Pumpkin Patch (Part 2)

Joy to the world! I have been missing my camera cord to upload pictures for almost 2 weeks now. Today at Target I found a little SD memory card reader adapter thingy (Anna, don't tell David. I'm sure there's some official name for it). So here are my pictures from the Pumpkin Patch. Emily was completely mesmerized by this curly pumpkin thing (I think that the name for that is technically a gourd). It was so much fun!

Pumpkin Patch

Fall is here! Hooray! While my mom was in town the one thing she really wanted to do was take Emily to the pumpkin patch. After some effort finding one that was open on a Wednesday we made it. Here are some pics from our adventure. Thanks Grandma Dee!

Doctor's reports

Yes, I know I've been MIA but I am still alive. And so is Maggie. That's right, we've changed her name to Maggie and yes, she really was almost dead. But after a week of medicine she has a healthy appetite again and is steadily gaining weight. The vet said if she could make it through this past weekend she was in the clear, and here we are! It's Wednesday and she is scampering all over the place nibbling at Emily's arm. Emily and Maggie are getting along great.

In other news, Emily had her one year check-up today and she is the picture of health. Actually, as the pediatrician said, "She looks perfect to me." I told her I couldn't agree more. :) She was in the 25 percentile in weight (18 lbs, 10oz) and height (28inches). But the poor baby got 4 vaccine shots in her little legs. I hate that every time! We also discussed moving up to the big girl car seat. They recommend now for babies to remain rear facing until 2 years even though the law only requires them to be 1 year old or 20 pounds. I tend to side with the doctors. Emily's new car seat is pink and brown with butterflies on it! So cute!

Sadly, I seem to have misplaced my USB cord for my camera so the 115 pictures on my camera from last week's visit with my mom are stuck on the Nikon. I will press on and continue the hunt and hopefully have pictures to post soon, because seriously, who likes reading a blog with no pictures! :)

One Sick Puppy

Well, first things first, we changed her name from Gracie to Maggie. I just didn't like the way Gracie sounded for a dog. And anyone who has a dog knows you sometimes call their name like 100 times. Besides, she just looks more like a Maggie to me.

OK, now for the not so fun part. She wasn't eating. Like, nothing. So we were concerned. I had made her new puppy appointment for Tuesday morning, but by Monday evening we didn't think she was going to make it. We were giving her water with a medicine dropper. Honestly, I couldn't stand the idea of losing yet another dog in 6 months and even though we had only had her a few days, Maggie had become part of our family. You pet people know what I'm talking about.

When she made it through the night we were surprised, and ecstatic. I took her to the vet only to find out she has hookworms, roundworms, Parvo and Cocidia. The doctor was amazed that she was still waging her tail and walking around on his exam table trying to climb on the scale. He sad with all that was wrong with her he would expect her to not be able to pick her own head up. We admitted her and they immediately got her on IV. He said dogs with Parvo have about a 50/50 shot, but that large breeds, like labs, tend to handle it better. He also said she seemed like a fighter.

PRAISE GOD! Yesterday afternoon the vet called with a good report. Maggie had not thrown up once all day, had not had even one accident in her cage and seemed "spunky." That's my girl! So this morning they are going to try some solid food and if she keeps it down he says we should be able to bring her home this afternoon!

It's been a crazy few days. 4 days ago I didn't even know she existed, but somehow I have fallen in love with her. I miss her being home with us. Hopefully thanks to a couple hundred bucks, and some TLC from the vet, Maggie will be a part of our family for a long time to come!

Meet Gracie

So, here's the short version. Tuesday I had a friend talk me into going to the Animal Shelter. I "Oh"ed and "Ah"ed and sent Dave pictures. He told me no. The next day, Susan, Dave's step-mom, had found us a littler of lab puppies in Alabama that she thought we would like. Again, Dave told me no. Liar, Liar, pants on fire! The whole time he was working with Susan and his Dad to get us one of the lab puppies. So, at 11 O'clock this morning when they arrived for Emily's party, SURPRISE! We got a puppy! After several hours of calling her "Baby Girl" and "Pretty Girl" we agreed on Gracie. Here is how the rest of the day went:

Happy 1st Birthday Emily!

