my birthday and other photos

 I turned 34 on March 6. Its hard for me to comprehend aging and being in my mid-thirties. I know that I get too in my head about it all and when we can surround ourselves with others again I will not be as focused on the number. Will planned a day brunch and we enjoyed a meal out. I also went last Wednesday with a friend who has a birthday three days after mine. We split a bottle of wine and a salad, I felt somewhat normal (pre-covid, pre-pregnancy). 

Helping me blow out the pretend candle because we did not have any. 

Our sitter snapped this picture of them. Micah is really into these funny faces! 

Little lady slept in next to me to celebrate. 

Our sitter gave me this scarf and I have found a way to wear it nearly everyday. This was taken at my office to remember I got out of the house.

He has not asked to hold her much so it was sweet when he wanted to this day. 

We had an epic snowstorm last Sunday. The kids loved playing in it until it started to melt the next day.

Eliza got her to smile this big! One of my favorite photos of her.

At the end of February, Will spent a week building this igloo with the girls. It was a huge undertaking and then melted as soon as he finished. Hoping they will remember his dedication more than anything.

You can see her chin dimple in this one! 

Just some sweet pcitures of little lady. We spent a lot of time just looking at each other like this. 

Caught Micah trying to soothe Elliott when she woke and I showered really fast. Luckily he did not stick a stuffed animal in her face this time. He truly is very caring and gentle with her. Still tells everyone his sister is named Elliott.

 

three months

 

*Elliott turned three months on March 7! 

* They just change so much and I hardly remember the newborn look of her. She is smiling constantly and has a deep gurgle coo. She is not laughing yet. 

* She pretty much sleeps entirely in her room. I say that, but last night she slept in bed with us... She varies in her sleep at night. It seems to be a couple of nights eating at 10ish, 2 and then 7 while other nights she goes down around 8:30, wakes to eat around 3 and goes back until 7. She falls asleep on her own usually and will put herself back to sleep, we have never had a baby that does that! 

* She loves her people and constant eye contact. She yells until someone interacts with her. 

* She consistently rolls from tummy to back. Still has not figured out back to tummy yet. 

* She is always rubbing me with her free arm when she is nursing, I just love it. 

* She is doing the pop off while nursing to smile at me, melts me every time. 

* Car rides are much better. We still go hardly anywhere but at least she does not scream the entire time. Same with the stroller, I have taken her on several runs and she falls asleep. 

* I went back to work at the beginning of March. It was a rough first two days but I think that its getting better. I am only working two nights a week with some individual clients sprinkled on Sunday afternoons and on Mondays. It feels really manageable right now. I just always have anxiety about my milk supply and making sure I keep pumping (which I do not enjoy). 

We are all so in love with her. I knew that we would be thrilled once she is here but I spent a lot of last year anxious on how we could manage another baby. She is such a delight. I think she is thankful to be in our family as well. Her eyes light up each time she sees a sibling. In the mornings, she wakes up a bit fussy until they all crowd around the bed to greet her. 

Will turns 35!

 Last week, Will turned 36! To think, last year we were enjoying a night away and I was in the middle of training for a trail marathon. Little did we know our whole world would turn upside down a month and some change later. 

We managed to get away for two hours to a steak house and I ordered him a rainbow cake. I also bought him a spin bike to compliment our home gym. 

(Micah licked sprinkles off the floor and table for a week.)

(I love how Madison is helping to get everyone posed as well.)

(Wearing actual clothes. The jeans are 2 sizes too big and dig into my waste, but hey, they buttoned. I keep reminding myself to be patient with my body, some days are harder than others.)

(Got home to a crying baby, but she slept for seven hours that night)

one month and two months

At one month Elliott had never been put down. She hopped from person to person but mostly stayed attached to me. With this being my fourth, I knew how fast each stage ends and I (mostly) enjoyed having the privilege of holding her. 

She loved being bounced on the exercise ball. 

She met both her grandparents, uncle Grant, aunt Erin, and cousin Archer this month. 

She ate every two hours during the day. She sometimes would go five hours at night. 

She started balding and lost almost all the hair she was born with. 

She had only one bath. 

Started having real smiles around 4 weeks and gave them out like candy at 6 weeks. 

At two months she weighs 11.4 lbs.

She can roll from her tummy to back. 

She is sleeping more in her room and can tolerate being put down. 

Has done several long stretches (7-8) hrs the first part of the night. I have learned not to get too excited, but I am slightly hopeful. 

She smiles and coos that melt our hearts. 

She eats every three hours during the day. 

She sometimes will take a pacifier but usually mouths it and then spits it out in disdain. 

She has gotten slightly better in the car. Luckily we do not go many places, but this is an improvement from her first month when she screamed until she sweat. 

She takes a bunch of cat naps during the day which is slightly annoying, but I know will work itself out eventually. 

She has not had an endless crying spell. She hardly ever cries and only when its time for food, sleep, or diaper change. Either she is our easiest baby or we have gotten better at parenting. 

We all love our little Elliott. Each sibling has taken their own unique interest in her. Madison enjoys more playing with her and talking. Eliza has taken on a full mothering mode, rocking her to sleep, heating up bottles, changing diapers, all the things. Micah sings her hush little baby if she is fussy, retrieves a pacifier, and will hold her for roughly 1/2 a second before he is all done. Never could have imagined this life and I am thankful for that. 

 

Elliott Knight

 On December 7, 2020 we welcomed another daughter, Elliott Knight. We are still not entirely sure how she made her way into existence when I got that positive pregnancy sign on March 31, 2020, about two weeks after COVID-19 made its way to the United States and everyone was forced into quarantine. I spent the first half of my pregnancy incredibly sick. We had to readjust every part of our life and it was a struggle to adapt. Then she surprised us again by coming 8 days late and by being a "she." We chose to keep everything about her a surprise and I was convinced we would be welcoming a son. It has been two months now and we are slowly adjusting to another new normal. Eliza always says in response to anything, "because you have seventeen kids...." I never imagined I would have four children but I am incredibly thankful for each of them and look forward to what a life growing together will look like.