Showing posts with label Emerson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Emerson. Show all posts

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Baby #2

I thought this deserved more than just a mention in the previous post.  So here goes…We are expecting a new baby boy in June!  Yea!  No name just yet.  Emerson has affectionately named him “Bobby”.  I think it came by coaxing her to say “Baby Brother”.  But now we just refer to him as “Bobby” and I guess its sticking.  (However cute that is…I can say with confidence that he will not be named “Bobby”.)  Now here are my real thoughts… 

O.M.G. 

I have some serious plans for our house.  Here is a brief house plan explanation.  Think of our house as a square box.  There is a bedroom located on each corner which means that the living space is all in the middle (disregard the bonus room upstairs…also known as the “man cave and guitar museum”).  The baby rooms will be all on one side sharing a jack-and-jill bath.  This means that our current playroom will be the new baby’s room.  Therefore, after many long discussions, we have decided to change our guest room into a playroom.  It just doesn’t make sense to keep a room solely dedicated to using approximately 6 weekends a year.  At first, I didn’t think that would fly…But after many sleepless nights (*sarcasm*), I decided it is OUR house.  And we need to use it in ways that would best work for US.  That’s not saying we won’t still have out of town guests.  But we just won’t have the traditional guest room fluffed (yes, I said fluffed) to the liking of others.  So after all that blah blah blah’ing about the dynamics of our house, I am trying to say that the guest room needs to be cleaned out, furniture removed, painted, and turned into the playroom…then the current playroom needs to be cleaned out, painted, and turned into a new nursery…then various other small house projects need to be completed.  It’s a lot of work.  And as I just figured out, we have 16 weeks to do it all.  O.M.G.

But beyond house changes, we really know what to expect this go round.  I guess that is why it has been a non-issue so far.  I just wish I had time to clean or organize like I did before Emerson.  But as soon as I pat myself on the back for putting things in their proper bins or cabinets, Emerson is “yea’ing” and clapping at herself for pulling it all out and handing it to me [my eyes are rolling even as I type this]. 

I decided to take a break from nursery shopping tonight to write this blog entry (i.e. checking out tons of websites, storing ideas in my brain, and then most likely do nothing with any of them).  I guess its normal to do this, but I keep peeking at the baby girl stuff.  It’s just so dang cute!  The baby boy stuff I have found just isn’t as cute…and beyond that, there just isn’t as much of it as there is for little girl’s.  So sad!  Truthfully, I had secretly hoped for a girl.  Beyond having the most adorable nursery, Emerson had/has the most adorable wardrobe.  And as she grows out of things, I want to turn back time so she can wear it just one more time.  I bought a few things along the way that I didn’t really love.  It was okay and it fulfilled the purpose of why we bought it (cotton shirts or play clothes).  So as I packed things away and started getting things ready to consign, I really really really hoped for that second girl.  But alas, it’s a boy.  On the up-side, I am enjoying buying little boy things.  And from this point on, I decided that Emerson and “Bobby” will always be dressed in things that are cute, no matter the occasion.  I almost said “clean” too, but that’s just impossible.  Of course, it’s clean when put on…After that, well, it’s not going to stay that way for long.  So in the meantime, I will keep looking for that sweet baby boy nursery inspiration I need. 

Saturday, March 6, 2010

2010 BCS National Championship

We were 3 of the lucky 90,000 to attend the 2010 BCS National Championship in Pasadena, California, this past January.  We had 3 tickets so all 3 of us went.  (Yes, Emerson had to have her own ticket.)  Emerson was great!  No lie!  It was her very first football game and such a memorable game to go to.  Not many can say they were there, much less, say it was their first football game.  Here are a few pictures from our travels…

Day 1:  Full day of travel. 

Emerson at 7 months on her fifth airplane ride.  She’s becoming a pro.DSC04908

Day 2:  Santa Monica and Venice Beach.

Santa Monica Beach…DSC04924

Santa Monica Pier…DSC04928

Check out the scenery…DSC04923 Route 66…DSC04933

Ice cream, please.  DSC04937Sunset at Venice Beach.DSC04959

Day 3:  Game Day!!!  Roll Tide Roll!

Dressed for the game and ready to go!DSC04964 Bevo (Texas mascot) arrives…DSC04968Tailgating.  It’s hot and we are already tired, but Emerson gave me a hand.DSC04977The Rose Bowl!DSC04986 Emerson is strapped on and ready to head in to the stadium.DSC04987 Almost kickoff!DSC04989 Game time!  Roll Tide!DSC04993

One of us had to eat instead of watch the game…DSC05016 And one of us got cold…DSC05019 And then one of us got sleepy…DSC05048 But we won anyway!  Roll Tide!DSC05051 Roll Tide Roll!DSC05066Day 4:  Hollywood Boulevard (Walk of Fame)

What is it with men’s Chuck Norris obsession?DSC05080

Tom Hanks is a perfect fit!DSC05088

Apparently, I would make Judy Garland look like munchkin.DSC05091

A quick stop at a soda shop…DSC05094

Among Alabama, Emerson had to stop at Walt Disney and Elvis.DSC05107

Long day…Need sippy cup…DSC05119

And a nap…DSC05121

Day 5:  Beverly Hills (including Rodeo Drive)

Lunch on Rodeo Drive with mimosa, yes please.DSC05126 We even saw Santa…DSC05134 And then had a famous Sprinkles cupcake for a bedtime dessert.DSC05141

Day 6:  Another really long travel day.  Apparently, I forgot to take pictures.

