Ella Mae: 22 Weeks

I am 22 weeks old!

I am 22 weeks old!

Little bird continues to grow!  This week was a whirlwind of activity: visiting her great-grandmother Elaine, meeting Pastor Ryan to discuss her upcoming baptism and seeing friends big and small.  We had a brief foray into solid foods this week, and continue to encourage her to sit up on her own!

Visiting great-grandma Elaine.

Visiting great-grandma Elaine.

Great-grandma was touched by the visit

Great-grandma was touched by the visit

She was quick to introduce her great-granddaughter to everyone in the home!

She was quick to introduce her great-granddaughter to everyone in the home!

It was a sweet visit- we'll be back soon!

It was a sweet visit- we’ll be back soon!

Ella Mae also began trying out solids- with a very watered down rice cereal (thanks for the advice, Aunt Anna!)  It was very fun watching the food go everywhere and Ella Mae tried her best to control the spoon as well!  We’ve decided to wait until she can sit up on her own fully (she’s almost there!) before introducing more solids to her.

bibbing up and ready to go!

bibbing up and ready to go!

dad models how to eat

dad models how to eat

First attempt....

First attempt….

not so sure...

not so sure…

but she's a good sport!

but she’s a good sport!

What a look!

What a look!

Pastor Ryan of Bethlehem Covenant stopped by this week to discuss her upcoming baptism.  Ella Mae loved her cuddles, his glasses and tickles!

Ella Mae and Pastor Ryan

Ella Mae and Pastor Ryan

Reading the text together

Reading the text together

Tickles!!

Tickles!!

We had a playdate with Micah, as well!  Being that Micah is one month older than Ella Mae, Micah’s movements are watched intensely and Ella Mae attempts to copy them when we get home.  Thanks to our little friend, she’s now rolling from her  back to tummy! (I credit Micah because he was such a roly-poly during our last time together.)

Playtime with Micah!
Playtime with Micah!
Swapping secrets?

Swapping secrets?

Good old soccer match

Good old soccer match

We had friends over for games and dinner.  Ella Mae loved the extra loving!

Dave and Amy

Ella Mae with Dave and Amy 

Chris

Chris and the koala 🙂

 

 

While home, Ella Mae enjoyed her walks with mom, attempts at sitting up, and cuddles!

I can roll back to tummy AND tummy to back!

I can roll back to tummy AND tummy to back!

Thanks to our friend Erin for the warm hat- we need it for walks!

Thanks to our friend Erin for the warm hat- we need it for walks!

I can sit up...and fall over...

I can sit up…and fall over…

I reach for things!

I reach for things!

I chew on things...

I chew on things…

 

And I cuddle with mama

And I cuddle with mama

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ella Mae: Week 21

I'm 21 weeks old!

I’m 21 weeks old!

“babymageddon!” This was a frequent text between Jeff and I this week.  With teething in full-swing (and no tooth in sight), Ella Mae has tested every limit of fatigue and patience.  Her speciality is 3am, and often right when we are on the brink of deep sleep.  Poor thing has no idea how to soothe herself, and on top of it, she’s re-learning her sleep cycles.

snuggles with mamma

snuggles with mama

Ella Mae reaches for us when we enter a room.  She loves her reflection and snuggling into mama while around crowds.  She shows clear signs of getting tired for naptimes (two a day, if we’re lucky!) and continues to munch on anything around her.

Tired eyes

Tired eyes

At 12 pounds, 14 ounces, she continues to grow and make us smile- even if she’s trying!  She plays on tummy-time, pushing up and doing many superman’s (laying on her tummy, arms akimbo, waving all limbs).

Superman!

Superman!

Push-ups

Push-ups

Drooly girl!

Drooly girl!

 

Watching for Nola dog

Watching for Nola dog

 

When happy, she giggles freely and is quite interested in the other babies around her.  She was very gentle with Kalen, we were surprised!

Gentle times with Kalen

Gentle times with Kalen

No, sweets.  He is not a chew toy...

No, sweets. He is not a chew toy…

 

Ella Mae: Week 20

Ladybug

Ladybug

From Halloween to daylight savings to full-blown November, Ella Mae has had an exciting 20th week!  She now weighs 12 pounds, 4.5 ounces and is standing with help.  She loves reaching for everything around her (and putting it in her mouth!), feeling mom and dad’s faces, giggling, and staring at anything that moves.  She greets us every morning with a wide grin, and is our little barnacle as the day wears on!

Baby's first Halloween!

Baby’s first Halloween!

This week, Jeff put together the exersaucer.  Ella Mae was quite unsure about it at first, keeping her hands inside and staring apprehensively at all of the toys.  We showed her how to touch and play with the different elements, and sure enough the next day she was playing with each of the parts that she saw mom and dad model the day before!

Unsure of all of these parts!

Unsure of all of these parts!

Holding her hands, Ella Mae was unsure of the exersaucer....

