Look who is FOUR months old. I'm posting from my phone now. I'll have to come back another time soon to give ao update.

Amazing Black Friday deal!!

I was feeling under the weather this year for Thanksgiving, and Black Friday, so I didn't brave the early crowds.  There really wasn't anything I was too excited about getting.  But Emma and I did venture out in the afternoon to grab a couple of good deals.  One was on Daddy's Christmas gift.  The other was on little girl clothes. One of my new favorite stores is called Once Upon a Child.  They sell gently used (good quality) children's clothing, toys, equipment and furniture.  Our local franchise had a great Black Friday deal.  Purchase a $20 Once Upon a Child gift card, and get a $10 Baby Bucks (which are just like cash in their store).  In addition to this deal, they had all infant clearance clothing for $1 each.  So, I got:


3 one piece outfits
2 two piece outfits
1 three piece outfit
5 pairs of jeans
1 jumper dress
2 dresses
1 nightgown
1 jacket
2 sweaters
3 shirts

Mixed in with these were brand names such as Carter, Gymboree, Ralph Lauren, Sketchers, and Tommy Hilfiger.   I also purchased (2) $20 gift cards, and will save them for later to buy a high chair.  So are you ready for this?  Not counting the gift cards (because that is money I would have spent later anyway), after the baby bucks, I spent $2.79 on all of those clothes.  That was only because I couldn't resist a very cute little pair of jeans for Emma that were not on clearance.  Some of the clothes are for Emma's cousin Katherine to use first, but wow, what a great deal!  I'm going to have to say that is my best ever Black Friday deal.

2 months old

I can hardly believe it. She's two months old. In celebration, we went to the doctor, and got shots. :(

She did really well with the shots, but poor thing is sure fussy tonight. I feel really bad for her. They said to give her tylenol every 4 hours for a couple of days.

She weighed 9 lbs 11 oz. (20th percentile)

She is 22 inches long (45th percentile)

Her head is 15 inches (35th percentile)

She is right on track with her development. He was very pleased with everything.

Here are a couple of pictures and a video of bathtime Monday. Her last bath as a 1 month old.

Random Pictures

Such a girl... reaching for the phone already.

Beautiful curly hair... Well, curly when wet...

and CRAZY when dry.

We had a baby shower last week. We brought home a sea of gift bags full of goodies! So many people were excited to meet Emma and celebrate her becoming a part of our family.

Emma was a pumpkin for Halloween. The weather was great, so we went trick or treating up and down our little street with my niece.

And here she is with our newest toy, the Bumbo seat! We used one of the gift cards we received at our baby shower to get this. She's still a tad small for it, but she liked sitting up and looking around.

New hat

The previous post was made from my cellphone, so not the greatest picture. But I had to let Auntie see her new hat. I crocheted the hat. It was quick & easy. I purchased the flower clip. I'm going to have to learn how to make the flower clips next.

How cute is that?

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Say Cheese!

Bummer! Not sure why the whole thing isn't showing. Click on the picture to see the full picture and read all about it.

Just Pictures

I took a series of photos the other night. She would NOT look at the camera. This one looks like she is saying ENOUGH already!!

4 weeks old!

4 weeks ago right about now I was awakened from a deep sleep (I took something to help me sleep because I couldn't turn off my mind) to my phone ringing.  It was our caseworker calling to tell us that baby girl decided she didn't want to wait for the 8 am scheduled c-section.  She arrived at 12:33 am.  She's been working on her own schedule since then.  This would be why I'm awake at nearly 1 am.  It's been quite a month.  But we are thrilled to have her.  She's an amazing joy.

I don't have the energy to look pick pictures to upload.  Maybe later in the day.  Depends on how much sleep I end up getting.

Look at those lips!

Look at that face!!  Kissable isn't it?  I think it is.  We've had a rough go of it this week.  I've wanted to be a mom for so long, and then it happens.  We're entirely responsible for another human being.  The decisions I make effect her.  She hasn't been feeling well.  First she was constipated.  Poor thing was so uncomfortable.  I switched her formula to see if that would help.  She was on the new formula for about 30 hours before I decided that was for the birds!  She was no longer constipated.  She went the other way if you know what I mean...  She had horrible gas, and was absolutely miserable.  If you've been around a miserable baby, you know that that makes a miserable house.  I switched her back to the original formula today and she already seems better.  There's my decision making.  I should have gone with my gut on this one. Live and learn.  We switched doctors today.  I think we're really going to like the pediatrician.  He said she's doing great.  Everything looked and sounded good.  She's gaining weight wonderfully.

One of the nurses at the hospital where Emma was born talked to me.  She told me that everyone would have advice.  But there is no one in the world who is an expert on THIS baby right now.  But she said to give it a few months and I would be the expert on her.  I guess we'll find out.

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness

Today was Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness day.  Today I am remembering our children, and the children of my friends who left this earth earlier than we would have chosen.  My heart hurts for my friends out there with empty arms.  I certainly don't want to rub salt in anyone's wounds, but I want to be real here.  As I sit here with my daughter in my lap, I can't help but marvel at God's hand in everything.  I miss my children that are in heaven.  I don't know why God chose the path He did for us.  I don't know why he gave us those children for such a short stay here on Earth.  But I do know that if  even one of those children had been our take-home babies, I wouldn't have Emma here on my lap.  I'm not sure what my point is... But I do thank God for His plan, even when it hurts to be in the middle of it. All of this while still remembering those beautiful babies that were here with us for such a short time.  We miss you little ones.  You truly changed the shape of my heart forever.

