For our friends and family that live outside of St. Louis here are some videos of Emma. She is growing up so fast. I can't believe she will be 9 months in one week. Rett and I just watched a video of her first bath that I gave her in the NICU. She was so tiny, so dependent, and now as you will see in these videos she is developing her own personality and getting so big!
She is fascinated by her thumbs. She does this thumb thing on all surfaces- her high chair, her toys, my leg, etc.
As she begins to get more vocal she is also blowing raspberries...she will do this on her own and out of response to someone doing it to her.
I was out of town for work at the end of August and Emma got sick and Rett had to bring her home from school early. However after one dose of Tylenol and a quick nap...she didn't appear sick at all.
A fancy eating trick...
Emma loves to pat her belly, especially when she is just in her diaper on her changing table.
Rett said he would give Emma $20 if she would sleep through the entire night. She had a few nights in a row that she was waking up around 2:00 AM because she couldn't find her Binky as well as caught a tummy virus. Well, she did it! And here is the video of us demanding the "monies" from Daddy. (P.S. Daddy, you still owe her $20!)
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Fall is in the Air
What beautiful weather we have had in St. Louis these last few weeks! And we have more than weather to celebrate...on Monday I had my one year mammogram and the results came back clear! Here's to one year and many, many more!
Surprisingly I wasn't as nervous for the mammogram and check-up with my surgeon as I was for my annual woman's health exam as I previously posted about. It is a bit harder to be emotional when you are standing in a robe with your breast squeezed into a pancake on a plate of a machine.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month so please encourage all your loved ones to do monthly self exams and get their mammograms every year without delay. I can truly testify to the importance of early detection.
Emma continues to do very well. She has her 9 month check-up in a couple of weeks and although she is still petite, she is right on track with her development. I keep telling her that she will enjoy being petite when she is older.
Emma's favorite things right now are:
We are taking Emma to her first Rams game tomorrow. Uncle Taylor will have to teach her how to catch the football next season.
Here are some photos over the last month.
Hope everyone is enjoying their Fall!
Love,
Jenna, Rett and Emma
Surprisingly I wasn't as nervous for the mammogram and check-up with my surgeon as I was for my annual woman's health exam as I previously posted about. It is a bit harder to be emotional when you are standing in a robe with your breast squeezed into a pancake on a plate of a machine.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month so please encourage all your loved ones to do monthly self exams and get their mammograms every year without delay. I can truly testify to the importance of early detection.
Emma continues to do very well. She has her 9 month check-up in a couple of weeks and although she is still petite, she is right on track with her development. I keep telling her that she will enjoy being petite when she is older.
Emma's favorite things right now are:
- Babbling to her toys
- Saying "Dada"
- Sitting Up
- Practicing on standing from sitting position
- Playing the piano on the iPad
- Making raspberries with her mouth
- Feeding herself snacks
- Trying new foods (eggs, black beans, string cheese)
- The color yellow, especially her yellow ball
- Playing with her friends at the big table at school
- Smiling for the camera
- Car rides
- Experimenting with tones and volume of her voice
- Soldier crawling on the floor to the hardwood and then slapping the hardwood floor
- Jumping in jumperoo
- Being the center of attention
- Singing to music
- Playing with the makeup mirror while mommy is putting her makeup on
- Giving open mouth kisses
- Pounding Sophie on the highchair tray
- Swimming and splashing in her bathtub
We are taking Emma to her first Rams game tomorrow. Uncle Taylor will have to teach her how to catch the football next season.
Here are some photos over the last month.
 |
| 8 Months Old! |
 |
| Pretty Ballerina |
 |
| Loving the camera |
 |
| Sitting in Papa's Chair |
 |
| With Papa in his special room |
Love,
Jenna, Rett and Emma
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
One Year as a Survivor!
Wow! What a difference a year makes. I have experienced every high and every low this year and the emotions have come back around as I go into tomorrow celebrating one year as a survivor.
It was August 24th, 2010 that I received the call from my OBGYN to tell me that my biopsy came back malignant and that I did in fact have breast cancer. I met with Dr. Smith about two weeks ago for my annual exam (the same exam last year that led to the discovery of the lump in my left breast) and all of those emotions hit me like a ton of bricks. I was crying. I was nervous, anxious. I was proud that I had beaten it. I was worried about what this year would bring. I was excited to have a healthy 7 month old but concerned about her future health and risk. I was scared for 4.5 more years of treatment. I was hopeful for other survivors!
And Dr. Smith just sat there and listened.
I am definitely a changed person from this time last year. I am passionate; I seize opportunities; I see the world differently.
Rascal Flatts sums up my year long journey and roller coaster of emotions in their song Skin: Sarabeth. (Lyrics below but much better when they are singing it.)
Sarabeth is scared to death
To hear what the doctor will say
She hasn't been well
Since the day that she fell
And the bruise it just won't go away
So she sits and she waits with her mother and dad
And flips through an old magazine
'Til the nurse with a smile stands at the door
And says "Will you please come with me?"
Sarabeth is scared to death
Cause the doctor just told her the news
Between the red cells and white
Something's not right
But we're gonna take care of you
Six chances in ten it wont come back again
But with the therapy we're gonna try
It's just been approved it's the strongest there is
But I think we caught it in time
Sarabeth closes her eyes
And she dreams she's dancin' around and around
Without any cares
And her very first love
Is holding her close
And the soft wind is blowing her hair
Sarabeth is scared to death
as she sits holding her mom
cause it would be a mistake
For someone to take
A girl with no hair to the prom
For just this morning right there on her pillow
Was the cruelest of any surprise
Yet She cried when she gathered it all in her hands
The proof that she couldn't deny
Sarabeth closes her eyes
And she dreams she's dancin' around and around
With out any cares
And her very first love
Was holding her close
And the soft wind was blowing her hair
It's quarter to seven
that boy's at the door
Her daddy ushers him in
And when he takes off his cap they all start to cry
Cause this morning where his hair had been
Softly she touches just skin
They go dancin' around and around
Without any cares
And her very first true love
Is holding her close
And for a moment she isn't scared.
