This week, Emily has had some cold symptoms that seem to be bothering us a lot more than they're bothering her (a common theme these days!). Mick has been battling a cold for over a week and just couldn't seem to shake it, so now we think little Wiggles has a touch of it too.
She coughs a little and has a lot of congestion in her nose. It really makes me wish she could blow her nose and clear her throat! The pediatrician said on Tuesday that her lungs were clear and we had nothing to worry about, so we've just tried to keep her nose as clean as possible, and we bought a warm mist humidifier for her room, which seems to be helping her sleep better.
The strange thing is that Emily doesn't act like she feels bad at all--she laughs when she coughs or sneezes, and is otherwise perfectly happy!
Friday, October 1, 2010
Thursday, September 30, 2010
A Good Day
Yesterday was the first full day of school for Emily, and it was pouring down rain when we got up. We had things pretty well organized to take in with her, but still got off to a bit of a late start because I always feel like I'm forgetting something these days (most of the time, I am).
Gateway has a good setup for Emily, so we really only have to take in her labeled bottles each day. There's a locked closet where she has her own cubby--we have extra clothes, diapers and wipes stored there. There's also a cabinet in the kitchen area where we can store baby food or rice cereal for her. They send us home with a daily "report card" to let us know about eating, naps and diaper changes, and also make notes if she's running low on food, diapers or wipes.
She has her own crib, and the sheet is changed daily. Of course, it doesn't look or smell familiar to her, so we took in one of her blankets and one of her favorite toys that she can have in the crib with her. We'll take her blanket and sleep sack home on Fridays (or as needed) to wash them, and I found out yesterday how important that is to her. Emily had spit up on her blanket, and they tried substituting one of the school's blankets for her, only to learn she would have nothing to do with it! Hearing that made me smile, and I packed an extra blanket in her bag today for a backup. Our sweet girl needs to always have something that reminds her of home.
Yesterday was also the second time I got there to pick her up, and one of Emily's teachers (Miss Amanda) was rocking her while she slept peacefully. I think Miss Amanda has a soft spot for our little Wiggles, which makes me feel really good. They said she ate well yesterday, and took three naps. It was a good day!
Gateway has a good setup for Emily, so we really only have to take in her labeled bottles each day. There's a locked closet where she has her own cubby--we have extra clothes, diapers and wipes stored there. There's also a cabinet in the kitchen area where we can store baby food or rice cereal for her. They send us home with a daily "report card" to let us know about eating, naps and diaper changes, and also make notes if she's running low on food, diapers or wipes.
She has her own crib, and the sheet is changed daily. Of course, it doesn't look or smell familiar to her, so we took in one of her blankets and one of her favorite toys that she can have in the crib with her. We'll take her blanket and sleep sack home on Fridays (or as needed) to wash them, and I found out yesterday how important that is to her. Emily had spit up on her blanket, and they tried substituting one of the school's blankets for her, only to learn she would have nothing to do with it! Hearing that made me smile, and I packed an extra blanket in her bag today for a backup. Our sweet girl needs to always have something that reminds her of home.
Yesterday was also the second time I got there to pick her up, and one of Emily's teachers (Miss Amanda) was rocking her while she slept peacefully. I think Miss Amanda has a soft spot for our little Wiggles, which makes me feel really good. They said she ate well yesterday, and took three naps. It was a good day!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
6 Month Checkup
Today was Emily's 6 month checkup, and her first time with a new doctor. I did some research when we moved to Charlotte, and read great things (including parent reviews) about Providence Pediatrics . I called over a month ago, and today was the first availability with Dr. Miller--the timing turned out to be perfect since Emily just hit the 6 month mark. We really liked the doctor, and everyone at the practice was really nice. There are definitely some differences from Emily's former pediatrician, but nothing that bothered us, and a few things that we actually liked better here.
Emily is growing fast--she weighs 15 lbs. 3 oz. and is 26 1/4 inches long! Her weight is in the 45th percentile now, and her height is in the 75th. Developmentally, she's doing all the things she should be right now. She can almost sit up on her own, and does great with the slightest bit of support.
The worst part of the visit was, of course, the shots. We decided to go ahead and let her get the flu shot today, so there were three shots in her legs. When the first one went in, her eyes opened wide, her bottom lip came out, and she started crying. It got worse with #2 and #3, but once we picked her up and snuggled her, she recovered pretty quickly. It was time for her to eat by then, so we fed her in the exam room before taking her to school.
