8 months old!

In 4 short months, we'll be wishing this precious baby girl a Happy FIRST Birthday. Wow. I really can't get over how fast the months are flying by for us. I feel like the pregnancy (especially during the summer months) just trickled by. I told someone the other day that I feel like every time I look up, another week is gone. I am enjoying every day with Ellie and learning more about her sweet and funny personality. She makes us laugh with her facial expressions, giggles, noises, etc...

Things going on right now:
Teeth - one is in and one is just now poking through
Trying to pull up or stand
Not crawling
Can throw temper tantrums
Says BA BA BA BA
Copies you if you say BA BA BA BA
Claps if you say "Yea Ellie!"
LOVES her videos
Taking good naps and sleeping 10 - 12 hours a night
Loves her exersaucer, walker, and bumbo seat
Loves being outside
Loves the neighborhood boys
Loves giggling at Sophie
Loves loud noises - thinks they are funny
Recognizes Mommy and Daddy and gets excited when she sees us
Still nursing... counting down the days...
Takes 4 - 5 bottles a day (6 oz)
Eats 3 solids a day (Prunes are a favorite - gag)
Still in size 2 diapers
Favorite toys are the remote, cell phone, lint brush, magazines, my make-up, and empty water bottles (glad we have all the expensive toys that sit here unused...)

See my tooth!


Not sure how much she weighs right now... We are guessing between 16 - 17 pounds. The moms in her class comment that she is small, but I think she is pretty average.

More posts to come...

Sewing 101

Well, I did it... I finally went to my first sewing class, and I wasn't bored! If you remember, I got a sewing/monogramming machine a few months back, and Jay gave me lessons for Mother's Day. I have spent a decent amount of money on having stuff monogrammed for Ellie, so I am really more interested in learning how to do monogramming and appliques but I figured I might learn the basics for sewing too. I was kind-of dreading going b/c I thought I might get bored or not be interested at all. I have signed up for 7 sewing classes between now and August. I hope I am able to post some projects when I am done!

Sewing 101 actually surprised me! I wasn't the only one that was clueless about sewing. I did take Home Ec, but all I remember doing in there was creating a recipe box. So, either I didn't listen or we didn't sew. My mom has always sewn, but it really didn't interest me at all until Ellie arrived.

Yesterday's class was an overview of learning how to use your machine, learning about the different parts/names of parts, what supplies (needles, thread, fabric) you use, cleaning your machine, and then we learned how to do some basic sewing (like sewing 2 pieces of fabric together with a straight seam and zigzag seam and how to turn corners)! I will post pictures later...

I go back in a couple of weeks for 102... I will let you know how it goes!

We are all over the place

Our neighbors gave us a hand-me-down walker and Ellie is loving it! She was only able to go backwards in the beginning, but now she has figured out sideways and frontwards and loves being ALL over the place. I think this is giving us a taste of what it will be like once she is mobile. She is beginning to hear NO a lot as she nears outlets, the trash, the dishwasher, the wine bottles, etc... Right now, NO is just another word and she smiles. I am sure once she starts to understand what NO really means, the tears will come!

We had a great Father's Day weekend and had my brother in town with Eli and Gavin! Such sweet, sweet boys. Gavin's first question... "whur bebe elwi" They were so sweet to her all weekend, and she thought they were so funny!



Wearing Daddy's hat


Hanging out with my BFF


And getting some good sleep!

Happy Daddy's Day!

Happy Daddy's Day to the three most AMAZING men in my life! I hope you enjoy your special day. There is nothing like watching a Daddy with his little girl.

To my Dad - Thank you for loving me, supporting me, challenging me, encouraging me, and making me feel like the most special girl in the world! You have been so strong this year, and I am one lucky girl to have you in my life! I am SO thankful to be able to say Happy Father's Day to you today!




To Jay - I am blown away at the love you have for Ellie. She already knows how special you are. She lights up when you walk in the room, and I know there is already a daddy/daughter bond between y'all. Thank you for helping me so much with Ellie and loving to hang out with "just us"! I can't imagine going through parenthood without someone as supportive as you!






And to my father-in-law - Pap! You are one of the most generous and loving dad's I know. You are always more than willing to do whatever needs to be done to help someone out, especially your family! You are such a hard worker, and we appreciate your love and support more than you will ever know! Ellie Mae thinks you are pretty cool... especially your moustache!

We have a tooth!!!

We are FINALLY seeing and feeling a tooth! I feel like we've been teething for 2 months now. This week we finally saw the bottom left tooth pop through and can even feel it. Touching it makes my skin crawl for some reason. We've been addicted to teething tablets and Motrin. She's had a runny nose and low fever. She had one bad day at daycare where they called us because she was screaming in pain. On all days, I was in AU for work and Jay was installing some ATM's in downtown Atlanta. This was a good time to have GREAT neighborhood friends to help you out especially w/o family living in the same town! They rescued us by taking Ellie some Tylenol.

The teething hasn't bothered her GREAT sleeping at night (praise the Lord)! She's been consistently sleeping between 10 - 12 hours every night the last 7 weeks (who's counting ;-) We are debating if she is sick right now, or if the "sickness" is from her teeth. She has a runny nose, cough, and is pulling at her ear, but no high fever. I am thinking it's from teething but yesterday I noticed her ear smelled different (I know... that is gross). I had a friend smell her ear and she thought the same thing. I may call the doctor in the morning just to be safe!

Happy Birthday - Sophie

Today is Sophie's 6th birthday. I can't believe she is 6 years old. She was my wedding present from Jay in August 2004. For those who don't know us, she really is a part of our family! She travels with us pretty much everywhere we go... She was our baby before Ellie and remains our "first" child! Not to brag... but she really is the best dog! We think she is the sweetest dog in the world... not the smartest, but that's okay! We love you Sophie! Thanks for being the best dog a family could ask for. Your sister thinks you are pretty great too!

The night we met!

Just a few months old


Last day with Sophie before Ellie was born


Loving on Ellie







So not what I want to be doing...


Christmas Present - My big bone


What? Is this not my bed?

Perfect Pillow


Hilarious b/c we don't think of her as a girl... she's more asexual... We dropped her off to get a haircut and she came back with a bow!


Before Ellie






How we told my family we were pregnant!


Loves the water

Swimming with Lady

A few of our favorite things...

I have been meaning to post our favorite baby things for a while now... I don't know how long this list will be. I have enjoyed reading other mom favorites, so here are mine!

Boon - Squirt
Using this now and we LOVE it! So easy and so much less mess!


Noise Machine


Fish Monitor
She loves this thing... She will sometimes wake up at night, turn it on by kicking it, and it immediately puts her back to sleep! This was her Christmas present from her cousin Millie!


Bumbo Seat
It goes everywhere with us...


Boppy Pillow
We used this a lot when she was a few months old for nursing. I still use it some when I am nursing, but it mostly sits behind her if she is on a hard surface floor in case she falls backwards!


Baby Einstein and Praise Baby
I am amazed at how much Ellie loves her video's. They are a life-saver on long trips!



Exersaucer
We have the exersaucer and jumperoo, but she seems to like the exersaucer much more...


Miracle Blanket
I don't think we would have survived months 4 and 5 without it!


City Mini Stroller
So easy to fold up and pretty light weight for a jogging stroller


Hands Free Nursing Bra
Would not still be nursing/pumping if it wasn't for this bra! I can do almost anything when I need to pump... drive, cook, work on the computer, talk on the phone, play with Ellie, put on my make-up, dry my hair - This is a lifesaver!!!