Roly Poly Emmy!

Emmy rolled over this evening, from her tummy to her back! Shawn was with her, and said she did it like she'd been rolling over for weeks. No big deal. I'll see if I can get video of this amazing feat of strength.

Funny Girl

This is a short video of Emmeline's MANY stories. She will talk to anyone who will listen - including the walls, mirrors, pictures of butterflies and her butterfly mobile. We've also been experimenting with cause and effect this week - much to my amusement. She will get so excited that she'll accidentally kick one of the butterflies on the mobile, sending it spinning. Then her eyebrows will go up, and she'll watch it intently, trying to figure out what happened. I've also given her her little silver rattle, and she turns her head trying to figure out where the sound is coming from. I think it's all pretty funny. Coming soon: rolling over? I think it's way too early, but she sure is trying hard!

Busy All The Time

I feel like every time I post here, I talk about how busy we are. But, we really do a lot! Last weekend, we went for a hike at Sky Meadow State Park. Emmeline slept through it, but seemed to like the baby bjorn carrier we busted out for the occasion. After that, we went to Naked Mountain winery, where she continued sleeping. Sunday, Emmeline and I went to the National Zoo with Erin, Ryan, Grace, Connie, Jelani, and Aliana. It was a beautiful day, and somehow, Emmeline stayed awake for the whole visit! (She fit in a few catnaps as we strolled.) She was alert and loved the company if nothing else.

She had another pediatrician appointment last week - Over 11 pounds! She also got some vaccinations, but on the whole, did better than the last round.

We're currently working on independent napping. While Emmeline is a pretty good sleeper, and has no problem napping in her bed, the putting herself to sleep portion of the nap is a little rocky. Gee, I wonder where she got that trait? Shawn and I are working hard on this, although I'm not sure I have the skill set to pass on, so we'll see how it goes. Any tips are welcome. We want Emmeline's transition to school next month to go as smoothly as possible. To that end, maybe we can teach Miss Susan all the silly songs Shawn makes up for Em, such as the amazing hit "Love My Baby." The words aren't silly so much as the voice that is used.

6 Weeks!

The time has flown by, and Emmy is already 6 weeks old! She has been so many places, and met so many people, I can't believe she's only 6 weeks. Last weekend, she met her first dogs, and could really have cared less. (It helped that Humphrey and Roxie were very nice, and that I was feeding her at the time) She has gone out to several meals, attended church, checked out Eastern Market, and had her first bottle, and subsequently, her first babysitter. She was incredibly well behaved for all of these events. Of course, in keeping with the way things have gone, strangers LOVE to tell me that she is entirely too young to be out of the house. Possibly too young to even be out of the womb in this big scary, germy world. Sorry strangers, but it is NOT too cold to have a little one outside - if she is appropriately dressed! Infants in Alaska and Sweden go outside every day. They live to tell the tale.

After all my worry about her taking a bottle, she proved me wrong and acted like it was something she does every day. Shawn really enjoyed getting to feed her, and now we know she has no food hang ups. This also allowed to me to relax about leaving her with my mom last night for Shawn's and my first date! We went to an amazing Belgian restaurant and had a really good time. The whole night was kind of a grandma gift - Grandma Patsy had gotten us a gift certificate, and Grammy did the babysitting. Thanks to both grandmas!

We finally got a chair for Emmeline, to help with the alleged reflux. She LOVES it, and will sit in and talk to me while I fold laundry or...any number of other activities. (This glorious chair allows me to shower freely, while she sits on the bathroom floor, chattering away.) Em has also started to really love working on her movement mat, watching the butterfly mobile so generously loaned to us by Miss Susan, Em's future teacher. She kicks her legs, and waves her arms, and tells all kinds of tales to the butterflies.

Invest in a Wet Nurse, Seriously.

The good Lord has blessed me with a beautiful little girl who loves to sleep. She goes to bed sometime around 10 pm, and generally sleeps for 4-5 hours. When she wakes up, all she wants to do is eat, and go back to sleep. Which she does without protest. In case of spit up or the hiccups, the Lord in his wisdom has also blessed me with a husband who has volunteered to be back up - if she has trouble falling back asleep, or needs a little holding, he takes over after the eating part of our night is finished. I realize how incredibly lucky I am to have these two elements contributing to what should be incredible sleep with a newborn. What I seem to be lacking is either a) the money to have hired a wet nurse to wake up with my darling girl in the night or b) the ability to put MYSELF back to sleep when she's so clearly taken care of. Every night, she falls asleep within minutes of waking up (seriously, I'm talking within 15 minutes), and I lay awake. Tonight, I've almost managed to make it to her next feeding. I've tried counting things, I've tried getting out of bed, I've changed positions, Shawn has rubbed my back. The only thing I haven't tried, and I'm getting really close, is my own pacifier.

The Reason for Having Kids

The moment parents look forward to, that tells them this has all been worth it, has happened. Well, the first one. I think hearing Mommy for the first time will be one of those moments too. Em smiled at me, not at gas today. How do I know this is the case? I tested it. I left, telling her I'd be right back. 4 times in the course of the day, when I came back after a minute and said hi, and smiled at her, she smiled back! Whoooo! I guess the jury's still out on whether or not she loves Daddy, but I've been confirmed. I'll also see if I can get a short video of her newest trick. She either loves or is terrified of a horsey/tractor noise. You know, when you blow air out through your lips? Grandma Patsy found out that she reacts quite strongly to that noise. It's incredibly cute.

Baptism

Emmeline was baptized today, and was SO well behaved! She slept for most of the service, and woke up only when Pastor Dave sprinkled the water on her. She had a great time at the party we had afterward at our house.

On Thursday, Em got to meet Grandma Patsy! She was a little cranky at first, since she was ready to nap, but has warmed up to Grandma. They have been having a great visit all weekend. At 4 weeks, Emmeline is holding her head up beautifully and loves to watch people. She is talking and talking, especially to the picture of the butterfly above her changing table. She tells him all her woes, and the good stories too.