Elise's First Christmas

By far, this has been the best Christmas for me.  I was able to get that childhood spark back by seeing Christmas through my child’s eyes.  Of course, this Christmas was more for Mike and I.  Elise didn’t really care about the presents she got; she did, however, enjoy her family and stayed up for a good portion of the day. 

We all spoiled her but Santa took the cake!  He must really love her and she was an exceptionally good girl this year!  She now has a better wardrobe than me and enough toys to fill a toy store.  I am really hoping she starts enjoying toys in the next few weeks.  Right now, she could care less and her main entertainment is staring at Mike, her pups, and me (and she also loves to eat). 

The day started off with Mike and I impatiently waiting for Elise to wake up.  

As soon as I heard her start to wake up and told Mike and we both ran to the room and told her Merry Christmas and that Santa had came!  I fed her and then we took her out to see all the presents that he brought her.   It was so much fun.  She really liked her kick piano mat and laid there kicking like crazy while Mike and I opened our presents.

Then my family came over for Christmas breakfast.  Elise was the main attraction with her little elf outfit (Grandma Baba got her every single Christmas outfit she found). 

We then opened presents, which took a good 2-3 hours.  Always fun!

After everyone left, my mom cooked and Mike and I cleaned up all the presents.  Elise now has a basement full of toys that are a little too advanced for her right now and a drawer full of toys that I try to get her interested in.

For dinner, Mike’s family came over.  I am really hoping she loves her door jumper that her nana and papa got her… here is a test run (of course she is still too little). 

Elise passed out after everyone left and woke up once more to eat before Christmas was over.  It was a whirlwind kind of day but one of the best kinds.  Christmas’ are just going to keep getting better from here!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Elise is 3 Months Old

Elise is 3 months old!

Dear Elise,

Where to start?  These months keep flying by so fast and you are growing and learning so much every single day.  You smile every minute you are awake, even if you are crying you manage to get a smile in there somewhere.  You have really started to “talk” and I love having our mini conversations with you everyday.  Your favorite question is, “what did you dream about last night?”

I feel like you made a huge stride the last 2-3 weeks.  You are sleeping better (both naps and at night), eating well, and happy as can be!  You love your family and you have one of the biggest hearts!  You smile uncontrollably when your puppies come around you…especially when they are playing!  I can tell you three are going to be great friends one day (especially when you will be able to feed them from your high chair!).  Gracie is already starting to paw at you to play and you just smile and giggle. 

You absolutely adore "airplane"

...and storytime

...and these characters

We haven’t had the pleasure of hearing your laugh yet and I am hoping to hear a Christmas laugh! (hint hint, Elise!) But you giggle and coo all the time and I love every single moment of it!

You had your first Thanksgiving this month.  Everyone was so happy to welcome you into the family! 

Another big turn is that you really like going places now.  Before, I was always so tense because you only could stand about an hour out.  You went Christmas shopping three times (one time for 7 hours with the family) and you did great.  You love looking around, smelling different smells, but hate loud music for very long.  I was so extremely proud of you and now I don’t mind taking you places… in fact we both really enjoy it.  

You have also discovered your hands and you are so happy about it!  You are also starting to look at your feet with curiosity.

Your pups have become accustomed to knowing that they are going for a walk when I bring out the carrier… and I am glad we all can get some exercise and fresh air all at once!

You also got to meet the jolly old man for the first time this month!  You weren’t very sure of the whole experience though.  He said you wanted a pogo stick, but I think we will settle for a jumperoo instead!

We also got our Christmas tree and waited for you to wake up so we could all decorate it together.  You really liked looking at the Angel and were happy to be held while I hung the ornaments. 

I am so giddy to spend Christmas with you!  I am so excited for Santa and presents and spending time with our family.  You make me feel like a little kid again and have made me feel the magic of Christmas once more. 

I cannot explain to you how much I love you.  Our little family has made me happier than I ever thought possible and I am so thankful for you, my little girl!  Love, Mama

2 Months Old

Elise is 2 months old!  These posts are going to be filled with pictures!

Dear Elise,

I have no clue where these weeks are going.  I thought they were moving fast when I was pregnant but they are moving at a warp speed.  You are smiling at every chance you get.  You love being talked to and we are starting to have little “conversations.”  You love your diaper-changing table.  I don’t know what it is about it… maybe it is because it is where you get pretty.  

You love sleeping with daddy and I.  Most nights you snuggle up against me, nurse, and fall asleep.  You have had a few long stretches of sleep at night; I think the longest one to date was 6 hours. I was very proud and so very rested.  You have also started to take naps in your crib but today and yesterday were washes.  One day at a time.  For now, you still love cuddling up to me and napping on the couch.

You’re a tiny little girl being in only the 8^th percentile for height and 16^th for weight.  But your head is growing and housing a nice and big brain.  You’re in the 81^st percentile for head size.  You had your first round of vaccines last week and I think my soul died a little and I will probably remember that cry for the rest of my life. 

What you think about shots!

Your newborn days are fleeting and I find it hard that they are leaving us so quickly, yet I am happy you are growing so well and you seem like you’re loving your life and your family.  You already have such a BIG personality!

Just a couple of your faces!

You’re a happy little baby as long as you’re rested, fed, and held the right way.  You’re your mother’s daughter for sure.  You had a few crying boughts at 6-8 weeks but it has since slowed down quite a bit.  I’m not quite sure how its possible to love you more each day but it sure does happen.  I think we have finally become the little mother daughter team and we have gotten a pretty good routine down.  We have finally gotten to know each other and it is only going to get better from here.   Your first holiday is coming up… Thanksgiving!  And boy am I thankful for you.  You have made us our little family!