Elizabeth Johnson Camozzi

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 teacher friend, Andrew

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!

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

They quickly bonded

She loved his chin!

Ella Mae continues to  entertain us with her many expressions!

The face she makes as she buzzes her lips

Curious

Happy girl

Thoughtful about her words

Heart-melting joy

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

Chewing constantly

Chewing anything for relief

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

Observant

Content

Loud!

Asleep

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

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??

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 car seat bunting

Fall walk!

Weighing 11 pounds, 3 ounces, Ella Mae continues to grow!  This week, she went on many walks with friends, spent tummy-times rolling from front to back, and chatted away!    The walks below are with dad, mom, godparent Michael and Eve, and high-school friend Sonja Orban!  She is clearly growing through her fourth month, and showing it by hitting “reset” on her sleep settings…we have invested in caffeine as parents.

This week, our little pumpkin enjoys pulling everything to her mouth.  EVERYTHING.  During tummy-time, she grabs all things in sight and num-num’s on them (drool is everywhere), and loves sucking on anyone’s fingers.  During walks, she chews on anything in sight with wide grins.  She also loves staring at reflections in the mirror and coos at other babies (most days).  She’s discovered naps: once in the morning and once in the afternoon- and  this has made for a much happier Ella Mae!

Reflection time!

Fall walks with Nola dog

the joy of naps!

The biggest transition this week was getting a monitor and putting Ella Mae in her own crib and room.  Jeff and I thought that it would be a challenging transition.  We had the game-plan ready: put her in a pack-n-play and slowly move it closer toward the nursery and further from our room.  On the night of the change, she cried for an hour straight- clearly exhausted- and we finally gave up and put her in the crib.  Within minutes she was completely asleep and slept through the night, waking once. This is the new trend!  7:30 is our new bed time and she wakes up once (sometimes twice) in the middle of the nigh, rising at 7:30 to begin the day!  We are all quite happy with the new routine, and the monitor allows us a little more freedom in the evenings.

monitor! Sleep!

Ella Mae also met her future playmate: Kalen Thomas Lavelle, born early Saturday morning.  He is such a handsome little fellow!  She has visited a few times now, and they seem to get along quite well-considering that he is only a few days old 🙂

Mom, Kalen, Ella Mae,and Shawn (new dad!)

Ella Mae and daddy!

If you stop by our home, you’ll be sure to be greeted with many bubbles and spit noises.  Ella Mae loves meeting new friends with her ‘farty noise’ sounds!

Cuddles in her fall jacket as we watch leaves falling

“Little Bits” as we call her, is growing!  She had her 4-month check-up today and weighed in at 10 pounds 12 ounces (2nd percentile), measured at 23 inches (10th percentile) and had a 15 1/2 inch head circumference (33rd percentile).  Though still tiny, the doctor has no issues.  She is showing all developmental signs, eats heartily and smiles generously.  She loved being in her doctors arms, and didn’t cry too long as she got her next round of immunizations!

This week we spent time with friends, like Ari at Centennial Park in Edina (lovely connected lakes!), had many snuggles together (trying on her new snowsuit- a little big for her still…), and spent time in our old neighborhood in South Minneapolis (Powderhorn park, so beautiful).  Ella has been drooling up a storm, ‘chewing’ (we call it “nom-noming”)on anything possible, and reaching for toys during tummy time.  She can roll from belly to back and back to side, and is sleeping in a larger crib to allow for lots of movement!  (She sleeps with all arms and legs akimbo, and often we wake up in the middle of the night to see that she’s rotated in bed!  How??)  She continues to make us giggle and smile, especially when SHE giggles and smiles!

A walk to Powderhorn Park, where we lived pre-Ella

A walk with Ari, who enjoyed chats with Ella Mae

Nom nom nom! And yes, that’s her hand, my fingers AND the nuk in her mouth!

Getting ready with her winter bunting! Bear ears!!

Tummy time, she’s getting stronger each week!

