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.

3 months!

Baby girl, you are 3 months old! This post is almost a week late because we were in Texas all last week. I had to take your 3 month pictures a few days early.

Weight: At 3 1/2 months, you weigh 11 lbs, 12 oz!

Height: You won't sit still long enough to let us measure

Sizes: You are wearing all of your 0-3 month clothes and they fit you perfectly. I look at your 3-6 month outfits and can't believe that you will ever fit into them - they are HUGE on you.

You started wearing size 1 diapers to sleep in a couple of weeks ago and then, about a week before you turned 3 months old, you started wearing them all the time.

What you're up to:

- You have had a lot of firsts since the last post. You went to church for the first time on Easter Sunday. That was a stressful morning for me. Your daddy was driving the bus, but he came home and picked us up so that we could ride as a family. I was so worried that I would forget something, so I kept checking and rechecking your diaper bag. It was a rainy day, so I went to put your sweater on over your dress and it was too big. Anyway, all that to say - we didn't get a family picture on Easter morning. :( But we did have lots of fun. You were great in the nursery and perfect at the restaurant after church. Everyone "ooh"ed and "ahh"ed over you.

Since we didn't get Easter morning pictures, I waited until the next day and took some pictures of you with your Easter basket (even though your Daddy and I had eaten some of your candy). You got a special Easter bunny from Aunt Sarah and an Easter lamb in the mail from Marmee and Grandad.

- Another first - Mother's Day. This was a first for me more than for you. Daddy helped you and Darsee and Remus make a card for me. I cried when he gave it to me. It was so sweet. I love being your mom so much and this day was special because I got to celebrate motherhood.

There was a baby dedication at church on Mother's Day. We dedicated you to the Lord and promised Him that we would raise you according to His word. You got a Bible from the church to celebrate. I let you wear the dress you wore home from the hospital. It fits you so well now.

- You have gotten to spend some quality time with your ReeRee and Marmee this month. I had a training at school, so Marmee came up and babysat you for 3 whole days! I sure did miss you when I was at school. Your ReeRee comes over to babysit sometimes so that I can go to town or to the grocery store. She loves to sing to you.

- Last week, you and I went to Texas for some graduations! You still hate the car, so you cried a lot on the way down, but I can tell you're getting better. On the way back, you only fussed the whole time, not screamed. That was MUCH easier on your Mommy.

We went to Texas for your Aunt Allison's graduation from P.A. school on May 14th. We stayed with Allison and J.B. Friday night and then went to a brunch in her honor on Saturday morning. You and I didn't attend the ceremony (too long and boring), but we did go out to eat afterwards with the family.

Then, we had Aunt Ashley's high school graduation on May 20th. It was 10 years ago that I graduated from high school. I can't even believe how much has happened since then. You did a great job during the graduation. You slept and sat and then we fed you. You were so quiet! Everyone loved seeing you at the graduation, and you had lots of other visitors while we were in Texas.

- You are so much more aware these days. You love to sit in your bouncy seat and look at your toys. You have 2 favorites - the blue elephant on the bouncy and the zebra rattle someone gave you. You reach for them both and hold onto them. You also recognize Darsee and Remus. I took you outside the other day and you smiled at Remus who was sitting in the grass. It won't be long until you want to play with them.

- Your favorite non-human thing in the whole world is your bottle. It makes you so happy to eat from the bottle instead of breast feeding. I think you like how much faster the bottle is. We started out with just a bottle at night (4 oz) and you slept great for several weeks. Now I give you one 4 oz bottle of formula during the day around noon, and one at night that's 6 oz. I can't believe you want that much to eat! But when I give you only 4, you cry and cry. You're just so much hungrier at night.

- This month, you have loved to suck on your hand. You gag yourself all the time trying to fit your whole fist in your mouth. You won't take a paci unless you're really sleepy and we're holding you. But that's ok - as long as you don't start sucking your thumb.

- You are doing so well raising your head up when you're on your tummy. And you kick and stand up when we hold you. Today, I really thought you were going to roll over. You were almost there. I know it might take a little while, though, because you hate tummy time unless it's nap time. This was you after tummy time today.

I can already tell that your legs are stronger. If you take a nap in your crib, I find you in a completely different spot than when you went down. You just scoot around, so I know it won't be long until you realize that this can take you places.

- You started really talking on Saturday night. After your bath, you were laying on a towel and Aunt Allison was cooing to you. Suddenly, you decided you'd had enough of making short sounds and grunting. For the next 10 minutes, you "oooh"ed over and over again. I couldn't wait for your Daddy to see it when we got home and, sure enough, last night, you talked to him too! He was so excited.

- You still love your baths so much. You kick and kick - sometimes I think there won't be any water left in the tub! No matter how fussy you are, you almost always calm down as soon as you hear the water running.

- You like to sit in my lap now, and in your Daddy's lap. I've taken this opportunity to start reading books to you, and you like it as long as the books are colorful with lots of things for you to look at. I want you to love reading as much as I do, and I hope that we can start reading together every day.

You also like to watch the tv now. I guess this means that we're going to have to get some Baby Einstein videos for you because I don't think Grey's Anatomy is appropriate for a 3 month old. Haha.