Thank you Auntie

Thank you Auntie for the ladybug outfit!

 

Three weeks old already

I can't believe it!  Emma is three weeks old already.  Overall she's doing pretty well.  We've had some struggles over the last few days.  I suspect we're dealing with reflux, and also that her formula is disagreeing with her.  Poor little thing.  We have an appointment with the pediatrition on Thursday (a ped that was no longer accepting new patients--THANKS AUNTIE!!) so hopefully we will have more answers then.  For now I have switched her to soy formula to see if that is any easier for her to digest.  I felt terrible Monday night when I went to change her diaper after a feeding and formula came spewing out of her nose.  She was sleeping at the time.  What a RUDE awakening!  All of this discomfort has caused problems sleeping for everyone in the house.  However she seems to be sleeping well now, so I must follow that previously mentioned mommy rule... sleep when baby sleeps!  So here are a few pictures.  I'm guessing that's what most of you are here for anyway! (And who can blame you? She's adorable!)

Adoption/Birth Announcement

Having a nice relaxing soak in the tub.

Wide awake at 1:30 am.  Looks like she's enjoying it!

Crashed in the swing.  She didn't start out there.  She sleeps best on one of us.  But I needed to get some things done, so I put her in the swing once she was out.

The late nights are wearing on us a bit, but this little girl truly is a joy!  We are so thankful to have her in our lives.

Daddy & Emma

I've gotta give my hubby props. He has stepped up to be an amazing father. He helps with everything to do with her care.  He takes turns with me at night so that we can both get some sleep.  He CAN'T STAND to see her cry.  To see the love and care he has for our daughter truly warms my heart. I do however have a feeling, Emma is going to have Daddy wrapped around her finger!

Two weeks old!

I can hardly believe that as of about 5 minutes ago, Emma is two weeks old.  This mom stuff is hard.  I'm not going to lie.  It's so much harder than I thought it was going to be.  And the open adoption... WOW.  I was nowhere near prepared for the emotional toll that was going to take.  Please don't get me wrong.  I wouldn't trade our situation for anything in the world.  But it's not easy.  We care so much for Emma birth parents.  As a side note they are in fact birth parents now. Where before they were expectant parents, or parents.  Last week they signed papers in front of a judge terminating their parental rights.  Hearing those words from the caseworker were so bittersweet.  Knowing that she was in fact to be our daughter was amazing.  But knowing the hurt that her birthparents were going through was heart wrenching.  We spent several days with them.  These people love this little girl.  They love her more than words can say. I have complete and total confidence in that.  They just want more for her than they can provide right now.  We are so honored to be what they felt was best for their daughter.  I really feel God had his hand on the whole situation.  I will treasure the time we had in the hospital with Emmas birth parents.

I was sleepwalking into the living room with Emma in my arms shortly before I began this post.  She was angry.  It was time to eat.  (Funny thing, the girl growls when she's mad.  Seriously, she growls, and I think she tries to do crunches too.  I'm going to have to record this.)  I can soothe her most of the time now.  That is humbling.  When she is very upset.  Often if I pick her up and hold her close, her cheek against my cheek and talk to her, most of the time that is all she needs to begin to settle.  This is amazing to me. Anyhow, back to sleepwalking tonight.  I settled her down, fed her, changed her and burped her.  By this time she was very alert and taking in her surroundings.  I couldn't help it.  I had to smootch those cheeks.  I gave her smootches on one side of her face, and then the other.  Then I gave her a quick kiss and she grinned at me and made a noise.  I know, I know you're going to tell me it's too early to laugh.  But I'm going to say that moment was worth the 12 am feeding.  Now I'll have to see if it was worth the coming 2, 4, 6 am feedings.  If we can space them that far apart tonight.

Well, baby girl seems to be fast asleep now.  So I must follow the new mommy rule.  Sleep when baby sleeps.  Oh, and I changed to the new blogger editor, and they seem to have removed the spellcheck with the new editor.  So you'll have to forgive me.  I'll check my spelling later.  I'm pooped!  Blessed, but pooped.

Home safe & sound

 

 

So have I mentioned her name here yet? I have mommy brain already.  I can't keep things straight.  I don't know who I've told what!  Meet Emma Lucille Memry. Today was amazingly hard.  I will maybe get more into that later.  I was so unprepared for how much it would hurt.  I knew it would hurt the birth parents.  They each have other children.  They are so aware of what they are giving up.  They are truly doing what they feel is best for her.  The most unselfish thing imaginable.  We have really come to care for them a great deal.  We have bonded with them like no one at the hospital or the adoption agency has ever seen.  We each had rooms at the hospital, and we spent time hanging out in each others rooms.  Everyone was so careful about guarding each others feelings.  I feel very defensive for them.  They are family now.  There were many tears today.  I have more tears welling up now as I think about it.  Today was the day my dreams came true.  We brought our baby girl home.  But today also ranks right up there with the most difficult experiences in my life.   I would say it closely rivals our days of pregnancy loss.  There are many people looking in here often to see updated pictures of this beauty.  I would ask that whenever you think of our little one, please take a moment to say a prayer for her birth parents.  These coming days are sure to be difficult ones for them.

Things seem to be going pretty well today. Mark's aunt is a photographer and came to the hospital to do some professional pictures, so we got permission to get her out of her "inmate attire" and put her in a pretty dress. I can't wait to see how the professional pictures turn out. So now what you're all here for. More pictures. I've had demands from Aunties and HP Aunties for more. I'll try to get more later, but no promises. We should be home tomorrow!