Chunky monkey...

Emily saw the doctor the other day and is now a whopping 11 lbs 13 oz! She measured in at 23 and ¼ inches tall. She’s working on her third chin now and her little belly is spilling over her diaper! (Don’t tell her I said so…) Everything is good with that little muffin head. Unfortunately though the doctor’s visit was good and bad. It was good to know that she’s growing and healthy but it was really hard because she had to get her first round of shots.

I was honestly considering not getting the vaccines at all because of all the controversy surrounding the mercury content and other preservatives in the vaccines. And of course there’s the fact that some research indicates there may be a link between the vaccines and autism. Unfortunately most daycare facilities require the vaccines and if anything ever happened and our nanny couldn’t watch her anymore, we’d be in a pretty tough spot if she didn’t have them. Then of course there’s the fact that they’re sticking a pretty big needle into each of my daughter’s legs. I’ve never heard such screams in my life and it actually made me burst into tears myself. It took nearly 10 minutes for me to compose myself so that I could leave the doctor’s office. It’s not fair that we have to sit by and watch as our babies get poked and prodded!! Poor little Emily. And poor Dave too, he doesn’t know it yet but he’s taking her for the next round of shots.

On a much lighter and happier note, Emily got her first bike!! Of course she can’t ride it yet, but it’s really THE cutest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. I posted a picture below. It's made for 1-3 year olds and we're so excited about it!! This gift is really special because it helps us to imagine a year or so into the future when she will be riding her pink and purple bike up and down the hallways and all around the house with the dogs chasing behind her. How fun is that??!!

Finally!!

Great! someone finally told me that I look like I was never pregnant. While I know that this is absolutely the furthest thing from any sort of truth, it sure made my day!

Wanted: Free housekeeper and chef

Emily is still getting cuter every day and she is so responsive now. Her smiles are just gorgeous and they're coming more frequently now. It's hard being away from her during the day but I also feel great pride knowing that I can be a successful and functioning mommy. I will admit though that I do have some moments where I miss her so much that my heart hurts.

Amazingly enough I've nearly forgotten the misery of pregnancy and Dave and I are already talking about timing for baby #2. We were even looking at minivans yesterday! (OMG!) One of my co-workers is pregnant and we had a baby shower for her today. Believe it or not I actually feel jealous of the experience she has ahead of her. I had such a beautiful birth experience and the moment I met Emily was so incredibly amazing. It was by far the greatest moment of my life and I really can't wait to do it again! I guess that reminds me of another question... Am I crazy for already thinking about another baby?

Enjoy the pics!










PS: She got her daddy's dimples. Aren't they just the most adorable things you've ever seen?

Say it ain't so...

Tomorrow will begin a new chapter since I am returning to work after spending 8 weeks with Emily. I can't believe how quickly this time has passed. While I'm definitely feeling physically ready to return to work, I'm not sure that my heart is ready. I'm just starting to figure out Emily's routine and now I feel as though she's being taken away from me! Our good friend Barb will be coming to watch her and Dave is still working from home, so I have no doubts that she'll be well cared for. The care that she'll be getting is not what worries me. Honestly what really worries me is when I think about the things that I will miss while I'm away from Emily. What if her only smiles happen during the day while I'm gone? Will she roll over or crawl while I'm away? And it's not just a question of what I'll miss tomorrow, but what will I miss next week? Next month? Next year??

I can't help but wonder how Emily will feel about all this. Will she be sad that I'm gone? Will she smile when she sees me or will she be mad at me for having left her all day? Will she forget about me during the day?

All I really know for sure is that when I go to work tomorrow I'll be leaving my heart at home.

7 weeks!!

Another week has passed and things just keep getting better around here. Emily is more alert than ever and her smiles just keep on coming. She is still eating like a champ and sometimes she even sleeps for 5 hours at a time! We've been introducing different toys to see if she'll grab at them. She shows lots of interest and easily tracks objects with her eyes but doesn't yet realize that she can use her hands for grabbing and picking up things. She's been kicking her legs like crazy and during tummy time she'll scoot herself forward. It's so cute! The only problem during floor time is that the puppies want to play with her. Caesar will usually drop a toy right next to her while Rosie just sits by and watches.

Here are some pictures from this past week!

Really daddy, are you serious?


The dogs stand by waiting for play time with Emily


So fun!


I like this picture just because it shows off her double chin. She can thank mommy for that! :)


Just some random pictures...

6 week check -up

Emily had her 6 week check up today with the midwife and all is well! She now weighs a whopping 10 lbs 12 oz!! That's more than 2 lbs over her birth weight! She has also grown an inch and a half and is now 22 inches tall.

I think it's amazing that since the date of conception my body has given Emily everything she needs to be happy and healthy (ok, maybe not always happy). It's truly a gift from mother nature!

Wait, was that a giggle...?

YAY!! Dave and I are positive that Emily now adds a little giggle to her smiles. Her baby sounds are so adorable! She'll be chatting it up in no time!

We've got a 6 week check up today with Andrea, our midwife. Will try to post later with updated weight and maybe some new pics!! Of course she looks cuter than ever today in her new (3 month size!) baby suit! :)

6 weeks!!

Wow!! We can barely believe it but Emily has reached her 6 week birthday! Time sure flies when you're having fun! We've had a really great week, and it seems that we've identified the cause of poor little Emily's gassy tummy. Turns out that some babies have a hard time processing dairy products! I have now cut all cheese, yogurt and milk out of my diet and Emily's crying spells have been greatly reduced! We also decided to stop using the cloth diapers since she woke up every 20-30 minutes with a messy diaper. The change in diapers and the elimination of dairy products now allow Emily to sleep longer and harder. YAY!! A happy baby means a happy home!

Emily now gives us lots of smiles and seems to be responding and reacting to us more and more every day. Yesterday I noticed that she was looking at her hands and following them with her eyes. She's becoming more aware and alert every day, and it's so fun to watch her as she explores her new world. I especially love seeing Dave and Emily smiling at each other. Emily just lights up at the sound of her daddy's voice and he lights up when he sees her smiles. There's nothing like seeing your two favorite people so happy together!!

As you can see by the pictures below Emily is getting cuter every single day. I know, it's hard to believe, but obviously true!!

Our first 6 weeks with Emily were challenging but we sure love that little fuzzy head!! Honestly, my heart is so filled with love for this girl that it sometimes feels like it should explode. With a husband like Dave and a daughter like Emily, could a girl be any luckier than I am?








and of course we have to post a couple of goofy ones...




Can you tell that Emily was really enjoying our little photo shoot? :)