February 9, 2012

This has been a hell of a half year.  Doesn't everyone in the world say you just gotta make it to six months?  Or something stupid like that?  I am going to do my best not to sound selfish and ungrateful, but it's been damn hard.  Emmett is soft and smooshy and cute and cuddly.  But he is cranky, difficult, fussy, and unhappy.  Doesn't eat, definitely doesn't sleep.  Screams a lot.  And now in the last month he's gone on a total milk strike.  Particularly the last 3 days.  Hasn't had more than maybe 3 ounces.  Won't breastfeed, sure won't take a bottle.  Nothing about him is consistent or predictable.  Anyway, I'm a wimp and a whiner.  But that's my excuse for being lousy about monthly updates.  I promised myself I would do one for 6 months.  Half a year.  It's kind of big deal.

At his check up, Emmett weighed in at 17 pounds 10 ounces.  I was sure he would be at least 18 pounds.  He had dropped a solid 15% in weight, so I'm chalking that up to the milk strike.  But that's still significantly more than either of his older brothers.  Em is also what the doctor called "neurologically delayed."  Sounds scary, right?  Or maybe only to a crazy anxious mom, I don't know, but all it means is that he's developing his neurological pathways a bit slower than average.  He just barely learned to roll over last week.  He doesn't push himself up when on his tummy, and he isn't really even close to sitting on his own.  But the doctor promised me there were no implications whatsoever, other than Emmett hits his milestones a bit later than most babies.  As for his social, mental, and emotional "skills," Emmett is right on track and doing fine. 

So, six months in, here are a few other highlights, favorites, and things we want to remember about our tricky Emmett M.

• I flippin love the little crease under his nose.  It's probably not something anyone else would notice, but I do.  And I love it.
• I also love his 17 dimples.  Seriously, at least that many on his fat face when he smiles.
• He has a cute little voice quiver that he does when he's talking or playing. 
• He is so so responsive to his big brothers.  Nothing warms this mama's heart more than to see them interacting with each other.
• Another thing Em does that I find simply irresistable is when I'm holding him on my hip or lap or whatever (which I am a lot) and he turns to look up at me.  It's like he's just checking in. 
• He still does this kind of weird, involutary hand pump.  It's almost like a repetitive twitch.  He does it particularly when he's eating or falling asleep.
• He is always swinging his arms up and down, and bicycling his legs.  On the floor, in the bath, in the bouncer, while being held.  Always. 
• Compared to his crazy brothers at this age, Emmett is pretty quiet and mild.

Although it's been a tough go, we sure wouldn't send this little Emmerooney back.  He has taught us new things, and that we still have a lot left to learn.  He is so sweet and so special, and so so sooooo so cute.  And we love him a lot! 

January 19, 2012

Emmett's been going on a milk strike or something.  Doesn't want Mom, and refuses a bottle.  In an act of desperation –this kid needed to eat something!!– we started solids.  Em caught on so fast and has done amazing with them!!  Erik and I couldn't believe that we had a baby who was a) interested in food, b) continually wanted more, and even c) got mad when we weren't shoveling it in fast enough.  He has no preference for flavors, and will eat green beans just as well as applesauce.  Except for peas.  He had to warm up to peas.  Of course, with starting solids, it makes for fantastic picture taking opportunities of this Chubbalubs fat face. 

First solids ever with Mommy and Sam.

Later, with Daddy, and not so happy about the highchair at first.

January 29, 2012

Ten days later, he's a pro.

January 5, 2012

I tried to keep him modest with the help of Rubber Ducky.  Not so successful.  And those beautiful baby blues??  That's no trendy Photoshop effect; that's all pure, unedited Em!

You could tell me you don't want to eat him up, but I wouldn't believe you for a second.

I cannot get over the cuteness of this chubby lovey.  Em will hang out in his bouncer, sinking lower and lower, while his feet kick higher and higher.  After a bit he will quiet down and zone out.  But as soon as I peek over at him, he gets a humungo fat faced grin and starts bouncing again.  Lovey love love.

(Clearly I need to work on my focusing skills.  And my picture taking skills in general, but whatever.) 

Emmett M. Emmerooney. Emster. Emmy Lemmy. Little Emmers. Chunky Munk. Chubalubs. Chubba Wubba. The Smoosh. My Squishy. The Mythical Child. 

