Eliza update - week 13

Well, where to begin. Saturday night Eliza wouldn't go to sleep. Ok, not just that... she freaked! Eliza has been such a good baby and has slept so wonderfully so Matt and I were really shocked when she was screaming so much and seemed so upset. BUT we chalked it up to growth spurt/way tired/overstimulated and moved on. Sunday night, same deal. Except this time we noticed she was pulling on her ears. We got an appointment with an ENT (mostly because Aunt Natalie wouldn't stop telling us to) for Thursday. She also had a cold/cough so we didn't think it was such a bad idea to just get it checked out.

Monday night Eliza went down at 5 pm and didn't get up again until 3 am but still went back down again at 4:30 am until 7 am. So no screaming but come on... what's up with the baby that can't sleep enough? Last night was normal and she hasn't really pulled on her ears except that one night. So I was pretty convinced that nothing was wrong and that this ENT appointment was going to be a waste (a lady at work has already labelled me a paranoid mom because Eliza has been to the doctor a couple times already so I was even kind of embarassed about this appointment).

The verdict? Aunt Natalie was convinced something was up with her nose because of the way she sounded on the videos we've posted. I asked the doc about her nose and he said she's fine... just a cold. However her ears on the other hand... totally messed up. Eliza has an ear infection in each ear. We have a perscription and another appointment for July 8th to see if it's cleared up. So that is her update for week 13, ear infections... sheesh!

Eliza Update – Week 12

She has a new cold!!!!  Yay!!!!  This one came on rather abruptly.  In the course of 24 hours she went from being completely fine to a completely blocked nose, terrible cough, and a temperature of 100.2.  Took to the doctor and they said it was a cold (of course, we knew that!).  She weighs 12 1/2 pounds as of yesterday 6/16/09.  Fortunately she’s getting better a little faster than the last time.  Here’s a pic of her in her latest outfit sportin’ a hoodie (the temperature today didn’t even make it to 70 so we figured she’d be OK in it).

Talk about an expression!  Looks like a “I will Punch You!” expression again.

In other news, she’s talking more and more now and we got some video of it.  There was a thunderstorm going on outside so you might see some lightning.  This was taken this past weekend. Check it out:

As far as new milestones she’s hitting, she started reaching out to some of her toys and that has us excited.  She used to just keep her arms at her side and stare, but now its more interactive for us and her.  We’ll try to get some good video of that and post it up soon. 

We love our daughter and we’re happy she’s growing.

How we give Eliza Her Baths …

Seriously…Its a two-pher … clean her AND her clothes at once!

And this is how we dry her off…

just kidding!

Eliza Update: Week 11

Eliza has been doing well this past week.  Her little nose is really starting to clear up and it’s a welcome relief!  Although, we were so used to hearing her breathing (ALL THE TIME) that now it’s odd for her to be so silent.  It throws our sleep deprived minds for a loop!

Here’s a picture of her in one of our favorite outfits (too bad she ruined it later that day with an explosion downtown! We need stain remover!)

Speaking of sleep  deprivation, Lyns and I are having interesting conversations with each other that one of us has no recollection of the following day.  Just the other night I seriously had a convo with Lyns before going to bed one evening.  It was a two-way communication: I would say something and she would respond.  The next day, she didn’t remember a single thing.  Lyns claims that it’s all catching up with her finally.  I would agree because sometimes she’s not even speaking coherent sentences.  I’m constantly sleep deprived so I’ve had more time to adjust than she has. 

I think Eliza is really starting to be more aware of who she’s with and where she is (i.e. home vs. daycare).  The other day when we came home from work, Lyns had to run out and take care of some errands.  As soon as she left and it was just Eliza and myself and she realized mommy was gone, she got the biggest frown on her face and set off into a big cry!  Either it was she missed the mommy daddy play routine we established after work, or she had just pooped and it hurt … may have to do some more tests on this theory.  Here’s a similar frown for your viewing pleasure.

Let us know what you think of Eliza and our Blog in the comments!

Professional Portraits of Eliza and Family

  Here are the Professional Pictures we had done for Eliza.  She was about 6-ish weeks old.  Enjoy!
Her blessing dress was made from Lyndsey's wedding dress and designed to look like her wedding dress too (major major thanks to Natalie for such a beautiful dress).  Matts mom made the beautiful quilt Eliza is on.  Eliza has talented family.  Good thing too because Lyndsey isn't ever going to sew anything for Eliza : )

What Really is on Eliza’s Mind? Part 2

 

 

 

 

 

OK, we’ll stop now.

