers.
At 6 months Emery is 25 1/4 inches long and 13.3 lbs. Still a little bit of nothing but beautiful! She has the most beautiful big eyes and the cutest smile. Her skin is so pretty, she barely ever gets anything like a blemish on her skin. And her nose, oh my goodness the little button nose and bow shapped lips!

On another front...we just found out a couple of days before Emery turned 6 months...magically we are expecting. Yep we are pregnant. So the Fertility Dr gave us a 2 for 1 deal without even knowing it. No we weren't trying, no we didn't go back to the dr, no we had no idea it could happen on our own. But here we are, Mommy is sick and tired, Daddy is working alot! And we are both still in shock but happy. I still can't believe Emery is going to be a big sister. The babies will be 13 months apart in age. So little Cajun Coonass Twins!

Now its time for us to all take a nap!

25 weeks

This past week or the week before I can't remember Emery learned how to jump in her jumper. Its hysterical. She grabs both straps and just jumps and laughs. She is so silly! She can also turn herself around while lying on her tummy or her back. And while she hasn't attempted to start crawling yet she does pull herself forward with her arms to get something she wants, but most of the time ends up pushing herself backwards and gets frustrated. And when she is frustrated she puts her head down and whines!
And whiney, lord have mercy, she's been such a whiney baby for the last week. I have no idea what's wrong with her. There are no teeth showing or coming in that we can find and she isn't sick or running fever. Oh well I am sure its just a stage with her.
Next week Emery will be 6 months! She is such a great sleeper and just so freaking cute. As tiny as she is it makes her even more cute! She's like a little doll! We've been spending alot of time outside on the back porch. She loves being outside. So much to look at and see.
Still loving her veggies, fruit not so much. Pretty soon we are going to start on meat and see how that goes. She has no desire to sit up, and I am praying that will change soon. I would love for her to sit up on her own so that I don't need the stroller all the time and we can use a rest. high chair and the grocery cart! Plus once she sits I can start giving her big people food to chew on! And teeth, we need some teeth!
I love watching Emery grow. She is truly amazing!

24 weeks

This week not much has changed. Emery has started trying to do more "crunches". Its like she wants to sit up but can't figure out how.
Today was weird. She was being held by a friend of ours and started crying and didn't stop until I took her back. She never does that. She usually loves people.
Emmie is chewing on her Ell-E-Phont alot, but there is nothing that shows teeth are coming through. So who knows?
But we are so still so truly blessed. She is a great sleeper and eater. She loves green beans and peas and doesn't really like pears or prunes much. As soon as she starts sitting up I will start to give her pieces of real food to gnaw on! We will try to introduce meats soon and banannans too. Though I heard bananas can stop her up. So I am not sure how soon I want to try those. Funny thing is...I hate bananas, the smell makes me gag. Ugh! How am I suppose to feed her something I can't stand the smell of?
Have I mentioned...we have the most beautiful baby ever??? People stop us when we are out and tell us how beautiful she is...everyone says she looks like a real live doll. And I don't know if its Mom's eyes or not, but she really is pretty. Gerber baby has nothing on my baby.
Her eyes are still light...please let them stay that way. And she still checks out everything...she is just amazed by anything new.
Ohhhh...she started sort of jumping in her jumper this week. Which is super cute. She loves that thing. I wish I had more door frames so I could move it around the house.
When she eats she goes ... mummm mummm mummm. Its so funny.
And my hubby is about the best Dad in the whole world. I think he loves Emery as much as I do. He is willing to do anything for her at anytime. Including waking up to give her the paci in the middle of the night or early morning. He is amazing and I am so glad he is ours. I can't imagine my life without him.
Lastly...today is 6 years since Hurricane Katrina hit my hometown of New Orleans. Oh how my life has changed. I thought I lost everything, including my "life"...but after many years and moving and growing I have realized that Hurricane Katrina wasn't bad for me, in fact it lead me to exactly where I wanted to be anyway!

23 weeks

My little darling bundle of entertainment has decided that she loves to use her voice. She will babble or scream without any notice. Including when you go in during her nap when she wakes up and you are going to give her a paci to put her back to sleep to finish the nap. She will smile and "talk" to you and try with all of her cuteness to get you to pick her up. Darnit she is so cute, its hard to walk out. But a baby needs her beauty sleep.

Speaking of sleeping, this little sleeping beauty is sleeping 3 x a day for naps about 2 hours at a time. Though her last nap of the day is becoming shorter and shorter. She is always up by 5:30pm and ready for her dinner, playtime and bath! She eats her oatmeal and veggies and loves them.

Emmie is using her legs alot but still has yet to try and sit on her own. I guess we all learn to sit one day. It will be nice when she learns to sit on her own so that she doesn't have to be in that carseat when we go out to eat.

Have you seen Big Easy Brides on We TV? Ok um being from New Orleans these "brides" make us normal neworleanians look like trash. Can't they just do a normal show from NOLA? Like show the real people! We aren't all crazy drunks with bad accents!

I hear my little Hoot Owl in her bed, not taking her nap, talking to her Ell-E-font I guess. Please lord don't let us ever lose Ell-E, if we do none of us may get any sleep.

Oh and bundle of joy is rolling rolling rolling across the floor and starting to bounce in the jumper. I think one day soon we will see some jumping!

5 months, 21 & 22 weeks...

Hey little Inchworm:
Boy are you growing! Your little legs are getting so long we are going to have to move your exersaucer up a level! You flipped from your stomach to your back last week and Mimi was here to see it. Though you've only done it a few times since then and aren't really intrested in doing it again! You love to stand. You don't even want to sit! Who knows if you will ever crawl...you may just take off walking one day...but you have to learn to sit little girl!
You love to just watch anything, you will scope out whatever is happening near you and just stare. Its like you are examining everything. Even Papa says "look at her she's just watching us".
Mimi came and stayed a whole week with us this past week. It was so great to have her here for so long. You really love being with her and she loves being with you. Then we went to VP to visit everyone. You got to hang out with a bunch of Aunts, Uncles and cousins! Even Lucy was there and y'all dressed in matching LSU outfits!
You are eating more and more oatmeal and veggies. You'd rather that than the bottle. But you need to keep eating your formula because its good for you! You love everything we have feed to you and so far no allergies!
Happy 5 months to our little girl, you are almost to your HALF Birthday!

20 Weeks

Hi Big Girl!

This week has come with the eating of squash and sweet peas! You are doing much better with eating and have come to really like your oatmeal, especially when its thick. You aren't big on thin food. And you make a mess while you are eating, but we just laugh at you since you are learning all about eating. Your tongue still doesn't know what to do, so you push the food out with it and you try to suck on the spoon! And you are eating oatmeal twice a day now, once at lunch and once at dinner! Next week I think we will start you on fruit!
Your Grampy came for a visit this week and he got to hear you giggle! He loves to make funny faces and noises to you and try to get you to smile. He loves you very much. And you get to see him again next month when we go to visit.
You started kicking the water in the bath tub. We think you realized that its play time. And you love when Daddy pours the cup of water on you. You reach for it and pull it so that it all splashes out and he has to refill it.
And you clothes are starting to get a little tight...I think you are finally outgrowing 0-3 months size and moving on up to 3 months.
Its so hot we can't go outside much. Its been in the 100s for over a month and no rain in site! I take you out for a min here and there everyday, just so you get a little sunshine and feel the weather and outside sounds.
Its getting close to you being 5 months old. I am so glad the time doesn't feel like its moving too fast. I enjoy watching you grow.

