She DID IT!!!

After a lot of practice, Elysen finally rolled over this morning! Yesterday, she was grabbing my finger and pulling herself over, so I just knew it would be soon. Sure enough, I put her on her blanket this morning and after some effort and a toy held up to tempt her, she plopped right over onto her tummy. Of course, I went crazy and she looked at me like I was insane.

She was having a bit of a fussy morning so she wasn't content on the ground anymore after rolling over. So we got up and she ate. Then, we tried again, and this time, she made it look easy!

(This was after the fussy time, sorry for the tears and drool, but that's the reality of our life right now.)

All day long we practiced and practiced so that she could show Daddy when he got home. He was just as impressed as I was.

Now, Elysen will hardly stay on her back for 2 seconds. She loves being on her tummy so much more than her back. After every nap today, I put her on her back to say hi, and within 10 seconds, she was rolling over.

David could hardly keep her on the cabinet after bath time tonight....

I think we've created a monster. :)

Raindrops on roses are nice, but...

My favorite things have changed over the last few months. For most of my life, one of my favorite things was sitting down with a book and reading all day long, stopping only for bathroom breaks and the occasional snack. I used to love shopping all day. I loved going out for a pedicure or massage. My favorite things have changed.

I barely have time to read anymore. Well, I guess that's not really true, but I choose to do other things in the time that I do have. Elysen has never been one to take a long nap (except that one glorious day when she slept for 3 hours in the afternoon), so during the 30-45 minutes I have while she naps, I usually get ready or clean up or sometimes just sit and enjoy the quiet.

We don't really do shopping yet. Last week was our first venture to the mall. It was hot as blazes outside and I was laughing at myself in the parking lot as I tried to wrestle the carrier (with baby inside) while attempting to get the stroller open. Then I had to get the diaper bag and my purse stowed away. Needless to say, I felt like a sweaty mess when I walked into the mall, not the peppy shopper of my past. Not to mention that it's difficult to maneuver around a store with a stroller. (P.S. I don't even want to think about how I'll manage someday with more than one child...)

I suppose I might go for a pedicure soon - my feet need it - but the practical side of me is winning over more and more these days. I don't really need to spend that money. If I'm going to spend money on unnecessary things, I'd rather they be unnecessary clothes or shoes for Elysen. (Little girls are WAY too much fun to dress up.)

So this post sounds a little depressing, right? I either don't have the time or the patience or the money to do what once were my favorite things. But, the great thing is, it's not sad at all. I have new favorite things.

1- Sitting outside with Elysen and watching the dogs play. She loves to be outside and she loves Darsee and Remus (and they love her).

2- Watching her learn by putting her hands out to touch everything within reach, i.e. my cup, the milk jug, her toys, and (my favorite) my face. She maintains a constant look of concentration while she explores.

3- Her "full face". She makes the most hilarious face when she's full. It is the look of perfect contentment. But I only get to see it when she nurses in the middle of the night (or in the morning) or right before bed when she finishes her bottle. I need to try to get a picture because it is my absolute favorite.

4- Kissing her sweet cheeks, and nose, and tummy, and head. Thank goodness that short spell of gross breath is long gone. She smells so sweet.

5- Rocking her - a new favorite. She finally decided that rocking is great. (I think this is mostly due to her grandmothers). I sing, and she lays her head on my shoulder. Her hair is getting longer now, and once or twice I've inhaled it and ended up having to scratch my nose or sneeze. Ha!

6- Laying in bed and realizing that it's light outside and I haven't had to get up with the baby yet. This one seems pretty self-explanatory. Let's just say her sleeping is getting better. Perhaps the days of waking up regularly at 3 or 4 a.m. are moving behind us.

7- Watching David with Elysen. I like that he's selfish with her attentions just like I am. I sometimes get worried that he's tired and wants me to take her, but he'll say, "Hey, why are you taking her? I haven't had my time yet."

So, my favorites have changed. The loss of freedom makes me a little sad sometimes, but most of the time, I don't miss it because my life is so full. God is good. Every night, I read my Bible on the iPad and have a time of prayer and thankfulness for all He has done. And I'm sure, after writing this, that I will spend the rest of the day not only thanking Him for my new favorite things, but also humming about "bright copper kettles, and warm woolen mittens". :)

4 months

Elysen Ashleigh, you are 4 months old! I can't believe it! Each age is my new favorite because with each week that passes we see more and more of your personality.

