Stick a fork in us, we're done! With our Christmas shopping that is. We have purchased everything that we needed to purchase and wrapped 95% of all our gifts. This was completed a little later than Elena and I typically like but it's over now and we can relax and enjoy the upcoming Christmas Holiday.

My shoulder pain (you know... The gargantuan monkey fist I was complaining about a week or two ago caused from burping my twelve pounder) has moved to my lower back. This was probably caused by my cradling her in my arms as we walked around the mall this weekend. That and the fact that she is now 13 lbs 4 oz probably doesn't help either. I have to start working out or my little Emmalicious is going to send me to an early grave. Needless to say I got an "Icy Hot" around my waist now accompanied by a sporadic wince that divulges my injury every time I twist or bend a certain way.

Emma is doing well on her diet and for the last three nights has taken her last bottle around 12:00AM and then sleeps until around 5:30 AM. She typically wakes up once during the night (with a little cranky cry) to poop, but then falls quickly back to sleep. It has been a welcome change and hopefully one indicative of what's to come.

Last night we gave Emma a Johnson & Johnson Lavender & Chamomile bath at 10:00 PM, which has been rumored to induce a narcoleptic slumber in many a child. Emma slept until 7:00AM. Woo Hooo!!!! Needless to say, Emma will be getting a lot of Lavender baths so you might want to buy some stock in Johnson & Johnson because Emma's going to make you rich!!!

Elena has been able to get her milk production back up by breastfeeding Emma (as opposed to pumping and bottle- feeding).

Later this week we will be taking Emma to the Doctor for her first set of shots. I am nervous about her getting her immunitizations at such an early age because of nightmare reactions I have read about and seen on TV. I won't go into the details because honestly, I don't even want to think about them. We have talked to Emma's Pediatrician about postponing them until she is bigger and stronger but it appears as though the benefits outweigh the risks. We are learning that as parents, you have to make decisions with regard to the care for your child on a daily basis. In the end you have to ask questions, do your research, and make the best informed decision you can make and then be prepared to live with the consequences. It is a huge responsibility that weighs heavily on ones shoulders, as the last thing you want to do is fail your child who has entrusted you with their life.

Emma is starting to smile more. In the past when I kissed her, she would squirm and complain, even if I was clean shaven. Now when Elena and I kiss her, there is a good chance she will smile, like she knows she is being loved. OK, perhaps the picture to the left is not a good example, but she really does smile sometimes... She is getting more and more interactive as well. Before she had more of a deer caught in headlights stare as she took in the world around her. Now she is starting to focus on individual items and discover things that have always been there, like the mirror on her playmat.

Emma will also do things like block out the light with her little hands if brought into a bright room when she is sleepy. It cracks us up because she literally tucks her head in and places both hands on either side of her head like little horse blinders.

It has also been nice to see the family take such an active interest in Emma's life. We live far from our family and in the past seldom had visitors. Now, a weekend can't go by without someone offering to come by to visit Emma. It really makes us feel good to know that Emma is loved so much by our family.

Have a great week and a Merry Christmas from our family to yours.