2010: a year in review.

well, a decade has ended.  is that right?  or the first year of a new decade has ended.  either way.  2010 will forever remain in my heart as the year emmeline joined our family.  every other event, success, and adventure of the past year is somehow (and reasonably, i think) secondary to this event.  i like that i was pregnant and gave birth within the same calendar year for her - it makes the year seem entirely devoted to her grand entrance.
this was the year i finished grad school, the year we traveled to st. thomas, the year justin beat his time on his 100-mile bike ride.  it was the year we spent lots of time with our dogs, the year we celebrated the weddings of friends and births of friends' children, the year the saints won the superbowl (who dat!).  it was the year we joined my family in vegas, the year my mom turned 60.  it was a slower year in many respects - as if that's an adjective we can ever use to describe a year in our lives - in that we didn't have all the crazy projects and activities we normally might.
but overshadowing all of it, 2010 was the year of emme.  through my entire pregnancy, the birth, and the past 8ish weeks, i have been constantly and consistently reminded of how indescribably blessed we are.  our family and friends have shown us the definition of generosity and support.  as we look toward 2011, i can only pray that we can reciprocate the outpouring of love we have received.  it was a great year.

who dat baby and the bjorn.

our friends wendy and david gave us a baby bjorn for emme's shower and justin claimed it as his baby carrier of choice, but we hadn't put her in it until yesterday.  she loved it, and so did justin.  she stared up at him for a little while before falling right to sleep.  so sweet.  justin felt quite manly while wearing his baby and straightening up around the house.

last night was the saints versus the falcons on monday night football.  the saints were playing in atlanta and it was a super intense game.  fortunately, my boys pulled it off.  i like to think it had something to do with emme's precious saints onesie that my mom had made for her by jymmye.  she makes the cutest stuff and we can't wait for next week's game against tampa bay!

7 weeks.

emme kay.  yesterday, you turned 7 weeks old and you continue to amaze and delight us every day.  you are smiling with confidence now at things you like.  you get excited in anticipation of things - mostly nursing and your pacifier.  your neck strength is really improving and you're holding your head up more and more every day.  i haven't been great about organized tummy time, but you're practicing while you hang out on peoples' chests.  you like music and you and i have dance time (usually involving hall & oates) at least once a day.  when i read to you, you look at the pictures for a little while and then usually fall right to sleep.  you're still a fantastic sleeper and we are so grateful for that.  you are making new squeaks and sounds every day and they crack me up to no end.  i love your little personality and everything about you.

holidays in the fayette: emme's first christmas.

it seems like no matter how long i'm in lafayette, it is always completely jam-packed and i leave wishing i'd had just a little bit more time to see people and do things.  this trip was no exception; in fact, it may have been even harder because with emme traveling with us, there were even more things i wanted to show her and people i wanted her to see.  in any case, the trip was really fun - it was so nice to be home for a whole week!  i can't even remember the last time i was home for that length of time, and we certainly made the most of it.

the drive was sunday and it's about 6 hours.  since we didn't have our travel plans set in stone until after thanksgiving, i had delayed making kennel arrangements for the pups, so everything was booked in austin. that meant we had to devote the far back of the cr-v to dogs.  i sat in the back seat next to emme with bags and the boppy at my feet and justin sat in the driver's seat (obviously).  other than that, every square inch of the car was utilized.  we had intended to get a roof rack and luggage bin before the trip, but it didn't happen, so we traveled in true sardine style.  i think it looked a little like a dr. seuss car and emme, etta, and ollie were the only ones who were comfortable, but it was all worth it.

when we got in to town, justin and dad brought the dogs to the kennel and mom and emme and i got to visit with lolo for a little while.  that evening, aunt kakie and aunt paula came over while justin napped, and that was when the first mini-crisis began.  i think she was just tired and overwhelmed from all the change, but emme cried for a couple of hours (off and on) before finally settling down to get a little bit of sleep.  the irony of babies not being able to fall asleep when they have gotten too little sleep during the day is now very evident to me....anyway, it wasn't too bad, and when we woke up monday morning, emme and justin and i had breakfast in river ranch before e and i went to kk's office to visit her "children" there and let them all meet emme.  it was so nice to get to take the tour of the law firm and see how proud kk was of her granddaughter, and how sweet the office crew was to us.  monday afternoon brought a visit from gg - great gram - and the evening was pretty mellow with a visit from miss mary (our next door neighbor), a cake for justin's birthday, and my dad cooking pork chops and sweet potatoes for all of us.