Whatever you call him, he is pretty dang awesome.  He goes to bed between 10 and 11 and wakes up once during the next 10 to 12 hours.  He will even go back to bed awake and fall asleep on his own at night.  His eat-play-sleep schedule is pretty predictable.  He just really struggles getting to sleep!  And his nights from about 7 until he goes down get pretty tricky.  We are wild about his big cheeky smiles and his sweet soft voice.  He is pretty quiet, but has lots to say if you ask, and then he takes his talking very seriously.  I so love my nightly chats with him after his two big brothers are in bed.  He is so totally a third child, and is pretty content with being ignored and just as fine with being mauled by his big brothers.  He enjoys his bouncer, the playmat, and even tummy time.  He devours his fists, drools like crazy, and has started sticking his tongue out a lot.  He loves to play So Big with his mommy.  He hates the bath.  Hates it.  He has a horrible awful scream that hurts my ears and make his brothers cry.  And the only time you will ever hear it is during bath time.  He kicks his legs and swings his arms and gets himself bouncing pretty good in his chair, but he still hasn't shown any desire or attempt to roll over.  Which is foreign to us.  Also foreign to us: his amazingly squishy legs, his baby boobs, his chunky arms, his meaty hands, and his deliciously fat face.  I really cannot get over the cuteness of this baby of ours.  With the other two storm clouds banging around each day, he is my beautiful ray of sunshine.  Love.

October 28-31, 2011

Such a fun fun weekend.  I love having special things to do and I love our family.  So put them together, and it's a great combination. 

Friday I had Erik take off work, since Sam had the day off school and his family was coming into town that day.  And that evening was our ward Halloween party.  The boys were super excited to dress up.  Owen's favorite thing about his costume was his tail.  Anyone who talked to him over the next 4 days while he was in costume heard about it.  "Ha, yeah, I got a tail, see it's right here."  I was surprised how often I had to explain that Em was a wizard.  Whatever.  The boys were so well behaved all night.  They waited in line patiently for chili and hots dogs, ate their dinner, helped clean up, sat perfectly still and listened intently to the police officer's safety speech, and followed the crowd nicely during the trunk-or-treat.  It was particularly fun for me to watch Owen, who took it all in silently and seriously, but very keenly aware of everything that was going on.  It was great to have Erik's parents with us there, too.

Saturday afternoon the Mutters arrived.  We had first planned to go up to Thansksgiving Point for Cornbelly's then decided to stay local.  We went just up the street to Jaker's Pumpkin Patch, where they had two different sized mazes, a hay pyramid, a petting zoo, corn pit, and a tractor ride.  We got some pumpkins, then spent the rest of the day at our home and in the backyard.

Sunday was the reason for family being in town.  At church, Emmett was given a name and blessing by his father, with both of his grandfathers, and a few close friends in the circle.  Afterwards we had all of our family and friends over to our home for a little brunch.  It was so fun to have everyone together to celebrate our newest little guy.  I was once again very touched by how much love and support our friends and family offer us.  We are so so blessed.  But gosh darn it, we didn't get a single family picture.  And I only got one picture of Emmett at that!!  Kind of makes me a bit sick to my stomach actually that I missed out on that big time.  But at least we still have the memories, right?!

That night, Sam and I figured we had better carve the pumpkins.  Erik was at a church meeting, and Owen wanted nothing to do with it.  So Sam and I had ourselves a grand ol' time.

Then Monday was Halloween!!  I seriously love Halloween.  We had one last gymnastics class that morning, then Sam went to school.  A bit later, the other two boys and I met him there for a Halloween program.  It was silly but sweet.  Samuel was so very concerned I wouldn't be there.  When I came in, I waved to him, but he must not have seen me, because when they all stood up to start, he was very close to tears and said, "But my mom isn't here yet!"  So I called out, "Of course I am, I'm right here Sam!!" and that time he saw me.  And the relief that washed over his face might have made my heart flutter a bit.  So after the program and sharing treats, we decided to visit Erik at work.  Erik was cute, and took the boys around to show them off.  Some of the ladies thought they needed to give them candy, so it was a good start to the trick-or-treating.  One guy thought they needed a trick instead of a treat, so he gave them each a whistle.  Yeah, thanks for that! 

At home again, we made dinner and waited for Erik to get home.  We gobbled down our pigs in a blanket and set up the tripod super quick so I could have at least one picture of all 5 of us from the weekend.  Definitely not our best.  But whatever.  Erik took the two older boys out trick-or-treating.  I wish I could've gone, too, but we figured it was be best for me to stay home with the baby and hand out candy.  Once they got back, Samuel and Owen were both just as excited to hand out the candy as they'd been to get it.  By 8:30 the candy was gone, so we turned off the lights and enjoyed a little time going through the loot before sending the hopped up boys to bed.

