Month: May 2006

Red Rover, Red Rover, Let Emma ROLL Over!

Yes, it has happened. Emma has been rolling over for a few weeks now. This is how it happens… She starts on her back and awkwardly rolls her body over to her tummy. It is really great to see. You can tell that she struggles, and Ian and I cheer her on, but her arm gets in the way every time. While she is on her side, her feet lift off the floor like Superman and she ends up with all of her body weight on her face. As awkward as it may sound, she doesn’t seem bothered by it at all. Maybe it makes her more determined… She finishes the roll off with one final push. It’s so awesome. When she is done, she has to take a quick ‘five’ to recover.

She is doing things so quickly… I better get the algebraic equations ready for her!

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Cherry Tylenol.

Emma had her 4 month checkup today. She weighs 12 pounds 6 ounces and is 24 inches long. She is in the 22nd percentile for weight and the 40th for height. If you are not familiar with these percentiles, these numbers place her in a group of other babies her age to determine how she is developing compared to them. So, 78% of 4 month old babies weigh more than she does, and 60% of 4 month old babies are longer (taller) than she is. SO, she is small, but still within average range. Mommy will try not to worry about these numbers too much…
She also had shots today… her second round of them. She took them like a champion in both thighs. Poor baby… You would melt, too, if you saw that bottom lip tremble and stick out when she cries.
When I leaned in to pick Emma up earlier, she smelled like something I’ve never smelled on her before… and I liked it. I gave her some cherry Tylenol to help with fever from the shots. Some of it ended up on her face, and even though I wiped it off, I guess the scent lingered. Its weird to get close and smell anything other than lotion and milk on her. I kinda like her in cherry Tylenol.

Some like their babies in Johnson & Johnson or Aveeno Baby Lotions. I like mine in cherry.  I wonder if the baby companies will come up with cherry scented lotions….

Blow Out!

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Today my daughter got yet another piece of educational material. A friend of ours has this seat, and I thought Emma could use one, too. So, we ordered it Sunday night, and it arrived today. It is called a Bumbo Seat, and it helps babies sit up independently. The only catch is that the baby has to be able to hold her head up. So, since Emma has achieved this skill, she has it…

I was so excited when it arrived. I immediately took it out of the box and sat her in it. Emma loved it! She smiled as if to say, “Wow, Mommy! The world looks so great from here! I’ve been holding my head up for weeks- where has this seat been???” Not to worry, Emma, you will not have to do without it ever again!

The best part of the story is what Emma did next. As she was sitting in her Bumbo, she stopped for a second, scrunched up her face, and then, BAM!!!! She had blown out…

For those of you who don’t know, or don’t have children, blowing out is not something you take lightly. Its serious business… Webster defines it as:

Blow out- the art of pooing in your diaper in such a way that causes poo to come out of the sides and/or top of the diaper.

So, Emma had a blow out in her new Bumbo. It was her way of showing her appreciation and approval of her seat. And hey, if Emma likes it, it stays.

Mother’s Day

The day started like any other… I woke up to Emma’s cooing, (which by the way is happening earlier and earlier each day) looked over at my alarm clock (which unmistakeably said 6:27,) and then looked at Ian. “Which one of us is going to get her?,” I thought to myself.

You see, during the week, I make myself get up when she does. I get her from her crib and take her out into the living room for her feeding and start the day. BUT, on the weekends when Ian is around I get Emma and bring her back to bed for her feeding. It gives us some time together, and Emma is treated to a nap in Mommy and Daddy’s bed. I actually look forward to the weekends to do this… I LOVE it.

So, I think it was me who ended up getting her. Ian seemed preoccupied- he whispered something into his pillow and rolled over for more sleep. I brought Emma back to bed and nursed her. Her eyes were probably open for all of 30 seconds before they closed again. I, on the other hand, stayed awake just to LOOK AT HER. I couldn’t stop. I love looking at her. She is so perfect. So beautiful. How in the world could I have made someone so wonderful? AND how much more wonderful can she get??? I mean, she is only 3 1/2 months old… She is SURELY going to get MORE wonderful. I couldn’t take it. I closed my eyes. I opened them. She was still there. It was real. It was at that moment that I decided I was the luckiest woman in the world. What a great day Mother’s Day was going to be…

Dear Husband,

You are, indeed, included in the plans I have for Emma and I…  How else would we fund these plans???!!!  (just kidding)

Anyway, you are the love of my life.  Before Emma was around, you and I were the team.  Now our team has become three.  I love you and there is no one that I would rather raise our kids with.  You are a wonderful dad and I look forward to seeing you love our children as much as I will.  You rock!!!

Love,

Your wife

Dear Emma,

I hope that you will read this someday and realize just how much I love you. You are three months old, and these three months have been the happiest (and busiest) of my life thus far. You have taught me how to give of myself more than I ever thought I could. I thought that I was a good person for donating money to the church and helping people in need, but none of those things have compared to being your mom. I have put your needs and wants ahead of my own. I cannot count the times that I have left the dinner table to answer to your poopy diaper or cry for food. Or the nights that I had to choose NOT to sleep to answer to your helpless cries. I have learned that taking care of you (and thus, neglecting myself,) has brought me so much joy.

I love it when I pick you up and you stop crying. It feels like I am the only person in the world that can make you better, and it makes me gleam with joy. I am proud of you for so many reasons. You are the smartest three month, one week, and 6 day old that has ever existed. You are for certain gifted and talented. I can’t wait to teach you more about life. I want to show you how to be loving, caring, generous, understanding, patient, and full of joy. I want to help you explore just how beautiful the world is. I can’t wait to travel with you and show you beaches, snow, rain, and nature. I long for days of messy painting and running around the sprinklers in the backyard. I want you to taste yummy foods and help me cook and bake them. I really, really can’t wait for you to get bigger.

Some mommies like their babies when they are tiny and needy, but I think I am a mommy that wants you to grow up. I want us to do ‘Big Girl’ stuff. We are going to have so much fun together… Until then, let’s learn the basics together. Let’s learn how to roll over, crawl, talk, and walk (hopefully in that order.)

In case you are still not convinced, I want you to always know that I love you. I love you. You are my perfect baby. I would do anything for you. I pray that God will give me the wisdom and guidance to be a good Mommy for you. I pray that He will grant me lots of time with you. And I especially pray that He watch over you, keep you safe, and bring you to know Him at a young age. I am so thankful so be your Mommy. I feel blessed that God chose me for you. We are such a great team!

Love,

Mommy