*Pictures from last night's finger painting session. 

Dear Ellery,

You're growing up, sweet girl. I know I've said it a thousand times, but the wonder of it never ceases to amaze me.

As I watch you wander around the yard, picking and smelling flowers, then excitedly repeating 'flow-flow', your version of flower, while running to bring them for me to see, my heart is overwhelmed with the idea that God would love us so much to give us such a blessing.

You have your moments, and you throw your fits, but you truly bring an indescribable amount of joy to our little family and keep giant smiles on our faces.

Watching you grow is oh, so much fun!

Love upon love,

Mama

Enjoying the Small Things.

 

 

Let the days slow down and the minutes pass slowly, for these precious moments are the ones I will treasure always. 

From the moment those fresh little lungs filled that anxious hospital room, longing to be loved, my life has been on a perpetual journey.  A journey so delightfully beautiful, and a blessing beyond my wildest dream. But admittedly, it has been a bit scarier than I imagined it would be.

I am a worrier by nature. I don't want to be, but that's just how it happened. 

On a mission to give my sweet E the best start, I hardly seem to find time to think about much else. It is counting wet diapers and fishing bugs out of her mouth. It's worrying if that's lead paint chipping in her closet, if she's reaching developmental milestones on time, and if I'm feeding her well-balanced meals. It's trying to remember that all kids develop at their own rate, and with her being in the put-everything-in-her-mouth stage, reminding myself daily that a lot of other children have probably swallowed worse.

Thank goodness for level-headed husbands. 

As time passes quickly, I'm trying to learn to step back and worry less. I'm learning to treasure every step of this journey, for these sweet moments make up our lives.

August 15, 2012: First Steps!

The days are passing too quickly and my sweet Little is growing up. I was told to hold her close and enjoy every second, because they go by too incredibly fast. And to every one of you who told me that, you are absolutely right!

 At nine months and four days Ellery took her first steps. At nine months and seven days, she pulls up on the couch, lets go, and with hands high above her head for balance, walks to whoever is in the room. She's still a little unsteady, but my baby is walking.

Please, slow down, baby.

 So from here forward, I plan on stealing as many kisses, hugs, and rocking chair chances as I possible can. I plan on capturing as many mental images of my sweet one as my brain will allow. Complaining less and cherishing more, I don't want to ever take for granted this blessing of beauty that adds such overwhelming sweetness to our lives.

9 Month Little.

Ellery on her first boat ride. Mississippi River, July 29, 2012

I'm not sure how to start these posts anymore. Every sentence I think of begins with, "I can't believe you're already this old!"

Well, little girl! You've officially been in this world as long as I carried you in my tummy. You have grown and learned and won our hearts a million times over. Your smile and your hugs keep us counting our blessings and realizing that you are truly one of our most precious gifts.
 

You are into everything these days. Crawling all over the place and all over everyone, and we predict walking won't be long to follow. You crawl to your toy box, pull up, and rummage through it in search of the perfect toy, all the while launching the undesirable ones across the room. (It's cute now, but I can see that changing in the near future!) 


 Although you haven't started babbling yet, you are a non-stop noise maker. You squeal at the top of your lungs while playing and hum along with us when we quietly sing you to sleep.You love people, especially other babies!

You reach for us and are beginning to understand the word 'no'. Your favorite book is Peter Rabbit: Show me your ears and your favorite character is Squirrel Nutkin and his furry tail!

You're still wearing cloth diapers and all of your baby food is still homemade, except for the Cheerios in which you quite frequently over indulge.  You eat at least three frozen ice cubes of food, three times a day and nurse in between feedings. Usually I create a mixture of foods to create your meal: carrots, green beans, and pear is one of your favorite combinations. 

We're so happy to have your squirmy little body in our lives every minute of every day. We love watching you grow and accomplish new tasks. You make us proud, Ellie Bug. 

Love upon love.

Just Like Daddy.

 As Justin sat, shelling peanuts, for a couple hours in the living room last night, Ellery wanted to be no where else other than right beside him. She watched intently as he held a peanut between his fingers and pried off the shell.  Then she would follow his hands as he discarded the shells in the 5 gallon bucket. Back and forth, she watched.

This probably went on for half an hour.

Then, almost as if deliberately, she reached down...
 

picked up her plastic chain...

and dropped it in the bucket. She then looked up at Justin and smiled the biggest smile, as if saying, 'Look daddy, I helped!'.
 

Justin and I couldn't help but laugh. It was as if it was all planned out, so intentional and so effortless.
 

I took the chain out of the bucket, washed it off, and put it back on the floor. Within minutes, the same scenario happened again.

Ellery is learning, even when we don't think there is anything to learn. She's taking it all in!

Well-Baby Check up: 6- Months.

*Ellery playing with her reflection in the mirror as we wait.

Although Ellery will be 7 months on the 11th, Friday was her 6 month well-baby check up. And she took it like a champ.

She waited patiently.

She let the pediatrician poke and prod and listen.

She hopped on the scale and weighed 19 lbs 10 oz.