We'll have to come back next month for the 2nd part of the flu shot, and then not again until her 9 month appointment, which will already be after Christmas! Time is just flying by too quickly.
Emily is growing fast--she weighs 15 lbs. 3 oz. and is 26 1/4 inches long! Her weight is in the 45th percentile now, and her height is in the 75th. Developmentally, she's doing all the things she should be right now. She can almost sit up on her own, and does great with the slightest bit of support.
The worst part of the visit was, of course, the shots. We decided to go ahead and let her get the flu shot today, so there were three shots in her legs. When the first one went in, her eyes opened wide, her bottom lip came out, and she started crying. It got worse with #2 and #3, but once we picked her up and snuggled her, she recovered pretty quickly. It was time for her to eat by then, so we fed her in the exam room before taking her to school.
We'll have to come back next month for the 2nd part of the flu shot, and then not again until her 9 month appointment, which will already be after Christmas! Time is just flying by too quickly.
Monday, September 27, 2010
First Day of School
I've dreaded this day from the moment I found out we were having a baby. Then after sweet little Wiggles was born, I just couldn't imagine how difficult it would be to walk away and leave her behind--it's like having your heart ripped out!
Maybe I'm being a little dramatic...but unless you've had a baby you needed to put in day care, you're not allowed to judge :)!
It was rainy and cooler this morning, so we broke out some fall clothes to make sure Emily stayed cozy all day. I had already planned to work from home so I could take her in late and pick her up early--we just wanted a couple of transition days to hopefully make it a little easier. I stayed with her for a couple of hours to make sure she was okay--she sat in the floor and played and had a great time.
Overall, the teachers said she did well for her first day. She has a lot of new things to get used to, and she was so distracted by everything going on that she didn't want to eat or sleep very much. For a little girl used to taking naps in a dark, quiet room, I'm sure it's tough to settle down with five other babies making noise constantly.
By the time I picked her up, she was exhausted, but the look on her face when I walked in was enough to make me quit my job. Her sweet tired eyes just lit up, and a huge smile formed. One of the teachers was holding her, but she put her hands up when I came over. What a great feeling to pick her up and feel her soft little body snuggled up to me!
I hope dropping her off will get easier each time as she gets a little older and makes friends, but I can already tell that picking her up will be the best part of my day!
Maybe I'm being a little dramatic...but unless you've had a baby you needed to put in day care, you're not allowed to judge :)!
It was rainy and cooler this morning, so we broke out some fall clothes to make sure Emily stayed cozy all day. I had already planned to work from home so I could take her in late and pick her up early--we just wanted a couple of transition days to hopefully make it a little easier. I stayed with her for a couple of hours to make sure she was okay--she sat in the floor and played and had a great time.
Overall, the teachers said she did well for her first day. She has a lot of new things to get used to, and she was so distracted by everything going on that she didn't want to eat or sleep very much. For a little girl used to taking naps in a dark, quiet room, I'm sure it's tough to settle down with five other babies making noise constantly.
By the time I picked her up, she was exhausted, but the look on her face when I walked in was enough to make me quit my job. Her sweet tired eyes just lit up, and a huge smile formed. One of the teachers was holding her, but she put her hands up when I came over. What a great feeling to pick her up and feel her soft little body snuggled up to me!
I hope dropping her off will get easier each time as she gets a little older and makes friends, but I can already tell that picking her up will be the best part of my day!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
6 Months Old: What's Happening
Emily has had a very eventful month six! She started sleeping on her tummy this month, and sleeping through the night.
She still needs some work on naps, though. She gets really sleepy during the day, but no matter how tired she is, most of her naps are only 30-45 minutes long. She'll typically take three naps a day--one by around 9-10 AM, the next by 1-2 PM, and the last one late in the day, by 5 PM. I think it will help once we get into a regular routine--the last few weeks have been anything but routine for her!
Emily got a high chair this month, and has been sampling all sorts of big girl foods--carrots, green beans, sweet potatoes, apples and bananas. Her favorite is probably bananas, although she's done really well with everything so far.
She's becoming more independent every day--she plays really well on her own, and loves her toys--especially the ones she can fit in her mouth. Blankets, burp cloths, fingers, toes are all fair game for her. She really loves the teethers that you can put in the fridge too. We feel like she'll have a tooth any day now.
