4 Months Old!

Elena turned 4 months old yesterday!  I know I just keep on saying it, but time sure is flying by.  It seems that everyday now, Juan and I just look at each other and realize how much she has grown over the last few months.  She was just so little before and now she is getting her little baby fat rolls on her thighs that she just loves to have tickled!!  This past month has been just wonderful because Juan and I both had a chance to have a week off work to spend with Elena.  Neither one of us have anymore breaks until the end of the school year, so this month was particularly special having spring break.  Being able to "catch up" with our baby during the day was so much fun.  Made me long for those maternity days I had just a few short months ago...I am SO excited that the days are warmer because that just means that summer is on the way and we cannot wait!  Today, Elena surprised us by rolling over from her back to her stomach!  Neither Juan nor I saw it, but she was just playing with her toys on the floor and when I peeked in to check on her, she was on her belly grunting like she was doing something else...if you get my drift ;)  I couldn't believe she rolled over like that!  She has been going from her belly to back for some time now, but not the other way around.  It seems that she is learning new tricks everyday.  I also went out this morning to use up a gift card from Christmastime and bought Elena a Bumbo...she enjoyed sitting in it when I brought it home...I think it will be another great alternative for her instead of laying on the floor or in her swing/bouncer.  Since she is strong enough to hold her head up now with little to no support at all, this was a great buy. Elena goes to the doctor for her 4 month check-up and shots next Monday.  She did really great at her 2 month appointment, so I am hoping for the same this time.  As always, we will keep you posted on her results.  Lots of pictures to share from the last few weeks...she is our little sunshine smiling all the time and talking our ears off.  Happy 4 months, Elena!

 Chatting with Aunt Michelle

 Hangin' with Uncle Ross

 Aw man, it was a long day...

 Wrapped around daddy's finger.

 Havin' fun!

OK, OK take the picture, mom.

My new bumbo!!

What a Year!

One year ago yesterday...March 28, 2011...Juan and I found out we were going to become parents.  It has been the greatest blessing in the world to be parents to a beautiful and healthy baby girl.  She is the light of our lives now.  Everyday Juan and I just look at each other and marvel at her and how we could have possibly been so lucky to have this precious gift to enjoy each and every day.  I still remember feeling that I was going to have a boy and Juan always said we would have a girl first.  Well, he was obviously right and boy does Elena have him wrapped around her little finger!  I just feel so overwhelmed everyday with emotion as a new mother and what the future holds for our family.  It's a wonderful feeling, to be quite honest! It's amazing to think that just one year ago we were beginning on this journey of growing a healthy baby and here we are now trying to figure out if she's ready for cereal.  Time continues to fly so fast...I just hope I am stopping enough to enjoy all of the little things everyday...the smiles, giggles, cries, whines, kicks, rolls, dirty diapers, etc...all the reminders of how blessed we are to have Elena! She will turn 4 months old tomorrow...pictures from the last few weeks to come!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Today is Elena's first St. Patrick's Day and it wouldn't be right if she didn't have a new onesie to celebrate the day!  I wasn't able to make it to the store yesterday to get her some shamrock accessories, so her green and pink ensemble will do!  This past week I was able to enjoy a nice long week off for spring break and it was absolutely wonderful.  The weather was just perfect which made me yearn for summer vacation even more.  Words cannot express how thankful I am that Juan is taking over the summer school job this summer so I can stay home with Elena.  It will be priceless time for sure.
Since I had this entire past week off, Elena and I just enjoyed our time together.  We just hung out on Monday at home doing some housework and then on Tuesday, she had her doctor's appointment to check on that healthy heart of hers.  We were also fortunate enough to make a mid-week trip up to St. Louis to visit grandma and grandpa.  We also got to have lunch with great grandma and great grandpa. Elena even stopped in to visit her grandma at work at the dentist office.  Everyone was so happy to see her in person since all they ever get to see is pictures!  It was really great spending some extra time with some of Elena's favorite people.  She even got to go for a walk outside with grandpa while she fell asleep on Tuesday night.  Thursday was our cleaning day here at home and Elena slept well so I was able to get a few things deep cleaned...like the tubs and toilets...I HATE CLEANING TUBS!!  They wear me out...too much work!! Ha! On Friday, Elena met her new friend Wyatt.  Jessica, another reading teacher from Jefferson City, was due with her baby the same day as Elena.  We enjoyed our pregnancy together!  Wyatt was born just a few days before Elena.  He came over yesterday and we played for a few hours.  He is a big boy!!  Their picture together is priceless!!  We can't wait to get together more over summer vacation.
Now we are enjoying our last weekend before "normalcy" kicks in again!  I have a feeling these next few months are going to fly by for us.  I'm not complaining...summer is on the way!

 Hi grandpa!

 Tummy time with Uncle Bob

 Rocking with grandpa

 Sitting up very well!

 Tummy time is easy with lots to look at!

 My new friend, Wyatt!  He and I were supposed to be born the same day!

