Fall Fun & New Experiences

Dear Eleanor,

I haven't been so good about keeping up with the letters recently, sorry. You & I have been busy lately! We took a family road trip last month to Duluth, Bayfield WI and Michigan. On our trip you were able to dip your toes in lake Superior for the first time and ride the ferry over to Madeline Island. The water of lake Superior was a little cold so you didn't really like the experience too much. We hung out on a couple beaches while daddy hunted for rocks and were able to do some hiking to a waterfall. We also stopped at Hawk Ridge in Duluth and saw some of the birds that they trap, band & release. Daddy actually "adopted" a sharp-shinned hawk & was able to release it back into the wild. There was a man from the local tv news station there who interviewed daddy and videotaped you (for just a second) and you both were in his news story on tv!

You also recently started swimming lessons through community education. We go once a week to the pool to help you become comfortable in the water. We sing some songs while we play and splash in the water. You love it! You just started kicking your feet as soon as you got in. You love to splash around and float on your tummy. We have also started going to a mommy & me class through early childhood family education. It is also once a week, we sing songs, have playtime and meet other mommy's & babies. It has been fun to see you interact with the other babies. I hope we will be able to arrange some play-dates from the group! You're growing so quickly, I'm trying to cherish each day with you. I know you're still a baby but you're just getting so much bigger each week, I can't believe it! Very soon you'll be crawling. You're at a point now where you bring your knees up under you and have your hands on the floor in the crawling position and rock back & forth. You're so excited about it that you even pull your knees up under you while you sleep & end up sleeping with your cute little butt in the air! I know one day soon you'll just start going... then watch out!

Love,

Mommy

Fun on a stick!

Dear Eleanor,

Last week you went to your first MN State Fair, the Great MN Get-together! It is a tradition for mommy & daddy to go to the fabuolus state fair every year and pig out. There is so much great fried food & anything you could ever want on a stick. We went with Auntie Megan and spent the afternoon wandering around the fair. We were able to see the parade that goes through the fairgrounds each afternoon as well as check out the Little Hands Farm area. You are still too little to really enjoy it, but you sure looked cute sitting on the mini tractor!

You turned 6 months just a couple of days ago. 6 months! I can hardly believe it. You've gotten so big. Today was your 6 month check-up and you had those dreaded vaccinations again. You did not like them one bit & i'm sad to say, we have to go back for more in about a month. Today at your appointment you weighed 15.9 lbs & were 26 inches long. Growing very well!

You've been able to sit-up with some support from the Boppy pillow for a couple of weeks now. You can sit on the floor once propped & play with your toys for awhile until you decide to reach too far and end up on your tummy. Then there's no stopping the rolling. You've become an excellent roller & it is your main mode of locomotion.

It is time to start adding a second solid meal to your days & this week will be our first ECFE class. Next week will be your first swimming lesson. You have the cutest swim suit. I can't wait!

Love,

Mommy

Take me out to the ballgame!

Dear Eleanor,

This week you went to your first sporting event! Daddy & I took you to the Metrodome to see a Twins game. Daddy really wanted to take you along because this is going to be the last season the Twins play ball in the Metrodome. Starting next season they will be playing at Target Field. We parked at Gramma Pam's work downtown & so we got to bring you into her work and show you off to all of her co-workers. They all thought you were adorable (of course) and loved your cute pink Twins t-shirt. The game was sponsored by a vendor of daddy's work so there was a picnic before the game & we knew a few other people there. You did great! You were awake & happy during the picnic despite the heat and then once we got into the dome we wrapped you up in a blanket & you fell asleep before the first inning was over! You slept good through the loud cheering and only woke up a few times, but went right back to sleep each time. The Twins won that game vs the Kansas City Royals 7 - 1 , so now you can say you were at a winning Twins baseball game in the Metrodome.

You & I have been working on sitting a little bit lately. You can "tripod" sit for a very short time. Tripod sitting is when you have your hands on the floor between your legs to help hold you up. You really seem to enjoy sitting up, but it isn't very long before you tip over. I've been putting pillows all around you so when you do tip over your landing is nice & soft. You just smile when you land on the pillows. It probably won't be long before you can sit all alone!

You've really been enjoying solid foods. So far you've tried peas, sweet potatos, bananas & green beans! The sweet potatos seemed to be your favorite. Next is pears & apples, yummy!

Love,

Mommy

Roll With It

Dear Eleanor,

This has been a busy couple of weeks for you! You've really perfected your rolling skills lately & now you do not want to stay still. When I put you on your back on the floor or in your crib you quickly roll yourself over onto your stomach. At first you would cry because you couldn't easily get off of your tummy but now you've started to enjoy being on your tummy and can roll back to your back if you want to. When you are on your tummy you've started to bring your knees up under you & try to push yourself forward. It seems you'll be crawling pretty soon!!!

