Let's Catch Up!

Emma Bean,

I am so grateful to finally have a chance to write to you again!  Wow have the last few months been absolutely crazy.  First I'll update you on what's going on the lives of the rest of the family.  Then, I'll tell you all about how much you've grown up and what's changed since I last wrote.  

So what's been happening in my life?...  I finished up the last of my classes in December.  What a relief!  I then spent most of Christmas break writing my thesis.  Overall it turned out pretty well and I actually completed my defense last week.  All I have left for school is to print out the final copy and graduate on March 22!  Besides school I've spent a lot of time volunteering by helping kids in Greene County.  

I've been staying home with you pretty much full time this quarter since I don't have classes.  I can't tell you how grateful I am that we've been able to spend that time together.  I know a consequence of being in the military is the fact that I'll miss a lot of your life moments.  I'm just really trying to take advantage of the stability and time we have together now.  You're so much fun to be with!  Of course, that doesn't mean that all of our moments are happy ones.  By and large you are an incredibly happy and delightful baby.  You are definitely spoiled though.  I can rarely put you down for more than a minute or two.  It won't even matter if I'm two feet away and looking right at you.  You'll still yell for me to pick you up!  

You do this thing that I love to tell everyone about.  Your usual spot is sitting in my left arm in football position.  You'll always be looking around and squirming but every hour or so you'll stop for just a few second and look up at me.  The look on your face is hard to describe but it really feels like you're showing me how happy you are and how much you love having me hold you.  I can't describe it but it's what being your dad is all about.  I'm dreading having to start a real job in April.  

Mom's been really busy with school the last couple months.  She also recently started volunteering as a counselor.  Austin really loves spending time with you.  He's such a good big brother and always loves to help out.  He's playing indoor soccer right now and I think he's about to go through a huge growth spurt.  He's been eating about twice as much as me the last couple weeks.  We got a new puppy, Wes, about two weeks ago.  He's about your size now but he'll probably be 100 pounds in less than a year.  

And of course there were the holidays.  We traveled to Illinois for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Everyone was thrilled to meet you and your little cousin, Kaia.  You two were the stars of the show, for sure.  

You've been growing by leaps and bounds.  You're so much more of a little person now, too.  I'm proud to say that are now officially a pro at rolling over.  I swear, half the times I change your diaper you're completely flipped over before I can grab a wipe.  I'll look over to grab them and when I look back, three seconds later, mind you, I'm staring at your caboose!  It absolutely cracks me up.  You're also grabbing at just about everything now.  You especially love to steal pens and pencils while we're trying to get work done.  Sitting up is something you're definitely going to master in the next few weeks.  You're always pulling yourself up by grabbing our hands but you're still pretty wobbly.  If we put you in your boppy pillow you're usually pretty stable.  And OH BOY, have you found your voice!  You love to "talk" as I'm sure you call it.  Sometimes you're talking is high pitched shrieks, sometimes it's deep cough noises like an old man.  I think it's all hilarious and adorable, except when it's late at night and I'm trying to sleep. 

Once again, I'm glad I was able to get some time to write you.  As much as I try to make this blog a top priority, I'd so much rather spend time with you when I can.  You're sleeping now though so we're all good :)  I'm guest teaching a couple classes next week and I have hundreds of hours of studying to do for the PE exam in April so I better get moving.  I love you so much my darling.  I thank God for every day together He's blessed us with.  Until next time, enjoy a whole bunch of pics!  

Love,

Your proud daddy

We used this picture on our Christmas card.  You two looked so cute.

Aunt Stephanie got you a baby Emma doll, complete with a giraffe outfit.  It was meant to be!

First attempt at eating solid foods.  You weren't quite sure what to do with the oatmeal.

Baby Illini

Emma bean,

The Ron Zook era has officially come to an end.  Heartbreaking, I know.  But hey, at least basketball season has started!  I'm not sure when we'll go, but a visit to Champaign is definitely in our future.  I can't wait to show you, Mom and Austin where I called home for 4.5 years.  

Even though the football team fell apart, you still helped Daddy cheer them on.  You looked awfully cute doing it too!  Here's some pictures of you and me attempting to enjoy a game.  I love you,

Daddy

Getting So Big

Baby girl,

It feels so good to finally have time to sit down and write you again.  I've spent a ton of time editing pictures the last few days too.  I hope you enjoy seeing how much you're changing.  

You are now over three months old -- it's hard to believe.  Overall, you're a very happy and healthy baby.  I weighed you on our scale a couple of days ago.  You were 14 pounds, which puts you around the 75% percentile for your age.  

Words cannot describe how much you brighten all of my moments.  You're just like you're Daddy -- I couldn't stop you from smiling if I tried.  It absolutely melts my heart when I see that huge, mouth-wide-open smile the first time you see me in the morning or when I come home from work.  

We've been trying pretty diligently the last week to get you on a good sleep schedule.  You really love hanging out with Mom and Dad, which is fun, but very tiring.  You used to go to sleep around midnight but we've been trying to get you down around 8:00.  While you seem to be taking to it ok, you definitely don't like sleeping in your crib.  We're still working on it, but the time is coming when you might have to start crying it out a little.  I hope it doesn't get to that point.  

Mom is done with school until after New Years so she gets to stay home with you every day!  She found a trick that makes you laugh hysterically every time.  Her gorilla noises earn the cutest little faces and giggles I've ever seen.  Austin is really falling in love with you too.  He's a great helper and you really seem to love him too.  He likes to keep you company when we're busy cleaning or cooking.  

I'll be finishing my last two classes in about a week (Woohoo!).  Things will be pretty busy for the next couple of months because then it'll be thesis time...  But, it will all be over soon and hopefully I'll be done with school forever!  

I'm sorry that I haven't written as much as I'd like.  When you have a baby, it's hard to image how little free time you actually get.  Needless to say, my life will never be the same again; but I wouldn't trade more free time, the ability  to go out, or anything in the world for you.  You truly are one of the best things that has ever happened to me.  Thank God I'm in school and have the ability to be home almost five full days a week.  And doubly thank God that there are no deployments coming any time soon!  I'm going to continue to cherish all of these precious moments I get with you because I know I'll never have another opportunity like this in the future.  

Anyway, enough gushing from Daddy.  Here's a ton of pictures from last month to bring you up to speed!  Love you always,

Daddy

We had to resort to gentian violet to try to get rid of your thrush.  I think we spent about 40 minutes trying to scrub it off your face after nursing.  You also had to be in nothing more than a diaper because it stains horribly.  It didn't seem to bother you any though ;)

I guessed you were dreaming of the Thriller music video.  Grandma said she saw a future piano player in the making.

I think Grandma might have been right :)