19 weeks

Dearest Monster!

Well you naps are still coming together and its getting better everyday, however your awake time can go from great to horrible in a couple of mins. Sometimes you will play with your toys, listen to a book, lay on the floor, be in your jumper and be fine. Other days you will not want any of that for more than a min or two and then you want something else. And at this point its all a guessing game cause you can't tell me what you want!

Your big accomplishment in the last week is that you are learning to grab at or grab toys. Mostly its the ones that don't move and only when you are in your exersaucer. But you will attempt to grab the ones that are hanging, but you overshoot or undershoot alot. Then you put your hands in your mouth and talk thru your hands. THis is so funny. Its like your hands have to be in your mouth for you to make noise right now.

You do alot of zerberts/raspberries and spit goes everywhere! And you do it while you go ahhhbahhh, ohhhh and spit.

You started Oatmeal last week. You still don't have the hang of it. You take about 3 baby spoons of it, but most of it gets spit out or pushed out anyway.

You've also been looking backwards with your head and arching your back so you can see someting on the other side, rather than just turning around. This is kinda freaky!

Love you Monkey Girl!

18 weeks and 4 months

Hello Toot Toot:

Guess what worm you are 4 months old! You are still so small but getting so smart and such a big girl. We are so proud of all your progress. You are 23 3/4 inches tall and 11.4 lbs. You are sleeping at night from 8pm until about 5am (you take a bottle and go right back to sleep) and then wake up for the day around 8am. You are taking at least 3 2hour naps a day and sometimes a 30-45 min nap before bed too.

My little inch worm you have mastered pretty much the art of flipping from your tummy to your back and are moving from your back to your side and trying oh so hard to get back on your tummy. I think you will get this very soon. While its not funny for you it is for us..you get so frustrated when you can't accomplish something and you start to fuss and get mad.
You've learned how to use the exersaucer seat and make it turn around in a circle so you can see all of your toys. My big girl! You are also trying to use your legs to propel yourself forward when on your tummy. Pretty soon you will be crawling.
I think you will be our little daredevil, you don't mind being upside down or facedown in our arms. You love when we do Superbaby and fly you through the air. And you don't mind water over your face. We took you in the pool and you loved it. It was again like a huge bathtub to you.
Your eyes are still light and haven't turned brown. We are hoping you will be a hazel eye'd baby just like your Mommy.
Your Dr said you have the most beautiful skin she has ever seen on a baby, and everyone says how pretty you are. You my child are such a beautiful baby!
Last night you started on Oatmeal cereal. I don't know that you even knew what it was and it was funny to see your face when we feed it to you. You scrunch up your face and make silly faces. But you swallowed it a bit and we were proud of you for trying. Next week we will start on Veggies! Daddy has feed you a bit of banana (you made a crazy face for that one) and also watermelon juice and you licked it up! I hope you are a good eater like your Daddy.
You are smiling alot more now and giggling. We love to hear you "talk" and babble.

Love you bebe. You are everything to us.

17 weeks and the Exersaucer

My darling wiggle worm. In the past week you have learned to use your legs to stand in your exersaucer. You will straighten yourself and rock in the chair that is too big for you. But you love it. You are finally eating 4oz at a time! Whoo hoo! And you are starting to get big enough that we might have to move you into 3 months size cloths and maybe size 2 diapers soon.
We are nap training/sleep training with you. And you HATE it. Boy you love to use your lungs. You've got the turning over thing down too, but only when you don't want to be on your tummy and no one is looking. LOL! For sleep time you are still swaddled, you won't sleep otherwise, a little baby straight jacket. Speaking of sleep training...there you go crying during your nap. 10 mins early from you 3xday 2 hour naps. You need them. If not you are cranky. As you can hear right now from your cries because you are waking up before time. Wahhh-ahhh-cough (thats how we know its a fake cry, when you cough up the cry).
Love you baby girl. You are almost 4 months old!

16 weeks Grow Worm Grow

Well my darling you are now closing in on 4 months and I can say you are growing tall and long and advancing in your baby skills. This past week we drove from Dallas to Ville Platte to New Orleans. You got to spend lots of time with your family and were so happy to be around them. We find that the more time you spend with people the more you learn and mimic. Everyone says how beautiful you are, and what a good baby you are and how happy they are that you are in their lives. And baby girl so are we.
You went swimming for the first time this past week. You loved it. You looked so cute in your little blue poka dot bathing suit with red ruffles. You hate having the sunblock put on and you won't wear a hat, but you will wear your cute little purple flower sunglasses. While we were getting you ready to go out to the pool you decided to tinkle all down Momma's cloths and on your Ella-font binky. I had to wash Ms. Ella-font by hand since the binky doesn't come out of it. And she is your favorite. You go cross eyed trying to see her.
Granny got to hold you and love on you alot this day. She is so happy to have you here. She's waited a long time to be a Great Granny. She is an incrediable person and I am so glad you are named after her. Your middle name Ruth is her name. Emery, Granny is an angel on Earth. We are truly blessed to have her as our Grandmother and in our life. She loves with all her heart and cares with all her soul.
Also this weekend you spent lots of time with Grampy. He loves you so much and is a great Grandfather. He is going to teach you so much as you grow up.
You got to spend time with your Aunts and Uncles and Cousins and were held by everyone. And pretty soon you will have a new cousin on my side of the family. I am so glad you will have a girl close to your age to play with from year to year. Just like I had her Mommy to play with too.
We ate a little restaurant in New Orleans for breakfast before we left and a couple of men saw you and said you looked just like a little real life baby doll and told us how beautiful you are, which we know but it is nice to hear from strangers. And as we left one of them told Daddy that Heaven was missing an Angel and it was you. You are such a beautiful baby. Your smile can light up a room. You look at everything like you are inspecting it to remember it for the future or learning from it right now.
You try to stand all the time. You stiffen your legs and push up. You don't want to sit, you don't want to lay down. You babble and coo alot now. You have converstaions with Daddy and chew on your hands like there is noo tommorow. You are trying to pull yourself up like you want to sit though.
Mimi and Poppa got to spend alot of time with you too. They love having you at their house.
You learned to stand in the Exersaucer this weekend and to reach for a toy. You spin this one toy over and over now. Its like you figured it out and can't stop doing it. You are sleeping in your own room and in your crib at night. We are so proud of you. If you don't nap though you are Monster.
Love you my little worm.

Happy 15 weeks Miss Priss

Happy 15 weeks old my darling little wiggle worm.
In the past week you have started trying to pull yourself up to sit. You can get your head up when you are lying propped up on your boppy or a pillow but that's as far as you can get right now. You want to sit and stand so bad it frustrates you. When we sit you up you will look around a bit and then slouch forward like you are trying to center your balance maybe and your head is a bit heavy to hold up. When we sit you on the couch or chair you lean to one side or the other and fall over and get mad. Its quite funny.
As for your standing, you love it when we stand you up. You will hold your head up high and look around and then you bobble around and "dance" as we like to say. I've been putting you in your exersaucer with some blankets to hold you in (you are so skinny!) and you look around at all your toys and love it. I can get a good 10 mins of you hanging out in that thing without you pouting or crying.
We are still waking up with you to eat at 4-5am. But you sleep so well at night. You go down between 8pm and 9pm and sleep till your early morning feeding and then back to sleep till 7:30 or 8:30am. You nap from about 9am till 11am and then the rest of the day is whishy washy sometimes you sleep for 45 mins sometimes 2 hours at each nap. But by 6pm you get really fussy and have to lay down, even if its for 30 mins.
Then its naked time, bath time, and bottle and bed.
You are sleeping in your own room now in your big girl crib. I miss having you next to me and still wake up often just to look at you on the mointer.