She measures 28 inches long.

When it came time for her shots, she whimpered a little as the needle pierced the skin, but she did not cry. Not a tear. And when it was all over, she reached up to me and snuggled close. She even blew raspberries in my shoulder as we were walking to the car.

She's changing so quickly. She smiles and laughs and squirms and rolls. She skips naps because she can't stop practicing getting up on her knees. She cries when we walk out of the room and giggles when we come back. She's preciously spoiled. No doubt about it.

Mother's Day.

Last year's Mother's day was pretty special to us. With a smile on our face and a little bump forming under my shirt, we made our big announcement: we were going to be parents.

At that time, motherhood was an idea, a dream, a picture of days to come with the Little growing inside of me. In the year between then and now, I have experienced love unfold from places I never knew it could grow. I've seen a helpless 7lb 10 oz baby transform into my 6 month old, who often has quite the opinion. I've seen sleepless nights turn into snuggle-fests and rocking chairs create magic.

To me, the meaning of motherhood is different now. It grows stronger and deeper and more powerful with every passing second. It is about constantly making sacrifices -- well-worth-it sacrifices. And about caring more for another human being than you could ever possibly care for yourself.  My motherhood is created out of my intense desire to nurture and support and give all that I have with hope of raising happy children who make this world a little bit of a better place.

Last year was special, but this year meant more. This year had meaning, purpose, and a sleepy Ellery curled up beside me while husband brought me breakfast in bed. It was perfect.

Look what she found.

But mama, napping is boring.

I'd rather play with my feet!

In the last week Ellery has become quite amused with her little feet. However, she gets a little frustrated when her belly hinders her ability to get them as close as she would ideally like.

Ideas For A Great Saturday.

Go chew on something.

Play with a cup.

Maybe even blow a few bubbles with your drool. 

Enjoy your Saturday as much as Ellie is! :)

Because I'm Slack...

 
and do not clip my poor child's fingernails near as often as I should, she now has approximately a billion scratches on her face, and legs, and arms.

Poor Ellery.

They don't seem to bother her, but I'm sure strangers in the grocery store silently judge me. But those of you who have been in my shoes know that trying to clip infant fingernails should be a job left to someone specifically trained in the field and has practiced on moving itty-bitty manikins for an entire semester. It never fails, the tips of Ellery's fingers always get clipped along with her fingernails.A little bleeding and a whole lot of screaming later, I determine that I will stick to the barbaric way of doing things: biting them off. Easier and safer on my Little's fingers...

4-Month Little.

My little Ellie Kate,

I've been meaning to write your letter since we came home from the pediatrician on Tuesday, but you've been a little achy, running a temperature of over 100 F, and quite emotional since your shots. So, I determined snuggle time was much more of a priority.

I do love your snuggles and since they are few and far between these days, I take the time to cherish every single one.

Even though the past couple of days have been a bit of a challenge, your fourth month of life has been the best yet! You are so cute with your sweet dimple and giant smiles. You now respond with coos and giggles to people's faces, especially your daddy's. You are truly mesmerized and often cackle at the mere sight of him.

 

In the realm of entertainment, you are starting to play independently with your toys for longer amounts of time, and needing me less and less each day. Your favorite toy is your colorful zebra - and your hands.

You are gaining strength daily, but tire out quickly when on your tummy. (You still hate tummy time!) When sitting in my lap, you often try to stand up on your own, and prefer to be standing whenever possible. You hold your head steady, which I guess was developed out of necessity since your daddy likes to throw you high in the air.

We introduced you to the Bumbo seat this month, and so far you love it. You like to watch me cook dinner as you chew on your elephant and talk to it a little.
 

At your 4 month Well-Baby check-up you weighed 16 lbs 3 oz., and the pediatrician said you were perfect.  You're a healthy girl, growing every second. Our lives are filled with so much joy because of you, little munchkin, and watching you grow has been one of our greatest blessings.

Love upon love,

Mommy

Taste Testing.

While we ate lunch today, Ellery let her tastebuds do a little research of their own by conducting a mini-taste testing on a few of her favorite objects.

Which object you think she deemed the winner...

The Rings?

The Elephant's Rump?

 

Or *All Ten* of Her Fingers?

Crazy baby.

By the looks of it, I think the fingers take the cake... but that's just my opinion.

It's moments like these that make all the bad in the world, if only for a moment, disappear. When she coos and smiles and squeals a little, my heart melts, everything else doesn't matter.

Grandma found a Bumbo for $18 at our local consignment store. Whoot!

We're almost ready for it! :)

Who needs a pacifier?

I've got fingers...

If only something so simple would satisfy us daily.

I'm not all that thrilled that she would rather suck on her fingers than her pacifier, but it does make it easy when her paci falls on the mall floor and she has an instant replacement.

Oh, the joys of fingers.

A Happy Little Valentine.

Love in full today!

Letter to 3 Month Little.

