7 Months as a Lewman!!

Emmy's first Duck game!

I knew this time would come.  The time where she was once an immobile little being to a crawling/walking/talking person!  Emmy has been very busy this month advancing her mobility and personality.  She is not walking or talking yet but she is half crawling and certainly yelling!  It’s beyond frustrating to watch her struggle to get that chubby little leg ahead of the other chubby little leg.  She sits on her knees and rocks back and forth, lifts a leg and then falls to her belly.  Or, she will just hop her way across the floor.  She also has a graceful downward dog yoga position.  Emmy has discovered that if an object that she is trying to reach is on a blanket – instead of trying to crawl she will just pull the blanket to her!  Sounds an awful lot like her Mom :) She is sitting up completely by herself now!!  When she starts to lose her balance she pops down her plump baby wrist and balances herself out.  She sits and claps her hands, touches her toes, lifts up her dress and plays with her building blocks.  I am so impressed with the evolution of life!  She was just a little squirmy bundle a few months ago – now she is like a little girl!  Crazy to watch her change each and every day.  She’s 19 lbs and lives like every day is a hot dog eating competition. She's a healthy girl!

Smiley girl at the Byers house.

We had a lot of activity this month. Hoping that September adds a bit more time to focus on a routine for our little gal.  She is having a difficult time wanting to go to sleep - maybe we're having too much fun!!!   Emmy made QUITE a few new friends as well this month.  Here is a recap of our August.

DeAnthony Thomas 2.0

GO TIMBERS!

Hayden and his soon to be step-brother Aidan headed down to Eugene with Tye & Papa Lew for Duck Fan Day.  They got a TON of signatures and pretty much waited in line for about 4 hours in various lines.  Hayden got to wear some of the gear though! And a few weeks later Emmy and Tye went to their first Timbers Game.  You could even hear Tye gasp when they didn't make a goal (he claims he isn't a soccer fan)!

We had our first official “Brothers Day” for Hayden on August 8^th (8/8 his favorite number).  We celebrated an epic victory in flag football that day for his last game.  Then we stopped at McMenimans for a special dinner and Emmy left her brother’s gift in his room.  He walked passed it twice before we had to tell him the giant gift bag was from her. Eventually, we will have a “Sisters Day” but right now we will let him have this day all to himself for a couple years.  We thought it would be a great way to encourage being a good brother and helping out, which of course he does an amazing job at. 

We love Seattle!! 

Tye and I went to Seattle for a night for his company party.  We had such a blast just being together and enjoying the city and visiting our friend Sam.  The weather was perfect and we had lots of laughs.  Looking forward to a full adult week in Mexico in February for our friends Alex & Hilary’s wedding.   

Hayden & Chris at Pacific City

Photo courtesy of stranger on beach.

 We headed for the beach this Labor day and had an incredible time.  Hayden went surfing for the first time with Uncle Smooth (Chris) and Emmy put her toesies in the sand for the first time.  I almost hyperventilated walking up the dunes with my little partner Henry and Tye finally paddle boarded on the lake. Not to mention the fine display of football that the Oregon Ducks delivered on Saturday.  Emmy was finally able to put on her cheerleader uniform and support her team.  What a perfect way to spend a 3 day weekend with friends at the coast.  Can’t wait for next year already!  Thanks to the Millers for having us again. 

Hayden started 3^rd grade this week and loves his teacher!  Fall baseball just started and Fall Flag Football to soon follow.  I am not QUITE ready for the mini-van but it is starting to look very appealing…especially with the sliding doors! We aren't quite ready to head inside yet either.  We have spent a lot of time this summer riding bikes and putting Emmy in her brand new car (in the voice of Bob Barker)!

Looking forward to slowing things down a bit and getting back in the kitchen to bake and make yummy fall food!  I discovered I am not very familiar with the kitchen in the summer…too busy! Here’s to an Indian summer and some awesome Duck games!!  Hope everyone had a fabulous summer and see you in October!!

6 Months as a Lewman!!

Emmaline Rose

182 days of life for little Miss Emmy.  Amazing that 6 months has passed since that incredible day she was born.  She has developed so much in this last month that I could count a hundred milestones but I will keep it to the most exciting ones!  Here is what Emmaline has accomplished within the last month.

All smiles in bed with Mama & Daddy

Emmy is smiling like a fool!  Every morning after we get ready for our day, I take her in to say goodbye to Daddy and she erupts in laughter and a huge grin. She gives me the biggest smile when I come home from work…as though she’s never seen me before.  It might be my favorite thing of all time. She has this quirky crooked smile that scrunches her nose and squeezes her chubby cheeks and exposes her dimples. You can’t help but to just fall in love. And the laughter.  I could record and listen to it for hours.  She loves being “spooked”.  Peek-aboo and little games where we say something quickly just cracks her up.

