Children's Books

Research or statistics or the all-knowing "they" claim that you should read to your babies starting when they are newborns.  Of course, I want Emerson to be an avid reader so I tried it from day one (even though she seemed entirely oblivious).  However, as I read to her from my baby book collection, I noticed two things: there were very few that focused on Daddy and baby and - more importantly - there were very few that were actually well-written.  It bugged me.  As an English teacher and wannabe writer, it really bugged me.  Especially Goodnight Moon.  I know, I know, it's like every child's favorite, but I'm sorry, I don't get it. The the creepy old lady in the corner saying hush? Saying good night to a bowl full of mush?  Really?  How did this book get so popular? 
After fussing about the books, I realized, I had a solution - write one myself!  And it just so happened that Father's Day was around the corner.  So... I wrote a book.  A book specially made for Jesse to read to Emerson.  I used Shutterfly to put corresponding pictures to each page and voila! my first children's book was born (yes, first... the bug has now bitten).  And now, I thought I'd share my "book" with you, blog readers.
Here are the words to the first book I've ever written.  Enjoy!

A little boy named Jesse
Who had lots of toys,
Loved to ride a tractor,
Like lots of little boys

He'd climb upon the high seat
And snuggle close to his dad.
Enjoying the sun and the ride,
He loved the fun that he had.
     And he thought he'd never love anything more.

When Jesse grew a little bit,
He went away to school.
There he found a camera,
Which he thought was really cool.

He learned how to take beautiful pictures
From working hard in his classes.
He grew into a talented artist
And he knew he'd found his passion.
     And he thought he'd never love anything more.

Although Jesse loved his family,
He dreamed of moving away.
He wanted to live in Florida
Where the sun shined every day.

So Jesse took his camera
And moved south near the beach
The sun, the water, the friends,
He fell in love with each.
     And he thought he'd never love anything more.

But after awhile, Jesse started
To miss a girl back home.
He followed his heart, moved back,
And made that girl his own.

He gave her a diamond ring
And took her for his wife.
They bought a new home
And started a beautiful life.
     And he thought he'd never love anything more.

Two years later, Jesse and his wife
Had a little baby girl.
On a Good Friday in April,
She came into the world.

It took only one glance, one second
For Jesse to fall in love.
He held her in his arms
And thanked God above.

He looked into her blue eyes,
Played with her fingers, toes, and ears.
He slept with her curled on his chest
And helped soothe away her tears.

And, though he thought he'd loved
All those things before,
When he looked at his daughter Emerson,
He KNEW he'd never love anything more.

Random Thoughts

There are several mini topics I've had on my mind lately so here's a random topic post with mini headlines.  :)

She Looks Like... I posted earlier about old wives tales regarding the sex of the baby.  Every other day of my pregnancy, someone would guess a different sex based on a different reason (for the record - the Chinese calendar was right, the pencil test was wrong).  It made me laugh because people were so convinced by their own reasonings - even though the person right beside them had a different reason to guess a different sex.  Well, the latest version of that is when people try to determine who Emerson looks like.  At this point, I think Emerson has been compared to every living relative - and even a few who are no longer with us - that she has.  I love it though.  People still do that to me - if I meet a childhood friend of my mom's, she will immediately tell me how much I look like Mom.  A day later, I could meet a childhood friend of my dad's, and he will proceed to proclaim his surprise at how much I look like Dad.  I tell people that Emerson doesn't look like anyone...but Emerson. :)

Three months... Immediately after I gave birth, before being dismissed to go home, I had a final visit from both my doctor and my pediatrician.  They gave me the same exact advice:  give it three months.  My doctor said I'd feel like a normal human again in three months.  When we asked the pediatrician about different concerns we had, he always said she'd grow out of it in three months.  Three months.  It sounds like a long time (and felt like it at times!) - but here we are, two months and two weeks later and I have to admit, they were right.  Emerson is already a totally different baby, and Mommy and Daddy are normal humans again!  Everyone is sleeping better and smiling more!  It's amazing how different it is!

Back to Work... I have to preface this mini-post by admitting that I've been incredibly lucky.  I've had a nice long maternity leave with Emerson, since it fell right at the end of school.  I had her exactly six weeks before school let out, so I had that time plus the entire month of June.  But today was my last day to be home with her.  I teach a training in Lex the next two weeks and then professional development begins and then, well, school.  And even though I'm desperate to return to work, I have a confession: I cried several times today at the idea of leaving her.  I've been with her almost the entire day of every single day of her life.  That's a lot of time to spend with someone!  I miss her already just thinking about it.  And the idea of someone else watching her - someone who doesn't know that she likes to be held facing out and that she doesn't like getting hiccups and that she had a hard time falling asleep on her back and that she gags when she needs to spit up and that she likes her little blue elephant toy and that she...  well... just someone who doesn't know her like her Mama... the idea of it terrifies me.  I cannot express how much I will miss my sweet baby and the Mommy/daughter time we have had together already.
And that's all I have to say about that.