Babies Galore!

We had our first play group this morning.  Six babies and five moms made it out.  The babies did great and the moms really enjoyed each others company!  It was fun to spend time with people who are experiencing the same thing as you.  Of course we had to get our little ones together for a photo shoot!  Here are a few of the pics:

The babies are clockwise starting with Emerson: Emerson Gutshall, Natalie Pond, Isaac Pond, Evalie Ryan, Jesse Covington, and Ruby Beckman.  They are all just so precious!  I'm so excited about play group!

Also, here is just a cute pic of Emerson that I've never posted.  Doesn't he look like a little teenager?

Also, sometimes when I'm changing his diaper, I roll him over just to get a cute little tushy view.  Then I give it a little squeeze :)

Who could resist?

Worry Wart

I have a confession.  Ever since I have become a mother, I find myself worrying for the safety of my little boy.  all. the. time.  First it was SIDS, then tornadoes (Joplin), then rare sicknesses (after following a blog about a sick baby boy), and now it's black widows (because we found two outside our house).  I'm telling you, everything is out to get Emerson!  I'm telling you that I have worried to the point of tears/being sick to my stomach.

I've learned that as a parent, you just want to protect your kids from anything bad ever happening to them.  However, I know that there is absolutely nothing I can do to protect him from every harmful thing.  It is out of my hands.  This is why I just have to trust the Lord.  God is Sovereign and if it is His will for Emerson to be on this earth, then He will protect him.  I am resolving to stop dwelling on all the bad things that could happen and just enjoy each day I have with him, trusting that I will probably have many years to come with this boy. 

I trust that if the Lord allows anything bad to happen to Emerson, it will teach him to depend on Christ, not himself or his mother.  The end.

Boogie Down

I guess now that I'm a mom I love weekends mostly for the family time.  Yesterday was a perfect day which began with homemade lemon poppyseed scones and coffee.  I may share the recipe with you later, because they were a big hit!  It proceeded with a trip to the Lobby of Hobbies, which is always a treat.  We got our creative juices flowing and have a project we will be working on and I will blog about later.  Hint: it involves doorknobs.

Then we came home and enjoyed lunch and a relaxing nap.  When Emerson woke up, we tried out solids for the first time.  I got some oat cereal with banana flavoring, which should add some more motivation to eat it!  Overall, Emerson did a fine job.  A lot of it came back out, but I think some actually went down.  He did a good job of opening his mouth and even went towards the spoon in an effort to eat.  I think this is because everything goes into his mouth these days, so it is only natural to put a spoon in there also.  We got a video of it, but it would take forever to download so here is a pic.

Emerson began the feeding session a bit fussy but ended in a pretty good mood.  I think it made him feel like a big boy eating something other than milk.  Also, Emerson had a doctor's appointment for his 4 month the other day and he is a growing boy!  He was 25.25 in long (65%) and almost 15 pounds (55%).  It took him two weeks to have a poop this last time, so the doctor said introducing solids may help.

Anyway, after feeding Emerson yesterday we had some more play time which eventually turned into a family dance party with Ray Charles.  Here is  cute video of Emerson gettin' down.



The night ended with pizza and a movie.  I love my little family and I value the time I have with them :)  It's the small things that bring my heart joy!

Laugh Out Loud!

This is Emerson's sweet laugh.  It's almost a lower, grunty laugh.  Baby laughs can't help but make you smile.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

So, I don't want to be a downer or anything, but from the start of the summer I have been so ready for fall to get here!  I normally don't mind summer too much.  However, when you have a tiny baby whose baby skin doesn't need lots of sun, then you just don't get out much.  To be honest, I think summer is my least favorite season.  For those of you who don't know this about me, I love winter.  I love snow.  I love "the holidays".  And I love being all cozy and warm inside when it's freezing outside.  I love warm drinks, and coats, and the cheeriness all around.  The other day, Caleb and I pretended that it was so cold outside and we were warm inside our house.  It made me happy inside.  What a good husband to go along with such a silly idea :) 

We are halfway through summer and I am eager to see the leaves change colors!  The school supplies are stocked and the fall decorations are out at hobby lobby.  The end is near!  We have enjoyed a restful naptime this Sunday afternoon and little E has taken a 2 hour nap.  But I now hear him squealing through the monitor as he does so often these days.  So I must go retrieve him.  Happy weekend!

try this on for size

Hello, friends!  I have not been as regular of a blogger as I would have liked this month, so I apologize for that!  I guess I will try to update you on a few of the bigger things going on.  I am excited right now because I'm starting a play group with other first time mommies!  I have recruited about 6 moms and 7 babies (due to twins).  We will start next week, so hopefully I will have some cute pics of all our lil babies!  It will be fun because the age range is very close (within 5 months from the oldest to the youngest).  If we continue to meet throughout the next few years then it will be fun since the kids will be so close in age!

