And Then There Were 5...

There is much more to be said about your birth, my littlest love. And you can find those pages in another book. I decided to stop blogging in 2017. Shortly after Eleanor turned one. Partly, because I was a busy momma who didn't have a lot of extra time to pour into the hobby, but mostly because I felt a desire to just stay present in the moment for the three of you. To watch you grow and live and experience all life has to offer with my own two eyes and not through the lens of my cell phone.

This story of how I meant your father and my decision to most out west... it changed everything. Ultimately, it brought me down a path to each of you. And at one point, my blog was a way to document that. 

This is the story of the beginning of it all.  I hope you've enjoyed it. 

I love you with a love so fierce it pains me! Live your stories well! Love one another. Put God first. And extend grace toward others because no matter where you or another is at in life.. and it matters deeply.

Always,

Mom

Eleanor | 12 Months

My baby girl is ONE! 

O.N.E.

This year has flown by so quickly. It seems like just last week I was holding my 7lb 12oz baby girl. I still remember how surprised I was by all her dark hair (I was expecting another blonde baby like her brother) and her sweet, sweet temperament (what?!? no witching hour?? No crying every evening before it's time for bed?!?) She was sooo perfect, and still is just the happiest, most playful, content baby girl. What a blessing she has been to us this past year!!

 12 Month old Eleanor likes...

being chased

climbing on EVERYTHING

going outside

Huck and Herschel

big brother, Jack

her binky

mommy and daddy

reading books

dancing

 12 Month Eleanor dislikes...

diaper and outfit changes

being told "no"

people (especially Jack) taking something from her

Health: At one year old, Eleanor weighs 20lbs 12oz (40%) and is 30 1/4in (80%). Pretty petite compared to her brother at this age! She has 8 teeth (4 on top and 4 on bottom). Wears size 12 month clothes and size 3 diapers. We still are dairy free due to her intolerance and her doctor recently recommended we go gluten free to see if some of her sleep issues are resolved. She is a healthy, happy little girl though and we are so thankful!

Nursing: Eleanor usually only nurses 3 times during the day (before naps and bedtime) and 1 - 4 times at night. Trust me, that was painful to type out and admit... :)

Solids: She is a pretty good eater most days! Loves all fruit, peas, carrots, avocado, spaghetti, chicken, ground beef... Hates eggs. She always seems to have some sort of food in her mouth though and is constantly signing for more food. I feel like she is continually snacking in between meals!

Sleeping: Eleanor has actually slept through the night on a handful of occasions. But that is still not the norm for around here. She usually takes 2 naps a day (around an hour for each nap) and goes down between 6:30 and 7 for bedtime and waking up around 6-6:30 for the day. When Eleanor does have bad nights where she is up every 2 hours or so her behavior just isn't normal. She is extremely fussy and oftentimes can't even be comforted by Steven or myself. Her sleep is very restless and oftentimes she wants to sleep completely upright on my chest for those bad nights. It isn't uncommon for me to be nursing her 4 (possibly more? I'm so tired I really can't keep track) times a night if she is having one of her uncomfortable nights.

I honestly don't believe Eleanor has a sleep association... she can sleep through the night and is able to self-soothe. My gut is telling me that she simply doesn't feel well on those bad nights. After much discussion with my pediatrician (thank God for her, btw, she is seriously awesome) over the past year we both feel like it simply boils down to tummy issues! Cutting dairy from mine and Eleanor's diet made a huge difference (she quit throwing up after every meal, started gaining weight, and her eczema almost completely disappeared!), but she still has terribly inconsistent sleep. Moving forward we plan to remove gluten from our diet for at least 4 weeks and monitor Eleanor's sleep during that time. The good news is she doesn't have an allergy (her symptoms would be much more severe), just some intolerances that she will hopefully outgrow.

Also, I breed non-sleepers. The end.

New this Month: Eleanor went on her second airplane ride when we took a little family vacation to San Diego. She was such a good sport the entire time! She is seriously the easiest baby to take anywhere because she is so happy! The airplane ride, all the stroller sitting at the zoo, car rides, eating out, different bedtime routines at the hotel...you name it, she is just a trooper through it all! Eleanor added two new words to her vocabulary this month: Jack Jack and tickle tickle. I feel like that couldn't sum up her personality any better! She is so playful and adores her big brother. Every morning she gets up and says, "Jack Jack," and then takes off running to his bedroom door. I have to swoop her up before she starts banging on it and wakes him up! She loves music and dancing, being chased and playing outside. She is super interested in any new animal she sees and so far hasn't show any fear (or caution!) to them. She has started to point at objects and is following simple commands. I feel like she understands so much of what we're saying now! She is such a big girl! What of my favorite new things that she does is shake her head no. Her entire body moves with her head like a dog wagging it's tail. It is the cutest! Also, we have discovered very quickly that Eleanor is a bit of a daredevil. She loves to climb on everything and unfortunately has had quite a few accidents! She's bleed more in her first year of life that Jack has in three years! I definitely wouldn't describe this little lady as a caution one...

