Day 151

Ellie is 21 weeks and 4 days old today! Today is also her five month birthday.  There is a parenting saying that the days are long but the years are short -- but these days, it feels like both the days and the months are rolling by so quickly.  We returned from our first family trip two weeks ago, and instead of getting back into a rythym at home, we opted to replace and all of the carpet in our house with hardwood floors! So, the last two weeks have been a bit of a blur, but we may finally be ready to discover a regular routine as a family!

Ellie has been chatting up a storm and nothing confirmed that it is not just my imagination -- she is definitely the chattiest baby in her PACE group!  We met up with her baby friends last Saturday, and she shared many opinions with the other babies.  She loves to take naps in her stroller, chew on her moose toy, and shake her red ball to wake us in the morning!  She is constantly in motion, and loves to do things by herself -- especially holding her bottle.  She is clearly beginning to teethe, and one of our projects very soon will be starting solids.  We are still working on rolling over from back to front, but Ellie is very good at pivoting to grab coveted objects like Mr Moose.

Here are a few more highlights from the past couple of weeks...

Spring has sprung right outside Ellie's nursery window!

To celebrate, we have started hanging out on a blanket in the backyard on weeknights in the early evening, watching Zoe's antics for entertainment.

There has also been an uptick in family walks! We bring Zoe along for security purposes...

We celebrated Ellie's first Easter last weekend by going to church and diving into Ellie's first Easter basket... Next year we'll have to stock those plastic eggs with fun treats!

We spent the past week at Nani's apartment while the floors were being redone.  Here, Ellie shows Zoe who is in charge!

We visited the post office this week to apply for Ellie's passport, and Ellie had her official passport photo taken.

Ellie likes to play on toys during walks these days, before the motion lulls her to sleep.

Ellie has just started hanging out in her high chair during the last couple of days -- just for practice!

And here is a picture of our beautiful five month old girl!  We love you so much, sweet Ellie bean.

Day 139

Ellie is 19 weeks and 6 days old.  What a whirlwind the last two weeks have been.  There have been many firsts for Ellie and for us.  I returned to work two weeks ago today and Ellie began spending weekdays with her Nani.  Ellie adjusted seamlessly to this new arrangement; all of the tears were mine, but I could not have asked for more loving hands to deliver her to.  We traveled to Evanston and Cleveland the following week, marking both Ellie's and Zoe's first road trip -- unless, in Zoe's case, you count the trip back from Indiana when she was a wee pup.  Both of our charges traveled well and were good sports.  Ellie struggled just a bit toward the end of both drives; her life consists so much of being held that I think she felt lonely in the carseat for long stretches, even though I was only sixteen inches ahead of her and we talked and sang whenever she fussed.  It was such a joy to watch her soak up her grandparents' love as they bounced and cuddled her, feed her bottles and sang her little ditties.  It may have been crazy to take her to Sara's wedding, and she only lasted through a seconds the ceremony, but I was so grateful to introduce the girls to my girl.  We arrived back in town to Ellie's first spring, with the view of blossoming trees from Ellie's nursery.

Ellie herself is changing also.  She reaches for her bottle forcefully and is just one the cusp of holding it without our help.  She vocalizes more than other babies her age, it seems, and makes one insistent sounds that Nitin has dubbed the "get in my mouth" noise.  She directs it at bottles, fingers, breasts and toys.

I wish that I could remember all of the little moments from the last few weeks.  I can report, though, that Ellie is delightful and charming and continues to be the best thing I've done in my life.  I love her more all the time; if this continues, I'll be in very real danger of my heart busting. There is nothing sweeter than the shy smile that slowly warms over her round face when she sees one of us looking into her twinkling eyes.

Day one of being back in office for me, and another day of exploring for Ellie.

Later that week, a little time spent reading.

And some time relaxing, of course.

Wearing a Braves onesie to celebrate opening day.

After arriving in Evanston, some cuddles with Grandma...

And with Grandpa, too.

A visit to Tag's Bakery (visit to Bennison's not pictured).

And a visit to my childhood home -- couldn't manage to capture Ellie and house in same frame!

Then up to Milwaukee for Sara's wedding.

Hanging with Elizabeth.

All dressed up, and somewhere to go!

Ellie's first dive bar, following the wedding ceremony.

Concentrating intently on grabbing daddy's face.

A photo with my giggle girl.

Two of my favorites.

Neeru's lovely smile, Ellie's thoughtful grimace.

And to finish our trip, a visit to Brandywine Falls at Cuyahoga State Park -- Ellie's first visit to a national park!

Next up, Ellie's first Easter, a pizza picnic to celebrate our anniversary, and a visit to Princeton for Ellie to meet cousin Emma and furry cousin Wally!