Emily's First Two Weeks

Our first two weeks with Emily have been a whirlwind.  I honestly don't know what I would have done without Brad here to help with the transition.  It's not even that it's so much harder...there's just more that needs to get done in the same amount of time (and with kids that are learning to be a bit more patient.)  We've also been blessed with visits from friends and family, as well as several delicious meals.  As crazy as it sometimes is, and as tired as we sometimes are, life couldn't be better!

Emily's first nap in her crib.  (Look at that hair!)

Zizzi Liz came for a visit!

A picture of Emily on the changing table (she's 3 days old.)

Megan and Dad, taking a turn holding Emily (much of Brad and I'd days have been spent in this chair!)

Itty Bitty Fingers.

So, these are the things that have been smashing the heck out of my innards!

Teeny tiny toes.

Our first family meal (Emily is asleep in the highchair in the very back.)

So many kisses from big brother!

Snuggling...(carefully!)

Emily, snoozing in the infant rocker.

Another day, another picture of Dad and Megan holding Emily.

A mini-smile from Emily.

Gene and Mary came over for a visit.  Emily slept most of the time, but it's still fun to hold a sleeping baby!

Megan LOVES swinging, and she enjoys it most when someone pushes her so she can just enjoy the ride instead of pumping her legs.

My garden turned into a digging pile during the first part of spring.  While the weather was so nice, and before I had tilled up and planted, we let the kids dig to their heart's content.  Their favorite digging pasttimes?  Digging "water lines" and searching for worms.

...and Emily made three!  He's got all three on his lap, folks!

Ahhh, the baby memories of Brendan.  Brad would come home from work and he and Brendan would snooze like this while I made supper.  The snoozing position was put to use again with Emily (and she sleeps like me, poor girl...mouth open and dead to the world!)

More digging...

More swinging...

We thought it was time for a campfire and s'mores (first of the year!)  Brendan inhaled his s'more before I could take a picture, and Megan wouldn't stop eating to smile.

My Megs likes to cuddle in her towel with Mom after her bath.  She snuggles right in and giggles the whole time.

Emily's first trip out.  We went to Appleton to visit Brad's grandparents (his Grandpa was shipped to St. Cloud Hospital a couple days after Emily was born, and is now back in the Appleton Nursing Home.  We're not completely sure what's going on...maybe the starting of dementia.)

Zizzi Cathy came for a visit!

Brendan and Megan decided Zizzi Cathy needed some sprucing up.  So, on went the bracelets, the necklaces, and the headband.  So pretty!

Cathy took some pictures of Emily on her cell phone.

Another picture from Cathy.

Emily, with Grandpa.

Snoozing through some tummy time.

Waaaaaaa!!...

Ahh!  That's better!

Brad's Godmother, Janet, was in Appleton helping to take care of Brad's Grandma while the family was figuring out what was going to happen with Brad's Grandpa.  They stopped over for a quick visit (and some cuddle time with Emily!)  This also marked the occasion for Emily's first massage (Janet is a Massage Therapist.  Lucky girl!)

Emily, with Great-Grandma Elenore Koosmann.

Brendan, Megan, and Emily with Great-Grandma.

Brad and Brendan, playing checkers.

Emily's not fond of bath-time yet, although she does like the end, where I sit her in the tub bucket and let her bottom soak for a few minutes.

Mom has all three.  Yikes!

Brendan and Megan (like all good brothers and sisters) have been fluctuating like crazy between playing really well together and bothering the heck out of each other.  This afternoon, they played really well.  Above, they were setting up their farm animals and vehicles and playing with them.  The only downside is that I'm a perpetual klutz and will inevitable step on or trip over any toys in the kitchen and dining room (which is why I try to enforce a "No Toys In The Kitchen And Dining Room" rule....except when they're playing so well together, I guess.)

Emily gets another nap with Dad.