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

Chatterbox

I think we are going to have a pretty social little boy on our hands.  Emerson loves to talk, especially in the mornings.  If you get him going, he will monologue.  It is just SO fun to listen to!  Recently, he has started talking when he wakes up, instead of crying.  It's fun to listen to him on the monitor.  You'll even hear an occasional giggle or squeal.  And he'll talk while riding in the backseat of the car, facing the rear of the car.  He doesn't even need an audience!  Conversing with Emerson is one of my favorite things to do with him.  I think it's one of his favorite things too.  He would rather talk with mom and dad than play with a toy, for sure. 

He has also started noticing other babies the last few weeks.  He smiles at them and squeals.  He's done this with several of our baby friends, but he also does this with the baby in the mirror.  At first I don't think he realized the baby in the mirror was himself.  But now I'm starting to wonder if he knows.  He will do different motions, like stomp his foot, repeatedly and watch real closely in the mirror.  And he smiles at himself and stares right into his own eyes.  It's real cute.  Who knows if he realizes it's himself, but this is one of our regular activities to do each day because it's pretty entertaining. 

Who's that guy?

We also went to Petco today, because I had to buy something for Brody and I showed Emerson the fishes, birds, ferrets, and mice.  He watched them really intently, but didn't smile or anything.  He probably knows they're similar to Brody (all animals), but doesn't know what they are.  Then we strolled on over to Barnes and Noble and enjoyed a few books.  It was a fun outing with my little man.

I think he was dreaming that he was either a superhero or a rockstar

Hubba Hubba, Hubby

Caleb is lucky enough to have his birthday fall right around father's day every year.  Now that he is a father, we will try not to just combine the two.  I have to be a good wife and post about what a wonderful husband I have on my blog or else I would look bad... just kidding :)  In all seriousness, I do feel like I am the luckiest girl alive.  Those of you who don't know Caleb very well might already know that he's quite the hunk ;)  But when you get to know him more, you realize there is more to him than his dashing good looks, much more.

Caleb is the most kind, gentle, patient, laid back, wise man I know.  He is a godly man who is a leader to our family.  He has always been a wonderful husband to me.  And as I've seen lately, he is an amazing, fun dad as well.  Emerson already loves him so much!  I never have any reason to complain about him to my friends.  Most of the time I have only good things to say!  I have not once wished I had married someone else.  I really do feel like Caleb is the perfect match for me.  His personality and life perspective are such great complements to mine.  He truly does make me a better person.  God has used Caleb in my life throughout the past several years to shape me more into who God wants me to be.  Not all husbands are like this.  I am humbled and grateful that God has given me such an amazing man to do life with.  I try to never take him for granted.  I love him and I love our little family.  We're feeling blessed that Caleb was born this day 25 years ago.  I know how much joy Emerson brought to us the day he was born, and I know that Caleb brought the same joy to his parents the day he was born.  Thanks, Gutshalls, for giving your son to me :) 

Anyway, just wanted to share with you what an amazing husband I have.  We are celebrating his life this week :)  Enjoy the pics below:

Konked on daddy's lap

Emerson, proud of his father's day card

Livin' for the weekends!

Hi friends.  I value weekends so much these days, since Caleb works full time now.  I'm lovin' every moment of family time.  Last night we went to Nick and Val's house to grill out and I meant to bring my camera to get some pics of our boys (their boy, Caleb, is 7 months) but I forgot the darned thing at home!  And I wished I had it too, because the boys were interacting with each other and Emerson even smiled at little Caleb.  They were instant friends :)

Caleb's friend, Kyle, is visiting for the weekend, so he stayed at our place last night.  I love having company, especially now that we have a guest room.  It feels good to feel hospitable!  And visitors are always fun.  So this morning we made it out to the farmer's market.  Fayetteville's farmer's market is the best I've been to.  Love the produce, live music, crowds, and dogs.  One of my favorite things about being a Fayettevillian.  We left the market with some lettuce, broccoli, and some tomato basil bread.  Yum!  Here is a pic of the boys.  Emerson is sporting Kyle's sunglasses.

Tomorrow we will go to church and then head up to Joplin for the afternoon to celebrate father's day, my mom's birthday, and Caleb's quarter-century birthday.  Caleb's first father's day :)  Love it.