  

Bouncy, bouncy, bouncy!!

Emmy adores her new Jumperoo…she laughs and snorts and takes deep breaths while bouncing.  It is hilarious to see her so overwhelmed with excitement. And then of course when I take her to a mirror, she has discovered SHE is the reflection and smiles real bright.  She is such a happy baby and is so good with other people.  She just likes hanging out and being a part of the group!

We have really increased her baby food intake with fruit sauces and vegetables this month.  She sits at the dinner table with us while we all eat dinner…however, I think she is jealous of what we’re eating!  Her new favorite food is fresh blueberries.  We have a little mesh sack (Munchkin Food Feeders ) that safely allows her to eat fruit without worrying about swallowing whole pieces.  She destroys that thing and it’s great because she can hold it by herself.  She’s definitely still eating well…in fact, we went to Skyhigh Sports this last weekend and sat next to a little baby 1 year old boy…who was about half Emmy’s size.  One lady at Hayden’s football camp said “boy, she doesn’t miss a meal, does she?” Now if she were talking to me, I might have had a good cry but since she was talking about my HEALTHY little girl…I didn’t mind.  She weighs 17.13lbs (85%) and 26" (63%) and Dr. Gleason says she is one healthy little girl.  He is very pleased with her growth, especially since she was 3 weeks early.  Yay for chubby babies!

We are on the brink of having a mobile child!  She is rolling all over the place and refuses to stay on her back for any period of time.  She wants to be on her tummy looking up at everyone, chewing on whatever is in sight. I bet she will be sitting up by herself and sprouting some teeth within the next month.

The future's best QB/RB/WR/TE

The month ahead...Tye and I are taking a little adult getaway to Seattle for a night!  Looking forward to a fun time with each other!  Then we have the Lake House with the Millers & friends over Labor Day weekend.  This beautiful house that we were invited to last year (an annual tradition for them) that sits on a lake near Pacific City.  Canoe's, paddling, bonfires, dunes, football (GO DUCKS) and awesome family fun.  This will be Emmy's first beach trip and I cannot wait to get her little piggies in the sand!   Hayden will be finishing up his first season of Flag Football and then headed back to school to start 3rd GRADE!  He's such an amazing kid.  Really showing what a great student and brother he is this summer.  Spending a lot of time doing summer sports camps and playing with Emmy.  I can ask him to  entertain her for a minute and bring her to me and he has no problem.  She must recognize him as an older version of herself because she shows those gums for him too!  

Hope everyone is having a fabulous summer...the weather finally showed up!!  See you in September!

5 Months as a Lewman!!

Morning baby!!

5 Months in and she is growing at an incredible rate!  Miss Emmy is bursting out of her onsies and wearing her 6 month clothing already.  She doesn’t get nearly as fussy when Mama changes her now and we play fun little morning games while getting her dressed.  She must be the happiest morning baby I have ever seen.  She smiles and is now giggling. No one can make her laugh like Daddy though!  Emmy is quite the spectator too – she will watch people and wait for them to smile at her then she releases an enormous smile!  Her activity has increased as well as her awareness.  She grabs on to things with an astonishing grip and learned to use her voice.  She loves screaming at the top of her lungs just because she can.  Cannot wait to hear what that little voice is going to sound like!!

Pears...yum! 

We started introducing pears, applesauce, carrots, squash and sweet potatoes to her menu.  She loves all of them and is taking real bites in-between jamming her fingers in her mouth.  She is definitely teething – completely drenching her shirts and gnawing on anyone’s finger.  She refuses to take teething rings so for now  I will sacrifice my fingers as well as our friends’.  She has also started rice cereal at her daycare which she seems to like more each time.  While she is still nursing and supplementing with formula, she really doesn’t eat that much for a baby her age.  She’s just big boned, that’s all!

Tye teaching Hayden how to fish at Expo Ponds.

We took her on her first vacation down south to Medford.  We stayed with our friends Alex and Hilary who graciously hosted us and took us fishing and further south to Ashland.  We had so much fun and Emmy was a champ – slept most of the car ride down!  We finally made it to the Wildlife Safari – even though it was raining we still got to see a lot of the animals and Emmy got to sit up front with Mama and look out the window.  We saw two Bears fighting, lots of zebras, a rather sickly looking set of camels and one giraffe that we managed to lose.  It was a lot of fun and totally worth the trip (next time a sunny day would be better).  We headed up I5 to visit Aunt Shirley and Uncle Frank, in hopes we might see baby Jaxon (who is just a month older than Emmaline) but were unsuccessful.  We spent time playing with his toys though...

