Bug loves baths

Little makes this kid happier.

I can't even.

This kid makes me laugh every.single.day. 

Memorial Day Weekend

A relaxing weekend at home filled with a bug in a tankini, some shopping, a mom night out (Pitch Perfect 2 with LDC!) and a good bye dinner with Andy who is moving to Dallas. 

I'll be back.

Terminator 14: the bug is back

Her eyes KILL me

24 weeks!

And an unofficial weigh in at 14.8 pounds today. I fear we're in a big growth spurt and all those precious  3-6 month clothes that took FOREVER to grow into aren't going to fit for long...

Ellie's first road trip - Laguna, CA

Weekend before last, the family packed up the Santa Fe and headed west to Laguna, CA. Lindsay's friends from college were throwing her a baby shower, and since throwing one for her here in AZ wasn't in the cards, we wanted to make sure to share in the baby Del Chiaro love and attend the one there. We were excited to show Ellie the ocean for the first time, as well as try a house rental through VRBO for the first time. All in all, E did really well in the car both ways (it's about a 6.5 hour drive after making feeding stops), the shower was lovely, and the weather was fantastic. Ellie got to see the ocean (which fascinated her), get in a swing for the first time (which she loved), and Brad and I got some much needed one on one time in the car to just catch up on life and reconnect. 

The most memorable part of the trip, however, is something I want to be sure to record so we can continue to laugh about this for years to come. We left later than we intended to on Friday, and so Lindsay warned us we might hit some traffic once we got into CA. We crossed into CA and were moving right along...until we weren't. We were completely stopped and by the time it was all said and done had traveled 6 miles in an hour and a half. A few things were making this hour and a half challenging. First was that both Brad and I had to pee. Badly. And of course, with that much time lapsing, Ellie got hungry. Or more appropriately described, HANGRY. At one point, Brad just bailed out of the front seat and sat next to her in the back in an attempt to stave of some of the wailing with face time. (It worked for about 5 minutes.)

So what are parents to do? There was no exiting, as we could see the line of cars trying to get on the highway was just moving just as slow as we were already on the highway. So...

I pulled onto the shoulder. We put 'er in park and put the flashers on. Because the cars were moving so slowly, there was no way I could have squatted outside the car, so instead I squatted on the passenger side floorboard and relieved myself in a 32 ounce up (which I basically filled). I remarked to Brad as I was in the process of peeing (with no spills, I might add) that it was a good thing I'd spent the last 10 months regularly peeing in a cup at the doctor's office, or it could have gone much worse. The cup was emptied outside, handed to Brad (who at this point is still in the backseat), and he proceeds to fill it. Twice. Crisis #1 averted.

Next, we unbuckled the child, brought her to the front seat, and I breastfed her on the side of the road. Classy. And I think every car that passed got a good look at my goodies. At that point, I could have cared less. Crisis #2 averted. However, the resolution of crisis #2 brought a new crisis - a very stinky diaper. With no trunk space to use (it was completely packed),  and a front seat useless (they're bucket seats so slope towards the back), we did the next best thing. I changed one of the fullest diapers we've seen in my lap. Yep, which meant legs were kicking and flailing, which meant poop was all over her, and then all over me, and a little on the car. Once we were all wrapped up (pun intended) with crisis #3, we buckled her back in and were back on our way. The best part is that about 3 minutes back on the road, the mess (which wasn't traffic at all, but an overturned semi) completely cleared and there were no fewer than three exits to the next town all with lovely gas stations, fast food restaurants, etc. Sigh.

I am beyond blessed to be married to someone who from the moment the crises started to emerge, just laughed with me. What else is there to do? We stayed calm, cracked jokes, and LAUGHED the entire way through. And now I'm not concerned at all should a similar crisis arise - I know we'll handle it with a sense of humor.

Ah, the joys of the family roadtrip and the memories they provide.  A link to all the trip photos is here. A video of peanut's first time in a swing is below :)

Favorite food race

The race for Ellie's favorite food just got a little more intense. PEAR! A strong contender to the reigning champ, Avocado. 

A letter to my baby on my first Mother's Day

My darling Eleanor,

My first Mother's Day was absolutely wonderful. There were gifts and flowers, laughing and love, but my dear, the best gift I could ever receive for Mother's Day was given to me on December 9 at 6:49 am. You are and will forever be my greatest gift, because it is you who made me a Mother.

I think about this sometimes, the fact that I am someone's MOTHER. And still when I say the words "my daughter" out loud, it seems like I'm talking about someone else's life. "My daughter" is something I've only heard my own mom say for so many years, it just sounds strange coming out of my mouth. And Mother's Day has always been a day about other people, not about me. But I now understand why this day means so much to moms. I felt how I typically feel on my birthday, only times 1000. It's like the whole world should just know that I am a MOM. And after only 5 months with that title, I already understand why that word is so unbelievably special and meaningful.

We are slowly becoming two peas in a pod and as daddy says, I'm your best friend. Having you on my hip, even when I'm trying to get things done, fills my heart with pure JOY. Even on the days when you try my patience, the time apart that a nap brings is enough to center me again. And when you look up at me with a big sleepy post-nap grin, all the day's earlier frustrations melt away.

