Saving Some

...just in case I get hungry later.

Three Weeks to Go

Emma went to the doctor's today and I got to see the x-rays. Luckily the fracture and the bulge are not serious but still needing time to heal. So, she now has a hard cast (still pink!) on for the next three weeks...then we will bring her in and do x-rays again and hopefully be cast free. She is being a trooper but life has become a bit more difficult with normal tasks. I am hoping she doesn't keep hitting the baby in the head with her hard cast...whenever the baby decides to make her grand entrance.

Another first (hopefully last!)

So Friday I just wasn't convinced Emma's "Nursemaid's Elbow" was the only cause behind her pain from her fall the other night. She would still not use her hand in certain ways and would grab her wrist area saying "ouch, mama, ouch!" quite often. So to Urgent Care we went that night. They did x-rays and sure enough.....Emma has a fractured wrist and a bulge in the ulna. Luckily no huge breaks, but close! So the doctor wanted to hard splint her so that everything can heal with no further injury. All the doctors have been amazed at how she reacts to the pain and them poking her....she has a very high pain tolerance and just gives them dirty looks when it starts to hurt. She was such a trooper through the exam and x-rays and then getting the splint on. Of course after they put on the hard cast part and wrapped in in the ace bandage I told them I was concerned she would undo the pins and unravel the cast....so they put some great pink bandage wrap over it and so far so good. Poor baby though....having a bit of a hard time figuring out how to eat, grab toys, use her fingers etc. Although, it doesn't slow her down!! We can't take it off or get it wet, which makes her fun bath times very interesting. So far she is sleeping OK with it and Angelica loves to give it kisses. The clothes situation is becoming interesting as nothing fits over the huge arm now! Amazing how things as "easy" as clothes, eating, bathing etc can become such a challenge. I have to call the pediatrician tomorrow to see what she wants to do, but the doctor said most likely do another x-ray sometime to check progress, possibly hard cast (although this is pretty much the same thing) and could possibly on for 3-4 weeks! So maybe her big TWO birthday present will be getting her arm back! I guess God just figured we could use or need a little more excitement to add to the arrival of a newborn any day! I really was hoping I wouldn't have to experience this phase of motherhood yet...but at the same time not surprised that Emma is the first!! Hopefully our little monkey girl will slow down a bit! (Ya right as this morning my mom was rescuing her from climbing the stage steps at church!)


Here is Emma sporting and modeling her new fashion accessory:

Showing it off to Big Sister (who by the way, cried for Emma when she got the cast on!):

Enjoying the tons of stickers the nurses gave her:

And everything is better with a strawberry smoothie, right?!

Bear Bed Buddy

Thanks Aunty Megs for this big bear....I sleep with it every nap and night time. (seriously, this bear has not left her bed since she got it!!!)

Sleeping Beauty

Emma's Serious Face

Lately, Emma has been making us laugh so hard with her silly and new serious face. I will have to try and get it on video because it is very cute...but here is a shot of it I tried to capture.

Genetics

One of the fun and interesting thing about having kids is watching and waiting to see what they look like and who they look like, what characteristics remind us of what family members etc. We have always said that Angelica's baby pictures look a lot like mine and she looks more like mama (however she does have her Papa's left eye brown spot)...and Emma has definitely portrayed more of the Hartsell genes...and when we started looking through Jason's baby pictures it was so funny to see what a resemblance they both share to each other. I tried finding pics that showed it well:

(7 months)

(1 year)

Snack Time in the Store

Biker Girl or Mad Scientist??

Big Girl

Emma had her 15-month on Friday and she weighed in at 21 pounds 8 ounces (25%), is 31 inches tall (75%) and her head still tops off at the 97% at 49 cm!!! Long and lean like her papa and a healthy little girl. She has been teething (finally these past several weeks) so been a little fussy. About one month ago she still only had her two bottom teeth and now is pushing through her 6th....I was afraid she was going to get them in all at one time! If you are wondering about the picture...well...we have been TRYING to get Angel potty trained and so Emma sees and watches the training as well. Before and after baths, Jason always has Angel go potty. Well, last week after the bath Emma asked Jason to go potty...so he let her sit on it and she went!! Then she went the next night and the next! The other morning her diaper was pretty dry when I got her up, so I put her on the potty and she went again! We have been laughing (kind of) so hard thinking that it would be unreal if she potty trained before her big sister. Amazing what peer pressure and example does to such a young one! We definitely aren't pushing it at this age, but if she wants to sit on it, we aren't going to tell her no either!

Sleepy Sweetie

Emma Bemma Boo

Chris (my brother-in-law) has a great camera and has gotten some very sweet shots of Emma this past week....here are a few, and you can see more at his site.

Happy Girl

Thanks Joanie

...for my adorable outfit!

Baseball Fan in Training

Emma's One Year Pics

We finally made it in to get Emma's one year pics a bit ago (also went ahead and just took a family pic for our Christmas Card as I gave up trying to get both the girls to look and smile...Emma won't sit still for anything!)....they came out pretty good. She looks so pretty in blue!

Just Help Yourself!

Baby Love

Emma absolutely loves giving kisses....to ANYTHING, but especially loves babies and the dolls...so sweet...she loves making the kissing sound "mmmm...mwuh!" And did you notice she finally has enough hair to put a little clip in? So excited!

Growing Girl

Friday, I took Emma in finally for her one year check. (After waiting FOREVER in the doctor's office which isn't recommended with two toddlers) we got her stats:

-21 pounds 13 ounces (50-75%)

-30.75 inches long (90%)

-head is 48.6 cm (still 97%!! - docs comment was, at least she is growing into it!)

(just to compare, at 12 months, Angel was 20 lbs 3 oz, 28.5 in, and head 45 cm)

**this visit also still affirmed for me how thankful I am that I have done so much research on vaccines and issues surrounding them because the nurses couldn't answer ANY of my questions and not even about the one I wanted...UGH...scary when you teach them something and they ask how I know so much...they didn't even know they had different brands and which ones they used!**

Emma's Birthday Party

On Monday we celebrated Emma's birthday with a spaghetti dinner (which she loved as long as it was ground up) and the most delicious cake....I have made it the Hartsell kid's traditional first birthday cake now...the super moist Chocolate Carrot Cake. Angel and I enjoyed making a poster and decorating the house with streamers for the party. Marmee and Poppy brought some balloons and we all had a fun time watching Emma (or Angel) open her gifts (including a piggy bank, beautiful engraved jewelry box, blocks and a dolly) and of course eat her birthday cake!! (video below) (although she was hesitant, making funny faces and just wanted to mush it more than eat it....she would rather have ice cream...which I gave her after she got messy!) Thanks to all for her gifts and birthday wishes!! (there are some funny pics in slide show including one of my dad with the new doll!!)