We all enjoyed our first vacation together this month, and Emily put her toes in the ocean for the first time! She liked the water, but we think she'll LOVE it next year at this time.
This month was Emily's last month being at home full time. It's strange knowing how much anxiety this has caused us, and she probably has no idea how much her life is about to change. I sure hope she adjusts well--she's been so fortunate having constant love and attention with Grandma Roper here for three months, and then Grandma and Papa Jackson here for the past week. Knowing that she's now one of seven babies with two teachers will be tough to get used to. She's so busy and curious that we feel like she'll stay entertained just watching everything going on.
It's really hard to believe that six months have already flown by--Emily is growing into the sweetest little girl, and we can hardly wait for every new day with her.
She still needs some work on naps, though. She gets really sleepy during the day, but no matter how tired she is, most of her naps are only 30-45 minutes long. She'll typically take three naps a day--one by around 9-10 AM, the next by 1-2 PM, and the last one late in the day, by 5 PM. I think it will help once we get into a regular routine--the last few weeks have been anything but routine for her!
Emily got a high chair this month, and has been sampling all sorts of big girl foods--carrots, green beans, sweet potatoes, apples and bananas. Her favorite is probably bananas, although she's done really well with everything so far.
She's becoming more independent every day--she plays really well on her own, and loves her toys--especially the ones she can fit in her mouth. Blankets, burp cloths, fingers, toes are all fair game for her. She really loves the teethers that you can put in the fridge too. We feel like she'll have a tooth any day now.
We all enjoyed our first vacation together this month, and Emily put her toes in the ocean for the first time! She liked the water, but we think she'll LOVE it next year at this time.
This month was Emily's last month being at home full time. It's strange knowing how much anxiety this has caused us, and she probably has no idea how much her life is about to change. I sure hope she adjusts well--she's been so fortunate having constant love and attention with Grandma Roper here for three months, and then Grandma and Papa Jackson here for the past week. Knowing that she's now one of seven babies with two teachers will be tough to get used to. She's so busy and curious that we feel like she'll stay entertained just watching everything going on.
It's really hard to believe that six months have already flown by--Emily is growing into the sweetest little girl, and we can hardly wait for every new day with her.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
What are these?
Mick's mom brought these sweet little shoes with purple flowers on them. Emily didn't keep them on long, but was fascinated with them while they lasted!
Friday, September 24, 2010
Fun Week
Mick's parents came to visit this week and stayed with Emily during the day while we were at work. It was her last week at home before she starts school full time next week, so it was a happy and sad week, all at the same time!
I think everyone enjoyed themselves--there was shopping and strolling and lots of cuddles and kisses. The week really flew by! It was a huge help having them here and and we hated to see them go, but they left Friday night to get home for the weekend. I think Grandma and Grandpa Jackson got enough of a dose of Wiggles that they'll want to see her more often for sure!
I think everyone enjoyed themselves--there was shopping and strolling and lots of cuddles and kisses. The week really flew by! It was a huge help having them here and and we hated to see them go, but they left Friday night to get home for the weekend. I think Grandma and Grandpa Jackson got enough of a dose of Wiggles that they'll want to see her more often for sure!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
New Tricks
We just know Emily is going to be crawling in no time--she is scooting all over, and definitely makes use of every inch of her crib! She can push up on her knees, but not quite on her hands and knees at the same time. She even tried scooting around at the beach this week.
She's also able to partially pull herself up to a sitting position--she seems to be just dying to see the world from a different perspective, because she's rarely content to lie still anymore.
She's wearing herself out with all this activity, because she's been sleeping 12 hours at night now! Every night during our vacation, she went right to sleep in the pack 'n play by 7:30 and slept until 7:00 or 7:30 in the mornings!
She's also able to partially pull herself up to a sitting position--she seems to be just dying to see the world from a different perspective, because she's rarely content to lie still anymore.
She's wearing herself out with all this activity, because she's been sleeping 12 hours at night now! Every night during our vacation, she went right to sleep in the pack 'n play by 7:30 and slept until 7:00 or 7:30 in the mornings!
