Isn't she {LoVeLy}?!

There are no words to accurately describe the joy this little girl brings to my life. I literally cry thanking God for her every day. It's funny how God formed her to fit perfectly into our family. For awhile there was all this guilt about feeling bad that I wasn't paying attention to Trice as much ... or that I just couldn't be as good of mother to two kids as I was to one. Slowly that guilt faded as we melted into this new family - this family of 4. Slowly I figured out how to hold a car seat on one arm, a toddler on one hand, and push a cart full of groceries to the car... load them.. get home.. unload the kids.. and unload the groceries.. without losing my mind (verdict is still out on that part!) There are still many things I haven't mastered just yet wearing my mommy-of-two skin and many days of feeling like I messed up more than succeeded, but overall I am loving my little blessings and learning so much in the process. Anyway, the point is - Eliana is just the calm to my wild. 

She's (so far) the polar opposite of Trice.We all know I love Trice so dearly, but two of him in one household would probably cause some sort of catastrophic event. She's totally mellow -- can roll with the intense (okay.. ear splitting) tantrums/meltdowns/world is ending because I stirred the yogurt with the wrong spoon sob fest .. just sits back, stares, and smiles. I sometimes feel bad because it seems like she's the "forgotten child" - she could rock tummy time for a good hour on the hour if you let her without ever asking via fussing for anyone to interact with her (Don't worry - I very much do interact with her, but I'm pretty sure she wouldn't care if I didn't.) She can sleep through a marching band and just sleeps in general which is pretty much the most amazing thing I've ever experienced. It's taken me nearly 5 months to accept that she's not a snuggler .. won't rock, won't nurse to sleep (seriously.. that's like what babies do..), and wants nothing to do with anyone when she's tired. But when she fusses and I pick her up out of her bed, she buries her tiny head on my shoulder and strokes my face with her other hand. My heart shatters every single time. I want to stay there forever, but after a quick hug/smooch session.. she's so over me.

 She's just basically the happiest human being I've ever met. I can't help but smile at her all day long. But seriously .. would it be possible not to love her? I didn't think so either. I keep telling Nick I could handle 3 or 4 more babies just.like.her. Then he reminds me maybe we should stop while we're ahead.

"I stare in wonder at your tiny frame. 

Just to think that God knows you by name. 

He knows every hair on your beautiful head. 

He knows your thoughts before they are said."

Crinkle Monkey. An Edwards family favorite since 2012.

Blowing Bubbles. Our new favorite hobby.

That curl. Is anyone dreaming of the ringlets .. or just me?!

Drool. It's how we roll.

Eliana {Five} Months

Date: September 13, 2015

Weight: 13lbs 2oz

Length: ??

Clothing Size: 3-6 month mostly (Finally packed away the 0-3 month clothes.. sad!)

Sleeping Patterns: Taking two pretty consistent naps during the day (yay for some sort of routine). During her morning nap, I get some one-on-one time with Trice and try to get lunch ready. She takes her afternoon nap when Trice naps and usually sleeps for a couple hours, wakes up and eats, sleeps another 1/2 hour or so in my arms (which I love!) (I always write this as the month goes by so I don't forget anything .. by the end of the month naps were kind of iffy. An afternoon one always happened, but she decided morning naps are for babies .. and she's not one of those!) Since I keep this updated as the month goes by, her patterns sure change a lot. At this point, she is taking GREAT naps and sleeping wonderfully. We just had a couple rough weeks. I keep trying to make her be a snuggler and she is NOT. She wants to be put down in her bed and left alone. When I accept that, she sleeps so soundly.. when I fight it, well, she doesn't sleep.

Eating Patterns: Every 2 hours during the day! I feed on-demand so sometimes more often, sometimes less often.. she eats when she's hungry. :)

Likes: LOVES her little chewy ring, playing peek-a-boo, laughing at Trice, daddy's beard, sleeping on her tummy, pulling her binky out of her mouth and sticking it back in, swinging at the park, being
carried forward-facing in my baby carrier, grabbing Trice with both hands and giving him a big sloppy kiss.

Dislikes: Sleeping on her back, her binky, car seat and car rides

Milestones: No more swaddling for this girl - she's sleeping swaddle-free! She got her first shots (Trice laughed hysterically).  Other than that - more laughing, balancing while sitting up, gets up on hands and knees (no, Ellie..just no), can get basically anywhere doing the inchworm or rolling.

Exciting Events: Uncle Jake came to visit, First chiropractor appointment to help with some tummy troubles -- tummy massage is working wonders, went to her first Cyclone football game, started swinging in the baby swing at the park, first road trip with just mom & Trice to visit Nicole.

Trice's Thoughts: While he's still incredibly jealous of Ellie getting any of our attention, they really started interacting this past month and it is so much fun. He'll even play with her while I cook dinner or get ready in the morning. He brings her toys when she's on the floor, reads her books, and loves to hold her every morning (for about 1 minute). He still does crazy things like attack her with dinosaurs, nearly rip her limbs off, and attempt to somersault on her face (he bit her for the first time and pulled her hair this month) .. but I keep reminding myself that I survived Jake so Ellie should be okay. ;) He is starting to be adorably sweet to her and she likes to squeal at him and grab his hair and kiss all over him!

Some cute big brother quotes for the month --
 "Good morning, Eliana! Did you know today is the day you are going back in mommy's tummy?"

"It's okay, Ellie. You don't ever have to be lonely. God is always with you."

Any time she cries in the car -- "Oh, it's okay. We're almost home sissy-boo!"

"Look at me, Ellie. I'm your favorite big brother!"