March of Dimes

This weekend, Matt, Emma and I will be walking for the March of Dimes with my company.  Funds raised for the March for Babies support research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives.  They will be also be used to bring comfort and information to families with a baby in newborn intensive care. 

As you may imagine, this is a cause very close to our hearts and a very worthy cause in general.  Many of you that have followed along with Emma's journey for the last six months have seen how challenging and difficult of a road it can be for a premature baby and their family.  The March of Dimes provides much needed support for the families and hopefully will be able to one day prevent other babies from being born too soon. 

If you would like to make a contribution, my fundraising page is below.

Thank you for your support!

http://www.marchforbabies.org/eer1016

Likes: Grandparents. Dislikes: Dressing Up

That about sums up Emma's feelings lately!  It's been awhile since the last post but Emma has been doing great.  We are pretty much past cold/flu season (although I have been battling a cold these last few days, but Emma is perfectly fine) so we have been taking her out a little bit and getting some fresh air.  Emma is 9 pounds, 4 ounces at her last weigh-in and everything looks great!  She got her 6-month shots last week and was very brave - only cried for a minute!  The final results came back on her thyroid testing and it's all normal, so we won't have any more follow-ups with the endocrinologist.  Her eyesight is also normal, so we'll have another regular follow-up to make sure it stays that way.  The physical therapist came by (she sees Emma once a month) and thought she was doing great.  Emma is also rolling over now!  The last few weeks she has been rolling from tummy to back and is very proud of herself. 

So here is what else that has been going on:

Emma still loves to take cuddly naps.

But she also likes to be awake and play.

She loves her grandparents and made a special trip to hang out with Grandma and Grampa R. on Grampa's birthday. 

Emma turned SIX MONTHS old on April 16th!  We couldn't believe it and neither could she. 

She doesn't want to grow up!

And she is not always a big fan of playing dress up, no matter how cute she looks.  

But cuddly naps and grandparents make everything better! 

She loved hanging out with Memere and Grampa G! 

And, we celebrated Emma's first Easter!!  She went to her first mass and was such a good girl.  She slept pretty much the entire time and was such a doll in her new Easter dress and bonnet. 

And finally, Emma has started solid foods!  Since she is now 6 months adjusted age, our pediatrician recommended that she should be starting solids for the socialization.  The kidneys develop very quickly, even in preemies, so they are able to start solids at their actual, not adjusted age.  Emma's first solid was avocado, and she did a great job with it!!  Yum!! 

WARNING: Cuteness Overload

Bows & Baseball

Emma is very excited for spring and the start of baseball season!  She is getting all ready with some nice big flowery bows.

She still hasn't decided which baseball team she is going to root for, but Mommy is trying to sway her when Daddy is out of the house... even if they haven't gotten off to a great start so far...

She was so excited to get some cuddle time in with Aunt Lauren this weekend!  Hooray! 

So excited, in fact, that she is working on her smiles.  We are still getting little half-smiles but she's definitely getting close!

Emma is up to 8 pounds, 10 ounces and doing great!