We've Got a Live One!

Ever since Eleanor started using her crib for naps and at night, she's been working on strengthening her ever-increasing sausage-leg muscles. Last week, I would hear strange squawking sounds after about a half hour after I'd put her down. I'd check on her and would invariably find her turned 180 degrees in the opposite direction with at least one appendage hanging through the crib slats or her head plastered against the rails (we can't use bumpers until she's older). Apparently, she kicks and wiggles herself in several different directions until she becomes stuck. Then, she wakes up fully and pitches a fit to rival the most seasoned 6 month year old.

Our copy of Baby Bargains says they're superfluous, but I went to Walmart anyway in search of a 'sleep positioner.' Thank goodness for the person who invented these. As you can see, they keep her facing one direction (most of the time) and perhaps even give her the sense that she's being held. Now we have one happy little sleeper in our home!

Let's Take this Outside

Yesterday Potsdam had a record high of 87 degrees. We waited until the backyard was shady and then headed outside for some blanket time on the grass. Eleanor enjoyed the warm breezes and new sights for over an hour.

Grass!

A newly lanky Eleanor practices for Riverdance

With so many things to see, Eleanor is motivated to use her Tummy Time muscles.

A happy nature-baby (wearing an organic dress of course)!

Fabulous Firsts!

This past week the Beck family has been out and about experiencing all that the North Country has to offer. Eleanor has taken traveling in stride and has developed some very exciting new habits and abilities during the last few days.

On Sunday Eleanor made it through the entire church service without crying. She and I did some bouncing in the back while Eleanor's little eyes and ears adjusted to all the incredible stimulation provided by the choir, the crowd and the stained glass windows. During coffee hour, the ladies of the Quilting Guild of the First Presbyterian Church presented us with a beautiful Pooh quilt for Eleanor.

On Saturday the three of us went to the Sustainable Energy Fair at SUNY Canton. It was hot! With strong sun, light wind and temperatures in the 80s, Eleanor was wide awake experiencing these new sensations. She didn't quite make it through any of the lectures, but she and I had a good time strolling around looking at all the latest green technologies.

Eleanor is now sleeping in her crib at night in her own room, and she has a sleeping schedule that involves 4-5 hours of continuous sleep! Typically she now feeds around 8:30 and sleeps until 1 or 2 a.m. and then feeds again around 5 a.m. However, we took her for her first trip to the mall yesterday and she became so overstimulated that we didn't get her to bed until midnight last night. I think she inherited my love of shopping gene. Her beady little eyes were darting all over the place and she was nearly hyperventilating with excitement as we strolled her through Sears. Wait till I show her Nordstroms this summer!

Another milestone was accomplished this week. Eleanor took her first bottle from dad. She hardly hesitated as it was offered and gulped down the entire thing with gusto within minutes. Dad was in charge of the early morning feeding on Saturday morning and I got to sleep in- it was heaven!

Finally, we wanted to announce that Eleanor is now smiling at us and nearly chuckling. She looks us in the eye and her little mouth erupts into the sweetest little expressions of pure joy. We love to see her expressing happiness. It is such a joy to see our little girl respond to us in this way.

The Transition

Today Eleanor took two naps in her crib. During the first she woke periodically to express her discontent, and during the second she was so exhausted from not sleeping during her first nap, that she slept like a log (as you can see). Her Moses Basket is getting a little small for her and I now feel like we're in a race to get her acclimated to the crib.


Growing in all directions

She's Back!

Eleanor well

Eleanor is finally on the mend. She is still congested and makes the sweetest little snorts out of her nose when excited, but I predict she'll be perfectly well within a few days. We will be SO glad to say goodbye to her eye drops and nose spray (and the neighbors probably won't miss her howls of indignation).

Eleanor sick (but looking sweet in an outfit from Caitlin)

During her illness we developed loads of bad habits. Eleanor has been sleeping almost exclusively in the Baby Bjorn during the day instead of transitioning to her crib. We've had almost no tummy time, and our developing schedule was basically obliterated. This week we're going to try to get back on track, which means that Eleanor will feed every 2.5 hours instead of every 1.5 hours. She'll also begin taking naps in her crib and will be put down in a semi-awake state (ha ha- we'll see how this goes).

Even during her illness, Eleanor has developed some wonderful new tricks. She now smiles and cackles to mom and dad when we're engaging her in song or conversation. She also loves to kick her feet and when really animated, will stick her toes straight up to the air. She blows spit bubbles and has started to grab hair. We never knew that we'd feel such joy watching our child develop in such little, but seemingly monumental ways.

Eleanor and her monkey


Bonus! Tummy Time #3 video: Giant Forehead and High-Waisted Pants Version

Eleanor's First Cold

Eleanor is sick! She visited the doctor on Friday and was diagnosed with a cold and an eye infection. We're humidifying, elevating, medicating, aspirating, and soothing. Luckily she's had only a very low temperature (99.2) and has been sleeping a good amount. It is so hard to see her so lethargic and unhappy! While she recuperates, we'll be sticking close to home.

