5 Months!

Ellie has certainly gotten more interactive this last month! She loves to 'talk' - to herself, other babies, and just about anyone that'll talk back! She's also taken a new liking to her feet and is constantly grabbing for them. She's become much more predictable (and good!) in her nighttime sleep, but still fights naps every now and then. She loves stroller rides, the Exersaucer, standing up, rolling around on the floor, patty-cake, reading books before bedtime, and bouncing around on Daddy's knee. She's started giggling a little and definately has her ticklish spots! We're starting to dabble in solid foods a bit, but still spitting out more than what's going down yet. She wasn't so sure about it at first (made some pretty funny faces) but has been more receptive each day. It's just been 'practice' with the spoon this past week more than anything. In general, Ellie is a very happy and smiley baby - we're very lucky!

6 Years

It's been another quiet week and weekend at home, which has been really nice! We've been spending a lot of time outside, going for walks, grilling, and just enjoying the weather. Today is a cloudy/rainy day, so here I am, inside, updating for the week =)

Six years ago today was our wedding day - we've been together for 11 years which is even crazier! We've been together for over a third of our lives so it's really hard to imagine it any other way, or even remember the time before! We've certainly had a great 6 years though and look forward to many more.

Colin & Stacey, June 22, 2002



Every year on our anniversary we have a drink from our wedding glasses - here's to many more!



Friday night, Suzy and Ryan watched Ellie while Colin and I went out for dinner. Look at Suzy and Ellie's little art project! =)



We've gone for walks every day this week!





Ellie's also discovered that it's funny when she sticks her tongue out! It's non-stop these last few days!





And hangin' out on the floor one early morning this weekend. Wearing her Spanish slippers =)

A New Favorite Thing

Bye bye Baby Einstein mat, HELLO Exersaucer!!! This is Ellie's new favorite thing...she is all smiles pressing the buttons, pulling on things, looking at the lights, and listening to the noises. She gets so excited when one of the little gadgets makes a noise (it ONLY takes 12 batteries, so there are LOTS of noisemakers!) The exersaucer has been handy the last week as Ellie's decided she likes getting up at 6:00 am now, so she can play while Mom finishes getting ready for work. We've also ventured outside a little - no matter where, it's a ton of fun!

Big smiles!



Hangin' out on the front porch while Mom and Dad landscape





And again on the porch, but with COOL shades this time! I didn't know if she'd keep them on, but she didn't even flinch! I ended up taking them off her when we came in the house!





Hat's off, but the shades are still on!

Wedding Weekend

Last weekend we road-tripped down to Crystal Lake, IL for our friend Karen's wedding. Karen has been a good friend of mine for 10 years now (since we started college - WOW!), and we're so happy for her and her new hubby Dave - they are such a great couple! =) It's a very good thing they are the most easy-going couple as well, because it rained before, during, and after the wedding/reception which was all outdoors, and it was EXTREMELY hot and humid. The setting was awesome at Karen's parents' house in their beautiful backyard and despite the rain, heat, and humidity, everything was gorgeous and a ton of fun.

Ellie was a cutie in her little dress











After a couple hours at the wedding, Ellie had a fun night at the hotel with Auntie Shannon while Mom and Dad stayed at the reception.



The beautiful bride and groom



Karen has always been a dancing queen, so how appropriate that the dance floor was packed ALL NIGHT at her wedding! I thought this was a cute picture of Karen and Dave =)



And everyone else (Extremely warm!)



I love these girls and wish I saw them all more (we at least have a couple more weddings this year - yeah!)





And at the end of the hot, sweaty evening, the bride and groom, followed by their wedding party, and a whole host of others jumped into the pool. Colin and I withheld, but it was sure appealing!

Hangin' with the Carlsons

This past weekend our friends, Ryan and Kellie, came over with their kids, Noah and Haylie. Ellie met Noah and Haylie back in March when she was just little little, and she pretty much slept the whole time they were there. This visit, she was a bit more social - or as social as a 4 month old will be! =) It was fun seeing all the kids together.

Noah (our Godson) just turned the big #3!



Haylie (turned 1 in March) was getting brave with her steps! Even took a few without hanging on to the table!



Haylie just loved Ellie...



Getting all 3 kids to even look at the camera, let alone smile, was virtually impossible...Colin was the lucky one in on the action =)



Playtime on the floor

4 Months

Ellie is 4 months old, and we visited the Dr. for her wellness check-up today. Developmentally, she's right on track and doing well, despite the fact that she's been somewhat unwell for going on 2 1/2 weeks now. Pesky cold is still hanging on...just a cough now, but it's a hard one at times. No signs of any infection still, so we'll continue to just let it run it's course. She got her second round of shots and recovered quickly thankfully! Ellie is also GROOOWING! I was curious to see where her stats were at this check-up, and this is what they were:

Height: 25 3/4 in. (95th percentile)
Weight: 15 lb, 12 oz (90th percentile)
Head: 41.5 cm (75th percentile)

She's wearing a lot of 6-month and even 6-9 month clothes already, and she just seems to be getting so heavy! I put her in the Baby Bjorn the other day...it's been well over a month, and WOW, what a difference! Baby girl is packing on the pounds, but she's growing tall too, so Dr. thought she was right on for where her height is right now.

Ellie is definately a happy little girl. She loves to 'talk', blow spit bubbles, and laugh when you're talking to her. Dad can do some really funny things! =) She's also mastered grabbing onto things, Mom's hair and necklaces are easy targets! When you're feeding her, she puts her hands on the bottle or grips on to your fingers. She's still rolling, just from back to front and to the left, but you can't put her on her back without her instantly rolling over. She also gets frustrated after being on her tummy too long so it's a constant roll to tummy, Mom or Dad roll her back over, repeat...over and over again...She's working on going to the right lately, but hasn't mastered it yet. She loves to stand up or sit up more than laying now. She's getting much more curious, looking more closely at the things around her, pages in a book, colors on a shirt, her little red bird, or the chime that hangs on her carseat. She's quite ticklish, especially the bottoms of her feet and on her collarbone. Patty-cake with hands (and feet) and peek-a-boo are very fun. With the nice weather we've been having, she's also enjoyed going for lots of walks with Mom.



Fingers are ALWAYS in the mouth!



Chunk-a-lunk



Check out these thighs...



Daddy's funny!



Talking away



Check me out!



I love my red bird...





My feet are pretty interesting too!