The Murdock Family

The Murdock Family

Monday, February 29, 2016

20 Months + Coloboma

20 Months
Wow, time has flown by. 


Emma has become the greatest talker. Its fun to have actual conversations with you daughter after all this time. Its quite surreal. We usually start out the day with naming all of her friends "baby" "Min (minnie)" "draf (giraffe)" 'bear (panda)"... and then "bottle" "Emma" "Mama", "Daddy" when he is there in the morning, "dipe (diaper)" "peepee". Ok let's go change that diaper, girlfriend, and then we can go to school.


All-time favorite word she is trying to say is Pluto which in Emma talk is "Poop-o". 


We have been playing "side (outside)" a ton lately. Day and night. Night time mainly for her to see the moon and stars. She gets super excited, points, and says "moon" and "stars", back and forth several times until its time to go inside so she says "bye bye". During the day, lets be honest, what better way is there to run off some energy? Usually we just play in the front yard, walk/run sidewalk, ride our car, but we opted for the park a few weekends back and it was a hit. We visited Pinkerton Park right up the road in Downtown Franklin. She loved the slide, swing, firetruck, rocks, but hands down her favorite spot was the bridge. Holding our hands while on the bridge. We've been back since then and it was somewhat enjoyable, I think her stomach was upset. She was being very clingy and crying, granted it was super windy out and really bright (she still isn't used to the sun in her eyes, who is though?) But maybe it is Terrible Twos come early... perhaps?! Who knows?! We will just roll with the punches (literally sometimes). 




Dustin and I have noticed that she has become a very meticulous kid... at times. She stops to investigate when ever the ground changes where she is walking from rocks to grass, sidewalk to sand, etc. Also, with her food. She knows what she likes, but if it is new, she assess the food, first. Reasonable, but then there times where she won't try it. Stubborn kiddo... so we try to get it in her mouth so she can taste it. Lots of screaming, saying "no", sometimes spitting out, but probably 7 times out of 10 she likes it goes back for more. Whatever works, right? She plays very carefully as well but then there are times when she is all over the place. Running around like a hooligan/kid. Ever changing. Its really fun to watch. And then she crashes....


Her teachers tell us that she is excelling at daycare. Very smart/bright. Doesn't let anyone push her around (that's my girl). Loves story time. Eats a hamburger like an adult (who knew?). Loves nap time (what?) and loves having her hair played with. She usually comes home with a crazy hair-do, which is too adorable. All around, daycare has been the best thing for her and for us. She is constantly learning things and she loves going. Usually send me on my way with a wave and a "bye-bye mama". Bye grown up little thing. 




Coloboma 
To give a little background, we have been watching Emma's right eye. 60% of time it looks a little cross-eyed. We weren't sure if it was because of her petite flat bridge on her nose or if it was something serious. At our last check-up, Dr Moss suggested that we take her their partners, Lions Group, to get her checked out. So Dustin took her to her appointment on February 19th. She had no idea what was going on. On the other hand, we both (mainly me) had been a nervous wreck and anxious for a solid month. Dustin called me after the appointment and apparently she did great and the doctor even complimented her in how well she was handling the eye check. Proud mama right here. Lots of stickers were at play. However the diagnosis - Optic Nerve Coloboma. What is that? A rare defect of the optic nerve that causes moderate to severe visual field defects. Hers being on the moderate end of the spectrum. Thank the Lord. She basically has a very weak eye and has been straining to see like her left eye. So what does that mean? Glasses. Which Dustin and I were expecting her to be blind like we are but to know that these glasses aren't because of her vision, its because of a birth defect. Felt like a mom fail. And I immediately started thinking about how kids were going to bully her in school. Being a red head and wearing glasses. Been there. Not fun. But I finally came to the realization that things are not in the my control. He controls everything and He is all knowing. So, we will have faith and trust in Him and know that these will benefit her greatly. And besides, what kid doesn't look absolutely adorable in glasses, right? So after some obstacles in getting her glasses ordered, we will be receiving them in about a week. 

Now, lets just pray she keeps them on her sweet little face!

Monday, February 15, 2016

Love is...

Being with your family all weekend. That was our LOVE weekend. 


My gorgeous red roses from my loves. 