Eleanor Joy, you are the silliest, sweetest, happiest little girl I have ever known! You have stolen my heart and changed me forever. I couldn't image my life without you. You have completed our family and turned our worlds upside down in the most special way. We simply adore you and your sweet, contagious smile. Thank you for bringing so much joy into our lives. We love you so much, baby girl. Happy Birthday!

Eleanor | 11 Months

I can't even believe that I am writing this 11 month update and that tomorrow morning my baby girl will be ONE... this year has gone by wicked fast and I'm feeling super emotional!! 

 11 month Eleanor likes...

touch and feel books

being rocked to sleep

her binky

being outside

walking everywhere

big brother, Jack

eating 

giving kisses

 11 month Eleanor dislikes...

having anything taken from her

outfit / diaper changes

sleeping ;)

Health: Thank God all the cold and flu viruses we experienced last month were absent this month! Eleanor is a healthy, happy babe. In all 12 month clothes and size 3 diapers. Now that she's walking everywhere I've tried to find her shoes, but she has narrow feet for a baby girl and I find nothing fits her but her brother's old Nike's (his first pair of shoes)...so she's stuck with his hand-me-downs for now!

Nursing: Nursing hasn't really changed much during the day. She nurses before her two naps and before bed...other than that maybe one random nursing session if she's upset. At night, I honestly have no idea because I'm too tired to keep track these days...but I do know it HAS gotten better!

Solids: Eleanor LOVES to eat. Within minutes of waking up in the morning she is signing "more" to me and walking towards the refrigerator to look inside. She loves fruit (strawberries and bananas the most) and meat! Chicken, ground beef, sausage, steak... you name the protein and she'll eat it. I'm actually surprised she doesn't weigh more than she did last month with all the eating she's been doing!

Sleeping: I think the majority of Eleanor's sleep issues last month were due to teething, but Steven and I decided we had to make some changes in the sleeping department nonetheless. I needed a little bit of a break from suppling Eleanor's all you can eat buffet! So now, I nurse Eleanor before bed then Steven takes her and puts her to sleep. If she wakes up anytime before 11 Steven goes back in and puts her down again. After 11 I'm back on duty. And let's face it....I miss her by then and want to snuggle! I'm deranged.. I know. In just a few days of doing this she was sleeping 6:30 - 11:30. Then she just magically knows it's after 11 and she can wake up and mommy will come to her! She's a smart cookie! It has seemed to improve her sleeping though. She is waking less and going down pretty easily for Steven. I've even seen her wake on the monitor and self sooth all on her own. Night time sleep is 6:30 - 6ish and she still takes 2 naps a day.

New this Month: Last month Ellie was just toddling and still preferred crawling most of the time, but this month she is walking everywhere!! It's rare that I see her crawling at all! She is growing up way too quickly.. it's painful. She also loves to climb on everything. Especially chairs she's too small for giving me a mini heart attack on a daily basis. She now signs the word "book" and asks us to read to her at night (although I think she enjoys taking the books on and off the shelf more than reading them). And although "book and "more" are her only signs she is very communicative! She is constantly jabbering and trying to repeat the words were saying. My new favorite thing she does this month is definitely giving kisses. Whenever you make the "mmmm" sound she runs over and gives you a big kiss on the lips and then turns to the next person to do the same to them! Steven, Jack, and I get multiple sweet kisses from her everyday. She is still just my sweet, happy, happy girl. And even when she is fussy and having a bad day I feel like only me and Steven are able to tell. She is simply such a sweet natured little girl!

Happy 11 months, Eleanor Joy! 

You never cease to bring a smile to my face with your happy smile and sweet giggles. 

You make our lives so fun! We love you!!

Eleanor | 10 Months

My sweet, little girl is 10 months old... this is going way too quickly! I cannot believe we are approaching one year :(

 10 month old Eleanor likes...

playing with big brother, Jack

being chased

screaming joyfully at the top of her lungs

her binky

crawling on mommy or Jack's bed

eating lots and lots of solids

peekaboo

books

mommy

 10 month old Eleanor dislikes...

diaper and outfit changes

being put in the carseat (once she's in she's fine)

when mommy leaves the room

eggs

Health: This month was tough in the health department. Jack and Eleanor both got the stomach bug when daddy was away on a business trip! Those were quite the challenging few days for me! I don't think I've ever seen anything as sad as my sweet baby girl puking. She was dry heaving so much that she started throwing up specks of blood. It was devastating :( Everyone is healthy and back to normal now though! On my home scale Eleanor weighs 20lbs. Still in size 3 diapers but has moved up to size 12 clothing.

Nursing: Eleanor has really increased her solid food intake this month so is not nursing as much during the day. I usually nurse her before both her naps and again at night. Maybe a random nursing session for comfort during the day if she needs it. However, she is killing me...KILLING ME...with her nighttime nursing. At least 4 times a night and sometimes more.... (Lord, HELP ME!).