Back home!  Ella Mae weighed in at 10 pounds, 11 ounces this week.  She spent good time with Cassie our babysitter, Chelsea (due very soon!) at Como Zoo, and Adrianne baking cupcakes!  We have been working on morning and afternoon naps, and she seems to be growing with the amount of milk she’s taking in and the frequent wakings in the middle of the night.  Pretty soon, she will need to move out of the bassinet and into a crib!  This upcoming week, Ella Mae will get her 4-month check-up and shots.  Wish us luck!

Time at Como zoo with a very pregnant Chelsea!

Baking cupcakes with Adrianne! Such fun!

Cuddles outside with Cassie. Ella Mae LOVED watching the big trucks go by on the street.

This week, Ella Mae became an cross-country traveler!  We jet-set to California to surprise grandma and grandpa for Martha’s birthday!  She earned herself a pair of wings and a “first flight” certificate from the airline crew.  While there, Ella showed off her fabulous strength and charming smiles.  She even met her cousin Elise, auntie Anna and uncle Isaac!

Tired girl, the day before heading out to California

Ella’s first flight!

Time with grandma Martha (GrandMartha, as we say!)

Cuddles with grandpa Don

Checking in on sailboat races (grandpa’s hobby!)

Bathtime with grandmartha!

Beat the heat in style!

Mad skills at tummy-time (she reached for the toys!)

Afternoon coffee and burps!

We think she’s getting some of grandpa’s traits

The cousins meet! Isaac, Elise (20 months), Anna (due in December), and our little family

Lunch with the family: Jeff, uncle Isaac, grandpa, grandma and aunt Anna

She’s hit the 10 pound mark!  Weighing in at 10 pounds and 1 1/2 ounces, Ella Mae is discovering more and more of the world around her!  This week: she giggled out loud, loved staring at her hands (and grew confused when they pulled things out of her mouth), and changed her sleeping habits.  Now waking more and eating more heartily, little bird is ready to GROW!  We hope that she returns to sleeping through most of the night…

Ella Mae’s neck is getting stronger by the day- she pops up during tummy-time and stares at the world!  She enjoyed yoga with her friend, Micah, and took many walks as the weather grew colder.  She’s not sure what to think of the crunchy leaves during walks, though.  This Saturday, we change from counting weeks to counting months, she’ll be three months on the 14th!

Welcome to fall, Ella Mae!

Dinner with daddy

After yoga with Micah and Lauren!

What a week!  Ella Mae and I celebrated the first day of school by watching the neighborhood kids return from their first day.  She was quite interested in all of the noises!  We went on several walks and saw many friends this week.  We also celebrated mom’s 30th birthday.   Things we’ve noticed: she is loving things that move, including other babies.  She also loves to chew on anything, but her favorite chew-toy is daddy’s hands (ick!)  This week, we’ll weigh in again as we celebrate her third month!!  Such a growing girl!

The dads and their babes: Jeff, Mac, Robbie, and Ella Mae

Ella Mae and Chelsea- next month she'll meet Chelsea's son!

Dancing outside at Lake Harriet in Deej's arms

Snuggled up in Jenny's arms

On her mom's birthday, Ella Mae saw the famous spoon and cherry!

Chewing on dad's hands-what a good sport!

I'm 10 weeks!

Our little girl is growing up!  Still hovering right below the 10 pound mark, she is exploring and excitedly making more connections in her little world!

This week, Ella Mae began to notice mirrors, especially mom’s smile on the other side.  She also began to
spend larger amounts of time amused with the mobile above her bed, made by her loving grandMaratha 🙂  She seems very interested in moving objects this week.

She beat the Minnesota heat under the brim of her new sunhat, given by her godmother Eve, looking adorable as always!

One of her parents’ favorite new skills is the beginning of self-soothing.  Ella Mae will begin to fuss during tummy-time, but quickly her fussing will turn to gurgles at the nearby animals and toys.  What joy!  EM 10 talking to birds

Her coos now include moving the mouth in new shapes and exploring their new sounds.  She talks to us frequently and flirts often with those big eyes.

When dad is home from work, she spends good time reading.  I caught dad informing her that she should read the words in her head.  Soon dad, soon. Next week we celebrate mom’s 30th birthday, and she is honestly the best gift one could ask for.