Two months in the blink of an eye

Hi little Emma bean,

Never in my life have two months gone by as fast as the past two months. Over the past month you've done quite a few exciting things. We celebrated your first New Year's and although you were sleeping when 2010 made its west coast debut, you woke up with a glimmer in your eye looking forward to all that this year holds. Last month's squeaks became this month's coo's and you've become quite the talker. We have many conversations during the day where we "coo" back and forth.

If only I had an interpreter to tell me what your little sounds mean, but I'm getting better at understanding you and you certainly let me know if I'm not giving you what you're asking for (especially when you're hungry). Over the past few days you've discovered something exciting about your tongue...that you have one. You look like a frog just sticking it out, pulling it in, sticking it out, and so on, but it's so entertaining for your daddy and me.

You're awake for longer periods of time during the day, and you're starting to sleep for longer periods of time at night (I can't thank you enough for that). I never thought that I'd be thankful anytime I got more than four hours of sleep at a time, but now you're starting to sleep for five or even six hours at a time at night. Let's keep it up! You're getting stronger and stronger all the time, so in just a few weeks you'll get to explore all the fun toys waiting for you when you can hold up your head. We're starting to get you on a routine, but you are great at just going with the flow and your daddy and I are so thankful for it. No matter where we are there's always a line of people wanting to hold you and it just reminds us all the time how much love surrounds you. Your daddy and I talk all the time about how amazed we are that you're a part of our family. You inspire both of us so much and you love listening to your daddy play his guitar for you at bedtime. Nothing puts you to sleep faster or easier than that guitar. You also enjoy the swing from time to time, and you usually (but not always) fall asleep in the car.

We look forward to seeing you every day because you're growing and changing so quickly. Before long you'll be all grown up, so we're treasuring every minute with you and praying for you non-stop.

We love you baby girl,

Mommy

6 week stats

At Emma's six week check up she weighed in at 9 lbs. 14 oz. and measured 22 inches long. That's the 49th percentile for weight and 63rd percentile for length. Her head circumference was 14 3/4 cm (39th percentile). So, she'll be tall and skinny with a well proportioned noggin. Hip hip hooray for those tall, skinny Sumner genes.

To my beautiful one month old

My dear Emma,

It literally feels like yesterday that we were at the hospital meeting you for the first time. The past month has gone by faster than I ever thought it could and I knew it would go by fast. The days have just evaporated and sometimes I sit and hold you and stare at you while you sleep thinking how amazing it is that you're actually here.

We're still getting to know you, but everybody who meets you tells us how beautiful you are (we, of course, already know this). When you were first born we could barely tell the color of your eyes because they were closed so much, but over the past couple weeks you've been opening your eyes wider and staying awake longer. You're practicing lifting your head and turning it from side to side, a developmental milestone that you'll take for granted in a few months. And, you and I make a great team in getting you all the food you need. You just started smiling in the past week or so and even though it's probably because you're so gassy we love that smile (but we're sorry that you're so gassy). You follow us with your eyes and you squeak like a little mouse quite often. Your dad and I are working on getting you set up on a routine so that you can start sleeping longer through the night. It's not that I mind getting up a couple times a night to feed you, but I am looking forward to the day that I can get more than 4 hours of sleep in one chunk. Now that your dad is back at work during the day you and I have some quality time together and I love that I have the opportunity to be with you for the next couple of months before I go back to work.

You have a sweet temperment and are an amazingly happy baby unless you need something. I can't wait to see you continue to grow, but I know that will come in its own time and faster than I'd like so I will treasure these days with you. Your dad adores you and is amazingly sensitive to what you need. He loves taking care of you and protecting you. I walked into our room tonight where you were going to sleep (although you have been particularly fussy today) and he was seranading you.

We pray for you every night that God will guide you and protect you as you grow. Our love for you is unfathomable to us, and God loves you even more. You change every day and I'm so thankful that God chose us to be your parents. You are a true blessing to our lives.

All my love my sweet girl,

Mommy

Baby's first Christmas

Christmas came and went this year, and Emma made out like a bandit. Not only did she get completely spoiled, but she got the full Christmas experience by going to her great-grandma Vi's on Christmas Eve, grandpa and grandma Ellis's with grandpa and grandma Sumner on Christmas morning, great-grandpa and grandma Hunt's house Christmas afternoon, and great-great Uncle Chuck and Aunt Ruby's house a couple days after Christmas. Not to mention we had our own Christmas celebration (which Emma conveniently slept through) on Christmas morning at our house.

We haven't started too many traditions yet, but one thing that Dan and I have done every year since our first Christmas together and continued this year with Emma is read the Christmas story out of our Thomas Kinkade family Bible. I know that as the years go on traditions will develop and grow just as our family will continue to grow.

It was great celebrating Emma's first Christmas with all of her grandparents together. I realized sitting there that it was just last Easter that we told all of them together that Emma would be joining us, and there we all were sitting at Christmas with Emma in our arms. She was by far (and forever will be) the best gift we've ever received.

Fourteen days

So much has changed in the past fourteen days. Little did we know a few weeks ago when we got our maternity pictures taken that it was only six days before little Emma Reese would make her arrival. Thanks again to our friends Matt and Jenna we have these pictures of our two week old Emma.