14 Weeks

Dearest Precious Baby Girl,

This past week you got to go Louisiana for the first time. We stayed at Mimi and Poppa's house and you enjoyed it so much. There was people everywhere and most of the time. You did have one small melt down when it was all overwhelming. But once you settled into knowing everyone it got better. You and Nanny meet for the first time and she loves you so much. She held you and got to feed you and play with you. You love the swing at Mimi's house, you slept in it so much. And you did really good on the drive to and from Louisiana. You slept alot and didn't cry too much. Except on the ride back, we had to stop 4 times for you. I think you wanted to be a part of everything and couldn't see us in your car seat.
Your baptisim was this weekend. It was a very beautiful event and fun too. There were lots of pictures taken of you. And when Father Gene poured the water over your head you made a silly face but you didn't cry. We are so proud of you. Your dress was so beautiful and you received many presents from your family! Everyone was there to celebrate with us. And you got to meet your cousin Lucy who is just a month younger than you. She's got great big cheeks and is bigger than you already!
Another one of your cousin's took lots of pictures of you and they turned out beautiful. We are such a blessed family to have so many loving and talented relatives. And everyone loves you so much.
This past week you have been making more noises and "talking" more. You are learning to turn yourself by lifting your legs straight up in the air and moving your bottom around. Also you are smiling more and starting to giggle. Especially if we giggle back...its like a game. You are also starting to clinch your stomach muscles and try to sit up. But you still don't have enough control over your head to stay stable. You love to push up on your feet and stand. Before we know it you will be running and playing.
Last night you slept in your crib for the 1st time overnight. You woke up alot of times and I was so sad that you weren't next to me. I got up to comfort you and love you. But you did it and its a start to you growing up.
We love all the changes that are happening and can't wait for more of them
This past week you were nearly 23 inches long and 10lbs 2oz.

3 months check in

Happy 3 month Birthday to our little wiggle worm! Well you sure are growing. Even a friend came by to visit today and said you are starting to fill out! Your social smiles are becoming easier to get from you and you are also spending a bit more time on your tummy and lifting your head. You've starting babbling a bit more and love to talk to your toys on your kick and play! And let me just tell you, little bit, you hate being off your routine. If you don't get your nap when you are suppose to then you are a fussy fussertion. Mommy can't go anywhere with you for more than 45 mins or you start to cry and put up a fuss. But you won't go to sleep if there are things going on around you. You don't want to miss anything even if you are so tired you aren't even aware of what is going on!
I made you a lovie this week. Its zebra print on one side and minky pink material on the other. I am so proud of myself for making you something. We also put the ribbon your name letters for your wall. Eventually your bedroom will be complete and you will have loads of monogramed items. Mommy is trying to make you a tu-tu skirt this week, I sure am going to try! I'd love to be able to teach you and play with fun DIY things when you are older. I can't wait to do things with you and have fun with you.
Later this week I will have your stats because you are going for your 3 month check up with your Doctor.
I love you squirt.

13 week Bday

Well normally I would post a little letter to our little Emmie...but I will wait till tomorrow...when it will be her 3 month Birthday! Too bad she can't eat cake...I'd like some cake.

12 weeks old

Hello my precious little wiggle worm...you are 12 weeks old today and just growing like a weed! We love your morning smiles, how when you are unswaddled you do this little strech of your whole body where your arms go above your head and your legs go straight out. I love when you giggle in your sleep, but don't like when you wake up crying. You are lifting your head often now and off the floor too, but when you don't want to do it or you are tired you will cry the whole time, its like you can't figure out how to put your head down and your muscles I am sure are very sore and tired. TV watching for you is pretty funny. It will catch your eye and its like you are transfixed on the screen, but then it will change and you will look away and not look at it again. You love looking outside the back glass door and you also love when Daddy plays the guitar and sings to you. We think you are starting to notice Sammy the Wondermutt more and more. When placed on your back your legs and arms go crazy, its like you are running a marathon. You will only sleep good in either your bassinett or crib, you will cat nap in your swing or on us. And you love a good hard pat on the back to fall asleep. Also this weekend you went for a "swim" in your blow up pool. You look so cute in your little poka dot bathing suit. Your NB clothes are a bit tight but 0-3 months are too long. You are sitting up in your boppy for longer periods of time now and love looking around at everything.
A year ago we were taking shots in order to make you, wondering if we were finally going to have a baby. And guess what, oh what a year has brought us...You!

Rolling Rolling rolling

Guess what Miss Smarty pants! You also rolled over from your tummy to your back a whole bunch today too! I love my big girl. Now be careful, that fireplace brick is going to hurt...we must get that fixed asap!

You Did it!

You lifted your head a bunch today! Straight off the floor, off the pillow and the Boppy! I even got a few pictures. You also tried rolling from your front to your back...weird you are suppose to flip the other way first, but I am not complaining! You are moving and shaking! We are so proud of you wiggle worm! Keep up the hard work, but could you keep the screaming to a lower level? You don't have to scream when you lift your head! LOL! we know its tough, but you can do it!

Pet Rock

Dearest Daughter:

If I wanted a pet rock I would have gone and bought a few. Instead I bought you! Could you please try and lift your head off the floor for Mommy? I'd really like to make sure one day you can walk without us having to buy you a rolling chair for your head.
Oh and hey you are really cute when you smile and talk. And its pretty darn adorable when you move your legs so that it looks like you are riding the Tour d'France with and air-bike. And I am very glad you like when Daddy plays the guitar and sings to you.

Love, the Mom that just wants you to lift your head.

Bumbo and Tummy Time

Dearest child of mine:
Thank you for proving me right. You have great neck control and will hold your head up as long as you aren't on your tummy. You will sit in your bumbo and look around (as of today) without crying and smile at me. You will not, however, lift your head off the floor for more than a second and you have to be fussing and/or crying to do. Now I know...its hard, it hurts those muscles you haven't worked out. But you must lift your head off the floor in order to crawl and walk. You cannot sit in a Bumbo for the rest of your life and you cannot lay on your back either or you will have a flat head and no life.

Love,
Your Mommy

11 Weeks and 10 hours of sleep

Happy 11 weeks to our little Princess!
This past week you slept 1 night 10 hours! The next was 7 hours and 6.5 hours. Also your naps have become a little longer and we think you may be ready to cut out a nap a day....but we shall see how that goes.
You LOVE being naked at bath time and that will calm you no matter how fussy you are!
You like listening to Daddy play the guitar and you light up when he comes home from work or you wake up and see him. However your best friend is still the ceiling fan.
We are still working on your lifting your head, you will do it for a second on your tummy but with alot of sqwaking and crying. We know its so tough to lift such a heavy brain! You are going to be so smart.
You are making all kinds of silly sounds now. They range from cooing, to sqwaking to sqweeking to a screech! You've also giggled a few times in your sleep. Daddy finally got to hear it over the moniter today on your 11th week birthday!
Slowly you are growing into your 0-3 months clothes but its all still a bit big.
And the TV is starting to hold your attention all of a sudden, not for long but it catches your eye! You perfer music though and it plays while you are in the bathroom.
You are opening your hands more and more, but still pull them up under your chin often and esp when you are eating. And you've become such a wiggle worm. Always moving your legs and arms, not as jerky as they use to be but you still can't reach out or grab anything.
You do hit your toys on accident from time to time and then you talk to them as they swing.
Speaking of swings, sometimes your swing is the only way you will sleep.
And if there is company at the house or we are out you stay awake, no matter how tired you are...you so are going to be life of the party as you grow up. You hate to miss anything.
We are taking you to a picnic today with Daddy's work. I sure hope you are good and don't cry much.
In 11 weeks you've come a long way Baby!