Solids: All this girl wants to do is eat. She learned how to sign "more" and is basically signing it to me every time we walk into the kitchen. She is sooo excited when I put her in her highchair for food. She starts flapping her arms and kicking her legs so hard I think she might actually fly away. Favorites are blueberries, bananas, peas, carrots, bread (girl after my own heart right there), and pretzels. (I probably shouldn't give my 10 month old pretzels but she is OBSESSED! When she hears anything that remotely sounds like your opening a pretzel bad she will come speed crawling from wherever she is in the house to get some. It's pretty funny.)

Eleanor does not like eggs. This makes me sad because Jack and I eat them almost every morning and they're so quick and easy!

Also, we're still avoiding giving her dairy directly until after her first birthday.

Sleeping: Ya'll, Eleanor has officially passed her brother to earn the title of worst sleeper. This girl SUCKS at sleeping. She fights naps (Why?!?! She used to be such a great napper.) and it takes me forever to get her to sleep only to have her wake up 30 minutes later. For night time sleep she is up at least 4 times a night if not more (like every 2 hours). It's hard. So, so hard. We have regressed so much in the sleep department and I am exhausted. However, she did get 2 new teeth this month! (All on the top. So 4 on top and 2 on bottom now.) That's a ton! So my prayer is that teething has had a lot to do with it and her sleep will drastically improve soon.

New this Month: Eleanor took her first independent steps the day she turned 10 months old! Since then she's been practicing everyday and getting more and more confident. She still prefers to crawl everywhere though and she is such a fast crawler! Now, not only does Eleanor clap and wave hi, but this month she started to give high-fives and sign "more" as well. She is still such a social butterfly. She loves smiling and waving at everyone she sees.. and if she really likes you she'll give you an excited, high-pitched scream. Not a dainty squeal, it is most definitely a scream. Haha! She does a lot of babbling but the only word she consistently says is "mama." One of her favorite things to do is to get on mine or Jack's bed and then tumble about and roll over again and again. It's hysterical to watch! Every time I make my bed and throw the pillows on the floor she does the same thing... just dives into my pillows and starts tumbling and rolling about. She also loves being chased and practicing walking by pushing Jack on his tricycle.

This has been such a big month for you, baby girl! I can't believe you are almost walking! Everyday is such an adventure with your joyful smiles and squeals. I love seeing the world through your eyes. Happy 10 months, Eleanor Joy!

Eleanor | 9 Months

9 months was a big one for Eleanor! I feel like we are seeing her own little, unique personality emerge a bit more each day.

 9 month old Eleanor likes...

to smile and wave

peekaboo

being chased

playing on mommy's bed

her binky

being tickled

touch and feel books

 9 month old Eleanor dislikes...

when somebody (Jack) grabs something from her

diaper changes

outfit changes

wearing headbands :(

Health: Eleanor weighs 18lbs and is 28 1/4 in long. She's only gained a pound in the last 3 months but she has grown over 2 inches and is healthy and happy. She is still in size 3 diapers and mostly in 9 month clothes although we did move up a size to 12 months in pajamas. I am happy to report that Eleanor no longer displays signs of reflux. I have added bananas back into her diet, which she seems to tolerate perfectly fine now, but still avoid all dairy that is not baked in. It's crazy to think where she was just 2 months ago with her reflux and other GI complications and how far we've come in such little time.. and how much she's changed!

Nursing: I feel like Eleanor is not nursing as often during the day now but she most definitely is nursing more at night. She is cutting her two top teeth so I'm pretty sure her nighttime snacking is just for comfort due to those pesky teeth! I'd say I nurse Eleanor at least 4-5 a day and 4-5 times at night (I am face-palming right now...believe me).

Solids: Wow! Just last month I felt like I was still force feeding Eleanor when it came to solids. She honestly just had no interest and would clamp her mouth shut every time I tried. But this month it's like all of a sudden her reflux symptoms disappear and girlfriend is loving to eat! It is so nice to see her enjoying eating something other than breastmilk! Haha.. Some favorites are carrots, peas, applesauce, potatoes, prunes, blueberries, and coconut milk freeze dried fruit snacks. I honestly just think that before now solids irritated her reflux symptoms causing uncomfortable flareups, but maybe...possibly...hopefully...she's outgrown her reflux? Praying that's the case!

Sleeping: Eleanor is still taking 2 naps a day. First nap is 2-2.5 hours after she wakes up, and her second nap is 3 hours after waking up from her first nap. It's rare for either nap to be much longer than an hour. For night time sleep.... I don't even know. Baby girl is definitely cutting those two top teeth and she has just been waking up all.the.time. I'm so exhausted that I haven't even been keeping track. I usually bring her into bed with me after the first two night wakings and then just nurse her back to sleep each time she wakes after that. I just want as much rest as possible and do whatever I need to do to get her to sleep again as quickly as I am able to.