gg holding emme...

miss mary meets emme kay.

 dad watching emme nap (this was actually tuesday night)...

hanging out on dad's lap.

tuesday was justin's real birthday (30!), so we went out to breakfast at dwyer's downtown.  it was phenomenal, as always.  for lunch, we met mom and dad at home and picked up judice inn burgers - my absolute favorite.  tuesday afternoon we met up with susanna, natalie, and yola kat for some coffee.  i hadn't seen su in forever, and it was great to catch up with everyone.  it was also fun to see yola in action - she is 6 months old, so i am just imagining what our lives are going to look like in just a few short months...

tuesday night my parents were gracious enough to babysit the little miss while jb and i went to dinner and a movie.  we went to mazen's the restaurant where we had our rehearsal dinner 3 years ago and one of my favorites in town.  we got to talk and sit leisurely and be waited on - it was awesome.  afterwards, we went to see the fighter - our second movie out since emme was born.  it was kind of sad, but pretty good.  the acting performances were stellar.  when we got back home, e was almost down for the night, but for some reason, she woke up and decided she was not going to be going back to sleep any time soon.  i brought her to the front of the house and we spent the next several hours walking up and down the driveway (you gotta love the december weather in louisiana) and rocking in the chair.  she finally gave it up and fell asleep a little after 4:30 and i fell asleep in a seated position soon afterwards, only to wake up right before 5:30 when the house started stirring because i had a hair cut appointment at 7.  i was exhausted, but honestly, i know sooo many people whose babies are frequently sleepless, so i can't be too upset that my child has had 1 rough night in her whole life so far.  

anyway...wednesday kicked off all the action.  after my hair at 7 am, mom and i took emme and gg to new iberia for a photo shoot.  mom's office children had given her a gift certificate for a sitting for emme, so we got pics of the 4 generations and a few of miss emme kay.  then, the four of us had lunch at this awesome cafeteria in new iberia.  the only way i can describe it is southern - you just cannot get food like that anywhere else in the world.  wednesday afternoon, mom and i ran around the house doing some cooking and cleaning to get ready for thursday's party, and we also managed to take a little nap, thank god!  wednesday evening, we headed over to uncle pit and aunt elizabeth's for the hesterly holiday celebration.  joe flew in that night, so pitman and miles ran to pick him up and then we all had a delicious dinner.  emme got to wear the adorable outfit heather gave her, and we all had a great time visiting.  

 like mother like daughter...

 uncle joey meets emme...

emme meets uncle joey...

thursday was the day of the big shindig - my parents wanted to throw a party so that everyone who has been soooo generous and kind in welcoming our little monkey into the world could come and meet her.  they have spent the last several weeks preparing everything, and it went off amazingly well.  all total, over 100 people showed up and mom's gumbos were the hit they always are.  the idea of the party was to thank everyone for everything they've done, but lots of people brought even MORE gifts for the little miss, so i am humbled yet again.  emme spent the majority of the party passed out on my lap, but it worked out that the position she was in allowed for unfettered viewing, so that was nice.  all my parents' hard work paid off and i loved seeing everyone.  

 great parrain (my godfather) soothing a little pre-party fussiness.

 the position emme was in for 80% of the party.

 post-party hang-out with dad.

 the cleaning crew after the last dish was washed (aunt kakie and aunt paula).

mom and dad after the party.

friday was christmas eve and we had an awesome day.  we hung out in pajamas until early afternoon, when we all got cleaned up and dressed for christmas mass.  we joined my uncle and grandmother and one of our favorite priests, father blessing, said mass.  it was a great ceremony and emme's first time at church!  she slept through it all, but i think she got something out of it nonetheless....after mass, we all went out to dinner at don's seafood hut and then the hesterlys and brownes went for a ride to look at christmas lights.  

emme's christmas outfit - please note the shoes my parents gave her that randomly match perfectly!

kk and emme take a little snooze on the couch while waiting for santa...

and then it was christmas day.  we spent the day mostly in pajamas again.  the nuclear family did stocking stuffers and then gg and parrain came over to exchange gifts.  the dogs were happy to be back with the family and included in the holiday festivities.  we cooked a huge lunch of steaks, stuffed potatoes, salad, broccoli, and garlic bread.  it was delicious, as usual.  saturday evening, kk, emme, and i visited the bourgeois and the lalondes and then we all snuggled up on the couch before hitting the hay.  

