Elizabeth's Baby Journal

September 3 – September 9 ~ Elizabeth, What big teeth you have!

2007-09-12T23:31:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun this week. Your dad and I went on a shopping spree and we purchased some new toys for you. They had lights, sounds, buttons to push, knobs to turn, and rings to stack. It was so much fun watching you learn and explore.

Well, I finally relaxed a little and let you try eating Cheerios. I am so happy I did. You loved reaching out and touching them. It was hard for you to grab them at first, but you soon were getting a few to your mouth. You couldn’t get enough of them…I think you must have eaten 20 or so the first time. You were getting so big!

It’s official, you have your first tooth! It just started to poke through, but I can say that one could definitely feel it. We were sitting and playing as usual, and you put my finger in your mouth, as usual, but instead of soft gums I felt something sharp. At first I thought you had put something in your mouth…but it was your tooth. I was very excited.

I guess I missed the memo about it being milestone week. No sooner than your tooth had come in that you started crawling…I mean really crawling. You had taken one or two “steps” recently, but not like this. You were up on all fours going where you wanted to go. It was amazing to see. You were climbing on this as well. I turned my head for a moment to fold some clothes only to find you climbing up on your bouncy chair. I realized very quickly that some of your older toys had to be retired.

August 27 – September 2 ~ ”But She’s so Pretty…”

2007-09-12T23:28:00.000-07:00

This week we went to see your Great Grandma Mary. She was so happy to see you. It was really fun to see her face light up as she looked at you and reached out to you. As you were older, mobile, and smiling much more, she only had praises for you. Remember when I told you to take what she said with a grain of salt? Well, this is what she said to me while looking at you, “She doesn’t look anything like you…she’s so pretty!” You can put your fears aside, you are no longer the “Mean Hunchback.”

You also celebrated your first Labor Day weekend this week. We, and our friends the Sitterdings, went to Woods Canyon Lake on Saturday. It was nice to get out of the hot weather and relax in the mountains. Your dad went fishing with Weston and Brian. Rachael, you, and I rested and relaxed for the day. It was a lot of fun.

August 20 – August 26 ~ Whew, What at Week

2007-09-12T23:16:00.000-07:00

It seemed as if our weeks were either very eventful or very restful…but never somewhere in between. This week was an eventful week.

Now that you were pulling up on things one thing was for certain, it was time to lower your crib. We didn’t want you to pull yourself up and then go up and over the side of the crib. We lowered your crib about nine inches. You didn’t seem to mind, but it did make putting you down a little trickier…especially while you were sleeping.

This week you had your first finger food: spaghetti. I wanted you to start learning how to feed yourself, but wasn’t quite comfortable with the idea of anything too hard, so spaghetti sounded perfect to me. It was so cute watch you squish it between your fingers, break it apart, and eventually eat it. You just loved it.

On Saturday, we had dinner at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. You walked along with Grandpa Chris. You were showing him how talented you were. You held onto his hands for support, but you walked and walked and walked. You were so cute. I do have to mention that you were wearing a dress that your Aunt Linda gave you…it was hard to believe that you were getting so big that you were fitting into your cousin Ramona’s old clothes.

This was a sweet moment with you and your dad before dinner....

August 13 – August 19 ~ Moving Around

2007-09-12T23:00:00.001-07:00

Once again, we had a quiet week. However, we did have guests over…our playgroup! This h ad become a highlight for us. For you, it brought playmates, and for me, it brought adult interaction. This month, only two other babies came to our get together: Jayden and Ethan. You were the only girl. The three of you played very nicely together.

This week you began pulling yourself into a standing position. You pulled yourself up on anything you could. The cutest was when you pulled up on a package of paper towels. You were so determined and were quite happy with yourself once you succeeded. It was really neat to see.

August 6 – August 12 ~ Turkey in August

2007-09-12T22:55:00.001-07:00

As we had a party at the end of the week, we stayed at home most of this week. We did run errands here and there for the party, but nothing more than that.

On Monday, we went to your 6 month well baby check up. I was excited to see how much you had grown in the two months from your last appointment. You were my petite little girl. You weighed 13 pounds 7 ounces. You were 24 ½ inches long! Dr. Gentile said you looked great. That made me really happy.

We did spend a lot of our time reading together. It was fun. You liked looking at the pictures, touching the pages, and trying to get the book into your mouth. We spent a lot of time reading Pat the Bunny. The book had different things to touch, smell, and look at on the pages. On one page was a mirror and I couldn’t resist taking a few snapshots…you were so cute.

On Saturday, we had our annual Turkey Dinner in summer party. We would invite our friends to a potluck style dinner. Your dad and I would make the turkey and stuffing, and our friends would bring a side dish. We always had a lot of fun. You, of course, looked adorable. You were wearing a brand new shirt with some cute jeans. Everyone thought you were just a doll!

July 30 – August 5 ~ A Little Independence

2007-09-12T22:52:00.000-07:00

For the most part we stayed at home this week. After so many busy weeks, it was nice to relax.

On Tuesday, you turned 6 months old. Oh how quickly the time has gone by. The first few months seemed to go by a little more slowly, but the last few months have raced by. In the past 6 months you have learned to: smile, laugh, “talk”, roll over, sit up, and army crawl. It is hard to believe all the change that has happened in such a short amount of time.

This week you started playing on your own. Up to this point, you wanted me to be right beside you at all times. Even if you could still see me, you wanted me within an arms reach. However, this week you began to be content on your own for short periods of time. Although I never let you out of my sight, I was able to get some chores done around the home.

Sunday was a very special day. You went into the church nursery for the first time. It was a little traumatic…for both of us. I was called once during service because you wouldn’t stop fussing…but after a few minutes of holding you, you calmed down and were fine for the rest of the service.

July 23 – July 29 ~ You’re on the Move

2007-08-02T10:44:00.000-07:00

This week you figured out that you didn’t have to stay in one spot…that if you wanted something, you could go and get it. Up until this point, you rolled over and over if you wanted to get somewhere. Sometimes, you would be on your belly wanting to move, kicking out your limbs, but not move. Well all that changed this week.

