Smiling Ellie

Here's Ellie in her "Ellie the Elephant" outfit, on her changing pad staring out the window, smiling at the trees outside!

 She looks like she's scared to death in the picture below--but just smiling!

 Ellie was in the beloved swing Monday night and accidently grabbed her passy.  This is a "milestone" (reaching/grabbing for objects) that we're working on so we took a picture.  Josh (jokingly) tried to encourage her once she had the passy in her hand to put it in her mouth--it didn't work so we'll continue to replace her passy when it falls out of her mouth 55 times a day!

 Hanging out with her daddy

 and on a completely random note...we made our first CraigsList sell.  We purchased a new washer and dryer this weekend, due to the massive amounts of laundry we do around here daily--our set worked fine, but we just needed a set that could do more.  We were going to just have Lowe's haul our old ones away, but I told Josh last night we should just list and see what happens.  We received an email about it in less than 5 minutes and the family came and picked it up last night.  Easy as pie!

I jokingly told Josh I may be a little sentimental about getting rid of it last night and he reminded me it was the washing machine I washed Ellie's first load of laundry.  HA!!!!  I may NEVER get rid of anything if I start thinking like that!  

Ellie is 3 Months!

 Ellie Bug, you are 3 months old!

 We think you weigh about 10 pounds...we're going this week to get a quick weight check at Parkside.

I measured you yesterday and you were 22".

You are in Newborn and 0-3 month size clothes.

We have one pack of newborn diapers left and then we are moving to size 1!

 The swing is your favorite "toy" right now.  

You also love to lay on your changing pad and look outside when we change your diaper and/or clothes.

You eat 4 oz/feeding 5-6 times a day.

You slept through the night on your 3 month birthday!  We were so proud!

 You do not like me to eat Mexican or seafood.  We pay for it later and its not worth it, so no tacos or shrimp for me!

You have a very distinct tired and "I'm not feeling well" cry.  You also have a fake cry that we like to laugh at!

 This month we have visited Isle of Palms and Hilton Head!  You LOVE the beach and I'm hoping you'll be a water baby.

 You sat in your bumbo for the first time and you seem to like looking around and exploring your world.

You still hate tummy time and I am slacker about it because I don't like hearing you cry.

 Grammy and I are training you to be a good shopper.  You improve with each trip we take!

You still love your passy--you will only take the soothie and the gumdrop brands.

 We continue to swaddle you at night in the Miracle Blanet, although you usually take your naps without it.

 You're still smiling and cooing up a storm!  We live for those moments and can't get enough of them!

 We have a routine at night now of bath, bottle, bible story and then bed.  You fall asleep well on your own unless your tummy hurts.

We love you baby girl so much--you fill our hearts with more joy than we ever thought possible!

11, 12, 13 Weeks!

Today is Ellie's 3 month birthday!  I took her monthly elephant pictures when we got back home from church and was quite pleased with myself, only to discover upon uploading them they are way too dark.  As in pitch black.  As in, I will have to re-take them after I write this post.  Her 3 month post will have to wait until tomorrow!

See how dark this picture is?  They were even darker today!  Guess it teaches me a lesson to look at the picture before proceeding with taking 50 more!

Hilton Head

We continued our tour up the coast to HH on Wednesday.  In Ellie's short 3 months of life she has been to 3 beaches!  Josh's parents rented a house for the week so we were able to join them for a couple days!

 Ellie with her passy hickey! 

 She did great on the beach again...lounging in the beloved "shell"!

 and in Ellie fashion...the tongue is out!

 Just couldn't resist one more froggie hiney picture before we return Durham's precious bathing suits! 

 Can you see those little fat rolls on her legs?  We finally have some baby fat to pinch!!

 Daddy letting baby girl touch the ocean again!  You can see she LOVES it!

 The beach was gorgeous--we basically had it entirely to ourselves and it was perfect.  We spent several hours out there and I wish the weather would have cooperated so we could've spent another day soaking up the rays and relaxation.  Hurricane Irene had other plans for us!

 Ellie with Grandma and Grandpa

 We ate out at Harbor Town Thursday night at the Crazy Crab and got a picture in front of the infamous light house!

 We then proceeded to climb said lighthouse...I carried Ellie up the 114 stairs and nearly thought I was going to die before reaching the top.  I can definitely tell that I haven't been to the gym since prior to being pregnant with Ellie...which would be last September!  EEEK!!

This is when the camera died...so inconvenient as we had just climbed all those stairs for a photo op!  Oh well...we had a great visit to Hilton Head and we're looking forward to next time!

Isle of Palms

Ellie and I were able to go to Isle of Palms with Josh for his customer conference this week!  We made the trek down on Sunday and stayed until Wednesday afternoon.  

 Josh had to unfortunately work the majority of the time so we had lots of girl time!  We went shopping, took naps and walks, and lunched together.  

 My mom came down on Tuesday to help me take her to the beach...I just couldn't brave it by myself like I thought I could.  She requires way too much stuff for my two hands!

