Birthday Pics

I'm a horrible blogger!!!!!

I know it's been forever and I'm soooo sorry!!!! Things have just been really busy!

Lets see, I haven't written since June so a lot has happened!

Emma: My beautiful little girl! She turned ONE on 10/31! I can't believe an entire year has gone by already!!! She is pretty much running all over the place now. She is such a happy baby. She LOVES music and can't get enough of it. Almost every toy she has is musical. She is very smart, or at least we think so. If you show her how to do something once or twice she can do it on her own after that, with most things that is. Hopefully this will follow with potty training. Not sure when we will tackle that bridge. Let's see...... she's eating everything in sight these days and really loves everything. Fruit, veggies, she'll eat it all. Except broccoli. She's not a fan of that. On Thanksgiving I gave her some and she spit it out and then rubbed it off her tongue, it was hysterical. She is 100% a daddy's girl, as she should be. He gets home from work and she runs full speed at him like she hasn't seen him in years. It's a beautiful thing! She's saying a lot these days and learning all the time. She truly is the light of our lives!!!

Eric and I: we are doing fine. Same old same old for. us. Eric's currently looking for part time work someplace until summer when he can cut lawns again for some extra cash. I'm still at Unity House, and will be until we move to South Carolina, whenever that may be.........

Maggie: She's 8 months old now and a moose!!!! She's HUGE and needs obedience school. Maybe when the weather gets better we will take her. She's wonderful with Emma and Emma loves her!

Christmas is coming and we aren't doing any gifts this year, just a few for Emma. She really doesn't need anything and we don't have the extra anyways. She got soo much for her birthday we haven't even opened everything yet. I send the duplicate stuff to my parents house. Not that she's there that often but it's nice not to have to travel with toys. The holidays are hard for Eric and I as it's our first ones with out Ron. I try and hold it together but find myself bursting into tears at the oddest moments.

Eric and I have our first New Year's Eve plans in the last 6 years!! We are going to the Crowne Plaza in Albany. They are having a New Years Eve bash for only $209, that includes your room, dinner, a DJ and breakfast. I thought it was a good deal co pared to the other places I called at $500. Drinks aren't included but I'm not a big drinker anyway. So i surprised Eric with that the other day and he's really excited! It should be fun!

We are not preventing another baby. I don't like to say trying because that gets people's hopes us, including mine. It will happen when it's suppose to happen. I will try to keep you posted of that situation....

Well, that's really it..

I will try to blog more often, if anyone even reads this anymore.............................

And Maggie makes four....

Hello Hello!!! It's been very busy in the Rodford household these days. We added a new little girl to our family on 6/6... Her name is Maggie and she is a beautiful 2 month old chocolate lab. Emma just loves her and Maggie is learning the ropes of our house. As far as Emma goes, she is crawling all over the place. She just loves to go! She is attempting to pull herself up on things and this is how we got our first boo boo. She wacked her head off of the hard wood floors trying to pull herself up. Nice bruise, and she's had another since then. We went to Opening Day at the Valley Cats on Friday. She seemed to enjoy it. She slept for about an hour towards the end but woke up in time for the last inning, even though they lost. Eric and I no longer work weekends this summer so we enjoyed our first full weekend together. It was wonderful having full family days! I guess that's it for now. I will post some pics soon.

6 Months!!!

Well, it's very hard for me to believe this but my little peanut is 6 months old already! Where did the time go? At her six month check she is weighing in at 15.05 pounds and she is 25 1/4 inches long. Her doctor says she's a little on the skinny side but nothing to worry about, trust me, this girl eats. We started her on rice cereal and applesauce, which she loved! Then we moved to oatmeal cereal and peaches, again loved it. Today we will do bananas, that's if Eric doesn't get to them first. she's rolling all over the place. Still hasn't sat up on her own yet but she tries. Emma is sleeping from 7-7:30 at night to anywhere from 6-6:30 in the morning. It seems as though the later she goes down at night the earlier she's up. Weird! Anyways, she's wonderful and I"m having so much fun watching her grow and learn.

