What we've been up to...

Alot! A few weeks back it was "Cerner Night" at the T-Bones game. It's something we look forward to every summer and it was a great beautiful night. Amazing how I can go to a baseball game and not watch a single at bat. Anyway, we went with Jonathan and Amber and took Emerson as well. She did really well in the Bjorn and I guess in the afternoon sun and nice breeze, she got a bit relaxed... Nothing cuter than a sleeping baby!







Amber helped feed Miss Emerson. I believe it was a sweet potatoes night...



For Father's Day we went to Red Oak and hung out with Grandma and Grandpa Wood and Cole and Sarah. Everyone went to the College World Series in Omaha on Saturday except Emerson, Grandma and me so we had some good bonding time.

Aunt Sarah and Emerson.


Grandma Wood and Emerson and her new favorite toy. (Balloons!)


Happy First Father's Day!


Before we headed back to KC we fed Emerson so she'd do well for the 3 hour drive. About halfway through her feeding, Ryan called me into the room...
That's about right- I was saying how Emerson NEVER falls asleep on her own. And then she does it twice in one week. Regardless- CUTE!



We went to the IndepMo water park and Emerson got to break out her sarong for the first time. She was very excited...



I FINALLY found the blue swing I had been looking for. Both of my neighbors have one and I didn't know if it came with a swingset or if you could buy one on its own. Lo and behold, I found it at Wal Mart and was VERY excited. Ryan installed it for me and Emerson loves it. We have already spent many evenings swinging away. It's perfect.



I was meeting Fran and Ava at the mall last week and we came across the Cross clan! Luckly, Fran and Janelle had their cameras...
From left- Quintin (poor guy, surrounded by all these ladies,) Morgan, Allie, Ava, and Emerson. Quite a group!


Chillin in mom's bed! (Right before I made it of course ;)


In the backyard on a beautiful Saturday.


This is how I found her a couple of weeks ago- I don't think the swaddler is serving its purpose anymore... We're working on it.


Ryan's birthday was last Friday- the big 3-1!


We took Phoebe and Emerson to the dog park in Lee's Summit last Saturday. It was hot, but fun.

Phoebe getting some shade.

She went down the slide but I wasn't quite quick enough to get her in the middle...



Emerson's 7 month pic.


I get to wake up to this every day! So lucky!



Have a great week- and have a safe 4th of July weekend!

Happy Birthday Phoebes!

Today my first baby, Phoebe, turned 7! That's 49 in people years. Almost old enough for the senior citizen discount. We celebrated today by playing outside with Bailey (my mom's dog who we're dog sitting) and Phoebe got her "wet dog food" from a can like she does every year on her birthday. Back in the day I used to throw a doggie birthday party for her but she said she's too old for parties. Whatever Phoebes. I'm just glad I remembered this year. Last year I had pregnancy brain and forgot. Oops. Anywho, happy birthday to the sweetest and most loyal dog a girl could ask for! Here are some of my favorite Phoebe pics...

Just trimmed...


"Begging" at Stacy and Jeremy's luau baby shower.


Best friends...

6 Month Pictures!

Needless to say, they turned out great. Enjoy!

Back to Back Parties!

My cousin, Debbie, had her son Brayden's 3rd birthday party at McDonalds and Emerson was very excited to see what a Playland looked like. It was great getting together with everyone and I got to meet Addie for the first time! We had a great day and I'm sure it won't be the last time we're hanging out at a McDonalds!

Addie was checking out Emerson's Bumbo...

Watching the big kids play! (And her new favorite pastime, sucking on her wrist...)

The whole group together- quite a feat!



