Baby Blessing

Nelson gave a beautiful baby blessing to Emily.  The spirit was strong and seemed to whisper of God's great love for Emily.  These were a few blessings recalled:

Emily Lynette Yates, bless you

• To know the Savior lives.  He will bless you with peace and guide
  
  
  e you throughout your life.
• To have a bright testimony that will shine to others
• To know you will grow up in a gospel centered home where you are loved and cherished
• To be an influence for good to all those around you
• To have faith to come to Heavenly Father in prayer and receive answers to those prayers
• To be an instrument of service to all around you
• To know the spirit will be there to comfort you and guide you
• To know you will be guided by Heavenly Father in times of trouble
• To know you have come down to a family who loves you and are cared for by many
• To be an example as many will look to you to share the gospel with
• To have an extra measure of peace so you will be comforted

Laughter & Lights

At times I feel Little Tink is growing and changing right before my eyes.  Each week she add new tricks to her bag of pixie dust.  This week she has continued to work on tummy time, smiling, and a few chuckles of laughter.  She is loving more and more the chance to kick and play on the floor.  We are amazed by her energy.  Another new trick I have noticed in her beginning to use her voice more with coos of "d," "m," and "p."  It is exciting to see her milestones arrive.

 

 

Since Emily's arrival, I feel Nelson and I have rediscovered the power of play and laughter.  It has always been in our home, but it is arrives more often and lingers longer as we return to our childish ways to entertain Tink.  I love laughing with Nelson.  He has such a fun sense of humor very similar to his dad's.  It is unexpected and joyful.  Today Nelson became Rudolph with Emily's tights on his head.  We all had a good laugh, even Tink.  I love laughing and enjoying the ride of life with my little family.

 

 

We went on a date this week to the temple.  As we left, the temple lights were lit.  Nelson helped earlier in the season to hang the lights with our ward.  He was so proud to show me the tree he helped decorate.  He claimed, "It is the prettiest tree!!!"  We love the opportunity to attend the temple and are grateful for my Aunt Vera's help in watching Emily.

2 Months

Emily is two months old! WOW! Little Tink has made some fun milestones this month. As much as I don't want her to grow, I am enjoying each stage and the momentous moments. Here are a few for this month:

- Smiling
- Cooing and jabbering on the floor
- Kicking playtime on the floor
- Eye contact with lights and people's faces
- Enthralled by the Christmas tree lights
- Beginning to grasp things with her hands
- Hums often her sleep
- Loves to stick her feet in tub water
- 2 month check-up
          - 10 lb. 5 oz.

          - 21 inches

Christmas Cuddling

Emily loves the lights on the Christmas tree.  When she is fussy or upset, we bounce her in front of the Christmas tree to calm her down.  Today after church, Emily and I were playing under the Christmas tree.  We sang songs, kicked, and then had some "tummy time."  Emily quite enjoys tummy time.  In fact, I think she is a tummy sleeper, but I won't let her sleep on her tummy due to medical recommendations against SIDS.  Well, after kicking for sometime on her tummy, Emily began to fall asleep.  This was quite a surprise for me as it usually takes some tricks to help her calm down to sleep.  Not today though, she feel asleep on her own laying on her tummy.  I cuddled next to her for some time and then tried to wrap her up.  She woke up a little, but then went right back to sleep.

Humming Carolers

   

 

 Nelson will be the first to tell you I like to be busy.  It can be difficult for me to sit still.  However, having a little one has changed things.  Life has slowed down quite a bit, and I am content.  Although the laundry may pile up more than usual, I am at ease with the time I get to spend with Emily.  This time is more precious than gold.  I am learning time travels so quickly as she grows.  Moments become memories that I seek to cherish before they pass by.  I love snuggling with and rocking my Little Tink.  The way she nestles into my shoulder or chest and hums or sucks her binkie is priceless.  I recalled a common poem the other day while rocking Emily . . .

 

Cleaning And Scrubbing
Can Wait
Till Tomorrow...

For Babies Grow Up
We've Learned
To Our Sorrow...

So Quiet Down
Cobwebs...
Dust Go To
Sleep...

I'm Rocking
My Baby,
And Babies
Don't Keep.

 

The other day Nelson asked me what I wanted for Christmas.  For the past couple of years, I have asked for a baby.  Well, this year I have one to hold in my arms.  So as he asked this question I said, I already got my present in September.  It is hard to explain the love I feel for her, and yet it grows by the minute.  I can't wait to share my Christmas gift with our families in a few weeks.

Unknown to Nelson, he is a sleeping hummer. I have heard sweet tunes since we were married. I believe this is a trait Emily has inherited.  One morning while rocking Emily back to sleep, I could hear her sweet hum.  Then she stopped for a minute and I heard a lower hum from my bedroom.  I guess they were doing a musical duet for me.  The other day they were even practicing together while they were awake.  Emily loves music!  As Nelson and her were laying under the Christmas tree, he sang some Christmas songs to her.  This are pixie dust moments I am adding to my bag of marbles.

Emily I love going on walks together, especially in the cooler weather.

These are pictures from Thanksgiving.  We enjoyed the day together and with the Baumgartners.

Here's Emily enjoying the Christmas tree.

Tickling Tummies and Smiles

Emily loves to play on the floor.  She likes to be on her tummy and back.  As Nelson expresses, "She is a mover!"  She loves to kick and swing her arms around.  We love to lay beside her and play along.  Emily is discovering her voice, proclaiming grunts and coos often.  It is fun to watch her find her voice.

