Milestones

The past week has been a busy one for little Emma. Last Tuesday she amazed us by rolling over from her belly to her back. She was trying to avoid the dreaded "Tummy Time" and got frustrated enough to push herself over to her preferred position of "Back Time". The first time she rolled she surprised herself too and started to cry. I put her on her stomach again to see if she could manage a repeat roll and, sure enough, Emma rolled right over! Since then she hasn't managed to complete any more rolls although she's gotten quite close.

Today Emma continued to impress me by beginning to realize that those things hanging on the end of her arms are good for more than just sucking. She was playing under her hanging play-gym when she reached out to actually touch her alligator. Up to this point she's just been hitting or kicking the poor fellow. It's incredible to watch her make these discoveries.

Last week Emma went to the doctor for her four month appointment. She is doing great! She now weighs in at 12 pounds, 11 ounces and is 24 1/2 inches long. Everything looks to be on track, praise God! She got several shots which hurt me just about as much as it hurt her. Next up, tooth watch. She's gnawing and drooling so we're just waiting for that morning when we see a little white to accessorize her pink gums.

Trips and Visitors

During the past three weeks we took our first family vacation and were visited by both sets of grandparents. So I can't be blamed for lack of blogging, right?! Emma enjoyed all the activity and new experiences. Our trip to Hilton Head was fantastic. I ended up over packing, which is much preferable to the alternative. Emma did well with the 3 hour drive and didn't seem to be bothered by unfamiliar surroundings. It's a good feeling to know that it is possible to travel with an infant. And it only took me 48 hours to pack. After packing all of Emma's gear, packing for myself seemed like a piece of cake. Plus, I am no longer the member of our family hauling the most stuff on a trip. We all enjoyed spending time outdoors in the beauty of Hilton Head Island. I think it would be even better to return again in later years when we can take advantage of the miles of bike trails.

I've been a bit sentimental today as Emma turns four months old. It seems like a lifetime ago that she was kicking around inside of me. And I'm sure I'll say this a million times over the next few years, but I can't believe how much she's grown. She is such a joy! Happy and easy going, she brightens our lives in countless ways. Four months later I am feeling a lot more confident about my ability to be a mom. I no longer take 30 minutes to pack a diaper bag nor do I get nervous about taking her out all by myself. I am finding that I love being a stay-at-home-mom and my mixed feelings about leaving my teaching job are fading away. However, I do have these moments after we've played on the playmat, read books, sang songs, and had smile time when I wonder, "what do I do now?" I ask Emma what she wants to do and she looks up at me with big eyes and seems to say "I don't know, what do you want to do?" I can't wait for the fall when it cools down and we can spend more time doing things outdoors.