Posting Brought To You By the Letter E

    Baby Elle Belle is 2 months old!  I cannot believe it.  She is growing so much and developing her own little personality.  The second month with Elle has been as much fun or more fun than the first.  People keep telling me that each stage is so fun and to enjoy each moment because they grow up fast.  This could not be more true.  I don't want Elle to grow at all....however I love my little baby girl more with each new thing she does.  She started smiling randomly at about 6 weeks but will now smile on command.  When she wakes me up in the morning I stumble into her room tired and unimpressed that she's awake but the moment she sees me she gets a huge frog smile and I can't help but smile back at her.    She is starting to talk as well.  Once she is fed and happy we lay her on the couch or the floor and she kicks her arms and legs until the tiniest little sound comes out.  It is the sweetest sound in the world.  She spends more time awake during the day but is sleeping so well at night.  She will sleeps from between 9:30 and 11 until 6 or 7 in the morning.  She is so flexible and definitely fitting into our life perfectly.  We are heading to Muskoka Woods this weekend for me to work.  Matt is coming to take care of Elle and help me feel more calm.  We are excited for our adventure and the weekend as a family. 

    

Elle is starting to like her baths.  I have about a 10 minute window to get her in, out and dressed before she starts yelling.

Lindsay and I did a photo shoot with the kids.  For some reason Linds and I thought it would be easy, but what we quickly found out is it is much harder than it looks to get a 2 month old, 4 month old and a 2 year old to all cooperate at the same time.  Lindsay was the photographer and I was the artistic director.  Elle spent the first half crying (which is abnormal for her) and Abby and Caleb were angels.  Unfortunately by the time I got Elle to cooperate the other two were exhausted and not wanting to do anymore.  Even still we got some great pictures.  When I looked through them the next day I started to cry at how blessed our families are to have happy healthy little muffins.

Caleb trying to comfort his cousin Elle

Abby and Elle showing their anger in being dressed identical.  This picture is priceless

Caleb unsure at how to deal with the screaming women.

Love this picture of Baby Elle!

Beautiful Girl!

Precious Moment.

Celebrations

On July 12, 2010 Matt and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary.  This year was spent a little differently than last year.  Last year we spent the night in Niagara Falls and did all kinds of touristy things.  This year we planned to stay in for the night and celebrate with our whole family.  Matt bought steaks and sent me flowers and I got Elle all dressed up for the event.  We spent the night playing with our baby girl and eating a romantic dinner for two at our place.  So much has happened over the past two years and it was fun to reflect on how far we have come and the adventures we have had.  We feel so blessed to have great jobs, a great place to live and a beautiful baby girl!  

This weekend we celebrated my Peppy's 85th birthday with the family.  My parents hosted a pool party and BBQ with the family.  Over the past 5 years (since the last big celebration) we have added two more spouses, a few great significant others and 3 great grandchildren to his life.  I know he feels so blessed by his family and we all love him so so much!!!!

Too HOT for Clothing!

It has been incredibly hot here the past few days.  Soooo HOT, even Elle wanted to wear less clothing.  Anyone who has spent anytime with her knows that the minute our girl's clothes come off she screams.  She is a very modest baby!  The one day as I was changing her there was almost a sense of relief when her clothes were off so I let her play on her blanket in just her diaper.  As you can see she was very very happy!  Our little Elle is growing everyday.  She is still tiny (which I love) but looks bigger to me everyday.  She is becoming much more aware and seems to recognize Matt and I.  It is incredible how she knows who we are and that we are who she should rely on. She is really good about visiting with others but when she is super upset there is nothing quite like a cuddle from Mommy or Daddy.  So sweet!

Last week we also enjoyed having Matt's Nana and Granddad visit with us from Florida.  They spoiled both Elle and Matt and I.  We really enjoyed introducing Elle and spending time here in Guelph and in Niagara on the Lake as well as celebrating both Canada Day and 4th of July with them.

Here are some pictures from our visit.

Happy Canada Day!

Happy 4th of July! (Her Shirt Says "Daddy's American Beauty!")

Granddad Planting the Garden

Nana helping with the garden by taking care of Elle

Nana and Granddad in Elle's Garden

Matt and Granddad biking in Niagara on the Lake...Granddad may or may not be in better shape than Matt...LOL

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!