First Tooth, Part 2

I was finally able to get a picture of Emerson's first tooth. If you enlarge the picture, you can see it (for those of you who don't know how, just double click on the picture).

Look at me...

I'm standing!

On Sunday afternoon, we tried to put Emerson down for two different naps. However, she refused to sleep. At both naps, she started sobbing so we went in to check on her, and what did we find....she was standing in the crib. I had to take down her mobile and I think it's time to lower her mattress again!

Emerson has been trying to pull up on different things around the house, i.e. bar stools (see pic below) and her bouncy seat. She pulled up on her bouncy seat on Saturday and fell into the fireplace and received her first bruise on her ear. Luckily, she's a trooper and her bruise doesn't hurt. I'm sure it's just the first of many to come.

A Girl on the Go, Part 2

Here's a video of Emerson "crawling" from the living room to dining room. She started out after Cosmo, but then noticed one of Cosmo's toy's laying nearby.

Jump!

I finally figured out the correct settings on my camera to shoot a video that can be uploaded in my blog. I have been shooting video but I can only view them on my computer. Here's a video I took today of Emerson jumping in her Jump & Go. Can you tell how much she likes it? Now that I know how to record video in the proper format, I will take one of her crawling and post it soon.

A Girl on the Go

Once upon a time (like up until last week), I could put Emerson in her bouncey seat while I showered, cleaned or did whatever needed to be done. I think the bouncey seat's time has finally expired. Last week, Emerson decided she needed to try to crawl out of it. She was even trying to unbuckle herself...now, how smart is my kid!?!



The diaper bag is also one of her daily things to get into, pull everything out of the pockets and crawl over top of it. Another one is the fireplace but I'm usually too busy getting her out of it to take pictures.



Another thing that fascinates her is the concrete patio. I have been opening our patio door on nice days and she always tries to crawl outside.

Everyone keeps telling me that babies become even more active when they start walking, and I'm not quite sure how I am going to keep up with her at that time.

A Favorite Picture

I had this picture in my sidebar and recently removed it. I had a lot of comments about it being a favorite picture so I am posting it in my blog.

If you ever need a good laugh, I have many pictures like this...Emerson loves to be a nut!

First Tooth

After what seems like months of teething, Emerson is finally getting a tooth. She was a little cranky for a couple of days and I knew that something wasn't right with her. On Monday morning I felt her gums and discovered a sharp little tooth coming through. Of course, it's still too small for pictures, but stay tuned for some pictures of her new pearly whites.

She's also becoming extremely active. Now that she is crawling everywhere she is getting into everything (and I do mean everything). She sure keeps me busy, but at least when she's tired she crashes hard (see below).

Dadadadadadadada...

On Sunday, Emerson was chatting away and Jim and I heard her say "dada" and "mama". I was glad Jim was there because he wouldn't have believed me otherwise. Ever since that day, Emerson has loved saying "dada". We were at Gymboree earlier today, and there was a little boy saying "dada," and Emerson chimed in and started screaming out "dada" too. I think she was trying to tell the little boy her daddy is better than his daddy. Of course, she hasn't mentioned "mama" again, but I know it's just a matter of time before she says it and knows what it means!

God Bless Emerson

Emerson was finally baptized after mass on Saturday evening. It seems like we have been preparing for her baptism for months. We started talking about it when I was pregnant, and then it took months for us to find a church, and then we had a wait period, and then we had to wait until after Lent. It may have taken months, but Emerson was finally blessed.

It was definitely a long day for our girl. She had to sit through an hour mass before her baptism. She is typically quiet during church but yesterday she decided that it was time to chat and squeal. I think she was showing off for her grandparents. Luckily, she calmed down a little before her baptism. She actually enjoyed having water poured on her head....she probably thought she was going to be swimming in the pool of water. She also made everyone laugh when the priest touched her mouth and she tried to suck on his finger!

The whole thing was a little crazy because there were four children being baptized at the same time.

We had dinner at our house afterwards, and actually crammed about 13 people in our small place. It was a good day, but I'm glad it's over!

7 Months Old

Emerson is seven months old today. For the most part she is a happy baby, and she is enjoying her new found mobility. I think her goal is to see how many times I have to carry her back to her play area because she ends up somewhere she isn't supposed to be. She isn't crawling on her knees yet, but she sure knows the army crawl and it is getting her all over the place. Just today she has managed to attack one of daddy's business magazines, pull Cosmo's tail, play with daddy's shoes and play with Cosmo's toys. It seems like each day she discovers something new.

