All In A Week's Work

Emma had quite a week:

1. She had a REAL photo shoot with my good friend/neighbor/ward member Bonnie. I think they turned out FANTASTIC! Thank you Bonnie!


2. She had her diaper bag stolen out of her mother's car. Yes, it was unlocked. But darn dishonest people! Her grandma Krebs had it embroidered with her name and everything! Hope the thief can get lots and lots of money at the pawn shop for diapers, wipes, and pacifiers. Dumby.


3. She went to church for the first time. She cried through sacrament, ate through the talks, was lulled to sleep through Sunday School, and slept through RS. All in all - not too bad. But for the record - I'd like to ask if the church is really true when you have children who need to nap in their own bed? :)


4. She went to her first bday party for her cousin Taytum (age 2). Our camera batteries died, so we don't have any proof of this celebration. But, she had so much fun she fell asleep half way through. I think her milk was spiked.


5. Her parents were able to go out for the first time together WITHOUT her. Sure, it was only to pick out a kitchen table. But your qualifications for a hot date significantly decrease when a newborn comes to town. Thank you to Aunt Laura who made this date possible.


6. For the last 4 nights she has slept 6 hour stretches. Her mom knows this may not last, but has been VERY grateful for the sleep this week!


7. She went on her first shopping spree to the Target clearance rack. She didn't have any money, but her mom let her borrow a few bucks. OK OK, her mom doesn't have any money anymore, but her dad let her mom have a few bucks to lend to her.

Our "other" new baby!

We'd like to bear our testimonies. We know Cortate Furniture is true. We love our moms and dads. We know with every fiber of our being that this fantastic furniture store has the greatest deals and the highest quality furniture. We know without a shadow of doubt that we will be a very happy family as we eat dinner at our new table. Amen.

(THANK YOU THANK YOU to Casey and Lara for their recommendation)

(To our AZ friends - you have GOT to check this place out - they have any type of furniture you would need - Higley and Warner)

(Our table has a bench along one side)

Emma's First Smile

The day finally came! Our little angel started interacting with us. She smiled at me yesterday morning and she smiled at Greg last night right before she went to bed. I was definitely tearing up as I watched her gaze at her daddy and smile - when Greg turned to look at me he also had tears in his eyes. Quite overwhelming for parents who waited 5 years for this moment.
Well this isn't the cutest smile ever, but it is one of the smiles she gave yesterday. We'll keep trying to capture the authentic ones and post them soon.
This is our neighbor's son who was playing with us yesterday. I think he has a little crush on Emma. What do you think?
My dear friend Erin and her daughter Kate came to visit yesterday. I'm starting to go stir crazy staying home ALL DAY LONG - so Erin was a refreshing site and a friendly smile! I LOVE this picture of Erin and Emma and Kate. So sweet.
Aunt Laura also came to visit yesterday. Emma LOVES LOVES LOVES her Aunt Laura.

Greg tried to give Emma a bottle 2 nights ago and she refused. Laura tried last night and she drank like a champ. We're glad Laura's around to babysit! :) Laura wants me to qualify that she had been doing baptisms at the temple and therefore she had no makeup and her hair was not done. I still think she looks beautiful!!

Survey Says...

Greg and I have reached a very pivotal point in our family. We are taking the bold move of purchasing our VERY own, more than $25, seats more than 4 people, not made of plastic, not free with the apartment, non life threatening leg chairs KITCHEN TABLE!! We have no idea where to start shopping. Suggestions please? We'd like to stay under $1500. And while I'm getting your professional wisdom and advice, do any mothers out there have a preference on diaper brands? I'm still living on baby shower diapers... but they are about to run out. THANK YOU!
NO - this is not Greg or anyone that I know. Found the pic on the internet and thought it was amusing.

Growth Stats on Emma

Emma's First Valentines Outfit

Thanks auntie Amber Waldeck (Ashlee's twin) for the outfit!
Dad and bathtime on a Sunday afternoon - she LOVES her baths!
Thanks Aunt Corinda and Uncle Matt for my sleeper!

Emma is almost 6 weeks old now and has hit a few growth milestones...

1. She can't wear her "newborn" size diapers or clothes anymore.

2. She weighed in at a whopping 10 pounds 4 ounces at the doctor last week.

3. She now has two of her immunizations. (They hurt Mom more than Emma)

4. Her little legs dangle out of her swing.

5. She eats every 4 hours instead of every 2-3. (Glorious news for those who enjoy sleep!)

6. She is still the cutest little baby doll you ever did see!!

7. She looks at Mom and Dad, but doesn't smile at us quite yet.

8. She will be making her debut at church next Sunday (and believe me... she has enough dressed to attend 3 wards each Sunday for the next year and wear a different dress to each one.)

