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!!

Two Months

Two Months already!  Time has flown by.  It may sound cliche but it feels like yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital.  June was a hard but rewarding month.  Mac was working night shifts on trauma and having to sleep during the day.  Elli and I got in a routine of walking in the morning with other moms.  Then in the evening during "the witching hour" we would take the dogs on long walks...this kept us all sane :)  

Sleep is slowly getting better.  A few stretches of 5-6 hours but still waking up pretty often.  

Elliot has grown so much!  Initially she was slow to gain weight but that seems to be taking off!  It is so fun to see her grow and learn about the world.  You can catch her watching the lights, trees, sun, our dogs, ect.  She now sometimes fusses if you don't let her see outwards to the world, that started at about 7 weeks.  Her head control is really good!  Mac decided she was ready to be held above him in "spider man position." To be fair, she loved it, but promptly when I mentioned that may be too much for her she threw up all over him.  The joys of parenthood!

New developments...

-She found her toes and thinks they are very entertaining.

-Cooing and reciprocal smile, boy are they fun.

-Starting at week 7 Elli started enjoying just taking in the world!  She loves to just look around and wants to face outward more

-She has just started to be able to grab thinks like a rattle to put to her mouth...I'm sure there will be more on this next month.

Elli likes...

-Long walks in the carrier, she falls asleep the second she goes in the carrier.  

-Warm baths.

-Staring at her toes.

-Looking out at the world and the leaves.

-When dad helps her to stand and puts her in "spider man" position 

-Tummy time!

Elli dislikes...

-Car rides and the car seat.  I think we have the only baby that hates car rides!

-Reflux!  Elli has started zantac for reflux

Elli showing off her muscles.

Stretch.

Holy Cow!  I have toes!  These things are awesome.  She can't quite grab them yet but she sure likes to watch them.