Four Months

Ellie,

As of Thursday, we have a four month old in our house. How did that happen? I haven't even put up any of your newborn pictures yet and you barely resemble that little baby these days. You are developing such a cute little personality and interacting so much more than even a month ago. In a couple days, I go back to work and you'll be in Grandma's care. I think you'll be put on a schedule, which is probably for the best. Gone are the days of tagging along on a million errands without any real naps. It was fun while it lasted, huh?

You are starting to let a few more people into your circle of trust. For a few months, I was the only one you wanted. But now you can be soothed by Daddy or Grandma too. Timmy may be your favorite person...you still love just watching him, listening to him and now reaching out and grabbing him when he's close enough. He loves you too, and constantly proclaims his love for "my baby sister!"

We gave you formula for the first time this month. You stubbornly refused to drink it after we made the rookie mistake of mixing in the wrong amount (we couldn't find the scoop and guessed--incorrectly--at how big a scoop is), but once we figured it out, you drank it no problem. Now you'll take a bottle with anything, so I feel much better about leaving you with bottles during the week.

Since you were getting so close to rolling over, we slowly stopped swaddling you this month and you were not happy about it. You went from sleeping a solid 9.5 hour stretch to waking up every few hours because you startled yourself awake. No one in our house was happy about this, but luckily you seem to be getting used to sleeping free. You really love to clutch our hand as you fall asleep.

Even though you're still a tad too small, you love the exersaucer and the doorway jumper. Being able to sit up and look at things is great, but even better if you can slam your hands on something and make noise. If we read a book to you, you lunge at it with both hands and mouth open, ready to investigate. We have already had a few close calls at the dinner table because you so badly want what we are having. Sorry, you'll need to wait another few months.

You're ticklish under your arms and cheeks and all of us are falling in love with your laugh. You will be happy if you're carried, being sung to or snuggled close and tight. You drool like crazy and gnaw on everything you can put in your mouth. You take baths with Timmy and LOVE splashing and kicking the water.

The cold that will not die continues to make you congested and teary-eyed. I'm not sure if it's allergies or just having an older brother plus cold and flu season, but either way, we are anxious for some relief. I don't mind holding you while you sleep so you can be upright though, Ellie snuggles are one of my favorite things these days.

At your appointment, you were 25 inches long (75th percentile) and 14 pounds, 14 ounces (75th percentile). Your head circumference was 40.5 cm (50th percentile). You are solidly into 3-6 month clothes and size 2 diapers. You are a growing and healthy girl, aside from the cold. These past four months I've spent getting to know you have been some of the best I've had as a mother. I'm not sure that I'm really ready to go back to work and be away from you so much of the day, but I am so thankful to know that you're in such great hands with Grandma. I know this year will bring wonderful things and I am looking forward to sharing it all with you, Timmy and Daddy.

Love,
Mommy



Pictures: https://picasaweb.google.com/Lisa.Ottomanelli/BeginningOf2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCN7U9vLu3MT6swE&feat=directlink

Our Big 3 Year Old

Timmy,

You are now a real, honest-to-goodness, big kid. Your birthday month brought A LOT of changes and I think you are starting to hit your stride now. (Yes, I am posting this almost two weeks late. What can I say, life is busy). When you are lamenting your Christmas birthday in your teen years, I would like you to remember the year you turned three and had three birthday parties. We celebrated your birthday and last day of school at Mar Vista Montessori on December 2nd with the usual pizza, pirate's booty, juice and balloons. You had a great time and loved being the center of attention in the Jungle Room. Then on December 18th, you had a birthday party for friends at the indoor playground MyGym with all of our friends from Playa Vista. Finally, Christmas afternoon was officially "Timmy's birthday" and you had the whole family here to celebrate, open presents and eat some of your favorite food (mac 'n cheese, sliders, sweet potato fries and cupcakes).

Between moving, the holidays and your birthday month, I think we were all EXHAUSTED. We also threw in potty training in the mix just for fun. But now you are in your new school, getting used to your new house, your new big boy underpants and (still) loving your new sister.

You were probably one of the easiest and sweetest two year olds out there. I'm sorry to say that it looks like you may be in the midst of the terrible threes. You want to be independent and you want to be independent BY YOURSELF!! If I suggest something, your immediate response is "no" often closely followed with you suggesting "maybe do x." You push boundaries and you like to do things just to see what kind of reaction you can get out of us. But then a few minutes later, you will run up to us and ask for a big hug and kiss or shout an unprompted "I love you" and really, all is wonderful again. You are still the sweetest three year old I know, I just wish there weren't episodes of madness mixed in.

Right now, you are very into Mickey Mouse, especially Space Adventure Martian Mickey. I will often hear you running around the house saying something about how you need to go rescue Martian Mickey because he's in trouble. And this is what I love about your age. The things that come out of your mouth are not just simple responses or things you repeat; you are telling stories and using your imagination. The other day you were walking up the stairs to your room for naptime. Sweet Pea was coming down the stairs and you shouted "move Sweet Pea! I want to go to bed!" To think that one year ago, we had to interpret nearly everything you said for teachers and relatives and you were only uttering words or short phrases, it's amazing that you can now have a conversation where you supply much of the content.

Other things you love right now: bike rides with Daddy, giving your sister kisses, coloring, stickers, helping mommy or daddy cook, doing everything "all by myself," snuggling, watching football, Toy Story, singing songs and reading the same books over and over again.

The bigger and older you get, the more I appreciate the fact that you are a huge snuggler. You love to be close and affectionate with everyone. Kisses and hugs are a very regular occurrence in our house. You carry around your Mickeys (you have two big Mickey Mouses) and treat them like your babies, putting them in Ellie's play mat or car seat, pretending to feed and burp them, and tucking them in next to you at night. And this pretty much sums up your personality. You are sensitive, sweet and caring. You probably did not get any of this from me, but I love it more than anything.

Happy third birthday!

Love,
Mommy

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