Hello Ducky

Elizabeth recently attempted a game known and loved by many grade school kids. The Staring Contest (where the first one to blink loses). She warmed up with a little pre-game trash talking.

Unfortunately, she picked an inanimate object as her first competitor. Lizzy the underdog put up a fight, but collapsed under the strain her head's weight. Better luck next time baby.

Lizzy's Reaction

I was talking with Grandma Rosie last night and she was curious what Elizabeth's reaction to all the activity. So here are a few videos of her just taking it in.

Initiation by Cousins

I'll warn you ahead of time that this post is image HEAVY! However, I knew it would be better than coffee-flavored ice cream to one Grandma. :)

We traveled down to visit with Lee's family in North Carolina this weekend.

Lee's purpose was to celebrate the start of March Madness with lots of TV and lots of pickup basketball.

My purpose was to visit, and Elizabeth's purpose was to get initiated to cousinhood by two wonderfully maternal and loving cousins.


Before we left, my pediatrician warned me not to let her be cuddled and touched too much by little kids since she's so young. Somehow I knew that a "no touch" rule would never fly with this two cousins!! :)

It was a rare moment that Elizabeth was awake and not surrounded by one of the two girls (if not both). They even visited with her while she was sleeping.

The littlest cousin loved to help change diapers. She would always pipe up, "I throw it away!!!"


We also dressed her up like a princess for church using one of the girls' old dresses.

Actually, my sister-in-law let me go through all her girls infant clothing and borrow some.

The two girls were very helpful during this process.

Every time I saw a cute outfit and said so, the oldest cousin would chime in, "You can have it." :) Such generosity in that little heart.

This littlest would scream, "YOU WANT THIS!??," holding up onesie after onesie.

We really had a great time visiting with everyone!

So Elizabeth ended up with lots of kisses, cuddles, hugs, as well a few bumps and bangs. All in the name of love.

I think she liked it. :)

Speaking of Chiropractic...

Betcha can't do this...



or this...

or this...

Yep, I'm a gumby baby.

This was her first craniosacral fascial therapy from her Great Aunt Linda. Lizzy actually really enjoyed it and it was hilarious to see her body twist itself about. Linda did very little of the moving; she was really just there for support and to help the fascia unwind.

Poster Girl for Chiropratic Care

I recently read that infant seats are the most comfortable place for babies to sleep. I question this. Luckily, Elizabeth does not.

Are We in Trouble?

Is it trouble when you child's first word is "No"?

Elizabeth was objecting to a book being placed on her stomach. Grandma Rosie mentions that the book is something she has to get used to, and Lizzie says "nooooooo" very clearly and uses quite properly for someone who has no idea it's even a word. :)

Grandma Rosie to the Rescue

Lizzy fussed from 6 to 8 straight. I changed her, fed her (three times!), walked her, put her down, picked her up, used a pacifier, rocked her, talked to her, etc. I tried almost everything. Then Grandma Rosie called and suggested I remove her pj's and put the phone on speaker. Elizabeth quieted, listened intently, and was even smiling and talking by the end of 10 minutes.

It was almost a perfect ending. But then we hung up. This, it turns out, was NOT okay. To add insult to injury, Lee put her clothes back on. She is currently screaming again. It was nice while it lasted. Call again soon Rosie!

Now I'm off to call Grandma Carol. Let's keep this magic rolling! :)

Aunt Extraveganza

Meet the Aunts...Miss Birthday Cake, Miss Chiquita Banana, and Miss Flower Pot.
Miss Fussybutt is in the middle.

Little Bit's a bit happier after a walk in the park.

My Little Oompa Loompa

I realized while going through my pictures, that my baby is a pink Oompa Loompa. The proof is the picture...

Thanks for the cute coveralls Aunt Kathy. I love them on her.

Sleddding...Inside Style

We took Lizzy sledding today...but inside. This website gave me the "bright" idea. I still can't tell if she liked it or not. She was very still, quiet, and super alert. However, the moment we stopped for good she did the fastest flip over (and off the paper) I've ever seen. I figure she either wanted to keep moving...or she was jumping off for dear life. :) We'll see tomorrow when I try it again.

In other news, I think Little Bit has read been reading parenting books on the sly. Yesterday I was cuddling with her to get to sleep for her nap. She cried until I put her down in her crib! I didn't know babies weaned themselves from comfort. I was going to eventually work on getting her to sleep by herself, but she beat me to it.

So yesterday after I put her down, I put in her pacifier and quietly read to her. Eventually she fell asleep. Today I put her down when she was calm and sleepy and got out the book to read to her. She cried and fussed until I stopped reading, then she was calm again. Hmm...that's a very clear message. "Shhh Mom, I'm trying to sleep."

Sad Baby

Be prepared for a heart wrencher...the tears at the end of this video make me want to pick her up and cuddle her every time. Unfortunately, at the moment we needed to get in the car.

Lizzy is mostly a happy baby, but there are moments of deep despair in her life. Like this moment when she believes she is trapped in the car seat for life. But don't let her fool you, she mostly loves riding in the car. It's the sitting still in the car seat before the car starts to move that kills her.

Happy Baby

Proof that a warm, bare baby is a happy baby.

On Feb. 13, we gave her her first bath in a big tub. I've rarely ever seen her this still!

We took her out after about 10 minutes...

...and she cried and cried!!! I thought she was sick of being bathed, but it turns out she wanted back in that bath. Mom had already emptied it, but I laid her back in the tub and she immediately stopped crying and start flailing her arms looking for the water.

Of course she cried again when she realized the water was gone. Oh well. :)