Ellie is 2 months old!

*UPDATE:

How did I neglect to post Ellie's current stats after her checkup at the pediatrician?! 

Weight: 11 lb 1 oz - 55th percentile

Height: 22 3/4 inches - 64th percentile

Head circumference: 15 1/4 inches - 49th percentile

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Ellie was a little late for her date with Hoppy this month.  She is currently 2 months and one week old - close enough to pass for her 2 month pictures, right!?

When my mom saw these pictures, she mentioned how funny it is that Ellie is almost exactly the same size as Hoppy at this point - and in this first picture they seem to be postured the identically as well!

This little girl just gets sweeter by the day.  When I talk to her, she gets quiet and still, focusing in on my face.  Then she breaks out in the biggest smile and usually tries to talk to me!  I love our little girl-chats.  

She also loves it when I rub lotion onto her face!  She closes her eyes and smiles.  It's hilarious.

Ellie will never remember her first trip to the zoo (yesterday!), but I will always be taken by this picture of her as we walked around looking at animals.  It is my favorite picture of her yet!

Grandpa is always eager to get a little Ellie time.  She loves to listen to him talk and usually tells him what she's thinking about.  He's good at getting smiles out of her, too.

I am amazed by the difference one month makes.  I looked at Ellie's 1 month pictures last night and was shocked at how big she has gotten!  She DID start out as a little peanut.  But her head control, level of engagement socially, and responsiveness to her surroundings have increased so much.

Here's what she's up to these days:

- Schedule: sleeps most of the day with a few brief 'awake' periods.  Struggles in the evenings from about 9pm-12:30am... she'll eat, need her diaper changed, try to fall asleep, wake back up, and the process starts all over again just about every hour.  She typically falls asleep for the night around 12:30am and sleeps until 7am-ish with a feeding at 3:00am.  Not too bad... just need to get her to bed earlier and I'd be really happy (and more rested myself!).

- Feeding: Ellie is now on Nutramigen exclusively.  She has a milk protein and soy protein intolerance, and was extremely gassy and fussy while breastfeeding and while we tried out soy formula, even experiencing a day or two of bloody diapers during the transition.  She's much happier with this new formula, and will be on it until she's 8-12 months old.  

- Temperament: Ellie is easygoing, and loves her momma right now.  At night she seems to only fall asleep once she knows I am laying in bed next to her bassinet!  Up until this week, she loved to be swaddled before sleeping.  Now she seems to prefer having her arms free, and we have graduated from the swaddling blanket to a sleep blanket (a sleeveless sleep sack that zips up around her jammies).  She loves to be held up on my shoulder so that she can use her strong neck muscles to look at the world around her.  She's not yet aware of Robbie, unless he falls into her or tries to soothe her with his own paci (!).  We try to keep these interactions from happening altogether, but are not completely successful.  She is very particular about certain things - she enjoys her paci but only when she is in the mood (otherwise she spits it out or gags!).  If she decides that she's done with her bottle, she'll push it out with her tongue and make a disgusted face (similar to her mom's, much to Rob's dismay!).  She cannot stand to have a wet or dirty diaper on, and will cry until it is removed and replaced with a nice dry one.  All of these things are so different from when Robbie was a baby!  It's true that each baby is individual, even within the same family.

- Appearance:  We have no idea who Ellie looks like. (Do you!?)  She sometimes strikes me as looking similar to some of Robbie's baby pictures at times.  It will be fun to watch her grow and see more of ourselves in her features (or not!?).  She has long eyelashes that are light, and long fingers.  Her hair is still dark, occasionally looking a bit auburn.  She doesn't have any birthmarks, moles or defining spots anywhere which I think is sort of odd!  She's filling out more, now that we've sorted out her eating issues.  I love her rounded cheeks and big (for her body!) belly.  Her arms and legs are still slender, and her ankles are impossibly dainty!  I know this won't last for long.  If she takes after me, she will be a chunk of a baby by her first birthday. :)  I will try to find a picture of me at 1 year old and scan it in... you will be thoroughly entertained.  I promise.

We are so thankful for this little girl - sometimes I just look at her and have to remind myself that there were times during the pregnancy that we were not certain about the health of this baby.  I never want to take the health of our children for granted, it is such a blessing.  I  mentioned to my mom recently that as Ellie shows us more of her personality, I find myself more and more attached to her.  We have always loved her, even before we had laid eyes on her.  But the unfolding of who God has created her to be is such an amazing, endearing process.  

We love you, Ellie girl, and are grateful that God chose us to be your family!