New This Month: This has been such a fun month to watch our sweet Eleanor grow! Her personality is through the roof! She loves to smile and laugh and is very social! People always comment on how happy she is when we're out and about together. She is constantly waving and then clapping for herself and squealing with delight at the reactions she gets from other people. She LOVES to play peekaboo and is constantly throwing one of her blankets over her head and will just stay under there until you ask, "Where is Ellie?" It seriously is the cutest thing I've ever seen. She isn't as into books as her brother was at her age, but she definitely will sit still and listen along if you're reading a touch-and-feel book. We read the few touch-and-feel books that we have a couple times a day. She has become obsessed with "Jack's drawer." One of our bottom drawers in the kitchen is just full of Jack's cups, plates, and bowls and she loves to open it and take everything out... multiple times a day, of course :). Also new this month is controlled standing. She hasn't tried taking any steps, but she can pull herself up to a standing position and then ease herself back onto the floor. I remember not long after Jack learned how to do that he was walking. For now Eleanor seems content speed crawling after her brother and cruising along the furniture. She is also very vocal...mama, dada, baba, and lots of other babbling are pretty much heard all throughout the day now.

Eleanor Joy, I love you silly, fun, and adventurous little girl! You bring a smile to my face everyday and I am so grateful for the joy you bring this family every day! Happy 9 months, beautiful girl!

Eleanor | 8 Months

Okay, so THIS is my latest post ever.. I'm posting Eleanor's 8 month update today and hopefully her 9 month update will be posted tomorrow!

8 month old Eleanor likes...

her brother, Jack

mommy

sleeping with mommy

taking baths

being tickled

Jack's toys

Huck and Herschel

her binky

8 month Eleanor dislikes...

Jack taking toys from her

when mommy leaves the room

getting her diaper changed 

sleeping in her crib

Health: No wellness checkup this month. Although Ellie seems taller to me I think she still weighs about 18lbs. She got her first cold this month which was pretty sad. Jack got it first and then promptly infected the entire household. The really big bummer about this bug was its timing... we were scheduled to leave for a week to Jamaica a few days after Jack got sick and ended up having to cancel our trip! Kiddos...ruining all momma's fun!

Nursing: Ellie's nursing habits are pretty much the same. I feel like she nurses a lot but doesn't actually eat very much during the day. She is easily distracted by everything going on around her and who has time to nurse when there is so much to see and do!? Because of this though I think she is still getting a lot of her calories from night time feeding and I am bone tired. Girlfriend loves her 24 hour, all you can eat buffet between the hours of 11pm - 4am.

Solids: This month Eleanor started to show a little more interest in solids. Still doesn't like purees that much but loves to eat anything she can pick up and eat herself. Blueberries, peas, cooked carrots, and now pancakes are her favorites!

Sleeping: If last month was a sleep regression than we're now having a regression during the regression. Eleanor still goes to bed 6p - 6a but is waking A LOT. I'm talking at least every 2-3 hours. It doesn't seem to be reflux that is waking her and keeping her awake at night. I'm not really sure what it is (teething perhaps?) but I pray it passes quickly...

She is still taking 2 naps a day with her second nap being the better of the two. Usually 2 -2.5 hours total of nap time.

New this Month: Eleanor is go, go, go this month! She is constantly on the move crawling anywhere possible, pulling up on any object and then plopping back down on her butt and excitedly crawling off to the next thing. While she's awake she NEVER STOPS MOVING. She's actually is becoming increasingly difficult to cuddle because she is incapable of staying still! Changing her diaper has become a huge challenge ;). Eleanor celebrated her first Thanksgiving this month and did really well letting new people hold her despite her alarmingly strong separation anxiety (I swear Jack wasn't this bad or do I simply not remember right??) On Thanksgiving Day she looked right at her Great Grandma Dee and waved for the first time. Since then she likes to smile and wave at anyone who passes. She loves to hold mommy or daddy's hands and take steps although I'm not a big fan of doing that since I'm convinced I never want her to start walking. We've also discovered this month that Ellie can throw quite the fit if she wants to. If mommy leaves the room without bringing her along or her big brother decides to take a toy from her she will throw herself belly down on the floor and scream while slapping her hands on the ground. It's kind of hysterical but also a bit alarming. Who knew this wee, little girl was going to have such a huge personality!

Eleanor, it is so fun to watch you change and grow. I love seeing your personality emerge a little bit each and every day. We all adore you and can't help but smother you with kisses and hugs all day long. Happy 8 months, baby girl!

Eleanor | 7 Months

Eleanor turned 7 months.. last month!! This is the latest I've even been with an update. I did take the pictures when she turned 7 months.. so now it's just a matter of remembering everything!

7 month old Eleanor likes...

Huck and Herschel

mommy

big brother Jack

raspberries and being tickled

her binky

reading books! (new one)

being rocked 

 7 month Eleanor dislikes...

when mommy leaves the room

being overtired (basically any time after 6pm)

laying still for diaper changes

eating solids

sleeping in her crib

Health: No wellness checkup this month but on my scale she's right around 18lbs. She moved up to size 3 diapers and is still in all 9 month size clothes. As far as dairy is concerned she can still only tolerate baked in dairy through my breastmilk. After doing further food eliminations we also discovered that she has an intolerance/sensitivity to bananas. So I am no longer eating those obviously... Other than that, Ellie is happy and gaining weight although we still occasionally get reflux flare ups that disrupt her sleep and some allergy looking diapers.

