E is for Ellie's Elmo

Eleven weeks in and this mom has already broken her own rule. {I hope this doesn't come off as snobby} I am, at the moment, anti TV/movie characters. I do not have the TV on during the day. Ellie and I usually listen to music, read books and search the world wide web during the day. I was singing to her and started looking up youtube videos on my ipad mainly trying to remember words to songs...and then it started. Sesame Street! She was not that into it at first and then I would let Ellie and Knox (friends son that I have been sitting) watch three small videos before nap time.

All this to say that Ellie had been acquainted to Elmo with these little digital shorts we were watching of Sesame Street shows.

I took her to Phillips Toy Mart. Which by the way...SUPER AWESOME.

So I was walking through with her and came upon some puppets. Let her stare at them all and randomly   picked up Elmo to see if she remembered the little red guy. I cant even explain the pure excitement she had on her face when she saw him. That puppet could have been 100 bucks...I knew I had to get it. Gosh...I will always remember that look.

She has started talking to Elmo. OK...you know what I mean. Babbling. Here is a small video of her babbling. AND please excuse the crappy mom voice I have going on. Why does your own voice sound so weird...and even scarier when you are talking to a baby. Enjoy!


 Elliott Loves Elmo

We're Going Downtown

 We went to visit daddy at work last Thursday. Its his long day, so it was nice to see Lyell  for a tiny bit. I talked him and Sutton to take us to Khans. I now know why everyone talks about how amazing it was. Its a must on the list of things to do again before I go back to work.

Enjoying the outside afterwards. What? The beautiful quilt? Made by my amazing Aunt Denise. Ellie laying on it, outside, under our willow tree, smiling......Be still my heart.

The-Knox-Man

I have been watching my friend Stephanie's little boy, Knox. We have had a blast and I got a sneak peek of what life would be like with two. All in all, I love this little man. Easiest part: when I have Ellie and Knox up in my big comfy chair right before nap time and we are cuddling & watching a few Sesame Street music videos on my ipad. Hardest Part: two kids that don't talk yet and are hungry at the exact same time. I told Stephanie that I just let Knox roam for a while and made mental notes on what I needed to child proof in my house (which surprisingly not too much). Knox turns one Friday and his birthday party is this weekend. Ellie told me she was very excited about her first kid party and has been debating what to wear. 

Wordless Wednesday: My Daily Grind

College

Elliott slept through the night for the first time...from 11:00p.m. to 7:30a.m.

Lyell: "Looks like this big girl is ready for her crib in her room"

Me: "Dang Lyell, let her be a baby a little longer before you send her off to college."

Picture Side Note: Elliott does not sleep in our bed, but will sometimes fall asleep while we are watching TV at night or in the morning. She sleeps in a rock'n'play or bassinet that is right beside me. Mommy is not ready for her leave just yet.

Wordless Wednesday: Splish Splash I was taking a Bath

Double your Flavor...

Lyell and I are one of the last of our friends to have children (ironically the first to get married). I love all my little kiddos and still need to plan play-dates for some we have not interacted with. We have spent a lot of time with Ashley and Andy and their twins, AJ and Lillie. Before kids, the four of us would love to roam Target after a dinner out. This really ended up being Ashley and I in the girly departments and the boys would wonder off looking at electronics. We recently carried this tradition on with the addition of children and Ashley and I had a blast in the baby department. Then I watched the twins  last week...like one adult to three babies. I actually loved it, though I am not ready to triple my child count right this instant. 

Sweet Little Nothings: 2 months

So everything I said at "One Month"...well now throw THAT out the window and its now the complete opposite. And its ok. Like really ok!

Fun things that you never want to forget...but if I didn't write them down they could slip from my delirious memory {maybe} forever.

The Light Show~ Ellie loves looking at lights.Lyell started taking her on a "Light Tour" where they would walk through the house at night looking at all the lights fixtures. She is slowly growing out of this obsession but it worked like a charm for a while.

Lately Lyell (and me sometimes) has been taking her on little night walks around the block. She loves looking at the trees.

Lyell says he can not wait until Christmas...because it will be the combination of Elliot's two favorite things...Trees WITH Lights on them.

Elliott now hates tummy time, she would rather sit in my lap and look around.

One night we went up to the Providence to eat and shop. While eating at Panera Bread, I had Ellie sitting on my lap so she could look around. Evidently she was very intrigued with a couple sitting in a booth next to us. She was creeping on them hard. Feeling awkward, I laughed and smiled at the couple and nicely turned Ellie around to face us. Well, she burst into the fake cry that made me give up and turn her back. So for the rest of everyone's meal, Ellie sat staring at this couple while sucking on her arm!?!

Tummy Issues~ Our little Ellie Bellie has had some tummy issues. There has been some vomiting going on in the Sloan house. Bad enough that I took her to the Doctor. Its been projectile vomit. Like across the room EXORCIST vomit. One night, Lyell was walking (pacing) the house holding Ellie while she was screaming and I was in the computer room kinda watching TV and looking at my websites...I could literally hear the vomit hit the floor from across the house...WOW. Thinking it is reflux, we have tried two different medications and dropping the amount we were feeding down in half and feeding more often.      In hindsight, it all makes since now. This all started before I had even bought a pump. I was "on demand" feeding her. Well, she is just like her mother and likes to eat ALOT. Now that I am pumping, I now know I produce a lot of milk and she was eating way too much. We are bottle feeding my milk and things have done a 180.

Elliott was a little clingy. And that was alright with me, I was too.

All the ways this girl can sleep...

Dear Elliott, 

     On your two month check up, you weighed in at 12 pounds and 9 ounces (83%) your height at 23 1/4 (86%) and head circumference at 15 3/4 (94%). While waiting on Dr. White you laughed a real laugh for the first time. Your daddy (who was there because your mother was to chicken to be there by herself) was playing with you and snuggled in and kissed you on your neck. The old prickly daddy whiskers must have done it, because low and behold you let out a big laugh. Lyell jumped back and looked at me... snuggled and kissed you again...and there it was again. The cutest little laugh. Your daddy as so excited that he produced the first laugh from you. And I wouldn't have it any other way; I think he is pretty funny myself. I really feel like I know you now, Elliott. I know when you are hungry and what your "fussy because I am tired" cry sounds like. I have one more month to stay at home and really bond with you and I am loving every minute of it. I will have to admit I was nervous about your appointment today. Not because of you but because of me. I want to make sure I am feeding you enough and you are hitting all the right mile stones. You passed with fly colors baby girl and you only cried for a second during your shots.We have already gone on so many small adventures and I am planning many more. You are one of a kind and your family thinks you hung the moon.  Love, Your Mom