Holding her hands, Ella Mae was unsure of the exersaucer….

Daddy showed her how to play!

Daddy showed her how to play!

She looked to us for help

She looked to us for help

She was definitely curious about the toys!

She was definitely curious about the toys!

 

But in time she began to explore

But in time she began to explore

 

She also is growing quite enthusiastic about Nola dog.  Now that the tables have turned, Nola is not as quick to sniff her, knowing that a baby hand will reach out and grab for her fur!

Ella Mae loves Nola dog!

Ella Mae loves Nola dog!

Ella Mae also played with Micah (son of our friends Lauren and Dylan) and Kalen (son of friends Chelsea and Shawn) this week!  We caught her holding hands with both of the boys, little flirt!  It was cute to watch the three children interact at such different stages of development!

Ella Mae and the boys Kalen and Micah

Ella Mae and the boys Kalen and Micah

Play time!

Play time!

 

Each doing their own thing!

Each doing their own thing!

Little flirt!

Little flirt!

She loved watching Kalen

She loved watching Kalen

Her old friend, Micah

Her old friend, Micah

Walks grow colder, but we prepare in Minnesota with many buntings and warm clothes.  Ella Mae continues to sleep through many walks.  Looks comfy in there!

Brrrrrr!!  The last of the leaves fell this week!

Brrrrrr!! The last of the leaves fell this week!

Ella Mae: Week 19

EM 19 travel 2

Road trip!!!  This week was almost entirely spent out of town, first traveling to Chicago for a music conference (for Liz) and then continuing to Evanston (outer Chicago) for Jeff’s work.  Ella Mae is growing more and more comfortable with long trips, though she is definitely not a car baby (even with many stops, she cried often during the longer spells in the car).

During the music conference, Ella Mae won many hearts from loved colleagues.  She was serenaded by Nyssa’s beautiful voice, and held by Andrew for an hour straight while we sang choral music.  Completely calm in his arms, Ella Mae loved being held by Andrew and others!

Ella Mae and music friend, Andrew

Ella Mae and music teacher friend, Andrew

Ella Mae being sung lullabies by Nyssa- it worked!!

Nyssa sang Ella Mae lullabies- it worked!!

She loved our hotel rooms with a view.  Best. Tummy. Time. Ever!  Also during tummy time- she’s raising her bottom high in the air, balancing on her knees and then rocking to her front.  When we hold her hands, she locks her knees and stands confidently!

Hotel living!

Hotel living!

I placed her quilt right by the floor to ceiling window- she watched trucks and people all day!

I placed her quilt right by the floor to ceiling window- she watched trucks and people all day!

Also while in Chicago, we were able to meet up with Aunt Kelly and Uncle Luke Johnson!  We had a blast together: Luke is a baby magnet as you can see, and Kelly was loving and curious about little one’s muscles.  Aunt Kelly knows a lot about movement, it was cute to watch!  (I promise to find pictures of Kelly with Ella Mae as well!)

First meeting uncle Luke

First meeting uncle Luke

They quickly bonded

They quickly bonded

She loved his chin!

She loved his chin!

Ella Mae continues to  entertain us with her many expressions!

The face she makes as she buzzes her lips

The face she makes as she buzzes her lips

Curious

Curious

Happy girl

Happy girl

Thoughtful about her words

Thoughtful about her words

Heart-melting joy

Heart-melting joy

Teething continues- we cannot wait for a tooth to break the skin to give her some relief!

Chewing constantly

Chewing constantly

Chewing anything for relief

Chewing anything for relief

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ella Mae: Week 18

Ella Mae 18 sitting

 

Continuing to inch up the 11 pound scale (11 pounds, 9 ounces!), Ella Mae is growing right in front of our eyes!  Her expressions captivate us, and we celebrate the tiny things, like giggles and wide-eyed discoveries!

Chatty

Chatty

Observant

Observant

Content

Content

Loud!

Loud!

Asleep

Asleep

 

Cautious

Cautious

Ella Mae is also beginning teething- shown by constantly chewing on things, bright red cheeks, tugging ears, and of course, sleepless nights.  She finds comfort in our rubbing her gums and giving her chilly things to chew. No signs of a tooth yet, though!

Red cheeked teether

Red cheeked teether

Chewing on her fist while Maddie swings her

Chewing on her fist while Maddie swings her

Ella Mae also is loving that cute baby in the mirror!  We find her stopping during tummy-time to admire her reflection.  She’ll stop dead in a passionate fit to coo at her reflection.  What a silly girl!

Who is that in the mirror??

Who is that in the mirror??

Autumn continues in chilly Saint Paul.  Our daily walks are full of color and falling leaves.  Many thanks to creative friends like Erin who knit her warm (and cute!) hats!

Cuddled warmly in her carseat bunting

Cuddled warmly in her car seat bunting

Fall walk!

Fall walk!