Pink Holidaze

Today.  Your 2nd Birthday. Wow.  Just two years ago right now we were in the hospital, after what seemed like years of waiting for you.  I was in labor , and just about three hours away from your arrival.  And then the world changed, in the best of ways.  Miss Eloise, you have continually been the greatest joy and the most amazing blessing to us.  Our love for you is as deep as the ocean, as wide as the world is round.  Vast beyond measure, and only growing.  It's a visceral, gut-wrenching love.  No matter what you do, this will never, ever change.  You have given me the tiniest glimpse into the intensity of God's love for us, and for that I'm so thankful.  I've seen this quote around...I have no idea where it came from (I should look that up), but it says, "You are our greatest adventure."  That's so true.  Nothing compares.  You are so fun and such a delight.    And currently, such a pistol. ...

Dear Eloise, I absolutely can't believe we're just one month away from your first birthday.  How did this happen so fast?  Just this time last year, I was uncomfortably waiting your arrival, thinking you would be here in just a few days (so wrong).  But you, sweet little babe, were waiting for the perfect moment to arrive.  These past two months (again, doing a two-month post :) have been full of fun new things.  Here we go... * Biggest news:  You started crawling!!!  Just about week ago you officially started.  How exciting!!  We're so proud of you.  You've been trying for awhile and weren't able to quite coordinate it all, but you didn't seem too bothered by the fact.  But now, you are able to crawl where you want when you want.  At this point in time, you aren't too terribly quick.  It's so fun to see you explore.  Today I set you down and you came to visit me in the kitchen.  So sweet.  Oh, and toda...

Dear Eloise,  I'm sorry I haven't been keeping your up with your updates the past few months.  So, this will be a little catch-up for months 8 and 9.  A little list of all the fun things you do. * You love to play.  Like, LOVE it.  So much so that the past few nights you've sat on a blanket in the living room with your dad and I and played with all your toys for a few hours straight.  This includes: banging toys on other toys.  Banging toys on furniture.  Banging toys on people.  Knocking toys together.  Pulling toys out of toy bin.  Hugging stuffed animals.  Pressing buttons.  Eating toys. * You love paper.  Not a surprise - you are my daughter.  The only problem is that you love to eat paper.  You recently ate a piece of the developmental screening sheet Cookie brought us.  So that solves that.  Unfortunately, this also includes non-board books.  The other day you were "reading" Pat the ...

Dear Eloise, Tomorrow you turn seven months old!!  Now that we're past six months, it seems like time is flying even faster.  I'm hoping it will slow down!!   This month you've been very, very entertaining.  You started blowing raspberries a couple of months ago, but now I actually put a bib on you sometimes because you do it so often.  Spit goes everywhere.  Raspberries are kind of your standard response when people talk to you.  I mean, why not?  You've started laughing a little more easily.  And I do mean a little.  It's so sweet when you laugh.  But the absolute sweetest thing you do is smile a huuuuge smile, stick out your tongue just a little bit, then scrunch your nose.  Absolute delight.  With this, we know you're a happy, happy girl. In other big news?  You sit up!  On your own!  Ok, let me clarify.  We put you in the sitting position and you remain in that position for quite a while....

Dear Eloise Anne, Well, sweet baby...your fifth month has come and gone.  So sorry I missed that update.  So here I am to get us back on track.  Two days ago you turned a whopping SIX months old!  I absolutely can't believe it.  My, how time has flown.  You are no longer this tiny, little baby (although technically you still are :).  You are an adorable, fun, interactive little girl.   These past two months, your personality has really started to shine.  You love to laugh and make noises; most mornings your dad walks in to find you playing with your feet and talking to yourself.  I'm pretty sure you are going to LOVE to talk.  You think it is hilarious to stick out your tongue, especially if you can make little cackling noises at the same time.  And the only reason you like drinking water is because it enhances the ability to gurgle loudly.  You're so much fun to be around.  You grab (and kick!) absolutely eve...

{Eloise rides on the mower with my dad...it's a rite of passage with Da} Dear Eloise, Two days ago you became a four-month old!  I can't even believe it, typing that out.  This past month you've grown so much.  You no longer seem like a tiny baby, and as much as I don't want you to get any bigger, it's been such a joy to see your personality shine.  You weigh a little over 14 pounds and you're still quite long (I'll have your length after our appointment on Thursday).  For the most part, you've moved into your 3-6 month clothing.  Unfortunately, you have lost most of your hair.  You look a tiny bit (a lot.) like an old man. I think one of the biggest changes this month is how much you can hold up your head!  It makes such a difference.  When we hold you now, you spend a lot of time looking around and watching all that's going on.  It's fun to see what you end up staring at.  Today you enjoyed looking out the window at the wind b...