WOW what a busy week it has been.  Emma had a fantastic Christmas.  I know she will not remember any of it, but she had a lot of fun.

We did our family Christmas on Christmas Eve morning.  Emma opened her presents from Santa and from us.  She got a dinosaur, maracas, books, Leap Frog Alphabet pal, etc.  She really wasn’t too interested in any of it.  She wanted to go unwrap other peoples presents.  About mid-afternoon we headed to the Barrs house for church and Christmas over there.

We started opening Emma’s presents about 3:30.  We wanted to get her stuff opened before church so she could go to bed early (yeah right).  She received a Pottery Barn chair, a Leap Frog walker, Leap Frog musical table, clothes (very trendy), books, a savings bond, etc.  We then got dressed and headed to church.  Emma did great.  She listened to the music and then slept during the sermon and communion.  She woke up after the sermon was over.  Later that night she decided she wanted to watch the adults open their presents and didn’t go to be until about 10:00….2 1/2 hours past her bedtime.

Christmas morning we woke up and left the Barrs house and headed to the Yeager house.  Morgan and Emma opened presents first so they could take their naps while the adults opened their gifts (yeah right).  Emma decided she wasn’t going to take a nap ALL DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Instead she decided to play with a couple of her favorite toys, the wagon and catapillar.  Emma finally took a nap on the way home from the Yeager house.

The day after Christmas we left for the 4 hour drive to Clifton to see Travis’ grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.  I was really dreading the trip and how Emma was going to act.  SHE DID GREAT!  The 3rd hour she got a little fussy, but calmed down after Travis promised to buy her a car at 16 if she was good the whole trip.  Emma was able to hang out with 25 family members for 2 1/2 days.  She loved it.  She loved to flirt with Brennen.  Everytime he would walk into the room she would start smiling and screaming.  She would crawl over to just about anyone and hang out with them.  She even played with Bellamy’s toys.  Emma also decided that she didn’t like sleeping in her pack and play at night time.  So for the first time EVER she slept in bed with Travis and me.  The first night I got a back massage with her feet, the second night Travis got one.  She is a bed hog!  She really enjoyed the Barrs family and wants to hang out with them more often! Emma hopes they will come down for her birthday party in April.

To see pictures of Emma’s Christmas click on Emma’s Photos, then click on the 8 months old album. 

On Dec. 23rd, Faithbridge had their children’s Christmas service and snow day.  We decided to head out for the festivities.  Emma enjoyed the service and really watched.  She was very serious.  Afterwards, we headed out to the 40,000 pounds of snow (ice).  She really didn’t care much for it, so the whole “snow day” was more like “snow five minutes”.  Emma played with the ice a little, but then we tried standing and play, but it was too slippery.  Once the big kids came out, we decided to leave.  It was fun taking some pictures of Emma in the snow.

 

Once we had presents under the tree, Emma Claire decided she was going to notice the Christmas tree and gifts.  She is now a pro at unwrapping presents.  She has unwrapped one of Morgan’s and Barry’s gifts.  After seeing her enjoy unwrapping so much, we decided to wrap a couple of her gifts. 

 

Emma has also decided that she likes crawling under and through things.  I want to get her a tunnel, but haven’t found one yet.  I’ll have to order one off of the internet.  I set up one of my Southern Living boxes for Emma and Travis to play in.  They had a great time!

Yesterday we were over at the Barrs for family dinner.  Emma has still be suffering from her cold, so we gave her some medicine at 3 and she went down for a nap until 5:15.  When she woke up, we decided to feed her before we left.  Travis and Barry were having a great time feeding her and taking pictures.  All of a sudden we heard our Goose become a little tootie.  We soon discovered it wasnt’ just a little tootie, but an explosion.  We proceeded to change her.  Instead of putting on a whole new outfit we decided to give her a bath.  Before the bath, we had a great time watching Emma crawl around naked in Nana and Poppy’s bedroom. 

 

Today Emma had to go to the doctor for her first cold.  Last night Nana called and said she was miserable.  I of course took the day off to take Emma to the doctor.  Dr. Nandwani said she just had a cold.  No medication was needed.  The nurse weighed her and she is a healthy 18 pounds 7.5 oz.  Emma Claire is such a big girl, but then again, that was fully clothed (and it is cold outside).  I can’t believe she went 8 months without being sick.  I hope she feel better soon!

On December 10th, Emma Claire turned 8 months old.  She is getting so big.  I can’t believe she has been in our lives for 8 months.  Time is going by way to fast.  I wish it would slow down.

Emma is doing so much.  She is very active, always doing something.  She is now crawling and pulling up constantly.  It is so different having her mobile.  She loves when you chase her while crawling.  She thinks it is so funny.  Emma watches the world so closely.  She is learning everything you do.  She is a very smart girl and will remember something after watching you just one time. 

Emma has also become a very picky eater.  She loves fruit and cereal, but can not stand vegetables or any of the finger foods.  We are not giving up, but it is a challenge.

Emma has also learned to fake cough.  If you cough, she will do the same.  It is so funny.  It is a fun game we play in the car.

Emma is still sleeping through the night.  She doesn’t really care for naps during the day, but is a champ at night sleeping. 

As you can see Emma is turning into a little girl.  We are so blessed to have such a wonderful baby.

 

Now that Emma has learned to crawl, she is all over the place.  I tried taking a picture of Emma and Darby….I finally gave up after 4 tries.  Luckily, I was able to get a shot when Emma was pulling up on Darby.

Emma has also started sleeping in weird positions.  She can pull up in her crib, so at 5:00 one morning she decided she was ready to get up. We decided we weren’t ready.   A little bit later we didn’t hear anything, she was sound asleep using the bumpers as a pillow.  She was so cute.  I guess she finally slipped off of them.

Today Emma comes home with Travis and is a nonstop chatter box.  She will say, “dada, nana, baba” etc.  She was very loud and talking like she was serious in conversation.  Man is she a talker….I don’t know where she gets it from???

Emma is also crawling like a champ.  Once she figured it out she is on the go.  The only thing she moves quickly over is Darby.  If Darby is laying on the floor sound asleep, Emma is there to mess with her collar.  Darby is a great dog and just looks at her like, leave me  alone.  Then puts her head back down.  I am so proud of Darby!