The Many Faces of Emery

I'm not sure if this is typical of babies since this is my first (at least that Ryan is aware of - zing!), but Emery has about a million different faces.  If Madonna were ever to shoot a baby video for "Express Yourself," I don't think she'd have a choice but to cast our daughter as the star.  Between her hands and her eyebrows, she is constantly communicating something- whether she knows it or not.

I withheld a lot of my favorite pictures from my previous post because I wanted to use them in this one.  I think that I have MOST of her facial expressions documented below, but there is one she makes frequently that I still haven't been able to capture.  It always surfaces when you take the swaddle off- she immediately stretches her arms out and raises her eyebrows in a very snooty fashion.  I'm sure I will eventually catch it and post it for your viewing pleasure.  

As you can see below, several of these were shot in rapid succession.  I could sit and watch her little face for hours and be entertained. We'll see if you feel the same because I'm betting it will take you at least an hour to scroll through all of these.  :c)  I hope that I never forget what any of these little expressions look like and I look forward to seeing them mature into their adult version.  Although I'm not quite as excited about the eye roll that will inevitably be added in the teenage years, but that's a problem for another day, isn't it?   We love you little bug!

*gasp* You don't say!

Whatever I'm looking at is almost as miraculous as me eating my hand AND pulling my ear at the same time.  Is anything more miraculous than that?  I think not.

What?!  IU lost?  That's really going to destroy my bracket.  Oohhh, the agony.

The infant version of stroking your fictional beard.

What are you looking at?

Whoa.  What's on your face?!  (For the record it was a purifying mask).

Hahaha - Nonnie, you're so funny.

I think she was dreaming about serenading someone.  With that type of drama it was probably a Celine Dion song.

Shut up!  No way that happened...

... That's so troubling.  How are we ever going to tell Dad?...

... Let me look out into the distance while I formulate a plan.

March Madness makes for a lot of nail-biting even for infants.

 A missed lay up?!

 No interviews or pictures please.

Plotting how long I'll scream for tonight.  Last night I did 4 hours.  Do I think Mom & Dad can handle 5?  We'll see.

Who me?!

Don't listen to her, Dad.  Someone else made that diaper dirty, I swear.

Channeling Popeye.

 Huh?

She's got that damsel in distress look DOWN.  I've taught her well already.

 This is what this damsel actually looks like when she's in distress.

Practicing her hand modeling for when Rolex calls.

 It's going to take you HOW LONG to warm that bottle?

I just don't know if I can make it that long.

Get.  Out.

Teen Mom is such a train wreck, but I can't look away!

Last but not least- Mama's favorite gummy smile.

And a bonus video of my little lady showcasing multiple of the faces you see above.  Plus hiccups.  Who doesn't love a good case of baby hiccups?

i(Phone) Spy: Month One - Emery

If I were a good mother, I'd have all of the pictures from Emery's first month neatly organized and broken down into lots of different firsts, each of which would have their very own post.   However, given that I only have a few more days until my ladybug is officially one month and I really want to get caught up- that is not how mama is going to roll right now.   Instead, we are going to lump them all into one super post while Daddy holds his princess in the other room.  That gives us about 1 hour to get you all up to speed on the first month.  Let's do it, shall we? 

The first month of life with our little angel has been about how any first-time parent recalls it.  It's been full of late nights, lots of diapers, lots of walking floors and a few tears.  Miss Emery is by no means an easy child but nothing in life that's really worth anything is easy, is it?  The most rewarding experiences are the ones that are the most difficult.  Besides, I was not an easy child and look what a jewel I turned out to be- right Mom?  ;c)  Quite honestly, I wouldn't change it.  I love her to pieces and the moment she smiles at me, the 5 hours we spent the night before bouncing and changing positions and bouncing again are completely forgotten.

I'll go into more detail about some of the specifics of our little miracle when I post her official one month pictures after I take them this weekend.  I also have a couple of other posts in the works in my head before we get to that.  So don't worry - you're going to learn far more than you're interested in learning about our life as of late soon enough.  In the meantime, enjoy this photographic summary of the first month of life for the newly minted Martin Family.

A little awake time with Mama on day two of life at home.   If she looks up to something, it's probably because she is.

I think Daddy is her favorite pillow.

There is not a swaddle on earth this child couldn't escape.  She's at her happiest when her hands are up and out.  I think she wants to be a conductor when she grows up.

I call this one "2 am in a house with a newborn."

If burrowing were an Olympic sport, she'd be a medalist.  Don't worry - we didn't leave her like this.

First trip to the Pediatrician.  Also the first time Mama cried over her little fuss face.  More on that later.

Daddy's hands make an awesome jungle gym if you're less than a week old.  (I have no excuse for why my husband is wearing a Christmas shirt in March).

When putting her in the carseat, you do NOT want to see those eyes open.

First bath.  She has no idea what's coming.

Looking far happier than she really was.  I tried to tell her that one day she would enjoy this, but she really thought I was full of it.

The bath was so traumatizing that her outfit change actually calmed her.  (Thanks for the duds, Aunt Jenn).  It's crazy to me to look back at this because she's worn this outfit since and it fits much better as you'll see in my Easter post.