October 9, 2011

Oh this squishy little baby.  We love him so so much.  His tummy still hurts him, but not near as often or as bad; it's usually just for a bit before bedtime.  He has really good awake time, and will hang out quietly in the bouncer, swing, or playmat for good chunks of time.  His neck and back are getting very strong.  He holds himself up great.  He has found his fists and loves to devour them.  He drools.  He blows bubbles, and both of his older brothers think that's funny and worth pointing out every time they see it.  He coos and makes sweet noises if you're listening for it.  He has such a darling smile, and always has a big one for his daddy when he comes home.  If you're lucky, you might get to see his squinter, where his fat smiling cheeks make his eyes squint almost shut.  And ooooh those cheeks.  Mormor called them bulldog cheeks.  I could kiss and nuzzle them all day long.  There are still a few 0-3 month sized clothes he fits into, but just barely.  He slept in his own room last night.  It was time.  But still a little sad to let him go . . .  you know, clear to the other side of the hall.  He doesn't have a good nickname yet.  I'm working on it.  Sweet smooshy little Emmett M.

I went a little crazy with the pictures.  Then I couldn't bear to edit any out.

Two months stats: 12 lbs 15 oz (62%) and 23 inches (75%)

Samuel 2 months, Owen 2 months, Emmett 2 months.

September 9, 2011

Remember when I told you what a sleepy baby Emmett was?  And how he hardly ever cried?  Yeah, that was soooo two weeks ago!  Poor little Em is gassy gassy gassy gassy gassy!!!  He has much more awake time now, but I spend most of it soothing him or trying to calm him down.  Bummer.  I'm watching closely what I eat and so far I don't see any "trends" so if the unhappiness continues much longer, I'm going to have to buckle down and start cutting things out to see if I can peg what's hurting this little babe so much.   His sleep is still awfully inconsistent and completely unpredictable.  Nights are rough.  Emmett is often up every two hours or less.  But at least he goes back down pretty easily, except for usually one time during the night when it's the gas keeping him awake.  Then he can be up for an hour or so before settling down and going back to sleep.  For another 90 minutes or so.   

But when he is awake and content, Emmett is a darling beautiful so so cute little boy.  Emmett changes more and more each and every day.  And guess what?  He might even be a bit chubby.  Seriously!   He is smothered constantly by both of his doting big brothers.  His favorite place to be is up on someone's shoulder.  He likes to look around and track things with his big blue eyes.  He has started cooing and making sweet noises.  He makes funny faces.  He also smiles!   Real smiles.  And boy, do they melt our hearts!  We like this baby.  A lot. 

I saw a largely pregnant lady tonight.  I've almost forgotten what that was like.  In only two weeks. 

Little Emmett M. has changed so much.  I swear he changes a bit every day.  We have decided that above the nose, he looks like Owen.  Below the nose he looks like Sam.  And that solid nose is all his own.   

Seriously, check out that schnozzer.

Emmett has really started to "wake up."  He is still a very sleepy baby, although there is also still no consistency or predictability to it.  But his awake time is much more alert and aware.  His eyes are so bright and he's really starting to take things in.

Tummy time!

Emmett makes all sorts of cute faces.  He raises his eyebrows, crinkles his forehead, and even gives us funny little smiles.  (The gas kind, right?  Because when I kiss his little neck and tell him I love him, he can't possibly be smiling for real.)  Though not nearly as much as the first few days he was born, he still makes cute little popping sounds with his mouth.

Emmett really isn't a crier.  He starts to fuss when he's hungry, or when he wakes up and we wait too long to get him.  But really, he is our mildest baby so far.  The most I've heard him cry was on the way home from picking up Grandma B at the airport the last 15 minutes, and today at his check up when he got his tongue tie clipped.  (But it was being held still and the doctor's hand in his mouth that made him mad, because as soon as he was done and back up, he was totally over it.)

Emmett does this awesome poop dance.  He starts squirming and making noises while his tummy churns, then his whole body kinda jumps, his arms and legs stretch out right on cue with the big rumble in his diaper.  I don't know why I think it's so funny, but it's made me laugh out loud at 3 am.   

Of course I am forever scarred by my first two underweight children and my crazy psychological issues, so feeding/eating is a constant anxiety.  I cry to Erik almost every day about having to poke and prod Em to practically force him to eat, and why won't my babies just get big and fat, and why can't this part ever be easy, and blah blah blah.  Well, at least my crazies were put to rest (for now) at Emmett's appointment today.  He weighed in at 8 lbs 13 oz and measured 21 inches.  Everything looked great and checked out fantastically! 

Emmett is really really cute.  We like him a lot.  Two weeks down.  We can do this.