Half a year already?!?!?!?!

First things first... finding time to mommy blogging is hard.  I haven't been on here in a LOOOOOONG time.  I need to do a better job of documenting E's life.  Would day-by-day be too much? Overboard? Psycho? Hmmmm.  I think so.

Well, it's been a whopping 6 months and 2 days since my little sweet cheeks was born.  Everyday has been a miracle and a challenge.  Life is so full of smiles now that she's in our lives.  Oh and don't forget the frustrations too.  Who knew every day could be so sweet and make you realize how lucky you are, then one second later, make you want to pull our hair out.  Awww, kids!

So here's a great video of the good times.  E's little laugh is so cute.

Her measurements from 4 mo to now:
@ 4 months-                                    
ht: 23 3/4 inches
wt: 13 pounds
head cir: 16 inches
clothing size: 0-3mo and 3-6 mo
diaper size:  2

@6 months-
ht:  26 inches
wt: 14 pounds 14 ounces
head cir: 17 inches
clothing size: 6 months
diaper size: 2
                           
Her likes and dislikes:
Likes-                                
a bath                                    
wearing hats                          
sweet potatoes                      
bananas & apples                                    
doggies                                  
going on walks

Dislikes-
bedtime
wearing socks
squash
peas
getting dressed
the stroller (she'd rather be held)

mom love:
this is were i want to gush about my cuddle bunny.  she's a smart and silly little girl.  i can't wait for her to crawl, her first steps, her first tooth, her first words (better be mama or someone will get hurt, just kidding, or am I?), her first friend, her first day of school, her first everything.  I think you get the picture.  When babies are this young it's impossible not to wonder what they will grow up to be.  E has the strength of a toddler, the will of an adult, and the smile of an angel.  i bet she plays sports, but if she doesn't that's fine.  i want her to follow her heart and be what she wants to be.  i used to want to be a smurf, so maybe she will have higher aspiration than i did.  her father wanted to be an architect (what an over-achiever), so let's hope she leans toward that and not a small blue animated thing.  when i look at her, i know time will go so fast, that soon she'll be sixteen, then in college, then married... whoa, whoa, whoa.  mind slow down please.  i look at her as she is sleeping and realize when (if, haha, i can retire at 29, right?) i go back to work, i will miss spending all this time with her.  these are memories that I am so lucky to have.  she will probably not want to take naps with her momma before too long.  so, right now, as she struggles to leave my side, i cherish it.  i'm sorry to those who get tears when you try to hold her, but those tears remind me that she thinks i'm the best thing since sliced bread.

tara

it's a girl, her dad, and some rice cereal

today we dove into a new tasty treat called rice cereal.  i tried to be a nice wifey and get the grocery shopping done, so we didn't have to fight everyone and their dog over the weekend, and i grabbed some Gerber rice cereal for E.  i figured now is as good a time as any to see if the girl can eat like her momma.  and.....(drum roll......).... she can.  makes me so proud.

i attempted her first introduction at lunch, four bites, not all that interested.  would rather take her bottle.  i didn't push it, since the handout from the doctor's office said it's good to ease into it.  whatever that means.  how do you ease into eating cereal as a 4 month old? anyway, i told myself i'd let her try it, if she was ready great, if not, oh well.  so after my attempt, i figured it wasn't her time and we'd have to wait a few more weeks.  i sent ryan a quick pic of his sweetness trying cereal for the first time, then curled up on the couch with my darlin' and took a siesta. what a great friday!

when the man of the house came home, he was eager to try the cereal with her.  i think guys like when their kids first learn to eat because it's messy.  he just wanted to see how messy she could get without me getting antsy and pulling out the steam mop.  for whatever reason, today i didn't care about a mess.  i think i'm too tired this week to even care about the tidiness, or lack there of, of my house.  i say this after i swept the kitchen, vacuumed the carpet and couches (thanks dogs that shed like there's no tomorrow), and did all our laundry.  guess i cared a little, huh.

but i recorded this 'real' attempt at rice cereal with her dad.  moms out there, ever feel like you do all the dirty work all day, and sometimes can't get your kiddos to do/try anything, then dad comes home and they are all for it?  that's how this new adventure went down.  dad had the magic touch with the cereal.  i see a new full-time job for ryan in the near future!!!  he will hear me say, "but she likes it when her daddy feeds her."

here's the video and some photos of our neighbor Sophie.  she's just a couple month younger than E and she's wreaking havoc and mayhem on her parents as well.  she's such a sweet little thing.

have a great weekend!

