Taking Care of Breakfast...

This morning after I put Emery down for her nap I came into the kitchen to find this precious scene...I guess that seeing Emery eating her rice cereal this week made her think that Baby Doll (this is the name of all baby dolls) needed some also. There were spoons, bowls, and a "cup". It's really an old bottle but she doesn't like to put the top on it so she calls it a cup. And she WILL correct you if you call it a bottle.

*Note that the lap belt is buckled. Safety first for Baby Doll.

The full scene...

Sweet girl!

Today's Special is...

Rice Cereal is back on the menu at the Powell house! Here is Emery's very first taste...

"I don't know, Mom. This doesn't look like what you and Brantley ate."

"No pictures! Please, M'am, no pictures!"

"Okaaaay...Pictures, please!

Emery Rose is Five Months Old!

Emery is 5 months old today! She finally had her 4 month check up yesterday tipping the scales at 12lbs 3oz and measuring in at 24 7/8inches. The second time. The first time they measured her they came up with 26 1/4inches. When Dr. B came in she reviewed the stats and asked me how tall my husband was...according to the first measurement Emery had grown 4 inches since May! I told her we weren't living in Hattiesburg during the NBA's off season so she personally remeasured her. This was a first for Brantley, being strictly an observer at the doctor's office and she ended up getting 2 stickers...Emery got shots. Go figure. Emery is rolling EVERYWHERE and sitting up completely unassisted. She is a world class raspberry blower (it has been a little difficult helping Brantley understand that this is something only babies are allowed to do). One of the biggest changes for her (or us & how we interact with her) was the reapperance of the Excersaucer in the kitchen. It replaced the baby swing where she had been swingin' & watchin' for the last 5 months. She LOVES it. She sits, stands, spins, plays and watches Brantley's comings and goings. And more importantly she's learning where everything goes when you empty the dishwasher! She is grabbing for everything and anything she ends up getting goes straight to her mouth. She's a fast one! Her eating is still going well and we will be starting rice cereal in the next month. I am hopeful that starting baby foods will help her sleep for longer periods. She takes 3 one hour (or less) naps a day and is waking usually only once during night (knock on wood). Brantley still calls her "E" and is becoming more interactive with her. She loves it! When I look at them together I can't believe the love in my life and have no idea what I was without them.

"Not now, Emery. I'll tell you when."

"Okay here we go, hold my hand-wrist"

"Let us pray..."

Vacation 2011- SanDestin

We took our first family vacation this year to SanDestin, Florida. Kris had to get his Continuing Education credits and as luck would have it they were offering 3 days worth on the beach! Well, it wasn't actually luck... The Mississippi Bar offers the 3 days worth of credits in conjunction with the Bar Convention every year. So we loaded up my vehicle with 2 strollers, 2 Pack & Plays, 2 cases of diapers & wipes, toys, books, laptops, suitcases, a briefcase, 2 babies, and 2 parents and headed East. Kris had the CLE business every morning from 8 'til 12 while the girls & I hung out in the condo. He would come back and we'd go out for lunch which doubled as a little sightseeing. By the time we would get back it was time for naps (which the children didn't think much of) and then we ventured down to the pool and beach. Brantley loved the pool but didn't have much use at all for the sand! She screamed and started monkey crawling back up Kris when he would try to put her down! I should have tried a little preconditioning before we went but it honestly never even crossed my mind that she would hate it so much! Of course, we were going down late in the day and she was pretty tired. We made the best of it though and got a few pictures (and stiff $30 beach drinks that they sell to parents whose children are disgusted by the sand). It was a nice change of scenery, we ate some good food, and did get some quality time with each other. We reloaded everything on Thursday morning after Kris & Brantley got back from Starbucks (Brantley went in her pajamas) and headed home. There's no place like home!

We don't travel anywhere with less than 2 baby dolls...

Our smallest ray of sunshine...


Getting closer everyday...

Baby driftwood...

Brantley near the water

Note her feet above the sand...

Daddy & "E"

Daddy & Super "E"

Bye bye beach!

Mommy & Me- Emery's First Family Night

Tonight was Family Night for Emery's Mommy & Me class! Since this past weekend was the Fourth of July, we had taken Monday off and planned a Family Night on Thursday to make up for it. We have attended several Family Nights over the course of Brantley's Mommy & Me classes so we knew the routine- food, family, & an abbreviated version of what we do in class. But I was very anxious to see how this particular night would play out with Brantley being there in the "big sister" role. After all, she knows Ms. Madalene, she knows all the songs, she knows the protocol for Family Nights, but this was Emery's class and her little friends. Of course, GrandPattie and Daddy were on hand to keep Brantley entertained (or consoled) if the situation began deteriorating...But it didn't. Brantley was GREAT. She danced along to the all the songs by herself and then GrandPattie did the Hippo Song with her. And Ms. Madelene is always so great to make sure that any siblings who come to the class are given turns to do things after the babies. One thing that was different on this night was during the 'Inside, Outside' song she had the older siblings sit on the mat with their baby. It was really sweet. We had a great time and are looking forward to many more!

Brantley's dramatic entrance onto the mat...

