25 weeks: Sitting, army crawling, pediatrician, and first Christmas

It's official: she's sitting. Amazing how one week she teeters and the very next week she's so stable.

She also started army crawling in the last week. She scoots all over the place now. She moves at a snail's pace but it's probably time to baby proof!

Christmas Eve Eloise had her 6 month appointment with the pediatrician. Dr. Luft is moving clinics after January 6 and her schedule isn't open yet, so we got her in the last possible day. She got a clean bill of health and, even though she dropped a little below her growth curve in weight once, she's back up.

Height: 26 inches (62%)

Weight: 14 lbs 3 oz (20%)

Head circumference: 16.75 inches (64%)

This year was Eloise's first Christmas and we sent out photo cards. Here's the picture we chose:

Check out that face! She cracks me up.

Eloise's first Christmas didn't go as planned, there was a stomach bug at Evan's parents' house. Fortunately we found out about it right before our appointment with the pediatrician and discussed it with her, then gave it some thought, then decided not to risk exposure and stay in Portland. Babies can get very sick very fast as evidenced by my own experience requiring medical attention at 9 months old on Christmas Eve 1977 after being exposed to a bug with my dad's family. It was a rough couple of days missing family, but I'll share a couple of the highlights:

1. Eloise and Evan in front of the fireplace on Christmas Eve just before we reminisced about the highlights from 2013 over a cheese plate and mulled wine (thanks for the idea, Mom!).

2. Eloise opening her very first gift. She loved the bag and tissue paper. It was socks and a new bathing suit for swim lessons that start next month.

Our bathing beauty

Mock swimming

3. Enjoying thoughtful gifts from those who also love Eloise. There's nothing like Eloise getting loved on by loved ones.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

Completing her Eloise puzzle. She's brilliant!

4. Enjoying the Christmas decor and singing along to Christmas carols. Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer got the most smiles from Eloise.

Christmas cards and fireplace

Eloise's stocking

5. Grabbing holiday coffee drinks, going for a walk on the Eastbank Esplanade and Waterfront Park loop, and taking in the sunny views. 

24 weeks old: spinning, pears, and a special ornament

In the Music Together class the teacher would bring out big drums and 3-4 babies could fit around each one to play. Or, put their hands on top of their parent's hands to play. I tried to recreate this with a Tupperware container but Eloise let me know it wasn't as cool.

Eloise has been working on her rolling and is pretty good at getting around this way now. She also added an inchworm style movement and can spin herself around pretty well.

This week Eloise tried pureed pears from the tree in our yard for the first time. I expected it to be a big hit but not so much. She made the "ew" face. The next day I tried it again but as an ice cube in the mesh feeding bag to soothe her teething gums. She made the "ew" face again, turned it around, and gummed the plastic handle instead.

Pears again? I'll take the handle instead.

This week Eloise also received a special ornament from Aunt Kate in the mail. It's a little pink bootie with her name and birthdate on it to commemorate her first Christmas.

Oooh, it has sparkles

23 weeks old: sweet potatoes and Christmas decorations

Eloise tried sweet potato puree this week for the first time. She gave it two thumbs up and devoured twice as much as she did of the cereal. She panted with excitement between spoonfuls. Naked seems to be the best way to eat at this point. After she finished the sweet potatoes she had a little tray for dessert.

I'm teething and this feels good

We also got out the Christmas decorations last weekend. Eloise LOVED the lights. I recreated a scene I saw on Pinterest and I couldn't keep her away from the lights. Like everything she grabs, she wanted to put them in her mouth.

The winning shot

Tug-of-war with the lightbulb

We decorated the tree together with the Christmas station on Pandora playing. Eloise's Aunt Shelly gave her a "baby's first Christmas" ornament that Evan hung with her.

Passed the taste test

Now onto the tree

Mesmerized by everything to see on the tree!

In other news, Eloise is pretty darn close to sitting unsupported. She does for a few seconds and then topples over. She prefers to sit most of the time since it gives her the best view of everything while leaving her hands free to grab. 

