Ellie is 4 Months!

Ellie is 4 Months Old!

(When I typed the "title" of this post...I typed "Ellie is 3 Months!"...I am in denial!)

 We went to see Dr. Dobson this morning and here are your stats:

Weight: 10 lbs, 14 oz (4.53%)

Height:  22" (1.18%)

Head Circumference:  15.35" (6.34%)

Dr. Dobson told us, "Well...she's still a peanut!"  He was pleased though with her growth and said that as long as we are continuing to follow the growth curve, that she is doing great.  

 From our appointment we were told that we could start cereal and baby food anytime now.  I am in NO rush for this as I'm not looking forward to another step in our day, but I will go ahead and buy it and we'll play with it during this month and get "serious" about it in her 5th month.  The Vickery's gave me a "Beaba" for my birthday so I am looking forward to putting it to use and make her baby food.

We discussed milestones and we have mastered all with the exception of rolling.  She did turn from her back to her side this morning but not a full rotation yet.  Dr. Dobson was not concerned in the least and said that with her size that it is completely fine that she hasn't exhibited the ability to do so yet.

 At 4 months...

• Ellie is sitting in her Bumbo several times a day and loves it.  She especially loves it when the mirror is facing her way.
• She enjoys laying flat on her back on our bed...still not a fan of tummy time.  I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that she hates it and will probably never like it.
• Ellie loves Baby Einstein videos (and staring at the tv)...I'm not a huge fan of them myself, but we'll watch them every now and then.
• She loves her rattles and continues to be obsessed with her swing.  She decided to like her MamaRoo this morning for an hour and a half...45 minutes of that being a nap!

•  Ellie is eating 5 oz/feeding every 3 hours for a total of 5-6 feedings a day.  I guesstimate she is eating 25 oz/day.  I am still pumping and we supplement some with formula.  She will still nurse, however I have never really taken to it and so I pump 6 times a day.  I call the pump my additional appendage as I carry it everywhere and I could write a book on the places I have had to pump.
• We are still swaddling her at night, although I feel like its a matter of time when that will be dropped.  Not looking forward to that at all.
• Ellie sleeps from around 8:45pm to 6:30am...we are thankful for her sleeping through the night and it is miserable when she tricks us up and decides to wake up early.  We got used to getting a solid 8/9 hours of sleep a night again much too easily.
• Her nighttime routine is bath, bottle, bedtime story, swaddle, and in the crib.  She is not a baby that allows "crying it out"...as in, she will continue screaming no matter how long we try to let her ride it out.  Depending upon how sleepy she is, it takes anywhere from 15-30 minutes to get her good and asleep without having to go back in to give her her passy.

•  I started back to work this month and she has handled that transition so well.  I am very glad to be back at school, yet I am also very glad that I have my afternoons and Wednesdays with her.  It's a great balance for both of us.  and she loves Mrs. Denise..and Mrs. Denise loves her!
• She has gained excellent head control this month.  She loves sitting up in our laps...she hates being held in the "cradle" hold and she hates laying flat against your chest.  She wants to be up and looking around at whatever we're doing.

•  She is giggling more and more and is figuring out quickly what is funny to her...right now she loves Paddy Cake, Wheels on the Bus, when I blow raspberries, and when Josh does motor boat on her belly and neck.
• Ellie is wearing Newborn (just a couple of things) and 0-3 size clothing.  Some 0-3 fits her perfectly while others that she has are still way too big.  
• She is wearing size 1 diapers.

•  Ellie loves to be sucking on something...whether it be her passy or her hand.
• She is taking 2-3 good naps a day...ranging from 1.5 hours to 4 hours.  There's not my consistency in the length of the, however she always takes one about an hour after she wakes up in the morning, around 1 in the afternoon, and then again around 5:30...the last being a cat nap.

•  If she cannot be calmed down, we walk outside.  Gets her to stop crying every single time.
• She is making more and more unique noises...and it really does sound like she's "talking" to us.

 This stage of her life is a different type of exhaustion...we are getting more sleep at night but as soon as she goes to sleep we are running around like mad people ensuring the laundry is done for the day, bottles are washed, and the house is straightened before the next day.  (Having Mrs Denise come into our home holds me accountable to not let the house become disgusting.)

 Hard to believe that just 4 months ago we were meeting this baby for the first time.  We are daily thankful that we are her mom and dad.

Last Day as 3 Months

Tomorrow is Bug's 4 month birthday...hard to believe it is the last day as a 3 month old!

