Emily's First Snow Storm

Today was the first snow storm of the winter and the first snow storm ever for Emily! We got all suited up in our snowsuit (thanks to aunt aud!), boots, hat, and mittens. Daddy and the dogs had fun jumping in the 17 inches of fresh snow. Thats ALOT for where we live! Once Daddy had cleared a nice path, Emily and I had to go out.



First we put on our snowpants...she didn't mind that so much and actually thought it was a little fun.


Then we added the coat...not so much fun after all she is thinking



I think she was in a bit of shock at first, just sort of stood there



Picture with Daddy!



We propped her up on the big snow wall lining the walkway.


Then she decided it actually wasn't fun at all! Maybe she'll like it the next time we go out :)

We have a CRAWLER!

Emily has been so close to crawling the last couple of weeks. On Thursday (12/3 - just shy of 9 mos old) she finally took that leap of faith and got up on both knees! That of course turned into a little hop forward and the rest is history :) She is still really slow and only goes a few hops forward until she goes back into a sitting position.

It is SO exciting to watch your baby meet these important milestones but every step forward reminds me how fast time goes by. She hasn't even been in the outside world as long as I was pregnant and yet we've seen her change and grow and become this little person in just 8/9 short months.

As I sit here updated our blog she is feeding herself her own bottle and chatting away...life is good

First Thanksgiving

We just celebrated Emily's first Thanksgiving! This is my favorite holiday and I was very excited to be sharing it with her this year. My big plan...nap the baby late so she makes it to a late afternoon nap so she can eat Turkey with us! Well, it worked but she was REALLY tired once I finally put her down at 3.








This girl is one silly baby! She loves to laugh!!







Then it was time for Daddy's favorite part of Thanksgiving...Cowboys Game! So Emily suited up in her cheerleading outfit to cheer on the team. She has recently learned how to clap which came in handy that day :)



We went up to New Hampshire to my aunt's house for the Gove Family Thanksgiving on Friday and spent the rest of the weekend practicing how to crawl. I know we're going to regret encouraging this so much but she's ALMOST THERE!!

Crawling is next on the list!

Wow, I just looked back and saw my last post was in June when Emily rolled over for the first time. I thought timing (although delayed) is perfect because I just took a video of her trying to crawl!

She is a busy girl these days and really ready to go. As with every milestone we are so excited to watch her master this new step, but it also comes with a little sadness that she isn't that little infant we brought home only 8 months ago. When people say it goes by fast - they mean it!

Red Rover, Red Rover, Let Emily ROLL OVER

I can't believe it, our little one rolled over yesterday. This last month (b/w 3-4 mos old) has been filled with lots of excitement. She seems to have changed from a little infant into a baby. In a way it feels like she just arrived yesterday - its only been 3 1/2 short months since we welcomed her to the family and yet I can't imagine life without her. For the first month or so she wasn't awake more than a few minutes to eat, get a change, and go back to sleep. Not enough time for me to really soak in all of her features. I remember looking at her feet last month and thinking....wow, what great feet! I never really looked at them during those early weeks. Times have changed! Not only is she awake for longer, but when she is awake its wonderfully interactive. She smiles and babbles at us and loves to have "conversations". She laughs at the dogs when they make all that noise (that I can't stand!). And she loves to examine my fingers - it could keep her busy for awhile just grasping each finger, one at a time, and really looking at it. In fact, I now realize why people buy all those infant playcenters and exersaucers and bouncies - she really only likes one activity for 15 mins and then needs something new!

Yesterday on her playmat she was really lifting her bottom and shifting it over her leg. SOOO close to rolling over. Of course that pesky arm kept getting in her way :) The first video is long and shows her trying...and trying...and trying to get all the way over. The second video starts as she is "stuck" up on her side and then how she figures out to move that arm and complete her rollover. Watch out world - Here comes Emily!

Something New...Laughing!

