Dec 31, 2008

Happy New Year-2009!!!


WOW! What a memorable year 2008 was for us! The year began with excitement, hope and even a little fear when we learned we were pregnant. It was also in January that Dan was accepted into the Masters program in Biostatistics and Bioinformatics (in addition to his full time job!). He started classes shortly after and has continued to be a straight A student. In April we past the first trimester mark in the pregnancy, and we shared our good news with the world. May was an especially special month for us as we learned that baby Riggs was a GIRL! I must admit that Dan was the only one who thought girl. It also marked a time of great contemplation as we pondered what to name our baby girl. We celebrated with a "Mother's Day" vacation to beautiful Gatlinburg, TN. The next couple of months were filled with school work, baby showers, weddings (what better time to act as a bridesmaid) and lots of baby planning. To our shock, on August 14th at 32 weeks pregnant, my water broke while on bed rest. We spent the next 30 hours in an blur until our sweet Emma was born. Despite being 8 weeks premature, Emma was very healthy! She spent 3 weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit and finally came home on Sep 6th just in time for her daddy's 28th birthday (on the 13th). Following Emma's home coming I was able to write and defend my dissertation and participate in the Ph.D. graduation ceremony. Last month, I started as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at UofL, Dan completed his first year of classes, Emma started daycare and now we focus our energy on just finding a routine in our crazy world. As you can see, the past year was certainly memorable and one we could not have survived without our family and friends. We cannot thank you enough! We wish you all the best in the New Year! We look forward to 2009, but our hope is that 2009 is a boring year for us!

The holidays are all about EATING and SLEEPING!

Emma has started eating cereal!  She tried her first solid food on Tuesday December 30th, she was 4 months, 2 weeks and 1 day old.  She wasn't sure about it at first but has since decided that it is GOOD!

"hmmm...not sure about this stuff..."  
"YUMMY!"
Holiday overeating always leads to a nap!

Dec 29, 2008

More Holiday Pictures

Emma meeting her Aunt Kiley and cousin Madalyn.  Emma will have a new baby cousin in March!

Maddie hearts Emma
Isabelle and Nana
Cutest, yet possibly the naughtiest 1 year old EVER!
Uncle Skip has the magic touch!
meeting cousin Makenzie (10 days younger)
resting with her uncle Sean and cousin Jamie 

Dec 27, 2008

Happy Holidays

"Santa who?"
"How long should we wait for him?"
Emma and her cousin Karli

Gettin' clean! (opening presents works up a sweat!)
"Going over next year's Christmas list with grandpa"

Dec 21, 2008

Thanks Nanny!



For the cute outfit!  I wore it to church today :)

Dec 20, 2008

REALLY looking forward to Christmas break


I'm sure it goes without saying that Dan and I are counting down the days to some rest and relaxation with family!  We are ready to rest and let Emma wear down everyone else for a change!!  This picture is from this afternoon.  The REAL question is who fell asleep first......?

Big girl!



Today was the first time we put Emma in her high chair.  

Dec 19, 2008

A Graduate Again!

Yesterday UofL held it's December graduation ceremonies.  This is a picture of me and my mentor Dr. Klinge after graduation.  I am now officially Dr. Riggs :) Hurray!  

Dec 18, 2008

Emma's 4 month check up!

Well,  I am writing this post "second hand" as I was not able to go to this appointment with Dan and Emma.  Lets see..  Emma is weighing 14 pounds, 13.5 ounces and is 24 and 5/8'' long.  She will get an xray of her skull in the coming days to rule out some things and then it looks like we are headed in the direction of a cranial band.  There is still a chance it could work itself out in the next 2 months so we will wait and see.  Dan told the pediatrician that Emma isn't rolling over yet, and he seemed a bit concerned.....and then Emma rolled over!  TADAAA!  I tell you it must have been the first time (and Dan said it looked like a total accident), but it pleased the doctor anyway :)  After picking her up from daycare yesterday, I put her right on her belly to see the big roll and NOTHING!  

Emma's top five:
1.  Being held all the time, walker must at all time remain standing and in motion
2.  Watching the dog, she has started to laugh and giggle at Daisy, and it might be the cutest thing ever!
3.  Getting her diaper changed.  It's very strange but she will look you straight in the eye wearing the biggest gummy grin and laugh at the moment you discover you are in for one of the dirty diapers.
4.  The mirror! 
5.  The Jumperoo
 
Major Dislikes:
1.  Riding in the car (especially in bumper to bumper traffic at the end of the day, God save mommy!)
2.  Tummy time
3.  Not being held! 

Dec 15, 2008

Kangaroo Baby



I decided to give my Maya wrap a whirl while I was trying to hold my needy baby and cook dinner.  She loved it so much she even fell asleep for about an hour!  I officially have a "kid." 

  

Dec 9, 2008

Today's Mystery Question

How is it that one little person can quadruple the amount of laundry I have to do?  