Nursing: Our nursing relationship is still going strong at 7 months! She is very easily distracted during the day so I find the best times to feed her are right after naps when she's still a bit drowsy. She has begun to wake more to nurse at night, too. I feel as though she really is hungry for one or two of those feedings because she isn't much of a fan of solids and doesn't nurse well when Jack is around. She definitely is using night feedings to get her calories she missed out on during the day (which is very unfortunate for me!).

Solids: We've experimented a little more with solids this month (peas, rice cereal, carrots), but I honestly think Eleanor simply doesn't like purees. She pretty much refuses to eat them after the first spoonful... but if we give her really soft cooked carrots or peas in small pieces she'll pick them right up and eat them! She still eats very little when it comes to solids though.

Sleeping: I feel as though we regressed a little bit again in the sleep department this month. Instead of waking twice to eat she's now up 3-4 times a night again. Eleanor is consistently inconsistent when it comes to her sleep! She still sleeps about 6pm - 6am but will occasionally have a very early morning here or there (like 5-:30). It's pretty miserable for me to be honest!

She takes 2 naps a day. They could last anywhere from 30 minutes to about 1.5 hours. Usually her second nap is her better one. I'm hoping she does start taking a little bit better naps soon though so we can push her bedtime back to 7 eventually.

New this Month: Eleanor is crawling! I feel like the day after I wrote her 6 month post she basically started full out crawling and now she is a pro. She follows me all around the house on all fours surprisingly fast for her petite little frame! She also starting sticking her tongue out and just making the funniest faces this past month! She still loves to play with all her brothers toys more so than her own and especially loves to slobber all over his pretend food. This is the first month that she's shown interest in books. At bedtime, if she's not overtired already, I'll read her two books while in the rocking chair and she gets so excited --reaching for them and kicking her legs-- but then settles right down and snuggles as I read the story. It's seriously the sweetest and I love that she's starting to show interest in books! And although Eleanor doesn't need to be rocked to fall asleep at night I've been noticing that she definitely prefers to fall asleep that way. But despite not being the best sleeper she sure falls asleep pretty easily! Now just to get her to STAY asleep all night long.... HA!

Eleanor, I love watching you grow month to month! You are just the sweetest little girl I've ever met! I love how easily you laugh and offer up smiles and the fact that you simply adore your momma. I love your silly hairline and that perfect roll you have on your knees. I love everything about you, top to bottom! I am so blessed to be your momma, sweet girl.

Always Be My Baby

Tonight as I put Jack to bed I was overcome with so much emotion. I closed the last page of our bedtime story (Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night?) and looked over at him as his eyes fluttered open and shut, open and shut.... he was trying so hard to hang on, but sleep was creeping up on him quickly. As sleep finally took him, his binky fell out of his mouth and I thought my baby doesn't look so much like a baby these days.

This little boy, clutching his golden retriever stuffed animal and wearing his monkey pajamas, looked so big to me! My heart just ached... he is growing up so quickly and there is nothing I can do about it. Oh, but Lord, how I long to! How I long to shield him from this cruel world and every possible heartbreak within it. How I long to help him maintain his innocence that only a child can possess forever. How I long for him to always put his little hand in mine when we're silently walking side by side together. How I long for him to always call me "Momma."

Yet, at the same time, I long for him to grow up. I want him to experience the richness that this life can offer. I want him to achieve things he never thought he'd be able to and feel pride and joy. I want him to love. I want him to overcome fears and hardships with dignity and grace. I even want him to fail a little bit from time to time so he remains humble and can see that he can rise up from the ashes of defeat. I want him to live a full life, but in order to do that he has to grow up.

And isn't this the constant pull as a mother? We want them to always be our baby's but also we want to see them grow up to become the beautiful people we know they were created to be. They are pieces of our soul living outside of us who we want nothing more than to harness back in but know we need to let them grow --to nurture and instill as much goodness, faith, kindness, gentleness, and love into as we can --but, ultimately, let them go.

I never want to let him go.

So tonight my prayers for this beautiful, little boy were accompanied by tears. I prayed for his future and for the man he will one day become, but I also prayed a prayer of gratitude and thanksgiving that this little being is my son. That I get to wake up every morning to hear the pitter-patter of his still chubby little feet running down the hall... That I get chocolate cookie mouth kisses... That I get squeals of delight and tickle fights... That I get to play trucks and choo-choo till my back is sore from bending over... That I get to see things as new and exciting through his eyes... That I get to read bedtime stories and give goodnight hugs...

Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to be this little boys Momma. Help me to be a good one.

Eleanor | 6 Months

I cannot believe my little Eleanor Joy is 6 months old! How did half a year already fly by?? She is still the happiest baby I've ever met. Super sweet and always ready to give anyone the most perfect smile who looks her way.