The next night, Jonathan and Amber and Ryan and I threw my mom a fancy schmancy retirement party at Ophelia's. I got to thinking about who could watch Emerson and all of the people I normally would ask were going to be at the party. Okay- so "all of the people" is my mom, but anyway... I asked Jennifer (Benson) Cross if she was up to the task and I knew she would be. Emerson and Morgan (Jen's 3 1/2 year old) are eerily similar in that they are/were just pretty high maintenance babies so I knew Jennifer would understand Emerson's "quirks." (Isn't that a nice way of putting it???) This would also be the first time someone who wasn't my mom or my Aunt Junia or Ryan's parents watched Emerson so I was just nervous for Jen. We never know how Emerson will be since she won't take a bottle and the solids thing is relatively new. So Ryan took Emerson to Jennifer's while I helped Amber and Jonathan and the Hales set up the room at Ophelia's. It looked amazing and pretty much every person we invited was able to come and my mom was very grateful. Jen sent me texts and pictures of their evening which put me at ease. As you can see from the pictures below, I worried for absolutely nothing! Which is bad news for the Cross clan because I'll be asking them to babysit a whole lot more!

The sign in table and amazing flowers my cousins sent.

The beautiful centerpieces Debi Hale arranged.

Grices/Woods/Dudley!

Mom and me!

Morgan "holding" Emerson...

She loved the Cinderella phone! I tried to get her one when I was at the mall the other day but the Disney store had already closed... Dang!

I called Jen when I was on my way to pick Emerson up and Chad said Emerson was sleeping. I was so surprised I didn't say anything for a second and I think Chad thought I was upset because she was asleep. I was just so shocked because it takes an act of God for her to fall asleep without her normal "ritual" (swaddling then nursing...) Jen is the baby whisperer!

Again, this NEVER happens with me!!!


Thank you so much, Jen! It was great to have the night out to celebrate my mom's retirement and knowing Emerson was in such good hands! You're the best!

Hanging out with Miss Audrey (oh yeah, and Stacy...!)

Last week, Emerson and I made the trek out to Kansas to visit Audrey and Stacy. They were very gracious hosts and Audrey let Emerson sit in her Bumbo and play with all of her "baby" toys that she's way too grown up for now that she's a crawling fool! It was so great to see the girls and just hang out- I had a great time Stace! We have got to do it again before we're visiting them when they're roommates on Solah!

I love this one- it looks like Audrey is throwing gang signs...




Audrey loved Emerson's jellies...


We got the girls ready to go shopping in their matching car seats.


Shopping at Town Center Plaza. I'm sure the first shopping trip of many!

A "Mixed Grill" as Margie would say...

She likes too "feed" herself- it drives Ryan crazy because it makes a mess but I think it's adorable. I think the way she feels about it speaks for itself...!



I just happened to have my camera handy when we were doing a little shopping at the Wal last week. Good thing too!


My cousin Debbie Ingram, her husband Ben and their two kids, Brayden and Brynn moved to Independence from Colorado. Brayden and Will are 4 months apart and Brynn and Emerson are 8 days apart so we were really excited to get the kids together. Will and Brayden ran around the back yard and the girls hung out on the couch...





We took Emerson to the park for her to swing. She's a bit small for it but we made due. And she liked it! After having a baby in November, it's nice to get out of the house and venture outside!



Last Saturday I had lunch with Jonathan while Ryan watched Emerson. She was still in her sleep sack thing when I left so I suggested that Ryan put something on her legs. I was envisioning him actually changing her outfit but this was what I came home to- her sleep sack all bunched up, random leggings from a completely different outfit, and Air Jordan socks that have never seen the light of day. God bless him for trying...


Emerson's 6 month pictures are tomorrow so I'll let you know when they're up and running on the gal's website. Here's to a happy baby for pictures!

Starting Solids

We started Emerson on solids on mother's day- since she won't take a bottle, it's pretty important that she learn to enjoy her rice cereal and "mixed grains." She doesn't love the rice cereal so much but she does like the mixed grains so thank goodness for that. Jen Cross is watching Emerson tomorrow night so Ryan and I can go to my mom's retirement party so good luck to Jen! Thank you in advance! We'll see how it goes!


She's wondering what dad's eating!


Bring it on mom!