 We were a bit nervous that she would get off schedule not being at home--she did, however she was still a good baby while traveling, even if she didn't sleep quite as well as when she's at home.

 Below is proof that she will pull Josh's half smile sometimes!  When she was born, I thought this little dress would never be worn but she has proven me wrong!  Growing like a weed!!

Sweet Baby Girl

Oh, sweet baby girl--how is it that you are 12 weeks?  

 The past two weeks you have certainly hit a growth spurt in length and in weight!  Josh and I both did the step on the scale, then pick her up and weigh...and I got that she weighs 9.5 lbs and Josh got (a day later) that she weighs 9.7 lbs!  Holy Moly!  We are close to hitting double digits at 10 pounds!

 She gives this look often...as in, seriously?  Taking my picture again?

 and yes, Katie...that is the outfit you and your mom gave her when she was born and she is still wearing it!  I love it converted and we have definitely gotten great use out of it!

 Mom and I have both noticed she has Josh's cleft in her chin...it is slight but we're hoping it will be more prominent as she grows.  She has my itty bitty dimple too!  She has Josh's big toes as well...and she did one of his half smiles the other day!

I'm not sure she looks specifically like either one of us.  Most people say she looks like me, probably because she's a girl and I'm a girl?  As I was looking at her this morning, I saw so much of my brother Banks, in her little face...just looked like a spitting image of some of his baby pictures.  Who knows?  We'll see as she grows who she favors more!

So Busy

It's naptime around here and I have much to do between now and when Ellie wakes up, but had to post some pictures from Wednesday!

This baby girl thinks her mommy sure is funny!

A Sweet Week

We are having another great week around here!  I am treasuring every minute with Ellie and we are settling into a good routine.  Just as I feel like we have somewhat figured this whole baby thing out, it's nearly time to head back to school!  Oh well...we're going to make the best of the three weeks left!

 Too bad these pictures are a bit dark...I did have the blinds open for the light to stream through, but guess it still wasn't enough.  

 She is really in to kicking her feet...at all times, along with moving her hands in a way similar to conducting an orchestra!

 We seem to have gotten over the 2 week "fussy stretch" that I have read about in multiple books.  It hit late in weeks 9-11 if you go by her actual age, but if you go by adjusted age since she was early--it was right on target with weeks 6-8.  She's hit most developmental milestones closer to her adjusted age anyway, so it doesn't much surprise me that this was the same way.

 We are getting the hang of tummy time and her neck control is much better because of it.  She, by no means, loves it--but she tolerates it and accepts she has to do it now without screaming.

 hehehe...I ordered her two new bow headbands--the no hair thing is killing me!  Last week three people asked if "it" was a boy or a girl.  Seriously?  She nearly always has a pink outfit on, has a pink blanket over her, and we have a pink padalily on her car seat.  Sheesh people!  We will help them out a bit more by wearing more bows.

and one last worthy point--Ellie slept from 9:15-5:45 last night--Josh and I REJOICE!

As we were laying in bed last night, we talked about how much work a new baby is and how it is the largest adjustment in life we've ever faced.  We knew it was going to be a lot of work--but you just don't REALLY know until the baby is in your hands.  I mean, as in...no clue.  It's the most all-consuming job I've ever had.  All that to say--we also talked about how one day all too soon, we're going to look back on these sweet days and wish for them back because she's going to be all grown up.  We never want to wish away these sweet days with Ellie, even the really trying days--I think it's important for Josh and I to  hold each other accountable to that every now and then.  We need reminders that we have been given this precious gift to be Ellie's parents and there is no greater joy in all the world.

The Swing

Ellie says a big "Thank You!!" to James and Campbell for letting her borrow your swing!

 When we were at the beach and Ellie was really fussy, mom would take her to the hammock to swing and it would nearly always calm her down.  It got me thinking that she may really like a swing.  We have nearly every possible baby gear item you could think of and so I didn't really want to invest the dollars if she wasn't going to like it, so Hannah generously agreed to let us borrow theirs.  All this to say...she LOVES it, and I love it--when I need to complete chores around the house, this will keep her entertained so that I can do so!

 and she often falls asleep in it...an added bonus :)  Speaking of sleep--Ellie is now consistently sleeping from 9:30 to 5 every night!  She will wake up for a feeding then we re-swaddle and put her back in her crib where she will proceed to woo us with her smiles and coos for a good 10 minutes.  We go back to bed and she usually lays there quietly for a good hour before falling back asleep.  (I know this because I watch her on the video monitor).  This morning she slept until 10!  We are thankful that "sleep training" is going very well--Dr. Woodlief told us not to expect her sleeping through the night due to her small size until 4 months, but we are nearly there.  If she makes it to 6am, we are golden!

and on a random note...I always "label" my blog posts--however, I probably should just quit because they are now always "Ellie".  Oh, how life truly is never the same when you have a baby!