Pinch Me! Elise is 6 Months Old!

Goose, you are 6 months old!!!  It feels like you have been with us forever but at the same time I cannot believe it has been 6 months since you have been born!

It just keeps getting more fun with you.  Even though I miss your cuddling, sleepy days, I love being able to play with you and make you laugh.  You make me laugh and smile more than I thought possible.  Your personality is really shining through and I think you are a good mix of both your dad and I.  I can tell you are going to be a talker around us (you’re a little shy around other family members) and you definitely like things your way.  You definitely love your parents and the life we have given you.

Look at those beautiful blue eyes!

You finally have rolled over both ways.  I think you think you don’t know how to do it because it happens spontaneously and you get this surprised look on your face.  You are sitting pretty well on your own but still sway a bunch so we keep the Boppy behind you.  You’re starting to react to your toys, which is really fun to watch.  You shake rattles, hug and kiss stuffed animals, and reach for your favorite toys.  You have also found your feet and love them!

Bath time is still your favorite time of day.  You have taken up splashing and water is starting to get everywhere.  I have a feeling that once you are sitting up better we will have to move you to the big bathtub. 

I have started running with you in the jogging stroller and boy is it hard.  You don’t seem to mind it much but get a little annoyed with bumps and if it is longer than 20-30 minutes.  You have to be well rested and fed to enjoy things like that. 

This is one of my favorite pictures.  It tells my story...

You grab everything that is in your reach.  You love your door bouncer.  You have just started really enjoying eating.  You love your pups.  You love being read to and looking at the books.  You love being sung to and talked to.  You love mornings.  You love the Ergo (and so do I… I wouldn’t be able to get any shopping done without it)! You love being close to your parents.

Your first time at the park... you aren't too sure about the swings yet.  No tears though so that was good!

You do not like not getting what you want.  You do not like not being able to move from point a to point b.  You do not like when I walk away from you.  You HATE the carseat and “long” (more than 5 minutes) car rides. 

We got a camera this month and I have been having so much fun playing around with you as my favorite model. Here are some of my favorites...

You like life… what can I say?!  I love watching you grow and learn about yourself.  And, I love that you are mine!  

You are my angel, my darling, my star and my love will find you wherever you are!

Love, Mom

5 Months Old!

To my sweet baby girl,

You are 5 months old!  You are my little buddy and we do almost everything together.  I love this stage so much. 

One day, you decided that laughing was the best thing ever and some days all I have to do is look at you with a funny face and you crack up!  It is so much fun.  The things that make you happiest are your pups.  You love watching them wrestle and play together.  You especially love pulling on Gracie’s hair but you are so gentle with Chloe (I think you know their personalities already). 

Reaching out for Chloe

You love being held by your daddy or me.  You are also letting others hold you as long as I am beside you. You still are not rolling over (probably because you like being held so much) but you are able to sit up for about 5-10 seconds unassisted. 

You are growing so fast and becoming your own little person.  It is hard to believe that you have changed so much in these 5 months and I cannot believe that you’ll be ½ year soon.  I cherish every single second with you because they are going so fast.  I never wish away moments because I’ll never get them back. 

You wake up every morning with the biggest smile on your face.  You are just so eager to start your day.  And thanks to you, I am now a morning person… it is your happiest time.  I love waking up next to you every morning and I think you love waking up next to me, too!

We tried solids the last couple of days but I don’t think you are quite ready.  You were extra clingy and a bit of a crank…. I think we might forgo the cereal and start you on veggies next month, but we will see.  You seem really interested in food but your tummy might not be ready for it. 

You are quite the talker… and complainer… and yeller… and singer.  You like to talk (you get that from dad). You love singing in the bath (you also get that from your dad). If something is not going your way you will complain… and if it isn’t fixed you start to yell (you get this from my side).  I love everything about you.

You love breastfeeding… and I love it too.  At night you will nurse then snuggle into my arm and fall asleep… this is my favorite part of our day together.  It is my little slice of heaven. 

We do things our way and it is working for us.  We are a team; I listen to you and you hear me.  Every decision I make revolves around you.  I’ve learned not to force anything upon you… you have your own mind and you tell me what works for you. 

Valentine's Day!

The love I have for you is something that I will never be able to explain to you.  One thing I have learned is that you never know just how much your parents love you until you become a parent yourself.  Every day I love you more and more…and I know it will just keep growing. 

I believe all moms and babies have this special connection that as long as you nourish and love it, it’ll last forever.  I know, because your grandma and I still have it.  My bond with you is forever… never forget that. 

Elise is 4 months old!

Dear Elise,

I cannot believe you are 4 months old!  I will probably say this for the rest of my life, but where is the time going?  We sure are having fun though!  We have the cutest conversations and best snuggles at night.

You are the most beautiful baby!  Those eyes could melt an iceberg!  Get used to people telling you that you have amazing eyes... because you are going to hear it for the rest of your life!

This month was full of firsts for you!  First Christmas, New Years, laugh, and sleeping through the night. 

New Years Eve!  You enjoyed the sitar player at Little India!

Your laugh is magical! We were delighted to hear it on New Years day while I was reading you a story.  So far, that was your one and only true belly laugh but you do throw in some squeals of delight and some giggles here and there (you’re a tough audience).  You are babbling like no other and just like your mama, you love to complain!

Your sleep can be all over the place, one night you might sleep from 9-5 and the next be up every 3 hours.  I sure do savor those good nights.

I believe you are in the midst of teething.  You are turning on your drooling machine full blast and you chew on everything that comes into contact with your mouth.  You are able to grab hold of a toy, my finger, or my hair and guide them straight to your mouth (We always knew you were smart).   Just the other day, you started chewing on my chin and my nose whenever I hold you close to my face. 

I don't mind the drool one bit!

A coffe connoisseur just like your Aunt Sara and Loree 

Your first Cowboy boots from your Grandma Baba

Speaking of teeth, not that we had any doubt that you would need braces, but you found your thumb!  I am pretty happy that you found it though, I am not a huge fan of those pacifiers (Gracie sure is though). 

We think you will be able to start cereal soon.  You are always watching us eat and have grabbed something from my hand and put it in your mouth (raisin bread and graham cracker).  You are still a bit confused by your highchair though!

Things you love:

story time

bath time

diaper changes

walking your pups

eating

the camera

your pups

Things you hate:

your carseat

not being held when you want to be held

not being the center of attention

having mama be some place you are not

tummy time

I love you more than you ever will know!   Happy 4 months, Lisee Pie!

P.S. Chloe also had a birthday on your 4 month anniversary!  She is 7 years old!  It is really quite hard to believe.  She has been there by my side every step of the way!   We love you Cocos.