 We are seeing Dr. Dobson tomorrow--Dr. Woodlief is on maternity leave!  We actually don't have a million questions for him...just a couple concerning her gassiness and her constant hiccuping.  (I am sure when/if she reads this when she's in high school she is going to LOVE that I shared with you that she is gassy...oh well, I'm entitled to embarrass her as her mom!)

 Today I discovered that she thinks it is so funny when I blow raspberries in her face...Josh snapped these pictures while I was her entertainment.

 Is there anything better then to see your baby smile at you like that?  Makes me forget how exhausted I am today from her deciding to wake up at 4am (from gassiness, mind you). :)

 I got mildly nauseous today at school thinking of her shots tomorrow.  I am praying that she handles them well and that she will be able to sleep the majority of the day.  I have infant Tylenol handy just in case.

 Just had to get one naked shot of her in here.  (are you proud there is only one picture with her tongue sticking out today?)  

Here's to 4 months!!  1/3 of a year old!

A New Week

Our weekends seem to fly by around here...

 We sure do try to soak up every single minute we have as a family though!  The past two weekends Josh and I have gone to Clemson and left Ellie with the grandparents.  We desperately needed the time away to spend together with just us, but we sure did miss her!

 and speaking of Clemson...how BOUT those Tigers?  Winning sure makes going to football games MUCH more fun!  The past two games have been two of the best games I've been to in a long time!

 Sunday we played hooky from church...no excuse for it but we enjoyed the time together and we stayed in our pj's until after noon!  Can't think of the last time we did that!

 I look forward to the rest of this week with these sweet cheeks!!

Big girl has her 4 month appointment on Wednesday (on her birthday)...more shots to come so prayers are welcomed!

Some of Ellie's new tricks

Ellie LOVES Pat a Cake...in fact, anytime she hears the words she starts smiling.  Her giggles come out when the hand motions start!

 Ellie has officially found her hand and enjoys having it in her mouth whenever she can get it in there--especially at bath time!

 She had a great week this week with Mrs. Denise.  She leaves me detailed notes on her day and yesterday she reached for her rattle for the first time.  I know we were close to her doing this because she's not leaving her hands clenched as much anymore.

 Ellie also came to my school yesterday for lunch!  It was grandparent's day so Mrs. Denise came to eat lunch with Cailin and brought E along with her!  What a treat!

 Below is her "I'm tired" sign...she starts rubbing those red eyes.

 I turned the flash off for the rest of the pictures so I could get a couple of her sweet smile.  She is not a fan of the camera and it always so stoic when it is out.  Overall, she is not an overly smiley baby anyway except for those that she knows well.  What she IS though, is a happy baby and is content when she is fed, rested, and clean!

We have to do a 17 week shot today!  Can't believe it!!

Whooooo's the sweetest baby?

Ellie wore her owl romper today and she sure did look cute!

 I had another long day at work and am so glad that tomorrow is my day off and I can spend it with her!

 She's been a sleepy head tonight after a day with not much napping...this baby likes her sleep and lets us know it when she hasn't had enough!

We had her birth announcement picture framed and we finally got it hung last weekend...it looks fantastic in the little foyer in between our living room and our bedroom!

Oh Monday

Mondays are my ridiculously long days.  I double up school and seeing my private kids, and while I'm glad its over for the week--it makes for a long day.  I sped home as quickly as possible today to get my hands on this sweet baby.

 I love days when she is in the mood for snuggles.  She was today and I have soaked up the night with her.

 She was excited to see her daddy when he got home too--she gave him big smiles when he kissed her hello.  My whole world right there in one picture.

 Ellie fell asleep when I was feeding her bottle so I got out my camera as I want to remember every single detail of this time with her.  I love it when she falls asleep in my arms and I can just stare at her peacefulness as she happily dreams away.  I love her sweet eyelashes--sure wish I had them too.  Erica told her that at least a pound of her weight must be from her eyelashes :)

 She wanted to snuggle with her daddy tonight too.

 Oh sweet love, can't you stay this little forever?  

Ready for Church!

We love playing dress up on Sunday mornings!  Putting E in her smocked dresses and bubbles and accessorize with her bows makes my heart skip a beat :)

 Does she look like a big girl or what?  She is taking 5 oz/feeding now and it is making such a difference in how quickly she is growing and changing on a daily basis. 

 This "deer in the headlights" is all too common when the camera is taken out.

 Ellie is sucking on her hands more and more...especially at bath time!

 Thanks Katie for my sweet elephant outfit!!

 We are working on Ellie's Clemson wardrobe...I'll have to post a picture of her tiger tail bloomers too.  Cutest tiger tail I've ever seen!