She Walked!

Yep, Emily has taken her first steps.

Wednesday night Emily was standing up in the living room, crying, ready for her bottle and bed. Instead of getting her bottle and putting her to bed, I encouraged her to take a few steps towards me - and she did. She cried the whole way - but she made it. Then she did it again.

Everyday we try and get her to walk on her own a little bit more. Today she tried a few times on her own, without our encouragement. I think the most steps she's taken at one time is five or six. But she did it! She's not a walker yet - but she's on her way!

We tried to get it on video tonight, but Emily wasn't really into showing off for the camera. Soon - very soon - I'll get it on video.

(Don't ya just love the cheesy, generic photo I added?)

Wordless Wednesday - pink eye & strep throat

Swimming!

Emily had her first experience in a swimming pool this weekend. It wasn't a complete success, but it wasn't a failure either.

Emily used to LOVE bath time but lately it has been a challenge, so I wasn't sure how she would react to the pool. Emily HATED the pool at first. She made some of the worst faces I've ever seen when she first got in. Then, after a few minutes, Brad blew on her face and dunked her all the way in. When she came up she smiled and then cried. Silly girl.

We spent a few minutes just walking around, holding her in the pool. She got used to the cold water and started to have a little more fun. She had a great time sitting and standing on the steps, playing with the water. I think she had more fun playing with the dogs.

Hopefully, she'll enjoy the water more the more we take her in this summer. I'm thinking about signing her up for Learn to Swim classes at our local rec center.

Doesn't she look cute in her swim suit?

Emily and Daddy playing in the pool

Mama and Emily drying off

All Done!

Emily's eye procedure is over. She did great! She's sitting in her highchair eating a late lunch/snack right now. There is no bruising or redness. We have to put eye drops in twice a day for the next three days - but that's it. She has no restrictions on her at all. And you can already tell a big difference in her eye.

Thanks for the prayers!

Friday Morning

Emily has her eye procedure Friday morning. I'm not sure what I'm dreading more - the procedure itself or waiting in the doctor's stupid office. Joy.

The procedure is about 30 seconds long and is uncomfortable. I don't really know many more details than that. Hopefully it's really as easy as the doctor made it sound at the last appointment. I'm not sure what her recovery will be like - but I hope it's not bad. If all goes as planned, we shouldn't have to go back to the eye doctor for several years.

Please keep our little red head in your prayers tomorrow morning.

And because I can't post without a picture - here's our sweet girl getting down the step from the hallway to the living room.

Wordless Wednesday - Flash Back to 9 Months Ago

A New Language

Once a baby (or child) enters your home, learning a second language is a must. There isn't a work book, video, or Rosetta Stone for this language. No one can really teach you this language, it's just something you'll pick up, even create on your own. You'll start speaking it without even realizing it. There's just something very easy and normal about it.

Baby Talk.

The other day I paid extra attention to how we talk with Emily. Brad and I each have our own version of Baby Talk. I add an "ie" or "y" to the end of words or repeat them:
poop = poopie
nap = nappy nap
bye = bye bye
Pelican = Pellie (Emily has a stuffed pelican that she sleeps with)
Emily = Emi
Banjo = Banji Banj
Frog = froggy
Sleep = night nights or sleepy time

Brad's version of Baby Talk is to sing everything. He's always "writing" a song about what we are doing. He's got 2-3 tunes that all of his songs go to. Some are funny, some are inappropriate, and some are really good. I think the sweetest song he's written is the Baby Emily song. I've only heard it a couple of times - but I think he sings it to Emily every day.

There is also a third version of Baby Talk around our house. It's how Brad and I talk about all things baby, without talking to the baby. This was the hardest version of Baby Talk to figure out. It's really more or a code word system. When I say, "I'm going to the back" and there are people around. It means, "I've gotta go pump".

Yes, I know it's all silly. But it's part of having a baby. And now it's time for me to go night, nights.

9 Months Old!

Sweet baby Emily is now 9 months old. That's 39 weeks. I was pregnant with her for 39 weeks. Crazyness.

Once again, she was a little devil when it came to taking her picture. But she was having big fun trying to avoid me and the camera.

So what has Emily been up to this month:

• She had her 9 month check up today. She is 28" long (75%) and is 18 lbs (30%)


• Standing up more and more. She loves to stand up and can stand, unassisted for longer periods of time.


• Walking with her push toy. She loves her little push toy. She doesn't need help from Mom or Dad to go from one end of the room and back again.


• So Big! Grandma taught her this little "trick". All you have to say is, "So Big!" and Emily will put her hands above her head. It's adorable.


• Drinking from a cup! Yep, Emily is drinking from a cup with a straw. The other night we were at dinner and she kept reaching for my water. I gave her the straw and she started drinking. We went and got her a straw cup right after that. She loves her little cup.


• Eating is still a challenge. I think she wants to be done with the purees but she hasn't quite figured out table food yet. We do a little of both at each meal. We've tried grilled cheese, potatoes, french fries and a few other things. Little girl still loves her veggies.


• Breathing treatments. Stupid RSV. Emily started breathing treatments, a long lasting affect of RSV in November.


• Went to the eye doctor. Emily had her first appointment with an eye doctor. She has a partially blocked tear duct. We are giving her eye drops to see if that clears it up - if not, she'll have a minor "procedure" to clear it out.

• Teeth! She's got six teeth and I'm pretty sure we are working on #7.

Wordless Wednesday - Sad to Happy

I Should Be in Bed...

Emily and Brad went to bed early tonight. I've had the house to myself since about 8 p.m. I told myself that I would get a few things done and then go to bed early, too. I got some stuff done - packed the bags for tomorrow, made my lunch, cleaned the living room and kitchen floors, and cleaned Emily's toys.

