Tuesday, January 29, 2008

New Toys & Sister Time


Emma tried out the Baby Einstein exersaucer that belonged to big sister Aubrie first! She didn't know quite what to think at first as you can see from the 2 above pics, but now she loves it and spends up to 15-20 minutes at a time playing with all the fun toys on it.
This is Emma and her Poppy! Aren't they sweet together?
Here is another toy that we recently had Emma try out - the Jumperoo. Aubrie spent many hours in this thing! There were times that I thought Aubrie would jump right out of it! Emma wasn't too thrilled, but I think she will grow into it when her feet can touch the floor better and she figures out how to jump.
"You mean this thing plays music too?"

FINALLY - a picture of her smiling!
Big sis and little sis playing together! Aubrie had to make sure Emma knew what everything did! =)
Michael thinks this picture has a little too much cleavage! My mom made Kaitlyn a bunch of dress up clothes when she was around 3 & 4 and Aubrie has discovered the trunk full of dresses and accessories. She is always asking to play "dress up"!


I just love this one! I know these pictures are out of order!
Again, can't seem to get both looking at the same time, much less smiling together!
"Mom, she's choking me!"



I realized when I was taking the pics of Emma in her bed that I never posted pictures of her nursery. Mimi designed and made everything which makes it so special to us! This is the blanket that she made her and you have to look close to see her name embroidered on it. I think this may be her "security blanket". It is very soft on the side shown and silk on the other side. At first, I just wanted to use it for decoration, but decided that it didn't matter! She loves the way it feels and sleeps with it everynight!
Mom (Mimi) made the quilt on the wall and Kristi Garrett made the letters and they were a gift from the hostesses at my shower! Both just make the room look so feminine and sweet. With Aubrie, I used neutral colors that could go boy or girl, but I wanted to go ALL OUT WITH THE PINK for Emma since I knew that she would be my last and God obviously intended me to have lots of girly girls running around the house! I used to despise pink, but now I love it (I don't think I have a choice in the matter - looks like pink is going to stay for awhile)!
These tennis shoes were a baby gift from the Haroff family and this was the first time she wore them. They just made the outfit! Thanks, Haroffs!




We had fun last night hot glueing 100 DIFFERENT buttons on a hat for Kaitlyn. Today is the 100th day of school at NL and they all had to decorate a hat with "100 somethings". It was fun and she loved it. We dyed it pink too ofcourse! =)
Here is Emma with one of her favorite babysitters - Lexie!
And again with her other fav. babysitter Langdon and Uncle Mark!





No the picture is not upside down - they are! They were laughing hysterically!
Daddy and Aubrie
More giggling sisters!







Tuesday, January 15, 2008

NEWS!!!

This was taken on the little playground at Children's Hospital yesterday. That hospital was so kid friendly that Aubrie never even knew it was a hospital and never asked questions about Emma or anything! She just thought she was at an amusement park.
We ate at On the Border on the way home and this is her new face.
How could anything be wrong with this precious baby?! I just want to squish those little cheeks!
She is so cute when she laughs!
Aubrie has discovered earrings and purses - well not discovered, but has just become interested in them. She is such a priss!


We got Emma's CT scan results back this p.m. and she does NOT have hydrocephalus!!!! Praise the Lord! She DOES have an abnormally big head, but we knew that and we LOVE that big head!!! Thanks to everyone that has been praying about this! We are so thrilled! God is so good!




Monday, January 14, 2008

We're back from Dallas

We went for Emma's CT scan this a.m. and everything went fine. Everyone at Children's Hospital is wonderful and we felt so good about being there around so many friendly people who obviously care about each child they see!!! She didn't have to be sedated so that was good! She couldn't eat after 4 a.m. this morning, so that wasn't so fun, but she did great with that too! They said that we should have results within 24-48 hrs. through our doctor here - so now the hardest part yet - waiting!!! Please continue to pray that everything is okay with her little head and that this is all over with!!! Michael and I can feel everyone's prayers and are so greatful to have so many wonderful friends and family! We will post something as soon as we know. I'll post some pictures soon!

Friday, January 11, 2008

Quick Update!

Thanks so much for your words of encouragement through email and phone! We found out that her appt. to have the test is this Mon. the 14th. Now everyone can pray for her on that specific day especially! Thanks again and God bless!

Needed Prayers!

The McCarter family needs your prayers! Emma is now 4 1/2 months old. At 2 her routine check up, her head measured 40 cm. At her 4 month check up, it measured 45 cm and by the growth chart, that is way too much. Well, we weren't too worried b/c Aubrie did the same thing - only her's was from 6-8 months (however her head growth leveled back out by 9 months). We attributed it to the fact that Michael's and my sides of the family have a history of "big heads". He wanted to check Emma back at 5 months and measure again. I took her yesterday (Thursday) b/c she has a cold. We found out that she has double ear infections. What we didn't expect to hear is that her head had grown more and her soft spot appears to have pressure. This is enough evidence to suspect hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain). The doctor isn't too worried that she has it b/c she is an alert and smiling baby who is right on track with everything else. But there are enough symptoms to rule it out at this time. They will do a CT scan in the next 1-2 weeks to test her for it. They don't do these on infants here in Paris b/c they have to be sedated. We will have to go to Dallas to Children's Hospital to have the test done. If she does have it, they will refer us to a neurosurgeon to discuss putting in a shunt to drain the fluid off. We hope and pray ofcourse that the test will be negative and we won't even have to go there, but naturally we are concerned and scared out of our minds. We are trusting in God that she will be fine and are placing it totally in His hands. Please pray for her little head and ask God to be with her! Thanks so much! God bless each of you! - Lindsay McCarter

Sunday, January 6, 2008

Happy New Year!!!

The McCarter's went to the Kerby's house for their annual Wahoo tournament on New Year's Eve. Fun times!
Here is Aubrie and her friend Kate
and with her first crush - Ross; she calls him Rossy! How cute is her face in this one!
She took a nap for 3 hours like this. She looked so warm and cozy and I didn't want to take her out and disturb her slumber!
My grandparents - Toots and Pop got a new lift chair for their stairs to help them get up and down them easier. It is an amusement ride for the kids. They love it!



Emma loves her bath! She has discovered her feet! I love this expression!
The washcloth tastes so good!
This has become one of her signature expressions since she was little biddy! She is so happy when she first gets done with a bath. I was trying to get her smiling, but she never will when the camera comes out.


Here she is about to have her first fruit - bananas. See Aubrie in the background. They look so much alike in this picture.
She spit out the first bite, but did pretty well after that.
She was laughing out loud at Kaitlyn in this picture. So cute!



"Sisters, you're squishing me!"
Emma looking big in her Bumbo chair!
Sweet sisters!