Wordless Wednesday

Our Trip to the Big Easy

Obviously to say we have been busy is an understatement.  Last week was the user group meeting for the company I work for, Cortex, MMS.  It is completely put on by our software users and we come and participate at the request of them which is pretty cool.  I missed last year due to Emma Claire making her early arrival.  Let me just say we have a pretty awesome group of users and many of them sent cards, hand-made special gifts and just showered us with prayers.  I was so humbled by our users and we appreciated everything they did for us during my time away from Cortex last year. 

Dinner with some of our customers and Cortex employees on Wednesday night

 Well this year, I decided to take Emma Claire with me so they could all meet her firsthand.  So I needed a sitter for Emma Claire and I figured Matt would not want to just hang out in a hotel all day or take her shopping, so Mom so kindly volunteered to go and watch Emma Claire during the day when I was in meetings and then we all went out at night which was great.  It was a great time and I know mom and Emma Claire had a great time hanging out and shopping. 

Mom and Emma Claire at Mardi Gras World for dinner on Thursday night

It was long days and nights and Emma Claire was a trooper.  I was so proud of her and she is such a happy and laid back baby.  Most nights we were out late and she did very well.  I'm so glad Mom was able to come and enjoy New Orleans again as this went down as our third trip there.   Mom was wonderful to take care of her and make sure Emma Claire napped during the day, so the long nights/dinners went as smoothly as possible. 

Taking pictures with some of the props which they use on the floats during Mardi Gras

 Cindy, Emma Claire and Diane having a blast together at Mardi Gras World

 At dinner on Friday night, there was a jazz band which would come around to the tables and they sang a song to Emma Claire which was great.  She absolutely loved to be the center of attention and enjoyed the music!

Giving her sad face of having to leave, don't worry, sweet baby girl, we have another trip planned around the corner and you will get to see a bunch of new faces.  You will have to wait and see where we will be going in 18 days......

PS - I'll have to scan the pictures of my first two trips to New Orleans and even to Mardi Gras world...STAY TUNED!

Our Easter Egg-stravaganza

 We started out our weekend of fun with me being off on Good Friday.  I have been working a ton lately so it was a well deserved day off.  We just laid around on Friday morning, went to see Heather and the boys, lunch with Mom at Chick-Fil-A and then to top it all off, a trip to the grocery store...WHEW!

Saturday we headed up to church for our Easter egg hunt.  Emma Claire was a little unsure about the grass and picking up eggs, but she picked up 5 of them with a little help, but she was proud of her 5 eggs.  After clean up at Church, we headed home for a much needed nap.  I was exhausted after all of the running on Friday and Saturday.  

 Momma and Emma Claire picking up eggs

 Emma Claire was trying to eat one of her treats

 Saturday night, we needed up to the Kell's for our Annual Easter Egg Dyeing.  Heather and I always have a GREAT time and this year we definitely missed Amanda, but hopefully she can make it next year.  

Emma Claire checking out what the Easter Bunny left in her basket.  The EB was good to her and left her an outfit with leg warmers and a little duck which quacks!

After church we came home and had Easter lunch with my parents and Matt's parents and grandmother.  It was nice to lay around the afternoon and not worry about getting back to church or getting out period since it was storming and raining the entire day. 

All in all, we had another wonderful Easter.  I hope everyone had a blessed time with friends and family.

One Year Ago

One year ago (actually this was Tuesday, but who is really counting) we brought home Emma Claire from 100 days in the NICU.  I guess when Emma Claire starts kindergarten and they have to do something for 100 days, we can do something related.  

The last year has flown by to say the least.  I was reading back on the post I did after we came home and it just brought tears to my eyes and not in a bad way, but just in how blessed we truly are.  Here is the post from last year Coming Home.  How much this little stinker has grown and she is amazing every day.  She has met so many milestones and come so far.  We love you Emma Claire and God has purposed you for a reason.  We cannot wait to see what else God has in store for you and your life.  You are one amazing bundle of joy and we love you so much!

Wordless Wednesday

Life + EC 15 Month Check Up

Well I guess most of y'all have figured out, we have been MIA for a bit.  Life happens, but I'm trying to do better so here goes.  

Emma Claire had her 15 month checkup last Monday.  Here are her stats:

• ~18 lbs
• 30 inches long
• 17.5 head circumference
• Cut bottom 2 teeth, 1st on 4/11 and then 2nd on 4/14
• Eating anything and everything; feed her table foods as well as Stage 3 baby foods
• Self feeding
• Drinks from a Sippy Cup
• Almost walking independently; Cruises around furniture and crawling EVERYWHERE
• Will put herself to bed and for naps
• Sleeps about 10 to 12 hours a night
• Takes two 2 hour naps during the day
• Size 3 diapers
• Size 12 to 18 month clothes

I'm sure there are still some items I'm missing, but those are the ones I can think of right now.  The best part of our appointment on Monday was WHOLE MILK only and get this NO MORE BOTTLES!  I just took those away with no issue on Tuesday after our check-up.  Emma Claire drinks everything from her sippy cups and after a small fortune spent, we have found one she loves.   We keep a cup of water out for her during the day, but this girl loves her milk (definitely takes after her daddy).  Emma Claire is doing great and just growing like a weed.  She is definitely sassy and when you discipline her, the bottom lip comes and she becomes pouty which we nip in the bud.  She is an extremely happy baby and learns her lesson the first time (most of the time). We could not be happier with our perfect, healthy child God has blessed us with.  

All in all, Dr K was so happy with her progress and I think she picks up something new every day.  She understands commands like 'Find your paci' and such.  She is definitely saying more words and started Uh Oh this weekend.  Well, I better start on the next post for our Weekend in Rewind!!!!

Our Weekend

We had an action packed weekend!  Friday night Emma Claire and I stayed the night at Mom and Dad's since we had pictures early Saturday AM and by staying with Mom and Dad it put us about 35 minutes closer to our final destination.  

Pictures were stressful on me.  Emma Claire typically does a great job with pictures, but she had fallen asleep on the way and then we woke her up and immediately tried to start taking pics....let me just say, NOT A SMART IDEA on my part.  None the less, Stephanie assured me she was able to get some shots, so it made me feel better, but it was exhausting to me.  Stephanie had live chicks and baby rabbits which I thought Emma Claire would love and she did enjoy watching the little baby chicks...so on that note, we will just have to wait and see!

After pictures we had lunch with the Bryant and Cox families at Chuy's in Murfreesboro, which was fabulous!  I then dropped off Mom and headed back home to get ready for our friend's wedding.

All in all we had a wonderful weekend and then this afternoon I left to go out of town for the week.  I'm sure Matt and Emma Claire will have some stories about this week alone and I'm sure more tent's will be made to.  I just love how much Matt is in LOVE with his angel, it's so sweet and warming!

 I'll leave my loyal readers with this, Emma Claire continues to do new things, but this one is hilarious.  Mom got her puzzles for her birthday and we work with her on them at night, so we got the puzzles out the other night and this is what we found her in her room doing.....

 Apparently, we didn't get the memo to use the puzzles pieces as her paci!  She will try them out until she finds the 'perfect' one.  I think it's hilarious and so now every time she spots these in her room her makes a bee line for them.

This is where they are supposed to go!

Oh well, they make her happy and I guess that is all that matters these days!  I'll probably be MIA this week since I'm out of town for work, but stay tuned for updates on what Emma Claire and her daddy stayed busy with this week.  I hope everyone else has a blessed and wonderful week too!