Three Months

Two Months

Two months already. Once again time is moving at warp speed. Month two started out a bit more challenging. At 3 weeks old you started to become a bit more fussy. This continued through about week 6. You caught the evening bug like your brother had around this age...however yours wasn't quite as bad. You would get really fussy from about 7 or 8 until about 10. Not much worked to help other than walking you around or bouncing you. It did make bedtime for Eli extremely challenging. This was some f the first real mama guilt I have felt since becoming a mama of two. Your brother really lost on our normal bedtime routine. Things have calmed down quite a bit now.  You seem to want to have a bedtime around 7 or 7:30..... However when that doesn't happen you usually won't go down until about .10 or 11.

From week7-9 naps have not been so great. You are taking a lot of short naps and don't really seem to want to stay asleep unless you are either laying on us on in the sling. During you first ,onto you easily fell asleep i your swing...now not so much.

You celebrated turning 2 months old by having some major meltdowns that day. Screaming at the top of your lungs like there was something seriously wrong... when I think all it was was an overtired baby girl. Regardless it was a long day for you and me both.

You continue to mostly hate the car....though I have found that swaddling you in the car seat seems to help a little bit. W also bought a sleep sheep to play some white noise for you....don't know if it helps or not. At 6 weeks old you made your first trip down to Connecticut to visit mamas family and celebrate Eli's third birthday. The ride down took about 6 hours....instead of the typical 4. I thnl we stopped 3 or 4 times. The ride home however was hellish, remiscient to your brothers first ride back hem from Connecticut. His ride took us 8 hours.... You topped that at 9. Papa rode in the back with you as mama felt like nothing she did back there helped you.

One month

One month Nina you have been a sweet sweet baby this first month of your life. So far you have been pretty easy,,,, which is nice because I was a bit terrified right after your birth by your crying..... Loudly..... For about 40 minutes.... Afraid that was a sign of things to come. While you still. Have an amazingly loud cry... You really don't use it all that often. You sleep a ton Don't like nursing on the right side or in any position other than the cradle hold Thrush Poop and spit up all over papa and grandma Roll over Lots of smiles that we think aren't just gas. Do it when papa makes noises Like it when we sing. To you ... Including Eli singing I've been working on the railroad Sleep in bed with us most of the night though you often start in the pack and play and nap in the swing, Bottom lip quivers a lot Not a huge fan of the car seat Almost out of newborn clothes and wearing either newborn or size 1diapers Off for a couple of days around 3 week growth spurt.... Awake often and attached to the boob. Nurses on one side only most of the time. Acne started right around 4 weeks. Sneezes and hiccups a ton

Introducing Nina Mae

Born July 10th, 2013 at 12:50pm. 7.7 lbs, 20 inches.

month 21 draft

sleeping on mat at school- usually turned sideways on it by the end of naptime

new tooth- finally got the forth bottom tooth to even things out.

sleeping with trains- have to bring a train to bed every.single. night. then roll onto them and wake yourself up so i have to sneak in and tuck them under your pillow

more independent sleep- going to sleep

Month 20 (draft)

putting together 2 and 3 words
-mama up/down
-get you (i'm gonna get you)
-are you? (where are you)

running/skipping/twinkle toes moves

washing trains in the bath
drinking water in bath, laying down in the bath

using the potty. not telling us when you have to go yet but almost always going when we sit you down on it. earning stickers which you love (now).

PUDDLES!!!!!!! your favorite. you ask for puddles on sunny days so we make them with the hose.

playing in the 'sand box'

nothing but playing with trains

not a whole lot of eating this month....... cheese puffs, pretzels, apples, salad with blue cheese

easter

first trip without papa (ct)

chugginton

Falling behind.

To say I am falling behind on these monthly posts is an understatement. As Elijah is getting older, he is learning new things everyday.... so much so, that I am having a hard time keeping track of them all and then posting them on my blog. That said, my original plan was to only do these posts until he was a year old. That somehow morphed into wanting to make it to his second birthday. Now I am not sure if I will continue past the 20 month mark...... we shall see.

I have so so many posts in draft form on here.... not sure if I will ever get them 'finished' to my standards. I also had planned to add videos, but again...... nothing yet. 

I would love to get back into the habit of posting more regularly on this blog; not just about Elijah, but life in general again. I used to post about projects around the house, the gardens, the animals, etc...... just seems I never have the time. I am planning on taking the summer off from teaching (i think?) and hope to have a lot more free time on my hands. We shall see.