Naked baby alert - my favorite photo of the session!

If any of you know our friend Michael Byers, he is a phenomenal photographer.  Doesn’t do it as a profession but should (hire me as your assistant).  He has taken our engagement photos, wedding photos, and now baby photos!  We set up shop in Emmy’s bedroom and used several different materials for backdrops and she had 4 outfit changes.  She’s a real model!  Too bad that will be the extent of her modeling career!  He was able to capture some AMAZING photo’s.  

Happy 4th of July (outfit #1)!

 We had our annual 4^th of July party and it was so much fun.  We had several friends over with a lot of burnt hot dogs, courtesy of moi, and tons of great food!  Emmy didn’t really care for the fireworks mostly because she was already asleep.  But we had about 3 wardrobe changes that day just so she could wear all her 4^th of July gear.  She’s very patriotic!  Overall it was a very fun filled month and the weather is finally turning around.  Hayden’s first ever football game was a few weeks back and I really think it’s going to be his sport!  As long as his dad stops yelling “tackle him!!!” in flag football…as the coach!  Plus summer has just started and we have a lot of summer fun coming up.  Next month is Emmaline’s 6 months of living anniversary…how amazingly fast the time has flown by.   

Enjoy this months pictures in the slideshow below...and see you in August!

Emmy's first trip to the beach w/ Mama and Auntie Kara.

4 Months as a Lewman!!

Lovely in Lime!

 4 Months – 1/3rd of a year old! Emmaline has had one incredible month.  I will start off with her 4 month check up.  She weighs 14.8 lbs and is 24.5” long.  She is 75% chubbier than babies her age (ha!) and 61% taller than babies her age.  So, she is definitely growing out of clothes both ways…which just gives me more reason to change her more often! She is VERY strong and can now sit up without her head bobbing around.  She is gripping everything, including my hair.  She loves to pull on it and get baby slime all over it.  Her doctor said she is growing just perfectly and he said she is a real talker.  She coos and yelps and blows a lot of bubbles.  She is even ready for real food.  Last night we tried some creamy bananas that I thought were divine but she didn’t quite care for them yet.  All in due time!   The most heart warming milestone this month is smiling/giggling.  I never knew I could feel the way I do when she smiles or giggles.  Every morning she is so happy and loves to look at Mama and Daddy. I imagine it only gets better from here!



Grandmother, Mother, Grand-Daughter, Great Grand-Daughter



I had my first Mothers Day with little Emmy and she was so sweet!  She made me a card and gave me a beautiful pink tea rose bush.  Tye and I took the Mothers (Judi, Carol & Helen) to lunch and just relaxed.  It was a very special day to have 4 generations together.  The only way I can describe it is like having another birthday!  You just feel honored and loved.  Hayden and his Mom Jenny painted me a pot with Iris’s and gave me a handmade card inside a water-colored butterfly paper bag with a glass fired candle holder. It was beautiful and I now realize how special those little gifts are.



Emmy in her Bumbo



Emmy rolled over twice this month, once for me and once for my Grandma.  Granted they were both on a bed so we’re not entirely sure if it qualifies as “rolling over”.  She still loves tummy time and still face scoots as far as possible.  We bought her a Bumbo to sit in which helps her sit up and allows Mama to get more housework done!  I might start a little collage of pictures of her sitting in the Bumbo in all the different rooms.  Doing laundry, doing my makeup, doing dishes, making dinner, pulling weeds!  She is happy wherever she goes!  The video below is short but cracks me up when Tye moves her around the house in the Bumbo. Bee-bee-be-beeeep!

We went to the Rose Festival with our pals Michael and Caitlin as Emmy watched Hayden, Michael and I get dizzy on rides.  She loved all the high-fashion people watching!  She is getting a lot of social interaction at daycare with another baby and two 2 year olds. Let's see how she does every Sunday while her parents play softball! Tye and I are on a softball team with friends and although we have pulled some muscles and complained about aching joints…we’re pretty confident about our season! 

Superman!!

The Lewmans are looking forward to the month ahead with BBQ’s, Hayden starting flag football and our first trip to Medford to visit good friends Alex & Hilary -  which will prompt a visit to Wild Safari.  Let’s see how well Miss Emmaline does with 4th of July fireworks!  See you next month :)



3 Months as a Lewman!

Three months! I have a feeling I am going to start off the remainder of these blogs with "I can't believe how big she is getting"...or "I can't believe she is ___ old already!" But seriously, I can't believe how big she is getting and I can't believe she is 3 months old already!!  She has really started to show off her personality this month.  I love that we are really getting to know her now!  Here are all the details this last month.