This week you perfected your army crawl. It looked like you were swimming on the carpet. You would throw your hands out, pull yourself forward, and kick out with your feet. You seemed very happy that you were now mobile. Now I had to keep an extra close eye on you. You tried to get into everything. Your favorite thing to play with was the dog’s water bowl. You thought it was such a fun game to dump out their water. Speaking of dogs, now that you could go after them you were very happy.

On Saturday we went to Dylan’s first birthday party. It was a lot of fun. There were so many other babies to look at and play with. You were the cutes of course. Later on Saturday, we went to see your Great Uncle Jim and Great Aunt Sandy. While we were visiting them you rode your first horse…I mean dog. His name was Duke and he was such a sweet dog. At first you didn’t know what to think of him, but he was so gentle that you soon were just tugging on his ears.

July 16 – July 22 ~ Inching Along

2007-07-28T23:24:00.000-07:00

You were getting awfully close to crawling this week. For a few weeks you had been getting up on your hands and knees. You didn’t usually go anywhere, but you would get and then plop back down over and over again. Well, this week you figured out how to inch along. You would start by lying on your belly. Then, you would put your head down and get your knees underneath you. After that you would lift your head and lean forward until fell forward. You would only do this once or twice in a row, but you looked like a little inchworm. With your inching and rolling combined, you were moving all around the room and I would find you in the oddest places…like half under your bouncy chair. It seems only yesterday you were a newborn.

This is how you inched along...

You and I drove up to Page on Thursday because your Aunt Sarah’s bridal shower was on Saturday. It was a good drive. You were becoming a good traveler. On the way up we stopped in a park in Flagstaff so you could spend some time out of your car seat. You seemed to like being outside and seeing all the people passing by. You also were very interested with the grass…you pulled at it quite a bit.

The party on Saturday was fun. You got dressed up in a pretty dress with yellow flowers on it. You napped for awhile, but you really wanted to be a part of the party. You sat in your bouncy chair for awhile, and then played on the floor with a toy, but you really liked the ribbon off of Aunt Sarah’s gifts. It was a fun day.

We finally got video of you laughing...

July 9 – July 15 ~ Getting Back on Schedule

2007-07-28T23:11:00.000-07:00

For the most part, this week was spent recuperating from our vacation. Your sleeping schedule had been way off, and it took a few days to get back to normal. However, our trip was more than worth it.

On Monday we visited with some friends. The other babies you saw were Dylan, Jackson, and Luke. In the last year, all of our friends had given birth to little boys…so that made you the only girl in the bunch. Even though you were born 6 weeks before Luke, it seemed like it should have been the other way around. You liked visiting them and I could tell that as soon as you were mobile, you were really going to start playing with them.

Then, on Friday we went over to Brian and Cyndi’s home. We had a barbeque dinner and then we went swimming again. It took you a little longer to get acclimated to the water this time, but you still did a very good job. You even went underwater! That part you seemed to enjoy much more…well, at least you tolerated it. I am sure you are going to love the water.

Elizabeth swimming...

July 1 – July 8 ~ Over the Mountains and Through the Woods

2007-07-15T22:31:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, we decided to go fishing at Groundhog Lake. Grandma Lindsay packed hamburgers for lunch while your dad, Grandpa Bernard, and Uncle Greg packed the car with chairs, fishing poles, and tackle boxes. Once we arrived at the lake, you were quite content to sit in your bouncy chair and look around at what was going on around you. You even “fished” a little. You tried watermelon for the first time…you really seemed to like it. We had a fun day, even though the fish never went after the bait…not even one bite! At least we saw some wildlife…we saw many deer on the ride home. Later that evening as we got home, we noticed there was someone waiting for us…well, I should say waiting for you. It was your Great Aunt Mary. She was very excited to see you.

Monday was a quiet day. We relaxed around the house with Uncle Greg and Aunt Kelsey and then altogether we drove around town for awhile. That evening, the five of us went out to see family you hadn’t met yet. We went to Great Uncle Bill and Great Aunt Vonda’s home. Your second cousin Kelli was there too! They thought you were just the sweetest little girl…and I must say that I agree. Your Great Popie and Nana were there for dinner as well. At first you didn’t know what do around all the family…I think it was a little intimidating, but you soon relaxed and let everyone cuddle you and pass you around.

The next day was a fairly quiet day. We started by having breakfast with your Grandpa and Grandma Williams. They had been driving across the country and happened to be in Colorado while we were there. We had a great time. After breakfast, Grandpa and Grandma Havran, your Aunt and Uncle, your dad and I (and you as well) went to Mancos. You slept almost the entire afternoon while we were cleaning the house.

Wednesday was the fourth of July! How did you spend your first Independence Day celebration? Well, you went to the Pick n’ Hoe of course! We enjoyed an amazing barbequed lunch followed by walking around in the shade of the trees and then we purchased some water weenies. However, the highlight of the event was the pig chase. You didn’t participate, but your dad and uncle did. It was quite a sight to see. After the last pig had been caught, we left the festivities to visit your Great Uncle Bill on the farm. He was both surprised and glad to see us.

The following day you added to your list of firsts: you went on your very first camping trip. We drove up to Lizardhead and camped overnight. We found a beautiful spot hidden in the trees but with gorgeous views all around. Since we were at 10,000 feet, it actually got cold enough for jackets. Jackets in July? Yup, that’s right. That night we had a large fire and roasted marshmallows. Mmm. The next morning you dad went fishing at the break of dawn. He came back beaming, wet, and fishless…but he had a good time nonetheless. He did sit down and explained to you his love for fishing. I think you may like it as much as he does.

After we broke camp, we went to Trout Lake so the men could fish some more. The views were breathtaking. For awhile we thought that the men would be skunked again as far as fishing went, but just before we left, your dad caught a fish. After the fishing things were put away, your Aunt and Uncle got into our car and we drove up Ophir pass. It was a very bumpy road, and in some places quite narrow. You were not too happy about the road quality, but soon you fell asleep. I must say, the view from the top was amazing and worth the ride up. The rest of the drive home went smoothly and the views were gorgeous.

Saturday came all too quickly. We spent the morning packing our car and getting ready for the ride home. We did get some group pictures before we left. What a wonderful time we had.

