This Tummy Time was much less torturous!

She loves this rainforest mat!

Week 12

Every mother that has ever nursed a baby knows what I'm thinking here: no one will ever see this baby from the same view as me. Every time I feed her, as I gaze on in wonderment, I think of how, once she's grown, I'll never see her from this angle again. I know there's no way to capture just what I see, kinda like how you saw your wedding day through such different eyes as everyone else, but for posterity's sake, I'm trying. I got Chris to stand over us and take this picture, and it's pretty good, but I guess I'll never get on film like it is in my mind. When I'm feeding her she's a different little baby than the one everyone else gets to see and play with. She's my little soul mate, my little angel, my new best friend, my little "mini-me." We communicate, we talk, we read each other's minds (or at least what I like to think she's thinking!). When someone else plays with her I almost shock myself by thinking, "that's a different baby!" It's like a split personality, I guess I've interpreted her as someone completely different than what I see when other people are around. OK, that sounds crazy, but it makes sense to me!

We've been eyeing this coffee table for a while now. It matches our living room perfectly and it finally went on sale at the World Market. We set up EK on her bouncy seat (yeah! she finally will hang out in the bouncy seat for longer than 30 seconds!) while we assembled the table. Ok, while Chris assembled the table and I just puttered around cleaning up the scraps of packing material. What would I do if I hadn't married a manly man? There are so many little things he fixes around here, he's awesome!

Here's the final shot of the table. See what I'm talking about matching?! The slate and darker wood go perfectly with our fireplace's slate hearth and the armoire is a darker wood, too.

EK at the end of the project. Just tuckered out! She's blissfully asleep. Wouldn't it be great to fall asleep anywhere and everywhere knowing someone else would take care of you?

We had photographers to take our shot before we went to church this morning b/c Mimi and Pops were in town this weekend. We managed to not get any pictures of Mimi and Pops, though-- how do we always forget? We had a nice weekend, and even got free baby sitting out of the deal! Last night Chris and I actually left the house by ourselves for 4 whole hours to go to the movies. Woo hoo!!! We saw National Treasure 2, it was great!!! Thanks, Mimi and Pops!

Just another shot of our angel baby and Francine!

After lunch we had a bath and got all snuggly in our Pooh bath bag. Love the little ears on the hood! Her big deep blue eyes remind me of blueberries! I wonder if they'll stay that blue?

Tummy Time video. I know it looks like I'm putting her through torture, but when she looks up at the mirror she seems excited. "They" say you gotta give 'em tummy time every day, so here we go!

Ella Kate Speaks!

Finally!! We got a video of EK "talking." Unfortunately, the picture is really dark. Still, it's the most we've gotten on video. It's precious, if you ask me, but I am a little biased!

Who is that baby in the mirror?

Ok, she may be my daughter, but this is the funniest thing I've seen her do yet! It's a little long, but the laugh at the end is the best!

It's been so chilly here I tried to bundle her up. This adorable boucle jacket and cap are from our friend Crissy, but I think they're still a little big. Cute, though, huh?

She's also had a bit of a cold this week so I've been trying to keep her propped up so as to keep the drainage from building up in her sinuses. Here's a shot of my make shift wedge! We put the actual wedge in the crib that night.

Miss Abbey has needed a manicure for a while, so Daddy finally got around to it yesterday. She usually totally freaks out, but she was being so good I just had to take a picture for posterity!

This was supposed to be a video of EK "talking," which she's been doing a lot of lately. But, of course, as soon as I get the video out she stopped! One little coo is all I got.

Ella Kate loves her daddy! Sometimes she may be fussy but as soon as Daddy does the airplane "super baby" move she's totally content.

Here's some of our handywork in the nursery. We're trying to make it a little girlie, so we got this cute crib set from Target. It's called Bubblegum Bananafish, isn't that adorable! The shelf is actually from a craft store. It came with the 5 hooks, but it wasn't painted. Chris painted it white and I painted the pink polka dots. I have to say I'm impressed with our work!

Ella Kate's first trip to church. Oh, she's SO cute, I could just eat her up!!!

This is a shot of her after church, notice the new outfit. All you moms will know all about that! The teddy is her new friend, Francine. She's started to grasp on to things, so we gave her the little bear. She holds its ears and arms and often puts an ear in her mouth. Also, Francine makes a nice pillow in the car seat! Don't ask where the name Francine came frome, I have no idea, but it's stuck!

Touchdown! Don't know who I'm rooting for, but I'm happy about it!

Just another shot of me and Francine.

It's been pretty chilly here lately, so we bundled up in the Teddy Bear suit that is now pretty much too little for her and proped her up in the middle of some fresh laundry. Great shot, huh?!

Silly Mommy! Imitating me cooing. Daddy got me dressed this morning. Notice the snaps in the front of the onesie; not usually where the snaps go! Chris said he wondered why it was so difficult to snap at the crotch! I guess he was thinking those snaps that go in the back were like the buttons on a polo shirt and they should go in the front. We left it on that way b/c she didn't seem to notice and it would've been too much work to turn it around!

Gran Gran (my almost 96 year old grandmother) came to our house for Christmas to visit with her newest great grandchild. We set up a bed for her in the play room, and we just might leave it set up in there for a while. It amazes me how well Grandmommie is doing. We are so lucky to have her in our lives and we count our blessings everyday. She's doing great for 96. Some (ok, a lot) of hearing loss, and she's had both hips replaced, but other than that she's great! She's sharp as a tack, witty, and funny. We had a great visit.

Four generations in one picture. Grandmommie is Dad's mom and I was the first girl born on that side of the family since Grandmommie (62 years). It was a big deal when I came along! Even after me there were more boys, then the girl explosion happened, and I've continued it with my own little girl!

Chris always likes to take pictures of the meats he cooks at Christmas, so here's a ham and a turkey. Way to go, babe! Beautiful, and tasty, as always!

In case you can't read it, her little cap says "Baby's First Christmas" -- our own little elf!

Just a sample of Ella Kate's Christmas presents. A baby gym/ play mat that matches the other rain forest themed Fisher Price gear she's gotten. Next to the swing, this has been the best purchase we (I mean Santa) made. She hates spending time on her back, but this gym has flashing lights (big plus) and music. She will actually stay on it for more than 5 minutes, sometimes up to 15 or 20! It's been a great treat for us!

The second picture is of just a few of the many many outfits she got at the after Christmas sales. What makes these so special is that these are all from Pops, and he picked them out himself (ok, he may have had some help from the sales ladies)!

Mimi and Pops with their favorite Christmas gift!

EK in the above mentioned swing. This thing has saved our life! It would be worth it even if it cost a gazillion dollars! She has spend numerous hours in this thing. Several nights she's slept in it, and I believe there may have been whole days she's stayed in it. It has been the only thing that she's comfortable in! She doesn't like the bouncy seat and she resists sleeping on her back. So, there you go. Swing, Baby, swing :)

More of Chris' creative cooking. The smiley is a nice touch, huh?