Tye and I went to Las Vegas for 4 days away from Emmy. She stayed with Gramma Judi and had a wonderful time.  It was challenging for us at first but we relaxed and tried to enjoy ourselves in the sun.  We were up about $1.75 at one point and then lost it all.  We were able to laugh and be kids in sin city.  If we started to miss Emmy we would mimic the funny faces she makes.  And if we started to miss Hayden we would go pick out something to bring back for him. We were definitely ready to come home to our life though!  

Emmy and her favorite balloon.

GG with Emmy

I started back at work part time the following Monday - and honestly, after Vegas it was a breeze!  I would recommend going on a trip before returning to work because it isn't nearly as difficult in comparison.  Then Emmy started going to my Grandma Helen's (GG) in the morning and I would pick her up at noon.  She had some memorable moments at GG's...or maybe GG had some memorable moments with her!  Here is one that I will remember forever when I walked in to pick her up and she was holding on to her balloon!  

Then Emmy started at her daycare and is we are all very happy with the care. Very detailed reports on what she did that day makes it a little less sad to know I am missing out on 50% of her life right now.  Plus, it's adorable seeing her with another baby and how they interact.

She had her two month check up with Dr. Gleason and she is right on track with her growth!  Doc thinks these blue eyes might just stick!  She is about 13 lbs now but about 50 lbs in her car seat!  She is very "talky" and is constantly moving her arms and legs.  She resembles Elaine Benes dancing from Seinfeld.  Very jerky and sporadic.  My favorite part is that she is starting to smile on cue.  We will smile at her and a huge smile emerges from her face.  She also LOVES staring at herself in the mirror above her swing.  I can't blame her, I love staring at her too. 

Emmy in her swing!

I had to put this video on because it is so funny that she was actually focusing on the wrestling video game and looked like she was throwing punches! Just one of the boys.

Grandma Lew with Emmy at Hayden's game.

In other news, Tye is doing very well at work, top sales in his company.  He is in the works of starting a new band which is awesome for all of us...finally get to see him play again!  And he is still the coach of Hayden's 6-3 baseball team.  Hayden is playing FANTASTIC this season and is really excelling at fielding.  Emmy has been an avid fan as well appearing at almost all his games in support.  We're very proud of his improvement both on and off the field.  He got raving reviews at his parent/teacher conference and has tested for TAG.  Excited to get the results on that in June.  Tye and I are beginning the exterior work on our house - so nice to have our own home.  Big landscaping plans this summer as well as some paint.  Looking forward to many, many memories with our friends at this house.  Two in particular - Kara and Nathan Rudolph.  They will be fully moved home by the end of this month which just makes me about as happy as possible.  WELCOME HOME RUDOLPHS!

Gramma Judi with Emmaline

The Lewman Clan

Looking forward to my 1st Mother's Day with her...she has made my life whole and cannot wait to keep watching her grow. Until next month...

Maybe Emmaline will be crawling...?

2 Months as a Lewman!

Emmy is 2 months today!  Happy Easter to all :)

I will start off with her stats...she has nearly doubled her weight in her second month of life.  She is 10.7lbs!  Really starting to show off her figure.  Particularly in her leg and chin area.  Her eyes are still a beautiful blue and hair looks like it's a light amber/brown.  She has really started to reveal a very lovable personality and easy temperament, here are some of her likes and dislikes.

Likes/Loves:
EATING
Looking out the window
Tummy time - she can completely lift her head on her own and turn to both sides
Her swing but only for about 15 minutes
Her bouncy - but only if she's looking out the window
Having staring contests with her Gramma Judi
Shower time with Mama
Chewing on her arm/hand/fingers
Playing video games with Daddy
Being held on her side and bounced
Kisses from her brother - she punched him once when he was trying to leave.

Dislikes/Hates:
NOT EATING
Flatulence - not a fan (any of us)
Having her diaper changed
Having her clothes changed
Getting snot plunged from her nose
Sleep - she fights it every day all day
Tight headbands
Laying on her back

She had two holidays this month, St. Patrick's Day and Easter.  She just happens to look good in all colors (biased) but that makes outfit coordination easy for Mama!  I believe I have reached the 1,000 picture mark.  She is very used to flash.  Tye and I have made our predictions on when her first REAL smile will be, first crawl, first steps, first word (he thinks "Dada" and I think "more" because she's getting rather chubby).  We are having so much fun getting to know her and watching her grow (rapidly).  We are taking a trip for ourselves for 4 days in Las Vegas.  I have had some waves of meltdowns already but I know that Mom & Dad need some relaxation before Mom goes back to work in ONE WEEK!  Nervous about that too.  Hopefully, we don't end up getting there and turning right around and coming home.  Will keep you posted next month on how our trip was and how Miss Emmy handled the time away from us.

