Updates...

It's been a while, but I finally updated my About Me & 100 Things pages...I need to add some pictures back to my About Me page, but at least the text is there.

Wee...Push me higher daddy

Yesterday Michael & I took Emma in her wagon to the park with our neighbors...their son is exactly one year older than Emma. They both had such a great time!! Emma is fearless right now and LOVED swinging!!! We had a great time playing out there and I could tell by Michael watching our neighbors that he can't wait until he's able to chase Emma around like they chase their son!! It won't be long now, though - she's going to let go of the table any day now and walk on her own!! Then he'll really HAVE to chase her around! Ha ha!!!

The walk to the park was nice, too! There was just enough of a breeze that it wasn't too hot at all. We've been trying to walk in the evenings as much as we can, but when it's muggy and nasty outside is the last place you want to be! Maybe we'll go again tonight - it rained earlier, but doesn't look like it is going to again. It could change any minute, though. This is Houston after all!!!

Emma's Laughter

I am so thankful we have a happy baby...most of the time!! Her laughter is infectious!!!!! 

Just press play:

[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5817999403822897807]

Update on the new family...

Jamie went home from the hospital yesterday, but Katelynn is still in the NICU. She is doing fine, just being cautious! Jamie and Steven are staying down by the hospital to be near their new daughter (don't blame them). When Michael gets home from work we're going to go visit them. We're taking Emma, though she'll have to stay in the waiting room with someone. She'll get to meet her new cousin soon enough, but right now she's just too little! I can't wait to see Katelynn. She is opening her eyes a lot now I hear and eating very well!!

My baby girl had her 9 month check up today. It's a week or so until she's really 9 months old, but the appointment just fell this way. She is tall for her age...in the 90th percentile! Her weight is in the 60th percentile, though - so maybe that means she's going to be tall and thin. On my side she could get that from my mother and my papa maybe...Michael's brother is tall and thin, too - so she's really got the genes on both sides!! We know she didn't get it from me or Michael - we're the shortest of all of our siblings! Ha! Ha!

Emma didn't have to get any shots today, but she did have to have her finger pricked to test for anemia. The nurse put a band-aid on it, but b/c Emma was chewing on it and I didn't want her eating the cotton we had to take it off...that wasn't good either. Her finger just kept on bleeding, so I had to put another couple bandages on it and just watch to make sure she didn't pull it off. When we got home I took them off and it seemed to be fine...then a little later I looked at her activity table and it had blood all over it. Poor baby's finger was STILL bleeding. I couldn't believe it. I cleaned it all up and checked her finger again - it had finally quit, but it had got on her little dress, too. I still can't believe her little finger bled so much. She did okay when they stuck her, though. She only cried a little bit. The worst part of her check ups is when they want to look in her ears. She hates being held down and starts screaming. I think next time I'll ask if they can look while I hold her up on my shoulder.

Well, I need to finish cleaning up around here before Michael gets home so we can get on the road quickly to go see Steven, Jamie, and Katelynn!

Congratulations Jamie & Steven

I won't give the details - I'll let the new mommy do that when she feels up to it, but I do want to say Congratulations to the new parents and welcome to Emma's new baby cousin Katelynn!!! She is so tiny and precious! I can't wait for Emma to meet her! The hospital where Jamie had Katelynn doesn't allow children under 12 except for siblings to visit, so Emma had to skip the trip last night, but she'll see her soon enough when Jamie & Steven bring her home!

Katelynn is on her way...

Emma's little cousin is about to be born!!! Jamie's water broke this morning around 8:45 while she was at work and now they are in the hospital waiting for little Katelynn to be born!! Michael and I are going down there as soon as we get home from work. I just talked to my mother-in-law and she said Jamie was only dilated to 4cm so it may be a while yet. Katelynn is an anxious little girl just like Emma was! Emma was three weeks early and Katelynn is 5 weeks early!

I don't know if she'll be here today or tomorrow, but I'll keep ya up to date!

So sleepy...

I only got about 3 hours of sleep both Friday & Saturday night. Emma has another tooth that came through Saturday night, but it gave her a fit!!! The first two teeth she got were non-events. We didn't even really know they were there until they were completely through her gums b/c she never ran fever or cried really or anything. This one is on top & maybe that makes a difference. Poor sweetie had fever and was up most of the night. After it finally came through she seems like my happy baby girl again. I was giving her Motrin both for the fever and the pain and it really did help. Her pediatrician had told me before not to use orajel b/c there were bad side effects associated with it, but I am going to ask her for another alternative tomorrow. We have an appointment tomorrow as a follow up from when she went with her earache so I'll get to ask her about it then.

Otherwise, we had a great time this weekend. Saturday we celebrated my niece's college graduation and new job. Sunday after church the family all got together again to celebrate Grannie's 93rd birthday. After lunch all the little ones got stripped down and were given the water hose to play with! They had a blast!! Even though Emma is the only one not walking yet she still kept up with them all & had so much fun!! The water was a great break from the heat. I have pictures, but haven't uploaded them yet...I'll definitely post them when they are up!!

Welcome to the Bachelor Pad...

Well, Michael is going to be a bachelor this weekend!! Emma & I are heading up to East Texas this evening for the weekend with my parents. We're celebrating my niece's college graduation & my Grannie's 93rd b'day!!!! Michael already had something planned on Saturday so he couldn't go with us, but I didn't want to miss either one, so we're off!! Michael hasn't stayed at home alone much - actually, I can only think of one time he stayed home without me before! Saturday he'll be busy all day, though so that will go fast for him and Sunday there are people coming to pick up some furniture we're donating & then he'll come to my parents' to pick me up - so I think it will probably go pretty fast for him! He'll still have a chance to miss me, though! ;)

12lbs!

Well, it's been four weeks now since I started counting calories and I've lost 12 pounds so far!!! Nina Kaye told me about SparkPeople and I've been using it to track all my information. It has great tools on it and lots of good information! I also have a friend at work counting with me and weighing in every week so that has helped a lot! I still have a long way to go, but losing 12 pounds is great motivation!!

Otherwise, life is still crazy!! School starts back the 23rd, so I am enjoying each day I have left before I REALLY get busy - like I'm not already, right?!? At least I'll only be in class one night a week since I'm doing another independent study this semester, so that means less nights away from Michael and Emma. One more semester! One more semester! Emma is moving faster and faster everyday - last week before we knew it she was on the 3rd step of our stairs!!!! Gotta get a baby gate & quick! She is also pulling up on everything - she is going to be walking soon I bet!! Michael is gearing up for football season...ready for Fantasy Football actually! Ha ha! I think they have two football drafts this month!

 Well, gotta keep this one short - I have a meeting in about 12 minutes!!