Inside, Outside song

Group picture...

Emery Rose is Four Months Old!

Emery is now (unbelievably) FOUR months old! She has really started becoming an active participant in the daily routine around here...She has started sitting up (assisted by me or a mountain of pillows), rolling over & back, blowing raspberries, sucking on her yummy little feet, making little squeals & loving to hear herself make them, and watching every step that Brantley makes. She is still a great sleeper for the most part, better at night than during the day. I am definitely not complaining! And she has started her very first Mommy & Me class! We are in the First Year class which meets on Monday mornings at 10am for 6 weeks. This works out wonderfully because Brantley is going to Summer Fun Days at Trinity from 9 'til 12 for the months of June & July. After these 6 weeks we will be on break until September when all the classes start back. I am loving the sweet time together with her and strengthening our bond.


And this is what our mornings currently look like...

Splash Day!

Today was "Splash Day" at Brantley's school. Emery and I stayed for about an hour to watch the kids and we were very thankful that it was first thing in the morning! Humidity was already at probably 116% and only got worse from there...But the children had a blast!


Popsicles!


Emery praying for either a breeze or for me to put the camera down & pick her up...

Hats!!!

This afternoon we made hats! All of us...Brantley colored and decorated hers with stickers, mine had an "M" for Mama, and Emery's was void of any embellishments whatsoever because frankly, she was lucky to get one. But we had fun making them and showing them off to Daddy!

Day Trip- Natchez

This morning we were having breakfast at Cracker Barrel and discussing what we could do this afternoon. Kris said that he would like to drive over and see the floodwaters on the Mississippi, that left us with Vicksburg or Natchez. My dad was born in Natchez and lived there until he was about 8 or 9 and my parents took us there a few times for the Spring Pilgrimage when we were young. Of course, my love of history, and especially historic homes & buildings, has always held a special place in my heart so Natchez is an easy place for me to visit. So we ran home, loaded the diaper bag and set off. It was a solid 2 hour drive but it went by quickly. The children did great but were realllllly ready to get out by the time we got there! Our first stop was to view the floodwaters raging downstream...


There was a nice overlook bridge that ran for quite a distance along the hilltop. Then we decided that we would try one of the home tours. Fort Rosalie was just down the street and it is special to me because my grandmother attended "Circle Meetings" in the parlor when they lived in town. Brantley was not impressed so Kris stayed with her in the back of the group during the tour and I carried Emery. Sweet, sweet Emery who did not make a peep even though she did make a messy diaper at some point inside the house. We won't be trying anything like that again for a while! But I do look forward to bringing them back for the Pilgrimage and hopefully with my parents in tow! We topped it off with dinner at Fat Mama's Tamales which was soooooo good and then headed home. It was a fun, impromptu day which are the best kind to me!

Brantley, Me, and Emery on the front steps of Rosalie

Beautiful Rosalie

Post diaper change reunion...

Plenty of space to run before climbing back into the car for the 2 hour ride home

Mommy & Me- Just Movin' Graduation

Today was Brantley's graduation from our Mommy & Me Just Movin' class. It is the intermediate class between the 'First Year' and 'Toddler' classes. We started this class at the beginning of the year and it is one that has been full of changes for the Powell ladies. I was pregnant when we started in January, Emery was born in March and Brantley went to class for the 6 week session following with her best buddy, Andrew, and his mom (a kindness I will never forget), and finally, Brantley & I returned to class together for the final session with a new addition! It has been a great and incredibly fast 5 months. We will be on break for the summer and start the Toddlers class in September. Not sure where the time is going...graduation indeed.

Let's Hit the Showers

Brantley has recently become fascinated with the shower. Or rather with getting INTO the shower and sliding the door open and closed. It is sooooo funny! Until she gets tall enough to turn it on...

Emery Rose is Two Months Old!

Emery is two months old today! And she is growing and growing! She is still a great eater- every 2-3 hours, and sleeper- going to bed around 6:30pm and sleeping until 2am or 3am. She is truly my right arm and assists me in taking Brantley to school, Mommy & Me class, playdates, lunches, etc. Emery is basically just a little ball of sunshine that has lit up every life in the Powell House. And she has THE sweetest smile I've ever seen.
She had her two month check up today weighing in at 10.3lbs and measuring 22 3/4inches. She received the dreaded (by me) 3 shots and 1 oral vaccine but the tears were minimal, lasting only about 30 seconds afterwards. She is in excellent health!



And I included this picture because Kris said "And Emery looks straight out of the 1850's". It was so funny and I never want to forget it.

Mommy & Me- Family Night

We had our Family Night for Brantley's Mommy & Me Class tonight! This is our last session before we go on summer break. Brantley is currently in the Mommy & Me Just Movin' class and will graduate at the end of this month and then start the Toddlers' class in the fall. It was a great night with friends, family, and food! GrandPattie, Daddy, and Emery(who slept in her stroller the entire time) were in attendance to share in fun!

Sweet Girl ready for her big night...

Free dance!

Daddy's turn

"That was fun!"

D-I-N-O-S-A-U-R

And our dear friends who share each step with us!