As for me that's a different story. I spent the entire day yesterday running to different doctors for this ungodly pain in my abdomen. At first the docs thought it was my gall bladder so off to ultrasound I went. Then back to the docs for them to tell me it's not my gall bladder. Then I had to go get a cat scan done. If you've never had one, let me fill you in. You have to drink this disgusting stuff and then wait an hour for it to get into your system. Then they give you and IV of some other stuff and they do the cat scan. so after that I was exhausted and went home. Mind you, the only thing I can put in my body without it hurting is water so I have had nothing to drink. The doctor said it should be a very strong out brake of indigestion but this doesn't seem right. She gave me nexium and hydrocodone to help with the pain. So i took the nexium which did nothing and then I took 2 hyrdo's and was in lala land but the pain was still there. It wasn't coming in the jabs as much but it was still there. The doctor called me back and said that I have a cyst on my ovary which is about the size of a golf ball but that's all that the cat scan revealed. I guess the cyst will burst whenever my left ovary ovulates so it's nothing to worry about. But still nothing as to why I am in this pain. she took me out of work until at least Wednesday, or until the pain is gone. Hopefully it will be gone soon cus this sucks!

I guess that's all for now. I will keep you posted.

Rolling Machine!!!

Well, Emma is now rolling all over. Her sitter said she has done it their but Eric and I had yet to witness her rolling over. Last night we had put her on the floor to play like always and she was trying to get a toy that was just out of reach. We sat and watched her for a minute and before we knew it she was on her belly. She got her toy and rolled back to her back. She is still not a fan of tummy time but is staying on her belly for longer periods of time. Now she just finds it fun I guess. Eric says she's growing up too fast and he can't believe how big she is getting. We go for her 6 month check soon and it's amazing to me that it has been that long since she was born already. Anyways, that's the latest with Emma.

A few more.....

As promised..............

5 months 11 days......

I know I am such a horrible blogger. I need to put up current pics of Emma but when I am home I just want to spend time with her. It will get done, maybe this weekend I will put some up.

Emma is weighing in at 14 lbs. 14 oz. the other day when we went to see mom. She is still only on formula. We go to the doctors on April 29 for her 6 month, yes 6month, check. We will start giving her food then. Her daddy gave her a little taste of Snowman's vanilla soft ice cream the other day. She liked that. And her Uncle Mike gave her a little taste of frosting last month and she liked that too. Hopefully she will also enjoy fruits and veggies! Emma is totally in love with her jolly jumper! She thinks it's the best invention in the world! She spends hours in it. She is trying really really hard to sit up on her own. now that it has been nice out we have been going for walks and she seems to enjoy them for a little while and then gets bored and falls asleep. She's such a wonderful baby. She normally goes to bed around 7ish and I wake her at 5:30. she's happy all the time. I just love being a mom. It's such an amazing feeling!

Not too much else really going on. We are looking forward to Myrtle Beach in September. That's about it. Same old same old.

Hopefully I will get a chance to post pics this weekend. Until then.................

Recent Events

Well, it has been a crazy, sad, exhausting few weeks here. I posted a few blogs about Eric's dad, as you all know. I think I just needed to get everything out at the moment. Anyways, we are all holding up pretty good. We got his ashes yesterday so now we have a little bit of him with us at the house. Rosie has the bulk of him. Not that he was a big man by any means but he weighs a lot in ashes! Rosie said here box is really heavy. I guess we are trying to make light of the situation. We just keep reminiscing about him and how much he was in love with Emma. I know if he has any say in it our next baby will be a boy. And Eric has a name picked out already if it is....by the way we are NOT pregnant! We are just hoping for a boy when the time comes, when Emma is 1 1/2 years old or so.

So we were trying to find a place for Rosie because she wasn't very fond of staying in her and Ron's apartment. She wanted us to add on to our house, which would be fine if we had the room, but there really isn't any room to add on. Rosie had mentioned when all of this happened that she would like to find a nice trailer and buy that. So yesterday we got the penny saver in the mail and Eric found two for sale in the little trailer park in Brunswick. So we called on them and the same guy owns both. We went and looked at one of them last night and it would be perfect for Rosie. She currently lives in Rensselaer so moving to Brunswick would make her closer to us in Lansingburgh and closer to my parents. Eric and I are hoping she decides to buy it. It needs some TLC inside like painting and things like that but what doesn't these days. It's a 1970 trailer. It has brand new windows and doors and a brand new roof. It has a huge deck and a shed in the back. It's just perfect for her. We would have to show her how to get around because she doesn't know the area but that would be easy! So, keep your fingers crossed and I will keep you posted.