Emily's new trick is smiling!! I love capturing the twinkle in her eye when she smiles.  She is working on using it every day and adding a little laugh.  It is definitely contagious!!

Our Little Tink loves bath time.  Her daddy is so cute to bathe her each night.  She loves slippy down in her bath chair to sneak her toes to be in the water or on the side of the tub.  We think she loves the bath and lotion massage, but not getting dressed.

It is cooling down a little here in Arizona - highs in the 70s and 80s.  It has been great weather to enjoy a walk outside.  Emily loves to be outside!!  We are excited for this cool down after a hot summer!  It will be fun to show Emily snow in a few weeks.

My Dollie

 

As a child I loved playing with dolls, especially Cabbage Catch dolls.  I had quite a collection, probably more than 10.  I remember hearing the story and watching the home video of my first Christmas. I got a doll that smelled like a newborn.  Each Christmas it seemed my collection grew, thanks to the help of Santa who loved dollies;D.  I loved to pretend with my dolls: play school, church, and "house" with them.  As Christmas approaches, I have been thinking about these memories and how much I love to play with my dolly Emily.  Like my first dolly, Tink's smell is sweet.  Nelson tells her it is one of his favorite smells.  I love playing, singing, pretending, and talking to her.  It has been fun to see her eyes engage more in contact with mine.  I can't help but wonder if she knows me?  I love dolling her up for the day.  She is so cute! 

 

 

 As I uploaded new pictures today, I browsed through pictures of her birthday. My little dollie Tink is growing so much. She continues to learn new tricks each day. Through it all I am loving each tender moment with my sweet dolly. One of my favorite things to do with Emily is snuggle. She nestles into my chest and hums or chomps her binkie.  I am trying to think of a way to record these sounds so that I can hold on to them forever.

 

 

At first, Emily was not too sure about a binkie.  Now, however, she loves to suck on it before and after a feeding.  Sometimes she will soothe herself with her thumb.  I caught doing it in her swing.

I am so lucky to have my own dolly this Christmas.  She is the best gift anyone could ask for.  I love Tink more than words can say!

1 Month

Emily is one month as of October 24th!  Hooray for our Little Tink!  She is still so petite, but growing LOTS.  Nelson and I think it happens right before our eyes, so we don't want to blink.  We are excited for the milestones Emily has made, but cherish each present moment as we know she will grow up too fast.

Some of Emily's one month milestones and special moments include:

1) Showing her deep blue eye color - just like her dad's
2) Losing the dark hair from birth to light brown with highlights of blond and red
3) Sustaining eye contact for a few moments
4) Smiling and laughing in her sleep (she hasn't yet done it in response to stimuli yet, but soon!)
5) Wiggling her month excitedly when her binkie is inserted
6)  Finding her thumb for comfort (we quickly replace it with the binkie)
7) Holding onto her binkie with her hand
8)  Playing with her mouth - sticking her tongue out and "ooing"
9)  Dolled everyone at church "with all that hair"
10) Nicknamed Little Tink, Little One, and Little Angel

Aunt Stephanie and Uncle Jared stopped by last Sunday for a visit.  It was so fun to see them.  Emily really liked to being together with them.  We wish they lived closer so they could visit more often.

 

 

 

 

Emily's Tricks and Treats

Emily is our Halloween treat in so many ways.  She treats us smiles at her moments of growth, change, and love.  Little Tink is just about 1 month!  I can hardly believe it.  She is growing each day - faster than we want her too.  However, we are excited and grateful for her health and strength.  At her last appointment, the doctor was proud to announce she has gained 1 pound from her birth weight - 6 lb. 8 oz.  I was excited by this to know she is feeding well.

 

Emily has a few tricks she has been working on for Halloween.  She can be caught finding her thumb to suck and holding her binky in her mouth.  It is so cute!!

 

 

Emily LOVES her hands!! She especially likes them close to her face.  This seems to bring her comfort when she is upset.

 

 

Little Tink joined us for one of our Halloween traditions - watching Hocus Pocus.  I think she liked it!  This silly movie is my mom's favorite, so we watch it each October.  It wouldn't be Halloween without it.

This past week I tried to take some pictures for a possible birth announcement.  I am definitely not a professioinal photographer or have much talent like my sweet sister Jamie, but I think they turned out.  I think the cute bundle makes all the difference ;D.  

 

3 Weeks

 

Emily is 3 weeks old tomorrow.  Nelson and I were talking about how hard it is to imagine life without her.  We love cuddling, singing, talking to, and playing with her.  She is "Our Little Angel" (Nelson's nickname for her).  Today she went to church for the first time - just to sacrament meeting.  She really enjoyed it - slept right through it.  Emily got all "dolled" up for this big adventure.   She looked adorable - as always!

 

 

Even though she is growing everyday, Little Tink is just that - LITTLE.  This picture with her daddy shows how little she is in his hands.  It is so fun to watch Nelson talk with and hold Emily.  He really loves her.  At times I catch him just staring at her (just like I find myself doing at times).  Then Nelson will notice me sigh and smile.  Sometimes he'll then say, "She's just so cute!"

 



 

Emily has not yet smiled in response to specific stimuli, but I find her smiling and laughing in her sleep often.  She takes after her Aunt Sissa who also laughs in her sleep too;D.  I love her little chuckle and smile.  I think she might have a dimple like me, but we'll see.

 

 

 

 I just can't get enough of Little Tink's toes.  They are so cute!  She likes to be a little lady by crossing her ankles often.  She is so precious!