Dear Ellery Kate,

   It seems like it was just yesterday that I was sitting, waiting in the pediatricians office at your 5 day check up, crying over the idea that time passes quickly and you would soon be just like the 3 month old sitting across from us. I felt silly, unable to control my tears, as I stared down at your 7 lb 2 oz self, wanting to somehow be different, and for time to pass us by slowly.

   With a blink of an eye you have transformed into something even more wonderful than I could have imagined in the waiting room that day. Your smiles, giggles, and coos are incredibly entertaining, and your daddy and I are enjoying trying to figure out what gets you to make those happy sounds consistently.

   You are at the stage of being a non-stop bubble blowing machine, which inevitably turns into a trail of drool running down your chin. You are about to outgrow your 3 month clothes and the newborn end of your bathtub. You've got rolls on your knees, elbows, wrists, and back - and everywhere else too. You're quite the chunkster.

  We've been attempting to try the 'attachment parenting' out on you, wearing you in the Ergo as much as possible, but that's really out of necessity rather than desire. You're at the point where you're really interested in what there is to see, so you'd rather be walked around the house non-stop than lay motionless on the floor (since you have still yet to figure out how to roll over.) Most of the time when we decide it is time for you to lay down and stretch, you wail for about 30 seconds as you get over the shock of not being held.

  You like to be held, but not snuggled. Your cuddle phase is disappearing quickly and it makes your daddy and me very sad. 

 We're both getting more sleep these days. Your bed time is around 8:15 most nights, after bath time, lotion, and pajamas. You occasionally wake up somewhere between then and 5am, and I have to put your pacifier back in to help you go back to sleep. But at 5am, you typically demand to be fed and then usually sleep until 8am or so...some mornings you're up at 6:30 or 7, smiling and giggling.

  You play with your hands and suck on your fingers all day long and are starting to bat at the toys hanging above you in your play gym. You have awesome head control and can track moving objects. You still loathe tummy time and let out the most pathetic cry when we force it on you. 

  We find you incredibly cute, which is really quite beneficial to you. There have been times when your cuteness may have been your only saving grace and the key factor in our decision to not drop you off at the nearest adoption agency. Well, that and the fact that we love you.  

  

   We love you beyond measure and are enjoying watching you grow! (Though, you do have our permission to slow it down a bit!)

Love upon love,

  

       Mommy

 

Talk Time with Ellery.

Poor Vaccinated Baby.

Friday was not a fun day in the Tyson household.

It started off relatively pleasant with the baby waking for the first time around 5:30am after being put to bed about 9:30 pm (a big accomplishment that just started this week) and with smiles that warm the heart while changing the overly full morning diaper.

Putting our big girl, ready for the day, pretty clothes on went pretty smoothly as well. The ride, the two hour waiting room visit, and even her examination by the pediatrician went wonderfully. No crying, not even a frown.

The nurse held her, said she was beautiful, and carefully placed her on the scale to gather an accurate weight. Thirteen pounds. The weight that rivals most 4 month-ers - reminder, she's only two months! Even that was positive, it meant she's healthy.

And then.

The nurse walked out of the room for a brief second and returned with a needle and a squeeze tube. It was time for her first shots. She told me to lean in close and talk in my little naked baby's ear. While I was doing that, telling Ellery how beautiful she was, how it was going to be over soon, and that in the end she'd have a really cool cartoon character band-aid, Ellery let out a violent, heartbreaking scream.

She cried.

I cried.

And the nurse politely smiled and recommended I give Ellie some Tylenol when we get home.

As soon as the needle was out of her little leg, I swooped in, like the protective mother I am becoming, and snuggled her close as she nuzzled up close to my neck. She calmed down, but we didn't rush putting her clothes back on, and I took a moment to steal a few more hugs and kisses from my hurting baby.

She spent the rest of the day alternating fussing and sleeping. Not the Little we have gotten used to. It was hard to watch our poor, pathetic baby not feel good.

Needless to say, not many chores got accomplished that day. All that was on the agenda was to love on my Ellie.

Just in the past week, EK has really started noticing her surroundings and entertaining herself with her toys. First it was the self rocking, and now, this lovely play gym that came in the mail yesterday from her Grandma and Granddaddy Parrott. She is completely entranced by the bright colors and swinging objects overhead and is also starting to discover that her hands can make a fantastic rattle noise. 

 She occasionally looks in the plastic mirror which hangs on the side of one of the poles, and gives her distorted image a cute little grin. I guess vanity can start at any age, even 2 months. 

Speaking of those upturned lips, we have yet to capture a really good one on camera, but she is beginning to show us her gummy grin more and more frequently now - which melts the heart every time.

As a side note from the "look what she's doing now" post, I promise, we do cover that Ellie belly from time to time, even though the last two blog posts seem to prove otherwise. She's been wearing her adorable outfits that many of you gave us, :), but she seems to prefer nakey time the most, so I give her about an hour of happy-naked-body time a day.

We go to the pediatrician on Friday, which will be her 2 month check up. I'm anxious to see what she weighs in at...she's growing, incredibly fast. :)