Sophie:

More E:

ps- i just set up a youtube account and this video was only 3 minutes, but it took forever to get it uploaded. sheesh, when E wants to do a music video to make it big like justin beiber, i'll be waiting forever to upload that.  

pps- i'm sacrificing good sleep for this post...what am i thinking. 

my first day as a 4 month old -posted by EMARIE

alright, so i can't type, yet, so i'm telling my mom everything i want to say.  my mom is like my personal assistant.  i really couldn't live without her.  you know like famous people have people do everything for them, well that's kinda like my mom.  if i liked coffee, i would have her get me a vente white chocolate mocha from Aspen Coffee in Stillwater, OK.

i am actually going to start my story by telling ya'll about yesterday... i had to go to this place called the doctor.  my mom swears my doctor is a nice lady, but all i remember is those pokey things {shots}. Wowsers!  it all began like any other day, i woke up, i was in my usual good mood, had some breakfast. next, i played in my exersaucer (picture of me in action to follow), mom got me dressed, then strapped me into my car seat and with a smile on her face said, "you ready to go bye-bye?  my library books are ready to go pick up and you are almost out of formula."  sounded like fun.  i'm up for a car ride anytime, i just don't understand why the cars have to stop so much.  i would quickly learn that she conveniently left out the trip to a little place called Healthcare for Children, or the most awful place on earth if you ask kids.  thanks mom.  i've got your number lady.  i will remember this.  you like sleep right... well, i'll be sure to get you back.

anyway- i took a catnap while mom drove around running errands, and the next thing i know, i'm naked, in a cold chair, with a paper napkin stuck to my bum {the scale}.  when i saw that stranger, mom called her a nurse, i knew i was in for trouble.  i tried to cry to keep her away, but it didn't work.  she'd later get me good.  the stranger put a ruler around my head and made me lay on a table as she stretched my leg off.  it was pure torture, you guys.  then she left.  did the tears work?  no time to celebrate, another stranger came in.  she had a warm smile and a nice voice, but i cried anyway.  i thought i would get some relief because the doctor kept saying nice things as she stuck a flat wooden object in my mouth and a funnel thingy in my ear.  how could she expect me to like that? she even said i have a perfectly shaped head.  maybe my daddy will let me be a head model? just kidding,  there's no such thing.  is there? well, my dad says i will play soccer.  play...okay, i like that.  soccer, sure, if it's play, i'm in.  now my results from the doctor (in case you forgot what i was at 2 month, click here):

4 months:
-height- 23 3/4 inches  {up almost 2 inches. call me Yao Ming}
-weight- 13 lbs  {up a little over 2 1/2 lbs}
-head circumference- 16 inches {the brain has grown almost 2 inches too. move over Stephen Hawking}

i have no idea what these things mean or what the 25-50th percentile means, but that's where i am.  all i know is that i'm not a fan of the doctor.  what kind of lady can sleep at night after she pokes a baby like me?

now TODAY!  i had a great day.  i napped, played with my toys, napped, got in my swing, napped, played some more, had a few diaper changes, and napped.  i ate too.  i can eat 4 oz at one time.  sometimes 5.  i'm getting big.  i walked around the house with my personal assistant {mom} and took pics of some of my favorite things. here's what i'm into these days:

this is pressley the pachyderm, i eat his nose sometimes

i love the nuk fatas...aka pacifiers

my cousin aubriana taught me about spongebob

my mom's cool pillows. i stare at them a lot.

this is me working out in my new exersaucer

i love to blow bubbles. oh and thanks Matt and Amy Garrett for my cute outfit!!!

my poppa calls me a pwwincess all the time.
P.S.- see my perfectly shaped noggin?  i got my dad's ears. 

emarie