We're Proud Parents... Deal with it.

We were looking for a good reason to post and, frankly, we've got nothing. So without further ado, here's some unadulterated Emma Grace loving:

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Exhibit A: Come on. How am I supposed to deny this face? Exhibit A is also further reinforcement that we don't have a stone cold sandy on our hands. She does actually smile all the time.

Exhibit B: A great shot by our friend (and incredible Aunt!) Carly. I pretty much put Emma in this little dress as often as Kelly will let me get away with it. I delight in this little one.

Exhibit C: Emma is rocking the bumbo. This is seriously a great invention. Emma loves it. We also discovered she loves pictures of people. In this instance, she's staring and smiling at her Momma and Aunt Caitlin. Nevermind that Emma is right in front of the knife block and leaning precariously close to the edge of the counter. We're good parents, we swear.


Exhibit D: Emma and her daddy went for their first run together. Emma's not sure about this whole running thing, though she was kind enough to indulge me as I ran around Quail Hill and made it a point to run past people. I'm kinda sorta proud of her.


Exhibit E: 4 months already. This weekend also marked the 1 year anniversary to the day that the ER doctors told us we were going to lose the baby and Kelly should go home, "relax and have a glass of wine". Emma says "Irvine Regional can bite me."

Angels Game with the (future) Clemens

We had a great time with Teri and Jacob at the Angel's game on Friday night. The Angels lost (as always when we are in attendance), but we enjoyed the Beach Pit BBQ (sweet sweet pulled pork) as well as Mormon night in our section. Seriously, is there a reason why Mormons are all good looking? Did the caffeine give me the back hair?


The other image is my new favorite thing to do with Emma. Though this image doesn't show it, she just smiles when I balance her like this in my hand.


Contrary to popular belief from our documentation efforts to date, Emma does actually smile, you just have to sneak up on her.

Family Portrait

Our latest family portrait...created by Pops.

Perspective

This weekend was significant:  I think I can count on one hand the amount of memorial services I've been to in my life.  This weekend I went to two.  On Saturday we went to a memorial service for my Aunt Marla, who passed away last week after battling ovarian cancer.  Her life was marked by joy, service and generosity.  Today I went to the memorial service for Joey Johnson, a friend who was like a brother to me in high school and whom the Lord suddenly took home at the age of 28.  Joey was adventurous, hilarious, and spontaneous.  He lived his life as though he knew it would be short - and filled it with memories, travels, and love for others.

Andrew and I have had some significant conversations this weekend - what it means to make the most of every day, the purpose of life, and how we teach Emma to live in light of eternity.  Our lives feel remarkably different today than they did even a week ago.   We don't have all the answers, but as my Uncle John wrote in his last letter to my Aunt Marla, "The road to the Lord's house is often bumpy...but it is the right road." 

3 Months

Emma turns 3 months!

A Long Weekend

Emma looking cool before her 3 month portrait.

Emma and her friend Lucy.

Taking advantage of the warm evening by having dinner on outdoors on our new patio set. I think the point of this image is to show off the patio set...Emma and I just happened to be there.

Kelly and Aunt Jen

Emma's 3-month portrait. I sometimes wonder if she gets tired of having the camera in her face. We stripped her down and told her we wouldn't put her clothes back on unless she was cute. Fortunately she was compliant and the shoot didn't last long.

Emma Says Hello

It's no secret that Emma has her father wrapped around her finger. She pretty much could have named the price of her wedding after our evening with her on the couch. Luckily (for my wallet) she can only make noises like a cat.
P.S. Is it just me or does she say "Mama" around second :32?

First Mother's Day

I was so blessed to celebrate my first Mother's Day this last weekend. Emma brings Andrew and I so much joy and I love being her Mama. Andrew planned a great weekend, including breakfast at The Filling Station in Orange.

At The Filling Station.

I couldn't decide what to get so I ordered a piece of Hawaiian French Toast and a Blueberry Cornmeal Pancake...oh, and a Mocha too. But they ended up giving me two entire orders so we had leftovers. Calories don't count on Mother's Day, right?

Did we tell you Emma is a child prodigy? Here she is presenting me with her Mother's Day card.

