Our last photo as a family of 4 - on the way to the hospital.
Our first date!
Welcome
to the world Delaney Rae Lewman.Delaney joined us Sunday, March 1st at 8:02pm. She weighed in at 7 lbs. 7 oz and 20 ½ inches
in height; without heels. She had more
hair at birth than Emmy had at 7 months old.
They placed her directly on my chest and the feeling this time was
similar yet completely different. With
Emmy I was anxious and scared and it was like my world stopped in shock. When Delaney was born it was more about
curiosity and excitement to meet her – my world was finally complete. I was ready to just start taking care of
her. I just wanted to hold her and make
sure she was safe. Here’s
how my last baby was born.
Delaney at about 20 hours old.
Delaney
was due March 15th and I knew from about Week 6 that she would be
early like Emmy.I had preeclampsia with
Emmy and was REALLY hoping it wouldn’t return but alas – on February 27th
I was officially diagnosed with preeclampsia hence being induced at 38 weeks. It
was nearly the exact same delivery; even time frames were in sync.I will spare you the gory details but to be
honest, it was a really easy and enjoyable experience.I didn’t get my doctor this time but the on
call doctor was amazing and very knowledgeable.I really enjoyed Columbia Women’s Health if anyone is looking for a new
OB. (Interesting tid-bit: Emmy was due leap day 2/29. If she were born on that day, we would have celebrated her birthday on 3/1 the other 3 years - crazy that's Delaney's birthday!) We were there two glorious days
where nurses waited on me hand and foot while poking said hand and foot with
needles and blood pressure cuffs and such.But still – it was nice to have those first two days to get acquainted
with my little love.Then we went home…
Hayden and his littlest sister!
The first time Emmy held her sister!
Sisters.
The
last month has been {if I am being honest} the most trying month of my
life.Having a newborn the second time
around is SO much easier…that is if you didn’t actually have a 3 year old also.Emmy has been a dream with Delaney.She loves her so much and sports big sister
shirts, kisses her all day, wants to hold her and calls her “boo”.I love how she wants to be around her all the
time and is never irritated of her existence (yet).However, she is really exploring her ability
to vocalize her opinions (I am being generous with that statement).She is having a hard time when she doesn’t
get her way or just listening in general.It seems like every thing she touches she isn’t supposed to so it’s been
hard to continuously tell her “no, don’t touch that, please walk away, that isn’t
a toy, put that back, do not put that in your mouth, no – you can’t have that,
please let me back in the house”. I try to deflect and redirect but it’s a
battle for sure.Then she has her sweet
moments where you can see that just wants us to hold her and snuggle her and
give her undivided attention – so we do.It’s definitely a phase that I am hoping gets easier as they both get
older but right now, I am just hanging on for dear life.I will never get this opportunity again to be
home with them so I remind myself daily that this was my choice and I am
getting to share this amazing time with them.
I
cannot even begin to express the heartfelt gratitude we feel from everyone’s
support.It has been unreal – even 5
weeks later people are STILL bringing food over, asking to bring me coffee and Emmy and I are still getting gifts!This
undoubtedly was the best experience for me and I am just so thrilled that she is
here with us now.Every day I really sit
and feel grateful that I have my family and we are about to embark on such a
fun and loving life together.Ahh, the
dreams I have for my girls.
Happy 1 Month Delaney!
Until next month– please enjoy this slideshow from the last month.
It's amazing how much can happen in 365 days. If you could make life's biggest decisions and package them all in one year - that's what we did. Now most of you are connected to us through some sort of social media outlet but in case you aren't, here's what Emmy's been up to.
This time last year she was spitting out words in chopped up sentences. Now, she corrects our grammar and has some of the most entertaining one-liners. Here are a few of our favorite Emmy quotes:
"No, NEVER" - usually in reference to anything at any point in the day/night.
"Mommy, you pass out Daddy to me?" - every single night from her bed to ours.
"Daddy, ask Mama if she's wearing a pull-up!" - and then Daddy asks and she laughs
"You're NOT my best friend anymore" - usually directed at me, sometimes brother and Papa.
"It's all messied up!!!" - when her sock seams aren't perfectly set at the top of her feet.
"Can I PLEASE watch the Princess Diarrhea's?" - she loves the Princess Diaries.
She's still just a little babe!
