Vintage, Values, & Ventures: Three Thrilling Months with Eloise Marie!

Our big three month-old girl! She is now out of her "fourth trimester", which means less fussiness and more cuteness! Hooray! We are trying to get acclimated to being parents, and though it's still tricky sometimes, it's getting easier or we're getting a little better at it! Seeing how much she has changed already has also helped me to "savor the moments" more, and hold her when she needs to be held and let go more when my to do list does not get done. Though I'm not as "awesome" as I thought I would be at this, I am becoming more okay with that. She's growing and she's happy, and that's what's really important. There will always be time later to have a clean house, a svelt body :), and a deliciously prepared meal each night. I wanted to stay home with my babies to be with them, not to be anything else. This is what I must remember even on those tough days. And this smile does make it all worth while...

3 Months Old!

Weight: 12 lbs. 2 oz.

Length: 25 inches

1. Eating? Ellie nurses every 3-4 hours still, and it makes me very proud that she has only had breast milk for these first three months. But man is it tough! Everything revolves around her feedings, and while my original goal was to nurse for the first year, it may be revised at some point. But that will still be my ultimate goal. And big kudos to those mommas who have made it that far and beyond! WOW!

2. Sleeping? I would say she sleeps at least 8 hours every night - WOO HOO - which makes for a much happier momma. But I didn't realize how much breastfeeding takes it out of you too! So sometimes I still nap while she naps, which is not quite scheduled yet. I have struggled to decided how to schedule her, and I am starting to do so with the help of Baby Wise and The Happiest Baby on the Block. Little by little and with much trial and error, we are getting into a rhythm.

3. Milestones? Eloise is becoming more coordinated with her hands and feet, and starting to "paw at" her toys when on her playmat or bouncy chair. She has done this for a while, but really follows your face or toys when looking around. She rolled from her front to her back for the first time this past week too, which may have been a fluke, but nonetheless special. Our Nebraska family got to witness it too, which made it extra special.

4. Activities and adventures? Each month there is more and more new things to experience with her. This month she went to the zoo for the first time! I chose the hottest day thus far for 2013, but it was still fun. We went with Jennie, Hazel, & Jacob, Joellen, Gretchen, & Joseph, and my momma too.

We also went to two of our good friends wedding, Dillion and Alisha Driver, while Ellie stayed with Auntie Ashley for the first time! She did a great job!

We celebrated our first Father's Day together with french toast for breakfast, lunch with Chris's family at Freddy's, birthday and Father's Day celebration at Grandma's house, and then to top it off, Mimi watched Ellie so we could go see a Father's Day movie, Star Trek! It was a fun and busy day together.

Celebrating the newest Daddy in my life, Chris!
Watching him become a father has made me love him even more.
He is such an amazing Dad to Ellie!

Two wonderful men I've called had the privilege of calling Dad,
and now Ellie gets to call Grampa & Papa!

Father's Day breakfast - Nutella strawberry French toast!

Gifts and cards for the Dad...

Chris and his Dad, aka new Grandpa Tom!

Ellie sucking her thumb for the first time! WOO HOO!

First Father's Day!

Sleepy Daddy with his dog after his first Father's Day. So sweet.

This month we got to relive our first date while Ellie stayed with a good friend, Jane. As Chris best described it, we have never been more excited for a movie than we were for "Monsters University". We dressed Ellie in her Mike Wazowski onesie, wore Monsters-ish clothing ourselves, got tickets to the balcony at the Warren, and ordered cheese sticks too! For those who might not know, "Monsters Inc." was our very first date, and we had cheese sticks at IHOP beforehand, though I had not eaten dinner, so I was much hungrier than that for the rest of the evening. It has since then been one of our very favorite movies, and we were ecstatic to say the least, when we found out about this prequel. We had a wonderful evening and she was good for Auntie Jane too!

Watching Monsters University in the balcony at the Warren!

First time in the pool!

She also attended her first Jazz in June, and the weather was beautiful for it! The music great and Ellie did pretty good too! We had our first experiences at the pool this past month too: first at our friend Beth's house and then at the Cabana. She just about fell asleep both times, which I expected her to scream because the water was cold. But maybe she'll be a water baby like me! Hooray!

