Little Giant

We had Emerson's four month check up today (complete with four immunizations- refer to the Worst from May). She weighs 13 lbs. 11 oz., which puts her in the 60th percentile for weight and is 27" long, which puts her off the charts for height. We have been given the green light to start her on rice cereal, which we did for the first time tonight - we got some good pictures, but I'm not sure how much actually ended up in her mouth.

Sorry, you're going to have to turn your head - I can't figure out how to get the video to be right side up. Let me know if anyone does.

A day at the lake

Our friends Brian & Shannon live on a lake in Allegan & we were fortunate enough to spend a beautiful Sunday with them. The photo of the little boy is their son, Will.

So Done

I have just emailed my very last final exam (ever!) to my professor at WMU and I am sooo excited to be done! It was actually the best course I've taken at Western and was very interesting, which is a first for these educational leadership courses. I now officially have one course remaining, which is just assembling all the work I've done for all of the other courses into an electronic portfolio and completing a 60 hour principal internship at my school. Western has just announced today that they are increasing their tuition by 9.2% for the upcoming academic year. Go WMU!

Anyway, here is what most of you come here for - Thursday's pictures of Emerson.

Dog Days

It is getting to be that point in the summer where nothing out of the ordinary is happening. It has been ultra hot & humid, which tends to kill any desire to do anything outside. Last weekend we went to Paige's first birthday party, saw the new Batman movie, and met some friends for brunch. The highlight this week will be on Friday when we go and sign our daycare contract. We were able to get into the daycare we really, really, really, really, really wanted. It is an in-home daycare in Portage and we are soooo excited to have Emerson go there. I wasn't necessarily thinking I would ever be excited to send Emerson to daycare, but Karie (who runs the daycare) is really quite phenomenal and I know Emerson will be in the best (other than ours of course) hands. There is also another baby who was born 4 days after Emerson, so we're glad she'll have a playmate her own age. The official daycare start date is August 28, which is when I am forced to report back to work. Actually, I am really ready to go back. In other upcoming news...the worst, part II will take place next Tuesday - Emerson goes in for round two of immunizations. I'm still looking to secure some Xanax for myself. Pray for us.

1 year old Paige. Her mom Allison is so crafty it is nearly nauseating. I am commissioning her to live at my house for the month of March for interior design, scrap booking, and cake making purposes. Even if it requires kidnapping. Also, Paige is the original owner of 97% of Emerson's ultra cute wardrobe, so again, many thanks to Allison & Paige.

Everything goes in the mouth - in this case the ABC puppy.

Now that she can roll, she has become a stomach sleeper.

The official 16 week photo.

Emily (Paige's big sister) & Emerson.

One of the 15 runner up 16 week photos.

This exceptionally large moth greeted me this morning when I opened the living room curtains. He is still perched on our screen. A fine specimen of a moth.

A cutie in a swimsuit

Most ladies with large bellies and dimpled thighs would not dare to be seen in a baithing suit. Not Emerson. Ryan took her into the water for the first time - my friend Sureyya's parents live on a lake in Battle Creek and they had us over to celebrate Sureyya's birthday on Friday.

She's been rolling over so much more lately - she just can't get herself back yet, which frustrates her.

Which leads to alot of this.

The Usual

A pictorial representation of our last week (or two).

Emerson has a little jump suit from Baby Cottons that is ultra slimming and makes us laugh every time she wears it (with the coordinating bunny slippers of course).
A complete contrast to the last picture - settling into her swing for a nap following a big meal.
This is how I spent last week - working on a school budget problem that is most likely, the most time consuming assignment ever. This is probably also why there is no noteworthy news.
She has discovered her feet and is working on getting them into her mouth.
Rolling over - just not back yet.
This is how Grace has been spending her summer.
The belated father's day photo.
Ryan & I went to a very fun wedding reception on the 28th for our friends Jim & Becky. I was sooooooo good to get out and have fun - we almost forgot we had a baby.
A rainbow appeared during the reception. I'll have you know that there was a rainbow on our wedding day too, it must be a good sign.
The ever present drool. Still no tooth.