Keeping busy!

What an amazing and busy July!  We were blessed to have alot of visitors to Oregon which kept us busy.  Luckily Mac was on a light rotation for work!

My best friend Mandy, her husband Aaron and 8 month old Kendall were the first visitors.  We had a great weekend walking around Portland, visiting breweries.  On Sunday we went on a hike up Tom, Dick and Harry mountain at Mt Hood.  Kendall got to try out Elliot's hiking back pack...lets just say it was a hit!

We then were able to take a last minute night on the coast for a short getaway.  It was Elli's first time at the beach.

Madison, Cooper and Elli recovering from a great 2 days at the beach.

At the end of July Aunt Betsy came to visit.  She brought along her "special friend" Jessi as well.  Aunt Betsy seemed thrilled to meet Elli and vice versa!  Lets just say Aunt Betsy was very good at entertaining Elli.  They were both VERY entertaining to watch.  We were able to go hiking, stand up paddle boarding and bum around Portland.  At one point while SUP'ing Madison the dog decided to take the board out herself...yup that happened.  She seemed surprising un-alarmed to be floating in the middle of the lake along.

Madison taking the SUP out solo.

Madison, Cooper handing out on Betsy's board.

Aunt Betsy is a pro at putting Elli down for a nap.

Then came the Weis Clan's turn.  Elli got to meet her 2 cousins Paige and Jordyn.  Paige is almost 4 and did a great job of helping take care of Elli and was SO gentle with her.  Jordyn on the other hand is 14 months and still learning hand control and needed closer monitoring :).  With the entire Weis clan in Oregon we rented a house on the beach and were able to spend some quality time together: flying kites, using the hot tub as a swimming pool for Paige, bomb fires on the beach, hiking, grilling out.  Mac, Chad and Pat went crabbing on the coast, apparently there were some high pitch screaming when a crab got loose in the boat.  All around a great week with family.

Swimming pool at cooler temperatures during the day, hot tub by night.

Enjoying the beautiful sunsets with the WHOLE family.

Grammy has her arms full of grandchildren!

Sisters holding hands...too cute!

Uncle Eric holding Elliot at the winery.

Enjoying our beach bomb fire.

Lunch at Gathering Together, the farm where Pat works.

As you can see it was a busy month! Heading back to work now in August but let the adventures continue!

3 Months

Our baby is 3 months already!  Where has time gone?

Elli has gotten so big, but she is still a tiny peanut for her age!  I finally decided I needed to get all the newborn clothes out of her drawers but many of the 3 month clothes are still too big for her.  I estimate she is about 12 lbs.

She has Mac and I wrapped around her little finger with the sweetest smile.  She thinks that if she gives us her sweet smile it is okay to wake up only 10 minutes after she was put down for a nap.  Well, it would be better if she stayed sleeping but it does kinda make it better.  She has intermittent periods of sleeping 5-6 hours at a time for a few days then back to waking up every 2-3 hours.  I am so ready for some solid sleep!

She now reciprocally laughs and coo's so it is fun to have "conversations with her, although I am sure on-lookers think we are crazy!  I think she may be a soccer player in the future because her feet are moving and grabbing things almost as much as her hands.  Almost anything she grabs goes to her mouth already.  She has also mastered the art of batting at things, holding her rattle ball and her hand control is getting better day by day.

Elli is a very curious young girl.  She always wants to be held out, looking at the world.  The sun light through the leaves is still her favorite.

She was born with blue eyes and so far it looks like they will stay piercing blue.  Everyone says she looks like Mac, so at least I have this one think ;)

New developments...

-grasp objects in both hands

-Everything goes into the mouth

-Laughing!  The sweetest thing ever!

-Recognize mom and dad!  Wow is that the sweetest think ever when she sees us and smiles

-loves to listen to singing

-Can stand on both feet with all her weight

Elli likes...

-Reaching out and touching whatever is in front of her.

-Staring at faces

-Looking out at the world and the leaves.

-Standing!  If she is fussy, put her on her feet and all her focus goes to this

Elli dislikes...

-Car rides and the car seat.  Yup still screams bloody murder in the car!

-When she can't see what is going on in the world around her.

-Napping!!