June 25 – June 30 ~ You’re Sitting…Well, Kind of

2007-07-15T22:25:00.000-07:00

On Monday morning, as I was putting you on your back, you kept straining forward…like you wanted to sit up. You couldn’t quite lift yourself, so I helped you into a sitting position. You couldn’t quite keep your balance so you leaned forward and supported yourself with your hands. You looked so cute! As I looked at you, I realized you were weren’t my little newborn anymore and to top it off, you would be 5 months at the end of the week. Time has gone by so quickly…

I should mention that feeding you solid foods had become quite an experience. You were now eating rice cereal, green beans, and sweet potatoes. You loved eating and sometimes when I didn’t get food onto the spoon fast enough you would start to fuss a little. You would then reach for the spoon and try to pull it into your mouth…most of the time you just got the food all over your hands, face, and bib. It was especially cute when you started chewing on your hand while to spoon full of food was still in your mouth. You were very excited!

Friday evening, we drove to Cortez, Colorado to see your Grandpa Bernard and Grandma Lindsay. Even though you were much happier riding in your car seat, we thought 6 ½ hours was still a long way to drive so we drove overnight so that you could sleep most of the way. On Saturday, we were fairly tired from driving the night before, so we spent the day resting and relaxing.

June 18 – June 24 ~ I think I can, I think I can

2007-07-15T22:18:00.000-07:00

This week was relatively quiet. We stayed around the house, relaxed, and didn’t really go anywhere. It wasn’t until the weekend that we were on the go. Saturday, Aunt Sarah came to town to go dress shopping with us for bridesmaid’s dresses. It was a lot of fun. You liked looking at all of the different colored dresses. Aunt Kelsey was there too, as well as one of the other bridesmaids.

Aunt Sarah was very glad to see you.

Sunday is when things really started happening. You were on your tummy, playing on the floor as usual. You were trying to move around, but as you couldn’t crawl yet, your arms and legs were moving a mile a minute to no avail. Well, out of the corner of my eye I saw it. You had pulled yourself onto all fours! It was very exciting. You would get up, wobble a little, and fall back down. You kept trying though. It won’t be too long until you are crawling around!

June 11 – June 17 ~ Feet are toys too?!?

2007-06-21T09:12:00.000-07:00

I know it is hard to believe, but I think you are getting cuter and cuter each week. This week you discovered your feet. You were on your blanket, playing on the ground when it happened. You lifted your little feet into the air and reached up towards them. When you finally grabbed them you seemed very pleased with yourself. You held them and looked at them for a few moments and then you rolled over and smiled.

On Thursday, we went to another play date. It was with the same group of women and babies that we met up with last month. There were some new faces too. We had such a good time, eating, comparing stories, and laughing. It wasn’t until we met with everyone that I realized what a little girl you were. When we went out, I always got comments on how you looked like a little porcelain doll, but I never paid too much attention... No matter, I still had the sweetest, most beautiful baby there. (Left to right: Stella 1/17/07, Autumn 2/10/07, Elizabeth 1/31/07, Logan 1/4/07, Mikayla 1/23/07, Ethan 1/2/07)

Sunday was Father’s Day. We had a fun, relaxing day. We went to church, then came home and relaxed for a little while. Grampa Bob and Gramma Kathy came into town and we visited with them for a little while. Then, we went to Grandpa Chris and Grandma Ramona’s house for dinner. We had a lot of fun.

June 4 – June 10 ~ Four Months Already?

2007-06-16T00:39:00.000-07:00

This was an eventful week. On Monday you went to your four month well baby check up. I can’t believe how quickly time has gone by. It seems only yesterday your dad and I were anxiously awaiting your arrival. Dr. Gentile looked you over and said you looked like happy and healthy. You weighed 12 pounds, 9 ounces. You were in the 25 percentile for weight and the 75 percentile for height…long, lean, and perfect. You also had your four month shots. It was a little traumatic…more so for me than you. It was hard for me to see you upset. You did feel better the moment I picked you up.

The pediatrician said that you could start solids now that you were four months old. This was very exciting! We started with 2 teaspoons of rice cereal. Your dad and I sat you in your bouncy chair and started feeding you. At first you weren’t too sure about letting me put the spoon in your mouth, but you quickly got the hang of it. You even smiled a few times. I thought it was going to be harder, but you seemed to love it.

On Friday, we picked your dad up from work and went to your Uncle Greg and Aunt Kelsey’s house. We were carpooling to Page. We had a fun weekend. On Saturday, you met your Great Uncle Jim. Great Aunt Sandy was there too. Uncle Jim had wanted to meet you since the day you were born. He even joked that he didn’t think he was going to meet you until you were graduated from college. Needless to say he thought you were just the sweetest little girl. You weren’t too sure about him at first, but after a few minutes you relaxed and let him hold you. We visited him at the family store a little later and you tried on a pink cowgirl hat. You were such a cutie!

Later that day we went to your dad’s home church for the open house. You see, his church finally had a b uilding to meet in and this was its dedication weekend. Sunday morning we went to church and then went back to Grampa Bob and Gramma Kathy’s home. We took a few pictures and then we were on our way home. We stopped in Flagstaff for dinner.

May 29 – June 3 ~ One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Hawaiian Fish…?

2007-06-05T08:24:00.001-07:00

Monday, May 29, was Memorial Day. Our friends, Brian and Cyndi, invited us to their house for swimming and a barbeque. It was such a good day for swimming and eating with friends. Your Grandpa Williams bought you a little swimsuit while he was on vacation in Hawaii. It was blue and had a grass skirt and lei sewn onto it. You were quite the sight. When we first got into the pool, you didn’t seem to be so sure about it. However, you didn’t cry or fuss. I am sure it felt good to cool off…I know it felt good to me. You even went underwater! You really didn’t like it the first time, but after you had done it a few times you were fine. You never even coughed! That means you were holding your breath…what a natural!

The weather had been getting very hot and so on Sunday, your dad and I made a spontaneous decision to go to the mountains. We just wanted to get out of the heat. We decided to go to Mount Lemmon just outside Tucson. It was perfect…it wasn’t too far to drive to and we could have lunch with our friend Kira. We had so much fun! The scenery was beautiful and the temperature was just perfect…a cool 68 degrees. We walked around for a little bit. Later that evening, we met our friends, Jim and Sarah, for dinner and games. It was a perfect day.

