New Beginnings

Today we took our first steps to join First United Methodist Church. I think we are really going to like it, they REALLY push giving your time, talents, and money which is good b/c without constant reminders we would not show up, volunteer or tithe. Everyone is so nice and VERY welcoming. Thus far we have really felt welcome, comfortable with Emerson in the nursery and learned about the church. I, of course, enjoy any type of social outing and this church is very social. Within the first few minutes of the membership luncheon I looked at Chris and said, "WOW! these people are talking circles around ME and that is hard to do!"

This afternoon Emerson was not showing any signs of a nap so Chris took care of her for a few hours while I took a nap then I woke up and took her off his hands so he could go to his office. I took my laptop and her outside to swing. I got so involved in blogging, email and GSK stuff that I failed to notice that she had fallen asleep in her swing.



Another "New Beginning" is CHEERIOS!! Emerson had her first Cheerio June 14, initially she was very unsure of them. She could grasp the cheerios but would not put them in her mouth but would eat them if I put them in her mouth. Sometimes she would gag on them and could only eat a 1/2 at a time but since she has progressed!! She now crams them in her mouth as quick as she can and no longer gags on them. Although she does not eat as many as I thought. I just happened to be cleaning (unusual for me) and noticed the highchair seat... judge for yourself. Who is getting more cheerios Emerson or the highchair???



Look at ALL my teeth


As mentioned in an earlier post that I get the best pictures of Emerson while she is in her highchair so I decided to today to experiment with a "back drop" aka a black sheet. It worked pretty well but eventually it went south! Em has no patience for my experiments when they are over 5 minutes!

Thats my girl!

Ok so she looks like Chris but I am thinking she has my personality! Decide for yourself!!!

If only combining my two favorite hobbies (eating and sleeping)was this easy.... and acceptable!

Long Day!

Today after school Katie & I took the babies (Emerson & Brodie) for a walk from the picture you can tell how much they enjoyed the ride as Katie & I busted our tails in the 90 degree weather!!

Happy 3/4 Birthday!

When I was in 3rd grade my teacher, Mrs. Weber, would have 1/2 birthday for those of us who had summer birthdays so that we too could celebrate our birthdays during the school year like all the other kids. My 1/2 Birthday was Dec 11! For this reason amongst many others Mrs. Weber has gone down in history as my "Favorite Teacher"!!! Today is Emerson's 3/4 birthday. I cannot believe that today marks the day that she has officially been out as long as she was inside the womb! She has 6 teeth and will walk any day as she is now standing on her own though for very short periods of time. She is the cutest, happiest, sweetest little thing that I have ever known!! Happy 3/4 Birthday Baby Emerson!!! We LOVE you!!

Here are a few pictures of Emerson in her new swing sporting a "new face" and of course it would not be a post without a picture of Emerson in her highchair!! I always get good pictures while she is there, I guess because she is captive.

Middle of the Road

Today we had our 9 month check up and Emerson did great. She weighs 18 lbs and is 27 3/4 inches long, this puts her in the 50th percentile for both height and weight! I took a picture of the scales because I remember when she was not gaining weight and the relief that I felt when she finally started to gain weigh and the SHEER joy that Chris and I felt when she hit double digits!!! Oh yea, she just ate before I put her on the scales hence the drool/spit up!
The doctor cautiously asked me if we used sunblock, I laughed b/c I know why she was asking. Emerson has the BEST tan but it is not from the sun it is totally natural. Considering that I have a little sun right now her pediatrician assumed that I bake her in the sun as well. Overall the visit was uneventful which is a good thing. We have a new pediatrician b/c the former one relocated. The new doctor is better than I could have asked!! She was very informative, helpful, knowledgeable and I was not at all rushed through the visit.

127.38 Miles and counting!

Recently I have been walking Emerson to school and picking her up each day with our running stroller. It is a good way for me to get in a little exercise and I love yapping with all the other moms along the way! It has an odometer and I noticed that it had 205 miles kilometers so I did a conversion to miles online and it came out to 127.38 miles! I have only been using this stroller since she was over 6months! I had no idea that I walked that much! I am going to try to "step it up" (pun intended)a bit and see how many miles that I can get between her 9 mo birth date (June 23) and her year Birthday (Sept 23)!

