Ellie 5 Months

Ellie, 

You are getting more and more personality by the day! You seriously bring such joy into our home and I cannot imagine life without you. You seem to always be smiling. You haven't quite let out a big belly laugh yet, but you are so close! You talk and talk all day long and recognize mom, dad and Sam and light up when you see each of us. The huge grin that spreads across your face when you see mom seriously does the heart good…I can't get enough of it! Your cheeks are my favorite part of your body. I could kiss them all day long (and I do!). 

You now roll both ways and love to stand up on our lap. You prefer to be held when you are awake which makes getting things done around the house difficult but I don't mind. I know that before I know it we'll be at your first birthday so I am trying to savor everyday with you as my baby.

You have each of us wrapped around your chubby little finger, including your brother! He absolutely adores you and it is my favorite thing to watch. The love you two already have for each other is the sweetest. He loves to help out and is the first to run and grab and diaper and wipes when you need to be changed or get a toy when you are sad. He always seems to know exactly when you need when you need to be cheered up. According to him, your stuffed monkey and dolly are your favorite toys. 

You had your first taste of oatmeal this month and seemed to enjoy it, although you couldn't quite get the hang of spoon feeding. We'll continue to work on that though! You want absolutely nothing to do with a bottle or a pacifier but you are still nursing great and I am thrilled. I had such a hard time with Sam but nursing you has been a breeze and I have loved it! It's our special one on one time. You do great in the car which has been a lifesaver. You fight the carseat at first, but as soon as I get you in the car and start driving you either settle right now or fall asleep. You sleep great through the night (8:30-7:45) and I am so grateful! 

You have officially discovered you toes and it is the cutest! You love to grab your toes while you're laying on your back and pull you socks off. It has been warming up a little bit so I have been loving keeping you in just a onesie while we are inside with easy access to those delicious thighs of yours. 

You really are a dream baby and bring so much happiness to everyone around you. I can't adequately describe how much you are loves by everyone around you. We love you, Ellie girl. 

Ellie 4 Months

Ellie, 

You suddenly seem so big to me! Just in this past week or so, it seems like you have grown so much. We probably won't be starting cereal or baby food with you for a month or two because you are nursing great and seem content, but just the thought of it makes me a little sad. It is such a big milestone to start baby food and I am just not ready for you to be that old. At the beginning of this month you went through a little bit of sleep regression. I remember you brother going through the same thing at about 4 months so I tried not to worry too much and luckily it only lasted for a few days and you were back on your schedule. You are still sleeping 11-12 hours at night and I am so grateful! You take two good naps during the day and usually have a couple different cat naps here or there. 

You are literally growing by the day and I can't get enough of your pudgy little rolls. It seems like you store most of your fat in those cheeks of yours and in your thighs. We have started having to clean out your neck rolls multiple times a day. 

You are still so close to rolling over but still haven't on your own. I am guessing any day now you'll roll over. You just don't like being on your stomach at all which makes tummy time hard but Sam and I have really been trying hard to play with you on the ground a lot during the day. You seem like you are starting to warm up to it more. If you could, you would stay in moms arms all day long. 

You are also so close to letting out a laugh! We love to try to get you to laugh and you have let out a few small laughs a few times but we are waiting for that first real belly laugh. You are also so quick to smile! Your gummy grins are the cutest ever! Your whole face lights up when you smile and I love it.

You experienced your first Christmas and even though you slept the entire morning (and your brother opened all your gifts) it was so much fun to celebrate Christmas with our little family at home. Sam loved showing you all the presents that Santa brought for you and loved your little rocking pig that you got (he's making sure to break that one in for you:). 

We just had your 4 month wellness check and the doctor and everything looks great! You are a healthy and happy baby girl! I always hate to watch you and your brother get shots but you did great. 

4 month stats:

Weight: 14lbs oz (43%)

Height: 24 3/4" (57%)

You are quickly outgrowing your size 2 diapers and are wearing 3-6 month clothing and some 6 month jammies.

You make each and every day so much fun, Ellie. You are so happy, calm, and patient and we love having you in our family! 