I hope you enjoyed the pictures.  It took me a while just to download them from my camera and then it took me even longer just to post them.  The trip was a dream come true.  I never thought I would get to go to a National Championship game at the Rose Bowl no less!  I will remember it forever!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Friday, November 20, 2009

Baby Food

Emerson started “solids” recently (as solid as you can call it I guess).  She has only had the Gerber Organic bananas and applesauce so far.  I planned to make all of her baby food…Nothing against the jarred stuff…I just planned to make most of it.  At her 4 month appointment, the pediatrician surprised me by saying that she was ready for the stage 1 solids.  I had heard that babies traditionally started solids at 6 months so I wasn’t “prepared” to run home and break out the baby spoons (especially since I didn’t have any).  Her 4 month appointment was a little late, and then we got busy with life in general, and I wanted our schedule to slow down before we officially started solids.  Here are a few pictures from Emerson’s first taste of bananas:IMG_0413

I will do it myself, Thanks.IMG_0414

Why must you take pictures of me ALL the time?  Can’t you see I am eating???IMG_0419

More, please.IMG_0421

This summer, I was in the midst of cleaning our small food processer.  I sliced two of my fingers while cleaning the blade.  Well, that decided that - I would be buying a baby food specific processer rather than using my KitchenAid version.  I ordered the ultimate baby food processer this week…    img49m

So I know I will be posting lots of “eating” pictures in the future…But I will still end with a few more from the first taste of apples…(bananas were first, apples were second, pears will be third…)IMG_0485

Yummm…This applesauce hit the spot…IMG_0498

This is why I bought a new camera.  I love how there is no delay when taking pictures.  I am able to capture some of the best and funniest facial expressions instantly!  (Some pictures on my blog are from my new Canon camera and others from my Sony Cybershot.  I keep my Cybershot in my purse so it just depends on which one is handy.)

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

There is more to life than just living…

I have been so busy with living my life (i.e. home, work, plain survival) that I haven’t just spent time to sit back and enjoy it. Sometimes, I realize just how many days have flown by with nothing to show for them. I woke up this morning to a sleeping baby slowly edging me out of the bed. As I watched her sleep so soundly, I remembered how just a few months ago, she couldn’t lift her own head, sit up, or do 99% of the things she can today. It’s so sad that I might have missed something already, but it’s also a reminder of how much more there is to come and how precious it all is.

Last night, Emerson was full of energy. I didn’t think she would ever be ready to go to sleep and she showed absolutely no signs of slowing down. So Emerson and I cuddled up in my bed and both fell asleep to the sounds of Phillip’s guitar coming from upstairs. We don’t co-sleep very often and its usually not pre-planned. She has her crib and I have my bed. But my plans of calming her down and getting her sleepy, usually turns into me falling asleep. The beauty of waking up with her beside me is getting to watch her slowly stretch, open her eyes just enough to check out her surroundings, and then see the biggest grin appear on her face when she sees me. After a peaceful night of sleep, Emerson is in her prime. So happy and full of smiles and giggles. So instead of jumping out of bed, rushing my morning shower, and then running out the door, I spent time truly enjoying the moment.

The consequences of this slow morning: I arrived at work an hour late. But it was worth it. I love the flexibility of my job, but at the same time, I worry that trying to work full-time and keep Emerson out of daycare is going to make me go crazy. I feel terrible when all I can think about at the end of the day is putting Emerson to bed and me sitting on the couch for a few minutes before I too am in bed.

I loved our quick trip to the beach. And I love any time I get to spend with her. I just hope to take advantage of the small moments. We all spend so much time worrying about the “big” moments that we forget about all the time in between.

Monday, November 16, 2009

The Beach

Phillip and I woke up Saturday morning…And decided to go to the beach. We threw enough in a bag to last us until Sunday afternoon and were on our way. The best thing about getting away, if even for just a night, is that we don’t have anything to do. If we were to stay at home, there are lots of things staring us in the face…laundry, dishes, water plants, take the trash out, clean…etc. At the beach, there is nothing… And that’s the real beauty of it.

So we started off with lunch at LuLu’s, then picked up a few drinks and snacks at Publix, then to the condo. We turned on the TV to watch some football…And we all fell asleep…for a few hours…until the Alabama game started at 6. We ran out for Franco’s take-out at half time. After the game, we watched a bit more football and then SNL (only to find that its still not that funny). And then back to bed…We were so tired. So our time at the beach was mostly spent sleeping, but it was awesome nonetheless. We apparently needed it.

This is what a happy rested baby looks like…IMG_0543

This morning, I was able to test out my new camera with Emerson on the beach. The weather was gorgeous and the water actually felt great. Emerson had her first taste of sand…literally. And she loved it!

IMG_0624IMG_0637IMG_0648IMG_0665

Monday, November 9, 2009

Trick or Treat?!?!!!

Drum roll please…Introducing Emerson in her very first Halloween costume…IMG_0288IMG_0269IMG_0285IMG_0274 I was worried that it would be way too big, but it fits almost perfectly. There aren’t too many costumes for babies her age. So I just picked something simple and we will get really creative next year.

As you can see she was really excited to have it on. I could never get a smile, but at least I didn’t always get screaming…DSC04664 Sorry this was so late…I will try and do better!