Eleanor Joy likes...

taking all the diapers and other supplies out of the diaper caddy...everyday...multiple times a day...

her brother's toys

mommy

Huck and Herschel

the exersaucer

lotion messages

"chasing" Jack

her binky

the ergo

Eleanor Joy dislikes...

when mommy leaves the room

eating solids

sleeping in her crib

Health: Ellie weighed 17lbs and measured in at 26 3/4 in. at her 6 month wellness check up! She's gained 5lbs in the two months since I've cut dairy from my diet. She still can only tolerate baked in dairy through my breastmilk while cheese, butter, and all other forms of dairy are still a fail. She is doing so much better though! She is still in size 2 diapers (although I think we're almost ready to move up a size), but is now in all 9 month clothing.

Nursing: I have no idea how often Eleanor nurses during the day. I quit trying to keep track. She is very squirmy and easily distracted while eating so I feel like we do a lot of quick nursing sessions many times a day. At night she has gone back to only nursing 2 times.

Solids: Eleanor tried solids for the first time this month! Her first food was sweet potato, and since then we've tried banana, avocado, applesauce and pears. She hates it all and usually refuses to open her mouth after the first taste! What a difference from her brother who seemed to never stop eating once he got that first taste of solids!

Sleeping: I don't even want to talk about it... I seriously think I breed the world's worst sleepers. When Ellie hit 6 months we were on a good sleep schedule. She was napping well and doing okay-ish at night. She just moves sooooo dang much in her sleep and is almost crawling, so I decided it was no longer safe for her to nap in my bed and starting putting her in her crib for all naps and the beginning of her nighttime sleep. OH.MY.WORD. We have some serious sleep issues now. Girlfriend does not like her crib...

She is still doing 2 naps (sometimes 3) a day but will only sleep for 30-40 minutes at a time in her crib. On a bad day, she gets 1 hour total of naps. On a good day (meaning Steven's home and I can hold her after she wakes up to finish napping...) she gets 1.5 - 2 hours tops. It's bad, ya'll. And I know she can self sooth because I've seen her do it while spying on her like a crazy person through the monitor! 

At night, I put her in her crib and sometimes she'll give me a 6 hour stretch before waking to nurse. At that point I move her to my bed, nurse her, and she usually will wake one more time to nurse before morning. Lately, though, she is fighting being put in her crib for nighttime sleep, too. I'll rock her, put her in crib, she wakes up anywhere from just a few minutes to 40 minutes later and I have to start rocking her all over again. But if I just put her in my bed for the night right away she sleeps like a rock (a squirmy rock) for a good 6 hours before she nurses. 

We were doing so well before I made the switch to her crib... *sigh*

New This Month: Eleanor is ALMOST crawling. She scoots / army crawls where she wants to go and is pretty good at it! She will get up on all fours and rock back and forth, too. So, so close! She loves bouncing in her exersaucer and just being around the family... including the animals. When she sees Steven she just stares as if she's in awe (like in the picture above) and gives him the sweetest smile. She definitely still prefers her momma but is fascinated by her daddy and big brother, Jack. She is happy to play all day.. who needs naps anyways?!?! When she first tried solids she wasn't too impressed, but now she just downright refuses them. She does love to sit in her highchair and be apart of the dinner table discussions along with everyone else. Also this month I've noticed that she seems to no longer mind being put in her carseat! Very rarely will she cry when being put it. Now she just contently enjoys the ride or takes a quick snooze. But, hands down, the best thing about this month was her saying her very first word...."MAMA"!!!!!

Eleanor you are the sweetest, little girl and I am so glad that you are mine! My world has become a better place with you in it. I'm so glad I get to be your MAMA! Happy half birthday, baby girl!

Eleanor | 5 Months

*RANT* Why is it that I take Eleanor's monthly photos on the 4th of every month without fail but I cannot, CANNOT, get my act together to write these updates in a timely manner?!? She is growing and changing so much month to month and I'm going to forget it all!!! I want a Peter Pan baby that just stays little forever... *END RANT*

Eleanor is 5 months old and simply a superstar. She is the sweetest, most happy and content baby. She truly is such a joy to me and Steven (and even Jack Jack)!

 Eleanor Joy likes...

getting her diaper changed

any and all toys

the exersaucer

Huckleberry & Herschel

lotion messages

the ergo

her binky

mommy

 Eleanor Joy dislikes...

anyone holding her but mommy or daddy

her car seat

Health: After Eleanor was diagnosed with reflux at her 4 month wellness checkup, my naturopath suspected a possible dairy intolerance and I immediately cut out diary from my diet. I saw a noticeable difference within just 72 hours. Her spitting up completely stopped and although she still burped often I could tell that the gas was no longer causing her discomfort. Her stool went from a runny green to the more normal yellow infant color (TMI? Oops) and she started having bowel movements once a day instead of 1 or 2 times a week! What a difference! At her 5 month weight check she was 15lbs on the dot. That's almost a 3lb weight gain.. that made for one happy, happy momma!! It feels so good to see some chub on my little girl. Since then I've been slowly putting dairy back into my diet. So far baked in dairy has been a pass but cheese and butter were fails.