Now that you've begun rolling you no longer sleep on your back. Since the day you started to roll off of your back, you've become a side or tummy sleeper. It's so cute to go in & see you on your side all curled up. Sometimes you are flat on your stomach with your face flat into the mattress. That's when mommy rolls you over!

My cousin Jill & her two kids Luke (6) Sandy (4) were in town from Mississippi last week. Jill hadn't seen you yet so we got together with her & her kids. She thought you were the cutest thing ever & commented on how petite you are. She brought you the jumper for the doorway that her kids used & we put you in it. At first you didn't know what to think, but after a minute you started to bounce & smile. You really enjoyed it! We've been able to use it a few times at home & you've become a great jumper in it.

Last Monday you & I met Grandma Miller & Paula in St. Cloud at auntie Megan's house. We went to St. Cloud to see Megan & to go to the Munsinger Gardens. The gardens are many small flower gardens with paths all through them right along the river in St. Cloud. It was a beautiful, hot day. You slept in your stroller most of the time but we did get a couple of cute pictures of you at the gardens.

Love,

Mommy

Cereal & Giggles

Dear Eleanor,

Well it has been a busy week of firsts for you! Last weekend I went out of town for a girl's only camping weekend and you stayed home with daddy. I was a little worried at first but you and daddy had a great time together. He took you out for a walk at Fort Snelling state park and out to lunch with his friends. He had to get up and feed you in the middle of the night both nights too. That was a first for him. I started putting you in the play saucer recently, at first you were too small and didn't like it at all. Now that you're a little bigger you seem to be fascinated by all of the colors, toys and sounds. Your feet hardly reach the ground while you're sitting in it, just your very tip toes. But you've started reaching for the toys and pushing some of the buttons to play music.

Today you laughed (I mean really giggled) for the first time. I actually recorded it and also got you to giggle into daddy's voicemail. It was so cute, very loud and straight from the belly. Your auntie Megan has been waiting to hear you laugh, we'll have to try to leave her a giggle message too.

Tonight you had your first solid food. Rice cereal. It was not very solid at all. It was diluted with breast milk so it was very runny. I prepared 1 teaspoon of cereal for you to try. You seemed to like it. Although most of it ended up on your face and you seemed to enjoy putting the bib in your mouth more than the cereal. I was hesitant to start a solid with you, not for any reason other than I don't want you to grow up so fast! It just seems like a big step away from being a baby.... but you are still my little baby. I know you'll grow up regardless of what I want and I know I'll love you just as much when you're all grown!

Love,

Mommy

Friends

Dear Eleanor,

You turned 4 months last week. Wow, time has flown since you were born. Recently you have found both your feet & your voice. Whenever you have the chance you grab your feet. On the changing table I can hardly pry your hands & feet apart to change your clothes. It is the cutest thing to see you with both feet in your hands with a huge grin on your face. Just this week you also started putting your feet into your mouth! I had told your daddy I was waiting to see you do this & his response was "why would she do that?" I told him because you're a baby & babies put EVERYTHING in their mouth. So this morning all on your own the toes found their way into your mouth!

This past Saturday morning I had to get up early for work. You were still asleep in your crib when I got up but while I was getting ready you awoke. You didn't cry, you were "talking" to yourself from your bedroom. I stood in the bathroom listening to you babble for 15 minutes, you were just as happy as can be. When I finally went in to get you up you started talking even louder. You are often experimenting with the volume of your voice. When we were shopping the other day you were talking away & as we went through the store you became louder & louder. Everyone who passed us thought it was darling! I'm sure you have some very important things to tell us!

You and I went over to hang out with Anne (Schultz) and her kids (Grace, Sydney & Henry) on Saturday night. While we were there Grace (6) wanted to hold you. She sat on the bed with her legs spread apart & I propped you up against her so she could hold you. After she was done Sydney (4) wanted to do the same. Henry (2) is too young to hold you so instead he was combing your toes with his comb??? He calls you "Ella-door". Anne told me that when she put the girls to bed that night Gracie told her that holding you was the best part of her day & Henry asked if you were sleeping over and said "No Ella-door in my bed." You are such a popular little girl!

This morning you & I went to our weekly storytime at the library. We read books, sing songs & wiggle the parachute with the group. You have always been so wide-eyed during storytime. You look around at all of the other babies (you are the youngest one there) and babble to them. Today was no different. You sat in my lap & watched intently at what the other kids were doing during free play time. It seems you want to hop out of my lap & start playing with the other babies. Soon enough...

After storytime we were playing on the floor & you rolled over again. From your tummy to your back. This time you went to the left. You smiled so big after the roll. You started sleeping in your crib about 2 weeks ago. It is so funny to come & see what position you are in by morning. You start out with your head at one end but in the middle of the night you've turned 180 degrees. Then by morning your head is where your feet started out. You don't move that much when you're awake, I don't know what goes on while you sleep. You have started to do a "back crawl" thing. When on your back you push with your legs & slide yourself up on your back. If given the space you could probably make it across the room on your back!