Baby Loves Celebrity Gossip

Emerson loves celebrity gossip (just like mommy and grandma). For some time now, AJ and I have traded magazines which saves us money and helps the environment. Well, I gathered a huge stack for her and put them by my front door, and Emerson found them. She skipped right over Weight Watchers and Self and went straight for Us. I finally had to move the magazines after she ate the corner off the Us magazine. I guess that grandma will have to save all of her copies of Us so Em and I can read some celebrity gossip before bedtime!

Our Other New Ride

We recently bought a jogging stroller, and Emerson and I (and Cosmo) have been out trying it out this week. It's amazing how much smoother it drives/rides than a regular stroller. We have been taking it out a couple of times a day and Emerson is completely enjoying it. She kicks back and gets relaxed. We have taken a couple of really long walks and she has slept for an 1-1/2 to 2 hours both times. That is amazing considering she usually has to be forced to nap.

Speaking of sleeping, with the exception of last night, Emerson has been sleeping really well at night. I think that she is so busy during the day that she is worn out at bed time. She even fell asleep while playing yesterday (see below picture), and that has never happened! I am enjoying this increased amount of sleep since it allows me to get my much needed sleep. Let's hope it continues.

New Ride

Check out Emerson's new ride! I actually bought this toy for her a little early because she has been trying to pull up on things. She doesn't like pulling up on this toy yet but she sure does like riding it. I can't believe that she can actually sit on it. She and daddy drove all the way to the bathroom while I was getting ready for church to see me this morning.

Cute jammies

Emerson is so darn cute in her jammies. She's such a shorty that her feet finally fit in her 3-6 month footed jammies.

More Aqua Baby

Jim went to swim class with us last night to take photos of Emerson. The pictures didn't turn out great because the pool room is like being in a sauna (seriously, it has to be at least 100 degrees in there). Our pictures may be a little hazy, but that's all right because Jim got to see Emerson in action. Two weeks ago she didn't like swimming, but she showed off for daddy last night. She was splashing, swimming and going underwater like an Olympian. We have about 5 classes left, and I think we will take the summer off since we will be able to swim outside.

Growing like a Weed

Emerson finally had her 6 month doctor visit yesterday. The doctor is quite impressed with Emerson's weight gain. Em is up to 15 lbs 5 oz and is 25 inches long...and is in the 25th percentile in weight and height...at least she is proportionate! I am sure that Emerson will continue to gain weight because it seems like all she is going to do is eat. I am supposed to feed her solids three to four times a day, continue with large amounts of formula and give her juice as desired. She can also have soft table food now, if we wish to give it to her. I'm trying to figure out a feeding schedule because I'm not sure when she is going to fit all this eating into her busy play schedule.

Em's also becoming very active. I am starting to baby proof because she is getting all around the living room by rolling or pulling herself around. She also pulls herself up on her knees so I won't be surprised if she is crawling soon. Let's just say that she is one curious baby and likes to explore!

Happy Easter

Emerson had a good first Easter. She behaved in church. She enjoyed her Easter basket. And she didn't poop herself and try to roll around in it until after church!

Emerson's BFF

Emerson and I met Laurie and Sloan for lunch this week, and Emerson fell in love with Sloan. Sloan is her new BFF. She can't wait for Sloan to go swimming with her this summer.

Aqua Baby

Emerson and I started our swim class last week. She wasn't really sure what to think of it. She didn't love it but she didn't hate it. And there was no crying. She liked play time with the small colorful balls but, of course, they ended up in her mouth. The best moment was when she went underwater and when she came up her long eyelashes were laying on her face (I doubt that Emerson would pick that as her best moment though)!

We didn't get any pictures of her swimming because I'm always unorganized the first time we try something new. Now that I know what's going on we are taking daddy to swim class with us this week so that he can take pictures. I did take the above picture of Em in our swimsuit try on session. I wish I looked that darn cute in a swimsuit!

6 Months Old

Emerson is 6 months old today! It's hard to believe that she's 6 months old, and I'm continually amazed at her developments month after month, sometimes even week to week. She's met so many milestones during the last month and has sharpened the skills previously learned. She actually likes to roll over and play on her tummy now (and I thought it would never happen), and pulls herself around on her play mat. She can also sit up by herself and play with her toys. She belts out belly laughs when daddy plays peek-a-boo with her, and just last weekend I taught her how to give kisses (and it's the cutest thing ever). The only thing we have trouble with is getting her to sleep through the night. Sleep is the last time on her mind (and the first on mine).

Today is also Emerson's first day without breast milk. I told myself that I would breastfeed until she was at least six months old and maybe longer if I wasn't working. Well, I'm still not working yet, but I'm ready for the convenience of formula feeding. And I'm ready for small boobies again so I don't feel like a porn star!

We are starting our swim class this week, so stay tuned for pictures!