Friday was date night with the boy. Emma's school is amazing and does "family night out" meaning they watch the kiddo from 6p-9p once a month on a Friday. For $25, yes please! She loved it and we loved having dinner together talking about college and being young again... seeing a week from today I will be 30 and Dustin just turned 32. Basically grandma and grandpa. 

Friday morning conversation...with herself...

Saturday was laid back and perfect. It consisted of going over to my parents so mom and I could shop online for some bridal shower things, while Dad and Dustin played with Emma. Followed up by, Emma taking a 2 hour nap while Dad, my brother, and Dustin went to the gun range and mom went to a sip and see. What did this girl do? Work out and clean and cuddled with Moose. Perfect afternoon. Then it was off to Camino Real for some margs, enchiladas, and family dinner time. Delicioso!


What a difference a year makes. Right? 

Sunday consisted of church, Moose going to the vet, Starbucks coffee, heart-shaped pizza, and learning about Jesus with our Life Group. We went around the room and told everyone why we loved our significant other. It was sappy and cute... hilarious at times. Whats there to say except Dustin makes me want to be a better person. I'm so dependent and absolutely in love with him that I couldn't imagine life without him. After 10 years of being together.... I fall in love with him every single day all over again. Seeing him as my best friend, and then my boyfriend, and then becoming my hubs, and now the father of our little girl. Amazing. Makes me love him that much more. He's pretty cute too! 


Oh and Emma (as you can above) is pretty much in love with Robin Hood. So she was a happy camper reading about him and Little John's adventures Sunday afternoon. 

So needless to say, it was a great Valentine's weekend. XOXO


Monday, February 8, 2016

19 months

19 months could be summed up as the 'sickness month'.

Yes, I know, it is winter and this is bound to happen but when you are sick starting after Christmas through all of January... its just not fun. And to be honest, scary. From a cold to a stomach bug to RSV. Let's just say, we were ready for January to be done. 

We were all sick after Christmas, which I'm grateful that it was AFTER not DURING. Runny nose, coughing, not sleeping, not being able to breath that well. All of it. We all had it. 

THEN it got a little worse... the stomach bug hit us. (We think it came from daycare). I got hit HARD at work on Wednesday the 6th. Since I have never had a stomach bug before in my life, I really didn't know what was going nor how to deal with it. Let's just say, the bathroom was my best friend. And unfortunately my coworkers and Dustin were hit with it as well. It was not pretty. 
And THEN... the worst... Emma was diagnosed with RSV. Respiratory Syncytial Virus. It has been going around Middle Tennessee and mainly affects children under 2 infecting their lungs and breathing passages. To most people it is just a mild cold but for babies, toddlers, even elders, it can be very serious. There are no drugs that can help, but they gave us some breathing treatments (nebulizer) to do with her and that helped tremendously. Poor bug was traumatized by it... but Mickey and Robin Hood helped us calm her down. Sticking a mask on your child's face for 5 minutes plus her screaming at the top of her sickly lungs while you pin her little arms down is heart breaking. Awful. 

BUT... we pushed through all the sickness ...and she FINALLY became our normal goofy girl again. 

  • Mickey Mouse (mainly Minnie), PJ Masks, Miles from Tomorrowland, and Robin Hood are her top favorite shows. 
  • She is a dancing machine. Girl, has some moves and it is very entertaining. 
  • Her favorite sayings = "Whats dat?" and "No"
  • When she is tired she plays with the ears on her baby (which is what I did when I was younger). Very precious
  • Still a rockstar sleeper and still a picky eater. 
  • Someone is a big girl now and doesn't need a high chair. 

January also brought Nashville 7 inches of snow. Dustin was stuck on the interstate for 5 hours trying to get home.. I did not attempt going into work, so we played at home on the 22nd. When you are sick, you get bundled up and stay outside for 5 minutes (long enough for a picture) and then come back in. She liked it on day 2... but we were all ready for the snow to go away. We are more of warm weathered people. 


Let's hope ole Phil knows what he is talking about. Come on Spring! AND now its February... our favorite month because Dustin, GiGi, Grammy, Meredith, and I have a birthday! 

I'm turning the BIG 30. Lord help me! 

I leave you with this picture below. She had a blow out at daycare and this mama forgot to put back up pants in her bag in case of this... and these are all they could find. 

We laughed for days!