Week 11

Week 11 has been a big week for Miss Ellie. Her daddy came home to visit us for a few days which has been nice. He has been able to spend alot of time with her while I have been able to get some stuff done that I wouldn't normally be able to do.

While Adam was at home, Ellie has really discovered her legs and boy can she kick and get those little leggies going. She loves her monkey vibrating seat which has been great because she did not like it as a newborn and I was thinking I was going to have to retire it until the next baby. She loves to be up on the counter and watch whomever is making dinner. She also loves when music is on and we dance and bounc her in the seat. She is also ticklish under her feet and will just smile and laugh when you tickle under her foot.

Ellie helped me celebrate my 30th birthday as well. She was quite the trooper and went out to dinner with the family and wore her party dress.

While Adam was in we made a quick day trip to visit Ellie's Mamie and Deedah in Chattanooga. I know they loved seeing her and I know Ellie enjoyed all the extra love she got that day. She was even able to see Uncle Gabe, Aunt Caroline and her Great Aunt Merle and Great Uncle Norman!

The biggest thing that has taken place though is Ellie went from sleeping from 10:30ish to 2-3am and then up again at 5:30-6am.......to, get this 10:30-11ish to 6!!!! This morning she actually slept from 11:30pm to 8am when I actually had to wake her to feed her. My sweet baby is growing up. Not to say that the last 4 nights I have enjoyed a little more rest even though I am still getting up to check on her and anticipate her waking up.

We finally had to retire most of her 3 month pajamas and move up to the 3-6 month old pajamas. Part of me is so sad about this. She is growing up way to fast.

She enjoyed her first night away from Mommy and Daddy while they stayed at a hotel for my 30th birthday. She stayed with Gigi and Poppi and she did wonderful. I was so happy to see my little girl the next day though. It is amazing how attached you get to something.

Ellie also has a new cousin. Baby Hayes Thomas was born on August 24th and we will be going to visit him and cousin Mills in September.

Family Photo

Mamie and Ellie

Mommy's 30th Birthday

Gigi's Birthday!

Ellie's new hat made by Denise

Yawn!

 

 

 

Week 10

Ellie and her ring of hair.

Ellie napping in bed with Mommy

Watching Poppi do some paperwork

My little cuddlebug

Ellie has had some huge accomplishments in the last week or so. She is getting such a little personality on her. She is smiling all time. She and I will go stand in front of the bathroom mirror and she will just smile. I have actually caught a few giggles with her smiles too. She finally smiled while I was giving her bath one night. Usually she has this look of "what is going on/extreme relaxation" on her face so a smile was a welcome change. Ellie has also become such a content baby. Usually she would need one of us holding her if she was awake and this past week, she has let us put her down and she will just watch us. She is so curious about her surroundings and loves ceiling fans. I have actually been able to eat with everyone else the last few nights. She is constantly cooing/talking when she is up. I would love to know what she is saying.

I think we are making strides with sleeping at night too! The last 2 nights, Ellie has slept until 4:30am....huge huge. Last night, I was so used to getting up earlier that I got up and was like ready to go and feed her. I actually went and checked on her around 4am to make sure she was okay because I hadn't heard a peep out of her.

I am falling in love with Ellie more and more each day. It's hard to believe that she is Adam's and my daughter and we are so proud of her. She is so loving. Today, she had just gotten done with her feeding and I decided she was going to do tummy time which she is not a big fan of and after some fussing, I picked her up and she just snuggled into me and grabbed my t-shirt. This early morning, I put Ellie in bed next to me to see if she would doze for an extra hour before her next feeding. I layed there and just watched her. It was so cute b/c she somehow shimmied right up against me and turned herself to the side and just fell asleep. She looked so peaceful and content. I couldn't stop watching her. I am so fortunate and lucky to have her. It is moments like these that makes not taking a shower or staying up til all hours of the night so worth it.

Week 9

Ellie and I had a productive, but unproductive week to say the least. On Monday, I woke up and was determined to work with Ellie on sleeping in her crib during her nap time even if it meant that we didn't leave the house. And we pretty much did not leave the house that week, nor I really hate admitting this, but there was a good 48 hours when I didn't get a chance to shower....so if that gives you any indication on how this whole nap time in the crib went...Basically Ellie was pretty much waking up every 10-15 minutes from her nap when I would put her down. I think one day we actually went 30 whole minutes without waking up. So that week, I did not get much done. I finally came to the conclusion that we will get there and she is pretty much sleeping in her crib at night so baby steps, I guess and the doctor didn't seem to concerned. She said at this point, my sleep and sanity are more important than Ellie napping in her crib.

I think alot of it has to do with Ellie waking herself up from her startling herself with her arms. Luckily, the doctor said she should get better about that at 3 months and I have already started to see an improvement.

This is something new, I was changing Ellie one early morning and was holding her legs up and pee squirted out all over me. It was like projectile. Never knew that could happen...learn something new everyday, I guess.

Sweet Ellie loves her bath so much that the other night she actually fell alseep in the tub for a few minutes. I think we all thought this night was going to be a piece of cake and Ellie was going to sleep like a rock...not so much. She was up basically every 2 hours....

Finally, Ellie had her two month appointment which also meant, she got her shots. I don't know who cried more, Ellie, Gigi or myself. It was the most pitiful thing i saw when she cried. The nurse ended up giving me a hug too b/c I was so upset. The next 24 hours we just cuddled with Ellie which is basically all she wanted to do and sleep.

Her new stats:
 Weight: 10lbs 2oz.
Height: 22 1/4

Poor thing after her shots...

Little bandaid on her right leg from her shots

Washing the hair tonight

Sweetest fingers I have ever seen

Week 8-July 28, 2011

Ellie got a special visit from her Mamie and Deedah (Adam's parents) this past week. They came in for the day to spend time and love on Ellie while I was able to run errands and work alittle. I am learning there is never enough time in the day anymore. I know Ellie loved her day with her gransparents.

We have started making some strides in Ellie's night-time sleeping. I was told by multiple people when Ellie gets up in the middle of the night to keep the lights and tv off when I fed her. Well the first night I started this routine, she first slept about 3-4 hours and then after keeping the lights off, she then went back to bed for another 2-2.5 hours!!!! Big, big progress considering me not being able to put her down before and having to hold her while we both went to sleep. So I think w are on the right track!

Ellie has started becoming very attentive to her surroundings. She is constantly looking around and we can put her on her playmat and she will just keep herself content along with entertaining us with her sweet smiles and coos.

This past Sunday, Ellie woke up at about 5:30 so I got up and went to change her and I layed her down and I have never seen Ellie so happy and content. She was just smiling at me and laughing and just so happy. At first I was not too happy about being up at 5:30 on a Sunday, but as soon as I saw my sweet girls smiles, it made it so worth it.



Love from Mamie



Snoozin'

Love from her Deedah

Uncle Ryan came to visit Ellie

The other morning, Ellie and I decided to head out on the porch. She loves outside and it was warm but breezy so I took her pj's off and let her relax on a pillow. She loved it. I tried to catch a video of her. It is long and I also have that high pitched sing songy voice again...