Emma is doing some new and improved things lately. She almost rolls over from back to belly. She tries sooo hard she gets mad. It's so funny. Her newest thing is to try and blow raspberries. It's the cutest thing ever. We got her picture taken with the Easter bunny on Friday. She didn't cry or anything but she wasn't in the smiling mood either. I think it's because she had just woken up. Either way, they turned out really cute. Emma is still sleeping through the night. Last night we were at mom and dad's so her schedule was a little off. she ate at 8:30 at their house and we left there are 9pm and she was already sleeping. she stayed asleep in the car and I just put her to bed as soon as we got home and she got up at 7:30 this morning. We had one night last week where she got up at 1am to eat but went right back to bed afterwords. She really is a wonderful baby. Eric and I are afraid the next on will be a terror. Which it probably will but we will love it just the same!

I can't believe Easter is next weekend! We are very excited to be going to my cousin Kari's. We had such a great time last year!

I guess that's all for now. I am at work and had some down time so I can't post any pics here. I will though, I promise!

Numbness.......

Well, I'm sitting her by myself and so many things are going through my head. Ron's wake was Saturday and it was SO hard. Eric is at his buddies just to get his mind of everything and have some other support. Rosie decided to go home and she needed to be by herself and try to "relax" in her apartment. So I'm here, with Emma sleeping and crying all by myself. I don't understand why God decided to take Ron now. I know everything happens for a reason but I just don't understand. We had so many plans. He was suppose to be here to watch Emma grow and to have another grand-baby. I know it was going to happen someday, but he was only 58. 58 that's it! That's not long enough to live. He loved Emma soo much, and it sucks that she will never remember him. All she'll know is what we tell her of him. I feel soo bad for Rosie. I can't imagine losing my husband. I don't know what I would do. She has Eric and me and my family and her two boys but it's different. And then there is his family...... I won't get into that but let's just say I hope I don't have to see them for a LONG time!! His family is all drama. I know I'm just rambling but like I said, I'm here by myself and I just needed to get a few things out.

Taken Too Soon

Well, yesterday was one of the worst days of my life. My beloved father-in-law passed away unexpectedly. Ron had recently lost a toe to diabetes and was recovering from that. Eric took him to the doctors yesterday to get the foot checked and the doctor said everything looked ok. After the appointment Ron started throwing up and saying his sugar was low. So Eric got him some juice and some glucose tabs but Ron was still throwing up. When they got back to Ron and Rosie's, Ron said he was hungry so Rosie started to make him lunch. Then Rosie said she heard gargling coming from Ron and he was unresponsive. Rosie called 911, he wasn't breathing but had a pulse. They took Ron to Memorial Hospital where they tried to revive him but were unsuccessful. That was one of the worst phone calls I ever got. I think I am numb at this point and I am trying to stay strong for Eric but it's soo hard. They are doing an autopsy today and we will find out the cause of his death. Until then, I don't really know what do to.

4 months!

Well, my precious baby girl is four months old already! God how the time flies!! It blows me away to think of how fast she is growing. We went for her four month check on 2/26/08. She is weighing in at 12 pounds 7 ounces and she is 24 inches long. She got three more shots, which she hated and yet again I cried! Her doctor doesn't want her on any food yet. I guess that's okay because she is still sleeping through the night so I can't complain. The minute she stops sleeping through the night she will go on cereal though. He says she is growing out of her little heart murmur and it's almost gone. her doctor says she is just perfect.... which I already knew! haha. Anyways, Emma goes back the end of April which she will get more shots and finally get put on food. I can't get her to like tummy time. She absolutely HATES it. She will take it for a few minutes and then cry to go back onto her back. I keep trying though. I'm afraid she will fall "behind". She hasn't rolled over yet. She almost did yesterday a few times from back to belly. I guess I will just keep trying. She LOVES to talk too now. It's soo funny to listen to her change the pitch in her voice. I just sit and listen to her for hours!

We booked our vacation to Myrtle this year with the family! I can't wait to see Emma on the beach. We are going the second week of the two week trip for everyone else. Eric couldn't get two weeks off in a row. So we will be down the first week of September. Emma will be 10 months old by the time we go so it will be A LOT of fun to see her in the sand.

Anyways, I'm at work right now so I will post some pics later so you can see how big she's getting.

3 months

Error, she's 3 months old. Sorry

23 Moths today!

i can't believe my little girl is 3 montsh old today. Where has the time gone? Befire we know it she'll be crwling all over the place. I posted yesterday of what she is doing these days so here are some pics of miss Emma on her birthday!

Our Princess!

some more................

13 weeks....

I can't believe that my little Emma is 13 weeks already! Tomorrow she will be three months! Where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday I was still pregnant and now she's three months old already. It just amazes me. She is such a wonderful baby! She normally goes to bed between 7:30 and 8:30pm and I wake her up at 5:30am to get ready to leave. She is laughing now and she likes to "talk" to you when you talk to her. She has most control over her neck. She moves it all around and holds it up on her own but sometimes I think she gets lazy and doesn't want to hold it up anymore.

