4 months

Elle is actually 4 1/2 months today, but she had her 4 month check-up yesterday.

Here are her stats:

Weight: 12 lbs, 4 oz

Height, er, Length: 24 1/4 inches

Head: 15 3/4 inches

She is in the 20% percetile for weight, the 50th for length, and the 20th for head circumference. She is growing like a weed and the doctor said she looked perfect! She checked out her neck/head and said that she saw absolutely no cause for concern, so we are thankful for that.

Elle got three shots yesterday and did cry some, but she calmed down quickly and has been doing well. Noah stayed with her for a couple of hours last night and said that she was really fussy the whole time, but she seemed okay once I got home. She has not had a fever and slept from 10 PM to 8 AM!!! Happy Birthday to me! She woke up around 4 AM, but I gave her her pacifier and she went back to sleep. I am smart enough not to think this is going to start happening every night, but I will take what I can get!




Elle, here is what you are up to at 4 months.

You are very active and love to look around at everything. Most of the time you move you head back and forth, back and forth in an effort not to miss anything.

Because of the long car rides on our trip to the mountains, you now have a bald spot on the back of your head. It makes Mommy sad that your hair is falling out and she hopes it will grow back in quickly.

You love, love your Exersaucer! You can almost completely reach the bottom now and love to chew on the flower. You talk a lot while you are in it and it is sometimes hard to decipher if you are having fun or if you're ready to get out :)



You have the most beautiful blue eyes and the longest lashes! Everyone always comments on the amount of hair you have and your long eyelashes.

You are such a happy baby and will smile at almost anyone! You love to be talked to in a baby voice and will smile and wave your hands around.



You like to sit in your Bumbo while Daddy and I eat lunch/dinner. You never did like to be in your Bouncy Seat, and always insist on being right up in the action.



You have rolled over many times and I am now having to be very careful where I set you. You have very strong legs and love to stand up all the time.



You really enjoy your bath time and love to splash around and giggle!

You are such a scaredy cat and startle very easily! You do not like the word 'Boo' (just ask MiMi) and don't like when people sneeze. It has become a joke around our house that you have to sneeze into a pillow or go out into the garage!

You are still sleeping in your Pack N Play in Mommy and Daddy's room and usually sleep from 9 PM - 3 AM and then again from 3:30 AM - 7:30 AM. If Mommy is lucky, you will go back down for another hour or so and then we get up for the day. You are always very happy in the mornings and love to smile and coo!

You had your first cold while we were in Red River and it lasted about a week and a half. It broke Mommy and Daddy's heart and we are so glad you are feeling better.

Your nicknames are Elle Belle, Elle B, Addy, and E.

You love to watch tv and are especially captivated by sports - which your Daddy loves! You have been cheering on your Aggies and they are doing well so far!



You are a true joy and we love you with all our hearts! Happy 4 1/2 months baby girl!

Red River, Little Ag, and a 'Rolling' Stone

Needless to say, we made it back from our first family vacation, uh, I mean trip to Red River, NM. I was informed today in our Square One group that once you have kids, you take TRIPS, not vacations! :) I have to say that I must agree! We truly had a great time though. Elle did very well on the front portion of the trip, but by the ride home she was very, very tired of riding in the car.

Our first stop was Perryton, where we stayed with Noah's friend from high school, Seth, and his wife Candice and their three girls. Noah and Seth were able to go duck hunting, which was really fun for them. We stayed the next night with Noah's cousin Jason and his wife Amber and their two kids. It is always fun to live the "country life" in the panhandle when we get the chance.

The Cousins



We spent three nights in Red River in a cabin right by the river - which we loved! It was nice and cool and we soaked in as much of it as we possibly could. We spent a lot of time out on the porch drinking coffee and talking. It was the perfect place for us to take our first family trip.










We left Red River and headed to Santa Fe where Noah was dying to stay at the new Buffalo Thunder Resort. If you don't know, and really, why would you, it has a casino in it. Enough said for why Noah wanted to stay there. The man loves to gamble. So, we took turns staying in the room with Elle and we would go down and spend a little time at the roulette wheel. We didn't win much, but we didn't play with much either. I won just enough to buy my little baby a new toy, which was exactly what this momma wanted to do. I still have the money in my purse and I think I am going to buy her a Johnny (Jenny) Jump-Up. My mom and dad have one at their house, and she is just now getting to the stage where I think she can really enjoy it.

After Santa Fe we went to Amarillo and stayed with Noah's friend David and his wife Aspen. Enter the point where Elle was so ridiculously tired of being in the car that she screamed bloody murder on the entire way to and from dinner. Yeah, I think they may rethink their plans to have kids.

But, what can I say?

We eventually made it home, with a lot of screaming and crying (mostly from me, some from Elle).

We went over to Kellie and Justin's on Saturday and cheered on their Red Raiders, since apparently the Aggies are never going to make it on TV this season. But, we can still hope. And, in the meantime Elle can still be the cutest little Ag that ever was!




In other news, I was awoken at 3 AM on Wednesday morning by Noah who was in excrutiating pain. We thought for sure it was his appendix, and I was afraid it was going to rupture, so we threw on our clothes, put Elle in the car, and sped to the ER. We quickly found out that it was not his appendix, but instead it was a kidney stone. It was 3mm. Small. Tiny. Noah was in tears it hurt so bad (sorry, honey). Thankfully the ER was empty and we were able to see a doctor quickly, get some pain medication, a CT Scan, and make it home by 615 AM. We spent the rest of the day recuperating from our lack of sleep and Noah passed the stone (sorry, tmi) early this morning and made it into work today.

All in all, we are doing really well this week and we are thankful for a God who hears our prayers. He IS good!

We're still here!

I have been in a bit of a blogging funk lately. Every time I sit down and consider blogging about our happenings, or our fabulous trip to Boston, I just don't feel up to it. But, alas, I figure that if I want anyone to keep reading our blog, the writing must go on.

And speaking of being in a funk, sweet, darling Elle has been in one all week! She has all but given up her naps and has been extremely fussy. I decided today that she may be teething, but I am not entirely convinced. I looked up some information online, but it is all pretty vague if you ask me. She has definitely been extra drooly lately, constantly chews on her hands, blankets, and her precious Mousey Moo, and has been pretty dern fussy. I tried feeling around in her mouth to see if I could find anything, but not so much. Her gums on the left side of her mouth look white in some areas, but how am I supposed to know if they are teeth?

Dunno.

Anyhoo, in recent news, we had a wonderful trip to Boston and Elle did so well! It definitely makes me want to travel more with her while she is still little and can fly for freeee! We may have to look into a Christmas trip...?

We also had a wonderful Labor Day weekend and enjoyed spending time with our families. Mimi watched Elle for us on Sunday night so that we could go to a friend's wedding, and we had a great time! We looooove having dotting grandparents in such close proximity!

We are headed on our first, official, family vacation on Saturday. We will be gone for a whole week, and will make stops in Perryton, Red River, Sante Fe, and Amarillo respectively. We are really excited to spend some good, quality family time in the mountains, and I am just itching to get out of this heat. Noah told me a couple of days ago that the temperature is supposed to be in the 60's during the day and 30's at night. We already stocked up on some long sleeves and pants for Elle during our trip to Boston, so we should be all set. I'm ready!

Hopefully my next post will be sooner rather than later.

Oh yes, I forgot to mention that Elle laughed (okay, giggled) for the first time last night! It was so sweet! She did it twice, but I haven't heard it since.... so stay posted.

Here are some recent pictures of our little sweet pea.

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

No you didn't! Oh yes, yes I did! : )