You so funny!

Here are some of my favorite facial expression photos so far:

Little Baby in the City

Dear Ellie,

You are asleep with daddy as I type. 

You did a lot of traveling over the weekend. On Friday we had a family trip to the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show. You were wonderful all day! It was the longest time you have travelled so far. I'm not sure you have developed an interest in gardens and trees yet. Mostly you were concerned with napping and knowing when your next meal was coming.

On Saturday we visited grandma and grandpa. You played and napped with them for the evening, while daddy and I had our first date night in months. We went to our friends' engagement party in San Luis Obispo, and went to a coffee shop I used to go to a lot in college. Daddy and I missed you so much! We had fun, but we couldn't wait to get back and hold you.

You don't know it yet, but we are plotting to get you to sleep in your crib within the next few months. We have started with daytime crib naps. You don't want any part of it, and you get grumpy every time you wake up in there. We'll see how it goes. Maybe we'll all snuggle in our bed until you're 18. Watcha think?

Looooooove,

Mommy

Your First Spring!

Dear Ellie,

Spring has officially begun! It has mostly been rainy, so you have been indoors a lot more than usual. I started a job at Forever 21 to help out until I'm officially a teacher. This means you have been spending a lot of one on one time with daddy in the evenings. You have (mostly) taken it easy on him.

A lot of changes are happening, little one! For starters, you are much more alert and aware of your surroundings. You like to look at things on the walls and around the house. So far your favorites are the hummingbird on the wall and the orchid plant in the bathroom. We go say hello to the orchid plant when you are upset. I think you like the colors, and the fact that the flowers shake when we touch the stem. You have also begun talking to Aunt Casey on Skype! You are cooing a little bit more, and daddy swears that the other night you tried to say "I love you" while the two of you were home. He admits that it probably sounded a little more like "a gu". Just a little bit. You are slowly taking a liking to your toys, and just today we received a fancy play mat for you to have fun on. I'll load a photo of it tomorrow. You have a new "biddy" (your pacifier), which you like me to keep handy when we go somewhere. You have a lot of neck control, and you are also starting to hold your weight up if we hold you up on your feet. You have begun sleeping through the night, and even sleeping alone a little bit longer during the day and when we put you down to bed. However, you will still ONLY sleep in the bed with us. And every so often you flash us one of those big beautiful smiles of yours that makes us melt.

Here you are helping us pick out houseplants and vegetable seeds for our container garden:

Your Converse booties:

Nap time with daddy:

Bundled up and enjoying your new biddy:

Boys.

Dear Ellie,

Over the weekend you got to meet daddy's friends, Gerald, Matt, and Jeff. You liked them a lot, especially Gerald. You interrupted us from eating the big dinner I prepared because you wanted to be a part of it too. SO sorry for excluding you! We quickly addressed the problem and brought you to the table with us, in hopes that you would stop crying. You didn't, and that's ok. I walked you around the house until you were content.

I never want to look back and wish I had held you more, or cuddled with you longer, or comforted you better.

Still, though, there are times when it seems nothing works. When those times come, sometimes daddy has the solution:

I don't know why, but you like the back of his thumb better than anything else sometimes. Thumbs up to daddy on his efforts.

Love,

Mommy

Our First Day Apart...

Dear Ellie,

I did not have the chance to write yesterday because I had a super busy day. Last night daddy left for the Bay Area to hang out with his friends, so you and I got to snuggle. You only woke up once last night!

Today I had to go to San Luis Obispo to take some exams for teaching. I was super nervous about being away from you for the first time. I checked and double checked everything to make sure you weren't missing anything, and then dropped you off with grandma and grandpa. You had a super fun day with them, sleeping, playing, and eating. It sounds like you didn't even notice I was gone! I came home tonight after a long day of missing you, and could not wait to hold my little angel.

And you know what you did today? You started talking to me! Kind of. You made "meh" sounds in my direction while looking at me from a few feet away.

Here you are hanging out with grandpa tonight:

It's bedtime. Love you, honey bear!

~Mommy

Hey There!

Dear Ellie,

We're starting this blog so that we can record and share lots of love and fun memories in our new adventure with you! We'll be writing about all the amazing ways in which you are developing and bringing joy to our lives, as well as about our attempts at being the best parents we can possibly be for you. We'll be keeping track of some photos and sharing the blog with friends and family, so that everyone can see how cute you are and be included in this "time capsule". One day when you're older and think we're not cool you'll be able to read through these posts and see just how much we love you!!

Today you kept me company while daddy was at work. You kept wanting to be held and would cry the second I would put you down. So I held you. All. Day. Long.... Sometimes I act like it bothers me, but really, I would do anything to make you happy and give you all the comfort and care that you need. You've brought new meaning to our lives, baby girl.

Here you are today at almost 6 weeks:

You're such a cutie pie!

Much love,

Mommy