elizabeTHursday

I have a feeling that many of my Taylor Tuesdays or elizabeTHursdays will have both of the girls in it.  I often feel like I’m watching ‘Look Who’s Talking Too’ while watching the girls interact.  I can only imagine what is going through Elizabeth’s mind most of the time and Taylor tells me. 

My story for coming upon this ‘playtime’ is Taylor entertaining her sister(see the purple toy for her to play with in her bouncy) and Elizabeth thinking ‘please don’t let her help bounce my seat again Mom!’

Taylor Tuesday

I guess my love for dance and music has rubbed off on Taylor because today she started her first dance class and...LOVED it!!!  I can't wait to watch her each week!

One Month

Sweet girl you are one month old and I can’t believe how quickly that month passed!  Here are a few things you’ve been up to in the past 30 days:

• You started to move out of newborn clothes into 0-3 month at the end of your first month
• Still in newborn diapers
• Nursing was MUCH easier this time around but you also do just fine with a bottle when Momma needs a break!
• In the past week you have started to have more ‘wake’ time during the day.  During this time you like to just look around(still a bit spastic in movements) and sometimes we get to hear your sweet little ‘la’ noises.  You love to watch Taylor and she is normally right next to you during this time.
• You sleep through anything and any noise that your sister makes.  It amazes everyone how laid back you are and you only cry if you are hungry(boy do you let us know), dirty diaper, need to get a burp out, or if your clothes are being changed.  Unlike your sister, you do not like to be ‘nakee’ right now.  You have even given me a few 6 hour stretches at night of sleep.  This is a HUGE improvement from some of the 45 minute intervals that showed up around 2 weeks old. 
• You love to snuggle with whoever will hold you, but mostly Dad.  The two of you could spend the entire weekend in the recliner sleeping away.  I am amazed at the ways he has figured out how to play with Taylor while still snuggled in the recliner with you.
• Nicknames: little sista(not sure if it’s more Jamaican or gangsta), Pickle, E, Chubalita(Lita’s nickname for you), Elizabear, little birdie
• Our most common question(besides does she look like Taylor) right now is what we are going to call you.  I guess no one actually goes by the name Elizabeth, but some form of nickname of it.  My best friend did some research one day and came up with a list(bad ones omitted) of possibilities.  Here are some of your potential nicknames: Bee, Beth, Bethey, Betsy, Bette, Betty, Ela, Eli, Eliaz, Elisa, Elise, Eliza, Ella, Elle, Ellie, Elsa, Elsie, Ely, Isabel, Iz, Izabel, Izabeth, Izzie, Izzy, Leeza, Libby, Lila, Lili, Lilibeth, Lilie, Lilla, Lillah, Lilli, Lillibeth, Lillie, Lilly, Lily, Lisa, Lisbeth, Lisette, Lissy, Liz, Liza, Lizbee, Lizz, Lizzie, Lizzy, and Zabe.  Guess only time will tell.
• Quote of the month came from Taylor when she shared her beloved bunny with you and you spit up on it she said ‘Mommy, she milked on my bunny!’  This might not be too funny to non-parents of the world, but it had me rolling with Taylor’s creativity of words and still makes me laugh.  I wonder if this is one of those moments that we will embarrass Elizabeth with when she brings boys home for us to meet.
• You like to give me the Stink Eye

Here are a few photos from your busy month

After your chair picture, Taylor had to have her turn.

And for a little flashback comparison.  Here are some pictures of Taylor during her first month.  There’s no denying they are sisters, but I see Elizabeth’s small differences.  I can’t wait to see what her personality is going to be like!

elizabeTHursday

Just one of Elizabeth's funny faces that I enjoy.

 

Taylor Tuesday

Taylor:  I used this toy when I was a baby and now I show you how to use it.
Elizabeth(thinking): Very interesting, but does it feed me?

elizabeTHursday

Elizabeth is finally staying awake long enough to do more than eat.  Chris caught this photo of her today(pre-turkey dinner coma) while playing on her jungle mat.  Today we are thankful for this little bundle of joy!

Movember

When Chris informed me that he was going to grow a mustache, and only a mustache, for the whole month of November I made the worse face possible and quickly told him ‘NO!’  I like to think that I have that much control over my other half.  Didn’t he know that Elizabeth would be born at the beginning of the month and I didn’t want him to have the creeping guy facial hair in all her newborn pictures.  Then he went on to explain why he was growing it and while I’m still not crazy about the facial hair, I completely support what he’s doing.  Here’s his letter explaining Movember and a picture of him with his brother and Dad.(who are also participating)

To All,

For the month of November I have joined up with my family and friends to participate in Movember. We all formed a team Barra Bigote (Mustache Gang), and committed ourselves to growing a mustaches in order to help raise money and awareness for prostate cancer and research (please see attached photo). Cancer has affected almost every person in America in some way, whether it is a family member or close friend. It is imperative that we help raise money and awareness about cancer so that people will have the tools to prevent and fight cancer. It is particularly important for me to raise money and awareness about prostate cancer because:

- Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men.

- Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer.

- 1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in his lifetime.

- 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime.*

This is a cause that I feel passionately about and I'm asking you to support my efforts by making a donation to support the great work of the Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG.  To help, you can either:

-  Click this link http://us.movember.com/mospace/698782/ and donate online using your credit card or PayPal account
-  Write a check payable to Movember, referencing my name or Registration Number 698782 and mailing it to: Movember, PO Box 2726, Venice, CA 90294-2726

The money raised will help make a tangible difference to the lives of others, through the world's most promising prostate cancer research and LIVESTRONG's programs that support young adults and their families battling and surviving cancer.

