4 months old!

Here's a picture of me just a few hours before I turned the big 4-m-o!  I figured that alone was worth a little grin...

Although sometimes I like to be serious and reflect on what I've done with my life so far...

Just wanted to show off my great Bumbo seat- I can sit in it like a big girl!  Here I am demonstrating one of my new great skills... GRABBING!  I finally discovered my feet and toes!  Although it's rare to see them... usually they have socks on!

And how's this for the "deer in the headlights" look??  :D

Mommy and I met her friends Rachel and Matt and their little boy Gregory for lunch at Ruby Tuesday.  I had the cheeseburger...

Let me step on the scale real quick...

It's official!  I'm 10 lbs 4 oz. and 22.5 inches long. Almost tall enough to ride the coasters!

My new favorite toy!!

I had an unexpected delivery today... it arrived early!!  I got my Rainforest Jumparoo!  Mimi had suggested that it might be something I would like, and Mommy ordered it- it is the coolest toy by far!! :)  I sat in my Bumbo seat, watching eagerly while Mommy assembled it, and got in right away!  

There are so many colorful things to look at, and a lot of motion!  There's even a section that lights up and plays music when I activate it by touching it or by bouncing!

It makes a little monkey sound for some things and an elephant trumpets for others, 

Oh yeah, and the seat cover is great for chewing on...  Mommy had to cover it up with a burp cloth before I soaked the whole thing...  plus I think Mommy wants to wash it before I go sucking on it any more!

Since I'm of "petite" stature, Mommy had to put a box under my feet so I had something to jump around on.  Thank goodness for the little grippies on my socks!

I was just amazed by the lights and music!

Did I mention I like to try to eat the seat?

Did I mention how much I like it??

More progress!

I am having so much fun lately- grabbing things is far more enjoyable than I ever thought it would be!  I've gotten the yellow ducky in my bath, Mommy's hood strings, the rattles from my playmat, and just recently I've been grabbing the ladybug music player on my carseat and the flower one on my bouncy chair!  Plus, I've been smiling a lot and making faces, and just tonight I realized briefly how hilarious "peek-a-boo" is with Daddy and gave a little giggle!

Mommy is starting back to work next Monday, so we're trying to get ready for that.  They're trying to give me the dreaded bottle again... I decided to cut them a little slack and took two ounces last time they tried.  I think they still want me to take more... we'll see!

I have another doctor's appointment this Friday, and Mommy and Daddy can't wait to see how much I have grown, and to show off to Dr. Bradford how much I like to stand up!  I promise to make them post some more pictures... I'll be turning 4 months on Thursday, and they HAVE to take lots of pictures then!

Now I'm off for my nice soaking bath in the sink...  werd.

New Developments!

I have been doing half roll overs in bed for the last couple of days.  I roll to the right and get a little more than half way but can't seem to get all the way over.  In other news, when someone puts something in front of me, I am starting to reach and grab it.  Mommy says I am starting to get a little handsy.  

Kabuki virgins

Well, as a treat, the family went out to Kabuki's last night after running a few errands in town.  It was a first for Daddy and for Emma!  Luckily Mommy has been to Japanese steak houses before, so no problems... :)  Emma enjoyed the show- all the flashing of the stainless steel implements in the initial exhibition really kept her attention, and she really appreciated the constant low rumbling of the hood fans.  For most of the meal, Emma was happy to sit on a lap while Mommy and Daddy ate, but when she tired of watching food cook, or watching people eat, she was more than happy to gaze into the big saltwater aquarium with colorful fish!  Just at the end of the meal, while we waited for our check to come,  Emma was quickly lulled to sleep by the slightest rocking and the wonderful hood fans...  We had several comments on how good she was from the manager and other people at our table!

The butter-bean stirr-eth, so I'd better run, Emma might be upset if she knows Mommy has been posting to her blog without her knowing!! :D

Emma goes retro

Emma goes so retro she is posting events and pictures from before her arrival. Here are some various pictures from her Dr's office. The drawings on the wall amused mommy and daddy for hours. Her doctor is Dr. Bradford.

This is mommy and Dr. Bradford:

The family went shopping yesterday for a hat for mommy and some other things and I found a pair of shoes that I really liked...

Ok, hope this works!  Emma laughing!!  Please ignore Mommy's silly comments...  Emma was laughing at my commentary on folding the laundry!  She laughs a couple of times in the beginning, then she's just wondering why her mommy is so weird... :)  (Sorry, I couldn't get it to post to the blog!!!  AGGH!)

Emma laughing

Here's another video, again, she only laughs in the beginning, but cute still!

Emma laughing again

Emma says "Peas out"

Emma after she laughed-sorry, no laughs after that :(

This is a video shortly after Emma laughed.  We never did hear her do it again but we did get some nice stuff on video.

While in town, we stopped for lunch at Sal's pizza.  One of the best pizza places we've found down here that is pretty close to the stuff we had in NYC with Aunt Kathy.  At the restaurant, we found their fish tank and Emma absolutely loved watching the fish.  Here is her video:

A big day!

We had a big day yesterday, and Emma held up really well!  We started off the day on a sad note- attended a funeral ceremony for Mommy's boss's father... he passed away Wednesday morning of a heart attack.  Afterwards, we all headed into Roanoke for a little baby shopping/browsing before going to the "Guns-N-Hoses" hockey game.  It's the 6th annual competition between the police officers and fire fighters.  Daddy had volunteered to help with the ticket sales and collection of donations (all the proceeds go to the MDA), so while he was working on that, Mommy walked around the coliseum with Emma and looked at pretty colors and bright lights!  Emma especially enjoyed the "people watching" while everyone was looking for a seat.  She even got to nurse and take a little nap before the man with the microphone started talking and startled her! (Awwww...)  We headed out just as the game started up, since it had already been a long day, and we got home just in time to throw hay to the horses and goats, get a bite to eat, and crawl into bed.

Emma had one other exciting moment yesterday- Daddy had propped her up on the bed while we were getting ready to go, and she was watching and making faces and little noises, and then... her first laugh!!!!  It was short but oh so cute!  Mommy and Daddy squealed in delight and grabbed the camera, hoping to capture another one, but so far, she has not duplicated it... :)

Today Mommy and Emma are at home catching up on some much needed rest, after such a big eventful Saturday on the road!

Real snow!!

Today we woke up and found there was real snow on the ground!  Not a whole lot, but enough to cover the driveway, although the fields still had grass poking through.  We had hoped to get out and have fun with the new sled, but the wind has continued to be pretty harsh...  maybe next time! We're hunkered down in the house with the wood stove going, enjoying our time together, trying to keep warm!

Emma Dancing

This is Emma dancing to one of her favorite singers, Jack Johnson.  

Playhouse progress!

As you can see, the rucksack carry has been very popular for everyone! Mimi and PopPop had some good success keeping me happy in it this weekend!
This is a rare photo of me in something other than a onesie... hehehe
While Mimi and Mommy worked in the house, cooking soups and baking shortbread and lemon bars, Daddy and PopPop were hard at work putting siding up on my new playhouse- they are doing such a wonderful job- it's beautiful!  I might let Daddy use this side as his workshop...

And Mommy might get to use part of it for the animals, but I'm claiming the rest for playing!!! I couldn't believe how high up Daddy and PopPop went!  

We had a really good time visiting and relaxing, I even got to go on a couple of walks since the weather was just so nice!!

(Oh, and by the way, GO HOKIES!!!  Orange Bowl champs!!!)