The past few nights with Emmy have been horrible!!!  She got up about four to five times a night while we were with family for Thanksgiving, but I thought it was just because we were in a new place.  Once we got back home she did the same thing.  I realized that she's had a lot of gas lately, but didn't think anything of it until today when she was happy one minute and screaming in terror the next.... numerous times throughout the day.

My diagnosis for her is a pesky gas bubble!

Every time she woke up she acted as if she wanted to eat.  So I fed her.  I know that most babies go through a growth spurt around six months so I thought this was it, but my goodness she seemed like she was starving when she woke up!  But I figured her tummy was hurting (from the gas that is unpassable) and all she could think of to do was eat.

But tonight did me in.  I had Caleb run to the store for some mylicon while I bathed her.  The bath was soothing and then she ate, took the mylicon and we put her to bed.  She slept a good half hour before she woke up screaming in pain!  This was no"I think I'm hungry" cry either.

As Caleb walked around the house bouncing her while she screamed, all I could was cry knowing that my baby was hurting and all we could do was wait it out.

After an hour of doing this, she fell asleep.  And so did mom and dad.  Only to wake up every two hours with her screaming.  So ran in to comfort her.  She would lay her head on my shoulder and whimper randomly while hugging me.  I felt like the only person on earth who could comfort her and I loved it.

While we laid there cuddling I realized that she won't need me like this forever, so even though she's pretty whiny today and very needy, I'm savoring the moments.

Our Thanksgiving was GREAT (Just in case you were wondering).  We didn't get on the road until 8pm so we didn't make it to my parents until about 3:30am on Thursday, but Emmalyn did so well!  She slept most of the time and when she did wake up she didn't even whimper.  

On Thursday we had lunch with my family.  While the food was cooking (and mom and dad recuperated from the long late-night drive) my brother read a few Fancy Nancy books to Emmalyn.  She thought he was the best thing since sliced bread after that (or in her case, mushed up bananas).  

After lunch Grandmama and Emmalyn had some special time together while Caleb, my brother, my dad, and I went hunting for deer.  We saw nothing.  It was boring.  We left.  Boo.

Then Friday came!  My mom (Grandmama) and I woke up crazy early to wait in line for an IPOD touch for my brother.  I'm not going to even get into that fiasco of a story, but lets just say it's pretty funny and we got pretty lucky! 

After coming home to sleep a little more, we ventured out to the gun club to shoot a few rounds.  Can you tell we are southerners or what?!  It was really a lot of fun.  Especially since my dad knows so much about and collects old guns from the 1800's.  

After shooting, my little family traveled to see Caleb's parents.  Ama and Bapa.  We had our third Thanksgiving dinner of the holiday there and boy was it good!  Before dinner we watched the Alabama/Auburn football game and I got some great shots of Caleb's parents with their sixth born grandchild.  Our family is currently waiting on number eight to pop out!  

Emmalyn had a ball with Ama and Bapa!

...And, then she got tired.

The next morning we ventured to spend a little bit of time with our friends Brandon and Beth who had a son about two months after Emmalyn was born.  Even though Porter is two months younger than Emmy, he weighs almost four pounds more than she does.  We call him Porter Pounder!  It was great to catch up and have the babies meet.  

Next, and last, on our trip, we spent the last night with my parents and watched the Carolina/Clemson rivalry game!!!!  We are Carolina alumni (Caleb, my dad, me and now my brother is a student there) so this game was a must see.  Emmalyn even took a "happy nappy" before the game so she could stay up a little longer to watch it with us.  She cuddled with dad while it was on.  I'm happy to say we won 29 to 7!  It may just be a game, but it makes me all warm inside to know that we won!

Our Thanksgiving involved a lot of traveling, but its only because we have so many people in our lives to be thankful for.  I feel so blessed that my child is loved by so many.  Now, on to Christmas decorating, cooking making, carol singing and present wrapping.  I LOVE this time of year and am so happy to be spending it with my precious daughter and her wonderful daddy!