Weight: Not sure, but 9 days ago, at your checkup, you were 12 lbs, 5 oz. So probably at or over 13 lbs. (25-30th percentile)

Height: 22.6 inches (again, this is from your checkup 9 days ago) (10-15th percentile)

Sizes: Your 3 month clothes fit you perfectly! You have a few 0-3 month things that you still wear, and some of your smaller 3-6 month clothes are starting to fit. You are wearing a size 1 diaper.

On a related note: We spent a couple of hours packing up your newborn and 0-3 month clothes this week. You are growing so fast! I was a little sad as I looked at all those teeny tiny clothes and put them into the storage box.

What you're up to:

- You LOVE going outside. If you are fussy, all we have to do is take you outside to visit Darsee and Remus or look at Daddy's garden, and you are happy. Several days this week, you and I have gone outside to sit in the shade for half an hour or so. You just sit in my lap and look around.

- You went through a major growth spurt this month. You were on the most wonderful schedule before we went to Texas last month. I was planning to move you to your room and out of our room because you were sleeping from 9 until 6. It was wonderful. Then, I was reminded, yet again, that motherhood is TOUGH. Once you hit that growth spurt, you threw that schedule out the window. You wanted to eat in the middle of the night again - usually around 4, but sometimes as early as 1 a.m. (AHHH!)

You were so fussy that they had to call me out of church one Sunday to get you. I took you to the dr. because I just knew you were sick, but they told me I just had a "fussy infant". How helpful.

This week, you have been my happy baby once again. I am so glad to have you back! :)

- Your eyes are getting more and more crystal blue. Everyone thinks they will stay blue - we'll see. They certainly don't look like the dark blue that eventually turns to brown, but who knows? Every time I take you out, at least one person comments on your pretty eyes or your pretty hair. You are such a beautiful girl, if I may say so myself.

- You haven't rolled over yet and sometimes I think you never will. We spend lots of time playing on the floor and I help you practice rolling over, but you have no interest whatsoever in doing it yourself. You either lay on your back and relax or lay on your stomach and look around.

- You had more time with the grandparents this month too. Your Marmee and Aunt Ashley came up to babysit while I had more training at school. And your ReeRee comes over at least once a week to play with you. I love when your grandmothers keep you - I have such peace of mind knowing they are with you, but I still have the freedom to get some things done!

- You LOVE to eat. You are still breast feeding, but you get at least 2 bottles a day - usually one 4-5 oz bottle around lunch and one 6 oz bottle before bed. You love to hold the hand of the person who is giving you the bottle or hold the bottle yourself. I think you want to make sure it's not going anywhere before you finish.

- You have recently starting talking a lot more. Sometimes, you will talk nonstop to whatever is around you. If we're at a restaurant, you talk to the people. If we're at home, you talk to the pictures on the wall. HA! You've also really laughed a couple of times. I can't wait for you to do this more.

- The doctor told us that we could try giving you some rice cereal. So far...you hate it. We have tried it several times, and each time, you scream. I am noticing that at least you recognize the feel of the spoon, though. You seem to understand that it means food. But you hate the spoon, and you just want your bottle. We'll keep trying.

- It's been so hot here that I decided we'd try "swimming". So I got your bathtub one day and filled it with cool water and we went outside to play. We then had to make another trip inside to get some warm water to add to the tub because you hated the cool water and started screaming. Once you liked the water temp, I think you had a great time.

- Tomorrow is Father's Day. It's your daddy's first time as a father. You got him some presents. He opened one tonight and the others he will open in the morning. Every day when he comes home from work, he gives you a big kiss and says that he can't believe how amazing you are. He loves you more than he can even say.

Well, sweet girl, you're growing up on us! I look in the mirror when I'm holding you and I can't believe how big you look. I cherish each day with you. Even when you are screaming, or your diaper makes me gag, or I feel like I haven't gotten out of the house in months, I would still rather be at home with you than anywhere else.

You are such a blessing, and I love you very much.