Your hospital photo shoot

Sunday stroll and second week photos

We decided to get out of the house today now that you are 18 days old, so mommy and daddy packed up the whole family and headed to Bryan Park for a Sunday stroll.  The weather was warm and sunny, perfect for an afternoon walk. We kept you bundled up, but the puppies sure did enjoy the sunshine!

Here are a bunch of second week photos, including a side by side comparison of you and mommy about the same age ;)

Two Weeks Old

Wow, two weeks old! Mommy and daddy are surviving well, but you do have your moments of inconsolable screaming ;)  You are sleeping really well at night, for which mommy is extremely thankful, you go for 5-6 hour stretches. The puppies have also adjusted to your arrival. Mandi has been very interested and concerned about you since the moment you entered the house.  She is the natural mother we knew she would be.  Roo on the other hand was a little apprehensive and depressed upon your arrival. He has since warmed up and will even sit with us in the nursery on occasion while you are feeding.  I know in time he will adore you just like mommy and daddy, especially when you get old enough to share your food ;)

Much love, you are growing and changing so fast already!

Calhoun/Chiolis Family Visit

Your Nana, Papa, Yaya, Papau, Auntie Danielle, Karsyn, and Aubrie came all the way from South Dakota to visit you! We had a fantastic time introducing you to them and celebrating a late Christmas! There are four generations in this amazing photo!

In other news you gained almost a pound between doctors appointments on Monday and Friday this past week! Mommy and Daddy must be doing something right ;)

First Week Photos

Some of my favorites from your first week!

New Years

We rang in 2014 with a mid night nursing session and I would not have it any other way. Here is to 2014 and miss Ellouise!

Your Birthday!!

You arrived in our arms on December 26, 2013 at 2:41 am, weighing in at 8lbs 3 ounces and 19 and 3/4 inches long. You missed being a Christmas baby by a couple hours ;)

Your birth did not go quite according to our birth plan, but the end result was still the same...a happy and healthy Ellie in our arms.  And as Dr. Bowers put it "this was our first lesson in parenting...no matter how much you plan it will likely always turn out different than expected."

You are a week old as I type this but I am going to list my top five favorite things about your birth and you:

1. You look just like your daddy. The first thing Dr. Bowers said after your delivery was "you definitely belong to your daddy!" The most striking similarity is your cute little dimpled chin.

2. Fact. You pooped on my belly twice during our first skin to skin bonding session right after your delivery.

3. You were born with a full head of hair! You even have little tufts of hair growing from the backs of your ears! I love them and call you wolf girl for it ;)

4. The first time you made me cry was when you were on my belly right after birth and your daddy called out your name. You immediately recognized his voice and shot open your eyes looking for him. Heart. Melt.

5. Your daddy was an amazing partner during labor. Truly the best. I could not have done it without him.

That's all for now, we love you little Ellie. More than you can ever imagine!