Bedtime Overhaul

Ellie's sleep patterns seemed to take a spiral downward lately. Last Thursday night she woke up six times. She nursed three of those times and needed to be rocked back to sleep the other three. Needless to say, I spent Friday working on a solution.

We have changed Ellie's bedtime routine to include a bath, new diaper, massage, pj's, nurse, in bed. She did great the first night, then the second night she fussed because she recognized the pattern and didn't want to sleep. Last night she didn't fuss at all and went right to sleep. The new routine has her only waking up twice, both times to nurse. This is a great improvement; but I would still like to get back to one wake-up!

Could You Sleep.... Just a Little?

Aren't babies supposed to start sleeping better as they get older? At 14 weeks Ellie was sleeping 11 hours with only one waking. Now she sleeps 10 hours with 3-4 wakings. Ellie has become quite the 24 hour snacker, which I am sure doesn't help the sleep situation. I can't seem to get her to nurse for more than 10 minutes at a time before she wants to move on to something else, like playing. I found a gray hair the other day; I think I know where it came from.

Ellie has really discovered her feet. She thinks that her toes are handles for grabbing on to. This can make getting a diaper on her quite a challenge. Note: a baby's bottom is not the same shape when her feet are pulled up by her face as it is when her legs are outstretched. This means that if we put Ellie's diaper on while she holds her toes, and then stand her up, the diaper is suddenly way to loose and starts to fall off... Ahh, the things they don't tell you about in the baby books.

Since it has been awhile since we posted new pictures, here are a few recent ones:

Pretty baby in her white dress (and headband she was supposed to wear home from the hospital, but it didn't fit then!)

Actually enjoying tummy time!

In the camo overalls from Grandpa (and Grandma) B.

Sitting on the porch with Grandma Cheryl.

With Grandpa Bob.

Happy Anniversary

Yesterday Tim and I celebrated our 8th anniversary. I can hardly believe that we have been married so many wonderful years. It seems like our wedding was just yesterday; but oh how things have changed since then! As Ellie and I walked to get our mail she held onto a key chain we purchased in Canada on our honeymoon. Sometimes I can still hardly believe that we have brought this amazing little person into the world.

Ellie gave us an anniversary present of her own last night: she took her evening nap a little late and slept through dinnertime, so Tim and I had a nice, quiet, candlelit dinner. I actually got to use both hands to eat! After Ellie woke up we all went on a nice walk - it was a wonderful way to spend our anniversary.

Little Girl

Ellie had her four month checkup the other day. She is definitely a little girl. She is now 24 inches long (45%) but only weighs 11 pounds (10lbs 15.5 ounces to be exact), which is only the 5% for weight. The doctor isn't worried though - he said she is probably just going to be petite.

Discovering her feet. "What are those things at the end of my legs?"

Four Months Old

Ellie is four months old now. Certain things about the past few months have flown by, but overall it seems like forever ago since we didn't have our little munchkin.

How Ellie has changed over the last month:

• For a couple of weeks Ellie only got up once per night (which was fantastic), but now is back to 2-3 times.
• She has started with the drooling part of teething - but no pearly whites just yet.
• She has started to splash her hands in the water when we give her a bath.
• She grabs on to my shirt with both hands and tries to shove it in her mouth when I am trying to nurse her.
• She can roll from her back to her left side.
• She loves to have her tummy blown on when her diaper is changed.
• She loves the "tickle, tickle, tickle" game where we walk our fingers from her belly to her neck. By the time we get close to her neck she is squealing and pulls her shoulders up so we can't get our fingers under her chin.
• She loves to jump up and down while we hold her.
• She has begun to really play with her toys.
• She can entertain herself on the floor with toys long enough for me to take a (very fast) shower.
• She enjoys going on our walk each evening.
• She no longer sleeps until 7:30am, now we are lucky if she sleeps until 6:30am.
• She fights going to bed at night. We do the same routine each night (diaper change, pj's, nurse, wrap in bedtime blanket) and by about the third step she knows what is going on and she gets mad!

Events of the last month:

• Second round of shots.
• She went swimming for the first time and she really enjoyed it.
• Rode on a train for the first time (at the airport).
• Rode on a plane for the first time.
• Met Mommy's family for the first time (other than Grandma and Grandpa B.)
• We went to the Children's Hospital and saw an orthopedic surgeon and found out that her hips are perfect right now and will be re-checked when she is one year old.

Back Home

Well, we made it to Idaho and back in one piece. The flight out was uneventful, but on the way back we were diverted to another airport due to thunderstorms and sat on the tarmac there for nearly four hours waiting to take off again. During those four hours we weren't allowed off of the plane, had limited water available, were given one bag of pretzels each, and the plane's toilet quit flushing. Fun! If at all possible, I would not recommend flying United's SkyWest flights. We asked several times if we could have someone find our portable crib in the luggage compartment (a fairly obvious package) so we could get off the plane and stay at a relative's house nearby and drive home the next day. Each time we were told it wasn't possible. Thank goodness Ellie is breastfed and didn't need water for formula. I am not sure what we would have done then. Ellie was a trooper through it all, though. By the time we took off again to fly to the correct airport she was screaming, but I don't think anyone on the plane minded - she was just doing what we all wanted to do!

Ellie at the Boise airport after her first plane ride. She was very tired and wasn't sure what to think of Grandma excitedly talking to her.

Sacked out later that evening. Very tired baby.

Swinging with Mommy at Great-Grandma's.

Having fun with Grandpa in the morning. Ellie thought that the sounds Grandma made were very silly!

With Great-Grandma. This picture is out of order - it was from right after we got to Boise. Ellie isn't looking quite as refreshed as in the previous pictures.

With Daddy at the cemetery on Memorial Day. The flowers in the wagon are for Great-Grandpa's grave as well as Ellie's great-great grandparents' graves.

With cousins Kieron and Edward.

Kieron holding Ellie for the first time. She had been absolutely dying to meet Ellie and didn't think it was fair that Grandma B. got to keep coming to visit.

Ellie being held by Aunt Brigette and playing with the soft lamb that Kieron gave Ellie. (The lamb used to be Kieron's when she was a baby.)

Sitting in cousin Abby's lap. This is a great shot, I wish it were a little less blurry!

So, that is the update. Ellie turns 4 months old next week and gets her next round of shots at the doctor. We are planning on having a calm week at home!