 emme napping with her lafayette stocking (you can't tell, but my mom had it embroidered with emme kay and it's very cute!).

 the christmas lunch crew, including aunt mary and rick, my parents' neighbor.  kk got headbands for the ladies and singing ties for the gents, so that's what we are all wearing.  

arlo under the christmas tree - sooo tired from all the playtime with ollie and etta.  

emme and kk hang out on christmas night. 

and sunday we drove home.  as always, we were sad to go, but happy to be back in our house and our routine.  we've got tons of stuff to unpack and organize, but it will all happen when it happens.  the dogs are super happy to be home and catching up on their rest....

emme gears up for the ride home.  

so i guess that is it!  sorry for the barrage of pictures and the longest post ever, but it was a crazy week, full of activity and we loved every minute of it.  

catching up...the 6th week.

i have been a bad blogger for a little bit now, but fortunately i keep pretty good records in my calendar, so i'll try to capture what has been going on the past two weeks through a couple of posts....

the week of december 12th was your 6th week in action (you turned 5 weeks on the 12th).  it was a super super busy week for both of us as we tried to get everything ready for your dad's 30th birthday, christmas, and our trip to lafayette.  we ran tons of errands and you were soooo good.  i am amazed at how easy it is to take you anywhere.  the only issue is my arm/back getting tired from lugging you in your carrier.  

monday we shopped at the domain for gifts for everyone and had lunch with alison and cameron.  tuesday night, chris and susannah came over and made pizza for us for dinner and got to eat with us, which was a fun treat.  wednesday i went to the doctor and you got to meet liane for the first time since she delivered you!  everyone there thought you were super duper cute and you slept the whole time.  wednesday night, i left you with your dad all by yourselves for a little over an hour for the first time (i've left you before, but always with a couple of people).  i know it's ridiculous that it took me this long, but truthfully i haven't felt like leaving you, and there hasn't really been an occasion where it was necessary.  anyway, you and your dad both did great, of course.  you were a bit upset when i drove up, but that's because dad had given you a bottle and you wanted more than the 3.5 ounces that were in it.  you are quite the piglet some days...fortunately, i drove up just in time and was able to handle your needs.  thursday was a fun day.  kerry anne came over to babysit you for about an hour while i ran a few more errands.  she said you were very sweet and very easy to soothe - that all you wanted when you were upset was for someone to talk to you and hold you a little bit.  you really liked her and i was very proud of you.  after kerry anne left, you and i spent lots of time in the kitchen.  you napped in your bouncy while i made gumbo and german chocolate cake and potato salad for your dad's party.  thursday night you went to your first holiday party at robin and brad's.  you slept in your carrier the whole time and everyone thought you were very cute.  finally, friday was your dad's 30th birthday party.  i had wanted to do something really really special for the big day, but i think your arrival tops anything i could have coordinated.  i invited several of our friends over for gumbo and a few apps.  it was really fun to see everyone and they all loved seeing you!  you were awake off and on and liked just checking out the scene.  saturday, we interviewed a potential nanny.  she seemed really nice, so we will just have to see if that works out.  we also got all the christmas presents wrapped and all our gear packed to hit the road on sunday.  man, you sure do have lots of stuff....

developmentally, i think you're pretty much right on target.  you gave a few smiles this week and they are getting more certain every time.  you're awake for longer periods and you seem to enjoy bath time, walks, and being read to the most.  it's hard to tell your preferences because you're so content the majority of the time.  we can definitely tell what you don't like, though, as you are not afraid to express your distaste for something.  i weighed you in my very scientific method of stripping you down to your diaper and weighing you and me, then subtracting my weight and our scale says you're 11 pounds as of 12/19/2010.  

i never posted the pictures from grandpa browne's visit, so here are a few....

you look kind of pitiful in this picture, but i think i had just woken you up from a nap for the photo shoot... 

this is just a picture of you looking cute while you were napping.....

 this is our new moby wrap - neither you nor i liked the sling at all, but this thing is incredible!!

after the holiday party, you were worn out from all the napping and meeting new friends.  

here is art holding you and visiting with avi at your dad's birthday party.  art has a 2 and a half year old daughter, so you were very comfortable with him.  

 wendy and kirsty hanging out at the party...

 kim enjoying some gumbo...

in your jammies in mom and dad's bed before heading out on your first road trip!