Just Three Words...

NOT YET, MAMA!!

I had my 16 week doctor's appointment on Tuesday!  They'd barely gotten me to the exam room before I started rambling on to Dr. Anderson and his nurse, Emily (whom I lovingly refer to as Emmy's namesake), just how curious we are as to the sex of our second baby.  It's kind of a loaded question these days to ask us how we are doing.  That's when Dr. Anderson actually ASKED me if I wanted him to do an impromptu ultrasound!  I routinely have to wait 45+ minutes for my appointments, making me keenly aware of their jam-packed schedule, which made this offer such an incredible gift.  I nearly dissolved into gratitude tears! I didn't hesitate when he asked me if Nick would be ok with not being present.  I assured Dr. Anderson that Nick would just be hugely appreciative just to know the sex of our baby, and would be just as grateful to see a picture souvenir.  

So, Dr. Anderson got to work.  I'm not sure why I felt inclined to hold my breath during the procedure.  Perhaps because I somehow believed that the the rise and fall of my belly could affect the wand positioning, and therefore clarity of the images, and hinder our ability to visualize Baby's nether regions.  Well, obviously my logic was off.  After 10 solid minutes of looking,  I was mildly blue in the face and it was clear that Baby Horn was in no way interested in quenching our curiosity.  Our big ultrasound is scheduled for 10am on Wednesday, August 23rd...Which feels like eternity!!

Additional pictures of the littlest Horn:

Taunting me with a wave.

Hi Baby!

Boot shot

Scripps College Gear!

Emmy feels so lucky to be loved by a Scrippsie...Thank you Aunt Kerry, it finally fits!! 

(We love you, too!!!)

19 months!

The Stats: (after a very belated 18 month well baby check-up)
Height: 33.5 inches, 87th percentile
Weight: 26.6 pounds, 73rd percentile
Head Circumference: 48 centimeters, 83rd percentile


Emmy's words:
Emmy
doggie (she's impressively fine-tuned her bark to match those of two great danes that live in the yard behind ours.)
miiiiaa (as in a high-pitched meow for kitty cat)
Elmo
Abby (as in Abby Cadabby)
off (pronounced "awe"-and then blowing as if extinguishing a candle)
on
Please (only with a great deal of prodding)
Thank You
cup
shoes
"all done" (pronounced "all-doe")
"here you go" (pronounced "ear-go")
more
cookie
Andy
happy
"ready, set, go" (more like GO! and then she starts running)
Mama
Dada
cheese
turkey
light
fly
fan
phone (pronounced "phoe")
uh-oh (still a staple)
car
book
bath (pronounced b-a)
water (pronounced wa-wa)
eye
ear
nose
hair
brush
walk
ice
hot
MINE! (Ugggghhhhh!!!!!)
When we repeat back the word she wants us to hear, she always nods vigorously with big eyes, it's as if she's saying "bingo! You got it!"  It's very sweet. :)

Emmy's favorite past times:
dancing (particularly to the honky-tonk music clips on her Leap Frog refrigerator barn and animal magnet toy)
listening to music (she loves doing the motions to "if you're happy and you know it," "the itsy bitsy spider," and "head, shoulder, knees and toes.")
playing chase
reading stories (Or flipping through the pages. Favorite stories are "Each Peach Pear Plum" and "Roar of a Snore")
typing on the computer
"talking" on the phone (unless someone is on the other line.)
cooking with Mama (especially stirring)
taking Molly and Darla for walks
leading her mother on wild goose chases

Favorite foods:
hummus
cucumber
carrots
applesauce with cinnamon sugar
cheerios
blackberries
raspberries
cheese
turkey
spaghetti and meatballs
homemade italian wedding soup

Raiding Mommy & Daddy's closet.

Forgetting her table manners.

Obsessed with my Uggs.

Watching T.V. in her birthday suit.

Impromptu swim session in the backyard after church.

Emmy stole the bag of Cheerios and took off running with them under her arm as if it was a football...It was hilarious.

I thought she deserved a Cheerio snack after all the effort she put into retrieving them.

Her fourth helping of Italian Wedding Soup.

Just One Word...

We are beyond thrilled to announce that we are expecting Baby Horn #2 on or around January 16th, 2012!  

14 weeks today!!! :)

LANCER 6, ANCIENT

Nick relinquished his command of Bravo Company, 5th Battalion, 101 Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Aviation Division (also known as the "Lancers") on Tuesday, June 14th at 11:00am.  There was a moving presentation given in his honor and an outpouring of hand shakes and hugs.  It was a warm ending to the past, very tumultuous, 18 months.  The time has left us both far more grizzled, but with many necessary life lessons under our belts.  Nick has since returned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and is holding down an administrative staff job.  It takes him away from the action (much to his chagrin,) but his work schedule is far more regular and conducive to a positive family routine.  We (by that I mean I) were thrilled to learn that he is only required one 30 day deployment each year; a reality that we haven't known in the past 3 years.  This new chapter already promises to be a good one!  We are actively engaged in conversations contemplating our future in the army and looking into what other direction God may have in store for our little family.  Of course, only He knows which way it will go.  For now, we have one year left of Nick's military commitment (which will make his total 10 years in-halfway to retirement) and an awful lot to decide before it's over.

Stay-cation

We had a long Fourth of July Weekend before Nick began his new job back in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.  We did our best to catch up on a few lingering house projects (unpacking from the deployment and painting the shed) while Emmy napped and enjoyed a few fun excursions in her wakeful periods.   We had a picnic at Kentucky Lake, played at the park, had a special breakfast at the Pancake Pantry (as recommended by Adam on Man vs. Food) and explored Belle Meade Mansion.

Swinging at the park.

Pancake Pantry...Emmy was as wiggly as ever, I've never eaten pancakes so quickly before in my life.  She is rapidly becoming our least favorite restaurant companion. :-P

Sawing logs like her Mama and Dada.

Petting the horses at Belle Meade Plantation in Nashville.

Dada's games are far more entertaining than perusing the historic venue.

Perfecting her half-extention stunt.

The lake isn't pretty but felt like bath water, we couldn't keep Emmy out of it.

Chocoholic

I introduced Emmy to my latest food infatuation, Nutella.  She loves it.