 But, he decided to come a few days before me.

 Sleeping upside-down on the couch.

 Lovely!

 I'm ready to PARTY!!

Elena is 15 weeks old!

 Still loving my books!

 I'm getting good at this now!  And look...no crying!

 Praying. ;)

 OK, maybe just sleeping ;)

 Mom needs to learn how to take a picture without the shadow in the way!!

 Wish this hat would fit when it's Cardinal's opening day!

Hi!

Yes, we even got our broom to stand up on it's own ;)

All is Good!!

Today, Elena had an appointment with the pediatric cardiologist to have her heart murmur checked on.  She was born with it, then it went away, and last month at her well baby check-up, it was back.  Since it wasn't consistent, Dr. Hagan wanted to have her heart checked just to make sure there was nothing wrong.  We are happy to say that Elena's heart is just fine and she is perfectly well.  Her cold is finally starting to go away too, so that is great news.  I think being home this week on Spring Break is going to help her get rid of those nasty germs.  The windows are open and the wind is blowing out all that winter air stuck in the house!  We will go back for Elena's 4 month check up in April.  I can't believe the time is flying by so quickly!  Before we know it, we'll be spending our afternoons out on the patio in the pool...gives me butterflies just thinking about it!!  Lots of pictures over the last few weeks...I will post them another day!!

Baby's First Cold!

Well, I am home for the very first time with a sick baby!  I must admit, it has been nice being home for the day...reminds me of the good ol' maternity days.  But, I am not happy that this baby girl of ours is sneezing and coughing all the time.  We just feel so sorry for her! 
Elena started sneezing and coughing on Monday while she was home with grandma.  We kept an eye on it and she appeared to be getting a bit worse while at the babysitter's yesterday.  I decided that it was necessary for me to stay home with her today and get her to Dr. Hagan to be sure her cold wasn't anything more than that.  Thankfully, Elena has not been running a fever, so that put our minds at ease.  When we got to the doctor's office, his nurse, Chelsea, took Elena's pulse and checked her oxygen levels.  She was at 100%, so that ruled out a few infections.  Then, Dr. Hagan came in to listen to her heart and lungs.  All sounded OK.  He checked her ears and throat as well.  All looked OK.  So, Dr. Hagan said we just have a cold on our hands and that her cough could last up to 2 weeks.  Poor baby!  But, we are just so glad it's a cold and nothing more than that.  We really just wanted to err on the side of caution and get Elena in to see the doctor since so much is going around these days with the kids.
Another milestone today, too...ELENA ROLLED OVER!!  When we got home from the doctor's office, Elena was in a playful mood for a bit, so I decided to do a quick session of tummy time, which is usually not one of her favorite things to do.  But, I put her on the floor and she just lifted that head and chest up like she had been doing this for years.  All of a sudden, she just plopped herself right over on her back.  I couldn't believe it!  I quickly turned her over again to see if it was a fluke or if she could do it again and she did!  Of course, I tried again for the third time, but by then she was getting fussy and coughing, so that was the end of that.  I hope to get her on video turning over soon.  I was just so caught up in the moment that I didn't get her the first two times. 
It's been a good day...even though baby is sick.  We've just been watching some TV together and napping.  She is enjoying her swing for now...which I think she likes since she can sit up a bit, helping her breathe better. Back to normal tomorrow and spring break for mom next week...c'mon Friday!!!

3 Months Old!

 
Elena turned 3 months old this week.  Juan and I have been going through some of our pictures over the last three months and just realized how much she has grown.  Elena was just SO tiny when we brought her home and now she is able to stand on our laps with support and arch her back out of a seat when she is very angry.  So many changes in such a short amount of time.  Juan and I discussed how we just feel like we miss her being that small because we didn't feel like we truly enjoyed it being new parents and all.  Just making sure she was taken care of and all that goes along with learning when to feed her and bathe her made us both in a frenzy at times.  We are so thankful for all the photos to help us remember that wonderful time during those first few weeks at home.  As I tried to take some of her three month pictures, I have come to realize that she hates having her picture taken with accessories.  She gets angry when I try to put a hat on her or a headband.  You'll see in the photo below.  I guess she's like her mother... ;)
This past week was our first real five day work week since I headed back to school.  It went by quickly and smoothly.  I am so glad Elena is having fun at the babysitters, although she had a few blow outs this week that if they continue, she may not be asked back to Brenda's during the day ;)  Elena got to spend her Friday with both grandma and grandpa.  What a treat.  Again, we are so happy that she gets to spend at least a day or two a week at home with family while Juan and I work.
Only one more week coming up and then I'm on spring break.  Couldn't have timed this baby better.  Then it'll be back to work until May 21st....then a summer off with the family.  What more could I ask for?!

 Tummy time isn't so bad on my boppy.

 One of our favorite faces...

 Watching a little baby TV before dinner...damn my fist tastes good... ;)

 Snuggly

My headband is almost coming off...

 

And, this is how I feel about having my picture taken.