Fun with Cousin Bekkah

Your cousin Bekkah just loves you so much!! She loves to help you in any way possible! We went to Buhler On May 20th and Bekkah was there. She was convinced you were cold and you needed your blanket. So we went out to the car to get your blanket. She loves giving you your "ampifier" or pacifier. She loves to tell us that you are crying or that you need a diaper change! She'll even bring us the diaper! :)

You and her have lots of fun, and I know it the future you'll have even more fun, because you'll be able to do more. She tells us all the time that you want to sit up. And when I had you standing earlier today she got SO excited she ran over and hugged you around you're neck....you weren't much of a fan! :)
Here you and Bekkah are laying on Mimi's mattress, which used to be Grandma-Great's mattress that your mommy, Aunt Jami, and Uncle Andrew used to sleep on! :) You and Bekkah were watching Mickey Mouse!

Bekkah loves to play with you, and "pet" you! Earlier tonight Mimi asked Bekkah something about me being your mommy. And Bekkah said: No that's Jenna! And Mimi repeated herself and Bekkah said, No that's Jenna! So Mimi asked Bekkah "who is Eliana's mommy?" and Bekkah responded "Her don't have a mommy." We laughed pretty hard at that one!

You really do love your Bekkah, despite what this photo may show you! I really do think you take a little time to get used to Rebekkah. She is a little hyper and crazy at times! It's like you know when she's near because you start to whimper until someon puts you safe in their arms! :) But after a little while you get used to her and then you and her have lots of fun!

Today we went to Inman and your and Rebekkah's carseats were next to each other! Well, I forgot your pacifier so I ran back inside and Mimi stayed in the car. Bekkah asked where I was going so Mimi told her and Bekkah leaned over to you and told you "it's okay...Jenna went to get your ampifier!" Then you responded with some Coos, as you do. And Rebekkah said "Mimi!! She said Uh, Uh, Uh." and Mimi said "what does that mean? Was she saying I love you?" And Rebekkah said "No! She said Uh Uh Uh" lol Your cousin is so cute!!

Here the two of you are in your matching outfits!! Beautiful girls who will have lots of fun together as you get older!!

I love you little girl (and I love you too Bekkah-Boo)

Love,

Mommy

3 Months!!

Little Girl!! You are 3 months old!! Man how time flies!!
There is so much to share about you I don't even know where to begin. Everyone who sees you says how much you have grown!! You're getting quite the personality too! You know what you like and what you don't!!
You are so happy in the mornings!! You smile and talk! Every morning you wake up about 5:00 and you eat. Then you play as I get ready! By the time we leave for daycare you're tired and ready to nap on the way to Garnett! You still prefer to sleep on your tummy! You sleep very good! You slept through the night for the first time on May 17. You slept through the night 3 nights in a row!! Then you started waking up once a night to eat again. Then you had a few more nights where you slept all night. So you're starting to get the hang of it! But you sure do wake up HUNGRY!!! :)
You're on a great sleeping schedule. Wake up around 5, nap from 7-7:30 as we drive, nap 9:00-11:00, nap 12:30-2:30, nap 4 - 4:30 as we drive home, nap for 30 min somewhere around 6, and then go to bed at 8! We play lots and lots while you're awake!

You really enjoy being outside!!

You are a very happy baby!! You laughed for the first time May 8, on Mother's day!! Now you will laugh up a storm!! But you don't laugh for just anything. There for a while it was SO HARD to get you to laugh, you'll laugh a little more freely now. But you still save them some.

You are starting to grow out of your 0-3 month clothing. I still squish you in some on occasion. But you're mostly in 3 month clothing and sometimes I'll put you in 3-6 month clothing even though it's a little big on you! We went garage saling with Mimi, Bekkah, and Aunt Jami and we got you an entire summer wardrobe. I only bought a few things then we went through Cousin Bekkah's old clothes and we got you tons!! We are very lucky we barely have to buy you any clothing! :)

You are still size 1 diapers, but it's abou time for you to move up to size 2. I'll use up the rest of the ones then switch you! You eat 5 oz of breastmilk from your bottle. At home...who knows how much you eat! You just went through a growth spurt last week....man was that hard on your mommy!!

No dr appt for this month - but you have for sure grown! You're probably around 14 pounds and I know you at least grew an inch, because an outfit that fit you a few weeks ago no longer fits!! you really like to stand on our laps, and we just got you a bumbo so you can sit up on your own!! :)

You talk and talk and talk!! You're grabbing things regulary now!! You LOVE your carseat toy, you LOVE your playmat!! You LOVE sucking on your hands!!

You only poo ever couple of days, but once you do...YOU DO!This is one of my favorite photos!! :)

Little girl, Summer just begun so i am excited to spend some wonderful time with you!!

Love you,

Mommy

breastfeeding and more

Hi Little Girl,
I was reading another blog about a momma that was breastfeeding and felt bad for watching tv and not staring at her little one as she knew every time she breastfeed took her one day closer to the end of the breastfeeding period. Which made me think of all the little things you do, or I do, while you breastfeed.
For example, you rest your hand on my breast. You just rest it nicely there like you're saying thanks mom! Sometimes you will move your hand back and forth like you're patting me on the back! :)
If you really need to catch your breath you arch your back and take a HUGE breath in!! Then you lay there and look at me, and then you realize you're not done eating and you quickly start again! :)
My favorite is when you are done eating and I put you up to my shoulder to burp you and you just rest your head on my shoulder with your two hands under your head. You are so cute and content!!
My other favorite is when you quit eating and you lay back on the pillow and just look up at me with a HUGE smile! You are so stinkin cute!!
I'm not going to lie, breastfeeding has at times been challenging. It's just hard when you eat so much and I am the only one who can feed you. But pumping has been a big challenge. But I know it's best for you (and our pocketbook ;)). It really is so worth it and I love our bonding time together! :)
I will probably miss breastfeeding tremendously when I stop! My hope was to be able to breastfeed when you were born and I'm so happy it has worked out!