Month 19 (draft)

Word explosion..... copying words
names of thomas trains
pat back or squeezy hugs
hmmmm and hand on chin
pulling up pants
cleaning ears
brushing own teeth and tongue
grapes, veggie sticks, pasta,
friends at daycare
1,2,3
warm weather week, playing outside, swing

Month 18 (draft)

-word explosion..... trying to repeat everything
-thomas the train obsession
-grapes, goldfish.....
-drink out of reg cup
go train go, grovers new kitten
babies at school
awful sleep
pickier eating
hide n seek
1,2,3

Month 17 (draft)

Eli-

I know I keep on saying this, but this was my favorite month with you so far. You are so much fun and have such a personality. You are really funny and will intentionally do things to make us laugh. You are also very strong willed and make it quite clear when you are frustrated or mad. The expressions you make are priceless.

This month was another month of major learning leaps... many which are making it more and more clear that you are becoming a 'big boy'. New words this past month include: "snow, draw, juice, door, pasta, ya ya ya (yes), and nap". You now sign 'eat' when you are hungry or when you see the cats eating their food. You also learned the sign for 'help'. I was amazed that it only took about 3 days for you to learn this one. That brings your sign language up to: help, more, all done, milk, please, eat, and thank you.

You became obsessed with Leap Frog learning DVDs this month. In particular the Letter Factory and Word Factory. You would watch them over and over again as many times as we would let you. When the show end you very adamantly sign 'more, more, please, please, please."The big positive of this is that you have learned to recognize every letter, you know all of the sounds each letter makes, and can make them when we point to them. Your favorite letter sounds are the H, B, and W. We practice with the letters on the fridge and by writing them on the whiteboard calendar (another new obsession of yours). You make multiple requests to 'draw' on the calendar with markers every day.

You like to draw, not only on the white board but in coloring book and on you giant pad of paper. The cutest thing is that you lay down to draw , often resting your head on your arm.

Walking backwards is pretty cool in your mind. You like to do it when coming to sit in our lap or until you are backed up into a wall. Your 'jumping' has also improved this past month. You don't quite get off the ground, but I think you are close.

You do great with eating and have little trouble using a fork or spoon (even adult sized ones). You absolutely love pasta, grapes and Ritz crackers. 'Pops' (frozen yogurt) have also been a huge hit this past month. That is probably because it feels good on all of the new teeth you are getting. Your 3rd bottom tooth broke through at the beginning of the month only to be quickly followed by 3 one year molars. It has certainly been uncomfortable for you, but overall you haven't been too fussy because of it. That doubled the amount of teeth you had from 4 to 8!


playing in tunnel
looking around (where is it)
mimicking everything
nail polish
heater
helping with firewood
singing at school
one nap

16 months (draft)

get tissues, blow own nose
pop, again

new dance moves, swinging arms, spinning
put things away on your own
organize cabinets
empty dishwasher
tea, spoon, bowl, oatmeal,
roll sleeves up
coloring
feed self with spoon/fork
cheese puff obsession
if yours happy and you know it routine
christmas in ct

15 Months (draft)

Eli.... you are growing leaps and bounds. We are constantly amazed at how smart and receptive you are.

stomp feet
kick
boogers
blow nose
throw away trash
pound it
bubbles
kitty cat
hand motions itsy bitsy spider
microwave
animal noises (kitty, cow, chicken, owl, bear, dinosaur, monkey,lion) not dog!
climb into crib from bed

sick....er visit

Month 14 (draft)

October (month 14) was a busy one for us.
 

                                                                                                           We started the month out with a trip to Fryeburg Fair.You quietly took it all in and seemed to enjoy looking at all of the animals. You saw pigs, cows, sheep, goats, chickens, and bunnies. We didn't make it into the alpaca and llama barn unfortunately. Papa wanted to watch some of the woodsman day activities so Mama put you in your stroller and pushed you around until you finally fell asleep. 

The following weekend Grandma came up to visit. With Halloween fast approaching we planned a trip to Pumpkinland. It was a gorgeous (although hot) day. You did a lot of walking (still with a little support) and got to check out more animals. You and Grandma even fed the sheep. You had a grand ol time playing in the sand in the parking lot. We picked out a pumpkin, made you pose for some pictures, and headed home.

Pumpkin Land

 You have finally started to really adjust to daycare. You are much better about not crying when Papa drops you off or when Mama shows up to pick you up. You seem to be bonding with two of the girls that work there (Lindsey and Cassie), so that helps. All of the other kids there are kind of obsessed with you. For the most part they are all older than you but they are constantly getting in you face and telling each other that they are 'your best friend' (didn't think that business started so early). You do pretty well putting up with it but are sure to let them know when you have had enough. The staff there taught you how to blow a kiss (so cute).

"Don't you make me mad" face!

Plumbers crack.

You are making other animal noises now (besides just meow). You moo and roar. You are also saying toast.... which is your favorite breakfast at the moment. You like to help get the bread and put it in the toaster. You also help get out the jelly and butter. 

Family Portrait- October 2011

Still loves his kitties... and they tolerate it.

First snow of the year.... not impressed.