May 21 – May 28 ~ From Back to Belly

2007-06-01T08:24:00.000-07:00

There was a lot of coming and going this week. Your dad went out of town on Wednesday evening to go fishing with his grandparents, Nana and Popie. You were still too little to take on a boat, so we stayed behind. I never liked being home alone, so while your dad was away, we stayed at Grandma Ramona’s house. Late Thursday night, your Rivas relatives came into town. It was a lot fun with all of us there. We saw Great Grandma Mary on Friday. It was her 85th birthday. She was happy to see all of us.

On Saturday we visited our friend Rachel from our church group. She just had her baby girl, Josie. She was so cute! Josie was just four days old. I couldn’t believe how small she was...and I couldn’t believe you were ever that small. At birth, Josie weighed 1 ounce more than you and was 1 inch shorter. It was so sweet seeing you both next to each other. The age difference between the two of you is about the same as that between you and Ramona.

Later on Saturday, we picked Great Grandma and Grandpa Williams up from the airport. They were so excited to see you…and me too. We went back to our home and rested for a little bit. Then Juan, Linda, and Ramona came over. It was fun to watch how you and Ramona interacted. Now that you were rolling over you wanted to see what was going on, to be part of the action. Wait a minute, did I say rolling over? Of course! I have to mention that you seemed quite determined to roll from your back to your belly. You had been very close, but hadn’t done it just yet. Then, on the floor in front of everyone you finally did it! We were so excited! You seemed so proud.

After we visited for awhile, everyone went to dinner at Joe’s Farm Grill. It was so good. We ate outside on the picnic tables under the citrus trees. It was such a nice evening…one of the last of the season.

May 14 – May 20 ~ Laughing is the Best Medicine

2007-05-23T08:11:00.000-07:00

You had your first cold this week. You had been sniffling for a few days, but by Monday evening you were fully congested. It was sad hearing you breathing a little raspy. Other than sneezing occasionally you didn’t seem to mind all that much; however, you did not like it when you dad and I used the aspirator. It made us feel better though because your breathing sounded so much better after we cleared your nose.

On Tuesday around lunch time we went shopping. After awhile, I wanted a snack and so I went to Paradise Bakery. It was there that I met four other moms and their babies…all of which were born in January of this year. It was so much fun spending time with other moms. All the babies were well behaved and oh so cute. I must say, you were by far the sweetest and cutest baby…not that I am biased or anything.

I never knew how sweet the sound of laughter was until I heard you laugh for the first time. Your dad was playing with you while you were lying on your back. He was blowing raspberries on your hands and feet, making funny noises, and tickling you. You were smiling and making all sorts of cute sounds when all of a sudden you laughed. It was so sweet and afterwards you smiled like you knew you had just done something special. We tried to get you to do it again for the camera, you didn’t cooperate, but we did get some more big smiles.

And just for fun...

May 7 – May 13 ~ Official Roll Over

2007-05-14T11:05:00.000-07:00

On Monday evening you officially rolled over. Why do I say officially? Well that is because your dad and I had found you rolled over in your crib many times, only we hadn’t seen it yet. We were still unsure if you were doing it all by yourself, or if you needed to push off the side of the crib. Well, all doubts were lifted away when you, while playing with your blocks on the ground, rolled over all by yourself. I was so excited! I clapped my hands and praised you and made a big fuss…and do you know what I did next? I put you back on your belly and ran for the video camera. I wanted to catch this amazing event on video. So after you rolled over a few more times (for the camera,) I called your dad. After I told him the news he joked, “Did she roll, or did you push her over?” I was shocked that he would say that and I quickly laughed back, “I am not Juan! Besides, I got it on tape!” Then we both laughed and your dad mentioned he couldn’t wait to see it for himself. (I feel that I must say that I was referring you your cousin Ramona’s dad. You see, the jury is still out on whether or not he “helped” Ramona roll over for the first time. You can ask your aunt Linda for specific details.)

This week we took a comparative picture. Of course we knew that you had grown, but we wanted to see just how much. So…I remembered that when we had first brought you home, we swaddled you and propped you up in my nursing pillow. We have since started using that pillow for tummy time. Once we put the pictures side by side, it was hard to remember you ever being so small. What a difference from two days old to three and a half months old.

Grampa Bob, Gramma Kathy, and Aunt Sarah came to town this weekend. On Friday everyone had dinner, Uncle Greg and Aunt Kelsey were there too. We were celebrating Greg’s birthday.

Sunday, Mother’s Day, was a quiet day. We went out to breakfast. We took some pictures and then all our guests went home. The rest of the day was spent relaxing at home.

April 30 – May 6 ~ Three New C’s

2007-05-07T10:02:00.000-07:00

I had always wanted to try cloth diapers. While your dad and I were expecting your arrival, we had quite a few discussions on whether or not to use cloth diapers. I did some research but was a little overwhelmed with the amount of information I found. We decided to use disposables. Well, after visiting your cousin Ramona (who was in cloth diapers) I realized how simple it was so I ordered cloth diapers and we made the switch. I must say that I am happy we did. I learned several ways to fold your diaper and the fold that worked best for you was called the jelly-roll fold. I still needed to perfect it, but it worked wonderfully!

Your dad and I discovered that you had cradle cap. Cradle cap looks like yellow, flakey skin on your scalp. Many babies get it and it usually doesn’t bother babies, but if it becomes a more severe case, it may itch. One morning we noticed a few dry flakes in your hair and you were pulling your hair and seemed to be trying to itch your head. Once we examined it further we realized that you had a fairly bad case; it covered the entire top of your head. We felt bad that we had not caught this sooner. We bought a cradle cap cream, gave you a few extra shampoos this week and it cleared right up. At least you didn’t hate your baths anymore, and besides you looked really cute in your in hooded towel…

Your night time sleep pattern had become quite erratic. It seemed as if you were awake more than you were asleep. When you were awake, you were tired and not happy. Your dad and I just knew that if you went to sleep you would be a much happier baby. I called your pediatrician and asked what I should do. He told me to try the Cry it Out method. He said we should let you cry for a little while to see what you would do. He said we just might be picking you up too quickly. Your dad and I agreed to give this method a chance…but we were nervous about it.

