Johnny Jump Up

We tried the Johnny Jump Up yesterday - poor thing's still a little too tiny! I didn't have the height quite right so her feet didn't touch the ground. She kind of just spun around mid-air and chewed on the front. It was huge - we'll try again in a month or so.

She thinks she is so big when she sits up in a chair...

And she is loving to chew on her hands lately - sometimes after we put her in bed at night all we hear on the monitor is her sucking on her hands until she falls asleep.

hot tub

This actually happened a couple weeks ago but I just remembered my dad took a video - and it's too cute not to post!
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Oh, and Elise got a new hat. Actually she got a few new hats, which we will be modeling soon since it is SO cold here now!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from Elise!

Since Elise refuses to nap - this is the only way we can get her to sleep during the day. Thank you Grandpa for let me "hang out" for a little while!

Then we went to see Grandpa & Grandma Goote...

Happy 1st Thanksgiving Elise!!

4 Months Old!

Elise is 4 months old! She is busy doing big girl things like trying to sit up, and grabbing at toys.

We had our 4 month check-up yesterday - and everything is great! She had two shots and an oral vaccine - so she had a pretty rough day. She and I did lots of snuggling that afternoon.

Her 4 month stats:

Weight: 13 lbs 4 oz (42%)
Height: 24" (41%)
Head Circumference: 39.7 cm (17%)

She is loving her Bumbo lately...now that she can hold her head up she prefers to be sitting up at all times!

Peoria

My mom and Elise and I drove down to Peoria on Wednesday to see Auntie Lauren! We packed light - as you can tell. All of this crap was for two nights. Bonus points if you can spot the baby and the dog in the picture.

Elise was SO GOOD in the car. She slept for 3.5 of the 4.5 hour drive on the way down, and she slept the entire way home. Angel child I tell you...now if we could only get her to nap at home we'd be all set. Traveling makes her sleepy!

We didn't want to impose to much on Lauren so we tried to take up as little space as possible. (Actually - Lauren was getting a new couch that night so this was all there was to sit on!)

Elise sure loves her Auntie. Lauren made her shirt too!

The kid loves TV. How bad is that??

Thanks for letting us come stay with you Auntie Lauren & Uncle Carl!

Elise's 1st Bellylaugh

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oopsies

Elise had a slightly embarrassing incident at Grandma's today that required a bath. We have to wash everything she was wearing but she got a bath - her favorite thing.

Elise Says Hi

Elise is doing lots of big girl things lately.

She can kind of sit up in a chair...

She loves to sit up - you can't hold this girl like a baby or she will let you know you're doing it wrong. And she'll go from super happy to super mad in about a second.

She's started grabbing at toys, and lots of things will just crack her up. Her smile is so cute but it is SO hard to catch on camera!

She slept ELEVEN hours in a row last night!

I usually give her breastmilk in a bottle at night before bed, just so I know she's getting a really full tummy. Every night she will drink all but one or two ounces and refuse to drink any more, so we'll burp her and put her down only for her to cry for 5 or 10 minutes. Then we'll give her the last ounce or two and she will be OUT. I don't get it. She's kind of a drama queen.

And she loves talking lately. It's so adorable. (She was getting a little worried towards the end of this video - that Bumbo seat is still a little scary.)

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Photo Shoot...

Last week my cousin Erin took some pictures of Elise. I was hoping to get a couple really cute shots for a Christmas card. Elise was NOT having the tutu situation and does NOT wish you a Merry Christmas.

We did get a couple cute shots though...

I'm actually amazed we got any cute ones at all, since Elise refused to nap the entire day before and was really crabby for most of the pictures. We didn't get any smiles on camera...oh well, next time I guess!

P.S. My crafty sister MADE that tutu! Thanks Auntie Lauren!!

Here's your sign...

So last night after some encouragement from my cousin Stacy, I decided that last night would be the night we nixed the bouncy seat. I was totally prepared. I went to the store to get this mobile with a remote that Stacy recommended, I mentally prepared myself that she can just cry it out until she falls asleep (within reason - I'm not going to torture my kid - but seriously, who's the boss here??). I was totally prepared not to get any sleep and just wait in agony until my little precious fell asleep.

Cue bedtime. Routine as usual...bath, jammies, a nice full tummy...here we go. I braced myself as I laid her down flat on her mattress, mobile remote in hand.

She just fell asleep. No crying. Nothing. (Insert hysterical laughter here)
I never even needed to use the $45 mobile I bought.

Apparently the bouncy seat was only a security issue for mommy. I lived in fear of that thing. And sweet Elise was just sick of it. The girl slept from 9:30 to 3, and then 3:30 to 8. This is a new record people!!

I am stupid.

Here's Elise in the morning - she is SO happy.

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We Voted

Elise and I walked over to the school by our house to vote today. There were several random kids at recess that yelled "I like your baby!!" Is that weird? I thought it was weird. What do I say...uh, "Thanks for liking my baby, kid!?" Ha.

Elise was very bundled up in her adorable pink outfit. Except a guy at the voting place called her a "him". What kind of mother would I be if I dressed my BOY in this thing!?

And to my cousin Emily - Elise LOVES this Baby Bjorn that you generously let me borrow. She will just chill in this thing forever. I've had to wash it because she likes to suck on the front of it for kicks and it was covered in baby drool...

Elise was so exhausted she fell asleep while we were getting her bath ready...