Mom, that baby in the mirror is sitting, too

Grabbing at her reflection. The mirror is always a hit.

22 weeks old: meeting family & turning 5 months old!

Taking a nap between her cousins' soccer games

The day after Thanksgiving Eloise's aunts Teresa and Jill came over along with cousins Mateja and Aidan. The photo below was taken just before Teresa arrived. Eloise was very entertained by her cousins and barely blinked while watching them! Mateja was especially sweet and gentle with her and Eloise was enamored with Mateja in return. 

First time meeting Aunt Jill, cousins Mateja and Aidan, and Toby the dog

On Saturday we got up early to go see Mateja and Aidan play in their soccer games. It was so fun to be a part of their normal activities and not just the special holiday celebration. 

Go Mateja! (Evan, Aunt Teresa, Aunt Jill)

Saturday night Eloise had her first visit to one of my favorite spots, Mi Patio, where we enjoyed a family dinner. Teresa held Eloise so I could eat! Actually, Teresa held Eloise a lot all weekend. So did Jill. It warms my heart to see my sisters loving on my daughter. 

Eloise turned 5 months old yesterday! The time is flying by. We celebrated with colds we must have caught on the plane. And with a visit from Grandma Harris, but I didn't think to mention the day! And also with some squeals and laughter in the following video. It appears as though I am violently shaking her but I swear I did not!

21 weeks old: first MAX ride, first airplane ride, and first Thanksgiving

First MAX ride

Eloise rode on the MAX train for the first time last week. We walked from our house to the nearest stop and then boarded the train with the stroller. She did great with the motion, starts and stops, and jerking around curves. 

First plane ride

We rode the MAX train again to the airport to catch Eloise's first flight to Phoenix for Thanksgiving. That's us just after boarding the plane. The flight took off right in the middle of her nap time so she was pretty cranky by the time we boarded. After this photo was taken she started crying and didn't stop until we were at cruising altitude. That was stressful to be locked in with a crying baby and no idea if/when she would stop, but then she fell asleep and slept all the way until we landed. Success! We apologized to some of the passengers around us for the initial crying. The man in our row was very kind and said he has children, too, and he doesn't mind at all, that it is stressful for us and not him. As we were waiting to deplane a man behind us also told us that he thought she did very well and that he has 17 grandchildren (!). It sure makes me feel more at ease when people go out of their way to say kind things like that.

Eloise's Grandma Zuber picked us up from the airport and we stayed at her house. Grandma knows how to walk and talk to Eloise with a very gentle and soothing voice. She got lots of smiles out of Eloise.

We spent Thanksgiving at Eloise's oldest cousin Emily's house. And forgot to snap a single picture that day! Darn, because Eloise had a special dress that was purchased just for Thanksgiving months ago. She also met her Aunt Teresa for the first time and her other older cousins Drew and Cory. Teresa held Eloise and soothed her when she was fussy for a LOT of the time we were there, which was so nice to have a break! She is a true baby whisperer. The whole day was a wonderful time with family.

20 weeks old: first taste of cereal and she knows her name!

We decided to give Eloise her first taste of cereal this week. She has been exhibiting all the signs of readiness to practice eating food besides breast milk. We mixed a tiny bit of Earth's Best Whole Grain Oatmeal and Evan first gave it to her on his finger, as our pediatrician recommended. Her eyes got wide and she loved it! We gave her a little bit on a spoon, too, which went better than I expected. She actually started opening her mouth in anticipation of the spoon right away. Recommendations are always changing so we just educate ourselves and do what we think is right for Eloise, and it isn't feeling right to make this a daily thing yet. She does seem to like sitting in that high chair to be part of our nightly dinner, though!

In other exciting news, Eloise clearly responded to her name yesterday! We were at music class and we always start with the hello song and say each baby's name around the circle. When we got to Eloise - "Hello Eloise, so glad to see you" - her face lit up and she got really excited. Everyone giggled and the teacher said, "ya, we're talking to you!" What a wonderful thing. Definitely a proud parent moment!