First Beach Trip
We've been very excited about taking our first beach vacation with Emily---as all vacations do, it seems like this one took forever to get here, and flew by way too quickly! We left Wednesday morning and drove to the beach, stopping by the airport to meet up with everybody (Julie and Albie flew in Wednesday morning, and we met Jason, Jenn and Cody there too).
We rented a 4 bed, 3 bath condo overlooking the ocean--there's just nothing better than walking out onto the balcony and seeing the beach!
We spent some time down at the pool Thursday morning, and Emily went swimming for the first time. The only water she's ever been in is the bathtub, which she loves, so we thought she'd feel the same about the pool. She played in the water a little and kicked her feet a lot!
The condo had a lazy river too, which we all enjoyed--Jason and Jenn brought a baby float for Emily. It was sweet seeing her try it, but I think she's still a little young for it.
We spent part of the day on Friday down on the beach, and Emily was lulled to sleep by the sound of the waves--I have to admit, it wouldn't have taken much for all of us to have drifted off too!
As every stylish little girl needs, Aunt Julie brought Emily another new bathing suit, which she needed to try out in the pool on Friday.
Emily and Cody decided they really liked being cousins!
Cody was so sweet with Emily, or "Baby Emmy," as he calls her.
We did some shopping, which meant Emily did some strolling. She was such a good girl everywhere we went, and really only fussed when she was hungry or sleepy.
The five days went by way too quickly, and saying goodbye is always the worst part.
We got to the end of the trip and I realized I didn't get all the pictures I wanted to, so hopefully everyone else got some good ones too!
We rented a 4 bed, 3 bath condo overlooking the ocean--there's just nothing better than walking out onto the balcony and seeing the beach!
We spent some time down at the pool Thursday morning, and Emily went swimming for the first time. The only water she's ever been in is the bathtub, which she loves, so we thought she'd feel the same about the pool. She played in the water a little and kicked her feet a lot!
The condo had a lazy river too, which we all enjoyed--Jason and Jenn brought a baby float for Emily. It was sweet seeing her try it, but I think she's still a little young for it.
We spent part of the day on Friday down on the beach, and Emily was lulled to sleep by the sound of the waves--I have to admit, it wouldn't have taken much for all of us to have drifted off too!
As every stylish little girl needs, Aunt Julie brought Emily another new bathing suit, which she needed to try out in the pool on Friday.
Emily and Cody decided they really liked being cousins!
Cody was so sweet with Emily, or "Baby Emmy," as he calls her.
We did some shopping, which meant Emily did some strolling. She was such a good girl everywhere we went, and really only fussed when she was hungry or sleepy.
The five days went by way too quickly, and saying goodbye is always the worst part.
We got to the end of the trip and I realized I didn't get all the pictures I wanted to, so hopefully everyone else got some good ones too!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Bedtime Routine
I've waited to post this in hopes that our great luck wouldn't change, and we could actually call our nighttime ritual a routine, and now I feel safe doing it. Emily is such a big girl now! We start our routine around 6:30 each night (providing Mick and I have both made it home by then)--Emily sits in her high chair and eats her cereal and fruit or veggies. Usually by around 7:00, we're making our way upstairs to the bathtub, which is Emily's favorite part. I carry her up the stairs and Mick walks behind us, making faces and playing with her over my shoulder, and she laughs the whole time. It's so sweet!
Emily is content to stay in the bath as long as we'll let her, so we leave her in to splash and play some, even after she's clean. When her bath is done, it's off to the bedroom for lotion and pjs, and then she has her bedtime bottle. By the time I sit down to feed her, she acts like she's completely famished and so tired she can hardly hold her eyes open. She's very sleepy by the time the milk is gone, and I put her in the crib around 7:30 to fall asleep.
Within the last week, she's started flipping over the second she gets in the crib, so she's decided to be a tummy sleeper--this makes us a little nervous, but she's doing great with it. She's also been sleeping through the night for a couple of weeks now--it felt strange at first not to be getting up to check on her, but now it's just plain wonderful! We can hardly believe how fast our little princess is growing up. And we're hoping the next couple of weeks with vacation and starting school won't set us back too much!
Emily is content to stay in the bath as long as we'll let her, so we leave her in to splash and play some, even after she's clean. When her bath is done, it's off to the bedroom for lotion and pjs, and then she has her bedtime bottle. By the time I sit down to feed her, she acts like she's completely famished and so tired she can hardly hold her eyes open. She's very sleepy by the time the milk is gone, and I put her in the crib around 7:30 to fall asleep.
