33 weeks!

Bluebeard of Blueberryville

We think food tastes much better if part of it is worn :) 

(Also pictured: pieces of banana)

Ellie's boyfriend

We spent some time with Lindsay and Beckett yesterday, and it's so cute to see how attentive E is to his cries and squeaks. She could be totally engrossed in her toy, but the second he fusses, she's looking at him with the most inquisitive look on her face. She also tried to hold (read: pinch and squeeze - her two favorite things to do) his hand!

Fridays are for playing (and trying some new things)!

A day for the record books. Daddy took the day, and we really made the most of it.
Kicked off this perfectly cloudy day with a family walk (including a stop at the swings), followed by some playtime at the splash pad in Scottsdale Quarter.

Ellie even tried my juice (like, real juiced fruits and veggies) - turns out this kid likes beets (at least that was the main component I could taste in it)!

We headed home and then spent time in the pool, followed by some playtime and E's first pony (I feel like this is totally a daughter milestone). 

Chicken, apple and sweet potato for the bug for dinner, and then off to bed (at which time mom and dad will enjoy a much deserved glass of wine and tasty dinner). I absolutely adore my incredible little family.

  

Getting it done

Because some afternoons you just have to get some shit done and need two hands. Love that my best buddy loves hanging with me :)

Dog pile!

Literally! Will all the Kiesling ladies ease jump on the chair? 

32 weeks!

Whatcha doin, mommy?

#1!!

It wasn't me! I have no idea who tried to erase the board!

Why does she look like such a BIG girl?!

The new Sunday Funday

Mondays are better when baby giggles are involved

Craziness

This child makes me laugh SO MUCH

She claps!!

They see me Rollin'...

It only took 7.5 months, but the infant car seat adapter has officially been taken off the BOB. Ellie loved her new walk view, and whoa that stroller is lighter without a car seat attached. I see some jogging in our future...
Funny enough, this was a much harder transition for daddy than anyone else - when I told him I took the infant adapter off his response was "Nooooooooo!". He feels the same push/pull that I do - we love seeing her grow and change, but your heart aches with every new milestone.

My favorite time of day

I typically think of my days in blocks of time around when Ellie naps. Maybe this is normal, who knows, but it helps me think through what I can accomplish when, scheduling things, etc. Right now, hands down, my favorite time of day is from wake up to nap 1.
It goes a little something like this:

-Ellie starts stirring in her crib around 6, at which time I pump on the right side while she plays contentedly until around 6:30 when dad goes in to get her and change her diaper.

-B brings a VERY happy E into our room where she eats on the left side while B crawls back in for another 10 minutes of shut eye.

-When she's finished eating, she happily sits between the two of us jabbering up a storm, playing with a toy or two, or playing with our faces - the girl loves chins, noses and mouths. (This is probably my favorite part of my favorite time of day and I wish I could effectively put into words why. There's something so peaceful and blissful about it - maybe it's that B and I are still waking up so there's just a freshness about everyone - no work stress or stress from the day yet, just three happy people who love each other so much, talking and giggling and sharing the best kind of quality time together before our days really get going. We're just all so relaxed and HAPPY.)

-We then head downstairs for what is typically E's biggest solids meal of the day - usually some fruit mixed with her oatmeal (and coffee for me made by B). She eats while we listen to music and B gets ready for work.

-Post breakfast we either keep the music on for a little kitchen dance party, or we go play with toys and books. B gets good bye kisses and heads to work, while E and I play a bit before her morning nap, which wraps up block 1 of my day.

This is such a fun time with Ellie - she's alert, happy, active, engaging - pure baby bliss. I wish I could freeze these moments in time, but instead I am trying to engrave these moments on my heart so I never forget the absolute joy of this time in my life.

31 week baby babbles

31 weeks!

And it just so happened to be Bastille Day, which I found out after I'd already put her in her Paris pants. Sometimes I trick myself into thinking I really have it all together. How I love a happy accident :) Seriously, have you ever seen a cuter pair of shorts on a cuter set of chubby baby legs?!

You know you're a parent when...

...you are ready to sleep, pull back the covers of the made bed, and find this. "This" would be a copy of "The Very Busy Spider". Guess we were tired when the bed was made that morning :)

Morning snuggles and E's 2nd consonant

We flipped the camera and E saw herself - pretty funny. Plus her 2nd consonant caught on camera!

Love, love, love our morning snuggles.

7 months old.

Our sweet love turned 7 months old on July 9. I cannot BELIEVE how fast time is flying. Everyday is a treat as it seems like she is constantly growing, changing and developing. She continues to be an absolute joy - so chill and so very happy - nothing gets to this girl! The only time she gets fussy is when she's tired, but then again so do I, so it's hard to blame her :) She talks up a storm, uses her pointer finger, waves, and gives "besos". She is still Toothless Joe, and while she sits like a champ, doesn't seem to have much interest in moving around/crawling (except in her crib, where she moves all OVER the place). Her stats and what's making her special these days is listed below:


As of 7/9/15...
Weight: unofficial weigh in at 15.8 pounds 
Height: maybe 26"?
Loves: WATER! (both baths and the pool), her Sophie giraffe and elephant teether, being held, peek-a-boo, music (she often "dances" ie: rocks back and forth when it is on), sleeping (she is her mother's daughter, after all), her feet and trying to get them in her mouth
Hates: being tired. Seriously, I think that's it. 
Size: 3-6 month clothes and size 2 diapers.


-Sits really well, even in her chair
-Knows words - if you ask her if she wants some milkies, you get a VERY enthusiastic response. She also knows her name and looks when you call her
-She sat in a restaurant high chair for the first time and did great!
-She also did some shopping in her stroller sans car seat for the first time.
-Has added apple, hummus, ground turkey, whole fat plain Greek yogurt, and blueberries to the food repertoire, as well as spices like garlic, oregano, and cinnamon.
-Loves when dad does what we call the "Tiger Lily" to her - so much so that she started doing it to herself!
-Bedtime around 7 pm
-Still taking three naps a day - I keep thinking she'll drop the mid-day nap, but there is just no keeping this kid awake that long in the middle of the day. And as long as she's still sleeping so well at night, who am I to mess with it? 
-And finally noticed the monthly sticker on her shirt, as evidenced by the last 3 photos... :)

Dad's favorite things about Ellie:
1. Her rocking back and forth
2. Doing the "Tiger Lily" on herself
3. Her laugh
4. Her splashing in the bath
5. When she gives kisses

Mom's favorite things about Ellie:
1. When she holds her own hands - something about it just kills me
2. When she gives kisses
3. That she "dances" when music is on
4. How curious she is becoming - sometimes it drives me crazy when she's nursing and wants to pop off every 90 seconds to see what's going on, but I also love that about her. Girlfriend doesn't want to miss a thing!

How have I not noticed this before?! Delish!