On another note, I am starting to want another car.  When we were pregnant with Emerson, we had to sell our second car to help pay for him.  Having one car wasn't so bad for awhile because I could take Caleb to work/school and keep the car for the day.  Now that we have Emerson, I keep the car a few times a week and then let Caleb take it the other days.  However, I have learned that it is very difficult to wake a sleeping baby.  So if Emerson happens to be sleeping when it's time for Caleb to go in or time for us to pick him up, then I have to wake that sweet, sleeping baby and feel bad about it.  I have also learned that sometimes being cooped up in the house all day alone can get a little lonesome and boring for me and Emerson.  It will be better when it's not so hot out and we can go on more mid-day walks.  Most weeks I keep myself busy with friends, errands, and other activities.  But some days I really just wish I could get out when I don't have the car.  It will still be awhile before we get our second car.  

This is our financial plan:

1. Pay off the rest of student loans (we should reach this within the next few months)

2. Pay off a small loan we had for medical bills

3. Buy a car

4. Establish an emergency fund (Dave Ramsey style) that will provide for us for several months

5. Save for a house

So we won't end up getting a house for a few years, but we are content in our little duplex for awhile.

Finally, a little Emerson update.  He is just cute as ever.  Squeals a ton these days.  Really, really high pitched.  He loves to stand.  And he sleeps through the night now.  The other night he slept 12.5 hours.  He likes to go to bed early these days... I'm talkin' 6:30pm.  And he opens his mouth to give us kisses when we kiss him.  He will be 4 months old in 4 days and he will go get his shots tomorrow.  I will let you know his statistics (height/weight) when we find out!  Here are a few cute videos for your enjoyment.

Splish Splash

Emerson is getting very big these days, you guys.  He will have his four month appointment soon and I am eager to see how much he has grown!  We have kept pretty busy the last few weeks doing a little weekend traveling.  We went up to KC for a wedding on the 4th of July weekend.  And this past weekend we went camping in the 95 degree weather at Beaver Lake.  We managed to stay cool though in my parents' fancy schmancy new camper.  Emerson does great with traveling and still manages to sleep well when we are out of town.  He has been doing a few new things lately that I thought I would like to record. 

First, every once in awhile he will act shy.  If Caleb were holding him, for instance, and I smile at him he will sometimes get a goofy grin on his face and bury his face in Caleb's shoulder.  It is so funny, because I have no idea why he does it!  I didn't even know he was conscious enough of himself to be shy!  Anyway, it's kind of cute when he does it.

Second, Emerson loves to stand up, as I've already shared before.  He always is just lacking in the balance department.  But today, I wanted to see if he could stand on his own if I put his hands on the couch.  So I faced him towards the couch and draped his arms over the cushion and he stood without me touching him for 8 seconds!!  It was pretty crazy.  He just has really strong legs. 

Third, Emerson doesn't poop very much.  The last three poops have been very spaced out.  The most recent one was 12 days apart.  I called and spoke with a nurse and she said this was normal for breastfed babies, though 12 days was pushing it a little bit.  So, I guess I can just be thankful for not very many poopy diapers!

Fourth, Emerson has been experimenting with his vocal cords lately.  He now realizes that he can squeal very loud and very high.  He also likes to fluctuate his squeals (kind of vibrato-y).  Up, down, up, down... high, low, high, low.  And he loves it. 

Fifth, even more than talking lately, Emerson loves his hands.  They are always in his mouth and he is always slobbery.  He has his right hand permanently up in the air and he stares at it as if it is the most amazing thing on earth.  Then he will bring it to his mouth and suck on it for awhile. 

He has moved up to the 3-6 month clothing and I still continue to think he will never be this small again.  Today he slept in my arms and I just stared at him for awhile examining his face and enjoying his soft skin.  I just try to soak him up, because I know that in a few short months he will be all over the place.  I loved Emerson as a newborn when he was so dependent and desperate to eat and be swaddled and held.  But I love now how he has more reason to wake up each day than just to eat... he gets to interact with mommy and daddy and explore the world.  I know he will grow and age so fast and I will feel like he is just slipping out of my grip, because I want him to be small and mine forever. 

Here are a few pics from the past few weeks.  A lot of them are of us swimming (thus the title of this post). 

Great Grandma & Grandpa Jensen

Brody soakin' up the love

At Caleb's grandparents' pool

Family shot!

Ashley and Caeden at the lake

Just chillin'

Brody LOVES to swim :)

Sittin' in Nana's camper