Nap Time..or Not

Is my child spoiled at the young age of 3 months? She will nap all day long if you hold her..if not, then forget it. So the past couple of weeks, I have been determined to get this little girl to nap on her own...yea right. For example..today I rock her for a little bit and lay her down in her crib. Good start, right? No..she lays in the crib for 0.5 seconds and starts screaming, which I let go on for a minute..I walk in to put her paci back in her mouth, and she just smiles the biggest, cutest smile ever. I mean really? If it was acceptable for me to nap all day, trust me I would be doing it right this minute. So right now, Emily is in her crib making cute little noises/crying and NOT napping. Gotta love her.

Happy little girl in the morning...on her changing table, of course.

**I am so behind on posts..they are in the works.

Your First Room

Since I plan on printing this blog into a book for Emily one day, I want her to know all about her first room...my favorite room in the house.

Emily,

Your nursery has so many sentimental touches, I want you to know them all!

This is your room..and please notice, there you are on your changing table..your favorite place to be.

Your crib-This crib is a Jenny Lind that not only I slept in as a baby, but your Aunt Lauren, Aunt Shawn, and your cousins Graham and Reece also used it. I had planned on ordering you a new pale pink bed, but they discontinued the color. After this ordeal, I decided I wanted you to have a cream crib to match your furniture..so your Memmy decided to take on the painting..I think she might secretly regret this adventure, but it turned out beautiful! The mirror over your bed was from an antique piece Memmy has had for years..and once again, she decided to paint it for you. I think it makes the room. Grandma Jane added the layer to your cribskirt so it's extra girly!

Over your window-"May the Lord Bless You"
This was the name of my favorite song during youth group. We sang it after everything, and it was even read at your parents wedding. So, we ordered a decal for your wall, but it came in HOT PINK and looked horrible. So, your Memmy, the painter, once again took to the paint brush and it turned out great! I love it and think it is the sweetest quote ever.

Your Great Grandmother (Mamaw)

Unfortunately, you did not get the chance to meet her, but she is very present in your room. The chair is one of my favorite things in the room. It was originally bright blue and white..cute, but not for your room. So your Memmy had it recovered for you. It is called a "lady" chair..very fitting. The dresses over your favorite place in the room (the changing table) belonged to your Mother and Aunts when we were babies..Mamaw made the first two. We also have several of her handmade dresses in your closet waiting for you to wear. The candle on your dresser is made from the beautiful flowers from Mamaw's funeral. The candle looks like it was made for your sweet little room. You also have a few little knick knacks from her including the adorable bears and the lamp on your table. She's everywhere in your room :)

Mamaw's candle

The pictures over your closet were taken from a nursery rhyme book that belonged to Reece when he was a baby.

The adorable rocking horse was Graham's when he was little.

The kewpie dolls that your Daddy thinks are super creepy belonged to me and Lauren when we shared a room as little girls.
The little shoe on your dresser was Memmy's first shoe when she was a baby. They used to bronze the shoes as a keepsake..what a cute idea.

So, as you can see, you have little pieces of the past all over your sweet little room and I just love being in there.

Beach Babe

And unfortunately I am not talking about myself when I say "beach babe"! But..Emily has definitely earned the title over the last week. We decided to take a last minute trip to Destin..after weighing the pros and cons of traveling 9 hours with a 2 1/2 month old..I finally decided I would rather be staring at the walls of the condo in Florida rather than our condo here in Memphis...so off we went to the beach. Poor Aunt Lauren rode in the backseat to keep Emily company..and by "keeping company", I mean constantly shaking her carseat to keep her happy..I mean really, the girl likes to bounce and shake constantly. Overall, Emily did absolutely great in the car..both ways. She had a mini meltdown about thirty minutes outside of Destin, but hey, she wanted out of the car just as much as we did..if it would have been acceptable for me to scream and cry, I would have (and I KNOW Lauren definitely feels the same way). We enjoyed a full week of quality time with my family and the Gordins..Emily was just passed around like a human baby doll with the Gordin girls..it was so cute. It is definitely a totally different kind of vacation with a baby..a little less relaxing..but it was nice to get away from Memphis and to introduce Emily to the beach she will have to relax on for many, many years to come. (An oil free beach!!-with many clean up crews that resembled a small army..reality check..but great to see the beaches are still as beautiful as ever).