We can't help but let her keep saying words like "bubritos, babloons, gagrage, paprise, nail pole-nyshe". She speaks very well for her age but we just can't seem to get ourselves to correct her on these things. She has taken to books and likes to pretend she knows how to read. Even if the book is upside down. Some of her favorite books right now are "Emmy the Great", Princess Sophia books, Bearenstein Bears books, "Big Sister", "Gerald the Giraffe" and Mickey Christmas books were really popular too. I am so excited to see how she advances this year in her reading and comprehension.
Her first school picture, age 2.
We have decided that Emmy will stay home with Mama during my maternity leave and take her out of her daycare of almost two years at Bee Bops. Once I go back to work, we are moving her over to Mayflower Montessori, located near my work. I think this type of curriculum will be great for her curious little mind and it allows me to have both her and her little sister at the same location. Speaking of her little sister...we're about 4-1/2 weeks away from her expected arrival. Delaney Rae Lewman, due 3/15/15 is definitely getting big (and so am I). Her room is nearly ready and we're really trying to encourage what it means to be a big sister. Some of us are a little apprehensive on how the transition will be. Emmy is excited to be a big sister but then I hear her singing songs like "D-e-l-a-n-e-y can't come in" and "Delaney can't wear my green clothes"...I think that will all change once she meets her. I hope. Here's the video of her finding out she's having a sister.
LSD Trip (Lewman San Diego Trip)
We went on our first family vacation to San Diego in May. We stayed right in Mission Beach and played in the ocean, played in the bay and played in the pool. It was Emmy's first plane ride which she did great (except for landing always triggered a diaper situation for some reason). We ate at taco shops and took a boat ride to dinner. Rode bikes and went to Coronado. We went to the San Diego zoo which is one of the best zoos in the country. It was SUCH a fun trip but Tye and I were absolutely drained and exhausted from so much fun. We could have definitely used a vacation after that. I think between the two of us we drank 1/2 a bottle of hard cider. But it was worth it and Emmy still talks about taking an airplane ride to San Diego. Can't wait to see where we go this year!!
This year was DEFINITELY a Christmas to remember. It was the first year that Emmy understood who Santa is, gifts under the tree, Christmas traditions, zoo lights and Christmas movies. She was very adamant on one gift she wanted from Santa; a Belle dress (from Beauty and the Beast). She talked about it nearly every day and made sure Santa knew that was her request. She was also very proud of her ornament pick this year of a ballerina. Naturally, she got a Ballerina outfit so that she can wear it this year during her first ballet classes (to be scheduled). And of course, Santa got her a Belle dress
Princess Emmy of Beaverton as Belle
to which she wears nearly every day. She's certainly taken a liking to princesses and I think we can blame Frozen for that. She loves the cinema! Really likes movies and will try to negotiate everything with "can I watch a movie?" We really try to curb the amount of time she spends watching movies since she doesn't watch any TV shows or cartoons but it's hard when we know how much she loves to see these movies. Some of her favorites this year were Frozen, Mary Poppins, Twice Upon a Christmas, Wall-E, & Beauty and the Beast. Grandma Judi took her to Frozen on ice which she got her very own Elsa dress! Grandma GG took her to the play Mary Poppins and she sat for the full 2-1/2 hour performance! And next weekend Papa and Grandma Carol are taking her to see Skippyjon Jones, another play. I am considering taking her to Cinderella since she loves plays and princesses and Daddy really wants to take her to Casper Baby Pants - her first concert! I was really apprehensive of the princess obsession but I've decided to "let it go"...as long as she knows that dressing like a princess doesn't make you pretty or special. You do.
A common face we get.
As fun and hilarious and smart as she is, she is also very stubborn and really figuring out how to share. She has realized that she can make her own decisions and that we really can't make her do anything although I can flash a certain look that will make her bright eyed and quiet. She drives me crazy about 3 of the 5 week day mornings because she wants to pick out her own clothes, put them on her own self and if I suggest a warmer jacket "NO, NEVER!!!!!" or she will want a certain type of crunch in her peanut butter toast. We try to allow her freedom of her opinions and expressing herself but sometimes (all the time) we're right and that's where she struggles. She has tantrums, although never in public, and will scream and then moments later she's just happy as a clam. Emmy remembers EVERYTHING. So empty promises aren't accepted...like "we'll watch a movie later, okay?" because she will be sure to remind you that you said that. We are so proud that she is about 95% potty trained. Wearing underwear "unnies" during the day and telling us every time she needs to go and can go by herself. Still wearing a pull-up at night but I think we are getting close to unnies at night too! It's such a relief to only be buying one set of diapers!!
