Getting Ready for Christmas

Like most people, we have been busy getting ready for Christmas ... throwing parties, attending parties, wrapping gifts, putting up decorations, and taking care of a sick baby. Most people probably (hopefully) don't have to do that last one, but we did! Ellie was sick all last week. She had fever (getting up to 103 degrees at one point), vomiting, and a rash. We took her to the doctor twice. They thought she may have a UTI so they had to cath her to get a urine sample . . . not fun for Ellie or mom! They also swabbed her throat for strep . . . negative. They checked her ears and gums (for teething) . . . fine! Urine culture . . . great! After all that, it turned out to just be a virus. I have to admit, I probably overreacted a little to my baby's first sickness. ;)However, she is feeling much better now! Of course, we are still getting back into our routine. She hasn't been sleeping well since she was sick. Now, I shouldn't complain since she's been a wonderful sleeper since 2 months . . . but it's tough getting up in the middle of the night when you're not used to it!

We were putting cool rags on Elliott's head when she had a fever. I left her home with Kyle one night to go somewhere with my mom. Apparently, he couldn't get the towels to stay on her head so he came up with this contraption:Right after I took these pictures I realized she had a fever.

Ellie LOVES to play in my box of Christmas ribbon. I

have gotten most of my wrapping done with her right

there next to me. Of course, I spend an hour putting

it all back together, but she has so much fun!

Playing in all that ribbon wears her out!

With Nana at Kyle's office for his open house.

With Grandma

In her Christmas outfit that Nini got her.

Ellie has learned to clap her hands!

That is what she's doing in this picture.

On the move ...

She doesn't stay in one place for long these days!

With Santa!

I was nervous about taking her to get her

picture taken with Santa by myself. I figured there

would be long lines, she would cry, etc. But, it was easy!

She just sat up there like a big girl, and she even smiled!

Next year may be a different story . . .

Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving 2010

Elliott had a wonderful first Thanksgiving! She took her first road trip to New Mexico. The trip takes 8 hours as long as we don't stop often . . . and she did great! She only fussed a few times each way. She mostly napped, played with mom, dad, and grandma, and tried to think of ways to get us to stop and let her out of that car seat! She also did well sleeping in the pack 'n play. She hasn't slept anywhere but her bed since she was 2 months old, but I think she would've slept anywhere by the time we got to our hotel room. She was so tired! I also thought she may be overwhelmed by the amount of new people she would meet, but once again, she reminded me of what a laid back, easy-going baby she is. She let everyone hold her and play with her. She only had one episode where threw a tantrum, but that was the only time anyone saw her cry throughout the whole trip. She's so awesome!

The whole family (from Rita's side) came this year.

Ellie's first Thanksgiving

I'm so thankful for this sweet baby girl

Ellie with her cousins Caden, Sadie, Haven, and Josh.

(This was just after the tantrum and

just before she crashed for the night.)

I love this picture of her in her coat and hat!

I could totally do without the picture of me

first thing in the morning.

Gettin' ready to head home.

Happy Thanksgiving 2010!

My favorite gift yet . . .

6 months!

Elliott turned 6 months on Sunday. She is getting to be more fun every day! She is getting very strong and adventureous. You can tell that she wishes she could just get up and run! Here are some things Elliott is doing at 6 months:

-Weighed 16 lbs. 1 oz. (75th percenile) and was 26.5 inches long (also 75th percentile). She didn't gain much weight since her 4 month appt., but gained 2.5 inches in length!

-Still wears size 2 diapers and is moving on to 6 month and some 6-9 clothing.

-Sits up very well on her own, although I usually sit her in her boppy still since she never sits still!

-Can move from a sitting position to her belly in about .2 seconds. She can then maneuver herself a little left, right, or forward depending on where she needs to move to get the toy she has her eye on.

-Can roll from back to belly and belly to back.

-Raises her hands up towards me when she wants me to pick her up or knows I'm fixing to pick her up.

-Drinks water from her sippy cup each day. She also tried some pear juice mixed with water. She seems to like water just as well, so I think we'll stick with that!

-Gives "sugar." If you ask for sugar, she'll lean over and place her open mouth on whatever is closest to her. She is also good at burying her head in your neck and giving sweet hugs.

-Holds her own bottle all the time (except for the last bit . . . she has trouble holding the bottle that high).

Here are some pictures of things that Ellie loves at 6 months:

Her naps!
To smile and laugh!

Her Daddy!


To be outside!

To make this face after she takes a bite

of baby food!

Fruit! She's also tried bananas, melon, and honeydew

in the little net fruit holder things (not sure what

they're called). Her eyes are red here from crying

when I took the apple to cut off some peel.

Bathtime!

Sticking out her tongue!

Moving!

She started out sitting in her boppy.

Wylie!

She's really obsessed with his paws.

OSU!

These are Ellie's "6 month pics."

I put that in quotations because I just

dress her up and take some pics of her

at home. This was my agreement when I

got my new fancy camera. Of course, I don't

know how to use it, but I'm looking at taking

a class for that!

There are a ton. I couldn't decide!

My favorite!
She's sitting in her Christmas present here.

That is the nice thing about 6 month old babies.

They don't know the difference!

Happy 6 months Elliott!

Elliott's First Halloween

We had so much fun on Elliott's first Halloween! Of course, she couldn't do much, but she sure did look cute! We went to dinner with my mom, Kyle's parents, Des, Mike, Haven, and Sadie. Then we went to Westbury to trick-or-treat. I haven't been trick-or-treating in years, but that was the busiest neighborhood I've ever seen. There were hundreds of kids out! Elliott was so good! She just got passed back and forth between her dad and grandpa and loved looking around at all the kids. She got approximately 7 pieces of candy in her bucket! She finally tuckered out about 8:30 (she knows her bedtime!). Here are some pictures of my little flower.

Now that she's learned this tongue trick, I

can hardly get any pictures of her not doing it. In the garden at Nini's house.

If she's not sticking her tongue out,

she's being serious.

Fixing to trick-or-treat!

With her Nana

"M & Ms, please. I know I can't have them,

but my mom can!"


With Aunt Des and her two little rockstars,

Sadie and Haven!

The whole group!

Notice Elliott is passed out in her stroller.

My sleepy little flower.


With all her treats!

Happy Halloween 2010!