And a couple randoms from the week:

 I love daily walks in the stroller!

Same toys, new view

19 weeks old: check up, pterodactyl screams, and teething

Eloise had her four month check-up with her pediatrician on Friday. She is healthy! The vaccinations were no fun but she showed off for the doctor with some smiles and giggles and rolling over on the exam table. Dr. Luft said we could start supplementing her diet with oatmeal cereal anytime. I think we'll hold off another few weeks until she's closer to 6 months. Eloise is still longer and leaner than average but following the same growth curve. Her stats:

Height: 24.75" (59%)
Weight: 12 lb 11 oz (17%)
Head circumference: 16.25" (66%)

Dr. Luft mentioned that we should expect her to enter the "pterodactyl scream" phase any day, and as though Eloise took that as her cue, she began with the screams. They are sudden and blood-curdling screams, often for no apparent reason. When I took her to the grocery store earlier this week she was screaming over and over throughout the store. What are you going to do? Just keep shopping! A lady at the bakery goes, "That is awesome" with a big grin. Another lady by the eggs said, "She's practicing with her voice!" Thanks for the support, ladies.

Speaking of screams, Eloise LOVES to be tossed in the air. She lets out a little scream followed by giggles. It's so adorable. And interesting to note that the scream plus giggles is not a learned behavior.

 I like being tossed in the air

In other news, it seems Eloise has started teething. She is soaking two bibs per day with drool, is suddenly much more fussy, gnaws on everything in a desperate manner, and bites down pretty hard. She doesn't suck her pacifiers anymore, she chews them. We're trying things to soothe her like teething toys, a wet washcloth in the fridge, and rubbing her gums but she still cries. She doesn't sleep as well and seems kind of restless. I feel sorry for her! I hope it doesn't last long.

How does this little girl produce so much drool?

A few photos from the last week:

Dad's first round draft pick

Who's that cutie at the end of the table?

Just trying it out - I feel like a big girl!

E is for Eloise

18 weeks old: first Halloween and wedding

Eloise ended up having several occasions to wear a Halloween costume in the last week: music class, moms group, and a party on Saturday. Who knew? She wore her mouse costume to music class and the party and then a pumpkin outfit from Karen to moms group. Babies in costumes are just the cutest thing ever!

This is a little short on me but I make it work

While Eloise isn't old enough to enjoy Halloween candy, she did enjoy the wrappers from the candy we bought for trick-or-treaters. The wrappers are lightweight, small, brightly colored, and make a crinkly noise. Perfect!

I prefer Butterfingers and Reese's Buttercups over Snickers

The same day as the party we also went to Evan's friend's wedding, Eloise's first. She lasted through the church ceremony and cocktail hour before complete meltdown, about four hours in total. I call that success! Before the ceremony the priest instructed me to nurse in the confessional if needed, which I did - a little weird. I also changed her diaper in there.

Family photo courtesy of Aunt Julie

And finally, Eloise will have her 4 month check up tomorrow. She turned 4 months this week! I'm anxious to find out how much she has grown, but not looking forward to another round of vaccinations. 

17 weeks old: laughing!

Eloise looks so sweet when she is sleeping. She is so completely the joy of my life. Since the weather got chilly her little cheeks have gotten rosy following our walks outside. So cute. 

Another exciting first happened a few days ago. Eloise had her first belly laugh! Not just a "ha" or a "haha," but a true belly laugh over and over. It came unexpectedly from saying "Hiiiiii" in a sing-song voice so I kept doing it and she kept laughing. When I grabbed my phone to tape it, she suddenly stopped, but I did get a tiny bit of the end.

What a glorious sound!

And, just this morning, Eloise rolled from front to back for the first time! I had her on a blanket on the kitchen floor while I was making breakfast. I put her on her back and when I turned around she was on her tummy looking out the sliding glass doors. A minute later I heard a thump and turned around to see this:

I rolled off the blanket