Had to get a picture of how tiny she is when she's all curled up... because I know soon she'll take up my  whole belly.

First holiday.  First time Mama got to buy a ridiculous outfit that will only be worn once.

Doing her best Irish jig for the occasion.

Lola's reaction to constant crying.

All dressed up with no where to go.  Thanks Aunt Jen!

This picture melts my heart.

I thought we were going to play... This the best you got, kid?

One of my all-time favorites.

When you go to work, PLEASE take me with you.  (Can you tell she's having a hard time not being the only child?)

Precious little feet.

This child sleeps like her Mama.

First time in the moby wrap.  This thing is a lifesaver when Dad's at work.

What, like you've never seen a baby in Uggs before?

Something off in the distance was really, really amazing.

Thanks for my outfit Missouri family!

Look lady.  If you're going to have that camera in my face, I'm just going to lay here during tummy time.

You're still not any better at this whole playing thing.

My little angel this morning.  Ta-da!  We are up to present day.

Visiting Hours

Breaking News:  my (almost) 4 week old angel is STILL keeping mama busy.  Based on the fact that she still insists on being held nearly 24/7 and Papa Bear is now back at work, I'm starting to think that I should have trained for parenthood by playing Twister on a daily basis.  You haven't lived until you've tried to put a bowl on the bottom of the dishwasher without making your little one's head bobble.  Suffice it to say, I've not yet discovered how to blog while holding her yet.  Maybe that will be a 2 month milestone?

I originally planned to split my baby girl posts up by day or time frame or something.  That was before I realized that there's no such thing as a perfect newborn world.  Sooo... I've come up with a schematic that makes sense in my head and I'm going to do my very best to get it all posted so I'm caught up.  This little lady grows by the day, and I don't want to deprive any of her fans (read: grandparents) of up to the minute photos.

Todays post is a shout out to all the people who have shown Miss Emery some love- either through feeding her parents delicious meals, sending her fabulous gifts or coming to visit her- since March 6th.  She needs to know when she's older who all she should include in her acceptance speech when she wins the Grammy her father is so sure she is destined for.  Unfortunately, her mother and father have been absolutely terrible at photographing.  So, I'll try to include pictures of the people/items that I have captured and will give a verbal shout out to the rest of you.  If you have pictures from coming to visit her, please feel free to send them my way so I can post them.

The Givers.

• Mama's Office Finance Team
• Daddy's Office Desk
• Grandpa's Office Project Team
• Aunt Julie
• Cathy S & Rick B
• Miss Mindy
• Aunt Melissa
• Our Sweet Neighbors, the M's
• Miss Dixie
• Aunt Caiters

The Feeders.

• Great Aunt Pam & Great Uncle Bob
• Miss Shelley
• Nonnie (My Mama)
• My Sweet Second Parents, Mrs. Brenda & Mr. Tom
• Aunt Shawna & Uncle Austin
• Aunt Melanie & Uncle Jonathan

The Visitors.

• Granny/MawMaw (Ryan's Mom), PawPaw (Ryan's Dad)
• Aunt Tiffy & Cousin Kylie
• All of the Feeders above
• Miss Becca
• Miss Mindy
• Aunt Jen
• Aunt Melissa

The most special of all thank you's goes out to my Mamacita (Nonnie).  She came over to stay with us for a week after Miss Emery's arrival.  She stayed up late with us, woke up early with us, changed diapers, kept us fed and essentially just kept us going.  She continues to come over every time she has a few free hours to let us catch a nap or run a few errands.  I literally do not know what I would do without her.  We are so, so very lucky to have her in our lives.  Thank you Mom!

There are countless other people who have lent a listening ear and/or offered their support, compliments and love via text or phone call as well.  Far too many to name here.  Just know that in whatever way you have reached out, we really just can't thank you enough.  We are slowly working on getting you proper thank you notes but I wanted to document it all here as well.  Just know that in these first few trying weeks, anything you have done has helped in immeasurable ways.  Ryan, Emery and I are all grateful beyond words.  You keep us going.  And by going, I do mean pacing the floors with our princess at all hours of the night.  We love you all!

The gorgeous flowers Mama's Office sent.

First day home from the hospital, opening a present from Grandpa's Office Team.  Aren't I a beautiful flower of love?  (Sarcasm font).

Emery modeling her precious new footwear from Mama & Daddy's awesome neighbors.

Nonnie occupying Miss Emery after her traumatic 8 minute ride home from the hospital.

Melanie & Jonathan.  I think those smiles say - "I'm ready for number 2."

Melanie holding our baby while keeping a watchful eye on her own...

...who looks to have things under control.  Here's one of Jake for the future wedding slide show.  He's got that come hither look on lock-down.

Aunt Julie admiring her favorite Princess.  (You are WELCOME for dressing up for the occasion.)

Aunt Tiffany cuddling with our little boo.

Granny smiling at our little lady.  We'll work on classy leg positioning starting around month 3.  For now we'll let her enjoy this time.

Aunt Shawna with Miss Emery when she came to take her newborn photos.  You'll get to see those in an upcoming post, don't you worry.