For more details on how the funds raised from previous campaigns have been used and the impact Movember is having please visit

http://us.movemberfoundation.com/research-and-programs/.

Do you have important men in your life?  Are they aware of prostate cancer and how it can affect them?  If not, maybe you should think about telling them about Movember!  I now LOVE the fact that in Elizabeth’s baby book Chris(and other male family members) are sporting a mustache to raise awareness!!!

Taylor Tuesday

Since our Christmas tree takes up residence in our under the stair closet 11 months out of the year, this closet was never very exciting to Taylor… until today.  This new world has provided quite a bit of entertainment already.  Guess I will add this to my list of pros for putting the Christmas tree up prior to Thanksgiving.

ps.  This picture makes me think of Taylor going into her own Narnia world.  Just imagine all the make-believe that lies beyond our coats in a toddler world.

elizabeTHursday

Elizabeth is a snuggler and loves to snuggle with Daddy after she has been put into a ‘milk coma’.  You can often find two of my favorite people hanging out together and I love it! 

Sisterly Love

For my entire life I wanted a sister.  I love my brother and wouldn’t be the person I am without him.  But that didn’t stop me from wanting a sister.  I would have loved a little boy, but am thrilled that Taylor(and Elizabeth) is going to get to know what it’s like to have a sister.  The mother in me was worried that there would be jealously early on from Taylor having to adjust to not being the only child anymore, but she ADORES her baby sister.  She was more interested in meeting her baby sister at the hospital than giving Momma a hug and kiss.  While I really wanted that hug and kiss, my heart was warmed by how much Taylor already loved her baby Pickle(Elizabeth).  This love has continued over the past two weeks and I can’t wait to watch it grow over their years together.  I also know that with that love with come ‘loving’ disputes between two sisters.  The only thing planned about these photos is the outfits(matching) and asking Taylor to smile.  She kept kissing Elizabeth because that’s just what she wanted to do and then she finally asked to hold her.

Taylor Tuesday

While there are plenty of times that my sweet toddler tests my patience, she is also quite entertaining.  While cooking dinner, Taylor entertained me by twirling in the kitchen.  Did you know a 2 1/2 year old twirls better with a cheesy popcorned face, a sleeping beauty wand, and her little sisters headband/bow?

One Week Old

Elizabeth is now two weeks old, but I actually took pictures last week but never got around to blogging them.  Can’t figure out why I don’t have time to blog… maybe lack of consistent sleep or could it be the toddler that likes to test my patience??? 

I have to admit that it is amazing how much easier it is in the beginning your second.  Chris and I aren’t trying to figure out how to change a diaper or worry about how to hold Elizabeth.  She moves from one set of arms to another with ease and snuggles in without waking.  She LOVES to snuggle on your chest, especially once she is in her ‘milk coma’.  Every so often she graces us with open eyes just long enough to let us know what she needs.  We are enjoying her sweet sleeping faces and wonder what a newborn dreams about.  What in the world could make a newborn fret in her sleep?  No milk?  Elizabeth’s first week went by pretty fast since half of it was spent at the hospital.  Once home, we enjoyed lazy days around the house of sleeping, eating, and snuggling.  We laugh at the positions that Elizabeth ends up in since she loves to snuggle into a ball.  Chris is enjoying both of his girls!

I could kiss this sweet little face all day!

(I know there are LOTS of pictures, but there is a Nana several hours away already missing our littlest one)

I love the monthly photos of Taylor in her chair, so I started Elizabeth.  She is posing with a teddy bear that I got in college when my best friend passed away.  This bear has been a decoration item in our guest bedroom and I decided that it needed a new home and updated bow.  He will now be E’s faithful monthly picture friend and might become a soft buddy later. 

Taylor is currently in a no bow phase and I’m afraid Elizabeth wasn’t too excited about the headband/bow either.  Someone needs to tell her that this Mama LOVES bows and will keep trying. 

I included these to show off her monkey toes.  Both Taylor and Elizabeth have their PawPaw’s feet!

Just a few pictures of sleepy expressions.  I was so excited to catch these on her. 

Hope you enjoy these Nana!  Your girls miss you!

elizabeTHursday

For the past 2 1/2 years I have greatly enjoyed sending out my weekly Taylor Tuesday.  I knew that Tuesday was Taylor’s day and started to ponder about what day of the week should be Elizabeth’s.  I also knew that everyone who receives a Taylor Tuesday in their inbox would not mind another email each week with a picture of our new Elizabeth.  My sister-in-law came up with the idea to combine Elizabeth’s name with Thursday and therefore we have elizabeTHursday.  Each week you will also see a post with a picture of our sweet Elizabeth. 

Elizabeth has been looking a little jaundice since we left the hospital but the doctor wasn’t too worried and just prescribed some good ole Texas sunshine.  Here’s a picture of Elizabeth working on her tan this week.

Taylor Tuesday

I hate to say this, but I don't have many pictures of Taylor from the last week since we were focused on the birth of Elizabeth and I stepped out from behind the camera for a few days.  The photo of Taylor this week shows how excited she is to be a big sister.  She couldn't wait to hold Elizabeth(aka Pickle) and love on her.  Taylor has been amazing with Elizabeth and continues to give her kisses and hugs all the time.  It's not the greatest photo of Chris, but my focus is on our two sweet girls and the beginning of their lifelong friendship.