Soaking it all in...

I cannot believe it's been a whole month since my last post. Today Emma turned 6 months old. I'm looking back at my last entry and her list of accomplishments thinking, "man, that's old news!". Leaps and bounds I tell ya, leaps and bounds. So much happens in a month's time, especially in the first year of a baby's life. One second you're excited they're grabbing their toes, the next, you can't believe they're scooting forward on their bellies. Everyday, I cannot believe how blessed we are to have her in our lives. As those close to me know, I have never been much of a morning person, but now, I can't wait to see my little angel's smile bright and early, every single morning. A couple of week's ago she slept past the usual wake up time. It was 8:00 in the morning, on a Saturday, and she was still asleep. I found myself sitting up in bed, just waiting for her to wake up. Kids really do change you in ways you never imagined. 

Emma now has 2 small bottom teeth, she has started to put her knees under her when she is on her belly (I know she's getting ready to crawl any day now!), and she has started the funniest little habit for the past 2 weeks... she growls. It's like she found out she could growl, and now she is going to run with it. This evening we went to the bookstore, and as I'm looking around with Emma in Conor's arms halfway across the store, I hear a growl. Sometimes her fussy cries turn into growls. I just can't help but laugh. My child is wailing, trying to convey some sort of message to me, whether it's being tired or hungry or just plain irritable, and I'm laughing. Last week one night it was around 11:00 pm or so, Conor and Emma were asleep and I was downstairs in the study. The baby monitor wasn't even on, and out of no where I hear growling. I go upstairs to Emma's room and peek in... she had inched her way to the mirror hanging in her crib (she's obsessed with this mirror by the way) and was looking at herself, by the dim light of her night light, and growling. I had to just soak it in before moving her away from the mirror to get her to sleep again. 

That is probably my anthem... "soak it in". Soak in every minute, every second... this probably explains my obsession with photography. I remember when she was only a few weeks old, I kept thinking to myself, "I wish she could keep this newborn look just a little longer". I knew she would start gaining weight, filling out, and it would be gone in an instant. I always anticipate change, and I have never done well with it. But being a parent, change is something I have learned to get used to, and maybe even embrace. 

I know that there will be many lessons to teach Emma in her life, but there is so much that she teaches me everyday... patience, selflessness, simplicity, uncomplicated, unconditional love. She lets me know that even if I don't know the exact words to a nursery rhyme, I can make the words up and it's just as good. Usually adding "Emma" anywhere in there seems to do the trick, or just making up a song with "Emma" in it (which is what I do just about everyday). She has taught me that a smile really can light up your world. Her smiles are like magic, they're contagious. There is no way, no matter what your day may bring, that you cannot smile when she smiles. She has taught me to slow down... that dishes and laundry and everything else on a "must do" list can wait. That time is fleeting and better spent on the floor next to her, playing with the stackable rings that never get old. She has taught me that no matter how long it takes you to crawl across the blanket to your 'very hungry caterpillar', don't ever give up, you'll get there. And the reward after such hard work is always great. She has taught me that the world is full of wonder if we only opened our eyes and began to appreciate it. This includes the TV remote control. She has taught me that spontaneously dancing with her in the middle of the living room to whatever is playing on the radio can elicit more laughs and giggles than a roller coaster ride, or so you would think. Eat when you're hungry, sleep when you're tired, and play hard. I'd say this little girl's got it down pat. I have a feeling she is going to be teaching me life lessons for a long time to come. 

My cousin, Katie, took this picture. She always manages to get Emma to smile for her. Must be a kid thing.

Mmmmmmmm... pureed organic carrots. It took Emma no time to eat from a spoon. We started off with brown rice cereal, carrots and bananas, now we have moved on to more exotic fare, like sweet potatoes, peas, apples, and pears. 

Always a busy body...

Emma's first time in her big girl car seat. She has no problem falling asleep in this seat during times of extreme fatigue. 

The following are from her 5 month pictures I took at our home...

I love this picture... she fell asleep as she was playing with her mirror. I love that she is hugging her blanket. 

Emma always has a few fingers on the bar of her stroller when we go for walks. And it's usually the right hand, placed there ever so gently.

My little chef.

Last weekend we had breakfast with an old friend of mine, Jeremy, and his girlfriend, Natalie. It was great seeing him and meeting Natalie, it really had been way too long. It was Jeremy's first time meeting Emma.

Sunday lunch at Texadelphia. 

My little blue-eyed bear...

Happy 6 months, Emma Adelaide!!!!