Merry Christmas!

We have had a fabulous Christmas so far. It started with a great Christmas Eve service last night. This morning, Matt, my Dad, Emma and I opened our stocking gifts. Bailey even had a few gifts in her stocking. Then it was time to get ready for dinner. We had fourteen people, counting Emma, for Christmas dinner. We all squeezed around our dining table and we had so much fun. Everyone contributed to the meal, so we didn't have to do too much. It was perfect. Debbie and Terri Sealock and Larry and Phyllis Simpson hadn't seen Emma before last night, so they enjoyed getting to hug on her. Emma definitely didn't lack attention today.

Matt, Debbie, Emma, J-J, & Terri
Emma's Christmas dress
Matt, Grandpa Spelce, Emma, & I

Emma's first day at church

Emma had a big day today. She went to church for the first time this morning. She did really well and enjoyed all of the attention that she got. Matt and I also enjoyed returning to church.

After a night of Messiah at our church, we came home for a Christmas photo in front of our tree. That just about pushed Emma over the edge, but we were able to get a few good pictures.

The Mirror

Emma played on her activity gym for the first time this week. I layed her down and she was looking at all the new stuff around her. Then she turned and saw the mirror and froze. It was her first time to see herself in a mirror. She started making faces and moving her head to watch her reflection. It was adorable. She enjoyed looking at herself much more than looking at all the other things on the gym. I am looking forward to playing on it again to see if she is still as fascinated by herself.

More pictures

I have had a lot of requests for more pictures from our out of town family and friends, so here you go.

3 Weeks old & First Snow!!!

I can't believe that Emma is already three weeks old. I am having so much fun getting to know her. She is fabulous! I have been taking a lot of pictures, but I am still working on my technique. We also got a webcam so the grandparents can see Emma real time. We have had a lot of fun with that.



As an added bonus, it snowed today. It is actually still snowing right now. We took Emma outside for a few minutes to take some pictures. Who knows when it will snow again in Houston? We will have to wait a little while before Emma can really play in the snow.

Emma's first shopping trip

Emma went on her first shopping trip today. Grama and Grandpa Thompson, Matt, Emma, and I all piled into the car and headed to the Pearland Town Center. I wanted to get a baby charm engraved and we thought that it would be a good opportunity to venture out for a short trip. We all enjoyed the outing and the proud grandparents bought a Christmas present for Emma.
The Proud Family
Emma's check-up with her doctor went well yesterday. Her jaundice levels have gone down, so she doesn't have to be on the light box anymore. Everyone here is excited to be able to hold her and love on her all they want.

Lots of pictures

Here are some pictures of our little Emma in the hospital and at home. We have enjoyed getting to know her precious personality so much. She is even letting Matt and I get some sleep. When we left the hospital, she had a little bit of jaundice, so she went for a check-up with her pediatrician this morning and her levels had increased slightly. Her doctor ordered a light box for her to sleep on here at the house for the next two days. We will go back to the doctor on Monday morning to see how she is doing. Please be praying that this gets everything under control and she doesn't need any more treatments.

Emma Ruth is home!

Emma and I got to come home yesterday. She is doing great. I am going to post some pictures a little later today. I might be a little partial, but I have to say she is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen!

It's almost time

I just wanted to post one last time before Emma gets here. We are getting ready to go eat dinner and then Matt and I are going to head to the hospital. My dad came in yesterday from Borger and Matt's parents flew in this morning from Midland. We have been doing last minute things around the house trying to get ready. I can't believe that it is time.

Want to see us...well maybe just Emma?
Hospital: Memorial Herman Southwest.
Take HWY 59 south toward Sugarland and exit Beechnut
We should be on the 5th floor in the Pavillion.

Here are some pictures from the sonograms at 37 weeks.

Touring the Labor and Delivery Wing

Matt and I took a tour of the labor and delivery wing at the hospital last night. :)

I was having constant abdominal pain on the lower left side yesterday afternoon. We called and talked to the doctor on call and she said that we should go into the hospital and get checked out. When we got there, they hooked Emma and I up to monitors. Emma's heartbeat was very strong. I was having small contractions that I couldn't feel. They gave me medicine and were able to get the contractions stopped. They also gave me lots of fluids, antibiotics, and pain medicine. We went home around midnight.

On the good side - Now we know where to park, where to go in, and exactly where to go when Emma is really coming. No need to sign up for the official tour. I also know that I don't have any bad reactions to the pain medicine they use.

I had a check-up with Dr. Diase today and everything still looks good. I haven't had any pain today, so she said we would just watch to see if it comes back. She went over all the signs of labor to watch for and told us to be prepared. Emma could come anytime or she could still wait for the 20th. We just have to wait and see.

Emma's Sonogram Pictures

Here are some sonogram pictures that we have of baby Emma, beginning with her as a precious little peanut at 8 weeks. At 14 weeks, you can see her perfect little hand. At 20 weeks, her cute profile. At 28 weeks, the muscles and bones in her legs are already well defined.

This has been such an amazing experience to see her grow. I can't express my overwhelming sense of awe when the doctor pointed out her heartbeat at 8 weeks. And when they counted her fingers and toes at 20 weeks, I was amazed again. We are so blessed! And now we have less than 5 weeks until we will see little Emma face to face!

Birth of Emma's Room

Stroller Time!

Our stroller came today. We were so excited to open the boxes and put it all together. Looks like the first grandchild is already getting spoiled. Thanks grandparents-to-be Gary & Carol!

Happy First Day of Fall!

I am finally starting my blog, but you will have to be patient with me while I learn. I hope that this will be a good way to let everyone know what is going on with us and baby Emma when she gets here.

Matt and I are starting to work hard to get ready for Emma's arrival. I am in the process of changing my "craft" room into the nursery. Matt built some shelves for our guest bedroom closet so I can move some of my materials in there. I am also keeping him busy moving heavy boxes, cleaning out the attic, running up and down the stairs, and trying to find something that he can cook for me that I actually want to eat.

This week we are going to try to pick out the crib and bedding. We have seen a few things that we like, but nothing that was exactly what we wanted. Any suggestions on places to look at baby furniture and bedding in Houston are welcome. Or any good web-sites. Most of the ones that I have looked at on-line have tiny pictures and you can't really tell what the bedding looks like.

Thank you to everyone that has already done so much for us and been praying for us while get ready for our little girl!