We had to decide on a bed time and a routine to follow each evening. So we put you in your sleeper and I nursed you just before bed. You were definitely drowsy, but your eyes were still open when I put you down. (You see, I couldn’t put you to bed asleep anymore.) I left the room and you didn't fuss at all! That was at 9:00 pm.

You woke up at midnight. I looked at the clock and let you fuss; you started to cry very hard after two minutes and just as I was getting up, you stopped. After eight minutes of crying you were asleep! We repeated this at 2:30. When you woke up at 4:30 I changed your diaper and fed you. I figured 7 1/2 hours was a long time. After your feeding, I put you to bed drowsy and just like the beginning of the night you didn’t fuss! You slept until 7:15.

That evening you slept from 9:oopm until 7:15am with only about a half of an hour of awake time. Your dad and I were excited to have had some sleep again. When you woke up you gave us big smiles. We think you were just as happy after a good night sleep.

Also this week, it was such fun watching you play with your hands. You are using them more and more each day. Now, instead of just batting at toys, you seem to really play with them. I loved watching you play with your horse. At one point it was falling and you caught it.

You also began to talk a lot more this week. It was fun watching you coo and gurgle to your toys. So sweet.

On Sunday, Uncle Greg and Aunt Kelsey watched you for the day while your dad and I went to a wedding. You had so much fun with them. You smiled and played. It was nice to have a date with your dad. I must say though, halfway through the day, your dad and I ready to be with you again.

April 23 – April 29 ~ Tummy Time

2007-05-01T13:52:00.000-07:00

This week we did quite a bit of resting during the day. We had to get our energy back and settle into a routine now that we were back at home. I wish I could say we slept more at night though. Your night time sleep patterns were a bit sporadic this week…from sleeping five hours at a time to one hour at a time. I think you were going through a growth spurt. However, it is also said that as babies reach new milestones they tend to wake more during the night for a few nights. This might have been the case because we found you rolled over in your crib again this week and you were getting very close to rolling during your activity times during the day.

I also noticed that you had not only discovered your hands, but that you could manipulate them as well. You were batting at things, grabbing my hair and my shirt. It was rather exciting. So, you had more tummy time this week than in previous weeks. You seemed to like it; especially when your dad and I put blocks in front of you to reach out and touch. You seemed to change and grow a little more every day.

This week you really noticed the dogs for the first time. In the beginning, they stayed away from you. I don’t think they knew what to think of you…you see, they hadn’t been around a baby before. They had been coming up and sniffing you for a month or so, but this week you noticed them. You would look up when you heard them go through the dog door. You would follow them with your eyes as they walked through the room. You even reached out at them. Molly was most interested in you.

April 16 – April 22 ~ California Days

2007-04-25T11:03:00.000-07:00

On Monday morning your Great Aunt Sue drove us from your Great Grandparent’s house in Idyllwild to her home in Pasadena. I could not believe it but you slept the whole way!

Around lunch time Linda and Ramona came and picked us up in Pasadena. We spent a little time talking before heading out on the town. I couldn’t believe how big Ramona had gotten. You seemed so small when we put you next to her. She was very interested in you…looking at you, grabbing you, sucking on you, and talking to you. You looked at her and smiled and cooed. It was so sweet. Once we packed the car, we went to lunch at the Corner Bakery. It was so yummy. Then we went shopping… well window shopping. It was so hard to resist the urge to buy everything I saw!

The next few days were spent visiting Linda and getting to know Ramona. We also went to Uncle Juan’s parent’s house one evening. It was nice to spend some time with them. Of course, they thought you were a cute baby!

One afternoon we met Juan for lunch in Long Beach. We went to a hole in the wall Italian restaurant and it was good! It was something one could only find in California. The décor was a little off…they had decorations from different holidays: birthdays, Christmas, Easter, Halloween, 4th of July…and I think there was another but I can’t remember. You sat in Ramona’s car seat during the majority of the meal (I couldn’t believe it.) You just looked around. You seemed only to pay attention to Ramona. After lunch we were going to go to the beach, but it was too windy.

Thursday morning your Aunt and I watched one of our favorite movies…Anne of Green Gables. You and Ramona didn’t notice the movie but were just interested in each other. The last time you and Ramona were together I mentioned she looked at you like she wanted to eat you…I was wrong…now she looked like she wanted to eat you…or at least suck on your arm. Later that afternoon while Linda was tutoring, we went to visit your Great Grandma Bonnie and Great Grandpa Scott. They are your Grandpa Chris’ mom and husband. They loved finally meeting you. We had such a good time while we were there.

Late Friday morning Linda drove us to meet your Gramma Kathy and Grampa Bob. They were in town for your Great Grandpa Bob’s 75th birthday party. It was nice of them to meet us halfway so Linda didn’t have to drive as far. It was so good to see them again. They were especially excited to see you because it had been a month since they last saw you. That weekend you also met your Great Aunt Karen and Great Uncle Bob. I know what you are thinking…Grampa Bob, Great Grandpa Bob, and Great Uncle Bob!?! We had a wonderful time at the party.

Before we left for home on Sunday, we had a fabulous brunch. It was nice to have all of us together. However, we had to get on our way. On the way home, you slept for three hours! You were awake and looking around for most of the time and only cried for total of 30 minutes. It was such a nice ride home. You dad and I decided we could no longer call your car seat The Torture Chamber after this trip. We were so relieved.

April 9 – April 15 ~ Baby Dedication and More Firsts

2007-04-18T18:49:00.000-07:00

This week you had your first day care experience. Now that you were over two months old, I decided it was time that I started going to the gym. You were not aware of this, but I gained quite a bit of weight while I was pregnant and I felt that it was time to start losing the rest of that weight. So, at the gym there was a childcare facility for newborns to children up to twelve years old. The childcare providers gave us three matching wristbands: one for you, me, and the diaper bag. I was concerned about how you would like the experience, but when I came and got you after my workout, I found you asleep and content.

On Saturday, we went to your dad’s company picnic. It was a beautiful April day…not too hot, not too cold, not too windy…just perfect. We had lunch with our friends. I couldn’t believe all the babies we have. Dylan, Jackson, You, and Luke! All of you were born within the last nine months! It will be fun for all the babies to grow up together.

