Thats How the Pros Do It!

Just when you began to think that Kristen and I did not care about our baby, that we did not take enough pictures, that we did not want the rest of the world to see our daughter...we decided to have a pro take some shots of the little one. Our beautiful little girl had her first (of several I'm sure) professional photo shoots. And while she acted like a newbie (peeing on Mom once and one of the props another time) the shots really show how special she is to Kristen and I. I have copied them over from the photgraphers website so you can see them easily, however, if you go to her blog and comment about the photos , we will get a free 8"x10" of our angel. All we need is ten comments so help us out! (Under the pic of emmy in the tutu, click on the purple link that lists how many comments we have.)

http://www.krisevansphotography.blogspot.com/

Let me know what you think of the pics. If you know me, you already know my opinion.

One Week and Counting...

Time is flying by! Emmy is already one week old!

We went to the pediatrician this morning (12/18) and she's growing perfectly! She's already grown a half inch! That makes her 21 inches long and puts her in the 97th percentile for her length. She's gained back almost all of her birth weight and is right at 7 lbs; the 25th percentile for her weight. That means she's offically a string bean!

We live life in three hour blocks. Feed for an hour, clean up, stare at the wall for 30 minutes untill you wake up and realize you've been staring at the wall for 30 minutes, and then have have 30 minutes to do something productive. I never understood why they give new mommies a sheet of questions to ask themselves. One of them is "Have I eaten today?". I always thought I'd remember to eat, but now I seem to look up and it's 2:30 in the afternoon!

Emmy has decided that she's a party animal and wants to sleep all day and stay up all night. Her and GiGi have been having lots of tea parties at 1 a.m. GiGi went home last night and let Blake and I have a go at it alone for one night. After about five hours of straight screaming, we asked GiGi to come right back. Thank goodness for GiGi!

Emmy is already starting to try to hold her head up and is getting to where she can keep it up for a few seconds. We're playing on our mat and kick-kick-kicking (at 3 -5 a.m. when we're awake and she's not screaming)!

This weekend we'll get ready for Christmas and for taking our newborn pictures on Monday!

I'm WAY behind on calling people back, so I PROMISE that if you've called I'll give you a call soon!

A Day of Firsts

Kristen and I finally took Emmy home yesterday afternoon. After three nights at the hospital, we both welcomed the chance to stretch our legs at the house. I really just couldn't wait to sleep on a real bed again. The bed I got at the hospital was much like a mat a child sleeps on at mother's day out or in kindergarten. No wonder kids don't like naps. I hated that thing. The Sansom clan welcomed Emmy home and Kathy stayed the night. This was GREAT! I got to sleep. Feeling great today! Mom crashed after I got up. Even in her sleep she is all about the baby, snoring loudly enough to provide vibration that soothed our new daughter as she slept.

After a few more cycles of sleep, poop, eat, it was time for Emmy's first bath at home. Now from previous posts and ultrasounds we were well aware that my daughter was a bit of an exhibitionist. Bath time only goes to prove that theory. Even in the dead of sleep, naked on a bath mat, my daughter took the time to let us know that she was indeed a girl. It seems I really am going to have to keep an eye on her.

Kathy is going home tonight to give Kristen and I go at it alone this evening. Another first. Wednesday, I go back to work and have to take my last final of the semester. I should perform great on that exam...real great...

Emmy's Visitors

Pops

GiGi

Aunt Megan

Boppa

Lannie

Very Proud Grandpas

Aunt Betsy

Ms. Caroline (The Best Friend)

Mr. Benjamin (The Boyfriend...I'll be watching...)

Dijo

Leslie

Ann G.

Alice

Thanks to everyone. And Aunt SuSu, GanGan, Doug, Jeff, Amanda, Bubba, Michelle, Court, Brandon, Collin, Laura and Sean. Thanks for coming and I promise you can hold her.

For The Grandparents

"This Is What I Do!"

"Stop Looking at Me."

My Whole World

One Week Late

EMERSON ROSE VACEK

December 11, 2008

11:26 a.m.

7 LBS, 3.3 OZ

20.5"

Mommy had a C-section after 13 hours of labor and 3 hours of pushing. Both Mom and Daughter are doing well.

The Day of Induction

Here I am, sitting in a hospital room, watching my baby eat ice chips and popsicles. The oxytocin has been administered because my daughter is stubborn...a week past her due date...She has been waiting all this time for her grand entrance. Today, it snowed. Snowed, in Houston. Enough to stick. Enough to cause panic on the freeways. But Kristen and I are tucked in the hospital room with a number of visitors. Its better anyways, Kristen hates the cold, and I am sure my daughter will as well. She just wanted to show everyone that she was important enough to have the snow fall on the day she would arrive.

But we sit here and wait. Will she show on the 1oth, one and a half hours left, or the 11th? There are merits to both days, The 10th, we get on to baby time faster. The 11th, she shares a birthday with a dear friend and has the fun 12/11/10 2nd birthday. Kathy says the 10th. Dr. Mata has informed us it will be the 11th. My money is on the doc.

