It's finished, official, terminated, done...

I have breast fed Emma for the last time this morning. Even then I don't think I could consider what she did as breast feeding. Emma took three sucks and signed "all done". Even if I wasn't ready to quite, she was. I am sure that I will have a harder time with it than she will. Actually, I know I will.

A Laughing Day With Friends

Emma and I spent the day with Madeline and Laura today. Emma just loves her friend Maddie. This evening the girls took a bath together and they were splashing and cracking up! Emma was laughing so hard. Laura got her video camera and recorded it, hopefully I will get a copy because it was priceless. I just love listening to her laugh. I don't think there is anything in the whole world that is as wonderful as hearing your baby laugh. I wish that I had it on an audio cassette so that I can hear it everyday!

Shots

Emma had her one year shots today. MMR and chicken pox. It's great that children now get the chicken pox vaccine so that hopefully she won't get the disease. The Pediatrician said that there is a small chance she might come down with chicken pox or measles. Hopefully not, that would totally suck! She cried so hard when she got the shots. She looked at me like I had just tortured her. Big o'l tears. It took forever for her to settle down.

Otherwise, the Dr thought that she was doing great. She thought Emma was progressing slowly (but normally) with physical things like walking. But was advanced with speech and communication. She told me I should be proud of how many words she can speak and sign. My baby is so smart! I am not to concerned she is not walking yet, she is already pulling up to her knees. I have a feeling that the crawling stage will be short lived. I still can't believe my baby is one!

Want... More... Drink

Emma signed three signs in a row today, making a sentence (sort of). I have such a smart baby. She is saying more and more every day. What a big girl she is getting to be. I have a feeling this next year is going to fly by with all the new things she will learn.

Pup-py

New word. Emma is saying Pup-py for Abby. It is so neat that she is starting to say words.

Got Milk?

Today I started giving Emma some whole milk. I mixed one ounce of whole milk to three ounces of breast milk. Hopefully she will tolerate it well. My mom said that I had a horrible allergy to milk as a baby. I will gradually add milk to get her use to it. I have a lot of breast milk left so the process can go slow. We'll see.

Gramma Signs

While I was at work today my mom came over to spend time with Emma. Mom told me that Emma signed to her "more" ,"drink". Mom was so tickled that she knew what she wanted. She said she felt like she was having a conversation with her. I wish I had been home to see it because Emma is so stubborn about doing "drink".

Weaning

We are officially starting to wean, although technically we have started the weaning process a long time ago because I am only nursing her in the morning and at night. By officially I mean that we are planning to start the stopping process. Next week I am planning on dropping the night time feeding and then eventually stop all together. I think it is more traumatizing on me than on her. Although the other day we were sitting in the rocking chair and she patted my chest and then did the "more" sign, which for her means I want to either eat or drink something. Well, it was right after her nap and since my milk is drying up if I would have nursed her then I wouldn't have been able to feed her before bed, so we went down to the kitchen and got her sippy cup of milk. She drank a few ounces of it then she patted me again, pulled down my shirt, put her mouth to my breast bone, and did the "more" sign. I then attempted to give her the sippy cup again, but she nodded "no" and did the "more" sign. It cracked me up. I guess it is time to wean when she is telling me she wants to nurse. Hopefully this process will be easy for her, I am sure it will be more difficult for me.

It's official!

Crawling has begun. She finally started crawling across the living room. It's so cute. I can see her concentrating so hard on getting all her limbs and muscles to work the way she wants them to. I will have to say, she is a little lazy though. I put her across the living room to get her to come to me and she stopped at her toys wanting to take a break. Still even now that she knows how to crawl if I put all her toys by her she will just sit and play. She is still catching up on her sleep from traveling and do all this extra working out! I am so glad that she is finally crawling, I was a smidgen worried that she was never going to be mobile, especially since she is now one.

Papa & Hi

Emma said "papa" tonight for Steve. It was so cute, whether or not she was actually saying it to him or just repeating what "gramma" was saying who knows. Also, she says "Hi". She says it at all random times and sometimes at appropriate times so it is so hard to say if she really knows what she is saying or just repeating what we are saying. Does this count as "words"? Or does she have to actually look at Steve and say "papa" while holding out her hands. Or say "Hi" when we first arrive while she is waving her hand. Don't know, I'll ask the Pediatrician if this counts. It is awfully fun though.

Crawling?

Emma made four little crawls! She is so close. I can see it in her eyes, she really really wants to move. This is more fun than I thought it would be. My baby is growing up! Waaahhaaaa.

Cruise

Well, being on a cruise with a one year old is completely different than going on a cruise for our honeymoon. Hmmm, maybe not the best idea. We are having a great time but I feel guilty that Emma is totally off on her schedule. I look forward to getting back on schedule, but I will be sad to get home. Well, off to the pool. =)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Emma's ONE years old! I can't believe my baby is a whole year now! She had chocolate cake for her birthday and she loved it. She was upset when it was all gone. The cake was all over, it was so cute.

Packing...packing...packing

Well, we are being brave and taking Emma on a one week cruise. We leave tomorrow, Friday, to drive to Galveston. We are staying the night in a hotel and then boarding the cruise on Sat. Wish us luck. I hope Emma doesn't get sea sick! Actually, I hope I don't get sea sick!