until we're in the States for good (or at least a few years)!
It's hard to believe that our time in Europe is coming to an end. We've had wonderful experiences and met great people while we've been here, however, we are looking forward to being back in America closer to family and friends.
We're also looking forward to American foods and conveniences including:
- Pay at the pump gas stations
- Mexican food
- Being able to go shopping on Sunday
- Bagels
- Roads wide enough for more than 1 car
- Short commute to work
-Carpeted floors and a house that doesn't echo
We're sure that there's more, but this is what comes to mind right now. =)
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
5 months has flown by!
Emma turned 5 months old today! My how the time flies!
She can sit up by herself now, although she still wobbles a bit, especially when she's tired. She has a lot of fun playing with and reaching for toys while she's sitting. She also LOVES to stand and is able to take steps (with us holding her steady) towards what she wants to examine. She has started to know what she wants to play with or do, so we've started to tell her to "Show Mommy/Daddy what you want," and she'll walk to the toy she wants to play with. It's really cute!
In just the past week or so, Emma has started tolerating tummy time much better. She is still far from loving it, but she spends more time on her tummy, partly because she's realized that she can play on her tummy. She still hasn't quite mastered rolling over. But she's getting a little more consistent at it. She is getting closer to figuring out that she has to tuck an arm under her body to be able to roll.
Emma also loves putting things in her mouth or putting her mouth on objects that are too big for her to lift or fit in her mouth. ...Just in time for germ season...super. It's really funny to watch her try to bite the bumbo seat or eat my elbow while I'm changing her.
Emma is finally (knock on wood) getting into a more normal sleeping pattern. We had a rough few weeks when she was waking up every 2 hours. (One night, we saw every hour, Not fun!). She has started to take more predictable and longer naps during the day- about an hour or so in the morning and afternoon and then again in the evening. We then start bath time around 7 followed by her bedtime meal and a story. We're very fortunate that she goes to sleep without a fuss on most nights. After her story, she just lays in her crib and listens to her nature sounds to fall asleep. Lately, she's only been waking up once, usually between 3-4am and then sometimes around 630 but then sleeping until about 730 before being up for the day.
My pumpkin in a pumpkin!
Emma decided that, at 5 months, she was old enough to do a little risque photo shoot :)
So cute in the bathtub
I'm sure there's more that she's been up to and a few more blogs to post (Grandma and Grandpa Campbell's visit, Maureen's visit, and pumpkin carving to say the least)...I'm hoping to get caught up this weekend, so check back soon!
She can sit up by herself now, although she still wobbles a bit, especially when she's tired. She has a lot of fun playing with and reaching for toys while she's sitting. She also LOVES to stand and is able to take steps (with us holding her steady) towards what she wants to examine. She has started to know what she wants to play with or do, so we've started to tell her to "Show Mommy/Daddy what you want," and she'll walk to the toy she wants to play with. It's really cute!
In just the past week or so, Emma has started tolerating tummy time much better. She is still far from loving it, but she spends more time on her tummy, partly because she's realized that she can play on her tummy. She still hasn't quite mastered rolling over. But she's getting a little more consistent at it. She is getting closer to figuring out that she has to tuck an arm under her body to be able to roll.
Emma also loves putting things in her mouth or putting her mouth on objects that are too big for her to lift or fit in her mouth. ...Just in time for germ season...super. It's really funny to watch her try to bite the bumbo seat or eat my elbow while I'm changing her.
Emma is finally (knock on wood) getting into a more normal sleeping pattern. We had a rough few weeks when she was waking up every 2 hours. (One night, we saw every hour, Not fun!). She has started to take more predictable and longer naps during the day- about an hour or so in the morning and afternoon and then again in the evening. We then start bath time around 7 followed by her bedtime meal and a story. We're very fortunate that she goes to sleep without a fuss on most nights. After her story, she just lays in her crib and listens to her nature sounds to fall asleep. Lately, she's only been waking up once, usually between 3-4am and then sometimes around 630 but then sleeping until about 730 before being up for the day.
Here are some pictures from today:
My pumpkin in a pumpkin!
Emma decided that, at 5 months, she was old enough to do a little risque photo shoot :)
So cute in the bathtubI'm sure there's more that she's been up to and a few more blogs to post (Grandma and Grandpa Campbell's visit, Maureen's visit, and pumpkin carving to say the least)...I'm hoping to get caught up this weekend, so check back soon!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Whispers and Peek-a-boo
At almost 4.5 months old, Emma is learning new things daily. This week, she is having fun learning how to whisper and playing peek-a-boo.