This was the week you had your first unofficial roll over! It was late on Saturday evening (or maybe early Sunday morning) and you were sleeping in your crib. Then, you started to cry and you dad got up to change your diaper and get you ready for a feeding. Then, through the baby monitor he asked, “Did you put Elizabeth to sleep on her back?” You were a tummy sleeper and so I thought the question was silly. I replied, “Why would I put her on her back, she only sleeps on her tumm…Oh my gosh she rolled over!” We are not sure if you needed the help of your crib to roll over or if you did it on your own. You have yet to repeat this milestone, but it was very exciting!

This Sunday was your baby dedication. Great Aunt Sue and your Great Grandparents Williams came out for this special occasion. You were in such a good mood that morning. We dressed you and put you in the car seat and drove to church. You didn’t even complain about the car seat. Once we were at church, we changed your clothes and put you in the gorgeous dedication gown your Great Grandma Eleanor made for you. You looked so cute! There was a misunderstanding in the morning’s schedule so the family missed the actual ceremony but was able to see you and the other babies as they were presented to the congregation. You were such a good girl…you hardly made a peep the whole morning at church and we were there for two services!

After church we had lunch at our house to celebrate. Our close friends came in addition to the family. Then, it was time to pack the car and head to California. This was to be your first road trip. Your dad had to stay at home. It was sad to leave him, but at least we would see him in five days. We were going to visit your Aunt Linda and Cousin Ramona. We were a little nervous about the drive seeing as you didn’t like the car seat. You did such a good job. And you showed your excitement of crossing the border into a new state by sleeping.

Speaking of sleeping, Sunday night we stayed at your great grandparent’s house. We decided to stop there for the evening because there was snow on the ground and it was a foggy night. Great Grandma was concerned about where you were going to sleep. Well, she pulled a drawer out from the chest of drawers, lined it with blankets, and turned it into a snug bed. You know what, it worked and you liked it too. How do I know that you liked it? You slept for 6 hours straight!

April 1 – April 8 ~ Easter

2007-04-11T10:47:00.000-07:00

On April 1st your dad and I did something amazing…we caught one of your smiles on a picture! We were thrilled. Again, you were on your changing table and you were smiling away as usual. However, because both of us were there, we were able to capture the moment.

The next morning you were not smiling. It was time for your 2 month doctor’s appointment. First of all, we had to go on a car ride. I don’t think I have mentioned this yet, but, you did not care to be in your car seat…in fact in response to your crying, the car seat was nicknamed, “The Torture Chamber.” So, we put you in the torture chamber and drove to the doctor’s. Dr. Gentile came in and examined you. You were healthy and growing steadily. You now weighed 10 pounds, 4 ounces. You had gained just over three pounds…no wonder you didn’t fit into some of your clothes! However, the next part of the visit wasn’t too fun. You received 5 shots. You cried a little, but as soon as I picked you up, you stopped crying and fell right asleep. You stayed asleep through the ride home and for an hour more once we were home. I think it was harder for me than it was for you.

You met your Great Uncle Dave this week. He lives in Oklahoma. He was in Arizona for business, but wanted to meet you. We went to dinner at a local restaurant. I must say, you behaved very well during your first restaurant experience.

This week you celebrated your first Easter. It was a fun day. We dressed you in a pretty cream dress with pink flowers on it. You looked adorable. We went to the 10:30 service. I didn’t think you were quite ready for sunrise service. You were quite content to sit in your dad’s arms for almost the entire service. After church we went to the Spears' house. Jack and Candee are close friends of ours. Then, we went back home to get ready for our friends to come over for games. You were pretty tired, and you napped in your swing for most of the afternoon.

This was a very busy week.

March 26 – March 31 ~ 2 Months Old

2007-04-04T10:34:00.000-07:00

I could not believe how much you had grown and changed in two months. Even more amazing was that changes were happening on a weekly basis. It seemed like each week you did something new or your personality developed even more. This week was not any different.

On the 26th you had your first no tears bath. As your mom, I wanted to do everything perfectly. I wanted to follow directions word for word. Now, on the bottom of your bathtub was a built-in temperature gauge. It would let me know if the water was cool, ideal, or hot. For your first baths I followed that temperature gauge even though the water still felt a little on the cool side. Well, on that evening, I decided that I should warm the water a little bit. The gauge said the water was hot, but it was nice and warm to the touch. I put you in the water and you didn’t make a sound. I held my breath as I got your hair wet, but there wasn’t any need; you just kept looking at me…you even gave a half smile. I was so happy that you liked your bath…but felt so horrible because I had been giving you cold baths up to this time.

You really began growing out of your clothes this week. I even started sorting through your clothes and separating the smaller sizes. You only fit into one or two newborn sized outfits. When we were getting ready to take you home from the hospital, we originally had a pretty pink sleeper picked out, but it was too large for you…it practically swallowed you. That sleeper was one of the outfits I had to pack away this week. When did you get so big?

This week you fell into a sleep pattern. It happened all at once. One evening you fell asleep at 9:30pm and didn’t wake up until 1:45am…four hours and it was in your crib! Your dad and I almost couldn’t believe it. I do have to say, four hours of sleep made me feel like I could have conquered the world…well, at least the house work.

On March 31 you had your two month birthday. The time has flown by. As a way to celebrate and capture memories we had professional pictures taken. At first, you weren’t too excited. I completely understand…the bright lights, the temperature, the wardrobe changes…but soon you were comfortable and even fell asleep. Your pictures came out beautifully!

After pictures, we went to Grandma and Grandpa’s house for dinner.

March 19 – March 25 ~ Smiling and Swinging

2007-03-29T11:37:00.000-07:00

You started smiling more and more this week. Your grins turned into wide, open smiles. It was difficult to capture them in a picture though. You always seemed to give your biggest smiles on your changing table. You would stretch out your arms, smile, and even coo while I was changing your diaper. I can imagine why you were so happy, but I would have needed a third arm to get a picture. However, I did take a series of pictures after a diaper change, and oh my goodness you took away all doubt that you were the cutest baby in the world.

