Fall Fun!

We've had a good October so far. It's hard to believe Elliotte will be 3 months old on Halloween! Time is flying. She is awake much more these days and is smiling and taking in everything. It's so much fun to watch. I'll save more details for her 3 month post this weekend!

We went to Gentry's Farm for my b'day b/c I wanted to have a family outing. That night E went to my parent's house for an overnight visit. It was great to have a date night and get a little sleep. Not much more sleep b/c I did have to work the next day at 6:15am. Yuck! I think E had a great time with Nonna and Pops. Thank you!

Enjoy the pics!

Chillin with Drennon. I love her laid back pose. Drennon says she's a future cheerleader since she's already posing!

Family pic at Gentry's Farm. Can't wait for next year!

"How tall this fall?" at Gentry's Farm. Hopefully next year she'll be able to stand beside it.

Couldn't resist the tee pee.

Going on an outing to Babies r Us. Lovin on her lovey.

Big yawn!

Elliotte's First Destin Trip

Mom and I took Elliotte down to Destin for a week for her first beach trip. Well, she never made it to the beach, but she knew it was there! Normally, October is nice and mild in Destin. This year, it was super hot and humid. We didn't get Elliotte out during the day except once because it was just too hot for her. This was a much different beach trip with a baby! They will never be the same again. Elliotte did so well. I can't wait to take her back next summer so she can enjoy the sand and water. I just didn't feel comfortable getting her 10 week old skin in the pool water or taking her out in the hot sun. There's plenty of time for that next year. She was great in the car and only fussed a little. I was worried about the car ride, but she surprised me. Mom and I took turns sitting in the back with her to make sure she was as comfortable as possible being strapped in an uncomfortable seat. We only made it out to eat once, and Elliotte was great again. The staff at Bonefish even commented on how well she did. Shopping was a different story...
Enjoy the pics!

Playing on the floor in the condo. She found a friend in the mirror. Check out her rolls!

Swinging outside on the balcony.

Waking up happy from a nap.

Going strolling in her sun hat.

Standing up. Elliotte is loving using her legs. She is very strong!

Out to eat at Bonefish Grill.

Bathing beauty! You can see she was very excited to be at the pool.

She was there all of 15 minutes.

Matching pink swimwear!

Claire and Olivia drove over from Gulf Shores. They were there for Olivia's fall break. We went to eat at Pompano Joe's and swam in the pool.

Nonna, Elliotte, and me.

Olivia and baby Elliotte. Can't believe she's 6 and in first grade! We made Olivia tell us things only first graders know to prove she was that old!

Aunt C and Elliotte.

New Job

Many of you already know that I have accepted a new position with St. Thomas Health Services. I will no longer be working on the Oncology floor at Baptist as of the first week of November. I will be the System Educator for St. T, Baptist and MTMC in Murfreesboro. I have really been wanting to use my MSN degree, and now I'm getting to do it! I will be in charge of the Nurse Residency program, some training for the unit clerks and patient care techs, the Explorer program for high school students interested in health care careers, and will be a Cerner superuser (our computer charting system). It's a big job, but I'm excited about it. I wasn't really looking to be working quite so much, but this kind of happened at just the right time, so I took it as a sign that this was for me. I prayed that I would not be offered the position unless I was supposed to take it. I'll be working 40 hours over 4 days, so I'll have one day off each week to be with Elliotte and teach the lab at Belmont. Not sure where my office will be yet (either St. T or Baptist), but I'll be working at all three hospitals. I have the option of doing some work from home if I'm going to have an office day. I was told that there probably would not be many of those days. :( So, I'm about to start a new journey and am nervous and excited. My sweet baby is only 11 weeks old but will be staying with her Nonna while I work. Hopefully the transition will be smooth with as few tears (from me) as possible. Thanks for all the encouragement and prayers as I interviewed for this job! Now I need some more as I start the job...

Elliotte 2 months!

I cannot believe Elliotte is 2 months old already! Time really does fly by. She is the sweetest baby and is a "good baby" as everyone keeps asking me. I love when I go in to get her in the morning and those big eyes are looking up at me. Ben is such a big help. He gets up to change her diaper at night and brings her to me to nurse. In the mornings and at night he always wants to hold her while I get things done around the house.
I'll be going back to work in 2 weeks. Not sure if I'll be back at Baptist on the Oncology floor or not. I find out this week if I get a Clinical Educator position with St. Thomas Health Services. It's more money and better hours so I'd love to get it. But if not, I've got a great job that I enjoy. Elliotte will be spending a lot more time with her Nonna (my mom) once I go back to work. Makes me very happy to know she'll be very well taken care of while I'm away.