Dec 8, 2008

First official day

Well today was the big day.  My first day back to work.  Today I did new employee orientation so I wasn't actually in my new lab (but I was still away from my Emma).  I missed her so much. Oh, I hate it.  All day long I think about what she is doing, if she ate, how much she ate, if she misses me, if the other kids are being nice to her, and most importantly, if the babysitter wants to expel her yet etc:)  If only I could win that elusive lotto!!! One great benefit of both Dan and I working at UofL is that after paying for ourselves we each just pay $1.25 for Emma's health insurance.  Isn't that great!  I also learned that I get 2 classes per semester free...still pondering what degree to get next...  

The sweet face I dream of all day.....

   

Dec 7, 2008

Busy Sunday

Today I had a great surprise after church.  Some of the ladies surprised me with an impromptu baby shower.  Emma was a perfect angel today at church!  It was so nice and Emma got some really great gifts!  This is a picture of the adorable cake or what was left of it!
This is a picture of Emma before church in the chair that her grandma Karen gave her.  We had to prop her up on some blankets...still a little too small :) 

This is Emma in her Rainforest Jumperoo that my aunt Lori and cousin Michelle got her. Still a little small for it as you can see here. She just looks like she is saying "what do you expect me to do here mom?"
A pillow under the feet makes all the difference!


And then it was party time.  She loves the lights and music.  The top "fish lip" is something she does when she is thinking or trying really hard to accomplish something.

Dec 6, 2008

Merry Christmas from Santa's Helpers!! (click link)
http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/Cwtk6DNz68mdj8zpqZn1

Dec 3, 2008

It'S aN aQuIrEd TaStE

my apologies for the baby talk. Sometimes I just can't help myself :)

Dec 2, 2008

The time has arrived....

The time for daycare that is. I can't say I was happy or excited about taking Emma to daycare today despite weeks of craving a little "me" time. In fact, I was trying to think of any way to stay home with her. So I continue to wait for the winning lotto numbers, but until then Emma will go to daycare and I will go to work. I would hate to waste 10 years of education :) This morning started with packing 5 different bags, leaving the house in a sweaty rush and getting to the daycare 2 hours later than I had planned. It feels like I'm a traveling 3 ring circus these days. After dropping Emma off this morning I think I cried the whole way to the lab. But when I picked her up I learned she had a great day. She took 2 bottles and was a very happy girl. Our girl is a master mommy manipulator because I was convinced she would meltdown.  Her big adventure tired her out, and she was sound asleep by 10.  Maybe there is one good thing about daycare :)


This is Emma's first daycare "report."  How great is it that I can read this paper and know exactly what time my baby pooped her pants today?!?  All jokes aside, I love this!


Just arrived home from my first day at daycare

"Boy am I tired!"

Emma updates:  Emma LOVES to suck on her hands!  She mostly sucks her left hand so I'm really curious to see if she will be left handed like her daddy.  Her hand is so red and chapped from her new habit.  Her neck also appears to be getting stronger as she is turning her head in her sleep now.  Our little beefcake is now weighing in around 14.5 pounds!  She giggles and yells a lot now.  She continues to boss us around and rule our world and we love it!

Dec 1, 2008

Big Girl in her Bumbo Chair



Why why why do babies grow up so fast?!?  MissE loves to sit up in her chair.  Miss Independent!


Nov 30, 2008

Thanksgiving Trip 08'

This year we spent Thanksgiving with my mom and her husband Mike in Virginia.  The drive is shorter than the one to Dan's parents so it was our "practice trip" with Emma.  She did great and only got impatient the last hour or two.  We learned that for every 3-4 hours of driving we spend another 40 minutes at a rest stop with Emma :)  We have so much to be thankful for this year!  Here are just a couple pictures of our trip.  Thanks to my mom for cooking!! 

Dan & Emma
Awww!!
Bath Time in the Sink
so serious!
"wash my back nanny"
Emma and cousin Isabelle

Nov 22, 2008

DoEs ThIs DiApEr MaKe Me LoOk FaT?



I can't tell you how much I laughed when I took these pictures!  Our little girl loves to eat!

Nov 21, 2008

Defense Day Pictures

Me, Dan, Emma and Dr. Klinge (thanks to Dr. Klinge for the picture!)

Nov 20, 2008

Phew! (and some Emma updates)

My dissertation defense went well and I am officially not a graduate student anymore!  Yeah!!  I'm excited to start a post-doc Dec 8th.  I will be going into a lab that does different techniques so it will be a great learning experience.  The new lab is in the next building so I am not moving that far out of my comfort range!  Overall, I just feel relieved!  I got the best sleep last night.  Emma even decided to sleep from 11pm to 3:30am.  It was wonderful!  Dan wasn't able to attend my defense because Emma was scheduled for her RSV shot at the same time.  He did clean the house and bought flowers and a card (best husband ever!)  
Emma update:  Emma is up to 13.3 pounds!  Dan and I have to be very strict on her about sleeping on her left side and working on building tone in her neck this month.  She prefers to see the world from her right side and thus she has a flat head.  (maybe a republican?).  If we can't make progress this month MissE might be in for some physical therapy and the dreaded helmet.  Some new things our little girl is doing recently include sucking on her fists (she has gotten her thumb a couple times), perfecting her "Elvis lip", starting to coo, lots of eye contact, loves to be naked, really enjoys her wipe warmer and still enjoys french kissing the dog.