Its almost eleven and shortly Kristen will be receiving an epidural for the discomfort she is feeling. I don't think it can get here fast enough. I won't give you the details, but Kristen does not like what is happening.

The drugs are helping. Kristen is in what she refers to as "a warm bath". Its great to see her finally settled, needing some sleep to prepare for what is about to happen. Sometime between 4 and 6 a.m. we will become parents. I'm going to be a Dad. I can't wait...

PNG Baby Shower

We are lucky. Very lucky. Yesterday we traveled "home" and Kristen was the center of another baby shower thrown by friends and relatives.

Michelle L., Michelle E., Courtney, Dijo, Leslie, Heather, Aunt Mary, Angie and Laura...I appreciate everything you did and I know Kristen does as well (thanks also to Bubba and Brandon, your help does not go unnoticed)...

Emerson is truly blessed to have so many people avidly rooting for her and wanting to meet her when she finally arrives, which, according to the Doctor (the real one) and several experts (every person I meet who has had a baby, had a loved one or sibling have a baby or seen a baby born on television) she could come at any time...anywhere...Why you ask? Well, my little girl has dropped into birthing position. She is head down, feet up, ready to roll at a moments notice. Now this doesn't mean she's coming tomorrow (not yet please, marketing presentation God...we discussed this...), but it doees mean she is preparing. That also means we better be.

I cannot begin to describe all of the gifts Emmy is receiving. The travel system (stroller +car seat) from Ada Beth and Aunt Sweetie Pie to the handmade quilts, pillows and bib from the Michelle's and Mrs. Poulter, to everything in between. Everyone is making it much easier to get ready for our new baby.


After the festivities yesterday, Kristen and her mother, that we will affectionately refer to as Toots until a different grandma name is chosen, completed the bed crown. It is unbelieveable! My baby girl has a princess-like crib that she will get to lay her head down in each night. Thats after we allow her to sleep there. I figure she will be sleeping and crying and eating and sleeping and crying and eating in our room every night for quite a while. The only sewing left is the curtains which will be completed sooner rather than later I am guessing. I think Kathy is ready for the sewing to be completed...and I am sure Tim is as well...By the way, since Kathy is Toots, that makes Tim, you guessed it, Tooter...Emerson definitely has the most "complete" room in the house.

Thanks again to all who are making my baby's pregnancy so special and who are making my daughter's early life much easier. We couldn't do this without all of you.

The Baby Shower

First, thanks to everyone that put together the baby shower for my baby and baby mama. I really appreciate the work that Betsy, Ann and Megan put into the planning, baking, painting, sewing, crocheting (Ann, it's all the rage...the young people are all doing it...) to make this shower special for Kristen. She was overwhelmed and loved every minute! She kept saying "It looked like my shower! It looked like my shower!", to which I replied, "Yes, that's because it was your shower." Then I got the look and the "You don't understand." Guess I don't. I do...but I don't...Thanks also to everyone that attended and for the gifts given for my soon to born daughter. We are blessed to know each and every one of you.

Three pregnant ladies in this picture...oops...sorry Megan...

(We were thrilled to learn this weekend that Emmy will have not only one but TWO Borchardt cousins. Megan and Keith are due in early June!)

The beautiful decorations thanks to Mrs. Bowser's business!

YUM! RJ Goodies Cake!

Betsy's first rocking chair! I think she may be joining the business!

I guess we can read something other than "All Hippos Go Berserk", but it's still my favorite!

My daughter, although I have not met her yet, is going to be a Diva (Kristen's words). She already has so many clothes, so many toys, custom baby bedding, bed crowns, fabric galore, custom rocking chairs, cutom blankets, cutom quilts, little girl fans! More than I could have ever imagined! She is spoiled beyond belief and has yet to take her first breath. I can only imagine what Christmas will be like! I haven't even had a chance to spoil her. I know, my days are coming. I am sure there are grandparents and great-granparents and great aunts and uncles and regular aunts and uncles that are just waiting to help me out.

The "incomplete" bed crown. A work in progress.

Puffy letters courtesy of Tutu Wahini and Aunt RARra

Kristen and I are down to approximately six weeks, 45 days if you want to be exact, and I do...trust me...Emerson will be here and our lives will change forever. Kristen and I have both been so busy that this weekend was a help in realizing that this is about to happen! Sometimes I can't believe it! The other day Kristen asked me if I thought we would be diappointed that we did not take more time to just be together and enjoy the small things about the pregnancy. I said yes as I put my head down to finish my finance paper on the current financial crisis, and my estimate for a new project at work and my presentation on Singapore Airlines for my marketing class and...

But its been great, with the best yet to come. Thanks again to everyone for making everything so special.

From Kristen: THANK YOU to everyone for my FABULOUS shower this weekend. I am SO blessed to have you all in my lives and my daughter is one lucky girl! I loved every minute of it. Thanks for making me feel SO special!