One Month Old

Elle is one month old! Saturday was her one month birthday!  I cannot believe how the time has flown.  Matt and I were talking about how it seems like we were bringing her home just yesterday but at the same time we can't really remember life without her.  It is pretty amazing how quickly you transition into your new life.  I can honestly say she consumes my every minute, thought and action, but I love every second of it.

It is incredible to watch her grow and see what she is learning to do.  I was looking at her yesterday morning as I fed her, I didn't recognize her...she literally grew over night.  She doesn't look like a newborn anymore...she looks like a little baby.  We weighed her (weighed me and then me holding her...not sure how accurate it really was)  and she is almost 9 lbs.  While that is only about a pound and a half since she was born, I am noticing clothing not fitting her and things that were too big are starting to fit a lot better.

In some ways it is so sad to watch her grow but I am also so excited to get to know this little person and celebrate life with her.  Right now we celebrate her making a squawk.  She kicks her legs and flings her arms around to make a the smallest sound.  Yes, this is what my life has come to...celebrating little squawks!  It blows my mind to think this little person will grow up and become a teacher, or a doctor (if were really lucky).  This little person has been given to us to raise up and take care of and we thank God everyday for choosing us.

Here are some pictures of her growth:

Three days old vs. one month old

Trying to take a picture of her without her passy...you can see what happens when you take it away!

Dedicating Elle

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6 

On Sunday, at Crestwicke Baptist Church Matt and I had Elle dedicated.  This was an exciting day for us for a number of reasons including that it was Matt's first Father's Day.  It was also very special because both sets of grandparents were able to be there in support of us as we publicly declared our desire to raise Elle in a way that is pleasing to the Lord.  The third reason that it was special to us is that our friend Tim, the pastor at Crestwicke, dedicated her and signed her dedication certificate which he said was his first official documentation as an ordained pastor.  As I watch Elle grow I am still amazed by the gift she is to our family.  While not in our perfect timing, God had a plan and we could not be happier with His timing for our family.  Matt and I are so grateful for this blessing and pray that we will be God honouring parents everyday, and an example to our baby girl as she grows.

 Matt and Baby Elle tuckered out from church and lunch!

We had a wonderful Father's Day celebrating Elle and all the Father's in our lives.  Following church we had our family back to our house for lunch and gifts.  We really enjoyed celebrating with our whole family.  We finished the day by watching golf...after all, it was FATHER'S Day!

 Monday, the Davis' went back to Florida.  I must say I miss my personal chef and two full-time Nannies.  It was so great to have them here visiting with us.  I cannot thank them enough for all the help with food and taking care of Elle.  It was so relaxing to visit and know that our baby girl was in good hands.  Below are some precious pictures of the family.  Everyone did a good job of sharing her!  For some reason I don't have one of Elle and Gigi...this is probably the same reason why there are a lot less pictures of me and Elle.  Gigi and I are always the ones taking the pictures! :)

 

Showered with Love

On Thursday night Elle attended her Baby Shower hosted by her Proud Nana, Aunt Lindsay and Aunt Paige (my Mom and sisters).  She was spoiled with beautiful gifts from all our friends and family.  Her Aunts and Nana did such a wonderful job of her shower.  Everything was beautiful and perfect.  This is a picture of her in the guest of honour thrown that her Aunt Lindsay made for her.  As you can tell from the picture, she absolutely LOVED her thrown.  She's giving Linds a fist pump!  I was so happy that Elle's Gigi and Aunt Katie (all the way from Florida) could be there to celebrate with us as well.  Elle is so lucky to have amazing grandparents, aunts and uncles who love her to bits!

Matt and I continue to be overwhelmed and feel so blessed by all the gifts, flowers, and cards we have received with the arrival of our baby girl!  We feel so loved and taken care of.  We hope that our family is as much of a blessing and encouragement on your lives as each of you have been in ours, especially during this season of celebration!  There were three other babies at our shower and one baby who will be born shortly (Yeah Baby Mckenna)!  All but Mckenna are second born children who Elle's had play dates with already.  I am so grateful for my Mommy support system and friends who can lend some experience!

Here are some more photos of the guests and the fun we had!

Happy Birthday Matt

  In my family it is somewhat traditional to declare the week or weekend previous to and including your Birthday as Birthday Week or Birthday Weekend.  It is an excuse to get your own way or make the celebration of your birth know to everyone else.  Since Matt's birthday was on Sunday I declared it birthday weekend starting on Friday night when he got home from work.    Elle and I planned a weekend of fun for Matt starting with a trip to Golf Town (a large golf store near our house) on Friday night.  Elle and I waited patiently while Matt tried out different clubs in their simulator station and tried on Golf shoes.

  On Saturday we took the ferry over to Centre Island which is directly across the water from the Rogers Centre and CN Tower in Toronto.  My family used to go over there at least once a year as it has amusement rides for little kids, parks, bike trails and beach front.  We put Elle in her stroller and headed across the water.  I was so happy the weather cooperated with us.  It was hot and sunny but there was a beautiful breeze coming off the water.  We walked around all day and stopped for lunch at an outdoor patio.  Elle was a perfect little angel all day long.

  On Sunday we took Elle to church for the first time.  It was definitely more rushed trying to get 3 of us out the door on time for church but we managed to do alright.  Elle slept through the entire service and was a huge hit after.  Everyone was so excited to meet our Baby girl for the first time.  We then attended a church BBQ for the young people in the church.  For dinner I made Matt's favourite lasagna and my family came over for gifts and cake later that night.

  We had a great weekend as a little family.  I cannot believe how normal it seems now to have Elle in our lives.  She is a little less than 2 weeks old but fits in so perfectly.  We love her to bits!