You had your 4 month appointment today with the pediatrician. At 2 months you had some vaccinations & they did all the milestone measurements. You were right on track! Today was no different. Everything looks great, you had some more vaccinations (and you SCREAMED). You weigh 12 lbs 13 oz & are 24.8 inches long. Keep growing little girl!

Love,

Mom

Your first 4th of July!

Dear Eleanor,

This weekend was your first 4th of July. We didn't see fireworks but we did take you on your first outing to the Minnesota Zoo. I really wanted you to see the large saltwater aquarium with the bright colored fish & you really seemed to like it. You were watching the fish go by while daddy held you up to the glass. We also walked through the rest of the zoo and were able to feed the giraffes. That was a first for me too. A couple of weeks ago you also went to your first parade. The parade passes right in front of grandpa Klimek's house in Fridley & we sat in his front yard to watch it. You stayed awake for some of it & seemed to like to watch the floats go by as well as the marching bands. I think you enjoyed the licks from my lollipop best though. I also took you to a butterfly garden at the Como Zoo. You were babbling the whole time, I think maybe talking to the butterflies. Lots of firsts for you this summer! As i'm sure you know, your daddy is a bird watcher, I call him a bird nerd. We took you on a long walk around Fort Snelling to look for birds and saw quite a variety this weekend. It is so fun to be able to expose you to all of the fun things I remember doing as a kid.

I have been so lucky to be able to stay home with you and see all of your milestones so far. I started working just weekends after you were born and you stay home with daddy while i'm at work so you get some quality time with him too. A few weeks ago you rolled over from your tummy to your back & now you've done it a couple of times since. You've started reaching for toys and other things recently as well as babbling up a storm! Just a week ago you finally discovered your feet & haven't left them alone since. You are so smiley & animated in the mornings, it makes me think you will be a morning person, which will make life easier for you once you start working. You love bathtime, kicking & splashing in the tub. When you're a little older we'll start swimming lessons. I hope you'll be a better swimmer than I am! Enjoy your summers, they go by so quickly.

Love,

Mom

Our Baby Girl

Dear Eleanor,

There are so many things I want to tell you and I am hoping this will be a good way to start. I am creating this blog to write to you; Eleanor and tell you how much joy you bring to your daddy & I. I wish I would've started sooner as you are 4 months old now, but I will make up for the lost time! As you know, you are our first (and only,right now) child. We wanted a baby so much and after 3 years of trying and lots of help from the University of MN reproductive clinic we became pregnant with you! Let me tell you first that your daddy & I were married in 2004 at a mansion in Minneapolis. We had dated for 5 years before we married & then about 6 months after we were married we started trying for a baby. After a year of trying we decided to seek medical help. To make a long (very long) story short, we tried everything they recommended and finally after our 2nd in-vitro fertilization (you'll have to look it up) we conceived you in June of 2008. We were thrilled! During the in-vitro process they allowed us to look at our embryos under a microscope. There were 2 embryos, one with 4 cells & one with 5 cells. It is still amazing to me that the little ball of cells I saw under that microscope developed into you. My pregnancy was very easy, I enjoyed being pregnant with you. You had to hiccups almost everyday and I could feel them stronger and stronger as you grew. Toward the end of my pregnancy you were so active in my belly, it was unbelievable! You must have been stretching out because I could feel one of your feet up under my ribcage most of the time. While I was pregnant with you your daddy & I went on a trip to South Dakota. We started taking pictures of my expanding belly at 17 weeks and continued to take them until you were one week overdue (41 weeks).

I went into labor on a Friday afternoon & you were born Saturday March 7th at 11:26 a.m. The labor was ok, a little stressful for me & for you. Your heartrate was dropping with my contractions. The doctor had to give a little help to get you out by using a vacuum device on your head to help pull you out. Your daddy said he couldn't believe how hard the doctor pulled to get you out. You were born without complication & perfectly healthy. We brought you home on Sunday and the first couple of nights were rough. Your daddy had never changed a diaper before you were born, but turns out he was a natural. He even stayed up all night one night sitting in the recliner holding you so I could sleep. You just wanted to be held. Very quickly we got the hang of parenting and loved it. You are a good baby, and very easy going. Since you were 3 days old you've been on the go with us. To the mall, for birdwatching walks, to friends houses, to our workplaces, to restaurants, on a trip to Tenney, and lots of other places. You are a very busy little girl! When you were first born we had sooo many visitors to see you. I don't think we had ever had that many people over to our house before you were born, everyone wanted to meet you.

I will continue to write to you, once a week is my goal. I will tell you more about your first 4 months of life and about what is happening currently with you and in our family. You are the best thing in my life, I love you.

Love,

Mom