Happy Valentines Day - Tag Questions

I've been "TAGGED" by my dear friend Lara Dahl - and since the questions are all about my marriage - I thought I would complete it as my Valentines Day post. May I first say that I am so grateful to be married to the most perfect man alive. I could not have asked for a better husband or father for sweet Emma. Happy Valentines Day Greg!! The questions are answered below the pictures - but there are quite a few of them, so read at your own discretion! :)






How long have you and your significant other been together?
Greg proposed 5 years ago on February 28th. We started dating about six months before that.

Who eats more?
I guess Greg - but I can really pack in the calories.

Who said "I love you" first?
Greg. Because I was too stubborn to say it first. I emailed it first... does that count?

Who is taller?
Greg, by about 6 inches.

Who sings better?
GREG FOR SURE!! Anyone who has heard his amazing voice can vouch for that. And no, he does not sing me to sleep. People always ask that. Strange.

Who is smarter?
GREG FOR SURE! First off, I was edumacated in KENTUCKEEE. Second, I graduated in social work and he graduated in law. Third, I only have a piddily Masters degree and he has his Doctorate. I think I've made my point.

Who does the laundry?
I wash them, but he always helps me fold them. He may take over this job considering I recently "washed" his IPOD with our whites. Oops. Evidently they don't take kindly to the washing maching.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?
I do, because it's closer to the bathroom and the alarm clock. Both of which I utilize more than my sweet husband. Let's be honest though - Greg is a real cuddle bug, so really both of us are on the right side. :)

Who pays the bills?
I take care of the finances. I spend most of the money too.

Who mows the lawn?
The nice landscaping crew hired by our HOA... sometimes at SIX in the freakin' morning.

Who cooks dinner?
I love to cook - so I am happy to make the meals. I hate the dishes - so Greg takes care of those.

Who is more stubborn?
To steal a phrase Lara used in her tag - if you look up stubborn in the dictionary it would be Tammy and my patient, kind husband is the antithesis.

Who is the first to admit when they're wrong?
Well, I've never been wrong, so I'm not sure this question applies to me.

Whose parents do you see the most?
Greg's live 10 miles away and mine live 2,000 miles away. We're lucky to have at least one set of parents close by.

Who kissed who first?
Oh please. Greg couldn't keep his lips away for more than one date. I was one hot mama. :)

Who proposed?
I guess you could say Greg officially did the "get on one knee" thing - but it was I who had to have a nervous break-down to actually get him to the point of discussing the dreaded "M" word. He was too scared, but claims he was going to talk about it soon - I guess my nervous break down just helped speed things along. :)

Who is more sensitive?
Greg will kill me for saying this and you are all sworn to blogging buddy secrecy - but I actually think he is more sensitive. Just a real tender hearted guy, and I am a calloused sassy woman.

Who has more friends?
HA! Considering Greg has had the same group of friends since Kindergarten and has NEVER strayed...
let's just say putting it VERY mildy, you could add a zero to the end of Greg's number and get mine. I just tend to expand my circle a little more than he does. He says, "why change a good thing?". I guess he is lucky for finding his "gang" at an early age.

Who has more siblings?
ME. By 3.

Who wears the pants?
I have a naturally bossy personality, but Greg does a great job of leading our family in most things. When I try to step in, I just make a mess of things, so I generally let him take the lead. OK OK - the one area I consume is our social planning calendar - that is ALL ME.

Baby's First Photo Session (the CHEAP way)

I've been looking around for a photographer for Emma's first photo session. They were all WAY out of my cheap skate price range - $25 for ONE 5x7 print? YIKES. So, I called my darling sister Laura over for a little photo shoot last Saturday. These are some of the shots. I think they worked out. Thank you to FREE Laura and thank you to the Paradise Bakery chocolate chip cookies which we consumed afterward for a job well done. A special thank you to sweet Emma who is a perfect little baby and performed beautifully for the shots (despite not being able to really smile yet).

Makin' Banana Pancakes...

Matt and Shauna Leavitt at our home at Christmas.
Just to clarify - Matt's plaid pants were worn as a joke.


A picture of the BLESSED pancakes!

We have had so much support from friends and family during these first four weeks of Emma's life (Happy 4 Week Bday Emma!). One such story goes like this... our friends Matt and Shauna Leavitt came over a few weeks ago to make us dinner. They made us extraordinary banana oatmeal pancakes. I have craved them every day since, but did not have the recipe and was frankly too exhausted to cook much of anything. I saw them at church last week and said, "those pancakes were amazing, I've been craving them ever since you made them." Being the wonderful friends that they are, they showed up at our house again last night and made the blessed celestial pancakes TAKE TWO for the hungry hippo Tam. Is that charity or WHAT? In any case this recipe is so DANG good and relatively healthy, that I had to share it with my blogging friends.