Ellie is still mostly in size 3-6 month clothes but has already moved up to 9 month sleepers. Still in size 2 diapers.

Nursing: At her 4 month wellness checkup we also decided that more frequent, smaller feedings might be better for Eleanor and her spit up issues since I have an overactive supply. So I've been nursing her about every 2-2.5 hours versus every 3 hours. I basically just read her cues though and nurse on demand whenever that might be.

At night she has gone from 2 nursing sessions to 3 and it is a definite buzz kill...

Sleeping: Eleanor has finally settled into a great nap schedule making it much easier for me to manage my time juggling her and Jack! She takes a morning catnap (30-45 minutes) about 2 hours after she wakes up and then a long afternoon nap (anywhere from 2-3 hours). Sometimes she might even take a second catnap (30 minutes) in the evening before bedtime if one of her earlier naps was cut short.

For nighttime she is sleeping from 6pm-6am but with 3 night wakings to nurse!!! So she's definitely regressed from last month! Super bummed.. could be the 4 month sleep regression? Teething? Separation anxiety? Learning a new skill? Who knows but I am not a fan!

Also, Ellie is still a tummy sleeper but OH.EM.GEE. this girl moves soooooo much in her sleep. Constantly rolling over and changing from right side up, to sideways, then right side up again..

We co-sleep because I am mentally insane.

New this Month: This month Eleanor starting sitting up all on her own like a champ. I love to see her sitting there, toes pointed, reaching for her toys! She is just content to sit all day and watch Jack Jack play or Huckleberry and Herschel walk by. When she gets excited she squeals at the top of her lungs which never fails in getting Jack to laugh and then they both have the cutest little laughing fit. She enjoys jumping in her exersaucer and grabbing anything and everything and sticking it right in her mouth. We got out the highchair this month for her to sit in while we eat at the table.. she definitely likes being apart of the family dining experience and slaps at all our food and mimics us chewing. I know she's ready for solids but I'm not ready and am procrastinating :(. She also had her first stroller ride in the actual stroller seat vs her carseat. Wasn't too sure how she felt about that one! Bath time has gotten so much better though as she no longer freaks out the whole time but actually plays and has even cracked a few smiles for me here and there while in the tub ;). She definitely is a momma's girl and is not happy when I walk out of her sight. If she's on her belly she will do a complete 360 to find out where I've gone to! 

Saved the best picture for last...

Eleanor, we love every minute spent with you! You are happy, curious, and so quick to smile. You bring so much light into our lives and we simply adore you! Love you to the moon and back, Eleanor Joy!

Eleanor | 4 Months Old

Eleanor turned 4 months old last week... this has definitely been the biggest month for Eleanor developmentally. Girl wants to be on the move!

 Weight: 12lbs 9oz

Height: 25in

 Eleanor Joy likes...

mommy

toys 

(especially her brown+pint crinkle blankie)

diaper changes
her binky

naps in the ergo

watching Jack play
and her mommy
did I mention her mommy?

Eleanor Joy dislikes...

when mommy leaves

loud noises

being put down

anyone but mommy ;)

Health: Eleanor is now completely in size 3-6 month clothes and she moved up into size 2 diapers. Unfortunately, my gut feeling was confirmed at her 4 month wellness checkup and it looks like my little love has reflux. I knew Eleanor spit up what seems to be mass quantities of milk after every feeding and the burping issue that I mentioned before has only seemed to get worse. That fact and along with some other suspect systems (arching her back, interrupted sleep due to gas, screaming before and after spitting up, etc.) had me worried but I was praying it was simply me being paranoid. Ellie is such a sweet, happy baby most of the time it's hard for me to imagine anything was wrong. But when the doctor put her on that scale my heart just sunk. Eleanor isn't gaining weight at the rate she should be. I knew it...but now that it's been confirmed by her doctor we're taking some necessary steps in hopes that the reflux will subside. I immediately eliminated dairy from my diet and started Eleanor on a infant probiotic. I'm also just carrying her a lot more so that she can remain upright longer after a feeding in hopes of not losing her entire meal by spitting up. Praying that progress is made with these adjustments by her next weight check appointment in 2 weeks.

Nursing: No change here during the day.. Eleanor still nurses about every 3 hours. Nights, however, are a different story. Ellie and I flew to NY for my brother Justin's wedding and during our stay she started waking an extra time at night...about 5 hours after falling asleep instead of the 7-8 hour stretch she usually did. She falls right back to sleep after her first feeding and then wakes to eat again 3-4 hours later. Could be that the trip messed up her sleep schedule a bit, could be teething or the 4 month sleep regression, or maybe even another symptom of reflux! Who knows! I'm just thankful she goes right back to sleep with no fuss after feeding each time.