10 weeks

Happy 10 weeks Emery Ruth.
This past week you have had family including Mimi and Jenni and Jeff and Parrian and Ashley come and visit you. You have started expressing your voice more and more and making better eye contact. You still hate tummy time, however you will lay there for a longer period of time before you start crying. We got you this new toy thats a snail that lights up and plays music. You seem to really like it when it "talks" to you and when you stare at the mirror on it you "talk" back. You've been smiling more and have giggled in your sleep a couple of times. We really can't wait to hear you laugh when you are awake.
We've also come to realize that you are schedule kinda kid. If you don't follow a regular schedule then you are fussy mess! We are gradually changing over your formula back to the Similac Advance so that you can travel without having to lug around a liquid formula that has to be refriderated and warmed up.
You are so cute, we just can't get over your button nose, monkey toes, long fingers and gray eyes with a light gray center. You fully fit in Newborn size clothes and size 1 diapers! We are going to try on 0-3 months clothes to see if you will fit in them too. You love your kick and play mat and staring out the back door window. Your swing lulls you to sleep when nothing else will.
I still wake up at any sound you make in the middle of the night. I still try to get you to sleep when you are awake so that you will learn to soothe yourself. I still rock you when you are upset. I still change you when you first get wet. You hate to be dirty. You demand to be cleaned as soon as you poop.

2 month Birthday

Did I mention yesterday was Emery's 2 month Birthday? It was! She is still growing slowly but steadily. We've uped her Acid Reflux meds to 3xday per the Dr. And she is starting to get a little personality. When she doesn't like something she screams, when she does she just stays content. She also likes alone time in her chair. Leave her to stare at the blank screen on the tv or the ceiling fan for about 5 mins and she's happy enough.
No more rolling over since that one time. Still smiling about once a day. Still not overly lifing her head. Still loves being naked and baths.
Ahhh my little Doddlebug...She has a pretty cute dimple!

8 weeks and Reflection on a Year gone by

A year ago around this time we were just finding out that I was boderline Infertile and that we would have to do IVF in order to have a child. Things were so sad at that time, we had no idea what we were getting into, the cost, the emotional rollercoaster we were going on and mostly what the outcome could be. I will say even though its been rough and things haven't always gone as planned I wouldn't change it for anything in the world. All the pain, blood and tears got us to this beautiful day today...Happy 8 Week "birth" day Emery Ruth! Even as I am sitting here writting this and listening to her start crying in her crib during her nap, I still can't believe we have this little miracle.

In 8 weeks Emery has gone from being our little Thumbalina to a double chin 8 pounder. Everyday she changes and grows bigger and longer. She "talks" from time to time to us, to dolls, to the ceiling fan (her very best friend). We are still working out the Reflux issue and plan on waiting until her 2 month apt with her doctor next week to talk more about it and see if there is anything else we can do to help her be more comfortable. She tries to lift her head, with lots of crying and complaning, during her tummy time, but it still isn't quite there yet. I tried her Bumbo today and she sat in it for about a min and then fussed to get out. Miss Priss loves to fuss...anything makes her fuss..don't put her in a position she doesn't like, swing but not fast, chair but not for long, tummy time, car seat till she wakes up...everything fuss fuss fuss...she even fusses in her sleep.

My 1st Mother's day was wonderful. The Mr took over night duty on Sat night and that helped alot, then I got a bag of goodie snacks and coke, with a beautiful card from him and Emery and a massage gift cert and money to get my nails, toes and hair done. It was wonderful. Then in the afternoon we got to skype with my Family and see my Granny. It was wonderful.

I am hoping in the next couple of weeks that Emery will lift and hold her head up, start to coo and talk more, possibly do some intentional roll overs (never happened again), I'd love for her to smile more and maybe giggle and also get her poop to not hurt her.

A year ago she was just a possibility, today she is real and we love her more than anything in the world.

7 weeks already

Happy 7 weeks to our precious bundle of, ohhh who am I kidding...Happy 7 weeks to our little Monster. While we are currently enjoying some successes we still have not gotten a "full" night's sleep. I know I know, don't rush her, it will come with time. But man I'd love like 8 hours in a row!
Whoever said being a stay at home Mom is easy, lied to the world. There is nothing easy about being a Mom 24 hours a day. The days just don't end, in fact most of them run together. Somedays she will be up an hour to an hour and a half at a time and be content for most of it, then other days she screams. Sometimes she is up for 20 mins and passes out and then wakes up happy or wakes up sad. There is no consitiansy in anything she does. But that's to be expected. She's a baby after all!
We are still during the day on a 3 hour schedule and mostly 3.5 oz at a time for feedings. At night it varies, sometimes she will go 5-6 hours of sleep then others 4 then still others 3. Though it doesn't fail, in the AM she always ends up on my or Hubby's chest for her final hour of sleep. She loves it, we love it, its great bonding time.
Last Friday after poor baby's reflux wasn't better we went back to the Dr and he put her on Zantac. And here we are a few days later and she seems to be doing better but still not great. Her poop...well heres a funny story...the other day she pooped in the tub and the Mr had to catch it! He was grossed out, I was laughing, she was happy she pooped. We cleaned out the tub and started another bath, which didn't go well and she was unhappy, so we rushed it at the end. I can't wait to tell Miss Priss about her pooping in the tub when she is older.
Still no roll over again...booo! I try to teach her while she is having tummy time, along with trying to lift her head while on her tummy. Just gotta keep trying.
Though we are getting some smiles from time to time, nothing consistant but they do come and they are pretty darn cute. I love seeing her dimple and knowing she is happy.
Emery is now 8lbs and 4oz as of Friday. That's my girl gaining weight and she 20 inches long. She finally looks like most newborns. And is slowly fitting into her newborn clothes. She's got short arms like her Daddy, so we roll sleeves up for her. She practically lives in those pajama sacks when we are at home. BEST INVENTION EVER! I must say to first time Mom's...get plenty of these sacks, they are a life saver in the middle of the night when you are half asleep and have to change a baby.
She is still swaddled, if not she wakes herself up with her flying arms and legs. This crazy baby lifts her legs even in the swaddle in her sleep and wakes herself up. I thought about putting a bag of rice on her legs to see if that would help her sleep. Who knows. I know we'd all like to see a full nap during the day. She needs to be soothed at least 4 times during her naps to get in enough sleep. And yes sleep begates sleep!
Things I think every First time Mom needs:
A swing that goes back to front and side to side
A bouncy chair that vibrates and bounces on its own (I wish we had one of these, my arms hurt)
A play mat or kick n play
A bassinett for next to your bed
As many pacifiers as you can get from the hosptial, she doesn't like any other ones
Books, lots of them, you get tired of reading Winne The Pooh
Good swaddling blankets and crappy small swaddling blankets (to make a baby straight jacket)
A video mointer that's portable.
If you are liquid formula feeding a good bottle warmer with a cold storage on it. Awesome for middle of the night.
A sound machine, with the sound of a fan on it.
Something that has lights and projects colored motion...great for diaper changes
A sense of humor
Night time soap and lotion
A bath sponge instead of a baby tub (along with a incliner for the tub. the hosptial gave us this and its WONDERFUL for bath time)
And I guess I could name more but thats what I came up with for now.