Her 3rd birthday was special with just a few friends and some paint. We had some aprons that the kids could paint themselves and take home. She's starting to explore a lot of coloring and painting so we thought this was perfect for a party. We asked her friends not to bring any gifts but some hand made
Mama MAY have liked the painting more than Emmy...
cards to make a birthday book. They were so amazing and thoughtful. Exactly what I was hoping for so her birthday book would be really special. She got SO many Christmas gifts that we are a little toy/bear/dressed out and plus she will get gifts from us and her grandparents. Birthdays are special but not just about gifts (neither is Christmas). She had also requested that I make her a Belle cake as well. We would look at pictures online for months in advance on which kind of Belle cake she wanted. Hopefully that is the extent of her birthday cake requests because that's about the extent of my cake decorating talent!!
#99 Hayden P. Lewman as WR and DB
Back 2 Back...CHAMPS!
We have all had one crazy year. We upgraded to a house about 4 streets down (which didn't make our move any easier). We have spent the last 6 months doing a lot of projects and sadly home improvements due to water issues. We are hoping that we have a solution and it won't continue but it has been quite consuming. The yard is perfect for the family and once spring hits, I cannot wait to get out and start working my vision (Tye is challenging my ability to execute this vision) so next year I'll post an updated picture! We won the championship again in summer softball and looking forward to getting prepped for this year. Hayden started football this year and we are really excited to see where his talents take him. He starts baseball next week and Tye is now the VP of Beaverton Area Little League. Very involved with the coaching and kids during spring/summer/fall ball. LOVE going to watch them both and excited at the possibility of Tye coaching Emmy in softball (assuming she will want to play). Both Tye and I started new jobs and feeling like we are really making the right moves professionally to be where we want. Tye's brother Chris married a beautiful and smart woman Laura in August and Emmy was their flower girl. And of course finding out we were pregnant amongst all of the change was slightly overwhelming but so exciting. We are thrilled to add the last piece to our family and welcome Delaney to this crazy Lewman clan.
We have enjoyed so many moments with you all this year and looking forward to so many more. I promised I would do this blog every month in Emmy's first year and then every year after. I will do the same for Delaney. So if you would like to be removed from reminders, please let me know and I will be sure to take you off our Christmas card list :)
The last
time I blogged, Emmy was stumbling around on her chubby little legs, saying
things like “dada”, “daddy”, “dad.” Now
she is darting out from my watch at lightning speed while yelling “leaf me lone”…my
how times have changed! One of the many
amazing things that have advanced this past year has been her vocabulary. I am honestly shocked every day with her
level of understanding or pronunciation and even her phrasing, she is
hilarious. This is definitely the age
where “kids say the darndest things”.
Here are a few of her most used one-liners:
“Wear
brother’s shirt?” – every night and day
while getting dressed
“I like
those peoples, I do” – when we go through
a drive thru
“Cover me
up” – looking at her blanketpretty much anywhere
“Good job
Mommy” – when she sees Mama use the potty
“Two minutes”
– when negotiating bedtime every night
“I want my
vitanim or I want my fru-nacks” – at any
given time of the day
“Play with
Ellie, Jayden, Marin, Miss Sarah, Miss Hurry (Hilary)” – on what she did at daycare
And my
personal favs…
“My Daddy’s
picking me up” – to anyone she talks to
at daycare
“Go bye-bye
Mama [while waving]” – the second I walk
in the door from work (sad but really funny)
“Oh my
goodnessssss, that’s too funny” – while
looking at most pictures of kitties.
Emmy & Ellie - Besties for the Resties
She has been
attending a daycare called BeeBops in Tigard since June and has thrived.The curriculum is so perfect for her age and the other tots in her daycare are the best. Her and her bestie Ellie are in
separable. They are the two youngest and
Ellie helps Emmy take off her shoes when we arrive and hold her bear (which has
been officially adopted and named, Red Bear Lewman). They are so adorable together. We get all kinds of gifts and art
masterpieces that Emmy makes and I love how much she is learning there – even
if it is things like “not yours, MINE”. We are working on our sharing. J
Emmy has
been in good health other than a persistent cough she has had for the last 4
months.She just started on an inhaler
to see if the will help open up her lungs.And of course cold after cold, courtesy of her cutest friends at
daycare.In November, she had a fever
induced febrile seizure which was very scary to witness but a very important
lesson learned on what to do in those situations. If you aren’t sure what to
do, here’s a video
that you might find helpful.It’s very
common in children ages 6 mos. to 6 years of age so if it were to happen again,
we know how to handle it.All in all, we
are blessed with a healthy and active little girl.
