3 Months

Ellie,

Happy three months! Time keeps flying by and you are changing by the minute. You don't seem like a newborn anymore because you are awake for long stretches during the day, you laugh, you get mad and you can be entertained by just watching other people (usually, Timmy).

Things you like these days:

* Your hands and feet. Whenever you catch sight of them, you are on a mission to...I don't know what, probably eat them.

* Being swaddled at night.

* brightly colored and loud rattles to shake. Hitting the heck out of anything that dangles in front of you.

* Listening to Timmy sing or talk to you.

* the pacifier. Still haven't quite found your thumb.

* Being held. Stroller rides. Going in the Ergo, Bjorn or a wrap. Pretty much anything that gets you off the ground, although you are sometimes content to just play down there too.

* Pooping in your fancy outfits.

* Splashing water all over the place during baths and getting your hair done.

* Anyone who will look at you and talk to you...you hand out smiles like they're free.

One not-so-fun milestone this month... You got your first prescribed antibiotics. Whoever said breastfed babies don't get sick never had a Timmy around to provide the germs. You've had a cold on and off for about 2 of your 3 months and it turned into an ear infection. You have still been remarkably happy considering you're sick, so I can't wait to see what you're like when you feel healthy.

You had a major growth spurt this month. According to my possibly-inaccurate at-home scale, you weigh about 15 pounds. That's almost 4 pounds heavier than one month ago! You are just starting to get into your 3-6 month clothes and I think the next box of diapers we buy will be size 2.

This weekend will be your first Christmas and your whole family is excited to make memories and start new traditions with you. You have been the best gift we could ask for this year.

Love,
Mommy




Link to most recent picture album: https://picasaweb.google.com/Lisa.Ottomanelli/Holidays2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIGInKvIyOrywAE&feat=directlink

Grateful

We have had a good year--a great year actually--and have so much to be thankful for. Top on the list is the addition of a healthy and beautiful baby girl to our family. Close behind is our impending move to Orange County so that our little family will be able to spend much more time together and be near my family. We enjoyed several visits from our New Jersey family this year and we made some great friends. We have jobs we enjoy working at. Most importantly, we are all healthy and happy. Feeling blessed.





Holiday 2011 Photo Album:
https://picasaweb.google.com/Lisa.Ottomanelli/Holidays2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIGInKvIyOrywAE&feat=directlink

Two Months

Ellie,

You are two months old! You continue to be an easy and happy baby, which makes every minute with you pure joy. At two months you:

Are happy. all. the. time. Big smiles take over your face whenever anyone looks at you or talks to you, but especially Timmy.

Coo and gurgle and carry on conversations of oooohing and ahhhing.

Kick and fist pump. You finally enjoy the baby einstein play mat, but your favorite toy without a doubt is Jacque the Peacock. (the way Timmy says Jacque the peacock is one of my favorite things right now).

Love to snuggle. We hold you a lot and you will squeeze into a tight little ball of warmth on our shoulders.

Sleep anywhere. The carseat, the bassinet, any type of carrier (moby, ergo or bjorn), the bouncy chair, the swing, the stroller. Like I said, easy baby.

Are sleeping for longer periods of time, which everyone likes. For the past two weeks, you have slept for about 12 hours at night, waking up once or twice to eat.

Like the pacifier and the swaddle.

Hate tummy time. The doctor said that means you're right on track developmentally. Your brother hated tummy time too.

Still have a pretty floppy head but are trying really hard to move around, scooting and half-rolling.

Are beautiful. You have the cutest dimple when you smile and big, pretty blue eyes.

Enjoy singing pat-a-cake and "so big!" or really any interactive song

Are itty-bitty compared to your brother. You weigh 11 lbs, 1 oz (50th percentile) and are 22 inches long (25th percentile). Still wearing size 1 diapers and 0-3 month clothes.

Have been nicknamed Beaner. Unfortunate, I know. But Ellie Bean sort of devolved into Bean, which we affectionately changed into Beaner.


Ellie, we love you and can't imagine a sweeter baby girl to call ours!

Mommy



Pictures from November 2011: https://picasaweb.google.com/Lisa.Ottomanelli/November2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCK60yO7q5uKQeA&feat=directlink

Silly Girl

Silly Ellie thinks she can roll...she spent about 15 minutes last week furiously kicking her top leg once she was in this position. Luckily, most of the time she's perfectly happy on her back.

Newborn Session Pictures

Here is a sampling from the photo session we did when Ellie was 10 days old:



Link to Album:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100103088860892.2457786.104419&type=1&l=39d8539713

Halloween

This is a little late, but I wanted to post pictures from Halloween. We had a fun day that started with a festival at Timmy's school. That night, we went trick or treating with friends in the neighborhood. Surprisingly, Timmy LOVED his costume and wanted to wear it (the whole thing) all day long. He's already asking when he can go trick or treating again.

Link to October Album with Halloween pictures included: https://picasaweb.google.com/Lisa.Ottomanelli/October2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCO_ThJCmrqyb-QE&feat=directlink

Brother and Sister

Timmy and Ellie are still smitten with one another. He is always doting on her, invading every inch of personal space and she follows him around the room with her eyes. I love that they love each other!