Happy 1 month!

What's happening with Emily at 1 month:

- She weighs 8 lbs, 9 oz (25-50%) and is 20 3/4" (50%)

- She's sleeping around 3 - 3 1/2 hours at night

- She's drinking between 3 - 4 oz. about every 3 hours

- She's still wearing newborn clothes

- She loves bathtime with Daddy

- She's discovering new things to look at everyday - lights, fans, the bunny pictures over her changing table

- Her neck is getting stronger each day and she's starting to hold her head up more and more

- She likes the car and usually falls asleep in her carseat

- She usually likes to be held if she is awake

- She loves her swing

Go Tech!

Shawn went to the Tech vs. Baylor game yesterday in the new Cowboys Stadium.  Emily and I stayed home, but we still had to dress in support of our favorite red raiders!

Turkey Time

This year for Thanksgiving we headed over to Shawn's mom's house in Burleson.  Emily enjoyed being the center of attention and being passed around from person to person.  She enjoyed it so much that she slept through the majority of her first Thanksgiving.  Luckily we still got one family picture in.

Newborn Photos

A couple of weeks ago, we had a photographer come to our house to take some pictures of Emily for her announcements.  We just got them in today and thought I would share.

It was definitely interesting trying to get "naked" pictures of her.  She went to the bathroom on us a couple of times.  But I think it was worth it in the end.  I love how these turned out!

Tummy Time

Each day, me and Emily spend some time down on the floor doing tummy time.  Well, on Wednesday of this week, Lily decided to offer Emily some encouragement and I couldn't resist taking pictures. . .

And of course after all the hard work put out during tummy time, we had to take a nap. . .

Week 2 outings

This week, Emily and I have started to make some trips out of the house.   It makes the day go by so much faster when we get out!  Monday morning, me and Emily headed back to the hospital to get her PKU screen done.  She was such a trooper in the car and while we waited, which made it much easier on me.  Yesterday, we headed over to Aunt Ann's house to visit and have lunch.

This morning Emily and I ventured over to Dr. G's office for her 2 week checkup.  Everything looks great.  She's gained some weight and is now up to 6 lbs, 14 oz.  She hasn't grown any, as she is still 19 and 3/4".  Hopefully, she can soon start wearing her 0-3 months clothes.  We're getting a bit tired of the same few newborn outfits that she fits into.  Her jaundice has also cleared up, which is great news!  We head back to the dr. in 2 weeks for her 1 month checkup. 

Tomorrow, we have a photographer coming over to our house to take pictures of Emily for her announcements.  Hopefully, we'll have them sent out in a few more weeks.

Lily's Chair

So I've had many people ask how Lily is adjusting to Emily being added to our household.  She's actually doing quite well.  She is very curious, but not territorial at all.  I'm hoping this continues and she and Emily become great buddies.  The only difference I've noticed, is Lily is just as exhausted as me.  The first week home, she was by my side during each nightly feeding.  This has changed now.  She doesn't budge at night when I get up.  I guess the lack of sleep is catching up to her.

On another note, Lily has discovered Emily's chair in her nursery and has decided to make it her own.  I guess she thinks it says Lily on it instead of Emily.  Emily is okay with sharing it though. . .for now.

A walk in the park

Last Thursday before Shawn went back to work, we took Emily on her first outing.  We took her to the park in our neighborhood.  The weather has been so nice lately, that I'm hoping this is something me and Emily can continue to do. 

The walk just wore her out!

Nursery Pictures. . Finally

We have finally finished up her nursery.  Here are the pics I've been promising.

All of the books standing up on her bookcase are actually Shawn's books from when he was a baby.  I love that his mom still had them and that now Emily can read them too. 

1 week old!

Yesterday, Emily turned 1 week old!  Steph, Luke, and Leah were nice enough to buy Emily her very own chair for her room, so we could take monthly pictures in it showing how big she's getting.  I thought we would take a 1 week old picture too!