These are some of my favorite people!

Ellie celebrated her first holiday with her first trip to Nebraska, where we did several things I've dreamt of doing with my family most of my life. I spent almost every summer in Kearney, so I have many memories there swimming, going to the mall, biking, swinging on the tree swing, all of the 4th of July activities, eating at Amigos and Dairy Queen, playing at Harmon Park, and most of all, spending time with my Daddy-o. We were able to do most of those things while in Kearney, and I loved it. It doesn't seem like summer until I go to Kearney for the 4th, and next to Christmas and Thanksgiving, it is one of my favorite holidays. It is what "small-town America" means to me, and I will always love it.

My Daddy-O, Ellie, and I at our 30th Kearney fireworks!

Big eyes watching bright fireworks

Meeting Great-Grandma Ginnie for the first time!

My "Nebraska Mom", aka "Grammy Cheryl", holding Ellie.

Love the Hunt Bunch!!!

My little family on the 4th of July!

My 3 month old girl!

Swinging on my tree swing!

Love this family photo!

Dairy Queen!!!

Living a dream of mine...A picnic at Harmon Park with my family!

5. Favorite baby item? Play mat! She loves her play mat now, and loves to lay and talk to her dangling forest friends. I can let her play on this too by herself, and she will be fine for quite a while. I love to watch her play and kick her feet though too.

Getting so big! Look at that poor doggie...

6. Favorite moment this past month? This past month was so much fun that it really flew by! I always feel a bit of a scramble to savor summer at this point, but not really any more because I don't have to go back to work! WOO HOO! :) My favorite moments this past month would have to be Father's Day, oru date to see "Monsters University", and our trip to Nebraska to see Ellie's Grampa, Great-Grandma Ginnie, and the Hunt Bunch.

7. Looking forward to this next month? I am happy that summertime is not yet over, and when August rolls around and I write again, I will essentially still have as much summer left as I want. I am particularly looking to our first "getaway" to California at the end of this month, though I am not sure how I will feel about leaving Ellie when the time actually comes. We are going to see Justin Timberlake in concert, and of course going to Disneyland! I am really excited that we get a little mini vacation together!

8. Visitors?: This month Ellie got to meet some old friends from Pride (Mallory Adams), and from Chili's (Carol, Julie, and Katy). Since we went to Kearney for the first time, I count that as meeting a lot of people, including Dad's neighbors and her Great Grandma Ginnie. They all think she is pretty sweet too!

9. One thing I've learned: I've learned how to balance everything a little bit better. I am definitely not that great at it still, but I'm learning how to be happy with myself on days when I get a lot done and days when I don't really get much done, including showering. I am beginning to find balance of work and play, and enjoying all those moments along the way.

10. My message to Ellie:

Three months old...WOW! It seems like it hasn't been that long, but I can't imagine life without you, all at the same time. You bring so much joy to us, and to so many others with your big smiles and almost laughs. I already know this, but so many people tell me how beautiful you are, and you always thank them with a big grin. You are now out of your "fourth trimester", which means you are not my tiny baby any more, but growing into such a big girl. You love to play with your toys now, and talk and kick at them all the time. We always crack up at those long toes and feet of yours, because you seem to be using them as hands too! I love how happy you are in the morning...Maybe you will be a morning person like your Great-Grandma Re? Or maybe you will make me a happy morning person after spending my lifetime with a frown on each morning? Either way, I love this about you. You are getting so fun to talk to and play with, because you can now interact with us too. And you like being held upright more now, rather than being held like a tiny baby because you have pretty good control of your neck and head now. Sooner than we know it you will be sitting up! Tummy time is fun too, even though you get tired after a little while and fuss. Oh and this past week, on July 4th, you rolled from your tummy to your back for the very first time! WOW! It was sad and amazing all at the same time. There seems to be so much to tell you, but I will stop for now...I love you and can't wait to see what this next month has in store for Ellie's parents!

Here are some more of our favorites from this past month...