Mothers Day Late

I know this is a little late but this is the talk I gave on mothers day, May 10th. To get the full experience imagine me crying through the whole thing. I have yet to make it through a talk without crying... I'm a boob! I am hoping since I was asked to speak on mothers day because I am a new mother that Matt will be posting a fathers day talk here soon!
**Good morning! I am very new to motherhood, 46 days today to be exact to our little girl Eliza Beth Leech. It’s funny too because I never wanted or thought I would have kids. Even when I was a little girl playing house with friends… I was a workingwoman. The joke is I don’t like wet things and babies and kids are all about wet things. Needless to say I have become very comfortable with wet in the last 46 days. Although I’m still a little nervous about toddler wet… because well, it’s a lot more… formed.
Today I am speaking on the “Joy and Blessings of Motherhood”. I heard over and over again when I was pregnant that I was in for the biggest change of my life. I guess I believed everyone but there is no way anyone could’ve explained to me the cosmic shift that was going to happen when they put that tiny little life on my chest. I was in labor for almost 40 hours. I wasn’t able to sleep in those 40 hours and didn’t have any medication to get relief so by the time we had Eliza I was completely exhausted. But the moment I saw Eliza on my chest and she looked up at me… I could’ve run a marathon. She changed my world in one moment. Those changes are the joy and blessings that have come to my life since she arrived.
The three biggest blessings I have experienced are: 1. A stronger relationship with my husband, 2. Greater appreciation for my own mother, and 3. The opportunity to raise this beautiful spirit.
First: A stronger relationship with my husband. Matt and I chose not to use medication during labor so Matt essentially became my pain management. He was right next to me for every contraction and tear I shed. We both fought through the pain and we both worked hard to bring Eliza into the world. Those 40 hours created an amazing new type of bond for us. For weeks we kept looking at each other and saying how much closer we felt and we were both so excited about it.
In The Family: A Proclamation To The World it says, “Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children.” I love that it says husbands and wives will love each other first. I think part of being a good parent is loving your spouse and keeping a strong bond. Seeing Matt hold Eliza and seeing her smile at him helps me forget all the times Eliza has screamed for what seems like no reason. Wanting the best for my daughter has made me love my husband more. For instance, I know that I want Eliza to have a wonderful eternal relationship someday and the greatest thing I can do to help her achieve this is to have a wonderful eternal relationship myself. So because of this I am more committed to my husband and more in love with him.
I knew having a child was going to affect me and affect Matt individually. And I guess I knew it would affect us as a couple but I never expected our relationship to be so strengthened by bringing a new spirit into our home and I am so very grateful for that new bond we have.
Second: A greater appreciation for my own mother. Back when Matt and I found out we were pregnant I think pretty much everyone hoped we were having a boy. Matt’s brother has two girls and his sister has a girl so there are no boys yet. Matt and I were convinced that it was a boy. We did the ultra sound to find out what we were having and as I looked at the monitor I just knew. Before the nurse even told us I knew it was a girl.
Sitting in that chair I had the strongest impression that my mother was standing at my shoulder watching with us. She passed away when I was 17 and most big moments in my life have been somewhat shaded with sadness knowing my mother wasn’t physically there with me. When the nurse said, “it’s a girl” I felt my mother smiling right along with me as I began to cry. As much as I had wanted it to be a boy when she said girl, I was thrilled! I think deep down I had always hoped it was a girl. I was going to have my own little girl and get to experience what my mother did when she had me.
My mother used to read a book to me called Love You Forever by Robert Munsch. The basic story is about this mother who has a son. Every night throughout this boys life even when he is an adult and living on his own this mother goes into her sons room at night, “and if he was really asleep she picked him up and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth and while she rocked him she sang: I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as I’m living my baby you’ll be”. By the end of the book the mother is too old to sing to him anymore so HE goes and picks his mother up and sings to her, “I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as I’m living my mommy you’ll be.” He then goes home and sings to his own daughter.
Julie Beck said, “The influence of righteous, conscientious, persistent, daily mothering is far more lasting, far more powerful, far more influential than any earthly position or institution.” Like the story, my mothers’ influence shaped who I am. I felt the love she had for me and saw the sacrifices she made for us.
When my mother was pregnant with me she left my father. My father was in the Navy and on the submarines for 8-9 months a year so she was kind of a single mother even before she left him but I don’t think that compares. I cannot imagine the pain and emotions she was feeling having just left my father and having a new baby with 4 other kids to take care of, especially now that I have felt the crazy emotions that go along with having a new baby and I am in a wonderful relationship and happy!
I’ve always been aware of and in awe of all my mother did for me and my brothers and sister. She sacrificed so much to give us a wonderful life. She was strong. She had to go to work almost immediately after having me. I was lucky enough to get 6 weeks off before going back to work and I am tore up! She had to go through so much to provide for her family and I’m positive it hurt her to have to leave me with a babysitter but I am grateful to my mother for doing what she had to do even though it was hard for her.
I miss my mother very much and am often very sad that Eliza will not get to be around her grandmother. It is because of this we named Eliza after my mother. Her name is Elizabeth but she went by Beth. My middle name is Beth so that is why we split the name. Eliza has my middle name and her grandma’s full name. I hope to teach Eliza about her grandma. I hope she will feel the importance her name carries.
Third: The opportunity to raise this beautiful spirit. I felt the mothering instinct even before Eliza was born. I felt the urgency to protect her while she was growing inside of me. Matt and I joke about my first actual mother moment. I was only a couple months pregnant and at work in the cafeteria. Clumsy me, I slipped and fell down. I was holding chili in one hand and nacho chips in the other. I instinctually through the food and tried to arrange my fall so I wouldn’t land on my stomach. After I scraped myself off the floor and out of the chili and I made sure my stomach was untouched, I was pretty embarrassed. But I still laugh that I had completely forgotten myself and worried about my baby alone.
This feeling has only intensified now that she is with us. And not only do I want to make sure she is physically ok, I feel a great pressure to raise Eliza in the Gospel and to give her the tools for a happy life spiritually. We have been commanded to, “… Rear [our] children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve on another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever [we] live”. Further The Proclamation says, “Husbands and wives – mothers and fathers – will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations”.
At this stage I can’t teach my daughter about specific Gospel topics. I don’t think she would understand what I was saying if I told her it is better to wait to date until she is 16. I think God was very wise in having these beautiful children come to us so tiny and so helpless because at least for myself, Eliza is teaching ME about the Gospel so I can better be prepared to teach her when she is older and able to understand. I feel God’s love for me when Eliza falls asleep on my chest. Or when she smiles at me I can’t possibly use bad language. I’ve experienced complete selflessness when she cries and needs something from me. I will do anything for her and love her more than I thought I was capable of loving another person.
I’ve felt an amazing love for her but I have also felt amazing love from her. To feel the love of my daughter may be the greatest feeling in the world. The weekend of her blessing we had a lot of family visiting. Everyone wanted to hold her and she was passed around quite a bit. For the first time since she came home from the hospital I didn’t hold her for hours and hours. She started to get fussy and cry and our family couldn’t figure out why. She had just eaten and had a clean diaper. She wasn’t tired as she usually falls asleep if she is held closely so she had been sleeping plenty that day. We couldn’t figure out why she was crying so I finally just took her back. As soon as she was in my arms she stopped crying and relaxed into me. This is my favorite moment so far being a mother. To feel needed completely and to know that my daughter feels safe with me lets me know that I am doing all that I can for her.
The “Joy and Blessings of Motherhood” are hard to verbalize and put into words. They are infinite and far more than you can expect. I have been blown away by this experience and have such gratitude to my Father in Heaven for allowing me to take this precious spirit into my home to raise. I pray that I will be able to do what is right for her. I also pray the Heavenly Father will help me with the wet… AMEN