Earlier this week, I was whispering good morning to Emma during an early morning diaper change and before I knew it she was moving her mouth and forcing air out...basically whisper versions of her coos and baby talk. It was adorable! She did it a few more times this week during diaper changes and getting ready for bath time.
Whenever Emma helps me fold laundry, I always play peek-a-boo with her with the blankets or burp cloths. This past week, Grandma Campbell has been playing peek-a-boo with her frequently and it seems to have finally clicked. Now, anytime Emma gets her hands on a blanket she raises it over her face and pulls it down when we ask "Where did Emma go?" and gives us a huge smile.
She seems to get cuter and cuter daily. She is always surprising us and keeping us smiling whenever we're around her.
Earlier this week, I was whispering good morning to Emma during an early morning diaper change and before I knew it she was moving her mouth and forcing air out...basically whisper versions of her coos and baby talk. It was adorable! She did it a few more times this week during diaper changes and getting ready for bath time.
Whenever Emma helps me fold laundry, I always play peek-a-boo with her with the blankets or burp cloths. This past week, Grandma Campbell has been playing peek-a-boo with her frequently and it seems to have finally clicked. Now, anytime Emma gets her hands on a blanket she raises it over her face and pulls it down when we ask "Where did Emma go?" and gives us a huge smile.
She seems to get cuter and cuter daily. She is always surprising us and keeping us smiling whenever we're around her.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
He loves me, he loves me not...
he LOVES me!!!
Kurt shows me daily how much he loves me. From little things like folding laundry to big things, like being the best Daddy to Emma that I could ever imagine.
I'm such a lucky girl!
Kurt shows me daily how much he loves me. From little things like folding laundry to big things, like being the best Daddy to Emma that I could ever imagine.
This week, in addition to remapping my laptop keyboard so that I could once again use the question mark/slash key, he surprised me with this beautiful bouquet:
I'm such a lucky girl! Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Emma is a water baby!
Emma has loved bath time ever since her very first bath. She loves being in the water, trying to catch a floating rubber duck, moving her hands and feet through the water, and splashing. The other day, during her bath she stretched herself out so that her feet were up on the opposite end of the tub. She continued scooting herself down so that her entire torso was under the water. I let her get up to her earlobes before sitting her back up. Last night, we let her go in a bit further. I kept wanting to pull her up, but she seemed to be deciding whether or not she liked it. We let her stay that way for a few minutes until she got a worried look on her face. When we pulled her back up to a sitting position, she smiled and tried to scoot down again! We're looking forward to taking her swimming. We think that she's going to love it!
We love bath time too. Of course we love watching Emma play and have fun but it is the first part of Emma's nighttime routine, which so far has worked like a charm. Even if she is cranky, we ask if she wants to take a bath, take her upstairs and start getting her undressed and she immediately calms down and is happy. After her bath, she gets a quick baby massage, and then a story and her nighttime meal. She usually is awake when we put her in her crib and listens to the nature sounds on her mobile to fall asleep. There have only been a handful of times that we've had to go in to comfort her. Now if she would just sleep through the night, or at least go back to only waking up once a night instead of multiple times. :)
We love bath time too. Of course we love watching Emma play and have fun but it is the first part of Emma's nighttime routine, which so far has worked like a charm. Even if she is cranky, we ask if she wants to take a bath, take her upstairs and start getting her undressed and she immediately calms down and is happy. After her bath, she gets a quick baby massage, and then a story and her nighttime meal. She usually is awake when we put her in her crib and listens to the nature sounds on her mobile to fall asleep. There have only been a handful of times that we've had to go in to comfort her. Now if she would just sleep through the night, or at least go back to only waking up once a night instead of multiple times. :)
Our Daughter...the Incredible Hulk????
Emma has been discovering ways to make new sounds recently. Her newest noise is this screechy-grunt that sort of sounds like the Incredible Hulk. She primarily uses it when she's upset and trying to move from where we've placed her. She especially likes to use it when she decides she's had enough of sitting in her high chair. It's kind of funny when she arches her back and strains against the safety belts holding her in.
There have been a few times when she's used the "Incredible Hulk" grunt just to get our attention and we've had to break out the "Emma Grace, we do NOT do that in this house." *sigh* Four months old and already we're telling her no. Of course she always "apologizes" with a sweet smile or coo.
There have been a few times when she's used the "Incredible Hulk" grunt just to get our attention and we've had to break out the "Emma Grace, we do NOT do that in this house." *sigh* Four months old and already we're telling her no. Of course she always "apologizes" with a sweet smile or coo.
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