New Year, More Fun...

This year has started out with a bang.  Elanor is getting stronger each and every day, as you can see from the pictures below.  Aunt Megan and Uncle Brad came over last Saturday night and brought dinner.  While they were here, they said that Elanor has grown up so much even when compared to Christmas, when they saw her last.  You don't really notice how fast she is changing when you see her every day, but when you compare the pictures week by week, it really is a amazing.  

Elanor's strength is growing every day

Working out your neck is tough work

One thing that is definitely noticeable is that Elanor has begun to learn that her hands are somewhat useful!  Although she isn't very accurate, she reaches for her toys when they are placed in front of her or when she is playing with her undersea friends on her play mat.  Her grip is quite amazing when she does get ahold of something.

Elanor playing

Ella grabs ahold of her octopus toy

Elanor getting ready for her tummy time workout

Other than that, there hasn't been much going on.  We have just been spending a lot of quality time together which will be shortened tremendously when I go back to work in a few weeks.  Already dreading the day we have to take her to daycare...

The Year of the Rattle...

Elanor definitely enjoyed her first Christmas... we went to Sacramento for 4 days, and spent Christmas Eve at Great Grandma and Grandpa's with the Hood family and then Christmas day at Grandma and Grandpa Morris' house.  I think Ella got more presents than the rest of us combined!!  She got so many toy rattles and clothes.  She is pretty much set for the next few months at least.

As you can see, it was quite an eventful few days.  It was a Christmas I will never forget.

New Years Eve was less hectic...Elanor and I were in bed by 10:30.  Wow, things have changed since last year.  Dan stayed awake and tried to wake me up at midnight, but from what I understand, that was not an easy task.  However, we did make it over to friend's Anson and Alexa's new years day party for some delicious snacks and tasty virgin mimosas (AKA Orange Juice).  It was great to see them.

Tomorrow we will be taking down the Christmas tree and the outside lights.  I guess that means Christmas is officially over:(  We are really looking forward to 2011 and all it will offer.  I know it will be a big year for Elanor, and therefore, for me and Dan as well.  Can't wait!

Happy new year!!

Week 9...

We had another amazing week.  Ella is smiling even more and it is so much fun to see!!

Ella's beautiful smile

This week Ella also had her two month birthday, her picture taken with Santa Claus, her two month doctor's check up, went Christmas shopping and opened up her first two Christmas presents (from friends Burt & Donna and Tony).

At her doctor's appointment we found out she is at the 50th percentile in both height and weight, but at the 80th percentile for head circumference.  I think it is much larger for her big brain...watch out Einstein, you may have some competition.

Here is Ella next to her frog again.  If you compare it to her one month picture, she has sure grown a lot, and not just in size.

Ella's two month picture

Grandma Cindy also sent us a new Christmas outfit for Ella to wear.  I hope the Goblin King doesn't come take her away!!

Ella's new Christmas outfit

Over Thanksgiving, Uncle Greg and cousin JM gave Ella an adorable dress, which she insisted on wearing in her picture with Santa.

Picture with Santa Claus

It truly was an exhausting week, and Ella sure figured out how to get her extra rest in.  She is really excited for Christmas next week!

Passed out Elanor

Week 8...

This week has been a blast because Elanor started smiling!!!  It has been fun trying to figure out what makes her happy.  We have found that she really likes funny faces and voices.  She seems to really like my cowardly lion impression..."put 'em up, put 'em up".

We also got Ella's first Christmas tree this week.  It was a challenge finding a time when it wasn't raining to go pick one out, but we were determined...

First Blomquist family Christmas picture

It was fun to decorate the tree with Ella, although she only watched this year.  We also made an electronic christmas card for everyone to see.  click this link to view it: Blomquist Christmas Card

We also went to baby music hour which is held at the downtown San Rafael library each Friday.  The lady who runs it each week is a friend of mine.  It was great to see her and to introduce her to Ella.  We sang fun holiday songs such as "Frosty the Snowman", "Little Drummer Boy" and even sang a song in celebration of Kwanzaa.  The older kids used shakers and hit little miniature drums to the beat of Little Drummer Boy.

Uncle Brad came up on Wednesday to do some Christmas shopping.  Of course, Ella was in her stroller and came along with us.  The doll she is with has been named "Marion" and was a gift from our friend Stacy.

I am currently working from home about 2 hours a day, which will help extend my leave until February and will also allow me to save some of my sick leave for when I go back to work.  As part of this, I have to go into the office every once and a while to meet with my supervisor.  Ella came with me to my meeting this last week.  Everyone at the office loves to see her.  She is so good when she is out, I still can't believe it.

Well that is it for week 8, can't wait to see what week 9 brings.   More to come...

7 Weeks Old...

Ella is now seven weeks old and she is growing up so fast. We can already see changes in her and are getting to know her really well. For instance, she used to cry immediately when placed in the bath water or on her tummy for tummy time. We have now had several baths where she hasn't cried at all, and tummy time is actually fun for us both (for the first minute at least).

Well Ella saw me adding a post to the blog and wanted to say hi...

Over the past several weeks, Grandma Cindy has come to visit.  That was a really fun time.  While she was here we also celebrated Thanksgiving (at Great Grandma and Grandpa's) and Dan's birthday.  For Dan's birthday we had dinner out at a nice restaurant and Ella was amazing, as she always is.  

We can't wait for December and Ella's first Christmas.  More to come...