Within the last week, she's started flipping over the second she gets in the crib, so she's decided to be a tummy sleeper--this makes us a little nervous, but she's doing great with it. She's also been sleeping through the night for a couple of weeks now--it felt strange at first not to be getting up to check on her, but now it's just plain wonderful! We can hardly believe how fast our little princess is growing up. And we're hoping the next couple of weeks with vacation and starting school won't set us back too much!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Saying Goodbye to Grandma
Today will definitely go down as one of the most difficult days of Emily's first 6 months. She'll be starting school at the end of the September, and since we're going on vacation tomorrow, Grandma went home tonight. It was hard for all of us--it's been so nice having her around for the past three months, and she and Emily have been able to form a really special bond that I think they'll both always treasure.
It's also sad because this means we'll be leaving our precious girl in the hands of strangers pretty soon, and her whole little life is about to change. Any routine she has gotten used to will now be turned upside down. Although we're confident that we've chosen a great school, there's still a lot of anxiety about this change.
I'll miss you Grandma, but I'll see you again soon!
It's also sad because this means we'll be leaving our precious girl in the hands of strangers pretty soon, and her whole little life is about to change. Any routine she has gotten used to will now be turned upside down. Although we're confident that we've chosen a great school, there's still a lot of anxiety about this change.
I'll miss you Grandma, but I'll see you again soon!
New Chair
We decided this weekend that it was time to buy a high chair for Emily. She had cereal and bananas in it the first night, and did really well! We didn't leave the tray on it to feed her, but just couldn't get over how tiny she looks. I'm sure it will be no time before she'll be outgrowing it!
Monday, September 13, 2010
Playing With Daddy
Emily is learning quickly that Daddy is her playmate and she can pretty much get out of anything she doesn't want to do by smiling at him. He has a much harder time listening to her cry if she's tired and trying to work into a nap, and will usually give in and pick her up. I think it's the sweet little smile he gets when he walks in her room that wins him over every time!
Mick seems to be able to make her smile in a way that nobody else can, and it's just the sweetest thing to watch.
Mick seems to be able to make her smile in a way that nobody else can, and it's just the sweetest thing to watch.
Feels Like Fall
We've been going for walks early in the mornings on the weekends, and the weather has been so cool that Emily gets to keep her pjs on in the stroller. One morning it was in the 50s, so we decided to put this little hat on her to keep her ears warm.
We've had such a hot summer, and just can't wait for fall!
We've had such a hot summer, and just can't wait for fall!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Toes
Not long ago, I posted that Emily had discovered her feet--now, she just can't get enough (we all agree, they are too sweet), and she is always either playing with them or trying to eat her toes. Mick says he would give anything to be able to grab his feet like this. I'm not sure why, except that it would be pretty funny to watch :). We often go to pick Emily up from a nap and her socks are either missing or soaking wet! We still haven't gotten a picture with her toes in her mouth, but we're determined to. It's really adorable.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Eating Veggies
Emily has progressed from just rice cereal to vegetables now--carrots were our first new thing to try. She wasn't prepared for the new taste at first, and didn't seem too thrilled with the first few bites. Unfortunately, I didn't get the camera quickly enough to capture the look on her face. She ended up with so much on her face, it was difficult to even see her little mouth.
She soon realized she'd rather play with Gracie than eat her carrots! The dogs have become quite a distraction when we're trying to feed her. We'll wait a few days now before trying the next new vegetable, just in case the carrots don't agree with her.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
New Best Friends
Emily is just head over heels for Gracie and Bella these days. She has become much more aware of their presence, and now just seeing them makes her smile. Gracie is still a little tentative about getting too close, but Bella must recognize that making friends now means she gets lots of food under the table later! Emily puts her hands out to pet her, and Bella licks her to death. I couldn't even get a picture without Bella's tongue moving! She is so patient with Emily though--even when those little fingers grab a handful of fur.
Grandma's Angel
Mick's mom gave Emily this sweet little shirt at my baby shower, and I realized that she might outgrow it if I didn't get it on her pretty soon. It's so adorable with the little angel wings on the back!
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Laughing
These days, it's becoming easier to make Emily laugh, and the sound is so sweet we just can't get enough of it. We were playing on the floor today and she thought this pink poodle was hilarious!
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