Emma: Seven Months

This girl is officially on the move and there is absolutely no stopping her. She knows no boundaries. Matt and I call her an animal....she is out of control.

In her six month post, I wrote about her getting on her knees and rocking back and forth. Not even a week later and she was crawling. A couple days after that, she had it perfected. There has been no stopping her since. She does laps around the living room and kitchen while crawling over things that are in her way. Shortly after crawling, Emma started pulling herself up on things: the entertainment center, baskets, coffee tables, the dogs, recliner chairs and most recently, the back door. She's into everything she isn't supposed to be: blinds, cords, computers, baskets, magazines, the list goes on. Emma absolutely loves crawling around (aka chasing) with my parents' dogs, Rylee and Chloe. If they get annoyed with her and move, she just follows them. I told my mom that they are great (cheap) entertainment for her.

Emma FINALLY cut her first tooth and has another bottom one and her two top ones close behind. Poor gums are purple. I don't know how people say their babies did fine with teething. Emma is definitely not one of those babies, she is in pain with constant moaning and chewing on anything that makes them feel better. Speaking of her teething, I am hoping that the little 5:00-5:30 a.m. wake-up calls she was doing recently are because of her teeth hurting. I can handle getting up at 6:00, but 5:00? Not so much.

My favorite thing she has learned: kisses. Oh. My. Gosh. They are the best. I don't care that they are open mouthed, slobbery wet kisses. They are so sweet. She mostly gives just my mom and I kisses, but will occasionally give Matt and my dad a kiss. Baths have become one of my favorite times as a family. When Matt is in town, both of us give her a bath and just watch her play and talk/laugh with us. She has just recently learned to splash the water and is interested in seeing the water go everywhere and the noises it makes. Emma's also trying to be a daredevil and pull herself up on her little bath chair.

I can't even begin to think about what this next month will bring for Emma. If it was anything like the last, we will be busy! 

Emma's 1st Valentine's Day

I may be one of the few that actually enjoys Valentine's Day. Yes, it is a "Hallmark" holiday and we should show love 365 days a year, but it is still a reason to celebrate and have a little fun. Growing up, my mom would always make it extra special for us kids. She would buy us all a balloon, card, candy and a present of some sort. She would stick a note in our lunches (this happened often, not just this specific day) and a treat. My mom always made us kids feel like a million bucks with her thoughtfulness. This sweet gesture has now been passed on with Emma. Mom (and Alaina) came over on Friday to bring Emma her Valentine's Day balloon, card and a book to celebrate. She also made a little craft for Matt and I using Emma's footprints. Although Matt and I didn't get her anything since she received some gifts from my parents (other than lots of kisses and hugs), I can't wait to make Valentine's Day special for her growing up.

Matt and I celebrated on Thursday while Alaina babysat so we could enjoy drinks and dinner at the Cafe. It was so nice to get out and have a peaceful, romantic dinner. Going out to eat is rare treat for us these day between Emma and Matt's busy work schedule. So thank you Alaina for hanging out with Emma so we could enjoy dinner out. On Valentine's night we celebrated by doing what we always do: giving her a bath, followed by some Wheel of Fortune and putting her to bed. We decided to eat dinner once she went to bed so we could enjoy another uninterrupted meal.

{Grow with Me} - 6.5 Months

Emma has entered the stage of being alarmed by people she doesn't know and them getting in her space or voices she doesn't recognize. Case in point: these pictures. She smiled for two, and then it was all down hill. My mom took her yesterday to try again and although she didn't cry, she also didn't smile. They still make her dad and I smile though!

Day 1:

Day 2:

On the Move

Emma is officially on the move! We knew it was going to be no time before she attempted crawling....or whatever this is. Last weekend she started getting up on her hands and tippy toes to try and move but realized that didn't work. So all this week she would roll to where she needed to go. On Thursday I got a text message from Victoria that Emma had "crawled" from one end of the room to the other to get a book that was playing songs. Then this morning while playing in her room, she went after this book! She did it about 10 different times, each time going further. 

I have since ordered a gate for our stairs to the basement :)