She is getting over a little cold and it's now just a cough here and there. When I took her to the doctors for her cold she weighed 9 lbs. 7.5 oz. So she's getting there! She is still in mostly newborn stuff.... diapers and clothes. A few of her 0-3 months stuff fits. I think we might go Friday and get her ears pierced. I'm going to call a piercing place and ask the age to make sure she is old enough. I can't wait.

Sunday will be her first day with just her daddy. I can't wait to see how many phone calls I get at work. It should be interesting.

Well, I guess that's it. I will post of pics of her tomorrow so everyone can see what she looks like at 3 months!

One more....

11 weeks today!

I can't believe my perfect little girl is 11 weeks already. It just amazes me. She is laughing out-loud on occasion now. She goo's and Ga's when you talk to her like she is trying to talk back. She is still sleeping through the night... yippee! (Sorry Kari!) It's just amazing. I hate that I had to go back to work but it makes me appreciate her even more. I just love her sooo much! Anyways, she is mostly formula because I am just not producing enough, hardly any actually. When she is with me I will nurse her and then she normally takes 2-4 ounces after and she is taking 6 ounces at eh sitters because I can't pump enough to keep up with her. When I pump I am only getting 1-2 ounces. She has taken to the formula just fine so it's OK. I took her to see my mom yesterday and with her clothes on she weighed in at 9 lbs. 15.5 oz. I couldn't believe it! She is getting so big.

Here are some recent pics.......

The First Day....

Well, i went to work for the first time on Wednesday. It was awful! I cried from the minute I woke up that morning until I picked her up at 12:15 that afternoon. She was fine and does well at the sitters but it was the worst feeling to have to leave your precious baby with someone you barely know just to go to work. Thursday was much better and Friday she was with my Mom so that was great. Monday I start full days, 7-3 so I am sure the first few weeks of that will be horrific! Emma seems to be okay with it though. Mothers should definitely not have to go back to work so soon and should definitely get full pay for the time they are out. The "disability check" was a joke. What can you do with $150 a week....... not much let my tell you.

Anyways, I am still trying to continue to breastfeed but she normally takes 2-4 oz. of formula after nursing on me. I only have 4oz of breast milk pumped and I am not sure how I am going to pump anymore. She has been taking 6 oz. at the sitters. I am thinking I might just send her to the sitters with formula and when she is with me I will try and nurse her. A women at my mom's work said to pump at work whenever it would be time for her to eat. I will ask them if I can but pumping takes and hour and I would have to pump twice so I am not sure they would go for that but I will ask. I think I am at the pint where if I have to go to just formula I will be ok with that..... Thanks to you Kari's inspirational and lifting comment! She has gotten just breast milk for the first 9 weeks of her life. I guess that's better then nothing. And I will do the same with the next baby, I will nurse until my milk supply declines.

Emma is still sleeping through the night. She has ever since 12/21/07. She laughs at you now, not out loud but almost. She finds it extremely funny when she poops and I call her a stinky girl. She's just growing so fast and she is just soo beautiful!

It just amazes me how one little girl can change your entire world in the blink of an eye. All at once you are not living for you anymore, you are living for them and what makes them happy and safe and secure. How all at once, you would do absolutely Anything for this wonderful little girl. How they grow and change every day and it sucks that you can't be with them 24/7. But somehow at 9 1/2 weeks old, they know who you are. And she is the definition of unconditional love.

Tomorrow's the SAD day....

First off.................... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, tomorrow is my first day back to work and I am stressing. I do not want to go back for anything! It would be really nice if one of us won the lotto so I wouldn't have to go back. I'm not asking for a lot, just enough to pay everything off so I don't have to work. It really sucks. And because I have been stressing so much the last few days my milk supply isn't as full. Emma's first and last feedings of the day seem to make her full, she's still sleeping through the night and then after breakfast will sleep another few hours. But her feedings during the day are not making her full. She will eat on me for 20 minutes each side and still be hungry. So I have been giving her 2 ounces of formula if she acts hungry after nursing and that seems to make her full. It really sucks because it makes me feel like I can't provide for her and then I cry. Which I am sure doesn't help the situation. I might do 1/2 days for the first week or so. Just until I get used to it again. It seems like I haven't been there in forever but then again I feel like I am leaving Emma too soon.

Anyways, I will let you know how it goes.