On Saturday you had more visitors. Great Grandpa Ed and Great Grandma Monique came to see you around lunch time. They are your Grandpa Chris’ dad and his wife. They were so happy to finally meet you. We ate the lunch they brought and then we sat and talked for awhile. You were a little fussy at the beginning of the visit, but after you had eaten you were ready to be passed around.

As we were getting ready for church on Sunday morning, your dad put you in your swing. We were only going to put you there for a moment. You normally didn’t like your swing for more than a minute or two. However, you fell asleep. Your dad and I couldn’t believe it. We were so happy that you were comfortable. You were still sleeping soundly after an hour; however, we had to wake you up so we could dress you for church. After church, you did fall asleep once more in your swing.

March 12 – March 18 ~ Great Grandpa Bob and Great Grandma Barbara

2007-03-29T11:27:00.000-07:00

An amazing event happened on the 12th. It was thrilling. You sat in your bouncy chair for just about a half of an hour. Now you may not think that was all too exciting…but it made your dad and I quite happy. You see, you loved to be held at all times. Your dad and I loved holding and cuddling you, but sometimes we needed to be able to set you down for a moment or two. It was so much fun to see you sitting, reaching out, stretching, and enjoying yourself. You even gave us a few smiles!

This weekend you had more visitors…very special visitors. Gramma Kathy and Grampa Bob came down from Page, and with them were Grampa Bob’s parents, your Great Grandpa Bob and Great Grandma Barbara. They live in California. They were quite excited to finally meet you. You liked them very much. You let them hold and cuddle you. It was a lot of fun having the family around. The weekend visit was over too quickly.

You had another visitor this weekend: our close friend Kim. You should call her Aunt Kim. She lives on the outskirts of town…even farther than Aunt Abby. Kim came and had dinner with us on Saturday evening. After that, we spent time talking about our new favorite subject…you. You liked Kim very much and that made us all happy. She thought you were just the cutest baby ever…and of course your dad and I couldn’t agree more.

March 5 – March 11 ~ Catching up on Rest

2007-03-23T16:43:00.000-07:00

After only 4 ½ weeks of life, you had met so many family members.

Let’s review: Grandma Ramona and Grandpa Chris, Gramma Kathy and Grampa Bob, Uncle Greg and Aunt Kelsey, Aunt Sarah and Uncle Jon, Grandpa Bernard and Grandma Lindsay, Great Nana and Great Popie, Grandpa Peter and Grandma Linda, Aunt Linda and Uncle Juan and Cousin Ramona, Aunt Aimee and Uncle Ben, Great Aunt Sue, Great Grandma Eleanor and Great Grandpa Floyd, and Great Aunt Sandy!

So many grandparents and there are still a few more, not to mention aunts and uncles too!

Needless to say, this week we did quite a bit of resting.

I must mention, you did notice yourself in the mirror for the very first time this week. We were visiting Grandma Ramona. We were just talking while she was putting on her make-up and as I was holding you in front of the mirror, I noticed you were focused intently on your reflection. I slowly turned you side to side and you held your gaze steadily. It was quite exciting.

This was also the first week that we took you to church. I thought I was going to spend the entire service in the cry room…but nope, you slept through the whole service! You looked so cute in your little pink dress.

February 27 – March 4 ~ Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and your Cousin

2007-03-23T16:38:00.000-07:00

This was a fun, but busy, week. Aunt Linda, Cousin Ramona, and Aunt Aimee drove out from California. They stayed at Grandma Ramona’s, but the main reason they came out was to see you. Shh, don’t tell Grandma Ramona…she might get jealous. I hadn’t seen my sisters in awhile and it was so much fun to see them. It is a loud, crazy circus when the three of us hang out with our mom.

You met your cousin Ramona. You didn’t seem to be interested in getting to know her…you seemed to only want to cry and be held. However, when we put you next to baby Ramona, you looked so small. She seemed to just stare at you…like she wanted to eat you. Don’t worry, I wouldn’t let her.

We also introduced you to your Great Grandma Mary. She was excited to see us…as well as the rest of the family. I must tell you, she was quite concerned that you slept through the visit. Next time, you should try to be more awake.

On Saturday we took family pictures. Uncle Juan and Uncle Ben came for the pictures as well. The whole family was together. It was such a cold, windy day. Who knew that Arizona could be so chilly! We had a good time at the park where we were getting our picture taken. You were being so good.

After our pictures were finished, we went back to Grandma Ramona’s to have dinner. Great Aunt Sue and your Great Grandma and Grandpa Williams came. You were in such a good mood. You sat with Great Grandma Eleanor for a long time. She had been counting the minutes from the moment you were born until she was able to hold you.

We had breakfast with Great Aunt Sue and Great Grandma and Grandpa the next morning. Gramma Kathy and Grampa Bob were also there. We had a wonderful time. I must say, this was the visit in which your Great Grandma Eleanor presented you with your gorgeous dedication gown.

Later that afternoon you met Great Aunt Sandy. She was happy to meet you at last.

February 22 – February 26 ~ Even More Visitors

2007-03-23T16:34:00.000-07:00

Our very close friends, Jason and Danielle, drove from Page to see you. We don’t see them very often, but always have a good time when we do. As always, you were the center of attention. We took a lot of pictures! They thought you were such a sweet baby.

Up until this week you have mostly met family from Curtis’ side. Your Grandpa and Grandma Williams came to meet you. We had a good time. They brought dinner to our home. They spent the evening getting acquainted with you. We also looked at pictures of you and watched the video we had taken so far. Grandpa got a little teary-eyed. I think he likes you a lot.

February 15 – February 21 ~ Great Nana and Popie

2007-03-23T16:29:00.000-07:00

You met some very special people this week: Nana and Popie. Nana and Popie are Gramma’s parents, your dad’s grandparents, and your great grandparents. They are very special and a lot of fun to be around.

Gramma Kathy and Grampa Bob drove from Page this weekend. They picked Nana and Popie up from the airport and brought them to our house. Greg and Kelsey also came over for dinner.

Nana and Popie were very happy to finally meet you. You were quite excited…so excited that you couldn’t stay awake. That isn’t entirely true. During the first part of the visit you were sound asleep. We passed you around the family members and you stayed in your peaceful slumber. You eventually woke up and let out a cry or two. Overall, you were on your best behavior.