Our daughter is beautiful, and loving and is showing a small personality. We can't wait for her to be able to be around our family and friends once she gets her shots and we get the all clear from her Doctors. This should be around the middle of May. Until then, hands off people...we don't need crazy germs infecting our precious bundle of joy. Just kidding, you can totally come and see her and play with her if you don't mind washing your hands and face, gelling yourself up with antibactrial, wearing a facemask and just touching her feet.

6 weeks and we have a Coo

Our little Princess is 6 weeks old today. She is growing and moving and shaking. She is totally starting to change, with her cute little double chin and her long body. She is almost as long as the WonderMutt Sammy! Though he has plenty of pounds on her! Poor Sammy he needs to lose another pound or two, I really need to take him for a walk.
Emery is starting to sleep longer during the night, for the past two nights its been about 4-4.5 hours at a time. Which really has helped out Mommy. I really needed to catch up on my sleep too. She is also starting to have better awake times, it use to be eat, cry, "play", cry, eat, sleep. Now we are getting about 10-20 mins of play time wihtout crying and today we got a COO out of her! It was so cute. I want to see her smile for real!
She got to do alot this weekend by visiting some friends of ours and seeing our friends Mother, who loves her so much (just like another Grandparent), and we love that, the more people that love her the better.
Easter was beautiful for Emery. She recieved lots of gifts by the mail and got to wear her pretty Lavender dress and bonnett that her Mimi sent to her. She was a very pretty girl in her dress. And yes we got lots of pictures! Many of her gifts were books, and we love books...I try to read to her at least once if not twice a day, I want her to love books as much as her Father and I do.
We haven't had another roll over yet...booo I am so ready for her roll over all the time!
She still loves the outside swing with Mom and Dad, the naked baby time in the bathroom and the bath. She is getting better on the new formula too...it seems to be helping her not hurt so much. So that's good.
Ok off to fix her bottles and take care of Miss Priss!

EarPiece Be GONE!

Yay...Emery's EarWell Earpiece came off today at the Drs office! Now we just are waiting for it to completly harden and we will be done. Right now all she has left is her ear is taped to hold its form and that comes off in a week! It looks really good and we are so happy to have it off!

Silent Reflux, poor baby!

Yesterday Miss Emery was diagonised with Silent Reflux or Slight Reflux. Basically its where she doesn't spit up all the time, instead she has her formula sitting in her tiny esphogus all the time and so she gags on it and swallows it back down. Leaving her in pain from the burning and the indigestion. We actually went into the Dr just to see why she wasn't pooping and it turned into this! So formula swtich we go, to the expensive, non powdered formula. Nothing is too good for this little girl!

Should take up to two weeks before we start seeing a difference, so we will see what happens. And oh get this it can constipate her! The whole reason we went in to see the Dr! And they are all babies can go up to 10 days without a poop...Not my child! That isn't normal and shouldn't be the norm for infants. Figure out something new Formula companies! (yes I know breastmilk is best and too bad I can't give it to her anymore)

So here we go off to get new formula and a bottle warmer (since it has to be refriderated after opening the ready to feed bottle)

5 weeks

First thing I noticed this morning on the 5 week of Emery's birth is that she looks bigger! I can't believe it. I think she may finally be a newborn size. Though she still isn't fitting into her newborn clothes completly. She isn't long enough. However she is starting to fit into her bounce chair and swing. Again still a little small for them but getting close!

The cutest thing that happened today...while putting her down for a nap she was falling asleep and a huge grin came out. She has a beautiful smile. I know it was unintentional, but its so pretty and I can't wait for her to smile at either me or her Daddy.

Still having short times sleeping. She is offically (for the most part) on a 3 hour schedule. As I talked about in my last post. Last night she slept in her bassinet for the whole night. But as soon as the sun came up (even though our bedroom is dark there is still a little light that comes from behind the curtains) she was awake. So we layed in bed together till she fell back asleep and then woke up together to start our day.

Emery has shown a little of her personality...she is a DIVA, if you aren't holding her how she wants to be held she will cry, if you don't feed her fast enough she cries, Miss Priss.

Ahh here shes goes...time to pick her up.

The art of a schedule or rather what does baby want.

We've been told by different people at different times, the best thing for a baby is to have a schedule. Baby sleeps, baby plays, baby eats, baby takes a bath, baby gets changed, etc. Now how that schedule comes to be is told to us in many forms...there is Happiest Baby, SLEEP, Babywise, Ferberize, Parent directed, baby lead, co-sharing, co-sleeping, attachement theory, your fun old wives tales and of course the just let the baby tell you when they want it.
So now we've tried them. We really have. I don't know if maybe we just got a fussy baby or maybe we aren't doing something right or maybe she's just too young for any of it. All I know is I can't wait until she sleeps.
I hear from my parents "you know they don't write the book on babies, we just had to go with what we figured out". But they do write the books, and they have for years. But they don't write the book for YOUR baby. Every baby is different.
So here we go. Emery will be 5 weeks tomorrow. She on average is on a 3 hour schedule.
She wakes up (screams),
eats about 2 oz (sometimes she pushes out the bottle and cries like she's hurting?), gets burped (sometimes she burps sometimes she doesn't?)
goes into milk coma,
gets woken up with a diaper change (screams),
gets to "play" (on her mat looking up at her toys from her back, she basically stares off into space not even looking at the toys while we take her hands and slap the toys with them and turn her head to look at them OR tummy time this can be blood curdling screams while she attempts to lift her head and inchworm her way off the blanket or its nothing and she just lays there like a rock),
then we read to her or dance with her or put her in the bouncy chair or the swing,
Next is being swaddled
then she gets another oz of food (she won't eat 3 oz at once yet)
Then she gets rocked or if she's fallen asleep she gets put down.
Here is a kicker about an hour into her sleep she wakes up (screaming) and we have to soothe her back to sleep or if its really bad she has to be picked up and its time to eat again, bringing the whole schedule off and now onto a new schedule.
When do you eat, sleep, brush your teeth, shower yourself? How do parents get thru this time? When do you get a smile or some sort of interaction?
Look I am not unappreciative of my baby girl. I love her more than I can even describe. But these books do nothing for me. They give me tips and tricks that sometimes work sometimes don't work. People tell me what they did for their child, sometimes works sometimes doesn't work. Schedules...they may work for you, but they aren't yet working for me. And Lord knows in a few months I am sure I will be saying schedule and this worked for us, that didn't work. But again every baby is different.
But if someone could tell me...when am I going to get 5 hours of sleep...or even 8 hours?
Oh and don't knock it...but co-sleeping...I love being next to my baby all night. I don't care if we are making it a habit (by the way you can't spoil or make a habit in a newborn, at least they say until they are 4 months old) even if she sleeps with us till she's a teenager, I don't care...I love her, I love her breathe, I love her grunts, I love her smell and her warmth and I love that if she cries I am right there to reasure her that nothing is going to happen to her that she is safe and taken care of and I can quickly figure out what she needs and get it for her.
Advise..I'll take it, leave it on the blog, email me, text me, facebook me...I don't care. What can we do to get more hours of sleep out of her? What do you use? Did you follow a method? When does it get easier?
Oh and a second miracle...I don't know about that yet...

