All I want for Christmas is ...

My 2 front teeth!!  And Elliot got them!!  On Christmas morning we noticed that his 2 bottom teeth had broken through.  He was a bit fussier than usual on Christmas Eve but I thought that was because he was overwhelmed by family and that we weren't at home mixed with the fact we didn't even attempt bedtime until 2 hours after his normal bedtime.  There have been nights in the past where I've thought he was fussy and I always check for teeth.  They were not there on Christmas eve but on Christmas morning around 11 am my mom noticed he was messing with his lip and she felt for teeth and BAM she could feel and see the start of his pearly whites poking through.  Can't believe that my baby got his 2 front (bottom) teeth for Christmas - way to make me sound all cheesy and Hallmark-like. haha!  My baby boy's gummy smile will soon be gone and I will realize even faster that he is growing up WAY too fast! lol

Christmas was great and we had a wonderful time with all of our family!  Elliot met his great Auntie Annie for the 1st time, saw great Uncle Jack who he hadn't seen since he was 2 weeks old, met his Uncle Jon, and several cousins who came down for Christmas.  It was a fun time and I can assure you that he was completely spoiled with hugs, kisses, and loads of presents!

Hope everyone had a blessed Christmas and we wish you all a very Happy New Year!!

Happy 6 months, Elliot!!

Is it December already??  My baby boy is 6 months old today!!  With the end of the year quickly approaching I can't help but think about how awesome this year has been for me and my family!  This time last year I was just 14 weeks pregnant and didn't know if I was having a boy or a girl and now I am celebrating Christmas with my 6 month old baby boy!

I say this every month but I really can't believe how fast time is going and how much Elliot has changed and grown.  He is such a fun and happy baby - he loves when people talk to him too.  Elliot is VERY close to crawling - he likes to get up on all 4s and rock and he can wiggle backwards.  I bet he will be crawling in no time!

New things he can do:
- almost crawl by getting up on all 4s and rocking
- drink from sippy cup
- drink from straw

Likes:
- Solid foods mostly peas and oatmeal
- reaching and playing with toys
- tummy time
- being in his entertainer bouncer
- his new friend Scout (talking dog toy)
- rolling (back to front and front to back ... over and over!)

Dislikes:
- being in his bouncer chair for too long (he tries to wiggle out)

I will update again after his 6 month appt (and shots) on the 21st.

Sadly this month also brought the loss of our precious 4 year old kitty, Persephone.  She is greatly missed and Elliot would always giggle when we would help him pet her.

With love,
CCE

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!  We have SO much to be thankful for, especially this year!!!  We are so so so blessed and thankful for having each other, our sweet baby boy, our family and friends, and that we are all healthy and happy!!

It's crazy to think that this time last year I was keeping one of the biggest secrets I've ever had since we had plans to share the news of "Bellyot" with our families over Thanksgiving.  And now this year we will be giving our 5 month old mashed potatoes at the dinner table!

Speaking of 5 months old, I decided to make a hand turkey for Elliot's 5 month picture since it's November.

For some reason my pictures aren't uploading but I will update with a picture once it's working again.

Hope you all have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!!

Being a parent is scary business!

Saturday (Nov 13th) started like a normal weekend day would ... Chris let me sleep in (thank you!), he woke up with Elliot to give him breakfast, play and watch cartoons.  Around 11 am Chris came in to wake me up since he had a tee time scheduled for 12 noon with a friend from work.  By the time we came out in the living room, Elliot had rolled over and scooted from his play gym mat to the entertainment center ... he is on the move!  Not crawling but scooting.

Chris left for golf and I prepared Elliot's afternoon bottle as it was nearing his usual afternoon nap time.  I sat down to feed him and he appeared hungry.  After a minute or 2 of feeding I noticed that he was shaking his arm, this isn't unusual for Elliot but it is usually accompanied by agitation and whining - translation: "mommy, feed me faster" or "mommy, give me the bottle back!".  The only issue ... he wasn't whining or agitated - he was calm and almost sleepy-like.  I realized what was going on, put the bottle down, held up up and saw that his whole body was trembling - almost like a shiver ... not like a violent seizure.  He wasn't stiff, his breathing was normal, he didn't change colors, his face appear calm - almost asleep.