Sleeping:  I definitely don't think Eleanor is getting enough sleep during the day so she's been making up for it at night by falling asleep even earlier! She's out by 6 or 6:30 every night now! That's pretty darn early... Most nights she's waking up around 11 to nurse and then again around 3. She is up for the day by 6:30 usually. I can't complain --12 hours with only 2 night wakings is bliss compared to her brother who at one point was waking 8 times a night to nurse!! I still am not sure how I survived that one.

And despite my efforts, Eleanor is officially a tummy sleeper. She actually has been for a while now but I would gently roll her back onto her side or back. Now that has become pointless because as soon as I walk away she rolls back onto her tummy. She also still loves to sleep covered in a million blankets. I let her fall asleep that way and then I go in and remove all the blankets for the night. She is so cute when she sleeps it's hard for me to get anything done.

New this Month: So much! Eleanor did great on her first plane ride. Hardly made a peep and when she did she simply smiled and cooed at everyone who looked her way. I even had a gentleman tell me that she had given him baby fever ;)! She met lots of friends and family while traveling and was seriously just the best little traveling companion ever. Developmentally, Eleanor has been rolling both ways like it's her job! She enjoys playing on her belly and reaching for toys. She can even get her knees up under her like she's trying to crawl away (stop it! just stop it already!) Anything she grabs immediately goes into her slobbery, teething mouth. She also discovered her feet and toes this month, which is always cute! Also, girlfriend can talk! I always thought Jack was such a chatterbox at this age, but I think she's got him beat. She is always cooing up a storm to anyone who will listen. And those legs! Always kicking them making me believe she might just stand straight up and run away! She is a wiggle worm for sure. Also, I don't know if separation anxiety can be a thing this young... but Ellie definitely has it. When I leave the room she puts on the cutest sad face and just starts bawling. It's pretty much adorable...

Even with the reflux issues, Eleanor is such a happy, content baby. I feel so blessed to have her as my daughter. She is so easy to make smile and laugh. Every time she wakes up she smiles and looks at me as if I've been gone for years and she's just so ecstatic I'm back now! I love this sweet girl so much!

Happy 4 months, Eleanor Joy!

You are adored by each of us so very much!

Eleanor | 3 Months Old

Eleanor turned 3 months old on July 4th. My sweet girl is growing up and changing so quickly that I've started taking notes on my phone so I can remember all the new developments and when they happened!

 3 month old Ellie likes...

naps in the Ergo

any and all baby toys

her binky

being wrapped up to her head in blankets

cooing and talking up a storm

her mommy

3 month old Ellie dislikes...

bath time

loud noises

not being able to see mommy

Health: No wellness checkup this month so we just did measurements at home. I weighed her right on July 4th and she was about 12lbs and 24in on the dot. Still in size 1 diapers and almost completely wearing 3-6 month clothes.

Nursing: Eleanor still nurses about every 3 hours during the day and only waking once to eat at night. I do think she has started teething this month, resulting in some fussiness and tugging while nursing. But she is still a great eater and likes to stick to her 3 hour nursing schedule!

Sleeping: Eleanor has actually slept straight through the night a couple times this month! WooHoo! Most nights though she is asleep by 6:30-7, waking once to eat, and then starting her day at 6:30 or 7. I can't complain about that! 12 hours at night is a dream come true to me!! I feel as though her gas issues have gotten a little better and she is stirring less at night because she needs to burp. Now if she stirs I can usually get away with just putting her binky back in and she'll settle herself.

For naps...I've been trying to ensure Ellie gets 3 naps a day. Less than that and this girl can't hang till her 6:30 bedtime! Naps are still a challenge though because she startles so easily and Jack tends to have one volume: LOUD! The easiest way for me to help her get a good nap is by wearing her in the Ergo. She absolutely loves it and in asleep almost instantly and will usually nap 1 1/2 to 2 hours in it every morning. Her second nap happens around noon (or whenever Jack goes down for his nap), and then her last nap is hit or miss in the evenings.

New this Month: A lot of new developments this month for little miss Ellie! She was able to meet Nana and Papa Carroll for the first time in June when they came to visit for a couple weeks. She definitely enjoyed all the extra snuggling and time spent in people's arms. This girl doesn't ever want to be put down if it can be avoided ;)! The day she turned 9 weeks old she rolled from her belly to back. She doesn't do it often but can now officially roll from belly to back and back to belly! Her hand eye coordination is really improving and she is expertly reaching and grasping for her toys. If her hands aren't busy playing with a toy, she's using them to explore mommy's face or trying her darnedest to fit both fists completely in her mouth. Also, this month she discovered the joys of the mirror. Put her in front of that thing and she'll smile and coo nonstop. Probably my favorite development this month though was hearing those first giggles! Ellie is ticklish right under that adorable little chin and also on her tummy. I can't help but blow raspberry after raspberry to hear this girl's sweet giggle!

Happy 3 month, Eleanor Joy! 

You are such a happy, smiley little girl. 

We are so lucky to call you ours.