It's been a while.....catching my breath

I had several draft posts for the blog, but I have been out of touch lately and figured the best thing to do would be to start fresh with a new post.  This will probably be a long one.  We have had a lot going on over the last 3 1/2 months.

Here is a wrap up of what we have been up to since the new year started. 

I don't think I included Emma's 3 month picture in our Christmas post, so here she is.....be on the look out, as the post goes on you will see she has changed a lot!



We had a great holiday season, and started the new year off right with an evening at Trip and Nicole's house with several other babies.  Here's a shot of all the little one's lined up:

from left to right: Linley, Caden, Emma Caroline, Bennett, and Holden (?)

Our family :)

As most of you know, I started back at work at the beginning of January, going 3 days a week.  It was hard, even just those 3 days, to be away from Emma.  We put her in the infant room at First Baptist Plano's Weekday School.  I really had to let go of things and know that the people at school were going to take good care of her.  That wasn't easy as any new working mom can tell you.  But we have gotten into a good routine and the ladies there love Emma, I can tell. 

I'm actually still working part time, but I will be back to 5 days a week starting in April.  I'm really thankful for so much time off from work, I can't describe how nice it has been to transition back to work like I have.  A blessing.

One of the things about going to daycare during the winter is you have a pretty good chance of getting sick, which is what happened to Emma.  She came down with RSV within the first 5 (not even consecutive) days at school.  Apparently it's really common especially for young babies like her.  She was only 3 1/2 months at the time.  We had to get a nebulizer (spelling?) and do breathing treatments, but she was better in about 2 weeks. 

Emma had her 4 moth checkup and here are her stats:

Height:  25 1/4 inches (80%)

Weight:  12 lbs. 14 oz (40%)

Head:  41 cm (50%)

Every time I look back at her newborn pictures, I'm just amazed at how much she has changed in such a short amount of time.  Babies are so wonderful in that way!  They literally change every week/day/hour/minute.  If you haven't seen her in a while, she probably looks completely different.  She's also getting harder to take a still shot of, she really is investigating the world around her.  So her 4 month picture is the best of several that I took.



I'm glad we were able to go to the doctor for her 4 month check up when we did, because the very next day we were snowed in!  We went to the doctor on 1/31/11 (Monday) and the rest of the week I had to work from home because schools were closed.  It was crazy....we had major cabin fever and I was quite unproductive at work.  I would have loved to have that much time off of school, but when you get to be an adult, it's just kind of inconvenient when you can't get out and around.  But I loved the extra time at home with my girl.

Emma did her best to help me out.  You will have to excuse my appearance though, it was early in the morning and well, there is not much else I can say about that, ha!

Our front yard

Our backyard

Emma and daddy in their PJ's

Emma helping me on the computer

Emma in her Bebe pod seat, wondering, when is Mom going to stop working and play with me?



Here are some random pictures that I have taken over the last few months.  I will have to showcase more in another post, otherwise this will be the longest post EVER.

I love that smile!



Happy Valentine's Day!



Emma playing with her Baby Einstein Activity Station, she loves it!

So that is it for now.  There is much more to say and show, but at least I have made progress.  The transition to working mom has been tough, but we are getting used to it.  If you haven't heard from us in a while, don't take it personally (and please call us, we need to be social); we had to be in survival mode for the last few months as January and February are the busiest time of year for me at work.  I have a short break to catch my breath, and then the rush starts all over again in April. 

I will be posting again soon, its just hard not to spend every waking moment soaking up my little Emma.  Adam and I are addicted to her!