5 months...

So today was Emma's 5 month birthday. It's so hard to believe it. I probably sound like a broken record and there will be many more months when I will be saying the same thing, but I really do believe that the most remarkable changes and growth in a child happen in the first year. Their faces change so much and their abilities develop so quickly. One minute they're a blob on a pillow, the next they're rolling around, grabbing everything they can, and grinning with two little teeth on the bottom gums. 

Here are some recent accomplishments and milestones of the last month:

~rolling from front to back and back to front 

~has her 2nd tooth coming in, yes, her 2nd!

~has started to lunge forward to reach for things, esp when I am trying to eat and she is in my lap 

~lays on her stomach and holds her head up for a significant period of time

~sleeping in her own crib in the nursery

~started eating cereal, and is loving it!

~grabs both feet when she is on her back (or in her car seat)

Last week was my dad's birthday and I thought it'd be cute to have emma holding a sign that wished him a happy birthday. This is as far as we got with that. I'd say it was a pretty good try!

When Emma is really tired, she will start to space out. Like this...

Last weekend we had dinner one night at Goode Co. Taqueria. Conor grew up going there, and it has recently become one of my favorite places. It's nothing fancy, but you sure can't beat a great chicken sandwich with guacamole, shredded lettuce, and pico de gallo!

Last Thursday was the first night that Emma slept in her crib, without her moses basket. She had been in the moses basket this whole time. She was very ready not to be sleeping in it anymore, I was just worried about her waking up without the security of the basket. She has been sleeping through the night since she was 3 weeks old. Well, I was wrong. I took this shot right before I went to bed...

And this was her on Friday morning. She had spun herself around and was playing with her stuffed bears...

Last week, Conor's sister, Moran,  came to town with our little nephew, Harrison. We had a great time and had alot of opportunities for the cousins to hang out. The last time we saw them was when they were in town when Emma was born, so it was good to see them again. I love the following pictures. I really don't think the kiddos could have cared less about seeing each other. I also love the way Emma is looking at Moran in the first picture, and how Harrison is looking away very nonchalantly. 

Yesterday I took Emma to the Houston Museum of Natural Science for the first time. We walked around the Butterfly Exhibit for a while. (Although not a long while. Little did I know, strollers are not allowed, so between the diaper bag and Emma on my arm, it got a bit heavy. I managed to get a few pics in though. Don't ask me how...) I think she spent more time looking at the camera than at the butterflies.

Over 20 years ago, I came to this museum on my school field trips and saw the same dinosaurs. And now I am bringing my daughter to see them. Just seems surreal sometimes. 

Next blog entry: Videos! Stay tuned!

Road Trip!

Last weekend was Labor Day weekend and Conor and I sort of made a spur of the moment decision to head to Austin for the long weekend. This was Emma's first trip out of town and she did a fantastic job. On the way up to Austin, we stopped in Columbus, which is about an hour outside of Houston, and grabbed a bite to eat, as did Emma. She did great the rest of the way up to Austin. We really didn't have any plans once we got to Austin. We relaxed at the hotel, which was across the river from downtown, and had the opportunity to see the Austin triathalon on Monday morning from our hotel window. We ate at some of our favorite restaurants, Polvo's and Trudy's (one Mexican and one Tex-Mex, both with great ritas), and walked around downtown and South Congress (which is an uber-hip part of town these days). Austin is not the same town of my college days. So much has changed, new buildings have gone up all over the place, it's become much more trendy than before. When I started school there in 1995, it was a college town, plain and simple. And while I appreciate development, it's hard to be nostalgic whenever I go back, it's so much more bittersweet for me. When I go back, I think of all of the lifelong friends I made there, what a wonderful school I attended, and what an amazing town I lived in a decade ago. And now, I am able to go back with my daughter, and walk around the same streets I did as a 19 year old trying to figure it all out, as every college student does. On the way back, we stopped at the outlet mall in San Marcos (of course) and did some shopping, then headed home. Since it was Labor Day Monday, we hit horrible traffic on the way into town, but Emma was awesome almost the entire way. I ended up sitting in the back seat for part of the way with her due to some fussiness, but once I sat with her, we had a great time. Here's to the first of many wonderful family trips to be had and memories to be made!

About to hit the road!

Hanging out at Polvo's. They have THE best seasoned chicken fajitas. If you are ever in Austin, you have to check it out. The ritas aren't half bad either...

Just 20 years and 7 more months to go little one!

Margaritas, chubby cheeks... what more do you need?

A guacamole-lovin child after her parents' own hearts...

Hanging out at the shops on South Congress...

So serious sometimes... she has alot on her mind. 

Emma + glass balls = ??????

She really did love this glass ball tree...

In Armenian, "toosh" means cheek, which is what my dad and I call her sometimes. 

Walking around an antique store, comfy in momma's arms...

Big Top Candy Shop on South Congress. Oh what a wonderful store it was...

Emma and the candy store. Let's hope she doesn't inherit her mommy's sweet tooth. 

Got a toothbrush?

So Emma and I were laughing a few days ago, just being silly, and I noticed a small white spot on her lower gums. I could not believe it. I tried to get a better look, but every time I would open her mouth, she would try to suck on my finger. I finally got a better look and sure enough, it's the first sign of a tooth! Now I know every baby develops at a different pace, and teeth come in at very different times, but 4 months???? I couldn't believe it. I can already feel the tooth when I put my finger on her gums. She has been a bit fussier than normal, but nothing too bad. I can't wait to see that first smile with one little tooth. Emma has also been rolling from her back to her side for quite some time. She tries really hard to get all the way on to her stomach, but unfortunately for her, her arm gets in the way. She has also been alot more vocal lately. It's funny, as a new mom, the things we worry about. I was initially worried that she was too quiet. She really didn't babble before a few weeks ago, and of course, I started to worry. And now, she LOVES talking to herself when she is playing. (As soon as I figure it out, I will post some videos of her babbling and playing).

Here are some 4 month pictures on Nona's chair. Nona was Conor's great-grandmother. I absolutely love this chair and am looking forward to making an album of each month on the chair. 

Emma at the park with her daddy. Emma loves going to the park and staring at the trees and all of the dogs. 

Emma in her big girl stroller. Doesn't she look thrilled? I love this stroller and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fantastic stroller. It came with a bassinet attachment that we used alot when she was smaller. It also allowed us to use the stroller base with her infant car seat. The seat in the picture is her big girl seat. 

So lately Emma has not enjoyed going to out to restaurants, especially in the evenings. I have a feeling that the noise is a bit overstimulating for her. It has happened on a few occasions. Saturday night we went out to a noodle house and the second we sat down, she started with the fuss. We decided to go sit outside and sure enough, the crying stopped. Emma enjoyed the quiet and the warmth of being outside, as well as watching the people walk by. She was having a relaxing time, that was until I picked her up and started messing with her. I can't get over her eyes in the last picture. 

Sweet dreams... I just love the cheeks. Can't get enough.