A growing youth, a junior sleuth, a new-formed tooth:

A GROWING YOUTH: Yes, ol' chunky-butt is sprouting up like a 6th grade bean-planting project. She's 82.5 pounds; err--- well, she FEELS that heavy! YOU try luggin' this tub-o'goo around; you'd agree! She's also at the stage now where she's trying so hard to talk. At times, you'd think she's carrying on an adult conversation as much as she's babbling. And so expressive; everything she says is with such conviction and demand. We can already tell she's going to have the same open, approaching, verbose personality like her mommy.

A JUNIOR SLEUTH: Did we mention that she's easily pulling up and a speedster at crawling? Oh yeah... Baby Roadrunner is all over the place! That's a good thing, I guess, except when she GETS INTO EVERYTHING! I remember years ago watching comedian Dana Carvey on TV doing jokes about being a new dad... that every 2 minutes your only conversation with your child is "No, no, no, no, no!" That's pretty much the chatter around the Sanders' house. She's like a detective going around looking for clues... and by "clues" I mean "kibble." Emmaline's mobility super-power has introduced her to tasty morsels of dog food, dryer lint, and junk mail. And it doesn't stop there. She's sampled electrical cords, grass, dog hair, and flip flops. Her palate has no preference! If it's in this house, she'll find it. And whatever she finds, it become a snack!

A NEW-FORMED TOOTH: Little Miss Munchmouth has slowly phased in her first little teeth. And, painfully so (for us and for her). She has rollercoaster'd through these waves of happiness and misery. For the first time in months, she's aroused in the dark of night, howling in pain. But all the little angel wants is just some tender love & care from MaMa or DaDa and she'll (usually) go back to sleep. Several nights ago, after hours of Emmie's distressing fussiness, I shrewdly asked Amanda, "Do all babies do this when they're teething, geez?!?" She lovingly reminded me that some babies do this continuously, to shut my yapper and reckon myself thankful. It's been agony on us having to bear through her recent whimpering and awakenings, but considering how wonderfully she's slept over the last 9 months, I think we were spoiled. (One could argue the substitution of "spoiled" with "blessed!")

All in all, Emmie continues to be our heart & soul. She's only 10 months old this week, but it already feels like we've had her for a lifetime. Don't get me wrong; at times, I feeling like clicking on those spam emails I get that says "Get Xanax quick & easy" and just starting an hourly regimen of anesthetizing.

But its then that she smiles, coos, shimmies, or giggles--- and reminds me of how her miraculousness will always outweigh her undertaking.

- Shane

Growing Girl

Well, I think the title sums it up: Our girl, she is a growin'.

Emmie had her 6 month check up last week. She weighed in at 18 lbs and measures 27 inches long. She is right on track with everything. She's sitting up VERY well on her own, working on crawling, and loves to have fun.

Within the same week we had to go back to see Dr. Reigner for a thrush & croup diagnosis. Sunday morning, Emmie woke up with no voice and white junk on her tongue. She was so sad. Emmie isn't a baby who wants to be held normally but all she wanted Sunday and Monday mornings were to sit in our laps. It was sweet and sad at the same time. So, the doctor gave her liquid Nystatin to take 4 times a day for 10 days. Mimi (Sherry) had the great pleasure of keeping her Monday night for us to go to dinner. I bet she had her hands tied! But Emmie had a great time.

Other than that, everything is great here. She's getting back to normal and we're heading to the lake in the morning. We'll be there for a week, home for a week, and back to the lake for a week. Maybe we'll come back with a tan baby & mommy....doubt it! By the way....HOLY CRAP you have to take a lot of stuff with you when you go on vacation with a baby! I don't see any other vacations in our near future!

Have fun this summer!

Spring2

Spring

Long Time No Type

Sorry it's been so long. Leslie informed me today that I had to post. This thing is not letting me press enter so it's going to be one LONG paragraph! Emmaline is doing great. I'm sure she's 20 pounds by now. I think she's teething, I just hope they'd come in already, she's a big drool bucket! Since I last posted, she rolled over tummy to back (at exactly four months right in front of Dr. Reigner). Now, she's rolled from back to tummy too! The sad thing is though, she gets really ticked off when she rolls from her back to her tummy and can't figure out how to get back. She knows how, she just gets so mad she doesn't do it. She's still sleeping though the night and her reflux is doing well with medicine. I have to admit, that without her on her meds and me on mine, I think we'd both want to kill each other! She's been in the pool quite a few times now. She stayed 5 1/2 hours Saturday and loved it. I'll post the cutest pictures of her in her "kini" later. But for now, I've got to get out of the house to pick up a rental car (mine is broken), go meet lori for lunch, check on Melissa, and go to Savannah to the chiropractor about this stupid neck & hands. Until later, many drools to you!

Fatty

Emmaline is officially a pork chop! She weighs 14.5 lbs! WOWZAS! She's just now venturing into 3-6 month clothes. And boy, I had a field day at the Gymboree clearance sale last week.

Last week we had a doctor's appointment for an eye infection. She had some goop building up around her eye so we took her in. They said she had a blocked tear duct that caused an infection and that it was progressing to pink eye. So needless to say, we got put on some meds to clear it up.

Sunday we went out in the boat for the first time. She was halarious in her life jacket. The pictures really don't do it justice. She also got a sunburn (I know, bad mommy). I swear, she had on SPF 50, a hat, sunglasses, the works! But she still got sunburnt under her eyes.

Shane wants to say just how much we love her (I think he says it 100 times a day). She's getting so big. She holds her head up completely on her own now, loves to stand, talks non-stop (scary things to come), sleeps through the night, and is just an utter joy! We've had so much fun with her. My mom says she's just a new toy to us!

Well, I hear the munchkin now calling for her bedtime bottle. So I'll post sometime (not) soon I'm sure!