Ellison Lee - Two Months

Ellie, you are now TWO months old!
{updated bc I figured out how to use Picasa to load my pics! yay!!}
You are smiling so much and even cooing too. It is so sweet. You are now in the church nursery exclusively, but of course I check in on you and generally feed you between services.


During your second month you went to storytime at the library, met your Great-Grandpa for the first time, escorted big brother Raegen to preschool, visited family in NWA, attended your very first birthday party {cousin Gracie}, visited your Great-Grandmother and sadly, later attended her funeral, and also witnessed big brother Lynden's very first hair cut. Everyone comments on how quiet and easy a baby you are. It's really true. You rarely fuss and when you do you either want to eat or need a new diaper. When you're sleepy, you just go to sleep!


Your face has cleared up and doesn't seem to be as sensitive. So, I have you back to sleeping on your belly. During the day you nap pretty well anywhere...bassinet, swing, play mat...
You eat 7-8 times a day, including nighttime feedings. Sometimes you last until 5:30a.m. and other nights you're hungry at 1:30 and 6a.m. It's so random. I still do not have you on a schedule, but I would like to!


Last week I took you and Lynden for your two-month and 18-month check-ups, respectively. My stroller is my sanity. If I didn't have it we would never leave the house! And that's just scary to joke about.


I really don't realize what a chunk you are until I see a picture of you.


I think it's because all your little roll lines show up in photographs! To me though, you are so tiny. You now weigh 13lb 9.5oz and are 24.5" long. Your head circumference is 15".



Your brother is now 28lb, 33" long, and has a head circumference of 19". That is a lot of weight for mommy to carry around!! I usually put you both in the stroller, but sometimes I carry him on one hip and tote you around in your carseat. Quite the load.

You are beautiful and we are blessed to have you.

Ellison Lee - Eight Weeks

Elle Lee, you are now eight weeks old.

You weigh 12lb 3.6oz, are 21.5" long, and have a head circumference of 15".

You've had another busy week. Your Great-Grandmother passed away last Friday so we traveled east to be with family. That evening your Grandaddy got very sick and we had to take him to the Emergency Room. He's all better now, but we spent the entire weekend at the hospital. Of course baby Mary Claire was there too. I wish I had a dollar for every time someone asked me if y'all were twins! I think the double stroller had them confused. :)

You are eating 7-8 times a day and 1-2 times at night. You are still sleeping in your bassinet next to our bed. You have plenty of baby gear and I'm always placing you somewhere different...swing, bouncy seat, play mat, etc. Lynden is quite the fan of all your baby gear too...including your carseat!! {and your paci...we really need the Paci Police!}

I am in love with your smile and you are showing it more and more every day. It is so precious. Also precious is Tuesday evening when Raegen looked up at me with his big brown eyes and asked if he could hold you. So sweet.

You are still in 0-3 month clothes, but there are a few brands you have outgrown in that size. I put you in a little knit dress on Wednesday for church and though that was only the second time you've worn that dress, it was also your last!! hahaha It looked like a t-shirt!

Daddy has been gone on business this week so Raegen has had quite the entourage to drop him off at school. He has to be signed in and out each day so I load you and Lynden up in the stroller and off we go. Raegen has enjoyed having us walk him to class.

Today I dressed you in an adorable tie-dye onesie {a gift from one of daddy's old college buddies}. Earlier you had on a gown from The Shifty Fox. That is one crafty lady! I'm going to try my best to keep her in business. ;) It's just too much fun to dress you up!

Princess Gracie Party

We headed north a few weekends ago to celebrate baby Gracie's FIRST birthday!! The past year has really flown by. Here is baby Gracie and her cute curls...

It was nice to see all our NWA family. Raegen is ALWAYS asking to go see his cousins!!

So glad we got to celebrate the big day with you baby Gracie!!

Ellison Lee - Seven Weeks

Oh, baby Elle, you are now seven weeks old. You have had quite a busy week. Last Friday we headed north for the weekend to celebrate cousin Gracie's first birthday. It was our first overnight trip since you have been born. I took an infant travel bed and prayed you wouldn't know the difference. You slept just as well as you do in your bassinet at home. It was wonderful. Lynden slept in the pack'n play in Pawpaw and Nana's room and Raegen and Brody bunked together.