Miss Emily is changing so much these days. You can watch her mind "think" and try to understand everything around her. Shawn and I have been trying for days to get her to laugh. You could tell she was so close...she would get this big grin and then....HAH. But that was it. After all our hard work the one thing that gets her to actually laugh is the dog Holly. A little ironic since Holly is the one housemate that really could care less that there is a baby here. You have to listen carefully to the video but you start to hear her babble and then there is her first laugh. :) We were able to get her to laugh at Holly all day yesterday and had a lot of fun with it!

Its been a while since my last post. Since then, Emily continues to "talk" a lot! She must get that from me :) She is a very smiley baby so I thought I would post a blog of her smiles and coos.

New Emily Pix and Video

Mother's Day Visit with Family

On Saturday of Mother's Day weekend, Emily and I met up with Gran, Aunti, Zach, and Alex at the carousel in Hartford. We had a great time riding on the horses!!

Emily finally woke up for the last ride and was staring at all the pretty lights.

Slumber Party with Cousins!

Emily had a great slumber party with her cousins! The next morning everyone watched cartoons together.
Sitting with Alexander - Emily is a very happy baby!

Getting kisses from her cousin!

Even Atlas joined in the morning cuddles. He climbed up and sat right in Zachary's lap!

Mornings With Emily

Emily wakes up very happy in the mornings in her big girl crib. We can barely hear her on the baby monitor as she wakes up and just looks around sometimes talking to herself instead of crying. When we go in to get her, she always has a few smiles for us!



Then we move to the changing table to get dressed for the day! She always has a lot to say to us but today it sounded like she was complaining. Dirty diaper? no. Hungry? maybe. Bad Dream? I hope not. Just feels like complaining? Probably :) She is a girl after all!

At one point, it almost sounds like a cat meowing!

Girls Get Together

Last weekend I hosted our monthly "Girls Luncheon". A group of friends that have been getting together for the last 9 years after meeting when we worked together. A few of them brought their kids along for the day...so Emily had her first "Girls Luncheon"!
Yes, this is a REAL smile! Miss Emily was having a great time visiting with some girlfriends. :)

Trip to the Aquarium

On Saturday we took Emily for her first visit to the Mystic Aquarium. Although she slept most of the time, she certainly looked cute doing it!Emily...still sleeping...
Emily and papa at the big fish tank.
Emily and momma at the big fish tank and although you can't see in the picture, she actually was awake for these pix.
Family photo at the penguin exhibit.

Good Little Sleeper

Wow - Miss Emily slept all the way through the night! I put her down at her usual time around 10PM last night. She usually wakes up around 3:30am for a quick diaper change and feeding but I woke myself up around 5am and thought....is the baby ok? Yup, she was still sleeping :) She finally woke up around 6am which is perfect - just in time to spend the morning with papa as he got ready for work and then back to sleep around 8am. Now I just need to figure out how to get her to sleep like that every night!!

Easter at Uncle Brad's in Boston

Miss Emily's Easter shirt - Somebunny loves me!
All bundled and strapped into her carseat for the 2 hour drive to Boston. Emily did great in the car (she's a really good traveler) and spent the ride between sleeping and eyes wide open looking around.
Billy (Emily's cousin once removed...in other words, my 1st cousin) loves babies and enjoyed holding her.
Adrian (Emily's 2nd cousin...or my cousin Matt's son) also really loved holding her. He was singing her songs - too cute!
Spending time with momma...

Emily's New Playmat

We bought Emily this playmat because she was really enjoying laying in her bassinet just looking up at the mobile. We thought she would enjoy having more to look at and touch.
She really loves looking at herself in the mirror!

Papa really enjoys it too!


Emily is now talking to her reflection and kicking at the dangling animals - how fun!!

Hangin with Momma in the Morning

Emily wakes up very happy every morning! She is just starting to make little faces and "coo". We've been trying desperately to get this on video...here is my best attempt so far.

Bath Time!!

These pix are from her 2nd bath. The first one was videotaped so we weren't thinking to take pictures. :) She also enjoyed this bath more than the first - I think she had to get used to it!
Talking to momma and papa...
Wash behind those ears!!
Chillin in the warm bath water, aahhhh.....