Your daddy reminded me of a birth moment that I forgot to post about!! We laugh at this moment so I thought I would share! While I was in labor I would grab your daddy's hand and squeeze it (as most moms do) (*your daddy wants me to tell you that I would squeeze his hand HARD). Well, whenever I would squeeze your daddy's hand, he would naturally squeeze mine back. Well, I apparently didn't like him squeezing my hand back (mainly because it distracted me) so I finally quit squeezing his hands and went to squeezing two fingers! At the time he didn't understand why I did that but later I explained and we had a good laugh! :)

Oh, little girl, you are such a blessing! You are such a great baby and we are so lucky to have you!! You are doing great at daycare and you are talking up a storm!! I miss you so much during the day and I cherish all the times I get to be with you!!

We are in Iola tonight and your grandma is rocking you to sleep! We are going to Little Oscars at Iola High tomorrow night because your daddy is co-hosting them!!

Alright, that is all for now!! I love you dearly little girl!!
Mommy

Your Best Friend!

I haven't told you about your best friend yet! :) See, your Mommy's best friend, Amy, had a baby girl almost exactly 2 months before you were born!

Here is a picture of you and me at the hospital when Ellarie was born! We were there to witness the miracle and Amy was there to witness the miracle of you being born!

So, you finally got to meet your best friend on March 28! You and Ellarie really do get along so well already. I know you guys don't really know what is going on, but whenever we lay the two of you down next to each other you kick and smile, and have so much fun! :) So here are some photos from the day you met your best friend! Emma came running into our house so excited! But did she give me a hug? No! Did she give your daddy a hug? No! She ran straight to you and said hi to you!! :)

Here you are with Ellarie and the two daddies! :)

you and Ellarie played on your playmat together!!

The Mommies and their girls!! Me, You, Emma, Amy, and Ellarie!!

And of course our family!! Amy, Ellarie, Dale, Emma, Daddy, Mommy, and you! See, I told you that you and Ellarie were best friends from day 1! The two of you are looking at each other!! :)

You were both sad when we put you in your pajamas and it was time to go!! :(

And then here is a picture of the two of you from today! You are 2 1/2 months old and Ellarie is 4 1/2 months old in this photo! You both have grown and changed so much!!


We can't wait to watch all the trouble you and Ellarie get into together!!

Love you!

Mommy

Mother's Day!!

I had a fabulous first mother's day thanks to you and your daddy! :) It's funny I woke up in the middle of the night and went downstairs to get some cough drops and there was a big heart on the mirror in the bathroom and it scared me!! But then I looked and it was a sweet note from you and daddy! :) There were sweet little surprise notes all over the house waiting for me. There were also sweet flowers adn cards for me!!

We went up to the city to watch Ellarie get baptized! It was a great church service and a wonderful day!

Here is your daddy with newly baptized Ellarie and you!

Here is the wonderful note that was on the bathroom mirror!!

After all our festivites for the day we were all pretty tired! Daddy and you took a nice nap together! :)

You were a pretty sleepy baby! :)

It couldn't have been a better day in any way! It was wonderful!!

I am beyond thrilled and blessed to be a mommy! Everyday I thank God that he chose ME to be YOUR mommy!! I know it was His ultimate plan for you to be my baby girl. You are a very wonderful baby and I am really blessed! I love you little girl!!

Love,

Mommy

Your First Easter!

Easter was April 24 this year! Also your Mommy's birthday!! :) We had a wonderful time celebrating with all our family!
We started by going to Iola!
You met your Great Grandpa Holloway and Teresa for the first time!

Uncle Grant rocked you to sleep so you could take a nap! :)

Your Aunt Melisa got you this cute outfit!! :)

After we spent Friday and 1/2 of Saturday in Iola, we traveled to Buhler to spend time there! When we got there your mommy and daddy went out on their first date since you were born! We went to Taco Hut, then Wal-Mart, and then we walked around Home Depot! It was wonderful spending time with your daddy. And you enjoyed spending alone time with Mimi and Papa!

We went to Easter Sunday Service at Hoffnungsau! Bekkah was there too!

The women in our family! Aunt Jami, Cousin Bekkah, Mimi BJ, you, and Mommy!

Bekkah and you with your Papa and Mimi. (Bekkah was being stubborn :) )

You and your first Easter Basket! It was from Mimi!

Your Easter Basket from Grandma Sonja!

You loved your Bunny Ears from Sonja and Ashlynn!! And you're so cute! :)

Our family on Easter!

Bekkah and you were having your first "tea party"

This was the best photo we could get of you and Bekkah in your matching outfits from your Easter Baskets! You were fussy and ready for a nap - and Bekkah wanted to play! :)

Overall it was a fabulous Easter!! You are growing so much Eliana! Even as I type this and look at these photos you have grown so much since then!! You are a fabulous baby and we love you incredibly!!

Love you Little Girl!!

Mommy