You met your Aunt Bridget, Uncle Danny, and cousins Sean and Gracie. You have now officially met all your aunts, uncles, and cousins...and that's saying a lot! We came home Saturday evening and you stayed home with the boys while mommy enjoyed dinner and a movie with her friends.

You now weigh 12lbs 1.6oz and are wearing 0-3 month clothes. You are doing great in cloth diapers and still in size 1 disposies for church and town.

You stayed in Sunday School nursery with Mrs. Jolene and Mrs. Angie for the first time. As expected, you did great and now have your first attendance sticker on the chart. You and little Scarlet are the only baby girls with a whole lotta baby boys!! You're going to have the best little friends.

Your head circumference is 14 7/8" and your length is still 21.25". On Monday Raegen started school so the house just hasn't been the same. I've been placing you in the bouncy seat more often so Lynden can see you. His face just lights up and he jabbers at you. It's so sweet, but I have to stay very close because he's not a gentle giant...he's more rough and tumble.

You have been smiling more and more and seem to recognized faces now. I just love it. On Tuesday, while Raegen was in school, I took you and Lynden to see your Great-Grandmother. She is very sick. I'm glad you got to meet her, as you both share the name Lee.

You are feeding 7-8 times a day and still eating twice in the night {though last night you slept til 4AM and just fed that one time!! woohoo}. I believe you have outgrown your spit up issues and you are no longer congested either. That is certainly making life easier for us both! I am still LOVING dressing you up in your adorable clothes and I am more than obnoxious with your bows. I was so disappointed last Friday when I realized we left the house without a bow!! Oh.the.horror. ;) Today we walked with the Kibs and her precious babies for the first time since you've been born. You and baby K are going to be great friends, I just know it. I really hope we can get back in the habit of walking together because it's great for you and me. Lynden has been sleeping and napping more in his toddler bed this week. Soon his baby crib will be all yours. I'm not ready for you to move to your room just yet, but I am anxious to put the bedding on your bed! :)

Bye-bye shag-a-do

My little linebacker has been in dire need of a haircut for sometime now, but

1) we've waited soooo long for him to actually get hair I really didn't want to cut it all off

2) his little curls on the back of his neck are so precious and I know as soon as they're cut they're GONE, and

3) I highly dislike seeing my baby turn into a boy with just one haircut.
ugh.

B and I took Raegen for his first haircut at 10 months. I knew he wouldn't be able to join me this go round so I opted to take Lynden to a fun "children only" hair salon. I needed all the extra help I could get!! He loved playing with the toy train set all by himself...no big brother telling him where to put the trains, etc. haha

Of course that only lasted so long and he wanted to sit in the vintage airplane and "fly".

I was thankful the stylist let him sit there while we waited for our turn. There were only two stylists working and there was a steady stream of customers.

It took all of ten minutes to turn my baby into a big boy...

He is too precious.

Raegen's first day of PreK!

Raegen had his first day of preschool today.

{below pic idea came from Pinterest...LOVE}

I thought it best to get my pic with my little preschooler BEFORE we took him to school!

We had a sitter come stay with the babies so B and I could both take him on his first day. I wasn't so much concerned about Raegen, but myself! Raegen has been looking forward to school ALL summer. I knew he would be just fine {not to mention I have a secret spy that can pop in his classroom at any time and make sure he's okay...and give me updates and pics!!}.

I, on the other hand, know that this new step means my baby boy is growing up and it breaks my heart. I'm realizing that even when we know we are making the right decision, there are still tears, and that is okay.

I thought it was so sweet that he held his daddy's hand as he walked in the school. We made our way down the hallway and as soon as he spotted his teacher's door he dropped that hand and ran right in...to the toys!!! haha He was ready to play!! Mrs. B kindly and quickly redirected him to his seat.

It was at that point that I could hold it in no longer so it was time to G-O. I can't imagine what it will feel like next year when he goes to kindergarten. Oh.my.heart.is.hurting.
It was a strange day without my little king and I could tell Lynden missed him too. I'm glad Raegen didn't miss us though. I'm glad he is so eager to experience new things and places- I can take NO credit for that! And most of all, I'm thankful for my "secret spy" that is at school and available for Raegen if he needs her.

