Fun Videos of Ellie in Action!

Ellie's last day in her infant bathtub!!

Her new trick: Rolling Over!

I'd like to think she is laughing with herself, rather than at herself.  Either way, she is having a great time with that mysterious baby that keeps appearing!

Ellie's Busy Week!

Ellie's week has been quite a big one!  She went to the zoo for the first time (and second time too...thanks for the zoo membership mom), she fell in love with her new bathtub, and SHE ROLLED OVER!!  She continues to sport her fashionable sunglasses when she's on the go.  I guess she is really style conscious :-)

 LOVES HER

WHALE TUB!! 

 ROLLING

 OVER!!

 SHE WAS QUITE PROUD OF HERSELF :-)

AND SHE FOUND HER NEW BEST FRIEND... 

ANOTHER ADORABLE BABY THAT KEEPS SHOWING UP AT OUR HOUSE!! 

LOVING HER SHADES AT THE ZOO! 

AND LOVING THE ELEPHANTS  

4 months!

We're pretty sure people are tired of hearing how amazed we are with our little munchkin, but it seems as though everyday holds a new fun surprise.  


She is officially grabby!  Not just, "oh let's see if you can grab this and hold it"...more of "Ellie, woah, how did you get that?!"  Don't worry moms, we are VERY careful!!  Her new favorite toy seems to be her school bag (AKA the bag we carry her bottles and diapers in each day).  She managed to get the strap on her shoulder while her Auntie Ann watched in amazement.  A purse girl in the making??  I learned the other day, hands are not only for grabbing they are also for knocking over cups of water.   Oops!


Tonight was the first night of semi solid food...the always delicious and mushy, RICE CEREAL!  Jury is still out on whether she will fall in love with it, but I don't think we'll have any problems getting her to eat solids in a couple of months.


Other than her two stuffed elephants, her new best friend is...herself!  We are guaranteed big smiles and giggles when she's in front of the mirror.  The mirror certainly makes her tummy time much more enjoyable as well!

Tired punkin at Aunt Cynthy's BBQ

Sportin' her shades...she's ready for a sunny vaca! 

Still a huge fan of her monkey seat

Her last bath in the infant seat... 

...safe to say she's no longer a newborn. 

 I figured when she's sitting up and chewing on the side she's ready for the big girl tub.

RICE CEREAL TIME!! 

Having second thoughts about the cereal.

Future golfer?  
I think dad is hoping the argyle socks point her in that direction!

And the fun continues...

Just when we think, "wow, she is amazing, parenthood couldn't get any better"...she turns around and makes us laugh a little harder, snuggles up a little more, and surprises us with her next trick! 


She had her 4 month well child check a few days early, the stats are in: 18lbs 26.5 inches...still topping those growth charts! 

Her feet have officially made it into her mouth!  As well as her hand and she's getting pretty good at chewing on just her thumb.  Driving in the car consists of 4 sounds now...silent napping, crinkling of her Heffalump's ears, coos and squeals of conversation, and the very loud thumb sucking that indicates it is almost time for a meal!!

She's making friends at daycare and has continued to do really well.  The teachers in the infant room are great and I imagine they must collapse at the end of the day after spending all day with those babies!


Other big news: SHE SLEEPS IN HER SWING NOW!!!

Okay here's the pictures you're waiting for...enjoy!

 Sometimes you just need to play peek-a-boo in your sleep

 Not crying in her swing...

 ...and then she fell asleep on her own!!! 

 Like father, like daughter?!?

 Auntie Em seemed to be quite the cozy place to nap

 One happy little lady. 

I think she is quite proud of sitting up and playing with her space mat!

 ASLEEP AGAIN IN THE SWING...AMAZING!!!!

 PLAY

 TIME!

A lucky little girl with so many people who love her!

Where did the last 3 1/2 months go?!?

Ellie is growing like a weed and changing every day!  She has gone from being pretty interested in her elephant toy, to enjoying her activity play mat while sitting in her baby chair!  

This week was her first full week of daycare and she did great (and so did mom...pretty sure it was easier for her).  She has some new friends and I'm assuming they lay around and discuss who has the coolest toys and best looking onesies.  "Does this sleeper make my thighs look big?"  

Other big developments...she'll take a bottle!  She was not real excited about not getting her food straight from the source, but seems to be doing alright during the day while I'm at work.  

Greg took care of daycare duties the entire week, so I could focus on getting to work on time.  Although I wish I could stay home with her, being back to work isn't all bad.  I forgot what it was like to eat lunch at lunchtime and be able to get in and out of the car quickly.

Well enough of the chatter...here are her newest pictures!!

Bath and Bottle Time!! 

Her favorite friend Heffalump the Elephant

 Smiling for the camera!!  This is the first time that she has looked at the camera and actually starting smiling while we take pictures, rather than us sneaking around trying to capture those dimples!

 

Activity play mat...mommy went with the space theme (yes we love science in this house!) 

One cool chickadee  

Totally wiped out after surprising Grandma Cassandra at school for her birthday. 

Taking a snooze on Auntie Ann

The introduction of toys!!

So last week Ellie really started showing some interest in her stuffed animals!  So far her two elephants have been big hits.  It's amazing how much she has changed.  Last week she sat and stared at the elephants, and this week she can't seem to put them down!  She's also become a big fan of her baby bjorn.  And what a great way to put her to sleep!!


We are finding out that she loves to sit up and enjoy the world!  No cradling this little babe.  So we ordered a Bumbo seat for her to sit in.  But didn't realize that someone's thighs might not fit in the seat!!  So there is a new seat by BebePod in the mail that I found for the chubbier baby population.  In fact, most of the reviews by parents started out with "The bumbo seat was too tight..."


We also made our first visit to a new moms group.  It was so great to have Ellie around other little ones that are so close to her age.  And she did so great for the 2 hours we were there!  Hopefully this will be a weekly tradition for us over the next couple of months.


The introduction to daycare is next on our list.  We're going to have her spend a few half days next week at St. Andrew's to get her ready for her first long day on the 30th.  Pretty sure it's going to be harder on her mommy than her!


Other Big Milestones:
We heard her first laugh...not a giggle, but a full on LOL!  She hasn't done it since, but we're looking forward to the next time.  And we'll have the video camera ready!!  


She is still on the top of her growth curve...16lbs 3oz as of the beginning of April.  And she's 25" long, which means she is currently sporting her 6 month sleepers and we have had to cut out the bottom of her swaddle sacks because apparently the large size is not large enough!!

 In deep thought...while sleeping

 Happy baby after a fresh diaper change

Just hanging with mom and watching two of her favorite friends, Butterfly and Ladybug (she hasn't come up with any creative names yet) 

 CUTE BUNS!

TUMMY TIME

FUN TIME

 The face of a baby getting ready to eat...she loves her food!

Ironically this is what she is doing right now while I post this. Baby Bjorn is her kryptonite!

 "What are you doing in my chair?"

Love her!