Two Thankful Months with Eloise Marie

Our Ellie is two months old, and she seems to change a grow with everyday. I love the big smiles and coos she gives us now, and though our lives are different, we can't think of having it any other way. We are so proud of her, and look forward to what this next month brings!

2 Months Old! 

Weight: 10 lbs. 13.5 oz.

Length: 24.5 inches

1. Eating? Ellie-girl nurses every 3-4 hours, and longer at night, so life has gotten easier in that way. 

2. Sleeping? She has been sleeping "through the night", or for six to nine hour stretches at night, for about 2 weeks now! Hooray! Much better sleep for me now too, which of course means a happier mom!

3. Milestones? Eloise is really looking at hands, and sometimes her feet, and has almost gotten her fingers in her mouth! Hooray! She is noticing a lot more in her surroundings, especially her mobile on her swing, and other toys attached to her carseat and bouncy chair. She is sticking her tongue out likes she thinks that will make her talk, and cooing so much more. She smiles all the time at us, which makes those frustrating times all worth it. What a sweetie! And she had her 2 month doctor's appointment, where our poor girl had to get 3 shots. They said everything is looking good, that we're doing a great job (YAY! Exactly what I needed!), and that she is in the 99th percentile on height! WOW!

4. Activities and adventures? Hmmm...Let's see! So many new things that she has experienced! We went on our first "road trip" to Grapevine Mills with my family to celebrate Mother's Day, and ate at Rainforest Cafe. She did really good, but got hot a few times so that made her fussy. She experienced her first tornado filled weeks with the devastating EF-5 in Moore, and now the one in El Reno. We are all so thankful that is over! We prepped to take cover at least 4 times, with the sirens blaring here in Norman, and almost went into our neighbor's rusty and water filled cellar, until we decided otherwise. Whew! We visited the Outlet Malls in Yukon for a little while, ate out several times, and of course more trips to Target. These past two weeks I said goodbye to my classroom at Norman High, and Ellie went with me several times to "help out" too. We hosted our first backyard party with Ellie here for our friend Brenda, who just retired from NHS. It was a great party for a great lady! We also helped move the Bassets to their new home in Edmond, and she slept pretty much the whole time! She went to her first Summer Breeze concert, and I look forward to taking her to many many more! And we also learned that she HATES the sound of a mooing cow. This is what her face does when we moo at her! 

And here are some pictures of the adventures we've experienced these past two weeks...

Retirement party for sweet Brenda!

Meeting some of her Nebraska "family" for the first time, Dick & Cheryl Hunt

Saying goodbye to my classroom...

Helping the Bassets move into their new home in Edmond!

I love these three! At our first Summer Breeze concert...Ahhh...

5. Favorite baby item? Her bouncy seat! It seems to be her new favorite thing too. She loves looking at the little owl and kicks, punches, and coos while she's in it. It's also been the only thing that works when she's been a bit fussy.  

6. Favorite moment these past two weeks? There have been so many small ones, all having to do with seeing her little personality start to shine. I love watching her play and look around in her swing and bouncy seat, and even in her carseat with her new bug toy. These moments are so fun to experience with her.

7. Looking forward to this next month? I'm looking forward to summertime and school being out, though I haven't worked since Spring Break. But it will be fun to be able to see many of my friends, since they're out of school too. YAY! ANNNND...Monsters University is coming out June 21st! Chris and I might just have to go relive our first date with some cheese sticks at IHOP. Or maybe we can do better than that now? Haha...

8. Visitors?: We haven't had many new visitors, but mostly those who have met her before! But those encounters are still just as special and sweet to us. She did get to meet some of my Nebraska "family", Dick and Cheryl Hunt. They came down to help Francesca move, and we got to spend a few evenings with them. 

9. One thing I've learned: That no matter how hard I try, sleeping longer in the mornings seems to be my favorite thing to do! If only I could motivate myself to get up after feeding Ellie in the morning! Argh! But it is fun too, especially if it involves snuggling with my girl.

10. My message to Ellie:

My big two month old girl! You are starting to get chubby and have a nice big belly like your parents. You smile so much at us now and we hear some coos from time to time. You do act like you have lots to say and are about to say it, but haven't quite figured out how that works. It's okay though! We love how you have discovered your hands and many of your other toys around you. You have almost sucked your thumb but not quite. We are keeping our fingers crossed! Throughout the day, you are awake a lot more too, which is fun to play with you! This also means longer sleeping at night, and that makes us very happy! You are so sweet, and so beautiful, and I can't believe that you are ours. You are everything we prayed for...dark hair, furry shoulders, very smiley, and so cute. You look like our baby and we are so proud that you are ours. With the devastation these past two weeks with the tornadoes and floods, it makes me even more grateful to have you, even when you are fussy. I can't imagine losing you, like so many mommas that have lost their babies. I can feel a big change in me in this way, because those sad stories make me cry now and make me want to hold you closer. I sure do love you, sweet girl, and hope you always know this!

Here are some of our favorites from these past two weeks...