Lofty Goals

I'm on a decorating kick! I am constantly looking around my living room thinking about what I can move around/add/get rid of/paint. Chris calls it an obsession, I call it...well, maybe an obsession, but whatever! So on Thursday I made the hour trip up to Tupelo, MS to Hobby Lobby. I had this wonderful vision of all the great things I would get to help make my living room look better. I just knew that I'd walk out of that store w/ a basket full of goodies. I had a plan, I had the money, I had these great lofty goals, and do you know what I bought? Do you know what I walked out of there with???

A glue gun!

My plans were foiled the minute I started looking in the Christmas section. I got overwhelmed, lost focus, and essentially just gave up. I'm thinking that the next time I go I should take a buddy!

Halloween

We had a great Halloween this year!! My dad, sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew all came out to meet Elliana for the first time, and we had a blast. We went to the Fall Festival at a local church, and then Chris & I took everyone up to the base to go trick-or-treating. Thanks to her wonderful grandparents, Miss Elli had three cute outfits for the evening. She started off the day in her sweet "My 1st Halloween" onsie, then changed into a pumpkin, and ended the night as a flower. Some people might think that's a little over the top...not me!! I loved it!! She was a great sport and let us take lots of pictures. Thank goodness she's pretty laid back! What would I do if she wasn't into letting me dress her up all the time?!!

It was so wonderful to get to see my niece and nephew again. We made cookies, watched movies, played in the yard, and just enjoyed being together. I hate that I miss out on so much of their lives, but it just makes me truly appreciate the time that we do have together. I love being an aunt, and I'm so excited for Elli to have 2 of the greatest cousins in the world :) Here are some pics of our weekend...

First Halloween
Elli as a flower
Such a cutie!
I love this little pumpkin!!

Papa & Elli at the park
Landry & Elliana
She had a GREAT 1st Halloween!

The Thompson Family

It's an Elli World!!

Life around here pretty much revolves around Miss Elli these days, and I can't say that I mind a bit!! She is such a joy, and I feel so blessed to be able to spend every day with her. I have to admit, I was feeling a little bit overwhelmed in the beginning (but what new mom doesn't, right?). But now that we've got a little routine down I don't feel so...well...completely helpless! I'm happy to report that our nights are a LOT less stressful now that we've moved Elli into our room to sleep. I know, I know, we totally went backwards on the whole sleeping arrangement thing. She started out in her crib from day one and now, at 2 months, she's in our room. But, you know what? I've learned to accept the "whatever it takes" advice. And, it works for us so I'll take it :)

Each day brings with it something new. She is smiling all the time now, and laughing occasionally! She can focus on things, and definitely knows her mommy & daddy's voices. She loves to look in her little mirror when she has "floor time", and she's staying awake for a good hour before she starts getting sleepy again. We're still working on the napping w/o being held...she doesn't like that so much! And, she's not a big fan of "tummy time", but we try to find other ways to help her build up her little neck muscles. She LOVES to go places and be around people. I think she takes after me in that arena!! She's just so much fun, and I wake up happy every morning knowing that she's ours...what a tremendous blessing!

I thought I'd share some pics of her just being her :)

Pumpkin Patch

Our Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

October Adventures

I just love the Fall! I think I write about it every year...the leaves changing, the weather getting cooler, the fact that Thanksgiving & Christmas are right around the corner! What's not to love?! This year, I'm so excited to be hosting Thanksgiving for the first time ever! I'm a little nervous...ummm, cooking a turkey?! A little intimidating! But, ultimately, I can't wait to have our family out here & to share the holiday w/ Elli. Super fun!

October has proven to be the month of visitors. First we had Chris's Grandmama & Aunt, this weekend my brother & his wife will be visiting, next weekend my mom comes out, and then my dad, sister & my niece and nephew will be here to help us celebrate Halloween! I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again, and to introducing Elliana to those who haven't met her yet. I'm sure they'll fall instantly in love :) I'm trying to think of some fun little halloween treats to make/buy for my niece and nephew...any ideas??

Elli had her 2nd pediatrician's visit a few days ago, and then got her first round of vaccines the day after that. She was a trooper. Her mom...not so much! I think I cried more than she did! There's just something about seeing your child hurting that breaks your heart. Oh, I just love that little girl and when I saw her face crinkle up & that lip start to quiver, I just melted! I'm totally in love w/ our new Dr, too. He held Elli for her entire visit, gave her a little kiss, and just sat and talked w/ us like we were the only patients he had. It was a much better experience than we had with her first one. I'm so thankful that we found a Dr. who really loves children and honestly wants to get to know our daughter. Miss Priss has gained 2 lbs since she was born, so she now weighs 9lbs, 5 oz. She's now in the 50% for her weight and 75% for her height. She's a growing girl!

Let's see...what else? Oh, we went to the Pumpkin Patch last weekend! I'll be sure to post some pics of that soon :) I think that's just about it for this little family. Hope you are all having a great week!

Smiles

I don't really have anything profound to write today...not that any of my last posts have been profound! We're finally starting to get settled into our new routine as a family of three. Chris started back to work after a WONDERFUL 2 months off. People were always asking me if I was ready for him to get back to work, and honestly, I really wasn't. I loved having him home w/ me, and after living in England and enduring his crazy schedule over there, I think I enjoyed our time together even more.

Elli and I have been having a great time hanging out this week. It's really the first week that we've had without any family here, so been having fun figuring out our own "groove". I'm reading "The Baby Whisperer", and highly recommend it to all you future mommies out there. If you've read my blog at all, you know that I'm an avid reader and it probably won't surprise you to hear that I've read just about every baby book that I could get my hands on. "The Baby Whisperer" is, by far, my favorite. Tracey, the author, just seems to know babies...hmm, I guess that's why they say she has the whispering gift! Anyway, now that I've been following some of her advice I feel like Elli & I are connecting even more than before. She's always been a really good baby, but now it seems like she's even better because I can read some of her cues and can sometimes predict and prevent a potential meltdown...sometimes is the key word :) We're still working on the sleeping thing, but I take it as a good sign that I'm only getting those 2.5 hrs of sleep nights every other night now. At least she's letting me recover a little bit!

But the BEST news of the week is that she's starting to smile!! Much to my dismay (and his utter joy!), Chris was the one to catch her 1st. But, today while we were reading "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" her little mouth turned up and her eyes shined! Of course, I cried...I'm such a softy! And no, I'm not surprised at all that I caught this little glimmer of a smile while reading to her...she is related to me, after all :)

Hope your week is filled with lots of smiles as well!

~Amy

30 Days with Elliana

Exactly one month ago today, our lives changed forever!

It's been 30 days since we welcomed sweet Elliana into this world, and they've been the absolute best days of my life. She brings us such joy and has been a bigger blessing than I could have ever imagined. Chris and I were talking last night about how weird it is to feel such overwhelming love for someone that can't talk to you, can't really show affection, and who is just so tiny. But, oh my gosh, do we love that little girl. I love her sweet baby smell, the way she puts her teeny fist up by her face when she sleeps, her cute noises, and how she looks at me in the middle of the night when it's just her and I. I thought I knew how it would feel...but I couldn't have possibly fathomed how wonderful it would really be.

Thank you, Lord, for this precious gift. I am so very, very thankful for her.