Brian and Joelle » 2008» July

Jul 30

while I endeavor to write a new blog every Sunday night and add new photos…..sometimes it just doesn’t work out. Time just marches on…….

We’re at the 5 1/2 month mark now and loving it. She is a joy to be around now and quite frankly, we just can’t get enough of her. Her baths are so pleasant now…she just sits there like a little buddha. She sucks her thumb occasionally at night when she sleeps which we’re not too stoked on….but we’ll deal with that later I guess. She gets to spend more time with her cousins Tre and Zeke these days and they absolutely love her….it is a joy to watch. I wouldn’t be surprised is she tries to boss them around when there a bit older though…..even though they could just sit one her because they’re probably triple her weight. Joelle is taking advantage of emmelia’s hip brace only having to be worn at night now by dressing her up in all the adorable little outfits that we received from friends and family. This past week we introduced her to the bouncy swing, her new high-chair, and eating rice cereal from a spoon. I feel sorry for our next kid who probably isn’t going to get near the photo documentation that emmelia is getting. As far as she is concerned, Mom and Dad are the paparazzi.

Here’s the video of her first spoon feeding….

Jul 13

drama at the pool

ok….so she really is a totally different baby now…except for when she’s at the pool apparently. Wow. She is quite vocal in her protest when even getting near the pool….and I mean getting near the fence to the pool. It was so incredible that people in the pool and around the pool actually stopped their conversations to see what the screaming was all about or if we were beating her or something. It was comical for us….but Joelle had to leave within minutes because it was just too embarrassing. But boy does she look so cute in her little swim suit! Unfortunately the video doesn’t capture the total freak-out scream session…but check it out anyway below…

Brian

Jul 6

Bald, Pasty White, and beautiful

My oh my how things have changed….for the better folks. I know we’ve blogged the challenging times over her first three months and expressed our chaotic and often insane feelings….but a new era is apparently here….hopefully to stay…or at least until she’s 14 when she’ll hate us for no apparent reason and think we’re the stupidest people on the planet. Our screaming, crying, no sleeping, cholic baby has finally morphed into a smiling, happy, gurgling, good-sleeping baby. Still bald and beautiful though.

We can’t believe how she has changed…and yet are SOO grateful that she has. Thank you all for your prayers as they were instrumental. Funny though, as Emmelia has changed so much in her personality….I think Joelle and I have changed even more. It was really rough for us and on our marriage…much more than I ever anticipated….almost as if a wedge had come between us and our blissful union. But, God is good. God is faithful. God is merciful. I believe that He hand picks our children and their personalities out of the millions of sperm that are racing for the finish line and He gives us what we need…not necessarily what we want. Sure, everybody wants an easy baby (and we’re still miffed at all our friends who have easy babies!!!!) but that’s not what the Lord had for us. I look back now and see how He has used this child in the first three months of her life to reveal things in me that need to be changed…..attitudes, priorities, and selfishness…to name a few (not to forget compassion and empathy). Yes, getting married can reveal just how selfish we can be….but it evaporates in comparison to having a child….and we only have one right now! I feel stronger after going through the rough times (and I know there’s plenty more throughout life) and I feel more connected to my wife. Let me write down just how amazing my wife is as a mom. She is SO prepared and organized with Emmelia it makes me joyfully proud to watch her fill her role as mommy. Let me say that I believe a large part of the reason Emmelia has changed is because of Joelle’s dilligence with scheduling her and keeping her on track with naps, feedings, bathing, etc. Joelle has shed many tears with this little girl and been overly frustrated on countless occassions….but she stuck to it with the tenacity and determination only a loving mother could exert even there was no evidence of fruit from her efforts. In the midst of it all, she never stopped cooking dinner and caring for her husband. Truly, God has blessed me

So, it’s been awhile since we’ve posted a blog and a lot has happened as is the case with all of you I’m sure. Joelle started back to work last week after having 4 months off (praise the Lord) and that was a rough one. I can’t imagine being with your daughter for four months 24/7 and then have to go back to work….it broke my heart as a husband and father. Hopefully it will be part-time (2.5 days/week). But, the good news is that God has blessed our lives so much that we have grandma and grandpa Grove watching her and nana and nono Fenolio watching her while Joelle is at work. It is so much fun to watch the grandparents go gaga over her. It is incredibly comforting to know that she is in good hands. In fact, there’s nobody else I’d rather have her be with.

Little Emmelia has certainly found her mouth and shoves both hands in there on a regular basis. Her little gurgles are the cutest thing ever….accompanied by drool. She is turning into the litte slobber monster too as I think her teeth may be coming in soon. My favorite thing so far is when we have family time on Saturday morning and we go in to get her out of the crib and she sees our faces….her smile is priceless…there’s just nothing to compare it to. Any morning for that matter…she is very happy in the mornings. She has laughed two or three times so far and we can’t wait until she figures that out…it is amazing. We try and tickle her but she just looks at us like “what are you doing?”. It is really scary how in-love with her we are…..inexpressable. I can’t get enough of her little body, little sounds, smooth skin, drool. She even snorts when she sleeps! I’m kinda wondering when she’s gonna get some hair (besides the mullet she sportin’ in the back) but I guess that’s normal. She also is quit the little fart machine…taking after daddy of course.

Joelle and I (with nana and nono Fenolio) spent this last weekend up in San Jose for a family wedding. Yep….you guessed it….we flew up with our little monster. Praise God she was an absolute angel….sleeping angel. She did so good the entire weekend. I wish she could understand what a treat was because I’d give her one. Most of these photos are of our trip this last weekend over the 4th of july. The wedding was outdoors in the Santa Cruz mountains surrounded by redwood trees. Joelle and I agree that it was the best setting we’ve ever seen for a wedding.

Anyhow…..here’s some pics for ya’ll…and some video…..(click on the link below and make sure to reduce your window size for the video for better quality)

much love,

Brian