That makes my heart happy. I'm so glad he had a great first day.

Ft. Stain

The other day B built a fort for the boys and it was a hit!

Raegen and Lynden both loved it and played in it for hours.

I have fond memories of building forts when I was growing up. We always used old blankets and secured them to doorknobs with rubber bands.

I have a feeling this is just the first of many for my boys...but hopefully the last where they use my nice coverlet from the bed!! ha

Preschool Open House

Raegen's preschool Open House was tonight. It brought back a LOT of memories...getting to meet my teachers, seeing my friends after a long summer break, school supplies!! This year Raegen will be attending school five days a week, so it will be an adjustment for us both. I know he will love it though and he will learn so much. While we were in the parking lot beforehand, a teacher friend drove up. Raegen asked why she was there and I explained she is a teacher and has her own classroom of students. He replied, "Oh, that's right. And she's there if I need her." That's right. She is there if he needs her and that makes my heart happy. Here he is with his friend, Mrs. A.

There was a general meeting in the cafeteria to go over the handbook, etc. with all the parents. Raegen was busting at the seams to get to his new classroom and play with all the TOYS!!!! haha

Here he is with his new teacher, Mrs. B.

We had to pry him away from the toys when it was time to go {and promise him he could build a HUGE tower of blocks on Monday!}. My little king is growing up...

He is going to have so much fun!

Ellison Lee - Six Weeks

Baby Elle, you are now six weeks old. Last Friday I woke up and was one miserable sickly mommy. Thankfully I was able to get some antibiotics pronto and was feeling better in no time. Daddy came home early from work and we decided to head south a day early to visit family. You got to meet your Great-Grandfather for the first time. You are one of THREE great-grandbabies he has welcome this YEAR. You are number 13 of his 14 GREAT-grandchildren.

Mawmaw thought you were a doll.

You took the two hour trip well and slept through most of the visit too.

Nana was there visiting as well and took Raegen and Lynden for a ride on the golf cart. {Raegen made sure that SOMEBODY did!! haha}

On Saturday you stayed with daddy for a few hours {not many because you still eat every 2.5-3hrs!} while Raegen and I went shopping for back to school clothes. On Sunday you joined me and daddy in our Sunday School class again and stayed with me during church service. That afternoon we got a special treat in our yard...GEESE!

You weren't that impressed.

Daddy tried to get near them and actually made some progress, but eventually they flew over to the neighbor's pond. They have been visiting our yard daily now and leaving their "mark" all over the driveway! yuck. {thankfully we've gotten plenty of rain this week to wash it all away!!}

Sunday evening you stayed in the nursery during Training Union and again during preaching service. On Monday I FINALLY mailed your birth announcements...woohoo!!

The vote is still split 50/50 on whether you favor Raegen or Lynden. Your daddy says you're the spitting image of baby Raegen. I agree. You also remind me of your Aunt Stacy's baby pictures. You definitely have Lynden's light colored {need to be painted on} eyebrows. ;)

This picture just cracks me up...

I ADORE dressing you up in your cutesy clothes and bows. It's really just too much fun. You are now 11lb 7.8oz...

21.25" long, and have a head circumference of 14.75".

I love cloth diapering, but I really dislike how bulky it can be at times. {some of your clothes won't fit with the cloth dipes!} The preemie size prefolds I borrowed was just a wee too small and the infant size I have are just a wee too big. You'll grow into them in no time though.

You are still having some gas issues and MUST burp after each feeding. I've also started putting you to sleep on your back because your skin is so senstive and you quickly get a rash on your face when on your belly. I'm so glad sleeping on your back hasn't caused any new issues. You generally feed last around 9PM, then I swaddle you and put you to bed. Your next feeding is usually around 3AM or 4AM and again around 6:30AM. From there it is every 2.5-3.5hrs.

You have been grinning more and more and it is so precious. We have had a very low key week and have mostly stayed at home. Things are going to get very busy when school starts for Raegen on Monday. I'm looking forward to the routine though. Time for bed, we have a busy weekend scheduled!