Our life | In Focus

Play Date

// September 22nd, 2009 // No Comments » // blog

Today was a first for us—our first official play date with our friends Beth (a mommy) and Addison (almost 2).  Addison is going to be a big sister in a few weeks, so Gavin will have a playmate fellow sleeper very close in age to him very soon! We’ve known Addison since she was born and we see her almost every week at our Small Group.  Watching small children develop is pretty cool.  We’ve witnessed her changes as she has grown from Gavin’s size to crawling to walking and now talking.  She’s going to have a fun time being a big sister and mommy’s little helper!  Though it took her a little while to warm up to us (she is usually shy for the first while when she’s around us), she was soon sitting next to her mommy and Gavin pointing out his feet, hands, nose, mouth, cheeks, head and being very gently while touching him.  Gavin enjoyed the fancy swing that they have and promptly fell asleep while we were making a delicious lunch of paninis and large spinach salads with lots of fresh veggies.  Hanging out with another mom and her young child was refreshing and relaxing.  We were able to talk while we cuddled with our babies and played.  Talking about mommy things with other people is nice and all, but to talk about them with someone who is going through the same things you are or has been through them recently is a wonderful change of pace! So if you’re reading this, Beth, thanks for a great day! I hope we’ll be able to have more play dates on my breaks from school.

Gavin Emerson

// September 19th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // blog

One month ago…

• we were in the hospital for day 2 of trying to have our baby.
• i caved and got an epidural thinking i may be in labor all day long, being tired from little sleep the night before, and having back labor (i think that’s what it was); i didn’t realize i would give birth an hour later!
• i felt the urge to push far before i thought it was time.
• i pushed for 30 minutes max, with the help and encouragement from my wonderful. husband, nurse, med student and doctors.
• our beautiful baby boy, Gavin, was born at 11:29 AM.
• we enjoyed our first prayer as a family in the peace and quiet of our hospital room with just the three of us there.
• we spent an hour in the hallway of the Maternity Suites due to the Storm Sirens going off.
• Gavin got to meet his two Grandmas, Aunt Kenzie, and Uncle Jerry.
• Grant and I got out of changing Gavin’s first NASTY diaper because both Grandmas were so eager to help .
• Mom brought us dinner; while the hospital food was good, it was nice to have other food since we’d been there for a few days!
• my fears/concerns regarding breastfeeding were put to ease because Gavin ate like a champ!
• i fell more in love w/ my husband as i watched him interact with our son.
• our lives were forever changed for the better.
• we became a sweet family of 3…

Happy 1 month birthday Gavin! We love you.

Jude Isaac

// September 16th, 2009 // 4 Comments » // blog

Last weekend my brother, sister-in-law, and nephew made the journey from Chicago to Springfield to visit Grant and I see Gavin for the first time! The first attempt, made a few weeks ago, resulted in them turning around due to some car sickness on Jude’s part (he’s the handsome little guy in the picture).  It was wonderful to see them, though we made no spectacular plans.  We just hung out at our house, playgrounds, restaurants and their hotel.  Jude had no interest in checking out his new cousin until he gave him two sweet kisses on the back of his head seconds before they left to go home! However, Josh and Jillian got a little baby crazy and are dying to have another, paint their apartment visit us again and hold baby Gavin! I’m sure Jude will enjoy hanging out with his cousin when Gavin can actually play with him.  Also, our faithful readers (do we have those yet?), check out Jillian’s blog about life as a mom in Chicago! I have to credit them with several of the things we love so far about raising Gavin: using primarily cloth diapers, breastfeeding, wearing him while we’re out and about instead of having to carry the carrier everywhere, etc.  All in all it was great to see a part of our family!