eloise: 1-month update

posted by mommy

1. nursing - eloise has been a great nurser from the beginning. she nurses every 2 1/2 to 3 hours during the day and every 3 to 4 hours at night. just like ev, she is very efficient and it doesn't take long before she's fast asleep again!
2. growth - it is fun to see eloise grow into some of the cute clothes we have for her. she definitely isn't quite as chunky as either of her brothers at this stage, but she is longer.
3. development - although she still sleeps alot, she has begun having a couple awake periods during the day, which her brothers love because they like to see her eyes and kiss and hug her. she also began intentionally smiling periodically in the last two weeks, but gets camera shy.
4. sleeping - eloise is a fabulous sleeper so far. she still generally sleeps most of the day, but also does great at night. we've started trying to do an actual bedtime with her and get her ready along with the boys. after some air time, she gets lotioned and in her gown. then i sit in the rocker and nurse as we have family storytime. she is then swaddled and put in her crib by 8. she generally sleeps then until 11:30 or 12, sometimes longer. and she isn't much of a crier, just fusses a little and we're up to nurse again.
5. overall demeanor - so far, eloise is a fairly relaxed, easy-going baby, which has made the transition to three kids much easier for now.
6. favorite things - she does like sucking on a pacifier from time to time, but hasn't developed a full need for it. she also likes looking at her brothers when she is awake. her favorite setting on the mamaroo is "car ride", and she totally loves being cuddled, especially when cradled on her side or being patted on her back.

eloise's birth story

posted by mommy

eloise seemed like she was never going to come! since everett was born almost a week early, we were sure we could expect the same of little miss. however, like her oldest brother, she didn't want to budge. she was obviously comfy and cozy inside. no matter what we tried - walking, chiropractor, acupuncture, and more walking - she decided to wait until six days past her due date to finally make her appearance.

her first hello to the world, wrapped up and cozy with mama

for eloise's birth, we were again focused on having a successful VBAC. her original due date was april 12. the week before was filled with lots of braxton hicks contractions, but no further progression. by the middle of the following week, i began experiencing some prodromal labor contractions (just like with owen). knowing that these could last for days and days, we just tried to take it easy and not expect much.

loving on our baby girl!

on saturday, april 18, after taking the boys to the mall to see the lego americana structures on display (and doing a lot more walking...still trying!), i went for a last-minute adjustment with my chiropractor. by early evening, i finally began feeling more active labor contractions. around 11pm, we began timing them. realizing that contractions were definitely in a pattern, and changing positions/movements didn't stop them, we headed back upstairs to finish packing bags. around 2am, we started making phone calls to the midwife, our neighbor, beth (who graciously and wonderfully had agreed to watch the boys...again!!), and my parents (who would be coming up to denver to help us out...again!!). we were so thankful all of this was happening while the boys were asleep...again!!!

since it was a sunday, we had the undivided attention
of our midwife, sharon ("shana")

we arrived at the hospital around 3:45am sunday morning, april 19. unfortunately, when the nurse checked me, i wasn't as far along as we had hoped, nor as far as my contractions would have indicated. after a couple more hours of intense labor, talking a couple times with our midwife, and knowing the length and intensity of labor we'd experienced with the boys, we made the familiar decision to get an epidural (it felt like almost an exact replay of everett's birth!). at this point i was also hooked up to bags of fluid as eloise seemed slightly distressed when i arrived (and praise God she turned very quickly after getting the fluids and did beautifully the rest of the day!), and was also receiving antibiotics since i was again group b strep positive. so late morning, i received an epidural and was able to settle down and relax for a while. james and i both needed a little sleep since we'd been awake for more than 24 hours. this turned out to be a good thing especially because again, as with everett, labor lasted almost 16 hours since we had begun timing at 11pm the night before.

proud gampa and grammie, exhausted from their long drive from albuquerque,
but so excited to hold only the third girl of nine grandkids!

around 1pm, i felt a very strange popping sensation and told james that i thought my water broke. i wasn't totally sure since i'd never felt my water break before. the nurse then came in and i told her what i'd felt. she looked and sure enough, my water had broken! at this point i was around 8cm. by 2pm, i was complete and ready to push. during this phase we received amazing coaching and support from our midwife, shana, and nurse, terri, and at 3:31pm on sunday, april 19, eloise esther may entered this world via successful VBAC!!! emotions were high as our first baby girl was quickly snuggled and kissed and cuddled. eloise was perfect in every way. she weighed 7 lbs. 15 oz. and was 20" long (taller than either of her brothers!), and has a birthmark on her right knee.

the boys were so excited to hold her and kiss her at the hospital

we praise God again for blessing us with a healthy momma and healthy baby, and watching over all of us as we experienced the birth of another child. but we are even more thankful to Him for blessing us with our first sweet baby girl whom the boys are so excited to watch over and protect.

eloise esther may

brief break in the rain

posted by owen and everett

it's been raining non-stop for the past week. today we had a brief break that gave us a chance to go biking. of course, it started to rain shortly after we went inside.

strider biking

daddy is gonna show me how to ride on two wheels this summer

everett is getting the hang of it

owen helping out everett

one tired rider

owen loves going biking

thank you rain for giving us a break today

happy 1 month birthday eloise!

posted by eloise

just like my brothers before me, mommy and daddy have begun taking monthly pictures of me in the brown chair.

a girl needs her baths

posted by eloise

so my first official bath was more of a sponge bath. well now i can say i've had a real bath and it's much more enjoyable.

like any girl, i'm learning to enjoy my baths

next time i would like bubbles please

awana award ceremony

posted by owen and everett

tonight everett finished his second year as an awana puggle and owen finished his second year as an awana cubbie. next year everett will be a first year cubbie and owen will be a first year spark. we both had a fantastic time learning verses, singing songs and playing games. we can't wait until next year when we both move up.

                                                     everett's puggle ceremony dance

owen successfully completed his second year as a cubbie

now i have two ribbons

big milestone for everett

posted by everett

mommy and daddy started to potty train me a few weeks ago so i decided to share my success with the world.

happy mother's day 2015

posted by owen, everett and eloise

this was the first mother's day for mommy with 3 kiddos so we wanted to enjoy just being together. owen and everett went to the monthly workshop at lowes on saturday and built a flower box for mommy. on sunday we went out for breakfast and gave mommy the fun cards we picked out and the cute drawings each of us did. daddy celebrated her by creating a special video just for mommy to show how special she is to all of us. we love you mommy!

older and younger

posted by everett

after two years of being the younger brother, i'm finally getting my chance to be the protective older brother. but owen takes every opportunity to remind me that i'm not older than him.

i love my baby sister...

...and my older brother

sleeping beauty

posted by eloise

i love my naps