YEAH! I can't believe this day is finally here! My baby girl turned 1 year old today! I am so amazed at how dramatically our life has changed in the past year. Every moment is precious, and that is exactly what I tell all my friends who are expecting. Even those night you are still awake at 2:30am rocking a tired, teething baby to sleep. No matter how tired you are, you know those moments when you can cradle them and rock them are rapidly being replaced by chasing them down the slide at the park. Enjoy those late nights, because they will be gone too soon!

Ok, so here's how today went. Emily woke up with her Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Alyssa here from California. They arrived late last night. There were Pancakes for breakfast, then off to the park! Emily's favorite thing to do is climb back UP the slides. Anyone can go DOWN a slide, but only a special little girl can climb up it! Here she is with Grandpa and she is so proud of herself.

Here she is riding her red truck. We go to this park often and Emily loves this particular truck. She likes to surf it.

As any self-respecting parent would do, I had to go down the big slide with Emily. We must have gone up and down this slide for 30 minutes.

After lunch and what was supposed to be nap time, we enjoyed cheese fondue for dinner (thanks to Alyssa's pick). Then time for cupcakes. This time, it went over much better.

Don't let this face fool you! She would make this pouty face and smooch her lips together then laugh her face off! I'm just glad I captured it on camera. I was laughing so hard my sides hurt.

Please forgive the scruffy mom look. I had one of those late afternoon, "I'm extremely sweating from walking 5 miles to the park and back" showers and decided to forgo make-up or drying my hair. I don't know what I was thinking.

One with Grandma and Grandpa. She was happy to take pictures as long as we didn't interrupt her cupcake.

She was very happy to share with mommy. :)

After cupcakes, we had to burn off some of that sugar. Grandma and Grandpa bought her this little turtle from Wal-Mart. The box said, "Active Play for your Wild Child." It might as well as had "Buy this Emily Chambless" pasted on the side of the box. Hello! Wild Child!

Mommy and Daddy's gift to our sweet girl is this Step2 All Star Sports Climber. I wanted to get her a slide because I know how much fun she has climbing. I left it up to Dave which one to get. I should have known!

And then we had time for one quick story before bedtime. It's amazing. This day went by so fast! But I don't know why I would have expected any different. That's how everyday seems to go, way to fast. Emily Jean, we love you so much! Happy birthday angel!

New House Guest

So while Emily and I were away this week Dave was a little lonely. Apparently he found a new friend. Look what we found when we arrived home yesterday afternoon.

No Dave has not lost his mind and did not get a cat while I was gone, but he did agree to cat-sit for a friend of his who was out of town. Lily is a 6 week old tabby cat and she is SO cute! She is very playful and ridiculously tiny. Emily likes the company.

This was SO funny! Lily kept crawling under our ottoman and Emily kept peeking under to find her. But Lily would come out the other side and bat at Emily's feet. It was a hoot!

They did play really well together.

Lily will be returning home to Andy and Mary tomorrow, but we have sure enjoyed our visit. And for the record, there are no cats in our future!

Baby Rowan Arrives!

Welcome Rowan Elizabeth Van Horn! We are so glad you are finally here! Your arrival has been a long time coming. Dave's sister, Leigh, and her husband Dillon met their baby girl at 4:11am Wednesday, September 30th. She weighed at 7lbs 11oz and 20inches long. Emily and I had the privilege of going to meet her Wednesday afternoon in Nashville. She is beautiful! We spent the last few days visiting with them in the hospital. The new family goes home tomorrow. Emily and I are now safely back home in Memphis, but we had a great week. Thanks to Grandma Jamie and Grand-Dude for a good time as usual!