TWO months old

Emerson is 2 months old already. It was rough going there for a while, but we are doing better and finally getting into the swing of things. Emerson has pushed through the "rashy, gassy, fussy" stage and emerged a happy, smiley, (fairly) easy going baby on the other side.

We had her 2 month check yesterday and she is doing great. She had her first round of shots- I think the other 2 girls were more traumatized by it than Emerson was.

She is holding steady in the 50th percentile for height at 22 1/2 inches and has dropped a little from 80th percentile to 75th percentile in weight (11 lbs. 14 oz.). If she follows the trend the other 2 have set, she will continue to decline and be around the 5th percentile by 6 months. That's just how we roll.

Also staying true to the trend our girls have established, Emerson has ceased having dirty diapers. We are on day 5 now (Avery went over 2 weeks at this age). She was doing so well in that area that I thought that problem had skipped her... I was hoping. But, we know the drill. We already have a large stockpile of Miralax on hand for the other 2.

Straying from the other girls, I am thinking, hoping, praying that she is going to keep her blue eyes. By this point, Avery and Finley already had dark, dark brown eyes. Emerson's eyes are not just the gray color that most babies are born with, but they actually have the COLOR blue to them. Dark hair with blue eyes is my most FAVORITE combo. The doctor kind of dashed my hopes on that yesterday and said that they can change up to the 1 year mark and that Emerson already has brown flecks in there- in his educated guess they will go completely brown. For now her eyes are blue and so the dream lives on.

a name and a blessing

Emerson was blessed by her daddy at church on June 7. She was a perfect angel- quiet as can be during the blessing. The same could NOT be said about her sisters however. I don't believe I heard a word of the entire thing because of the chaos the other 2 were causing, but I heard (second hand) it was beautiful.

Emerson wore the same dress the other girls wore for their blessings.... the dress my mom made for my christening almost 30 years ago. She embroidered my initials on the overcoat and has since added Avery, Finley, and now Emerson's initials as well. It is a special keepsake that I hope will continue to be used and loved throughout the years. It hangs as decoration in the nursery along with each of the girls 1st outfit(s)- the ones they came home from the hospital in.

Here are photos of each of us wearing the dress: me (in 1979/1980?!), Avery (2005), Finley (2007), and Emerson (2009).

Note to self: stripes are not flattering on a 3 week post baby body. Paul just confirmed- "that is a horrible picture of you." Yes, thank you. Truth be told, it is just not a good picture of any of us. Unfortunately it is the best one we have of Finley's blessing day. Sad. Also...check out my hair in the photos at both Avery and Finley's blessings?@! YIKES! Paul is right (as he has told me many times over)- long hair is just not my best look... I have LOTS of pictures from the early 90's to drive that point home. Long + curly= BIG. Live and learn.

tiny tiger graduation: take 2

We had to rush back from Oregon to attend Avery's Tiny Tiger graduation on June 4th. Normally it wouldn't have been an issue, but because Mrs. Waterbury is retiring after 29 years, it was her last graduation and we wanted to be there. Paul was in Mrs. Waterbury's first class of Tiny Tigers and Avery was in her last class. The end of an era. She is truly wonderful. I am grateful Avery had the opportunity to have her, but I am so sad that my other children won't. The program will continue, but I am afraid it just won't be the same without Mrs. Waterbury. I am glad we made it back for the ceremony- Avery had fun with it. She looks so much older and grown up than she did last year. Tiny Tigers has been great for her!

2 generations of Tiny Tigers with Mrs. Waterbury

Charlie and Avery one year older.

We got a similar picture of them last year at graduation.

Finley got to go to Tiny Tigers for Fun Fridays this year- she showed us that she knows her way around the play area already.

Finley is all ready to go full time, but unfortunately there is a pretty extensive waiting list and she didn't make the cut. Maybe next time?! It would have been fun (and dreamy for me- 2 hours with just 1 child?!) to have them both going to Tiny Tigers together. Avery is all set to attend Tiny Tigers in the fall, but we might move her to the pre-k program out at Los Ranchos. I think she is ready for something a little more. We will just have to see?!

generations

On our way home from Oregon, we stopped in Sacramento for the night (breaking the drive up a bit, which has become a necessity with the kids). Before we took off the next day, we dropped in on my Grandma Bailey (my dad's mom) in Loomis to visit and introduce her to Emerson. We had a wonderful time. I think Grandma did too!

She got to snuggle her great-grandbabies...

and enjoy a "show."

After a rousing game of CandyLand, Avery and Finley were dancing and singing for Grandma. They are little hams- such a crack up! Grandma got a kick out of it. It was so fun to have a little time with my grandma and give her the opportunity to see and "experience" all three of the girls. We love you Grandma!

bailey-johnson wedding

We made the 12 hour drive (it actually took a bit longer with nursing stops and such) to Oregon for my sister's wedding on May 30th. Fortunately, Emerson is still in the sleeping most of the day, wake up to nurse, and then go back to sleep stage so really the drive was not bad at all.

We had so much fun visiting with family- enjoying pre and post-wedding festivities. My girls have the best aunties, uncles, and grandparents... all the way around. They were LOVING all the attention from everyone. We got to visit with our good friends too- Kaleb and Avery are just a few months apart, but Finley was the one glued to Kaleb's side. We took advantage of my dad's new fire pit (and endless Oregon summer evenings) and made smores.

The main event- Tiffany and Logan's (TT and Loggie Bear to my girls) wedding- turned out beautifully. The weather was amazing (which in Oregon is ALWAYS unpredicable). Tiffany was GORGEOUS and had the most adorable shoes! (<---click to see a few images from her amazing photographer)

The girls LOVED fullfilling their flowergirl duties, though there was some walking down the aisle issues... it turned into more of a RUN after the ring bearer took off. The ceremony was at my dad's house. It was the perfect setting for an outdoor wedding.

The party moved to a hotel in town, overlooking the river for the reception. The girls ended up falling asleep right after the ceremony, so they made a late entrance to the reception, but once they got there they hit the dance floor all ready to go. They REALLY love to dance. It was a fun time!

We had a great trip- it just went by too quickly. When it takes 2 days to drive up and 2 days to drive home, the actual visiting time is cut short. We are hoping to make another trip soon. There is really nothing better than Oregon summers.