Here we go!


On our way home, yes we had a "Wardrobe Change" while at school!

Dear Daddy!!

Dear Daddy, I think you are the BEST ever! You always play with me, even when Mommy would rather sleep, you make funny sounds and faces when you feed me. I REALLY like seeing you at 1 am when you feed me. That is a lot of fun! Bath time is so much fun when you are around to splash and giggle with me!! Daddy, you are the best, I am glad you are MINE!!!
Yo quiero a Mi Papa!

I love my Daddy!

Celebration

Today I celebrated the 4th anniversary of my 29th Birthday!! Here is a snapshot of my day! Last night I chose the dinner of my choice and began to thaw it for my special day!!
Emerson wakes up at her usual 6am, no sleeping in for mommy! At 6:15 I hear Chris say, "Alli, come here I need your help". He-he, I rush to see what is up b/c I know this is just a trick to get me out of bed to see my birthday present! NOT!!! Emerson had a messy diaper that leaked out the top - YUCK, what a mess. We had to put her in the bathtub to get all cleaned up! We all walked her to school, then came home to get ready. Chris then gave me my real birthday present 2 pairs of "Yellow Box" flip flops. They are the BEST!!!!! Shortly after I was off to work. I had a personal docotr's appointment, which I waited for a long time. I do not know exactly how long b/c I fell asleep on the exam table while waiting! AHHH nice mid morning nap!! So now I am behind schedule, grrr. I go into a large account of mine to see a customer who has really helped me achieve my sales goals this year. She tells me she is resigning.. WHAT??? Are you kidding me, that is not the birthday present that I signed up for!!! Later that afternoon I had a lunch with an office, I told them they could order from the restaurant of their choice. They ordered from a restaurant that has NO parking so I had to park in the garage and carry 100lbs of food back to the garage! Around 3pm I get a phone message from Sarah at Em's school... "Mrs Lane we need you to pick up Emerson, she has had 2 episodes of diarrhea". What???? So much for my "Alli" time today!
Now you remember that special dinner that I mentioned earlier?? Well that burnt in the crock pot and the pork tenderloin was dry as a bone! YUCK! While eating Emerson knocked over my glass of tea so now I had nothing to drink to wash down the chalk stew! Who burns food in the crock pot???? I'm done! I seem to recall some birthday advice that my friend Jenny gave me one year.. it was simple but I think of it each year! It is your birthday - EAT WHATEVER YOU WANT!!! While this was running through my mind, I darted off to Sonic got a cheeseburger (actually hamburger b/c they forgot the cheese and they put mustard on my hamburger - YUCKY) then went to get Chris & I ice cream! YUMMY! Now as I am typing my ears are bleeding! Chris has the TV blarring some horrendous musical entitled "Sweeney Todd". It is soo loud I think the children at the deaf school in St. Louis are screaming in pain!

Ok, all jokes aside. My Birthday has been AWESOME!!! I have so many Super thoughtful friends and family members that sent me text messages, emails, cards and gifts! I really appreciate each of you! I am very blessed to have you all in my life!!!
THANK YOU!!!!!

Summertime!

Yes, we have spent substantial amount of time in the water thus far this summer and YES,we are wearing plenty of sunblock!!! This past weekend was the McKay's Mill Pool Party. It was a lot of fun, there was a lot of good food, great live music, friendly neighbors and of course WATER! The party was the largest one to date, according to the caterer - 576 + people!!


Emerson enjoying her dinner after we enjoyed ours!! Homemade sweet potatoes!!


This is Georgia of Georgia Thomas Music. I use to work with her at GSK she left a few years ago to pursue her music career and her her other full time gig - a mom of 2boys!

The pool during the party

Emerson earlier in the day playing in the pool with Daddy!!






Sunday we went back to the lake!! Here is a picture of Lyndsey feeding "Baby Emerson"

Boating again

We have a established a theme for summer - BOATING! It is a lot of work but so much fun. Thankfully the Paschall's have a house boat. After about an hour and a half of entertaining Emerson & keeping her out of harms way we are exhausted which requires us to retreat to the "house" portion of the boat. There she can nap in her pack n play, crawl around and eat! While outside we go on top of the boat where there is a kiddie pool, for the girls to play in. Emerson loves it!!