I also had to post a picture showing off her headband!  She's not a huge fan of the headband,  but hopefully that will change soon.  Thanks Courtney and Grant for the cute outfit too!

Sleep all day and party all night

Since we've been home, Emily has had a hard time distinguishing between her days and nights.  She just wants to sleep all day and then spend all night wide awake.  Here are a few pics of her doing what she does best during the day. . .

Emily doesn't associate the Boppy pillow with "time to eat", but rather "time to curl up and go to sleep."  This is usually how she ends up at the end of each feeding.

First few days at home

Emily and I were released from the hospital last Friday.  We were so excited to get home and get ourselves into a routine.  

Arriving home!

Her 0-3 month clothes are way too big!!  We weren't prepared for her to be so little!

Lily (and Bailey, my parents cat) meeting Emily for the first time.

The first few days have been long.  Emily still has her days and nights messed up and therefore, we are getting up several times in the middle of the night.  She's been a bit fussy (which I'm hoping doesn't last) and prefers to be held (which I don't mind at all).  Shawn and I are just enjoying her company and getting used to having a baby in the household.  Here are some pictures from the last few days.

Her first bath (she didn't enjoy this)

All dressed up for her 1st Halloween (luckily I had an outfit from her cousin Lauren)

Checking out the swing for the first time

Meeting Mimi for the first time (they got back from their trip the day we came home from the hospital)

Watching the Cowboys with Daddy

Snuggling with Daddy

Emily Has Arrived!!!

As most of you know by now, Emily Joy made her very unexpected arrival on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 1:08 pm.  She weighed in at 6lbs, 10 oz. and was 19 3/4 in. long.  We couldn't be more excited!  Let me start from the beginning. . .

Tuesday night around 10:00 pm, I went upstairs to bed and was watching TV.  Shawn was already asleep for the night.  Well, shortly afterwards, my water broke.  I turned to Shawn and said "babe, wake up.  I think my water just broke!"  We were stunned and pretty much just stared at each other for a few minutes wondering what we do, before we kicked into gear.  We were obviously not expecting this as Emily wasn't due to arrive for another 3 weeks!  I hadn't packed a bag for the hospital or put the car seat in the car.  We called the dr. and she told us to head for the hospital because they want you to deliver within 24 hours of when your water breaks.  After scrambling around and grabbing the bare necessities, we loaded into the car and off we went.  We made the phone call to my brother and Shawn's mom and dad.  What I failed to mention is that my parents were in Europe on a 2 week cruise.  I had promised them not to worry while they were gone as I was sure there was no way Emily would arrive before they returned.  Apparently, Emily had plans of her own.  So after we checked into the hospital and they confirmed it was indeed my water that broke, we made the phone call to my dad and told him the news they didn't want to hear. . .I was in labor and Emily was on her way.  My contractions had started, but they were not strong and I was still only between 1 and 2 cm. dilated.  So they started me on pitocin and we prepared ourselves for a long night of no sleep.  I progressed pretty slowly and by morning was still only around 3 cm dilated.  Luckily they were able to give me an epidural to help with the pain.  Shawn stayed busy all night sending email updates and pictures to my parents (as they were 7 hours ahead of us).  By morning, they increased the pitocin and I started dilating a little more quickly.  Around noon we got the news we wanted to hear, I was 10 cm. and I could start pushing.  I was so relieved as I was exhausted by now and didn't know how much longer I could go.  Within the hour, the most perfect little girl arrived.  She put me and Shawn into tears.  We couldn't have been more excited and in awe of her.  She was beautiful and so perfect!

On our way to the hospital!

She's here!

After Emily arrived, we had a ton of visitors come to meet her.  We were so excited to show her off.  Thank you everyone for coming to visit and all the nice gifts.

Granny

Papa Mike and KK

Courtney

Aunt Julie and Cousin Lauren

Kara

Matt

Uncle Kevin

Uncle Scott

Aunt Sarah

Cathy

Aunt Ann

Kevin and Patti

Stay tuned for more pictures from her first few days at home!