Bonding with Sophie Lake and 2 Months

This is my favorite image from the day Emma got to know Sophie Lake...she's almost 4 months younger than Sophie and about the same size. From the look on her face, she's not happy about it.

Emma turned 2 months! Thanks to the Cleary's for the clever sign idea.

Aunt Nell

Emma's Aunt Janell (Andrew's sister) came to visit this week. She had some sweet time with little Emmers including some of the biggest smiles we've seen yet. Janell introduced us to the wonders of raw food including raw cheese (yum) and kelp noodles (not so yum). We went out for Ethiopian Food for her birthday. Though nobody's knocking down the door to eat their food (the place was empty) and they have zero competition (only Ethiopian restaurant in the OC), it was actually really good and I would even recommend it. Emma is already missing her Aunt Nell!

Spring Party...We're Growing!!

Last night was the Jones' Annual Spring Pot Luck, hosted by the Kennedys. It was so fun to celebrate the Spring season and our GROWING group of friends!
Thanks for the picture, Meghan.

That Face...

Daddy's Turn with Emma in front of the Camera

We know, we know: Overkill on the photoshoots. What do you expect when our daughter's Grandpa (Pops) is an incredible photographer? Emma may be a little fed up with it as well as evidenced by image 3 where she pees on me in protest.

Emma's One Month Photoshoot

Yesterday was Emma's second photoshoot! I feel so spoiled having one of the country's best portrait artists as a father...check out some of the pics! He has recently opened an Orange County gallery and has begun creating portraits for clients down here...having a granddaughter is motivating them to make the move south! Check out his site at www.brandesportrait.com.

I can't believe Emma has grown so much already.

Our First Night Out

Last Saturday was our first night out! Our friends, Steve and Victoria, got married at the Orange County Museum of Art in Newport Beach, so we took the opportunity to have Granny babysit Emma so we could enjoy an evening away. The wedding was beautiful and we had an incredible time just the two of us, though we were anxious to get back to Emma at the end of the night. Emma was on her best behavior for Granny...we wish she would do the same for us!

Along Came Emma - The Major Motion Picture

By Popular Demand.

We're in the business of meeting needs (literally with Emma). The people want pictures, we give them pictures:

Our little one rocking out to her hearing test. I like to think she was listening to Angels and Airwaves. The nurse liked to think she was listening to beeping. Either way she passed. Booyah.

Auntie Jen (and Lucy on the way) were our first visitors at the hospital. It was so great for her to come home with us and show us the ropes of all things practical when it comes to taking care of an infant.

Emma's first wound as inflicted upon her by her loving mother during feeding. That'll teach her to talk back...

We decided to start the indoctrination early. She WILL love a hairy man one day (though not necessarily on his head). Say it with me, Emma: "Real men don't need sweaters".

No story. Just plain cute.

Emma Grace Hartman

Our little warrior princess arrived at 10:22am this morning. She weighed in at 8.5 pounds and measured 21.75 inches (Kelly is currently accepting your sympathies for the labor). It was as it is always described: truly a magical experience. Our little sweetheart is healthy and doing well. She was even gracious enough to fill her pants and allow her father to change his first diaper this evening (a servant already...). Kelly was a champion and did incredible. I was so proud of her. We are still at the hospital as she recovers this evening (God Bless Free Wi-Fi from Kaiser. I feel myself "thriving" with each page I access). We'll post more pictures later this week as well. Thank you all for your blog comments, texts, phonecalls, and prayers. The encouragement was incredible, particularly for Kelly. We're so excited for you all to meet our daughter.

It doesn't hurt having a father-in-law that is a professional photographer.

Coming On Strong

Two people called us regarding the last post so we decided to keep this live blogging going.

Soooooo... we're still at home.  But contractions are near 5 minutes a part, and are definitely increasing in strength.  It's looking like Kelly might have serious back labor which is a bummer...

7 Minutes Apart and Counting

For all of you that check our blog on the hour (read: nobody), Kelly is officially having contractions, now 7 minutes apart.  Please provide any solutions to helping these bad boys speed up to 3 minutes apart so we can get this show on the road.