We have had such a busy week!  It has been great though!  I quit my job at the hospital.  I'm pretty bummed about now being able to see all those births, teach new parents about their new babies, and spend time with the awesome ladies who work there (and were present during Emmalyn's birth), but now I get to spend so much more time with Emmalyn.  I love being a mom and now I can concentrate on Emmalyn and our family and moving and Caleb deployment and the holidays and photography and.........

I'm so excited to spend time with family for Thanksgiving.  I know my camera will be working overtime since its Emmalyn's first.  Im also going to resist the urge to have my mom (and the only stylist I trust) cut my hair shorter... much shorter!  We shall see!

Since I probably won't be blogging while we are visiting family, I'm going to share some pics from this busy week we've had!

This is Steve.  He graduated as a blackhawk pilot yesterday and left to head back to his home state of Virginia. 

Steve's wife, Jo, pinning on his wings!

Our friend Raph getting ready to get his wings!

Raph's very talented wife, Emily.  She painted some canvases for Emmalyn's nursery and helped me pick a color scheme.  We love her so much!

Steve and Emmalyn.

Okay, so my child gets around :)  Her she is telling Jo good bye!

Bath time!

Sitting up in the bath!

Playing around before heading to the graduation.  We can't wait for Daddy's day!

After a long day, you've got to rest and read some Fancy Nancy.

And then cuddle a bit with Daddy.

Christmas Card deal from Shutterfly

Because times are tough.

Because I love Christmas.

Because my husband's ears perk up anytime the word "free" is spoken.

I'm here to tell you how we (and you) can get 50 free personalized Christmas cards just by writing about shutterfly.

Shutterfly is a website dedicated to all things photos.  From photo books and prints to coffee mugs and Christmas cards, they've got you covered.  And now, they are offering those with blogs, 50 free holiday photo cards just for writing a post about them and this awesome promo.


They have a ton of great cards available that you can personalize and change up to your liking as well as other promos like free shipping.

With so much other stuff available too, I plan on ordering a few Christmas presents for family from Shutterfly as well.

So, if you have a blog you should check it out and be looking for our Christmas card from Shutterfly.

Here is the link to submit your blog: http://blog.shutterfly.com/5358/holiday2010-blog-submission-form/

And here is the link to their Christmas photo card selection: http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards

My heart belongs to a soldier

This past weekend my family and I ventured to the local high school for the annual Christmas market where numerous local vendors set up their products for everyone to "ooooo" and "ahhhh" over.  I got a few Christmas gifts while I was there and was about to leave until I spotted this beauty and just had to have it.  

If you walked into our home you probably wouldn't be able to tell that my husband is a soldier, but the army is a big part of our life and I am very proud of my soldier husband so I thought I should show it.  

It's perfect.  Short.  Sweet.  Simple.

Sweet Potatoes

We've been trying some different foods with Emmalyn for a while now.  She is on the small side and with her continuing to have some reflux the doctor(s) suggested we start feeding her baby food sooner than most.  So far she is a great little eater.  She's doing so well with eating with a spoon, thanks to my mom for helping me teach her.  

Tonight, after some time with the girls, I decided to introduce sweet potatoes to Emmy.  My friend Sarah fed her while I took a few photos. I'm not exactly a fan of sweet potatoes, but they are one of her daddy's favorite Thanksgiving foods.  Needless to say, she takes after her daddy.

mmmmmm good!

Five Months Old!!

At five months old our little Emmy is keeping us very entertained.  She is getting a bit pudgy but still as happy as ever.  Its funny how Caleb and I know what's coming just from the noises she makes.  She has a "warning whine" which is simply a few small whimpers and then she'll look at you to see if you will react ad if you don't she pulls out the big guns!  She also moans repeatedly when she is sleepy.  And when she starts to play with her hair with her right hand you know she's getting tired.

Most of the time she takes only cat naps.  30-45 minutes.  Every once in a while she will take 1-1.5 hour nap, but I usually don't let you go any longer than that for fear that we'll both be up all night : )

On to her monthly survey.


