Monday Musings

I don't understand how people can think it does not matter what music they listen to with their small children in the car. Friday afternoon, as we were driving home from a doctor's appointment, we were listening to a LeCrae CD and the song "Don't Waste Your Life" came on. For those of you not familiar with it, it talks about how a life not lived for Christ is wasted. Emma sat quietly in the backseat (I actually thought she was asleep) listening to the words and said, "Mama, if we waste our life that make Jesus sad." If she can understand so deep a concept at 2 years old, what makes people think their kids don't understand songs about sex, drinking, etc at 5 or 6? I've seen kids about Emma's age singing songs about sex, songs with cussing in them, songs talking about violence and rape. I just don't get it. I'd much rather Emma sing songs like these :)

New Teeth, New Steps, and a New Era in Life

Emma has had her front bottom two teeth for about 4 months now and is getting the top two front teeth now. (They're not visible in pictures yet but I'll post some when they are.) She has been walking holding on the things about that long, and started taking one or two steps about 6 weeks ago, but is actually WALKING now. I can't believe my little girl is growing up so fast! She'll be 1 year old very soon, and I can't decide if I'm excited for a new phase in her life and development or disappointed by the end of this era.

A cost-benefit analysis of crawling

I was so excited when Emma started crawling. It is wonderful to see your child grow, learn, and develop before your very eyes, to get to see the wonder, fascination, and pride when they have mastered something new, but now I've decided I don't know what to think about crawling. Of course, Emma's gained a little (but not too much) independence and will happily play with her toys as long as Mama doesn't disappear (which includes potty breaks!). And she loves, loves, LOVES to chase after the cats. And I don't have to carry/hold her all the time. Sometimes she prefers to "chase" me around the house. But then there's the dog food. And the cat food. And although, thankfully, she has never tried to eat it, the cat litter that inevitably gets on the hallway floor and can never be kept entirely swept up for longer than it takes for a cat to walk to the hall closet where we've "hidden" the litter box. But then I see the simple joy when she can crawl across the room to get a ball that rolled or a toy that threw. To see her tiny sense of accomplishment in such a mundane task that would irritate or exasperate most of us. It kind of gives you a new sense of wonder for the world and allows you to see things through the innocence of a child again, just for a moment.

Here kitty, kitty!

Well Emma's first word was "Jaya" (sometimes "Yay-ya") and now I must admit she still wouldn't say Mama to save her life but says "kitty cat" all the time. Sigh. I guess I'm raisng an animal lover :)

To walk or not to walk?

Emma just tried to take a step (without holding on to anything- She's been "cruising" for a while now)! She fell down as soon as her foot left the floor but she tried!

I'm baaaaaccckkk...

Ok. I've been a total slacker. I really enjoy blogging, but it seems life has just gotten in the way the last couple of months. I'm determined to keep it up from now on. (We'll see) In stead of going on and on, I'll be brief and put up a few months' pictures in review a little later.
Well, we've all been ok, aside from Jason's gout and some stupid Oklahoma (or Snowklahoma as it has been renamed) weather. Thanksgiving was great, Christmas was wonderful too although stretched out due to a blizzard. Emma will be 7 months old tomorrow and is just so much fun! She's babbling almost constantly now, has been sitting up on her own for almost 3 months now and has pulled herself up on furniture for a couple of weeks now. She has tried many different fruits and vegetables and a couple of different meats. She loves trying to grab my food off my plate, but doesn't have any teeth yet so she doesn't get much.
I've been watching Jason's cousin's two kids- Rebecca who is nearly 4 and Cullen, 3 1/2 who have been having a blast playing with Emma everyday!
Pictures to come soon and I promise to be better about updating so come back soon!

Tummy Time

Emma actually crawled a "step" a couple of times this morning! I tried to catch her on video, but the camera was dead :( She also rolled over all the way from her tummy to her back. (She had been just rolling onto her side from her tummy or back.) I don't think she knows how she did it yet, but she is just growing up so fast! I tried to tell her she's not even 3 months old yet. She's not supposed to crawl yet!

Emma can sit up!

We got this little chair from either Joe Paul & Amanda or Michael & Jennifer- not sure which, and Emma is now able to sit up in it! I was so excited I took tons of pictures, but I'll limit myself to the 5 they let you put on here :)

Long time, no post

Our computer(s) have been on the fritz for a long time, (2 of them bit the dust, and we've been having problems with this one for like a month) so I am going to post while it is working. Emma struggled with weight gain for the first 7 weeks of life. She only gained, on average, half an ounce a day instead of a full ounce like the doctors wanted. I was disappointed to have to begin supplementing with formula but wanted to do what was best for Emma. The doctor was on the verge of diagnosing her with failure to thrive if she did not start gaining weight more quickly. That was on a Friday. We started supplementing her- every other time formula or pumped breastmilk instead of breastfeeding- that day and she gained 7.5 ounces by Monday! Her next appointment was the following Tuesday (yesterday) and she gained 22.5 ounces in 8 days! So she is averaging over 2 ounces a day now and it shouldn't take her long to catch up. The doctor thinks that she was having trouble sucking hard enough to get enough milk from me, and that when the endorphins kicked in she just went to sleep instead of finishing eating. When we started supplementing, I also began having problems with my supply, so I am now on Reglan to help boost my breastmilk, so she continues to get as much of that as possible.

Yesterday Emma got her first shots. I knew she would cry- after all it hurts and she doesn't understand what's going on- but I kind of thought the nurse would be a little more gentle. She has a bruise the size of a quarter on one of her thighs now and all 3 shots bled a lot (in comparison to her size) more than I expected. She's had fever and REALLY bad gas (I'm blaming that on the oral vaccince they gave her) ever since and her poor little thighs hurt if you touch them. So she has spent most of the last 2 days naked since she is so hot and either nursing or sleeping. She's not been her usual happy, alert self and I can't wait until that is over!

I can't figure out this new operating system (a version of Linux) Jason put on the computer, but I promise new pictures soon. Check out her album on my facebook if you need some to hold you over until then :) !

First post-partum doctor appointments for baby and Mommy

Thursday Emma and I both had check-ups. Emma's went great and even though she was not yet back up to her birth weight, she had gained 10 ounces in 11 days. The doctor said this was good weight gain but scheduled a follow-up since she was not at birth weight yet. My appointment also went great. My bp looked good (107/78) so I got to quit taking the meds. We both have follow up appointments on Monday the 27th!

First bath

Emma's first night in her own bed