1 month old...already

I can't believe its been a month since our little miracle was born. Emery is growing up slowly but surely. I can't feel when I hold her (and I hold her alot, she perfers to be held often) that she is gaining weight. My arm is starting to feel tighter! Good work out holding and burping and bouncing a baby.
In the past month we've had good days and bad days, good sleep and bad sleep, good eating and not so great eating...but wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!
What Emery has been up to this month..
She is slowly becoming less crying and more content awake time
Loves the swing in the backyard in the late afternoons
Adores being naked on the carpet in the bathroom for Bath time. She can lay there for an hour and just be happy. Then the bath, she loves the warm water and having both Mommy and Daddy doting on her during her time in the bath.
While tummy time is not her favorite, yesterday on her 1 month birthday, she actually lifted her head straight up and then turned from her tummy to her back..TWICE! I was so proud I had to call her Dad and tell him.
Nap time, well this one is tough..she will start to fall asleep and so we put her down and then she wakes up two or three times, screaming, and we have to soothe her back to sleep to have a complete nap.
Her favorite "toys" range from day to day. Sometimes its her swing, sometimes her bouncy chair, sometimes her pacifier, most times its Mommy.
Emery LOVES to hear her Daddy's voice, when she hears it she usally stops whats she's doing and just stares. I think she is going to be a major Daddy's girl!
We are still on "house arrest" until she goes back to the Dr. on May 17th. The Mr. is going with us because Mommy is a needle phobe and so there is no way I can be alone with her getting her 1st sets of shots. Poor baby girl. I am dreading this day but anticipating it because then we will know if everything is ok and that she is big enough and healthy enough to go out and be touched and loved on by our family and friends! We can't wait to get her out and introduce her to the world!
During the day and wake time, Emery and I dance to songs I grew up with, play on the blanket on the floor for tummy time, read stories, swing outside and sometimes we will take a ride somewhere (but she is covered up if we get out the car so no one can see her).
Next week we have another apt for her ear, hoping that we get the news that we are close to end with her EarWell ear piece. We are so ready to have that off for her!
I think that's it for this post. Long but well worth it to document Emery's life.

4 Week Check In

Let's get to the good stuff...what happened in the last week with our baby girl!
On Wed. she coo'd for the 1st time, now it hasn't happened since and it was only once but whoo hoo...we have progress.
Emery is not always happy about tummy time but she is moving her little legs all around (Mr calls her his little inchworm) and she lifts her head and moves it from side to side. She does hold her head up when you sit her up for a min or so.
And can we say, we have gotten another hour of sleep in. Sat night for the 1st time we went 4 hours between feedings. Now she isn't staying completly asleep, she moves and makes noise and cries, and Mommy picks her up and lays her on my chest and then she sleeps better. But we are getting into a better routine. So here is what we have, during the day its about 2.5-3 hours between feedings. She wakes up, eats all but about an oz to 1/2 oz of her bottle, stays awake (has a little tummy time or a swing in the backyard, or time in her chair looking around) we get a bit of fussiness here and there (and boy can this girl shriek when she isn't happy)and then she gets a little cranky again so I give her the rest of the bottle and she calms down gets sleepy and is put down in her crib. She typically gets 2 hours of sleep at a time during the day, although today its been 1.5 hours. Time is a changing!
Ohhh and bath time, Emery LOVES a nice warm bath, and for some reason the bathroom itself is soothing to her. She will not fuss on the bath rug on her tummy, gets neeked and then floats in the tub for a bit. We have her on a sponge with a incline piece under it. She hates being taken out and will let you know with a scream, till you wrap her up in her towel and get her close to where the heater is.
Emery's ear is forming very well according to the Dr. She got a new ear piece this week and still has about 4-6 weeks left of it getting its shape corrected. I know she is ready to have it off and we are ready for that too. When she realizes its there she tugs at it. And it can't get wet so we have to keep her head to the other side all the time.
Some of my favorite moments have been: when i put my nose to her mouth she gums my nose, its like her little kiss. When she "smiles" (its gas I know she has no idea she is doing it) and we get to see her dimple (a dimple, I thought the Dr messed up and gave me the wrong baby, but come to find out the Mr's Grandmother had dimples and one of his sisters' has dimples so its the right kid). When she catches my eye and actually looks at me. Knowing my smell calms her.
We got out the house this week and the Mr got more plants for the gardens. He is doing such a great job with the outside of our house. We even have a small veggie and herb garden going. I am so proud of him. Even though he wants me to help, knowing I may kill everything just by touching the plants!
I made an awesome crawfish etouffee this weekend. I finally am starting to cook again...now if I could just get the house clean! I will get there I know. Right now just getting a shower is an achievement...and a bath, that's a luxuery.
I can't believe tomorrow we will have had our little miracle out of Momma's tummy for 4 weeks and that later this week she will be a month old. Emery is beautiful and I can't wait to see what her personality will be like, and what color eyes she will have and just to be a part of her life.
I am doing ok, still a little sore from the csection. Its only the interior part that hurts and its not a steady pain but occassional. I am tired, but that's from lack of sleep. I don't have a lot of time for friends and family and talking on the phone. I try my best to keep up with my facebook (so that everyone knows what's going on) and this blog once a week. If I have time to do it on my phone I will update that way also. I know this is all going to get better and easier as she gets older. I can't wait to be release by Emery's Dr so we can go out and see our family and friends and introduce her to the world!

Happy 3 Weeks!

Today Emery is 3 weeks old. We've had our ups and downs. From the lack of sleep, to trying to establish a schedule. Things I have learned so far, never say I want to do this exclusivly...ie I want to breastfeed only, I want the baby to sleep in her crib/bassinet only. Those get thrown out the window when you are sleep deprived and your nerves can't handle another scream.
Our Emery...well her little personality, she doesn't just wake up all cute and grunt for food, she goes from sleeping to screaming in a split second and there is no calming her down until you get a bottle in her mouth. Our night "schedule" is coming together...the closet door stays open with the light on, so that we don't have to turn the big light on when she wakes. She wakes up about every 2.5-3 hours,I grab the pre filled bottles, mix the formula (yes I am no longer breastfeeding), add in a couple of drops of gas drops, mix it up, I pick her up out the bassinet, unswaddle her, stick the changing pad under her bottom, grab a clean diaper, a wipe, change as quick as possible, she screams the whole time..then boom we sit up, prop up the bottle into her mouth and she starts sucking it down. About 1/2 way thru I break the suction and try to burp her, after a few mins I lay her down and swaddle her back up, stick back in the bottle and let her finish it off, only to try and burp her again and then when she passes out (burping her puts her to sleep) I lay her back down in the bassinet and try to fall asleep knowing I will be up in another 2 hours or so to do it again.
Emery has her good days, where she sticks to a 3 hour schedule and she is happy...then there are days like today where no matter what you do she won't sleep, she's grouchy and she screams half the day. I also found today that she likes to take a bath with me in the tub. That way she can float around and be held and be warm the whole time. And speaking of saying I won't do that..I said I would not put my child on her stomach to sleep. All the SIDS horror stories you hear...but I did it and now she's sleeping...of course she is in the bassinet right beside me and i am watching her every move. Just to make sure she is ok...and I wouldn't do it at night while I am sleeping...but hey anything to make sure she sleeps and isn't screaming!

I realized upon reading back on this blog that I don't need to do a baby album because I have this blog to give to my daughter to tell her all about her life!