I think about the times that lie ahead and all of the fun things I get to experience with you. It's already started with introducing you to yummy flavors in your first foods, and I know I'm going to blink and I'll be taking you to dance class, scaring monsters away from under your bed, snuggling with you during thunderstorms, helping you with your homework, letting you read a bedtime story to me, going for fro-yo dates, watching you score your first goal in soccer. I already think back to the days when you were just born, and it feels like light years ago - I can only imagine how I'll feel when you turn 1. Or 6. or 16. Lord help me and my heart.

I know you won't always like me, and I'm okay with that. My job first and foremost is to be your parent. My job is to protect you, guide you and help you through the challenges of childhood, puberty, and young adulthood. As I already tell you now when you babble away on the changing table or in the car, I will ALWAYS stop to listen to what you have to say. You are the most important thing in my life and I've never been more proud of something I've done.

There may come a Mother's Day in the not so distant future (especially if there are siblings in the picture) when I'll want the day or part of the day to myself for some peace and quiet. Maybe. Or maybe not. But on this Mother's Day, all I wanted was to be with you and your dad: my beautiful little family.

You are my greatest accomplishment, and the day you were born, I found my purpose. For that, my love, I will always be grateful to you.

I love you today and always,
Mom

Mother's Day photos

23 weeks!

Fun new toy...

...that also frees up mommy's hands! 

The swing has officially been retired and her bouncy seat is great for a short amount of time, but now she's so alert and active when she's awake that in order to get anything done I needed somewhere to put her that would keep her entertained. 

She tried an exersaucer in Wichita and liked it, so I knew this would be just the thing. We got one yesterday and so far she's a fan! And other than the fact that my petite peanut's feet dangle even on the highest setting, it's been awesome. (Nothing a couple of beach towels didn't fix 😉) 

Between inhaling avocado and a fancy new toy, yesterday was a BIG day in Eleanor's world!

Preferred sleep position

As long as it's comfy to her, I suppose!  (And this preferred sleep position is why I suspect we'll have lift off sometime soon :)

Avocado FIEND

This child loves avocado! She comes by it very honestly - it's one of my favorite foods and I am secretly (or actually, not so secretly) happy that she loves it, too! My heart absolutely melted into a big goopy puddle when she tried to "help" me feed her. Is this child really only 5 months old?!
The love grows greater every.single.day, and I am HONORED to be this girl's mama.

22 weeks!

Shit happens, Volume 2

YIKES.

5 months!

Eleanor Claire is 5 months old!
While the newborn phase was technically over after 3 months, now it feels like we are officially dealing with a baby. She's attentive, smiley, expressive, seems to listen, and engages in play. She finally loves toys, especially ones that make noise and are easy to grab (Oball brand is a favorite). We started "solids" and she can't get enough (even though most of it ends up on her face). We ALWAYS get comments when we're out about what a beautiful baby she is. Literally in one afternoon, I had 4 people stop me to tell me how gorgeous she is. Not that this is news to me ;)
Some stats and what's making her special these days below:

As of 5/9/15...
Weight: unofficial weigh in at 13.6 pounds
Height: guessing she's maybe grown a half inch or so, making her around 25.5/26 inches
Loves: being held up above your head, her toys (especially her owl lovie), dogs (even when they bark and lick her face), walks/being outside, baths, dance parties in the kitchen, mornings

Hates: dirty diapers
Doesn't mind: her seat, her tummy time mat
Size: amazingly still in a lot of her 0-3 clothes (mainly Carter's brand) and a ton of the 0-3 pants. Some 3-6 fits, but a lot of what we have is still just too big! This girl is a petite peanut. She's in size 2 diapers, but still could use the 1.5 if it existed (though Honest brand diapers are great in this in between phase).

-Rolling all over the place and always sleeps on her tummy
-Started blowing raspberries
-She's figured out her hands actually DO things for her and is actively playing with toys
-Had her first taste of "solids" on her 5 month birthday (organic baby oatmeal) and LOVED it!
-Can pass things back and forth between her hands
-Bedtime around 7 pm
-Slowly working on a schedule - three naps a day - around 9/10, 12/1 and 3/4
-Gaining independence - when we put her down for naps, she hardly fusses anymore and sometimes will just lay there squirming around babbling until she falls asleep. Same goes for when she wakes up. A lot of times I look at the monitor during a nap only to find she's wide awake just hanging out in her crib not making a peep!
Dad's favorite things about Ellie:
1. Her giggle (almost always brought on by "eating" her feet and hands)
2. Her smile
3. When she touches my face
4. That she's a mild mannered baby

Mom's favorite things about Ellie:
1. Our "conversations" during the day - it's starting to feel like she's really listening which cracks me up
2. When she touches my face
3. How she can look into my eyes so intently it's like she's talking to me
4. Showing her off/being out and about with her - she makes everyone smile

First "bite" of "solids"

(I put all that in quotes because it was really her first sips of liquid-y organic baby oatmeal, but seeing as it's real food and not breastmilk, we'll go ahead and call it solids)

The kid LOVED it - kept opening up like a baby bird ready for more. And of course she made a huge mess which was so cute. At this point she's not doing this for real nutritional value (she probably consumed 5% of what we fed her), but rather for spoon practice and to get used to different tastes and textures. We'll stick with the oatmeal for the next few days to make sure she's reaction- less, then move on to some runny avocado. Yummy! Let a new chapter begin!