I immediately called our Pediatrician's office and the on-call Dr advised me to go to the ER and preferably have someone ride in the back with him.  We got to the ER and they took us right back to Peds.  Meanwhile our Moms were on their way up from Sarasota - huge thanks to Chris' mom for bringing my Mom!!  Not too long after we were there we saw the ER Doctor who said that she wanted to run a urine and blood test and that he would be admitted.  They were discussing whether he would be staying at LRMC or going to St. Joseph's in Tampa.  Urine and bloodwork came normal!!  Thank you Lord no infections or anything weird!  We spent the night and he didn't have any other episodes so we were discharged the following morning.  So far so good ... I hope to never experience that again!  All the doctors (ER, Peds, and Our Ped) feel that this was NOT a seizure episode but rather a sign of possible acid relux.  Such a relief!!!!

I have pictures but they didn't want to post so I might try again later...

THANK YOU for all of your prayers and well wishes for Elliot.  We pray this was a one-time, never going to happen again experience and should it ever happen again, we pray that it is reflux related!!

With love,
Connie

Quick update

Elliot is 4 months and 3 weeks old - can you believe it!?!  My baby boy is almost 5 months old!  Where has the time gone??  It is incredible how much Elliot changes EVERY single day!  I know he is only 4.5 months old but he has such a great personality and a sense of humor too ... not to mention a HUGE flirt!

Elliot loves to smile, giggle, and squeal ... he's such a happy and content baby.  We are so blessed!

What's new with E:  I'm pretty sure he is in full teething mode but no sight of any pearly whites yet.  He can sit up in his tri-pod stance (for longer periods), roll over (both front and back), LOVES to blow bubbles, "talks" often, likes when we dance with him and loves music in general, likes tummy time a lot more and even turns and "scoots", loves looking in mirrors, and likes eating oatmeal (prefers over rice cereal).

Here are some pictures from his 4 month photo shoot:

~~ Photography by Studio One to One ~~

~~ Photography by Studio One to One ~~

~~ Photography by Studio One to One ~~

~~ Photography by Aimee Vignocchi ~~

~~ Photography by Aimee Vignocchi ~~

~~ Photography by Aimee Vignocchi ~~

~~ Photography by Aimee Vignocchi ~~

~~ Photography by Aimee Vignocchi ~~ (notice the words on the crate)

1 year since I found out I was going to be a Mommy!!

Last year on October 27th in Louisville, KY I found out that I was going to be a Mommy!! What an exciting year it has been! We are so blessed to have Elliot in our lives!!!  


Recap on how I found out:  I decided to tag along on a business trip that Chris was taking to Louisville as I had never been before.  We flew in and I sorta felt like something was different.  I LOVE to fly but this time I felt like I could have gotten sick which is really unlike me as I've never felt that way before when flying.  Although I thought it might be because it was an early morning flight and I am NOT a morning person.  We checked into the hotel and I dropped Chris off at the office.  I explored the city but then decided to take a pregnancy test ...  I still remember that instant shock/nervous/EXCITED moment of the 2nd line on the pregnancy test popping up.


No words or pictures could possibly come close to describing how AWESOME the entire experience has been for Chris and I.  Minus a few scary parts in the beginning of my pregnancy (spotting) and extreme nausea I had a really great pregnancy.  My labor was long but not really that bad at all and Elliot has been a dream baby ... simply perfect.  He is happy and content 99% of the time and the other 1% is when I don't feed him the very instant he wants it, lol. I continue to thank God every day for giving us a healthy baby! 