And now, I should be in bed, but I'm not. I'm up, typing away, watching a TV show I don't care about, and getting freaked out by the tree outside our backdoor. But most of all, I'm enjoying a few quiet, moments to myself.

My life has changed a lot in the last 3 years since Brad and I got married. But it's really changed in the last, almost 9 months. Relationships have changed and priorities have shifted. Just recently all of this "change" has had me in a funk.

Since getting married and having a baby every relationship I have has been affected - our marriage, friends, family, co-workers, etc.

Our marriage is always going to be changing. And it will always require work. Brad and I are learning how to communicate and love each other with a little girl around. We are learning to talk to each other in a new way, learning how to best help each other and how to take time for just us.

The relationship I once had with some friends is fading. It's hard to hang out with single people when a husband and baby are part of the package. And people I once had nothing in common with - I'm turning to for advice, on an almost daily basis. I'm learning to form new friendships.

Relationships with family members has changed - I'm becoming more of an equal and less of a "child" in their eyes. Such a strange dynamic.

The relationship I have with work and co-workers is different, too. I go to work to work, but it's also a good outlet and way for some adult interaction. Before Emily it seemed like my life revolved around work. Now, my life revolves around a sweet little girl and her daddy. And as much as I LOVE that - it takes some adjusting.

I miss being able to stay out until 1 a.m. just talking with friends. I miss having something to talk about other than diapers, pumping or baby food. I miss being invited places. I miss being able to pick up and go.

However, I wouldn't trade hugs from Emily, laughing at her laugh, or watching Brad play with our little girl for anything in the world.

Don't get my wrong - I LOVE my life. I love my husband and baby girl more than I ever thought possible. And I'm not complaining, I'm just learning to adjust to my new and different life.

How could I not love my life when I get to wake up to these two every day?

And now, I'm going to bed.

My Patience is Being Tested

I'm usually a pretty patient person. When dealing with customer service reps or front line office staff, I try to be as kind and understanding as possible. But after going to more doctor appointments than I can count in the last 18 months, my patience is quickly running thin. I've had my fill of doctor's that don't run an efficient office and an incompetent insurance company this week.

Tuesday we took Emily to an eye specialist due to a blocked tear duct. She had the first appointment of the day, 7:30 am. We arrived at 7:20 am, had all of our paper work filled out by 7:30. We didn't see the doctor until about 9:00 am.

Why? Problems with insurance, waiting in waiting room #1, waiting in exam room #1, waiting in waiting room #2, and waiting in exam room #2. We maybe spent 5 minutes with the nurse (exam #1) and 4 minutes with the doctor (exam #2).

Yep, we were there for about 100 minutes. Less than 10 of those minutes were productive. The doctor was nice enough, he was good with Emily, explained things and gave us our options. But really, did he have to waste 90 minutes of our time?

My OB was never on time. It didn't matter what time my appointment was, 8am or 4:00pm, I knew I'd be there for at least 90 minutes (for a 5 minute exam). I was a little more forgiving with her for several reasons: I like her, she's always given excellent care, and I know that she can get called away to deliver a baby at any moment. But it's still annoying and wasting my time.

It seems that specialists are the worst. My primary care doctor is wonderful about being on time. I've never waited more than 5 minutes to see him. Emily's pediatrician is great. I feel like we still get excellent care and I don't walk out of their offices annoyed with the whole experience. Why can't these other doctor's figure it out?

And then top it off with an incompetent insurance company. That's another story, for another day.

Don't even get Brad started on all of this. Maybe, if we are all lucky enough, he'll rant about it on his blog.

The good news - Emily is fine. She has a partially blocked tear duct. We are going to try some eye drops over the next week (if the insurance mess ever gets figured out) to clear it up. If it doesn't, she will have a little procedure (about 30 seconds) in the doctor's office to clear it up.

Wordless Wednesday - She Loves Her Walker

We Have A (almost) Walker!

Emily wants to walk so bad! Her little head is ready to walk, but her legs are quite there. So on Friday, Emily, Grandma and I headed to Kid to Kid to find a walker for Emily.

Emily wasn't too sure of her new toy at first. We showed her how to use it and then left it alone. This afternoon, Brad and I look up and Emily is walking across the living room! She's figured it out and LOVES her walker. She gets mad when she gets to the end of the room and can't turn around. I know it won't be long before she's walking on her own. Here's a little video of her "walking".

Stupid RSV

Emily had a rough week - poor little girl. She had a fever for a few days, congested and coughing. But she was still a playful and happy. Brad and I kept thinking that everything was due to teething and allergies. Wednesday morning she woke up with a fever, again, and I decided it was time to see the doctor.

Late Wednesday morning, Emily and I headed to her pedi's office. Come to find out, teething was not the cause of the fever or congestion. It's a lasting result of her RSV. Emily had RSV in November and anytime she gets a cold for the next year or so, it's going to be much worse. The doctor put her on breathing treatments. We have to give her 4-6 treatments per day for the next week. And then on an as needed basis.

Emily is not a fan of the breathing treatments. She gets the saddest eyes and tugs at my hair. It breaks my heart every time I have to give her a treatment. But the treatments are helping. Emily's fever finally broke on Friday. Her nose is running like crazy, but she isn't breathing nearly as hard or coughing as much. And she's eating a little bit better.

Brad had really bad asthma as a child (he was on breathing treatments) and there is a history of asthma in my family. I mentioned that to the doctor but she wouldn't even talk about asthma at this point. She said she's had several kids grow out of RSV around age 2. If Emily continues to have problems after that, we'll talk about asthma. The doctor did mention that if Emily hadn't been breastfed that this could be a lot worse and may help prevent asthma (yet another reminder of why it's important for me to keep pumping!).

Hopefully we can knock this out of her system soon and we can have a non-snotty baby!