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.