Put Me In, Coach!

Ellie Is One Month Old Today!

Happy Thanksgiving to all! When Ellie was born on October 25th, we realized that she would celebrate her 1 month anniversary on Thanksgiving and her 2 month anniversary on Christmas! We plan to take a picture of her next to this sweet teddy bear (that aunt Heidi got her) every month on the 25th, so we can see how she has grown!

We are so thankful for the blessing she is in our lives, and can already not fathom life without baby Adelle.

Lil' Miss Serious Might Be Turning a Corner

It happened in a flash, and of course I did not get a picture. But, I do think the little girl smiled for me this morning!!!

Here's hoping for many, many, mannny more of those sweet moments when I feel like she is acknowledging my existence!

This is the face I've been used to lately...a kind of "whoo are YOU and what do you think you're doing?" face..

Ellie's First Gaze at the Christmas Tree

Here's hoping that the Christmas lights will get us through some fussy nights. :)

First Real Bath!

Ellie's umbilical cord stump fell off yesterday, and so it was time for a bath in the tub! She really enjoyed it, despite the fact that she looks terrified in this picture. Hehe. You would have thought we were TORTURING her with those sponge baths we have been giving her!

Off to Church!

Here is Ellie all dressed for her first night back at church. Enjoy!

Hopeful..

Hey friends,
Just wanted to give you a quick update on life around here! It's been less than calm. On Tuesday I managed to muster up the courage to get to women's Bible study. I made it safely, and Ellie was sooo good. She slept in my arms the whole time. The women all admired my "good" baby. That night, I bragged to my mom about how good Ellie is in the mornings (she had been that way the past couple of days, and since I am looking for ANY signs of relief these days, I was holding tightly to that idea.) Well, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday were SOOO hard. I tried to tell myself it was irony and that she really would give her mom some relief soon. She would wake for her 5-ish a.m. feeding, and then refuse to sleep until about 12:30 when she would CRASH. Ben would get home from work and I would be crying, anxious, and soooo frustrated. I have tried to keep her on a good schedule, tried reading her cues (and have clearly been misreading them), and tried to meet her needs time and time again. But a sister has GOT to be able to get a shower in, right?
I started reading this book "Secrets of the Baby Whisperer." It is a very realistic approach to caring for baby by viewing baby as a PERSON with felt needs and an ABILITY (not disability) to communicate them. She doesn't shun schedules or routine, but she does say that baby has something to say to you with every cry, and to respect that.
I haven't gotten through much of it yet, but already feel a bit refreshed and possessing a certain sense of humor about ellie's cries. (Rather than being utterly frantic!) I would already recommend this book to any mom who feels helpless. And I would recommend reading it before your baby is three weeks old. I haven't ruined her, I know, but I have realized I have been building some debilitating habits in her that I need to break.
Anyway, this is my world today. And the fact that I'm able to be writing this (while eating my banana with peanut butter because Ellie is napping in her crib), means that I am having small breakthroughs day by day. I'm learning this little girl. This has easily been the hardest month of my life, but I'm learning.
And more importantly, I have NEVER needed my Lord more than in these hours.

Love to whoever has read my ramblings.

Whit :)