Elsa: Three and Four Months

Clearly I've gotten a bit behind on monthly updates. It's tough to keep up with everything! Elsa continues to grow and change. Her fussy times are becoming more and more seldom. She still has some reflux/tummy problems but it is slowly improving. We did take her to the pediatrician as well as an Ear Nose and Throat Specialist. At times her breathing changes and sounds similar to a hiccup. The general consensus is that it is related to her reflux and likely due to an underdeveloped larynx. Thankfully, it is mild and she will likely outgrow it by the time she is one.

As is typical for this age, Elsa figures something new out everyday. Once she starts to attempt something new, we know she will master it very soon! She has great control of her hands and can grab everything within reach. Just in the last couple of days she has started to suck her thumb. It's adorable, even though we may not think so when she's five and still doing it! Another fun pastime for miss Elsa is shrieking. This can go on for some time and we all hope she finds a new interest soon. At her four month check she weighed 14 pounds, with a length of 24.5 inches.

We finally took her on a short trip to Colorado Springs to visit family. She did very well in the car, although we will be sure not to travel around her bedtime in the future!  Elsa is very attached to her evening routine and does not appreciate any deviation from it. I guess we will have to carefully plan what time of day we travel next time! We look forward to more trips and adventures with her this month. Soon we will head west to visit family in Grand Junction and spend a week in Crested Butte, Colorado. Hopefully she will learn to be a good little traveler like her big brother.

Milestones/accomplishments lately: Grabbing things, putting toys in her mouth, sucking her thumb, babbling, sitting up with support, lifting head while on her tummy, laughing and squealing.

Favorite things: Daddy, Mama, her big brother, that furry thing that licks her feet (Adah the dog), nursing, chickens, elephant toy, our hands, Mama's hair, her thumb and being outside.

Car seats are fine if she can see Aaron

Fun in the sun er, the shade rather!

Out for a hike

Miss Elsa, Elsa Mae, Sweet girl, baby girl, missy Mae - You are such a delightful addition to our family! It's already hard to remember life before you joined us. We look forward to seeing more of your little personality and watching you learn and grow. We love you little one!

Elsa: Two Months

 

Our little girl is two months old. When she's happy she is really happy. When she is sad, she is very very sad! She has been a bit happier these last few weeks. We're not sure if it's the reflux medication that's helping or if she is just growing out of some of the fussiness. Either way, it is so nice to see her happy and content more and more everyday!

Miss Elsa is such a sweet little girl. She has such a great smile! She has recently started to coo and "talk" to us. Her little coos are so soft and quite. Although, at times she will let out a really loud squeal! She is becoming more interested in her surroundings. Recently, Elsa has started to enjoy being outside. That is very important in this family! Ha!

Elsa hasn't had her two month appointment yet, but I think she is around ten pounds. She is in 0-3 month clothing and I have started to pull out the three month stuff as well. Much to our amazement, Elsa in an incredible sleeper. Five to six hour stretches in her bassinet has become the norm. The other night, we had a record eight and a half hours! Crazy. During the day she takes a few short naps. Most of her naps are still while being held. We will enjoy the snuggles while they last!

We haven't attempted any big outings or trips at this point. Hopefully that will change soon as Elsa settles into life a bit more. It's funny, with Aaron we had already been on a few long trips by the time he was two months. Little Elsa has had a slower adjustment to life on the outside though. The car seat is still a very unhappy place. There are only a few places around the house that make her happy. She is coming around though. I think we may try a trip to Colorado Springs soon!

Milestones: Smiling, sleeping through he night (lets hope it lasts!) cooing, squealing, tracking objects, batting at toys, sucking on her hands. 

Favorite things: Changing table, sleeping on one of us, her rocker and being outside.

First dinner out! She slept through the whole thing :)

All dressed up for church

Aaron and Elsa on Easter

Elsa is One Month!

Our sweet girl turned one month old a few weeks ago! I really can't believe how fast time is going. I am just now getting around to this update because the past few weeks have been a blur. I think the newborn stage is pretty hazy with any kid. More so though with a high needs "colicky" newborn and a very strong willed four year old. Holy cow, I hardly know what month or day it is!

Little Elsa fits the textbook definition of colic. She cries a lot! Aaron was by no means an easy baby. He was pretty fussy as well. Aaron now seems like the easiest baby ever compared to Elsa! Elsa often cries for hours on end and nothing soothes her. This of course is exhausting for all of us.

I have to say, I'm really not fond of the term colic. Being the science minded logical person I am, I have a very hard time excepting that some babies just cry a lot. There is a reason and I spend a lot of time trying to figuring out what that reason is!

It does seem that reflux is an issue for us. Little girl spits up a lot and cries and cries. She arches and fusses while eating, hiccups, gags and coughs. Our pediatrician agreed that reflux is likely, so we did start some medicine for that. So far we have noticed a small improvement although it isn't the drastic improvement we had hoped for. I have some other ideas I am looking into as well, mostly having to do with the intricacies of breastfeeding.

Despite having some pretty rough days, we have plenty of happy times as well! Elsa started smiling at three weeks which is so much fun. She has such a sweet little smile! We haven't gotten out much but hope to more as the weather warms up and our days become a little more predictable. She is an eating machine and now weighs 9.5 pounds. We put the newborn clothes away this week and she is now in 0-3 month clothes.

Milestones: Elsa can hold her head up for a long time! Smiling at us.

Favorite things: Nursing, Aaron's voice, her swing, diaper changes and ceiling fans.

Miss Elsa, we love you very much! You're a true gift from God and we are so thankful to call you ours!

She's Here!

Elsa Mae 

Born on March 3rd at 7:55am

7 pounds 11 ounces

20 inches long

We are so excited to welcome little Elsa to our family! She is so sweet and perfect. We praise God for her.  We rejoice in God's faithfulness as his plan for our lives has been anything but what we imagined over the last four years.  God is so great.

The name Elsa is a form of Elizabeth. Elizabeth was Lindsay's grandmother's middle name, and is scattered throughout my family tree. Elsa means my God is an oath or God is abundance. We also liked the idea of giving her a strong Swedish name. Mae is a name we really liked and also has some family connections. Mae was Lindsay's great grandmother's middle name and is also her aunt's middle name.

Lindsay did wonderfully and I am incredibly proud of her. She get's a gold star.  She and Elsa are both in good health and recuperating well.

As with Aaron's birth, we were honored with the presence of both our mothers,  though in different roles than last time.  Lindsay's mom has been amazing help with Aaron over the last few days and been a huge blessing in our lives.  My mom was able to be at the birth in a doula-like role and was nearly our unofficial midwife when the doctor almost missed the birth.  We are so thankful for both of them in our lives.

We continue to praise the Lord for his many blessings.

and some photos...

Elsa & Lindsay

Aaron & Elsa

Carol (Nan), Aaron & Elsa

Elsa resting