Merry Thanksgiving!

Uncle Jay meeting Elaina

 

So our family had our Christmas/Thanksgiving this year.  Basically we rotate every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas when the family will be in town at Dad's house.  This was the first Thanksgiving our family was together since mom passed.  It was different.  There is a lot of reshuffling of how things are done.  Without the matriarch and the addition of 2 new babies things will have to settle into a new routine.  We aren't sure what that routine is yet so there will probably be a few years were the family times seem a bit off.   God truly blessed us with having the squeals and laughs of Caleb and Elaina to take our minds off of who wasn't with us.  We didn't miss her any less but it just made the days a bit more bearable.  We also celebrated Elaina's 4 month b-day on Thanksgiving day.  It was a day of many first's for her.  First Thanksgiving, first Christmas gifts,  first low grade fever due to teething, first time meeting her Uncle Jay, and first time the whole family was together since her birth.   It was also the first time most of us got to see Caleb walking.  What a joy to see a little one taking their first steps.  Holidays really are so special for little children and we have been blessed 2x since we lost mom.  It was just a wonderful time catching up with everyone and  the cousins spending some time together.  Although personally neither of them seemed to care a bit that the other one was there.  LOL!  I'm sure they will be glad for a playmate in the future!

  



Who are you again?



Happy 4 month B-day!



Caleb was a JOY!



Elaina is growing like a weed.  At her 4 month appointment she weighed in at a whopping 15lbs 8oz, 25 1/4" long, and a 17" head.  She is in the 90-95th% !    She is a wonderful baby who is at the stage where she wants mommy's or anyones attention 100% of the time she is awake! LOL.  It does make getting things done a bit harder but how can you be frustrated when those tears turn to squeals of joy when you start to scold her!  This weekend I started putting Christmas decorations out and I realized it wasn't just for us anymore.  I have shed some tears as I am putting each ornament on the tree.  So many of them have such meaning to us and now so much more with this little addition to our family!  It's Elaina's first Christmas and although, Lordwilling, there will be many many more there is something special about this first one.  Thats all for now..........Happy Holidays.  Elaina is waking from her nap!



3 months old



Pic credits go to Aunt Naomi



So Elaina turned 3 months old yesterday.  I truly can't believe it!  She brings such joy into our lives.  Her little coos and smiles....melts our heart and makes us laugh.  We are starting to get into the rhythm of life.  For the last few days she has been sleeping from 11pm-7am.  This makes me SOOOO happy and Ben not so happy since he has to get up earlier then he'd like too.  We have a deal.  If Elaina wakes 5:50 or earlier I take the feeding.  If its basically 6AM or later..Ben takes the feeding.  Seems to be more and more days were she is sleeping to at least 6am or later! Problem is....Ben would like to keep sleeping! :)  He also puts her in her crib before he leaves and gives me the moniter.  I'm ashamed to say it but Elaina has been letting me sleep to 10am!  Some days I even wake and have to wake HER up.  I'm not complaining as long as she sleeps well at night!

She is growing like a weed.  We tried to measure her the other day and it looks like she is almost 25" and weighs about 13lbs8oz.  We have a check up next tuesday so we'll get to know for sure.

This past weekend we took a walk around the lake at cowan's gap.  Elaina could have cared less for the beautiful fall colors but we enjoyed it while she took a nap as we strolled.

First family "arm" shot



Snoozing the whole walk



I love the "gap"!



Judy meeting Elaina



Yesterday Elaina visited Whitetail for the first time.  Everyone was loving on her and she was loving it too!



Lordwilling, it will be the first of many many visits to whitetail through the years.  Daddy and mommy are praying that she loves skiing just as much as they do!



Elaina liked Melissa a LOT!



Cute as a button!!

 Just wanted to post some pics my sis-n-law Mary took of Elaina while she was babysitting the other week.  Speaking of Mary....I am an Aunt again.  Today (well yesterday) Mary gave birth to Levi Nathanael Pugh at 9:43am, 7lbs 10oz, 19 3/4" .  Mommy and baby are doing well!

How cute am I?

Cousins! I can't believe she was actually smaller then this!

This is how I roll......:)

I make Mommy's heart melt....

Levi Nathanael Pugh

Happy Birthday Caleb!!!!

Happy Birthday to our nephew Caleb who turns the BIG 1 today! (well yesterday ;P )

We love you!!!

Baby:57 Mommy:0

57...57...like Heinz 57....this is the number of nights I have gone without uninterrupted sleep.  Oh sleep...glorious sleep!  How I miss thee!  How I crave thee!!!  I love when people tell me to "sleep when they are sleeping".  Exactly how do you do this when your little one rarely takes a nap longer then 40 min and half that time you are running to the bathroom or trying to eek in a shower?  I admit I use to be one of those people who thought what is wrong with these new parents?  Just put the baby down and take a shower!!!! You don't have to hold them 24/7!! And we don’t, but it is pretty hard to get in a shower or even eat when they are only down "for the count" about 30min.  I promise to be a changed and enlighten mother!  I will not pass judgment or condemn (silently, of course,) any new (or even slightly used) parent...IF I could just get 8hrs of sweet, glorious sleep!  When Ben asked me what I wanted for my birthday I selfishly wanted to shout from the rooftops "2 nights at a hotel...ALONE", but I didn't and instead got a bed frame. Oh the irony!  A structure to support a mattress in a more visually appealing way to entice us to slumber longer.....yes...oh the irony!  What also is ironic is that it is the middle of the night when I am typing this and the little munchkin is asleep....and I am not!  So I bid you all a good night...