Bathtime pics

I can't get enough bathtime pictures!

Look Ma, no hands!

I love my baby carriers. I actually may be obsessed with them. They are like accessories and make my life so much easier. This is my most recent purchase. I highly recommend anyone who has a baby or even a toddler for that matter to look into babywearing. I started researching it mainly as a way to help Eliana bond to me but now I've realized how easy life is when I'm not having to hold her. Oh, and I don't have to carry that 100 pound carseat around everywhere either!

And, yes, she is very safe in there. Matt took the the picture so you know she's ok or else he wouldn't have left my side! I'm not quite sure why I have a Brittany Spears pose.

SCORE!!!

Eliana accidently found her thumb the other day. She was so content until she fell asleep and it slipped out. She hasn't been able to find it since but she can easily find her wrist.

No Autographs please

Eliana's video debut

She was talking away before I put the camera on her. Of course, she stopped as soon as I turned it on.

It seemed like a good idea!

There is a restaraunt/bar near us that is famous for it's alligators. It's right on a highly populated (with alligators) lake and usually during the day, they are all out sunning themselves. Matt decided that Sunday was a good day to go but it was sooooo cold that the alligators were all hiding in the water. But, we had some good greasy food so it wasn't a totally wasted trip. Oh and they do have some alligators in cages too.

School Pictures

Sasha's pre-school had picture day the other day. I completely forgot about them but thankfully, Sasha looked cute (when does she not look cute). They offered to take pictures of Eliana. The photographer was obviously not very skilled handling babies but the pictures are still pretty cute.

By the way, EVERY SINGLE ONE of the 20 pictures taken of Sasha, show her and VERY fake smile. I didn't scan Sasha's because they had a bigSince it was her first set of school pictures, I ordered the smallest package.

Vroom! Vroom!

Matt's boss showed up the other day on his motorcycle. Sasha had the time of her life. Matt is afraid at how much Sasha enjoyed it but Pap would be so proud!

Brrrrr

We Floridians wait so long to be able to enjoy cold weather clothes. As soon as the temperature is below 60, we break out the turtlenecks, hats, gloves, etc. We're getting Eliana started early. I bought this hat a long time ago hoping that she would be able to wear it just once. She wore it just once the other day.

There were 10 in the bed...

...And the Daddy said, "Roll over, roll over". So they all rolled over and MOMMY fell out!

Murray and Sasha alone take up more room than a St. Bernard!
Dudley is smart and stays on the chair beside the bed. Maybe I should join him.

VERY cute new pictures

Boys!

I love you Jake but I hope this isn't a sign of things to come!

Please do NOT teach this to your cousins.

Letter

We got a letter from our Birthmother yesterday. It was a nice surprise and helped me understand more of what she wants from us when we contact her. When I wrote the first letter and sent out the first set of pcitures, I was unsure of how to approach her. If she was grieving, I didn't want to make her feel worse. I also wanted her to know how well Eliana was doing without bragging.

Well, R better look out because in her letter she wrote, "...so you can brag to me about both of your girls anytime you want. I'll treasure every word."

YES! How often do you get permission to brag?

What Love Looks Like

Yes, that says "Grandson".

This is the card that Sasha got for her Daddy because "My Dad looooovessss dinosaurs." I did point her in the general direction of the Daddy cards but she wanted nothing to do with them. Eliana's card is for a "Sweet Granddaughter"!

Ah ha hahahaaaa haa ha ha ha ha

Hi Uncle Frank!

Just wanted to let you know that I wore a t-shirt and flip flops (pants too, of course) today. It was 70 and just gorgeous.

Thinking of you! ;)

Happy Valentine's Day!

This was not posed. Sasha hugged her baby sister all on her own. Ellie couldn't take her eyes off her big sister.

I removed the pacifier and quickly snapped the picture...3-2-1 WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!

The pacifier was necessary because Miss Eliana was not really in a loving mood this morning!

Aunt Laura's Visit

Aunt Laura came to visit our growing family. She gave me a lesson in Sushi and although, I have yet to try the raw, I am now a fan. I even asked to go to lunch again today for more Sushi. We also discovered that Sasha is a big Sushi fan too!

A VERY BIG update

Another hand me down from Juliana.
I always wondered why you would buy a robe for your baby.
Just so you know, you should buy a robe for your baby because they look so darn cute!