At 8 weeks Elliotte was:
weight: 12 pounds 3 oz. (95%)
length: 22 inches (45%)
head circ: 15 inches (45%)

At 2 months Elliotte:
Is "talking" some
Smiles more each day
Focuses on objects especially fans
Loves music
Looks like her Daddy
LOVES to be outside
Trying to roll over
Sleeps 5-6 hours after night time bottle
Nurses the rest of the time
Still sleeps tightly swaddled
Has an umbilical hernia
Has very strong legs with lots of rolls

2 month pic with the pug

Real pug

Fell asleep during photo shoot!

Worn out after 8 week shots!

Bath time. She's starting to like it more. You can see her hernia a little in this pic.

Pictures

Practicing a little tummy time. Found her hand.

The dogs have gotten used to a little less attention.

My little burrito fast asleep.

Focusing on the frog.

Elliotte loves her Hoover and her Dad.

Found her hand again.

Over tummy time.

Baby Dedication at Church

Two Sundays ago was Baby Dedication day at Hillsboro. Elliotte wore her pretty gown. We've had quite the baby boom. There were supposed to be five babies dedicated, but only three were well. Elliotte received her baby Bible and a prayer was led to bless the babies. Elliotte, Austin Cummings, and Charlie McDaniel were very well blessed.

We ate lunch at my parents house afterward. Notice who is holding the baby. Calls her his pookie bear.

Nonna and Pops

Clay and Leslie showing off her baby bump.

Phoebe is not an Elliotte fan. She chooses to ignore her.

Grandmom's 85th Birthday

This past Sunday was my Grandmom's (Dad's mom) 85th birthday. We all surprised her with a party out at my Uncle Greg's house in Franklin. Grandmom had no idea. She thought she was coming out there to eat lunch with a couple people. She was surprised with all the Nashville family and then some of the Atlanta family. Aunt Marian, Renee, Mason, Bailey, Uncle Mike, and Sherrie drove up from Atlanta Sunday morning to surprise Grandmom. We definitely got her. She laughed and cried and was so happy everyone was there. We ate burgers off the grill and the kids swam in the pool getting out only long enough to eat really fast. I was so happy my Atlanta family drove up b/c we just don't see them enough. We missed the ones that couldn't make it and hope they get to come for Thanksgiving.

SURPRISE! Grandmom seeing everyone when she walked in.

Aunt Marian with Elliotte. First time seeing her.

Sherrie and Uncle Mike with Elliotte.


Grandmom finding out Mom and Dad are taking her to see Vince Gill in concert. He's her absolute favorite.

Finding out she's sitting REALLY close.

Blowing out 8.5 candles.

Mason and Bailey

Renee holding Elliotte

Ben, Clay, Leslie, Kyle, and me with Grandmom

Uncle Greg, Uncle Mike, Dad, and Aunt Marian with the birthday girl.

She was so happy all her children were present.

Elliotte 1 month

I can't believe my baby is one month old today! Elliotte is doing so well. She's a typical newborn: eating, sleeping, peeing, and pooping. She is having more awake time each day and sleeps really well at night in 3-4 hour increments. She loves her noise machine, being swaddled tightly and sleeping on her side. We've started going for strolls, and she falls fast asleep once we start moving. She's been a little gassy, and I've figured out that it's probably my eating dairy and Italian food. Tomatoes seem to be the culprit. So, no more tomatoes and cottage cheese for me. Since I've eliminated those foods, Elliotte has been fine. She's only fussy when she's dirty or hungry. She nurses most of the time, but takes a bottle from Ben every other night. So far we have not needed to use any formula. I'm loving the "freeness" of nursing. Doesn't cost a thing, and I don't have to tote bottles around everywhere I go! She does not take a paci. Sometimes my mom can get her to suck on one, but she definitely does not need it. She does not like her swing yet, but I've been told she will in a few more weeks. I wish it was big enough for me. It looks very comfy.
A week and a half ago she weighed 8# 3oz and was 20inches long. Elliotte has definitely grown since then. Her feet are peeking out the bottom of her newborn gowns and her thighs are getting small rolls! We've been getting out of the house a good bit. We've gone to church, a couple of friends' houses, and my parents house. I feel a lot better when I get out of the house a bit during the day. Elliotte travels well too. Such a good, sweet baby. We are blessed.

Her monthly pics will be made with my pug doll.

And Buster too. He's not one month; he's almost 12!

Going for a stroll today.

Already asleep.