Baby Dedication

On Sunday, November 4th we had a baby dedication for Ellis and two other babies at Northgate Church.  It was nice to have a public way of showing that we will raise Ellis to love and serve God and that we will try to set a good example of this for her on a daily basis.  The dress that Ellis wore for the dedication was the dress that my mom, me, and my sisters wore when we were baptized.

 Us praying with Brian (an elder) and Amy Wood

 Bill asked our families to come up and pray over Ellis

It was a special day and we were blessed to have family join us. 

Catching Up: Halloween

I have no excuse for why this post is so late but I still wanted to put up a few pictures of our sweetie pie from Halloween. We went pretty simple with Halloween this year. We stayed at home and handed out candy to trick-or-treaters. My grandparents were actually driving through on their way to Conway so they stopped and ate dinner with us and met Ellis for the first time.

 Our Little Zebra

Who knew zebras could fly? 

 Ellis with Great Grandpa & Grandma Solberg

Ellis at 5 Months

So as of Tuesday we have a big five month old at our house! Since then we have been busy with Halloween, family coming into town and baby dedication at church (more posts on all of those things later)! Ellis has been so much fun this month. She is continuing to learn new things everyday and is really starting to get a little personality. She makes us laugh all the time with her funny faces and "talking". Ellis, here are some fun things about you at 5 months:

• I think you weigh about 13 pounds
• You are continuing to find your voice (sometimes loudly). You are starting to mimic sounds and a few times it has really sounded like you've said, "I love you" after we've said it first
• You are wanting to sit up all the time. We just started putting you in the bumbo chair at the end of the month and you don't quite know what to think about it yet.
• You are starting to notice when people walk into and out of a room. The first one is normally greeted with smiles and leaving is accompanied with crying. (We might be in trouble)
• You can pick up your pacifier and put it in your mouth, even if it takes you a few tries
• You are starting to giggle when we give you multiple kisses or act silly, it's the sweetest sound
• You smile at complete strangers and everywhere we go people like to talk to you

Happy Girl

 "Are you talking to me?"

I'm getting so long!

This picture and the one below are my "talking faces".

Ellis,
We love being your mommy & daddy. You are such a happy baby and are pretty easy going. We love that you scrunch up your nose when you smile. You smile at everyone you meet and are really starting to be social. We love you!
Love,
Mommy & Daddy

An Afternoon of Pumpkins

This afternoon Matt and I took our little "pumpkin" to the pumpkin patch. It was a small one in downtown Bentonville that is sponsored by the Methodist Church. It was the perfect size for us and they had a ton of pumpkins. It was a beautiful day despite being a little chilly and windy. We of course had to take a few pictures while we were there!

Ellis at Four Months

I can't believe that Ellis was four months last Sunday! September was a very busy month for us. I went back to work and am enjoying being a working mom. It was hard those first couple of days to leave her but Ellis really likes her babysitter (and they really like Ellis). My days at work fly by and everyday it's 3:00 before I know it. It's so much fun to pick up Ellis and to see her big smile when I walk in the door. Matt has also been a huge help each night with getting bottles ready, cooking dinner, or doing other things around the house. It's also nice being on the year round schedule because I have the next 2 weeks off to enjoy with my girl!

This post is a little late because we went to Conway last weekend for Graham's 1st birthday and then Sunday evening I came down with a stomach bug that kept me in bed until Tuesday. Matt was a great daddy and took our little girl to her 4 month appointment on Monday afternoon. He's brave considering she had to get another round of immunizations! Ellis weighed 10 lbs,14 oz and was 24 inches long. Here are some pictures of Ellis at 4 months and fun facts about her.

Ellis:

• You are grabbing your pacifier and trying to put it back in your mouth
• You're starting to "take turns" in conversations
• You slept through Graham's 1st birthday party
• You're our little traveler
• You have some new reflux meds that are really working
• You have discovered the TV and love to watch football with daddy
• You know who your mommy and daddy are. If someone else is holding you and we walk in the room you get a little fussy. (It kind of hurts their feelings but makes mommy & daddy feel loved) I'm sure you'll get over this. 
• You are still in 0-3 month clothes but have been able to wear a few 3-6 month onesies

Ellis,

Everyday we get to know you a little bit better. You are a smiley and content baby and are still pretty easy going. We love listening to you "talk" and are amazed at how much you are learning. We love you!

Love,

Mommy & Daddy

Ellis at Three Months

This last month, just like the others, has flown by! It was my last month at home and I will be returning to work on Tuesday. I'm excited about my new role of a working mommy and am praying for a smooth transition. We didn't have a 3 month check up but we think she weighs at least 9 pounds.  Here are some pictures of our active little girl and what she's up to!

 She's starting to like the chair a little better, no crying!

 So serious!

 Happy girl! (A little blurry but I had to include it)

This girl loves her daddy!

Ellis:

• You have definitely found your voice. You are "talking" to anyone who will listen.
• You have started "singing" with mommy when I lay you down to sleep
• Your hands are your new best friend. They are always moving and in your mouth.
• You have discovered that you can grab toys and really enjoy your "Sophie Giraffe"
• Despite mommy's efforts you rarely nap longer than 45 minutes. At least you're sleeping well most nights.
• You're a good eater and eat every 2 1/2 to 3 hours during the day. You were slow to gain weight last month so we're supplementing with 6-8 oz of formula each day.
• You started reflux medicine and it seems like you're more comfortable.
• This month you took your first road trip to Conway. You were a great little traveler and slept the whole way!
• On Monday you decided that rolling from your stomach to your back would be your newest trick and you've been practicing every day!

Ellis,
We love you and are so glad that you're our little girl! Everyday with you is fun and different. You bring us and everyone around you so much joy. We can't wait to see what you'll be doing in the months to come!
Love,
Mommy & Daddy

Ellis at Two Months

Well this post is a few days late because I wanted to wait until after Ellis' 2 month appointment on Tuesday, so I would have her current "stats". I was going to write this yesterday but Ellis and I were both feeling a little under the weather. She had her two month immunizations on Tuesday and I am fighting off a summer cold. So yesterday we both just laid in bed and took it easy. So today we're both pretty much back to normal and I have a minute to sit down to write about Ellis and what she's doing at two months!

At her two month check up, Ellis weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces (yes, she's still our little peanut!) and was 21 1/4 inches long. She hasn't been eating very well the last few days so we're going to try some different things. I've already seen improvement in her eating since Tuesday. The doctor wants us to come back next week for a weight check. She's not too concerned though because Ellis is growing in length, looks healthy, acts happy and is meeting appropriate milestones. (You know her mommy and daddy have been working on those gross motor, fine motor and visual motor skills! We just can't help but give her a little bit of "therapy"!)

At two months Ellis you are:

• Starting to coo at mommy, daddy and your toys
• Giggling
• Noticing when mommy & daddy enter or leave the room (and getting upset when we leave)
• Discovering your hands
• In between newborn and 0-3 month clothing, your newborn pants are too short but your 0-3 are too big in the waist!
• Smiling a lot
• In a good pattern of eat, play, sleep
• You still eat every 2 1/2 hours during the day and will sleep from 10:30 p.m.- 5:00 a.m.
• We are working on a schedule, instead of just a pattern, and some days are better than others

Two month picture (Much happier than last month!)

She's getting longer

Playing with her toys

At home after her shots

Ellis,

You are such a sweet girl with a fun personality! You are such an easy going baby, as long as you're not tired or hungry. Once you get what you want you are happy again. Mommy and daddy don't know what we did before you came along! We love you!

Love,

Mommy