Well, this has turned into a long post. But, sweet girl, you are changing so much every single day and I want to write it all down. You already do such funny things like smiling and being "bashful". Your personality is starting to come through, and I think you are just the most precious thing God ever created.

God has given us the greatest blessing and responsibility with you. You're amazing! I can't wait to do your 4 month post because I know that you'll be doing so many more fun things. I love you, Elysen Ashleigh.

2 Months

Elysen, you are 2 months old! Yesterday was technically your 2 month birthday, but I wanted to wait to post today so that I would have your updated stats from your doctor visit.

Weight: 9 lbs, 10 oz (25th percentile)

Height: Almost 21 inches (10th percentile)

Sizes: You are still our petite girl. You still fit into a lot of your newborn clothes, but in onesies you are wearing 0-3 months. Some of your other 0-3 month clothes fit, but most are still pretty big on you. You are still wearing newborn diapers, and I think you will be for awhile - the size 1s are huge on you!

What you're up to:

- You are such a happy girl most of the time. You smile all the time and have started really trying to coo. Every time you wake up from a nap or finish a feeding (if you haven't dozed off) you just want to smile and stretch.

- One of your favorite places is your changing pad. I think you like it because you can stretch and kick, but you're closer to our level. Also, you're in your room, which you love.

- Your daddy turned 30 this month. We went out to Monte Ne to eat with the family, and you did so well. You slept the whole time.

- We went to Tyler for the first time last week. You got to meet lots of people, which stressed me out a little, but I think you enjoyed it. I know your Grandad, Marmee, Aunt Allison, Uncle JB, and Aunt Ashley loved seeing you.

One of your favorite things while we were in Tyler was to walk outside. It was the first time the weather was nice enough for us to really take you out into the yard, and you loved going out with your Grandad.

You even got to meet your great grandmothers while we were there.

With Granny

With Nana

- On a related note, you no longer like riding in your car seat. This made our trip pretty miserable, unfortunately. We aren't sure we're going to be able to go on vacation with the family in May because I can't handle a sad baby for 20 hours!

- You still love baths! This week, your daddy gave you a couple of baths in your tub, and you loved it. What fun.

- You had your first formula one night last week and it was a true blessing - you slept for such a long time! Now we give you a bottle every night before bed and you usually sleep for 6 or 7 hours before you're hungry again. Hallelujah!

- You had your 2 month doctor's visit today. You got a round of shots. :( You have been pretty sad all day, but we've done lots of holding you and letting you sleep in our arms.

With your Bugs Bunny band-aids from the dr's office

- This weekend will be your first time to go to church, and your first Easter! I can't wait to show you off.

Your daddy and I love you so much, baby girl. Every day he looks at you and says that he doesn't know how you can be so beautiful.

I pray for you every day. I pray that God will lead you towards His will for your life and that David and I will have the wisdom to be your parents. We are so blessed and so thankful to have you in our lives.

Precious girl

Look Who's "Talking"

Reed must have inspired this girl because after hearing him talk all day Saturday, she started trying to coo that night. Now she's making little cooing sounds all the time - when she's happy. I put the little mirror from her play mat on her bouncy seat and yesterday, she sat in it for an hour just smiling, laughing, and cooing at herself.

She is 6 weeks old today and she's become a much better sleeper. The gassiness is all but gone, but now, she fusses when she's trying to fight sleep in the evening. She loves to nap during the day, but at night, sleep isn't nearly as fun. But once she's asleep, she stays that way for awhile. She only wakes up once from midnight until 7 or 8. We are glad to be getting longer periods of sleep and can't wait until those periods stretch into the 5 or 6 hour range.

Anyway, just wanted to post some new pictures and brag on our beautiful girl.

New Friends

Today, we woke up and had a wonderful Saturday morning just hanging out at home.

Elysen has been more awake and alert this week, but most of her truly happy time is right after she wakes up and eats in the morning - a time that David is never home. I was so ready for today to come so that he could see her during her happy time. Sure enough, she spent lots of time in his lap smiling and trying to talk.

Crazy Saturday morning hair!

Then, we got the exciting news that the Scisms wanted to visit! We'd been trying to see each other for awhile, but conflicts and some cases of the sniffles had interfered. Brittany had been over a couple of times, but the Scism guys had stayed at home.

Needless to say, we were excited that everything finally worked out for Reed and Elysen to meet. Reed is a little over 4 months older than Elysen - which won't make any difference to them when they are older, but right now makes them seem so different. The Scisms stayed for awhile. Elysen slept and Reed played on his blanket, talked to us, and showed us his rolling-over skills.

Our attempts at a picture were only somewhat successful.

But the sweetest moment came at the end of their visit when Elysen started getting fussy and ready to eat. She was crying and Brit held Reed up to see her. He frowned for a minute, trying to figure her out, then reached out and grabbed her hand. He just held on to her hand and looked at her wondering why she was crying. I wish we had a picture, but it was just one of those unexpected things. I fully plan to remind them both of this day for years to come when they will be thoroughly embarrassed by it.

Thank you Scisms for coming to visit. You made our day wonderful.