Weight - 13lbs (<10th percentile)

Height - 23.5 inches (<10th percentile)

Size of clothes - 3-6 months and some 6-9 month shirts and 3 month pants

Eye color - They are looking more brown these days

Sleep - Most of the time she sleeps through the night.  There are a few nights when I have to go into her room to put the pacifier back in her mouth

Food - She is eating very well lately! She hasn't really NOT liked anything that we have given her.  However, we did let her suck on a lime once and she did NOT like it.  A friend of ours got a video of it so I hope I can get it from her.  It was pretty amusing.  She still nurses every 3 to 4 hours.  I love this time with her!  

Milestones -  She is rolling over so much!  She loves watching and petting the dogs.  She can sit up with minimal support (usually in the corner nook of the couch or with the boppy behind her).  She grabs things and tries to figure them out.

Favorite activities -  Reading when tired, petting the dogs, dancing with mom

Wisdom from mom and dad - We are a lot more in sync as parents now.  We are usually thinking the same thing and know her cues well.

I haven't taken her five month picture yet, but here are a few recent ones.

Our friend Brian graduated from flight school (woo hoo!)  Emmalyn loves Brian!  We tell him its just because he looks like her (they are both bald).  I do love how all the guys in our Bible study love on Emmalyn even though none of them are ready to be a dad.  I personally think they all will make great fathers.  And I feel blessed that my daughter is the one showing them how wonderful it can be!

Speaking of fathers.  This little girl has one very good one!  I mentioned to him a few weeks ago that if Emmalyn wears a dress I would like for her to wear bloomers so her diaper won't show.  He, of course, thought I was being ridiculous and gave the eyes to prove it!  But, when he had to get her ready to go to a friend's house while I was at work he put bloomers on her!  They may not have matched completely, but at least they were on.  We'll work on the matching thing.

And me with my sweet potato.  I think I see a resemblance, no?

Hookers

Our little family has been very busy lately!  My sessions with my trainer, Jo, are going well.  I'm feeling good and I'm doing a lot better with making good diet choices too.  She's so great and very encouraging which is what I need!

Sadly, we have a few friends who will be leaving Fort Rucker soon, so we've been spending a lot of time with them.  Our friend Brian graduates tomorrow.  The day before each aviator graduates from flight school they allow their family to go the the air fields to get an idea of what their soldiers have been doing and to give them a chance to see their specific aircraft in motion.  Brain is a chinook pilot.  The chinook pilots are referred to as "hookers" because the chinook usually bails the other aircrafts out of pickles and uses hooks to transfer them.  It is the biggest of the helicopters and carries a lot of cargo.  So today, Caleb, Emmalyn, and I met up with Brian and his family to participate and take pictures of family day.

The boys playing around.

Caleb pretending to be a chinook pilot.

 Afterwards, we went to Brian and Sarah's to celebrate his graduation.  What a great day!

Tonight turned out to be a wonderful evening.  Emmalyn and I got a good nap in which was much needed and hen I fed her some green beans (purred of course!) and she loved them!  Afterwards we were playing and Caleb walked through the door.  He got off four hours early!!!  AND brought me a dozen roses...just because!  I love that man!

Then, after putting Emmalyn to bed I got a phone call from my friend Jo.  She is a personal trainer and spin class instructor at the gym on base.  She offered to give me private sessions to hopefully jump start my motivation to lose the rest of my Emmalyn weight :)

Now, I just need to get some rest so I can give Jo my all at our session on Wednesday!!

I'm ending this post with a picture of our dinner...

Daddy made it!

171. prayer

172. my loving family

173. a husband who understands me

174. pumpkin bread

175. friends that help keep Emmy while I work

176. seeing my daughter grow - it is happening so fast!

177. having everything I need and not having to worry about necessities 

178. thunderstorms

179. My dishwasher

180. and extra hour of sleep courtesy of Emmy