Emmy and Gramma Judi on Christmas Eve.
This
Christmas was very special because we introduced Santa to Emmy’s world.I am not sure if it backfired or not because
every time she heard a noise she would say “that Santa?!” even still in
February.She got more than necessary
and had a really enjoyable time with the grandparents and soon-to-be-married
Uncle Chris and Laura, and her family from Canada – congratulations to them!
Excited to impose my ideas for their wedding!And Emmy was asked to be a flower girl!Can’t wait to see her protest her duty right at go-time…(I really can see
her doing this).
Toys, books, bears and shopping carts, these are a few of her favorite
things.She loves to pretend she’s a
mommy at Gramma Judi's by feeding and burping Red Bear. She pretends that she’s
the one saying ni-night, sweet dreams and covers Red Bear up with her blanket
and asks if he wants the hall light on or music.It’s so cute the things that she picks up and tries to imitate.We read 3 books every night and she has
started to memorize some of them so it might be time to hit up the library!! In
fact, over the summer an incredibly special person wrote a book about Emmy
titled “The Adventures of Broomgirl”. To make a long story short, I started
following this woman on social media (in a non-creepy way) because I loved her
writing and her photos and her creativity with words.She then started following me on Instagram
and loved all the “broom pictures” of Emmy.We had emailed several times and became pen pals.One day I received a package in the mail and
it literally brought me to tears from the first page.You can read it here.This is such a special book for me and for
her and I still cannot formulate into words how much it meant to me.
Two little monkey's jumping on the bed.
Hayden and Emmy – a true love story! She loves to be involved in her
brother’s sporting events and friends and pretty much obsesses over wearing his clothes although I tell her she can only wear them at home because they are about 5 sizes too big.Hayden is so
helpful with her and calls her “honey” and I smile inside every time. He teaches her things and patiently shows her
how to operate something and tells us about what he wants to get for her next
time he’s at Fred Meyer. He’s a true boy
but has softened so much since she’s been in our life. So happy that the two of them have each
other. You can usually find the two of
them dining together on the weekends with Gramma & Papa Lew for breakfast/dinner all around Portland.
Emmy and Elmo ringing in another year together.
Emmy turned two yesterday and although the snow prevented a majority of
her family and friends to come over– some were able
to make it.She had presents and
balloons and cupcake and friends.Who
would have thought we would be snowed-in for her birthday in February! I might actually plan a get together at Playdate PDX for her little friends later in the month. Gotta make time for your girlfriends!
A little update on the family – Tye and I (and friends/family) are
happy to share that we are the 2013 Champions of our softball league last
summer.
Coach Lewman (on the left)
VERY PROUD!
We were all THRILLED and can’t
wait to start the 2014 season.Tye is in
the midst of playing rec basketball through THPRD and so far no
injuries…(fingers crossed).I am going
into my 4th week of training for a half marathon.It’s brutal but something I want to do for
myself.Can’t wait for it to be
over!Hayden is also playing basketball
right now and is proving to be a fast and furious point guard.Baseball tryouts actually start this week too
so looking forward to many more hours on the baseball diamond.Definitely an active year ahead!We have a very needed vacation to San Diego
coming up in May.Surf lessons, sun,
cocktail umbrellas, swimming and FUN.
This year has been extraordinary in watching Emmy develop into a person. Hayden as a thoughtful brother. Tye as the sweetest father to a little girl and I have learned so much about myself and put light on the things that are really important to me at this stage. So incredibly blessed to know the people I do, marry the person I did and have the family I have. Thank you to each of you for participating in our lives. And I will get my Christmas cards out at some point :)
Here's a little slideshow that I made for myself and Emmy's birthdays.
“The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.” –Elbert Hubbard
That pretty much sums up the last year. On top of all the amazing, miraculous, heartwarming and gentle moments this past year has given me – knowing that whatever I do, mistakes and all…”everything will be okay” has been the theme. As a first time Mom, you are constantly thinking to yourself, “I should have read her that second book, I should have woken up earlier to play with her before work, I should not have fed her that many blueberries, I should have just gone home and given her a nap, I should have held her a little longer before putting her down” and so on. These thoughts will most likely fly through my mind every day for the next 60 years. But learning to be okay with what I have or haven’t done as a parent will only make me better. I have made mistakes and I am certain, have many more to make…and that’s okay. I have loved every second of being a mother from the time I found out I was pregnant. Emmy has brought so much joy to my life that I will never be able to repay her. Watching her grow this first year has been inspiring and is, for me, the reason I have always wanted kids. To watch her develop her words and laugh after she falls down, stop crying when I open her door and scream when she is excited. I love, love, love that little girl and so blessed to have her as my daughter. Here are all the things Miss Emmaline has done this last month of her first year!