On the brighter side, she now weighs 10 pounds, and has begun to chirp and smile. Hopefully we'll see more of this as she recovers. Wish us a quick recovery.

The New York Times has it Right

A recent article entitled 'Grandma's on the Computer Screen' in the New York Times, described the trend of grandparents and grandchildren using webcams to communicate when they are located far away from one another. Dave and I regret that we are indeed far from family, but have found that using Skype to communicate with family and friends is the next best thing to a visit in person. Now if they could only invent virtual kisses!

In her 6 weeks (6 weeks today!) of life, Eleanor has 'Skyped' with Grandparents, a Great Aunt and Uncle, Aunt Molly and several friends. We love being able to share with everyone her daily milestones and her smiles (and grunts). Dave found a way to take a photograph of the sessions and we've captured some cute extended family interactions.

The Article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/27/us/27minicam.html

p.s. My Skype handle is 'emilybeebee' if you want to chat with Eleanor!

Deep thoughts with Auntie Molly

Gazing at Grandma and Grandpa

Skype for Easter with Grammy and PaPa

Discussing the market with Grandpa

She's a talker!

Daddy is out of Commission!

Dave came down with a really bad cold/flu yesterday and has been in bed sleeping and feeling terrible ever since. I know he's very sick because he hasn't touched his Iphone more than once today (very unusual). Eleanor and I really miss him and hope he gets better soon.

This short experience of being a 'single parent' has made me truly appreciate the typical state of our little nuclear family. Daddy is excellent at diffusing late-night breakdowns and has many special Eleanor-soothing techniques. He's also fun to be around and helps out in many ways.

Please send up a little prayer for Eleanor. . . I've just finally begun to figure her out, and am terrified of the prospect of her being unwell!

Daddy and Eleanor in healthier times

Bonus zoom-in!

Happy Easter!

Eleanor is still a bit young for Easter baskets and chocolate candies, but she still managed to have a wonderful holiday with mom and dad. We brought Eleanor to her first church service for Easter Sunday at Potsdam's First Presbyterian and were able to make it all the way until the children's sermon before she woke up and began 'singing' loudly. We quickly escaped to the back hallway of the sanctuary and found it full of other chatty babies and parents. Personally, I had a blast cooing at the other babies and swapping stories with the parents. After the service, Eleanor received lots of attention from some of the older church ladies. We can't wait to go back!

Eleanor is modeling a vintage knit bonnet (thank you Eleanor) and a Carter's white and pink polka-dot corduroy dress (thanks Grandma Cheryl) with ruffle bottom heavy-weight tights (thanks Melissa).

The New Hold

As the author of our much-worn copy of The Happiest Baby on the Block promises, excitable babies will often grow to become passionate adults. I'm beginning to think we have a budding drama queen here at the Beck household. Eleanor is still, of course, adorable and adored, but she has begun to show a definite affinity for dramatic protests and high-impact crying sessions when things aren't exactly as she wishes.

Thank goodness our fabulous friend Louise demonstrated the following hold the other day when she came with her own little munchkin, Erik, for a visit. We've found that Eleanor loves to be held with a little pressure on her tummy and very much enjoys being able to look out at the world from this point of view. The hold also has the added advantage of showcasing her recent cheek acquisitions (they now hang lower than her chin!). Thank you Louise!

Monday Blahs Tummy Time

Eleanor wants you to kiss goodbye the workday and enjoy her tummy time #2 video. . .

She's making lots of progress with her neck muscles and her noises. She'll be 5 weeks tomorrow.

Old Man Winter Meets Baby Girl Beck

Here in Potsdam, we've had a return to winter. This morning we awoke to find 2 inches of snow coating all the trees like wet flour. It's been too cool and windy for walks in the stroller, so we've been busy with indoor sports and activities to keep our bouncing baby girl occupied.

All 'bunted' up

Mobile watching in stylish knits

Baby Bjorn bouncing with daddy

Cuddling with mom

Relaxing in our onesies with daddy

Our Little Elephant

We received this adorable card today from our friends the Shipps (they also brought over a delicious meal for us!). As I mentioned before, Eleanor makes the strangest sounds when she's near sleep or near to waking that sound exactly like a baby elephant. When she first came home from the hospital and began wheezing and grunting and well. . . sounding just like an elephant, I called our pediatrician in a panic. Apparently some newborns do make strange sounds and it's perfectly normal. I've been trying to capture the sounds on video for a few days now and just seem to miss her most prolific moments, but I did capture a few choice grunts in the video below:

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Our little elephant has also been growing by leaps and bounds! We had a registered nurse visit us at home last week and found that Eleanor is now almost 9 pounds. Suddenly her newborn clothes no longer fit and a few of her 0-3 month outfits are getting tight. Yesterday, with a strange mix of motherly pride and sadness, I folded and tucked away a few of her sweet little outfits that have become too small. Below is Eleanor demonstrating the stretching effects of her new-found girth on one of her favorite pajamas.

Eleanor bursts out of her 'zootsuit'


Happy little girl