Baby's First Year

Eloise's first year ended several months ago, but I still tear up when I start thinking about how it's gone.  What is it about that first year in the life of a new human?  It's so exhausting, so overwhelming, such an adjustment.  As a nursing mother, I feel so tethered and oftentimes a slave to schedules.  But so much happens.  Personality emerges.  Milestones are checked off (figuratively, of course... if you think this blog is in bad shape, you should see poor Eloise's baby book).  Teeth pop in all over the place.  So much learning and growing and becoming occurs.  I hardly remember our family without Eloise.  One year seems so short and also like forever.  She is my little pal and we spent so  much time together during her first twelve months of life... more than we ever will again.  I treasure the sleepless hazy memories and although I know that what's ahead is even more fun in so many ways, I am still mourning the loss of babyhood.  I truly love the first year and now it's over.  Thanks for all the snuggles, Eloise.  You're the most perfect baby and I love you.

Eloise at 3 months and 4 months

It was recently pointed out to me that Eloise is almost five months old.  After arguing that it couldn't possibly be true I realized sadly that it is.  So I better get these three and four month photos up because it will be time for another round very soon!

At three months, Eloise was still a complete and total ball of delightfully easy baby squish.  She slept all the time, anywhere.  (Like close to 20 hours a day).  She would flash a giant gummy grin at any and everyone and was just starting to roll over tummy to back.  She loved eating, snuggling, blowing out diapers and being in and among her family.  She loved faces and smiles and the sound of people talking or singing to her.  She was happy happy happy and a source of immense joy for us all (still is, of course).   Here are some 12 week photos:

And here are her three month photos (Thanks to Mama K for this precious smocked dress that I love and to Mema for this beautiful quilt that I also adore):

And by four months, Eloise had completed that "fourth trimester" and truly come alive!  She's full of personality, and captures us all with those big (turning brown) eyes.  She's awake a lot more, although still a good sleeper who will usually have three good naps a day.  Right at four months she hit a bit of a night time sleep regression and/or growth spurt and after two months of sleeping through the night started waking again.  (This too shall pass).  She's interested in everything going on around her, has learned to bat at and hold onto toys, loves hearing books read to her and adores most of all her big sister.  She's a babbler and a squawker and we call her "Little Squish" because she has delightful wonderful rolls of squeezable squish.  She can roll from tummy to back and holds her head up really well.  She's an easy-going and flexible baby who naps in the car or the stroller when we're on the go with her big sister and eats very quickly (thank goodness!).  She is really a trooper.  She's discovered her hands and feet and is drooling constantly.  She loves to be outside and stares up at the sky with the same look I remember Clara having at this age - complete wonder, gratitude and amazement.  Her gummy smile, chubby cheeks, and big bright eyes bring us tremendous love and joy.  Here are her four month photos (of which there were so many cute ones, I had a hard time narrowing it down.)
 

And just in case you wanted to see what those first twelve weeks looked like all at once, here it is:

We love you oh so much sweet baby girl! 

Thanks be to God.

First Smile

Eloise gave us her first TRUE social smile right around four weeks old.  Of course, catching it on camera is a different story altogether.  This was the best I could do  (several days later) when I was actually trying for it.   It'll do, although the ones posted with her six week photos are certainly even better! 

Here's to many more gummy smiles ahead!

Six Weeks Old

How is it that our sweet baby Eloise is already six weeks old?  And yet... how was there ever life without her?  She remains an incredibly sweet, snuggly, laid back, good sleeping and good eating chunk of a delight. Here's the official six week shots.

 And then, these.  I know I could have, you know, chosen one or two.  But I could not pick!