We have Roll Over

I've been told that this should be the happiest time of our lives. Don't get me wrong we are happy, I am happy. But this is rough. We were working on a good 3 hour schedule for a couple of days. It was becoming habit. Then all of a sudden here we are and every hour baby is up. And not just a little cry here and there but screaming like she's being poisoned. Gas maybe? Doesn't like the formula? Not swaddled tight enough? Too tight? To hot? To cold? Needs a diaper change? Indigestion? Reflux? Believe me I continue to ask myself all of these questions. She is consolable. If you pick her up, pat her back, rock her or let her sleep on you. So since we are just trying to survive that's what we do. Anything to help her not to cry. Her cries pierce my heart. I'll do anything to take away her pain, her sadness.
Due in part to the lack of sleep, I am feeling quite out of sorts. I am sad, stressed, I worry all the time, I watch the video mointer just to make sure she's ok, I can't sleep, I'm nervous, when I do sleep I wake up with a start not knowing how long I've been down and if she's not crying I put my hand on her to feel her breathe. Yep I've lost it.
But the other 50% of me is so happy. I stare at her all the time. Taking in her beauty, her "smiles", just waiting to see her dimple, hoping to catch a glimpse of a personality. I dream about her future and what she will be like. I take in her scent and kiss her all the time, even when she is screaming. I want her to feel all of my love all of the time.
I've been thrown up on, had to clean poop off my hand, peed on, and my neck and nose have been gnawed on. And I love it.
Today, tonight Emery was laying in her crib and her Father watched as she "rolled" over onto her stomach for the first time. Nearly 3 weeks old. She is one special little girl!

2 weeks/Great Vocals

Emery's 2 week apointment went pretty good. She is now 6lbs and 19.25 inches. Growing like a weed, yet still smaller than the average newborn. She had to have her foot pricked and blood test done for the State. Poor baby her newly found volcal cords pierced the entire Dr's office.
We are trying the "babywise" method, though I don't think its working...or just not working fast enough. Plus I don't think I stick to it well enough. I just can't stand to hear her cry. Poor baby, she isn't old enough to cry it out. So I pick her up and give her all of my love. Last night was spent just letting her sleep on my chest all night. Yep I am a sucker. But I love her!
We think she may be going thru a small growth spurt. She is eating about 2 oz every 2-3 hours. Staying awake for about 15 mins, then she passes out and sleeps for about 1.5-2.5 hours. I am so ready for the 5 hour mark...but for now I am just doing what needs to be done...as the Dr says, Survival Mode!
The Darling Mr is sleeping in the guest room so that he can function at work. Last week he woke up in the middle of the night and from lack of sleep was freaking out thinking Emery was at the foot of the bed. While funny now that we look back, wasn't so funny when he could barely function. Sleep deprevation is a form of tourture!
We also had our first taste of major spit up..Emery decided to eat a little too much food and bam it all came out.
The topic of discussion around out house revolves around food, poop and baby.
The best thing about our friends is the amount of support they have offered. We have so many great friends and are so thankful for them all. we've had dinner brought to us nearly every night and its all so good. Plus emails and phone calls just to see how we are, offer advise and offer help. Thank you to all of our friends.

So this blog post seems to be all over the place now that I try to read back over it. The joys of a 2 week old.

Emery's Ear Piece

Last week at the Baby's Doctor visit, the Dr said that her ear needed to be looked at by a professional. And after much research and two Drs confirming we have found that our perfect little miracle has a small problem with her ear. It did not form properly in the womb. It is very minor but needs to have a Plastic device to help her ear reform. She has "lidding with incomplete formation of the superior limb of the triangular fossa". Basically the top of her ear is folded down and slightly pointy.
So after much crying and lots more money we have gotten her an ear molding device and it was put on today by a local cosmetic doctor. I cried, hard...of course as a Mother you think, what did I do, was it those days I missed my vitamins (feeling sick), was it because I kept working, kept moving, ate that hot dog? No Mother can not question what she may have done wrong in order for something to happen to their little baby.
The Dr said it is typically genetic. Humm I wonder who in my family has funny looking ears? In the darling Mr's family? I guess we will never know because it could have been generations ago.
I can't stand the way this big plastic thing looks on my little gourgous baby. I don't want pictures of her with this thing on and I don't want anyone to see her. I feel awful for my baby. Course at the sametime I know it could be so much worse and so much harder and I shouldn't worry about it, no one makes fun of an infant right?
We did this because in the future I do not want her self esteem to ever faulter over something I could fix and I don't want anyone to ever make fun of her for something so minor. So its done, we started it, it will be on for at least 5 weeks possibly 8 weeks.
I love my baby more than anything in the whole world and would do anything to make her life better and easier for her in her future.

10 days old...my cord is gone

So after a rough day of being up every hour on the hour yesterday, today is a better day. Emery is sleeping about two to two and a half hours at a time and eating on both sides now. Go Emie go!

This morning at her 2am feeding I noticed her cord was partially off and hanging and then at her 10:45Am feeding I found it. It feel off. There is still some left in her belly button though? Not sure what to do about that...guess I got some Googling to do.

Time for a Mommy nap!

Emery's 1 week old

This week has flow by and I now understand why Mothers' say take it slow and enjoy it goes by so fast.
So one week has gone by and here is the updates.
Emery has gained back 4 oz and is close to being back to her original weight.
She still doesn't fit in regular newborn clothes..that's probally a good thing, cause now she can wear them longer! We recieved from my Mom a couple of premie outfits so she is good for now. Mostly she wears baby sacks and tee shirts anyway.
Her bilirubin (Jaundice test) came back clear she has beautiful skin and doesn't show any signs of jaundice.
Emie is a good baby. She sleeps pretty well, though we have had a bad night here and there. That is frustrating without sleep and she seems so miserable. Its hard on Mommy and Daddy to see her so upset. We hate to see her cry and be uncomfortable.
We've had a few issues with breast feeding so I pump when she doesn't take and then I have bottles for those times also. She is good with either, but find she sleeps much better without the bottles.
We are those people who take thousands of pictures and send them to our family and friends. Emery is all we can talk about and be all about.
She still hasn't been around many people, of course I am scared, she hasn't had her shots and is sooo tiny at 5lbs 6 oz. I don't want her to get sick.
I check on her all the time when she is sleeping just to make sure she is breathing and comfortable. Yep I am a freak! Or overly cautious Mommy.
Tomorrow will be Em and I's first day at home alone together. I am scared but happy all at the same time.
I guess its time to change the title of my blog...as someone pointed out..I have hatched and have a miracle in my arms.

Baby World Week 1

03/17/2011 Happy St. Patrick's Day world. Emery and I are being released from the hospital. Oh my..now we get to take care of her on our own. No baby nursery, no help no 3 meals and snacks whenever we want them anymore!

We drove home SLOWLY. Watching every person near us. Baby did great, even though at 5lbs 2 oz she barely fits in her car seat! LOL! She looks like Thumbalina. She is so tiny and full term to boot. I am guessing tiny girl for a long time. She fits in none of her newborn clothes. So everything just hangs on her for now.

Got home and introduced Sammy the Wondermutt to the baby. He licked her once and then smelled her alot. He is already pacing all the time when she makes noises and wants to see in her bed to make sure she is ok. I love that dog!

1st night goes ok. Baby doesnt nurse well, she doesn't like to latch so I do alot of pumping. I want her to get as much breast milk as possible. Even if I have to give her formula soon I want her to have what I can offer now, even if its thru a bottle!