Removing diapers from her changing table.
Emmy is a power walker. Walks everywhere at an incredible speed! She is getting into EVERYTHING. Cabinets, drawers, bathroom cupboards, her changing table, takes the art off her walls...and I am sure days away from crawling out of her crib. I am putting fishing line on the top of her art so she can't actually pull it off the wall and lowering her crib and removing the bumpers. We are letting her play with the Tupperware cupboard and pots and pans but do not let her in the baking cupboard!! We have learned not to continually say "no" but to just redirect her attention and have her play with something else. She completely understands when we ask her to do something or tell her not to do something (whether she does it is another thing). She jib-jab's all day long with full-on conversations with herself and her babies. Sometimes, Tye and I will be in bed listening to her crack up at jokes she must be telling herself. It is hilarious!! Emmy loves to say DaDa, Daddy, Dad, Dadaaaaay...but no Mama :( one of these days I suppose. Maybe for my birthday!
Big girl with sippy and spoon!
Emmy has 7 teeth now and we have officially started brushing her gums and teeth! She uses these new fangs to chew on ALL regular food. She is completely off of baby food and eats everything we do! So far there hasn't been a food she doesn't like. She has also almost completely been weaned off of formula. We are still introducing whole milk with a little splash of formula. She's doing really well with it and it's a lot nicer on our pocket book! We started Emmy on a sippy cup about a month ago, just bringing it around at dinner and getting her used to it. I imagine she will be done with bottles by March/April and solely be using a sippy. I can't believe how much has developed in the last month. I have a new project for Miss Emmaline! I found this awesome idea on Pinterest to help with fine motor skills for toddlers - it's a wooden board with all kinds of locks and latches and gadgets to figure out how to open/close/undo/etc. I am excited to see what she is capable of! And as a family project we are going to build her a dollhouse. She is obviously too young to play with her dollhouse and the little miniature pieces but we will get started on the construction, paint and decorations. It's going to be a KID ONLY house...I have my wheels turning on how to make a mini-pinball machine! She is going to love it!! Or am I...
The ever so colorful birthday girl!
Her hair is long enough to put clips and bows and mini-pony's. But she is definitely over the headbands and still rocking a baby mullet. She is wearing shoes and taking them off immediately as well as socks. I have a feeling she is going to be interested in hockey...and sports in general. She is very strong. Instead of pushing her stroller, she lifts it and carries it with her. Emmy has her own agenda and we all just try to keep up. She has these bursts of energy that I wish I could channel. I have never seen such a happy baby when she awakes from naps. Just standing in her crib smiling, waiting to get out and get into something. That's why I am letting her do a smashcake for her 1st birthday! Just close friends and family came over for cake and ice cream and we (Michael Byers) snapped a few photos. She loved the attention and the sugar! She is currently, still awake!
Hayden during our snowboarding lesson.
Our life isn't ALL about Emmy...the other half is Hayden. He has started basketball and then baseball tryouts next week. Really cannot wait to see how much he has excelled since last year. Whether Emmy likes it or not she will be growing up on the diamond, watching her big brother play ball. His grades are outstanding and he is getting so tall and handsome. We went to the mountain in January only to discover that Hayden and Tye are PHENOMENAL snowboarders (for only been twice)...I am rather challenged. Hayden just picks it up naturally, like his Dad. We are already looking forward to sunshine so we can build a treehouse and hang out in it ALL summer. Hayden and I of course, Tye is a bit skeptical but maybe, we'll let him come up with Deegs (Rick). It's going to be a busy year for this family...lots of sports & fun. Of course, no one is a bigger fan of Hayden than Emmy. Here's a little clip of the two of them playing while we're getting dinner prepared.
A year ago today I experienced what I can only describe as the beginning of my life. So, I began this blog as a way to document Emmy's first year and share with our family and friends. I thought it would be fun for her to look back and see all the pictures in an online-like-scrapbook. So, a year has come and gone and this is her last blog entry. Such wonderful memories of her first year and so many exciting things to celebrate in the coming year and I cannot wait to see how our family grows! Tye says one more, I say 3 more!!! We'll see who wins. I do intend to do this blog for each child, so I may be harrassing you all again! If you ever want to check in - just call. Or email. Or FB message. Thank you for sharing the best year of my life with me.
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