If you told me last year on October 26, 2009 that in 1 year I would have an adorable 4 month old baby boy sleeping in the next room, I probably wouldn't have believed you.  It is really true when people say your life will change forever the day you find out you're having a baby.  So many people say that in a negative sense and I can't understand why ... I am truly the happiest I have EVER been in my life and every day seems to be better than the last.  Chris has always been an amazing husband but if you can believe it, he is a better husband and Daddy now that Elliot is here.  Although I think that's because without him I wouldn't have Elliot in my life.  I always knew he'd be a great Dad but seeing him with Elliot makes me love him even more than I already do (which is a lot!).  There is just something so amazing about seeing your husband with your baby.  They have such a bond already and I know that Elliot and Chris are going to be good buddies.  Minus a few of the teenage years when most teens don't like their parents, lol.  I expect that - although I'm hoping the saying is true that little boys will always love their Mommy! hehe 


Ok enough of the sappy anniversary story ... lol.


As always, thank you for your continued prayers that my family remains happy and healthy!!


With love,
Connie

Here are a few preview pictures from our Fall photo session with Aimee Vignocchi

(thanks again - we love them!!)

~~ Photography by Aimee Vignocchi ~~

4 months and sitting up!!

Happy Fall!!  

Sorry I've been soooooo behind on posting but I promise to try harder and update more often.

Earlier this week, we went to Hunsader Farms with my Mom.  It was a fun time!!  The picture above is our 1st Family Pumpkin Patch picture! lol

Here are a few more:

We also went to another Pumpkin Patch near our house ... here are a couple of pictures from there:

Elliot is 4 months old!!  He has moved from the 5th percentile to the 25th percentile - woot woot!  His head size remains in the 90th percentile, which is definitely from his Daddy.

Height: 24 inches
Weight: 13 lb 13oz

It is incredible how much joy that Elliot has brought to our family and I can not imagine my life without this little boy!!!  He is such a blessing!!

I can't believe how much he has changed in the last 4 months either ... he is literally learning something new every single day.  He is "talking" more and more.  In fact, at his Doctor's appointment for his 4 month check up the Dr said he could hear him "talking" from the hallway.  He loves to smile and giggle and is truly a happy baby!  The Doctor also said that he was one of the happiest and most socialable babies that he has ever worked with.  That's probably because he was nothing but smiles and giggles the entire time (well minus the shots which the Dr had already left the room).  Elliot even rolled over from back to tummy during his appointment but that was probably because the Dr was trying to look in his ears, lol.  Elliot CAN roll over but doesn't usually try unless there is something he wants to see or if he is agitated during tummy time.

Things that Elliot can do:
- Sleep through the night 12+ hours (since 4 weeks old, woohoo!!!)
- Smile, laugh, and giggle
- Follow objects with his eyes/turning head to follow
- Grabs and holds toys with both hands but prefers his left
- Chews on EVERYTHING but still likes his hands most (lots of drooling!)
- Rolls over when wanting something (or angry at TT, lol)
- Props up on elbows during tummy time
- Keeps head fully steady
- Grasps shirt and holds on when being held
- Helps hold the bottle and can hold on his own when almost gone
- Presses the buttons to make his jumper toy make noise
- LOVES to look in the mirror
- Mimics some faces that you make (mainly the "surprise" look)
- Likes to stand up when being held if we are sitting
annnnnnd the newest ...
- Sit up alone (in tri-pod stance) when placed in sitting position (10/23/10)

here's a pic of my little sitter and Chris ... lol.

In other big news, Elliot is now eating solids!! At his 4 month appt the Dr said we could start him on solids so this morning (10/24) we started him on rice cereal.  He seems to like it but still prefers the bottle.  We are starting slow and giving him grains for the first week, then we'll move to veggies, and then to fruits.  My Dr said that we should feed him the same food 2 times a day for 2-3 days to determine if he has allergies to them.  So far so good with the rice cereal.

Thank you for reading the blog and I hope to update more regularly!!