Eliza Update: Week 10

Summer is upon us and we are coping with the heat.  Fortunately this nice weather has allowed to take daily walks with Eliza in her new stroller. 

It was a little cold the day of this picture if you can’t tell.  She likes her little walks though!

Eliza’s hair on the top of her head is really starting to grow back fast! I’m happy about that, personally, because I thought the “old man” look wasn’t her style.

She is really starting to talk and let us know what’s going on .  She will imitate daddy every once in a while.

We took Eliza to a “Fun Day” sponsored by Genworth Financial last Saturday.  She was a tad too young to go on the inflatable obstacle course and bouncy rooms.  But the real reason we went was to show Eliza off to all our coworkers.  Or was it the battle royale Lyndsey and I competed against each other in the inflatable obstacle course that really was for the children but we hijacked for our egotistical purposes?  I guess we’ll never know!

Please comment and let us know what you want to know about Eliza and we’ll answer them in our next weekly update!

Eliza Video – What is she Dreaming?

Eliza sure seems to be dreaming, but what?  Or maybe she’s just practicing her facial expressions … who knows!

Eliza and Mom Watching Tennis

Mommy and Eliza are watching the French Open together.  They Sure love Tennis!

 

Wait.  Maybe not so much for Eliza … seems bored.

Eliza Cam: Discovering her hands

Who ever knew those things were actually attached to her body!

Eliza Update: Week 9

So Eliza has made it through another week in this world and she’s truckin’ right along.  She is much more aware now and enjoys just taking in the scenery wherever she may be.  Don’t sit still too long though or she’ll let you know she needs a scene change.  She’s still battling a cold/allergies/sinuses/we-don’t-know for the past few weeks.  The doc says it will take several weeks for her to get over this…thing and we are impatiently awaiting her to.  Her nose is much less stuffy now, partly due to us limiting the cold forced air of our furnace/AC unit that we think was contributing to her stuffiness.  We closed off all the vents in half the house (the half she’s in the most – i.e. her room and the living room) and it seems to be helping even though we’re burning up.  The sacrifices we make as parents, I tell ya …

Since the French Open (or as the French call it, Rolland Garros) for Tennis is happening right now, we decided to dress up little Eliza in her tennis dress:

I think she liked it. Although her she is mid-sneeze:

And taking a look around:

All-in-all, Eliza is doing great although we just can’t tell if she’s cooing or “fake crying” half the time.  Maybe she just has a loud voice and she wants to flex the golden pipes.  See fake crying baby video below and you decide.  We’d appreciate your comments on the blog so let us know what you think and what you’d like to see!

What really is on Eliza’s Mind?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strong Head … Stuffy Nose

Drool-Master

If there was a competition for drooling at two months old, she would win. Hands down. I mean, look at that perfect line!