Emily's Masterpiece

This is Emily's very first masterpiece. It was created with the help of Miss Chloe at the Children's Museum in Short Pump.

Spaghetti

Just a little video from dinner tonight. As you can see we had spaghetti. I think she thought it was a toy until we showed her she was supposed to eat it.
Towards the end of the clip she starts clicking her tongue. After, I showed this to Nate and Emily could hear herself clicking on the video. She started clicking in response. It was really cute!

Enjoy!

9 Month Appointment

Today Emily had her 9 month check-up. Everything went really well. She weighs 17 lb 9 oz (25th percentile), is 27 in long (25th percentile), and her head is 17 1/2 in (big ole' 50th percentile). The rest of the appointment was nice and boring, just the way I want it. She gave us enough excitement during her first few months so a nice, boring appointment is perfect.
She also got one shot today, so that brings her total vaccines to two and total shots given to a whopping 3. She doesn't go back for a check-up until after she is a year old. She will be so different by then. I look forward to all the changes, but I dread them too. I don't want her growing up too quickly, but I know I can't stop it, so I am just trying to enjoy the time while I have it.

Madison

(Picture of Emily with Seth and Zach)
We went to Madison last weekend to visit with Nate's family and with some of our friends. We stopped at the Bike stop on our way there and picked up our new B.O.B. stroller. I LOVE it!! Emily got to visit with her uncles again and she was soaking up all of their attention. We ended up not getting to do much on Saturday because it was rainy and cold out, but we did have dinner with Nathan and Kara, Rick, Sam and Cathy and their kids. Emily had a wonderful time with them. She really liked Jacob and Leah (the youngest of Sam and Cathy's kids). She would try and crawl after Leah, who is much faster than Emily, and she would try and hang onto Jacob, who would sit very still when she was around. He is shy and I am not sure he knew what to make of this very outgoing little girl. She was tuckered out after that big night though! (Picture of Emily with Cathy and Jacob.)

Pictures!

Ok, here are some pictures from the last couple of months! Enjoy!! (Emily having fun on Christmas Day!)

(She decided she wanted the camera. Guess she didn't want anymore blackmail bath time pictures taken of her (: )
(Making a complete mess and having fun doing it!)

It's Cruising Time

Emily started cruising this week. Now she is really into everything! For the few that may not know what cruising is, she is pulling herself up and walking around using furniture and other objects around the house to balance herself. She can now make it around the entire perimeter of our loft. She starts in one corner and uses the end table to pull herself up then starts moving towards the love seat. Then she is around the corner and on to the couch. Once she makes it to the end of that she turns the corner again and cruises along the pack and play to the other love seat we have. Then she gets upset because there is no where else for her to go after that. She is quick too and gets quicker everyday. Her balance is improving daily as well. Today she let go of the end table and, without wobbling, stood there for about 30 seconds before slowly putting her hands back on the end table.
She has not pushed anymore teeth through. She still looks like a little vampire. I keep trying to get a picture of her teeth right now, but she won't let me. She just throws a little fit every time I try.
She also made it through Nate's recent flu without catching it. We both lucked out there, but Nate pretty much quarantined himself in our bedroom in an effort to keep us from getting sick. It must have worked because we came through unscathed.

And now it's getting late. More updates soon! (Hopefully some pictures too!!)

Thanksgiving and Christmas

Emily's first official Thanksgiving was in Madison this year. Nate's whole immediate family was there. We barely had enough room for everyone around the table! Most everyone pitched in and contributed to the food for the day. Emily had a blast getting so much attention from her uncles. She just loved them getting on the floor and playing with her!
Next up was Christmas which we held at our house this year. Unfortunately, I had a cold but we still had a good holiday. My mother came up on Christmas Eve and spent the night with us. She was there in the morning to have our traditional cinnamon buns for breakfast and to open presents with Emily.
Nate had to work but was allowed to go in late, so instead of having to be on duty by 6 am he had to mark on at 9 am. That let him be around for the present opening as well.
Nate's parents and brothers showed up a little after noon, and there were more presents to open. My mom left for my brother's house shortly after and my dad and his girlfriend, Annie, arrived around 4. And then there were more presents to open. Emily was completely spoiled! Who needs Santa when you have grandparents!!
Emily slept through the actual Christmas dinner, but was awake by the time we had dessert. Oh, and it snowed! It started in the afternoon but you really couldn't see it. In the evening it really started to come down, bit it actually snowed on Christmas! I don't think I have ever seen it snow on Christmas. Too bad Emily is too young to remember it.