Emmy welcomed a new friend Grace Margaret Miller on March 20th.  She is very excited to meet her.  She is also expecting another new friend Zoey Michelle Stogsdill any day now.  Then next month Emmy's cousin Cole Daniel Senn...and it doesn't stop there.  Another cousin Senn in June and another friend in August to the Grohs'. Not to mention she has an older cousin Jaxon who was born January 11th.  What a year for babies! 

Welcome to the world Emmaline Rose!

Emmaline Rose Lewman

Welcome to the world Emmaline Rose Lewman!  Emmy joined us Wednesday, February 8^th at 7:21 pm.  She was weighed in at a whopping 6 lbs. 6 oz. and 19.5” in length.  She had somewhat blondish colored hair and beautiful colored skin with blue eyes (I am hoping to God her eyes stay blue because I told Tye that we aren’t done having kids until I get one with brown hair and blue eyes).  She was born at Providence St. Vincent Hospital in Portland, OR.  The same hospital Hayden was born in – like brother, like sister.  Here’s how it all played out!

Emmy’s due date was 2/29/12 – Leap Day!  I knew from the beginning she would be early.  I just never felt that she would be that patient.  When I was about 32 weeks, there was concern I might have a pregnancy complication of preeclampsia.  Which is a condition where blood vessels are constricted, resulting in high blood pressure and reduced blood flow that can affect the organs, such as liver, kidneys and brain and the only treatment for preeclampsia is delivery of the baby.  So my doctors were monitoring my spiked blood pressure, swelling, rapid weight gain between visits and protein that was found in my urine.  Even though all our blood work and ultrasounds were coming back very healthy, it was enough of a concern that they put me on bed rest at 35 weeks.  At 36 weeks it was decided I would deliver by induction at full term of 37 weeks (3 weeks prior to my due date).  I was VERY ready to meet Emmy.  And so was she…she was head down at 32 weeks!  So I was ordered to come to the hospital on Tuesday, February 7^th to start the process of being induced.  We started “ripening” my cervix Tuesday night at 9pm.  The contractions started about 10am and they broke my water at 2pm.  By 5pm I was fully dilated and began pushing at 6:15 pm.  An hour later my doctor looked at me and said “one more push, and she is here”…and she was.  The most emotional moment of my life.  And then my life changed.

We brought her home the next night and slowly started to get to know our little sweet pea (as my Mom calls her).  She had jaundice her first week of life so we were going to multiple doctor appointments and trying to plump her up as she lost about 10% of her birth weight and dropped down to 5 lbs. 11 oz.  By two weeks, she was back up and doing great.  She is such a good baby.  She has a mild cry only when something is really bothering her and makes the most adorable noises you have ever heard.  She still sleeps most of the day but we are finally on a routine where I can get a few hours of rest at a time at night.  She loves getting dressed up for the bazillion camera flashes that take place daily but is growing out of a few of her outfits already!!  She is very strong…already holding her head up for a good period of time without our help.  Tye has almost taught her to open her arms for hugs and she’s on her way to being our biggest competitor at Dance Central on the Wii.  Check the video out and turn up the volume!  

Yesterday, she weighed in at an obscene 7 lbs. 7 oz and must be going through a growth spurt because she is eating ALL the time.  The last four weeks feel like a hazy dream but thinking about being pregnant seems like a decade ago.

As for my recovery - things are starting to finally go back where they were before she was in my belly!  I am definitely gaining my energy back and can’t wait for the weather to get nicer so that I can take her out and explore the world!  Tye and Hayden are gearing up for baseball season that starts tomorrow! Hayden has been such an adoring big brother.  Sharing his sister’s stats at school and always talking about her.  He gives her a kiss every night before bed and it’s the sweetest thing I have ever seen.  Tye seems to have a way to instantly hypnotize her into comfort. 

Thank you to everyone, friends and family, that have brought us dinner, mailed us gifts, sent us flowers, stopped by to see her and support us.  It’s been amazing and so appreciated.  We have the greatest Mom’s in the world and have really helped tremendously during this incredible adjustment!

Happy 1 Month Birthday Emmy!!