Friday, March 31, 2017

Bluebonnets 2017

It's an unspoken tradition here in Austin to get yearly photos of one's children amidst the beautiful spring Bluebonnets. This year marked Eloise's first time participating in the photo shoot!

It proved to be a challenge for a couple of reasons. First, Eloise full on entered another big perceptual LEAP and has been extra fussy and clingy lately- stranger and separation anxiety have been FULL ON for the past week. Secondly, Eloise had had a very short nap that morning, and it was dangerously close to her next nap time when we went to take photos. This resulted in a pretty fussy baby during our shoot. She did NOT want Iyla touching her, she did NOT want Mama leaving her sitting alone in the flowers..... she did NOT want much of anything to do with the session!

So: here is the evolution in photo format. I still managed to get some cute shots (thankfully!)

This one is CLASSIC

I decided to try a few of Iyla alone, who was all too happy to do her Moana movie character impersonations.

 Maui

 The crab

 And Moana herself


Until next year, when hopefully we'll have better rested kiddos!

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

8 Months Old!

Sweet Eloise Jane, today you are EIGHT months old! Time is flying by. You are at such a fun age right now. So aware, so happy, so fun.... sitting like a champion but NOT moving yet. I've learned through Iyla that there is NO RUSH with that, and to appreciate that for now you happily stay where we put you. : )


Here are your 8 month updates!

How big?

Next month you'll have an official doctor appointment. For now, you are comfortably fitting into 6-12 month and 12-18 month clothes (depending on the brand) and wearing size 4 diapers.

You can also see from the photos below that you are catching up in size with Iyla at a rapid rate! I swear you two will be sharing clothes within a couple of years.


Sleep? You are an awesome sleeper! You've gone from the worst to the best sleeper, hands down. You now consistently sleep through the night- usually 11.5-12 hours straight. Bedtime is in the 7-7:30 range and you sleep until at least 7, if not 7:30.

You are doing two naps/day, the first 1.5- 2 hours after you wake for the day, the next about 2.5- 3 hours after you wake up from your morning nap. You go down sweetly and easily- we put you in your sleep sack, carry you to your room, turn on your sound machine, sing a song, and lay you down.

 
 Very rare stroller nap!

 And this. THIS amazes me. I found this picture of you at 23 weeks in utero, sucking your left thumb exactly like you do now to self soothe when tired! Sooooo sweet.

Eating? You LOVE your food! I am so impressed at how quickly you've gotten chewing and swallowing down- that is something your sister took a lot longer to "get" (and she continues to be a dainty eater to this day)!

You love asparagus and bread crusts, as well as your baby Mum-Mum crackers. The only things you've given an adverse reaction to are steak (you cried as soon as you tasted it- it was strange and we wondered if maybe you chomped your tongue?) and eggs. When I put eggs on your tray you move them around, grab them, then eloquently DROP them to the floor. Ha!


Potty? I'm starting monthly updates in this category because you've been going #2 on the potty pretty consistently this month! I sit you on your potty after you wake up and have a bottle, and I swear you know that this is the time to push and see if there is anything in there. You've also gone #1 a couple of times on the potty as well, but there isn't any real rhyme or reason to that.

Words? No distinct words yet. This month you started babbling dadadada sounds, as well as starting to smack your lips and make clicking sounds.

You are LOUD. You loooove experimenting with just how loud you can vocalize. You get even louder when you are tired! We joke that you are here to make noise. With your voice, with your toys, etc.

Always banging things together!

New skills?

*Lots of WIGGLING side to side! You get really excited when someone you know and love comes into the room, and will show it with your entire body. You especially like to move your head quickly side to side- which can result in someone who is holding you getting head-butted! We have to be on the alert.

*Doing the "cute" flirt. This equates to you cocking your head to the side and snuggling into whomever is holding you (this can also result in a head-butt!).

*Reaching out to grab things we have

 Like my phone

*Sticking out your tongue


*Bending your body to snuggle. It's the sweetest!

*"Sharing" things. You love to hold up your food or toy to BC or I as an offering.

Sharing your leaf with me

Favorite things?

*Being outside

 

*Splashing in your baths


*Getting tickled (your neck, armpits, and sides are the sweet spots!)

*Riding on Papa's shoulders or going for walks with him


*Anything pertaining to your sister Iyla!

 

*Stick like toys you can bang together


*Your electronic story book:


Here are a more photos from your past month, to include your "official" photo shoot that Iyla happily crashed!

Your happy nose crinkle is the cutest


We love you so much sweet Eloise Jane! Happy 8 months to you.