Big babyl vs. Little baby diapers



Eliana had her 1 month check-up on Wednesday. Are you ready? She now weighs 10.6 pounds and she is 22 inches long. Um, I think we may have adopted a giant! She moved up a size in diapers and when I put the new one on, I realized how much she has grown. It's amazing. She's wearing clothes that I thought she'd never fit into!

He's a Trooper!

Mom! Please stop taking my picture. It's not funny.

He was so happy to be in his bed.

Murray is doing as well as can be expected. He has the lovely green bandage on his leg until Tuesday. Thankfully, we are not having to use the cone collar to keep him from licking it because I can't imagine how uncomfortable that would be! His recovery is expected to be 6 weeks but supposedly he will be able to put weight on the leg as soon as the bandage is off. They supplied him with painkillers and they make him pretty sleepy.

Dudley did fairly well without his brother. I, however, was not a happy camper. As hard as it is having a 5 week old and 2 high maintenance dogs, it felt very strange without him. Murray keeps me nice and warm at night. It felt weird to be able to stretch my legs out. Murray and Dudley just add such spirit to our home. Just like my girls, I can't even imagine not having them in my life.

One more for the road

Since Ellie is still sleeping peacefully (in my sling of course), I thought I'd post another picture of beautiful Sasha.

Seriously, who wants to be her agent?

And why don't I look this cute when I get dressed?

What goes around...

I remember buying this at TJMaxx.
I'm pretty sure it was one of the first outfits I bought for her. Am I right Kerri?

I was soooo excited when my sister FINALLY had a little girl. My poor nephews just ended up with a lot of books from their Aunt Kristi but Juliana, well, she was a well dressed baby and I'd like to think I helped a little with that. (She still is well-dressed but since we adopted Sasha, I've been able to play dress-up with Sasha.) Like I said before, it is just so fun to dress little girls!

Good Beginning

Sasha was singing to Eliana.
Ellie always turns her head when she hears her.


I'm so glad we didn't force Sasha to interact with Eliana when we first brought her home. Sasha is now becoming more and more involved with her and it's so cute. When I pick her up at school, the first thing she does is give Ellie a kiss. She likes to help give her a bath and her job is to brush her hair. She's not really interested in feeding her right now---it just takes too much time out of her busy schedule. I mean come on, Sasha does.not.have.time.to.sit.down. EVER!

Poor Murray

This was a win-win situation.
Eliana loved the kisses and Murray loved the taste!


Naptime but please notice who is NOT sleeping.

Murray is still being the best protector dog a girl could ask for. He loves Eliana and especially loves licking the formula off her burp cloths, clothes, face, wherever he can find it.



Well, Murray has a problem with his back legs and last week could barely walk. He has a luxating patella in both back legs. Basically, his kneecap is out of place. He could be fine without surgery but is at a greater risk of tearing his ACL and developing pretty bad arthritis. Since Murray is only 6 years old, Matt and I have decided to try the surgery. He goes in on Thursday morning and I can't pick him up until Friday. I don't know who is going to be more upset, me or Dudley. They will operate on whatever leg seems to be worse at the time and he will need 6 weeks of recovery. No roughhousing, no stairs, NO WALKS! But if it makes him feel better, it will be worth it.

So, please keep Murray in your thoughts this week.

Oy!

I'm busy. I have been taking tons of pictures but just have no time to post them. It hasn't taken long to discover the likes and dislikes of Miss Eliana Rebekah.

Likes:
*To be held when she's sleeping
*To be fed the INSTANT she decides she's hungry
*To be held after she's done eating
*To take a LONG time to burp
*Laying on the floor in just her diaper (look out Daddy)
*Her play gym...until she gets tired of it
*A Clean Diaper
*Laying on her Changing table in just a diaper
*Sleeping on Mommy's chest (Daddy will do in a pinch)
*Being carried around in Mommy's wrap (more about this beautiful discovery later)


Dislikes:
*To be put down
*Her swing
*Both types of bouncy seats
*Pooping

Well, I'll be durned. I put her in her bouncy seat so I could update everyone and she fell asleep. Of course, I have to keep my foot on it to keep shaking it or she starts to fuss.

I am currently loading pictures and will post them soon.

1 Month Already!

Everybody told me that time was going to fly by and I already experienced it with Sasha. I just can't believe that she was born one month ago today. At this time one month ago, all we knew is that she was born at 1:07, what she weighed, and how long she was. Now she's ours, pudgy belly, big outie belly button and all!

More Help

Bubbe and Zayde just spent a few days with us. Bubbe wowed us with her wonderful cooking and even put a little extra in the freezer with us. Yahoooo!