Annabelle is 3 months old!

Our little She has reached the 3 months which is a significant milestone marker where babies come out of the 4th trimester stage and become different creatures. Over the last month Annabelle has become a different creature. She is super smiley, very talkative, she cries with more personality, she's curious about her surroundings, looking at the world around her very intently, and overall has become way more fun. We have a game we play with her now where she coos a girly coo while lifting her shoulders up and smiling. If we mimic it back to her, she mimics us and we all think it's really funny. When she smiles, her eyes become crescent moons shaped to where it seems she can't even see out of them which is probably due to her big cheeks
(Her most famous body part). She gets lots of compliments on them as the hang over the car seat straps and gravity has its way with them. It supposedly is a May baby family trait.
This month we have enjoyed a few hikes in the Gorge. Now when we walk behind the waterfall she looks at it, hears it, and seems to be amazed along with of us. She conitnues to love being outside and walks in the woods provide her with a kaleidoscope of leaves and light. Another favorite past time is enjoying our front porch with our two new Adirondack rocking chairs. You often find us sitting and rocking in these chairs enjoying the summer air and the beautiful hanging flowers in front of our charming old house. Somehow I feel timelesssitting there rocking my baby like they often did back in the day.
Father's Day and the Forth of July were spent taking our first trips with Annabelle to grandma and grandpa's house in the country. She enjoyed looking at the beautiful gardens, artwork, and the beautiful view, as well as charming her family with all her new sounds and smiles. We took a fun hike on the trails behind their house and Annabelle stayed awake for the first half looking at the forest and smelling the sweet air. Another highlight of our month was when grandma Judy watched Annabelle for a few hours one Monday to get geared up for when I go back to work in August. They had a great time together and we feel so lucky to have grandparents so close and willing to help us out.

Jack and I think this is the perfect age to keep Annabelle at. She's mostly just a bundle of joy who can't wreck too much havoc on our lives just yet and is so darn cute, she has truly won our hearts.
Lastly, just to add for record keeping sake are her measurements at 12 weeks: weighing in at 11lbs 7 oz, 23.5 inches long and has a head circumference of 15.3 inches as well. Oh and I can't forget that Annabelle has given us some great nights of sleep by waking up only once just to need the pacifier and other times to have some milk then go back to sleep until its light out again We now know better to than to expect this to stay the same but we are happy she seems to enjoy sleep as much as we do!
In two days we leave for New Jersey to meet her family and friends back there and to enjoy some time at one of mom's favorite hang outs: the Jersey Shore! Wish us luck!

Annabelle is 2 Months Old

It has been quite some time since I have written on this blog and mostly this is because we were blessed with a month long visit from Nana Roseanna and PopPop Morty. So whenever I had down time, I was soaking up being with them and not being on the computer. Believe it or not, I am writing this blog entry from Missoula, Montana. I couldn't get enough time with my parents, pass up the opportunity to visit my new baby nephew Solomon, introduce Annabelle to the rest of the fam and all be together at such a precious tiny stage of these little ones lives. I am so glad I came! The road trip was way better than I imagined. I was sure I was crazy to try to drive with 7 week old Annabelle. It was really hard to make the decision but once we were off, it actually turned out to be a fun road trip! It was a beautiful day, Mort was my copilot and I felt like we were together in an airplane shooting down the bad drivers and the Clark Fork River signs that just kept coming! Rosie was the master shussher for the baby, kept her happy and helped out driving. Annabelle slept great along the way, took the bottle when we needed to use it and showed us her adventurous spirit as she looked around at all the new sights when took her out of her seat for some fresh air. She loves fresh air and being outside in general.
Annabelle is 2 months old today. Whoo hoo! At 7 weeks, she began to really look at you and smile. Now this skill has become so much richer and fuller. She smiles at you and coos with her many sounds, talking to you. Its really cute! She has a new favorite position to hold her, the airplane, where she can look out and fly with her great neck strength. When in doubt, take Annabelle outside and swing her like that and she's usually good to go! Plus you get a super arm workout. One other fun new thing she has done twice now is her middle and ring finger land in her mouth and starts sucking hard on them Her pinkie and pointer finger sit on either side of her mouth. Its pretty cute and I wonder if she will continue with this later. Jack misses Annabelle and I a lot but he has been able to tear out our kitchen floor and by Monday we will finally have our new floor put in. He is one of the most productive, motivated people I know. He has helped me also learn to not get so worked up when Annabelle is crying. He stays calm and assures her it will pass whatever it is. I am learning slowly but surely.
We had such a good time with my parents. My mom helped me clean out all my kitchen cupboards and my linen closet and we got my picture frames up on the wall. (They have been sitting there for two years I think). She is trying to also help instill some system for me to control Biyou's hair in the house and keep thing tidy with our new baby around. We'll see how it works. Mort and Jack watched a lot of WWII documentaries, ran errands together and flew the remote control helicopter a bunch. Pop Pop passed on some of his favorite baby games to us that we find ourselves using a lot. It is great to see baby Annabelle recognize Nana's voice and face and smiles and coos at her. I guess 5 weeks together paid off. We thank you both for sharing that precious time together. We will cherish it always.

--
-Kelli

Annabelle's a Month!

So much life has happened in two weeks, I can hardly keep up! I have pictures to show it but in a nutshell: Jeff and Gillian's baby Solomon Thomas arrived on Monday May 3rd. My dear friend Deb visited with her little Rowan for a few days and we had a great time learning the tricks of the trade of parenting from her. My parents finally arrived in Portland on Thursday before Mother's Day and we have been enjoying their company and help so much! My dear friend Emily from SF visited us as well and Annabelle got to meet her whole family. We hosted a yummy Mother's Day at our house and Jack's family brought all the grub. Meanwhile, we cannot believe how much Annabelle has grown! She is now a month old and has changed so much! At her month checkup she weighed 8lbs 5oz, exceeding all of our bets! My parents have spent this past week, getting our house in order (as Rosie does) and relaxing in our backyard with beautiful spring weather. Morty has been doing great helping out Jack, reading, and watching documentaries on WWII. Last night, Jack and I made it out for a sushi date with our little tot. Not only did we celebrate Annabelle turning a month old but also us being parents for a whole month!

Annabelle's First Two Weeks

Little Annabelle is over two weeks old and I am just getting a moment to write on her blog! Her birth story will post when I get a chance to complete it but for now i will attempt a small update. Annabelle has grown so much! We had her two week doctor visit on Thursday and Little She weighed in at 6lbs 13 oz, almost a pound in a week! Way above all of our bets. She is eating like a champ and is just ready to be bigger. Her face has lengthened and she is holding her head up when you place her over your shoulder to burp her. She tells me she's going to be a strong girl. She is also quite the grunter! She's either squeaking like a kitten or grunting like a little monster.
Jack started working last week but we are really lucky that he is working from home. He can lend a hand when needed and just for me to have the company is very comforting. I am getting the hang of my new job as a mom slowly but surely. Figuring out how to maneuver clothes while breastfeeding, how to deal with leaking boobs, how to make breakfast one handed, how to get her into the Moby and attempt a solo walk are all little hurdles that I've had to accomplish. I know it will all become second nature, but right now I feel like such a beginner! This week my friends Deb and Emily are visiting for a few days, and my parents will finally arrive. My first Mother's Day as a mom is Sunday and I'll get to have my mom and mother in law here as well as see my friend Deb as a mom too. There I did it! I got a chance to write while sweet girl slept soundly...progress!