Thank you all for taking this journey with me and supporting me throughout the highs, the lows, the losing of my hair, the first day at work with my wig, growing my hair back in, the first treatment, the side effects, the overnight care, the family shuttling along I-70, Emma's birth, the meals, the grocery shopping, the cards, flowers and the prayers. I love you all and hope you know how much each and everyone of you mean to me!
Love always and forever,
Jenna
It was August 24th, 2010 that I received the call from my OBGYN to tell me that my biopsy came back malignant and that I did in fact have breast cancer. I met with Dr. Smith about two weeks ago for my annual exam (the same exam last year that led to the discovery of the lump in my left breast) and all of those emotions hit me like a ton of bricks. I was crying. I was nervous, anxious. I was proud that I had beaten it. I was worried about what this year would bring. I was excited to have a healthy 7 month old but concerned about her future health and risk. I was scared for 4.5 more years of treatment. I was hopeful for other survivors!
And Dr. Smith just sat there and listened.
I am definitely a changed person from this time last year. I am passionate; I seize opportunities; I see the world differently.
Rascal Flatts sums up my year long journey and roller coaster of emotions in their song Skin: Sarabeth. (Lyrics below but much better when they are singing it.)
Sarabeth is scared to death
To hear what the doctor will say
She hasn't been well
Since the day that she fell
And the bruise it just won't go away
So she sits and she waits with her mother and dad
And flips through an old magazine
'Til the nurse with a smile stands at the door
And says "Will you please come with me?"
Sarabeth is scared to death
Cause the doctor just told her the news
Between the red cells and white
Something's not right
But we're gonna take care of you
Six chances in ten it wont come back again
But with the therapy we're gonna try
It's just been approved it's the strongest there is
But I think we caught it in time
Sarabeth closes her eyes
And she dreams she's dancin' around and around
Without any cares
And her very first love
Is holding her close
And the soft wind is blowing her hair
Sarabeth is scared to death
as she sits holding her mom
cause it would be a mistake
For someone to take
A girl with no hair to the prom
For just this morning right there on her pillow
Was the cruelest of any surprise
Yet She cried when she gathered it all in her hands
The proof that she couldn't deny
Sarabeth closes her eyes
And she dreams she's dancin' around and around
With out any cares
And her very first love
Was holding her close
And the soft wind was blowing her hair
It's quarter to seven
that boy's at the door
Her daddy ushers him in
And when he takes off his cap they all start to cry
Cause this morning where his hair had been
Softly she touches just skin
They go dancin' around and around
Without any cares
And her very first true love
Is holding her close
And for a moment she isn't scared.
Thank you all for taking this journey with me and supporting me throughout the highs, the lows, the losing of my hair, the first day at work with my wig, growing my hair back in, the first treatment, the side effects, the overnight care, the family shuttling along I-70, Emma's birth, the meals, the grocery shopping, the cards, flowers and the prayers. I love you all and hope you know how much each and everyone of you mean to me!
Love always and forever,
Jenna
Monday, August 22, 2011
Summer Fun!
We have had so much fun this summer as a new family. Here are some pictures that I have been meaning to get posted.
Emma is such a mini me and when we were in Kansas City in July I thought it would be funny to see what Emma would look like with hair...and since I am still wearing my wig, well, what a great photo opp! She is six months going on 16 here! Watch out boys!!!
Emma turned 7 months old on August 8th. Amazing how time flies! Here she is in her sassy ruffles and skinny jeans! Oh, and check out her different expressions!
Lake time with the Gerhardt's. We spent a long weekend with our dear friends Cara and Jordan and their baby girl, Elle. Emma loved showing her girlfriend around the condo and the Lake! It was the most gorgeous weekend and we were able to find some great coves, anchor out and catch some rays (or zzzz's for the girls).
Rett's summer company party is always family oriented. This past weekend they rented out Grant's Farm for the evening for us to tram through the park, enjoy the Clydesdale's and even the beer garden. Looks like we will need to have Aunt Aubree give Emma riding lessons...she loved the Clydesdale's!
Hope you all have had a summer filled of fun too!
Love,
Jenna
Emma is such a mini me and when we were in Kansas City in July I thought it would be funny to see what Emma would look like with hair...and since I am still wearing my wig, well, what a great photo opp! She is six months going on 16 here! Watch out boys!!!
Our nephew, William, turned one on August 3rd. He loves cookie monster! Emma loves his balloons!
 |
| Not really interested in his cake! |
Emma turned 7 months old on August 8th. Amazing how time flies! Here she is in her sassy ruffles and skinny jeans! Oh, and check out her different expressions!
Lake time with the Gerhardt's. We spent a long weekend with our dear friends Cara and Jordan and their baby girl, Elle. Emma loved showing her girlfriend around the condo and the Lake! It was the most gorgeous weekend and we were able to find some great coves, anchor out and catch some rays (or zzzz's for the girls).
Rett's summer company party is always family oriented. This past weekend they rented out Grant's Farm for the evening for us to tram through the park, enjoy the Clydesdale's and even the beer garden. Looks like we will need to have Aunt Aubree give Emma riding lessons...she loved the Clydesdale's!
 |
| I had to restrain Rett |
 |
| The Clydesdale's head is bigger than Emma! |
 |
| she is so brave! |
Love,
Jenna
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