Four Months

You turned four months on Easter this year. You’re a lightweight at 12.5lbs (5.6kg) and 27.5 inches (70cm). Thanks to your Daddy’s genes you are in 6 month clothing and off the charts due to your height alone, with much room to expand in your string-bean torso. But thankfully you have those kissable cheeks we all can’t resist.

(One of her last days in “tiny baby” clothing before we couldn’t smash her height into it anymore)

Your laugh, child, is to die for and keeps us all instantly wanting to “do it again” regarding whatever your little sense of humor found to be so entertaining. And yes, you’ve started just laughing when you’re a bit slap happy tired before sleep times, which makes us all giggle too.

You still have gorgeous baby blues that fluctuate between crystal blue, gray and all the shades in between just like your big sister, Abi.

And so far you’ve kept your “Hannah” honey-red hair. Your temperament is 💯% elated joy or 💯% meltdown wrath. And yes, those two extremes can be found within the same 10 second window. 😂

You love books already, instantly stopping what you’re doing to give your full attention to a story and you’re even starting to enjoy looking at the pictures.

Tummy time isn’t instantly bad anymore and you rolled over the day after you turned four months just to prove once again that time flies. You have figured out how to stand when assisted and prefer to be held facing out so you can see all life’s action.

You still love taking naps in our arms and being swaddled, but enjoy yourself a solid nap on mommy and daddy’s bed and also sleep in your bed at night. And while that three to four month sleep regression hit you harder than any of your sisters, you’re beginning to return back to your 6:30p- 2:30/3:30a sleeping stretch, feed and then sleep until 5:30/6a pattern.

(You will fall asleep at 6:30p wherever you are.)

Love you to pieces, Smalls, and I’m so thankful you completed our ladies basketball team. 😉

April 18, 2022 1

Time Marches On

Happy two months, Eliyanah baby.

We’re thrilled to get to encourage you as you wake up and explore your world more.

You’re working hard these days on your milestones, even if diaper/clothing changes and getting burped are still your arch nemesis. 😂🤦🏽‍♀️

Your playful smile still melts us to the core.

And you’ve even decided to start taking on a 7 hour stretch of sleep at night, which makes us all smiley too! 🙌🏼

We love you, Smalls. You’re such a sweet blessing in our lives. ❤️

And thank you for joyfully finding that stroller peephole on our morning walks.

I love sneaking a peek at you too, baby girl. 🥰

February 17, 2022 1

One Month

You love to be held close, listening to us breathe

Feeling our hearts beat.

We’ll happily hold you. Too soon you’ll be grown. Time passes in a hurry.

And waits for no one.

You love to sleep, but sometimes we get eyes.

We’ll wait for your eyes as you study our faces.

We smile at yours and coo over your cuteness.

You love to find a cozy spot, snuggling in like you own the place.

And we’ll take every opportunity to make you feel comfortable, knowing that building trust is a constant investment worth making.

(I came into the room to discover your sisters taking turns snuggling you while you settled in to sleep because they know you prefer to be close)

Your life is still pretty simple. Yet your simple life has completely rocked our lives for the better.

(Your original due date and my hospital discharge date three years prior)

And we are still over the moon and completely smitten over your precious self.

Happy one month young, little Eliyanah.

(Right before I snapped this picture you snuggled your bunny lovey close and crossed your legs)

You are such a beloved treasure indeed.

January 17, 2022 0

We Couldn’t Help It

In agreement with your Daddy, sometimes we do dress you up like you’re a toy.

BUT we promise we’ll restrain ourselves… many times.

This is not one such time.

In fact, Rachael and I have been planning this for months. We designed and printed your outfit, went to the market and found the hat material (your ears are a bath mat and your hat a sheet). And then we sewed it all together, creating a pattern based on mashing together a couple of tutorials online (with Abi’s design eye help). We even intentionally made it big so we could dress you in it for many months. So technically we conspired against you before you were even born.