Well Baby Check Up & Clear Creek Trail

Emersen's nine month well baby appointment was yesterday! She weighs 17 pounds, 9 ounces and is 26 1/2 inches long! Dr. Martens said she looks beautiful, is developing properly and there aren't any residual issues with her being a preemie. She is currently in the 25th percentile for weight and height, which is still small but considering she used to be in the 10th percentile progress is being made! I asked him all of my neurotic first time mom questions, which are getting fewer and farther between as time passes. Most of my questions have to do with what kinds of food to give her. Basically, he wants moms to stay away from choking hazards like hot dogs and popcorn. Also, peanuts because of the allergy factor. Pretty much everything else is fair game. I think I'll stay away from eggs/strawberries/tomatoes and other highly allergenic foods until she's one, just to be on the safe side! (Because I am a neurotic new mom after all!)

Today, we went for a walk down Clear Creek Trail. There are several patches of blackberries, and I was reminded of my childhood trips to Klammath to see my great grandparents. Great Grandma Louise would send all the kids (there were countless, too many to name) to pick blackberries, and when we got home she would make homemade blackberry cobbler. She always had blackberry jam on hand too, and I tell you I can taste it in my memory. I can just see myself waking up in the second bedroom to Grandma Louise cooking breakfast, and getting mass amounts of eggs and bacon on the table, along with biscuits and home made jams...so many kinds of jam! Blackberry, Loganberry, plum (my mom made that one) and probably a bunch of others too. I know my sister and I always used to complain about going up there, but now that we don't go I miss it. But anyhow, I digress. Clear Creek Trail was a blast. We went with Mattie and Jason (our neighbors and friends next door). Mattie has this giant SUV, so she fit Cooper in the way back and Emersen's stroller with no hassle what so ever! Cooper had a total blast! He loves going on walks, and riding in the car and today he got to do both! Emersen was napping through much of the trail since the bumpity-bump of the stroller helps her fall fast asleep!

This picture has nothing to do with her appointment, or the trail...but it was just so cute I had to share it! She loves reading her books, which really means having me open the book and point to things on the page that she can "kiss." She opens her mouth and licks whatever I point at, then helps me turn the page and does the same thing! we have a stack of about twenty of her board books out on the living room floor, that I stack up and let her destroy a hundred times a day! I'm not to keen on stepping on the books while trying to get across the living room, but honestly if I were to pick them up while she was awake, I would drive myself crazy. (Short trip, I know!)

Old Mill Days in Port Gamble, WA

Today was an eventful day! There were five of us total, The Other Smiths (Nicole and Ben) and the three of us. We went to Port Gamble, WA to hang out at the Old Mill Days Festival. It is an annual event, with chainsaw competitions (that we didn't stick around for) and plenty of super tasty food (that we gorged ourselves on). Unfortunately, www.weather.com totally disappointed me! The website said the weather would be overcast all afternoon, with little to no chance of showers. Color me yellow when we get there and the sun is shining its best! So, with an over dressed/under sunscreened baby, we kept on truckin'!

The food was tasty, and the booths were interesting. A lot of wood carving (who would have thought) stations, and plenty of "Sign Up Here To Win 2,000 Dollars Worth The _____" home improvement type of stuff.

My favorite part was laying in the grass waiting for the boys to bring the funnel cakes they bought. Emersen was in a particularly good mood, and Nicole was taking our picture. I also appreciate the car show, where plenty of awesome and tricked out old cars were being displayed. All in all it was a great outing, especially considering it was Military Day and we got in for half price!

The Joys Of Crawling, Baths and Laughter

Now that Emersen is a full on rug rat, she's getting into everything! She is at the the window and zoom! She is at the sliding glass door. Then she's banging on my computer, and playing with my change purse. It seems as if her toys don't even intrigue her what so ever!

Bath time is pretty much her favorite time of the day lately. She can splash, and play and generally have a good time! It is one of my favorite times too, because she's contained! Sometimes she takes a quick shower with Paul because we get a late start to bath time, but she loves that just the same!

Lately, Emersen has been laughing so hard! Especially since it's mostly at the things I do to get her to laugh. It's like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow! I have this gorgeous daughter, who is one of the happiest babies in the world and she laughs too! She thinks I am funny! It's great! Most of you already know that I am quite the jokester, so we have a wonderful time around here just listening to her laugh! Last night, I was just crawling toward her quickly, and she burst out with the greatest belly laugh. I know all moms love their babies, but I am truely in love with her! She is more amazing than anyone could have described, more than I could have imagined or dreamt, and more than I could ever thank God for. My daughter is like an extension of my soul. Now, I fully understand what it is like to have my heart be outside of my body.

Preview

This is just a preview of what is to come! Hopefully, I'll be updating regularly with our goings on!

:)

Kaci