Sweet November

November was a fun, busy month for us. About half way through the month I made an executive decision to do majority of my November blogging in a one, big post at the end of the month. So here it is November 30th and it's time to catch up a little bit! We spent the most of the month just relaxing with friends and family. We have spent a few weekends in Morgan relaxing. It is nice to have 3 babysitters once we get there. All we have to do is keep food and diapers handy! Other than that Jake and I get time to do whatever we want, most importantly---NAPS! yay! Emery gets her fair share too it would seem....

She is a major cuddle bug

 Another weekend we went to the Allen's to introduce Emery to Mark, Debbie, and Stephen, and Kage was home for the weekend too! We had so much fun. Chance, Mark, Kage, and Jake loved their time shooting. Anna, Debbie, and I enjoyed talking, trips to Wal-Mart, and playing with Emery! We can't wait until our next trip to stay with them again. We always have such a good time. 

 Jake's parents came to Utah to meet Emery too. They spent about 4 days out here. We mostly just hung around the house, didn't do anything too extravagant. But it was fun. Jake and his Dad went with my family to the BYU game against NMSU and froze! Luckily it wasn't a close game at all and they were able to leave early. Those late night games are killer. 

 Emery the night we did our Christmas tree. More pictures on that later this week!

 These pictures are some that I somehow missed in the Thanksgiving post...Amber helping feed Emery and Jake and Emery being silly...Like father like daughter I guess. These two crack me up. 

 

I love November. Fall is my favorite time of year and we had the best one this year! Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, just because I love being with my family. But now that it is over we have started listening to Christmas music, put up the tree, decorated the house, and been shopping! I am so excited for this Christmas season and the wonderful reminder this season is of Jesus Christ and all that he did for us. Try to keep that in mind throughout this Christmas. Remember the reason that we celebrate Christmas. We have some ideas to help us do that throughout this season, what are ways that you and your family keep Him at the forefront of your Christmas season? 

Our 2011 Thanksgiving

 We had a great Thanksgiving like always. I love this holiday! And it was even better with a little one around to be even more grateful for. (even if it did mean multiple interruptions during the meal, luckily we had lots of helpers which made it really easy on us! So grateful for the help!)

We started off Wednesday night by making these Milk Jug Snowmen with all of the kids. They had a blast. We filled them all with lights and lined them up all around my Grandma's porch. I forget to go out and get a picture of them, but she liked them! 

 Amber is still warming up to Emery, but she likes her for the most part. She was so cute to come and try and make her feel better when she would cry. She would bring in books and "read" to her, rub her head, one night when Emery was lying on the floor she came and laid down next to her and rubbed her hand and sang songs to her. It was so adorable. Once Emery can walk and play with her I am sure they will be great friends!

 Love that smile. What a cutie!

Thanksgiving morning everyone made Gingerbread Houses. Jake and I were supposed to but an unhappy baby made for a late night and us sleeping in! So we'll do ours later. Then all the guys plus me and Aunt Karen headed out for the yearly tradition of skeet shooting and rabbit hunting. I passed on the rabbit hunting and headed back home to help with dinner and check on the baby. Dinner was amazing as usual, and the rest of the day was spent recovering from dinner, eating pie, playing lots of games, and just spending time with family! I am so grateful for all of them and the wonderful times we have together! 

Most of all I am grateful for this doll though. And like her I am thankful for her daddy :) 

That smile melts my heart.

Hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families! Now it's time to get ready for Christmas! We've already got Christmas Tree shopping planned for family night on Monday! Can't wait!

Grateful

This year I am most grateful that this beautiful girl is part of our family

And that I get to experience parenthood with this wonderful man

And spend Thanksgiving with these wonderful people

We are most grateful that Emery was able to join our family and both her and mom were safe and healthy, that Jake only has 3 more weeks of school before graduating, that we have a nice home (apartment) to live in, that Kara has a job that allows her spend so much time with our baby girl, that we have jobs, for our wonderful family and friends and all the love they have shown us and Emery and all the help they have provided, for our parents, nothing makes you appreciate your parents and all they have done/do for you than becoming a parent yourself, for the gospel, temple ordinances and covenants that allow us all to be an eternal family, for Jesus Christ and the Atonement that make it possible for me to be with my Heavenly Father and family forever. This list could go on and on but I think we have highlighted the important things.

Hope you all have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving. 

My beautiful baby girl at 6 days old

XOXO

One Month

Emery at one month is:

9 pounds 6 ounces- 50th percentile

21 inches long- 25th percentile

14.5 inch head circumference- 45th percentile

Emery can one month:

Can hold her head up all alone! She is so strong. 

She can recognize her mom and dad. She knows when it is one of us holding her. It is so fun to see her instantly calm down when she knows that it is us with her. 

We introduced her to a bottle this week! Best. Decision. Ever. She only gets it MAYBE once a day, and I still get up with her at nights, but in emergencies, it is so nice to know that we have that option. She does great with it and did right from the start. Jake gave it to her and she had to test to make sure it wasn't just her binkie, but once she realized it gave her food she took to it like a champ! It didn't interfere with her breastfeeding at all either which is why I was worried about it.

She has warmed up to the idea of a binkie finally...she will take it and it makes life so great. 

She loves her playmat and her swing. She will lay on her mat and just watch the lights, so nice. 

She loves her baths still.

She loves the sound of running water. 

She is at times particular about how she is held...she doesn't like to be held "like a baby" in a cradle hold. She like to either be cuddled up on your chest or held out facing you and bounced. She knows what she likes and is so spoiled she gets it :)

She gets the hiccups all. the. time. It is so sad sometimes :(

She could break records for longest time gone without blinking...really it's amazing. 

She has gotten more and more smiley lately, it is adorable. 

She likes music. We will sing primary songs to her and she calms right down. Jake also has her listening to Mozart, Berlioz, etc...she will be a cultured baby :)
She loves her Vitamin D drops. We have to be careful giving them to her because she will slurp up the whole thing and start choking!
She has officially slept through the night twice now...even when she doesn't sleep through the night she is only up once, two times max, for about a half an hour. Just long enough to eat and fall right back asleep. It is great!

Overall she is a very good baby...She only cries if A) she is hungry B) she needs to be burped. Really if those two things are taken care of she is completely content to cuddle and stare in the corner or at any bright lights in the room.

I can't believe that she has been a part of our family for one month now. We love her so much and can't imagine her not being here! Every day brings a new surprise with her. Every time she smiles we just fall in love with all over again. Happy one month Emery! We love you baby girl!