Ellie Three Months

Ellie, 

You truly are the happiest baby! Your smiles get bigger by the day. You smile most for mom right now and I absolutely love it. When you smile, your while face lights up and I can't get enough. You just barely transitioned into your crib in your own room and have done great. You have been sleeping 11-12 hours at night and it is the best! I love going into your room to get you in the morning because you are so happy. You are starting to coo and make the cutest little baby noises. We love talking to you and watching you try to talk back. Your brother loves to try to get you to talk. I catch him all the time saying "agooo agooo" to you, trying to mimic the noises that you make in an effort to get you to coo at him. He adores you! 

You have started to attempt rolling over when you are on your back but you aren't quite there yet. You also hate tummy time. I try and try to get you to lift your head up while you are on you stomach but you won't have any of it. I remember Sam being the same way. I am hoping that you will start to get the hang of things soon. You still love your car seat and going for car rides. You also love baths and being read to. You are not a fan of your swing or being set down at all really. It makes things tricky when you aren't napping and only want to be held. I basically just carry you everywhere with me while I am trying to entertain you brother as well. I really don't mind though, it lets me soak up every second of you. 

You are starting to pack on the pounds and we love it! You have the best thighs and cheeks and I literally kiss them all day long. I can't get enough. 

You have this nice big bald spot on the back of your head because you sleep on your back. You also have a nice baby mullet going on and a cowlick at the crown of your head. I call it the trifecta of hair problems, but I love it! I am sure your hair will grow in and even out in no time. 

We love you, Ellie! You have brought the sweetest spirit into our home and I don't know what we ever did without you. 

Ellie Two Months

Ellie, 

We are finally starting to get the hang of things around here. And by "we", I mean me. You seemed to have figured things out almost immediately and I am finally starting to get with the program and figure out a schedule that works for both you and your brother and everything is slowly starting to fall into place. It may still take us forever to get out the door, but we somehow manage to and I love having my two little sidekicks with me at all times. You are getting chubbier by the second and we are all eating it up. You now comfortably fit into size 1 diapers and have outgrown all of your newborn clothing. I actually packed them away about a week after you turned one month old and it was so hard for me to do. You are growing so quickly and while it's so fun to see you reach new milestones it's also bittersweet how quickly the time is passing. I wish I could keep you little forever. 

You are still on a great schedule and this has been such a lifesaver for me. I don't think it has been anything I have done, you truly just figured out your sleeping on your own and have made things so easy on me. :) You are still sleeping in our room at night but I plan to move you into your own room soon. I just can't seem to take that leap just yet. I love the cuddles you give me at night. 

You are definitely becoming more aware of your surroundings and it is so fun to watch you take everything in and become more alert. You love watching your brother run around. You are the calmest baby and I honestly think that it is because you are just so busy watching your brother bounce off the walls. You have started to smile for us but Sam seems to always get the biggest smiles out of you. He is so good to you and is the first person to run to your side when you start to make a peep. 

You still want nothing to do with your binky or a bottle. You love to be held. Your brother loved the swing and but you are not as interested. You would much rather be held or walked around or bounced. It has been so fun to watch start to recognize mom and dad and those around you. Bath time was rough for a little bit but you have come to love your baths! You don't, however, like getting dressed afterwards. I try to dress you as quickly as possible because of this. 

Stats at your two month checkup (12-2-14):

Height: 23"

Weight: 11lbs 7oz

You did pretty well at your two month checkup. I absolutely hate to see you get shots but you handled them so well and were your happy self in no time. I do have to write down this story because I never want to forget it. While we were at your checkup, it came time for the shots. Sam was sitting on the bench inside the exam room while we had you up laying on the table for your vaccinations. I was mentally preparing to just have to comfort you after the shots that it hadn't even crossed my mind that it might be hard for your brother to watch you be in any pain. You got your shots and let out a pretty loud cry but quieted down pretty quickly. As soon as you stopped crying, I looked down and Sam was on his knees holding onto my leg sobbing. He couldn't breathe because he was crying so hard but kept saying "Is baby ok? Is baby  ok?" through his tears. I brought you down to his level so he could see that you were ok. He gave you a kiss on the head and then kept crying. 

I hope you always know how loved you are, Ellie. Sam adores you and your mom and dad love you more than words can express. I hope you and Sam will always have a close relationship and I know I continue to say this but I truly cannot wait to see your relationship develop with your older brother. We love you, baby girl!