Hearty Banana Oat Flapjacks





2 large bananas - peeled and sliced


1 tbsp. sugar


1 cup flour


1/2 cup Quaker oats (quick or old fashioned)


1 tbsp. baking powder


1/4 tsp. cinnamon


1/4 tsp. salt (optional)


1 cup milk


1 egg, lightly beaten


2 tbsp. vegetable oil


Walnuts or pecans (optional)





In medium bowl, combine banana slices and sugar, stire to coat slices with sugar. Set aside. In large bowl combine flour, oats, baking powderm cinnamon, and salt. Mix well. In medium bowl, combine milk, egg, oil, blend well. Add to dry ingredients all at once. Mix just until dry ingredients are moistended. Do not overmix. Lightly grease griddle and pour 1/4 cup cup batter for each pancake. Immediately top each uncooked batter pancake with 4-5 banana slices. Turn pancakes when tops are covered with bubbles and edges look cooked.





Yields 12 pancakes


Each pancake has 106 calories, 3 grams of fat and 1 gram of fiber.


That's 2 points for my WW friends.

Motherhood Help Requested!!

I'm pretty sure that some of the food that I'm eating is upsetting Emma's tummy. Trying to figure out what it could be has been a nightmare. Any advice, suggestions, help from other mothers out there? PLEASE??

Extra! Extra! Read All About it!

Emma has a new cousin! Jeff and Ashlee added baby #2 to the family this morning. The child will affectionately be known as "he who shall not be named"... but hopefully will get a name sometime this week. He was 6 pounds 15 ounces and 19.5 inches long. Congratulations to Jeff and Ashlee! Emma can't wait to beat him up at family reunions!!


We are also excited about the new first presidency of the LDS church! President Monson, Eyring and Uchtdorf will be most fantastic and we look forward to their leadership.

10 Things I've Learned

Emma napping under the beautiful quilt made by Aunt Sharron.

A little gas smile. She smiles bigger, but we can't seem to catch it on camera yet.

Hanging out on the couch.

Hanging out in the swing. She's a very content little lady.

I told Greg he wouldn't like this shot - but it's too cute of the two of them. And this happens to be one of Emma's favorite places to sleep.


These last 3 weeks have been an amazing experience. To be thrown into the role of motherhood is one of such extreme emotions. So much happiness, so much love, so much exhaustion, so much frustration, so much joy. Although I'm only 3 weeks into this world of parenting, I've learned a few things that I thought I would share. Many of you have learned these lessons already.


1. White Noise is a magical tool for getting babies to sleep. Emma prefers the hairdryer and will instantaneously go to sleep as soon as it is turned on. There are white noise CD's for those that prefer to save on electricity. Every baby is different with which white noise sound they prefer.


2. A friend recommended that I get a LAZY Boy rocker/recliner instead of a rocking chair. That advice alone has been a saving grace of our multiple middle of the night feedings. The very soft rocker/recliner is up in our room and I have slept in it some nights more than my bed.


3. I looked online for baby announcement for days. http://www.vistaprint.com/ happened to have the cheapest announcements. There were definitely some other sites that had cuter options, but they were almost $2.00/announcement. In sending out bulk announcements, the expensive option was just not happening.


4. My days of showering with the front of my body facing the stream of water are OVER. Too much tenderness from my darling little parasite.


5. I feel guilty following the advice of others to "sleep when the baby sleeps" - but this is something that I need to get over - because NOTHING on my "to-do" list is more important that my sleep, which is directly related to my sanity.


6. For Arizona Moms, there is a wonderful organization - http://savvymommies.com/pages/consignorreg.php that has bi-yearly consignment sales with tons of children's clothing and accesories. My friend introduced me to them last Fall and they have another event coming up on February 29th. Check out the website for more information.


7. I found myself forgetting to eat in the first few weeks. I was so consumed with Emma's eating schedule that I didn't think about my eating schedule. My milk supply started to get low and I learned that my lack of nutrients could have a direct correlation. Now I make a point to eat before I feed Emma. In the end I am hurting my baby if I don't take care of myself.


8. My mother has often called me stubbornly independent. This being said, I have a hard time accepting help from other people because I feel that I can take care of things on my own. When you have a baby, this has to go out the window. There have been so many wonderfully generous, kind, charitable people surrounding Emma's birth that have offered helping hands. I have learned that this help is not only valuable to accept, but it gives those around me an opportunity to serve. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all the support and help we have received and could not have survived without it. Really.


9. I used to have a list of 5-10 things per day to accomplish. This was PRE-Emma. I found myself getting frustrated POST-Emma that I could not get these things done anymore. Then I changed my perspective. My #1 thing "to-do" every day is take care of Emma. I now add ONE thing each day to try to accomplish in addition to infant care. It is more manageable and I do not feel frustrated. If additional tasks happen to get done, I pat myself on the back for a job well done. :)


10. I LOVE GREG!! No, this is not a new insight. I have always loved my wonderful husband. But, my love for him has grown so much since Emma was born. He has quite literally been my servant for the last 3 weeks, as I sit on the couch with a child breastfeeding and make requests. He has been such an amazing support and it is already evident that Emma recognizes this as well. She loves to cuddle with him in bed and actually cried yesterday when I pulled her away from him to change her diaper. Very cute.