Friday and Daddy has to go to work for the 1st time. Poor Mr. he looked so sad leaving her this morning. And he's texted about her already. I am guessing he is going to come home early to be with his baby girl.

Friday has been a rough day for baby. She hasn't slept much and has been doing alot of crying. Mommy hasn't slept much either. I haven't cried yet but I am sure that's coming soon.

My surgery hurts but I deal with the pain well. I try not to take pain meds just because I want to be aleart and ready if Emery needs me.

Gosh I am so tired.

Yes we are those people that take pictures of everything she does, every moves she makes and all her facical expressions.

Birth Day

03/14/2011
5:30AM is too early for anyone to be up. Much less someone who hasn't slept much in weeks and nothing the night before. But there we were on the way to the hospital. We checked in and got settled into the labor room. The things I remember...a little paperwork, lots of questions over and over, mointers, nurses, the Dr visiting, the drug doctor visiting, my Dad and my Uncle (who came as a surprise) visiting, my friend visiting, and being really really scared.

7:30AM off to the OR. Get in and its time for the long dreaded shot in the back for the epidoral and the spinal block. Well the first stick goes in, wholly noooo that burned. Then they are placing the epi and having a hard time, apparently my back is shaped weird and they can't get it placed. So after three tries and lots of pressure and a couple of this may make you jump (um yeah) they get it settled and my body goes limp. Off to have the baby.

8:00 AM incsions start and it smells funny. Dr remarks that everything is going great. Then I hear it, babys out, its a girl, shes so little and cute, she starts crying and doesn't stop, Mr is smiling and taking picutres, he goes off to be with baby and there isn't much talk but baby is crying. Mr brings her over to me and I am crying. I love her already. All I can think is she is so tiny she looks like a doll is she real. She is real, her voice and lungs make that real.

8:16AM welcome to the world Emery Ruth! 18 inches long 5 lbs 9 oz at birth. Her tempature is low so she has to be put under a heating lamp.


8:30ish? They bring me into recovery and bring Emery into nurse. She latches right away. This and a few other times over the next few days then it gets hard to do this.

12ish Grandparents get to meet her for the first time. I am a little out of it and tired. Emery is tired. Daddy is tired. But everyone is happy.

Welcome to the world my little miracle!

week 39 time to have baby

So this week is not only week 39 but also was week to have baby. On Friday people kept telling me I was looking like I was having a boy. Yeah I kinda freaked out. Told the hubby that we needed to think of boys names just in case. Came up with one and thought well at least we have a go to name and if its a boy he's going to have to wear pink and purple! LOL!
I was in a lot of pain having on and off contractions. But they were spradiac and so they didn't mean much.
Sat night the Mr and I had our "final" date night. We went to a cute little steak house in town. Its this old house that is converted to a resturant complete with a piano bar. The food was so good and I cannot wait to go back! Then we went to a late movie. Yes big pregnant woman at a movie at 9:50PM was probally not a good idea. Boy I was tired. We saw that new Matt Damon film, the Adjustment Bureau. It was decent. I expected more action for some reason.
Sunday both sets of parents have arrived.
Monday is Birth Day.

38 weeks...yes that was last week

Sorry sorry. Last week I was 38 weeks. Everything is fine. Baby is fine, Momma is fine, except tired and cranky. I know the Mr. wants his wife back, he is tired of hearing that I am tired and fat and uncomfortable. I am at home and no longer working which is great, the poor girls at work I am sure am happy I am not there to complain! I've caught up on the DVR shows that I had and read an entire book. I've also set up the computer on the sofa so I don't have to move much. I take time and clean up a few mins every couple of hours. Just trying to keep everything up to date and clean. I've been cooking too. So the Mr. is happy. Lots of food in the fridge.
And here ya go...belly at 38 weeks...

We made it...37 weeks FULL TERM!

I am still in awe over making it so far through this pregnancy. We cannot wait to welcome our little girl into our little family. And I cannot wait to have her outside my body! She moves ALOT and enjoys streching out her little legs and making me have to pee very frequently.
Today's Dr. visit I have gained a total of 21.8 lbs over 37 weeks. BP is perfect. Everything looks great and little girl's heartbeat is going strong. Nothing much to do but wait.
Monday 02/28 will be my final day of work. I can't wait. I am so ready for a break and to be able to get the house ready and maybe take a few naps before she comes.
Baby's room is pretty much complete, even though it doesn't matter..she won't be in there for weeks. There isn't much left to do, and not much to say. I am tired, I have heartburn, I'm hungry but so in love with having this little girl.

Ohhh but this weekend Sat night our Mardi Gras ball. I hope to be up to dancing and eating and enjoying all of our friends and the fun to be had.

And for your viewing pleasure...37 weeks belly.

Today is week 36!

Can you believe we made it this far? One more week and this little one will be full term! I cannot believe it! Nor can I wait much longer for her to be here with us! And I think she can't wait either...not much room left in here..



Well I put in my notice at work, for those of you who don't know. My last day is the end of this month. I am sad to leave but happy I can be home with Emery and watch her as she grows! I have so much I want to teach her and show her!
I am off to the Dr today for our 36 week check up. Probally not a good idea to have had that glass of coke this morning! LOL! Somedays I just can't help it. Now I am downing the water to try and make it appear that I am healthier than I ate and drank this morning!

This week we have had Daddy Boot Camp, Baby Care...we learned to diaper, bathe, swaddle and burp the baby. I sure hope we are ready for this. We also have breastfeeding class and Car Seat Saftey class coming up along with Infant CPR! I think we should be pretty good parents after all the classes and books and advise we have gone over in the last 9 months!

So here it is about 26 days left to go!

35th week update

This is the week of the The-Riot Girls reunion! I nearly had all of my Mom's family come in for a visit! Again this little baby girl is spoiled! I can't imagine any family loving a baby more than mine! They flew in from all over the country just to be a part of this weekend! We shopped, and ate, and cooked, and partied and loved all weekend long. Sometimes it was a bit crazy, but hey its family and that's what happens. Everyone can't wait to see Emery and be a part of her life and I can't wait for that either.
By the time I dropped the last one off at the airport I was dog tired and ready for some sleep, when I think nesting set in. I ended up at Walmart buying orginization containers and items and redoing all the cabinets and closet. Now I can't stop myself and need to do this in the baby's room. Which would be this weekend while I am working on all the other things we have to do. I really need a weekend off where we have nothing planned!
I don't have a pic of 35th week yet. I am sure one of the ladies of the weekend will send one soon.
Ohhh and I also was given a shower at my office too. Emery has everything a baby could possible need and more right now. I think she needs a second bedroom for all of her stuff!

34 weeks update

I know I haven't updated in a while, things are CRAZY right now.
But here it goes.
At 34 weeks not only was it my birthday, Superbowl weekend but also the weekend before superbowl was our Big D baby shower. We are so blessed to have truly amazing friends who love us like family. I cannot thank our friends for throwing such an amazing Mardi Gras baby shower for us. We were showered with things for Emery and she is going to be one spoiled little angel!
Also this week we had snow and ice storms, so I had lots of time off of work, but I was busy getting the house organized and cleaned since we were having a Superbowl party at our house. My Dad got to fly in for a short visit and it was great having him with us. Dad is such a super awesome guy, he totally hangs and is one of the most important people in my life. I am so happy for the realationship we have and know that he is going to be an amazing Grandfather!
And here it is a pic of us at 34 weeks...


As for the snow and ice...I've had enough. Give me the sun and heat! Yes even being pregnant I love the heat!