Reality set in on Monday morning. After two and a half weeks off, Curtis had to return to work. It was the first time that I was going to be alone with you. I was a little nervous. I didn’t like being alone, so Grandpa Chris came to visit for a little while on Tuesday afternoon.

February 8 – February 14 ~ Family, Friends, and More

2007-03-23T16:21:00.000-07:00

You had a very exciting weekend because you met Grandpa Bernard and Grandma Lindsay. They traveled all the way from Mancos, Colorado to see you. They were so excited to meet you. Most of the visit was spent holding you, looking at you, and talking to you. Even while you were napping, we couldn’t resist taking a peek or two. Sadly though, the weekend came to an end all too quickly.

On Monday the 12th, you had another pediatrician appointment. I had been afraid you were not eating enough, so I was relieved to find out you were a healthy eater. You now weighed 7lb 8oz. You gained 7 ounces in one week! Again, the doctor said you looked happy and healthy. Your next appointment would not be until you were two months old.

The next day, the 13th, you had your first real bath. You didn’t seem to care for it any better than the first few. However, I didn’t give up hope of you learning to like the water.

This week you also celebrated your first Valentine’s Day. I must apologize because we didn’t make a big to do about it…and it wasn’t romantic either. However, you did meet Abby. She is a very close friend, so you should call her Aunt Abby. She drove from the other side of town to meet you. You liked her quite a bit. Her husband, Andy, couldn’t make it that day, but I know you will like him too.

First Week

2007-03-14T09:17:00.000-07:00

We spent two nights at the hospital. The staff was wonderful. I will say though, I was ready to wear my own clothes and sleep in my own bed. I could hardly wait to take you home and show you where you would be living. After the paperwork was filled out we were given the green light to go home. At around lunchtime on February 2^nd, we were home.

Gramma Kathy and Grampa Bob stayed at our home. They helped with the household chores as well as meals. This let Curtis and me spend time getting to know you and catching up on rest when we could. It was nice to have all of the help. It was also nice for Gramma and Grampa to get to know you.

This was a special week because we did so many things for the very first time…

You had your first bath…well, sponge bath. You weren’t so happy about getting wet and in particular your hair. I just hoped you would learn to like the water. It would be a sad thing if you never wanted to get wet...no pool parties, no diving in the river, no snorkeling…

You watched your very first football game…it was the super bowl. It was a shame that our team wasn’t playing… (Oh, you don’t know it quite yet, but you are a Broncos fan. Don’t listen to your other family members…they don’t know what they are talking about. Just remember, the Broncos are the only team you will ever want to cheer for.) We didn’t really care for either of the teams playing, so we just watched the game for the commercials. However, you did practice cheering for touchdowns.

You went to your first pediatrician appointment. You were back up to your birth weight and Dr. Gentile said you looked very healthy.

On Tuesday the 6^th, we said bye to Gramma and Grampa. They went back home to Page.

There ended your first week.

Elizabeth's Birth Story

2007-03-13T14:05:00.001-07:00

I thought that your baby journal couldn’t start anywhere else than the day you were born. This is your birth story.

The day you were born, January 31, 2007, started like any other. I woke up at 3:33 (that time will forever be set in my memory) in the morning needing to use the restroom…or so I thought. It turns out that my water had just broken. At first I thought that I no longer had control over my bladder, so I went back to bed but I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was something more. However, since it wasn’t too much fluid, I wouldn’t let myself believe it was my water breaking. I tossed and turned for awhile and then woke Curtis up. I told him that I thought that maybe my water had broken but that I wasn’t convinced and now that I had let him know, I was going to go back to bed. He asked me a few questions but I told him it was probably nothing and the best thing to do would be to go back to sleep. Then I felt it…it was distinctive and I couldn’t mistake it…a contraction. Curtis told me that I needed to go to the hospital because the doctor said that is what we needed to do if my water broke. After much persuasion, I agreed to go, but not until I had showered, fixed my hair, and had breakfast.

We arrived at the hospital at 7:15. The nurses asked me to change into a hospital gown and in the process of doing so I gushed all over the bathroom floor...so embarrassing. There was now no questioning that my water had broken. While we were waiting to be moved to our room, Curtis called the soon to be grandmothers to let them know that the baby was coming sometime during the day. After a few minutes Dr. Kells came in and told me that because my water had broken we were on a little bit of a timeline to have the baby born. The timeline, he explained, was to try to avoid infection. After that, we were taken to the room where I was going to have the baby!

For the rest of the morning Curtis and I walked around the hallways to try and speed up my labor. My mom and Cathy came in to check on us around lunch time. They brought Curtis lunch from Rubio’s. I wasn’t in the mood for anything to eat. At 3:30pm I still hadn’t progressed far enough along for my midwife to feel comfortable for me to continue on my own. So I was given Pitocin. It was not my favorite time of the day. For some reason my body didn't react well to it and I couldn't tell when I was or was not having a contraction....it just felt like one 10 minute long peaked contraction. Curtis was trying to make me as comfortable…but nothing seemed to work. The discomfort was almost unbearable. My nurse encouraged me to change positions and I immediately felt relief…well sort of. At least I could now rest between contractions.

At about 4:30 I was ready…I just felt the need to push. After about one hour of pushing you were born. You were no longer Shaboomba but Elizabeth Ann Havran. You were born at 5:48pm and were 7lb .5oz, 20 1/4 inches long. The nurses said they were going to put either 7lb 0oz or 7lb 1oz. I voted for the extra ounce and so that is why it was recorded as 7lb 1 oz.

Later that night you were visited by many family members who had been waiting for you to arrive. First to see you was Grandma Ramona, Grandpa Chris, and Cathy. A few hours later we introduced you to Gramma Kathy, Grampa Bob, Uncle Greg, Aunt Kelsey, Aunt Sarah, and Uncle Jon. So many people! I would tell you more about their visits, but I was rather tired by that time. However, I can say that everyone was very excited to meet you.

After the visitors had left, Curtis and I just looked at you in amazement. The day seemed almost unreal. After the many months of planning and anticipation, you were finally here. We felt blessed beyond words.