This baby is obviously NOT getting a sunburn..or a tan.

Beach bum at her finest..Don't worry, this was only a photo shoot..she was quickly moved to the shade.

Sweet Syndey taking care of Emily..she can handle babies better than a new Mom.

Gordin girls and Emily

She really enjoyed herself!

Sleeping Beauty

Never ever thought I would see the day...I think Graham has been wanting to hold her all along =)

Lauren had the bright idea of taking Emily shopping with us...after about 5 minutes in a store, I took her right back to the condo to hang out with my parents..and of course, then she goes to sleep.

Couldn't leave out the BP cleaning crew..isn't that crazy?!

Happy Fourth!

Emily celebrated Independence Day all weekend long this year. Saturday night we went to her first of many parties at the Gordin's house...although I must say she was a little bit of a party pooper..but that's ok, there's always next year. Sunday, we headed over to Joe's parents for the yearly Germantown fireworks viewed conveniently from the front yard...guess I never really noticed how loud they were until this year. Let me tell you, it was quite a difference looking back on the last few July 4th celebrations. I don't remember seeing playmats, bouncy seats, and bottles galore last year..amazing how in one year your entire life changes. Emily and her cousin Daniel were absolutely precious together..this was just a preview of how it's going to be once they really start interacting. Christmas should be pretty entertaining this year! I held Emily and let her watch the fireworks..she was actually more interested in them than I thought she would be..every time there was a BOOM (loud one at that), she squinted her little eyes and immediately opened them back up to see the pretty lights..she was a cutie.

This is my FAVORITE picture..they are so smiley!

What's in a name?

Emily Claire Chittick. I just love her name..well of course I do, I did come up with it! Before Emily was even thought of, that was her name. Joe knew the minute kids ever came up in conversation that the first girl would be named Emily (not sure where Claire came from..just think its a classic name!). My mother's name is Emily Joan Taylor and she has always gone by Joan..but for as long as I can remember she has wanted to be called Emily...but it just hasn't happened. But, occasionally ( a lot), she will introduce her self as Emily. I remember when we were planning our wedding, we met with the caterer and apparently she had initially told him her name was Emily..so needless to say, when she showed up as Joan, he was a little bit confused! So when we found out we were having a girl, I was so excited #1 to name my daughter after the most amazing Mother anyone could EVER ask for, and #2 to finally have someone my Mom could legitimately call Emily. And, now..the Taylor sisters, who absolutely love to combine names, have renamed our Mother as Jemily.


***Today, Joe called and told me I might want to stop by the store and pick up some more pacifiers......Bailey struck again.

Bailey the Birthday Girl..and a few random photos

Today, our sweet, curious Bailey turned 3...she was extra needy..and extra curious. I caught her rummaging through Emily's diaper bag, most likely looking for a bottle..or thinking she might get lucky and find herself a paci of her own. As soon as I found her, her ears went back as she waited for me to get on to her (silly girl..she knows that's Joe's job)..and of course I didn't..hello, it is her birthday.

WELL...apparently she found what she was looking for.

I know this is completely inappropriate and not in any way sanitary..but the dogs kept looking at me..they are always so concerned about her, and they love her..and I really have absolutely no reason why I put them in her bed...

Just singing..

How cute is this?!

Summer of Firsts

So, as I mentioned earlier, Emily is quite the shopper. Well, she has decided she likes to go out to eat too. She had her first lunch date with Ellie and Ali..they were all perfect and too cute. We were definitely a sight to see with all of our baby gear. Shawn's birthday was today and Emily enjoyed her first of many El Molino nights. My parents have eaten Mexican every Friday night for too many years to count, so it is only natural for Emily to love it. Her Daddy dressed her in Memphis gear...with no bow..definitely should have changed her name to Ethan for the night.

Girl's Day Out (Mexican..once again)

Happy hour...of course.

Don't fall asleep at the Chittick house! (The whitest little leg I have ever seen!)