Firsts.

Life is thoroughly exhausting us.  We are busy getting settled in our new home and adjusting to new routines as we continue the daily grind of work.

Weekends together at home have never been so precious.

Emma has just begun to stand up in her crib all by herself, which has presented us with several new challenges.  

This morning we found her with a big goose egg bump on her head, although we never heard her cry last night.  Tonight, we've been watching her on the baby monitor stand up, get tired, not be able to lay herself back down, and cry.  One of us goes in and lays her back down.  She sucks her thumb to sleep, but only for about a 2 minute nap.  Then she stands back up, doing laps around the crib rails.

We experienced yet another new first in the food department tonight also.

New firsts in the toy department.

But some things haven't changed.  Bath time is still awesome.

Nite.

Waking up...

Sara and I were laying in bed at about 6:15AM this morning (Sunday) listening to Emma begin to stir, wake and chatter over the monitor.  Neither of us wanted to get up.  As we lay there silently, each hoping the other would rise, Emma turned to the baby monitor camera and said, "Da-da," which made it pretty evident which one of us had been divinely chosen to get up, feed the dogs, warm the bottle, start the coffee maker and change the diaper.

Not only is Emma extra smiley & cuddly in the morning, she doesn't drool nearly as much as later in the day, which is great, because nobody likes soggy PJ's.

Swinging...

Grandma & Grandpa Stern sent Emma a swing for Christmas, and yes, swinging is this much fun... 

...even when it's cold with a tray and sleeve full of puke.