One month together!

Happy one month anniversary, princess!

More Christmas Pictures

Ready for the big game!

Go Pats, 16-0!!

Elizabeth's first Christmas

Well, Santa sure was good to Miss Elizabeth this year! Thank you so much to our very, very generous family and friends!! We love you!!

Happy three week anniversary!

Today, in honor of our three week anniversary, Elizabeth and I went to the mall and we had the best time!! We had our pictures taken in one of those little photo booths (see above) after exploring one of our favorote stores, Old Navy. I bought her yet another "early Christmas present", a little pink hat and matching mittens and a fleece pullover. We also hung out in the food court and drank an eggnog latte and people watched. Not working rules!

On Tuesday, Elizabeth went to her first pediatrician appointment with me. It was a long morning. A HUGE shout out to Julie for suffering through that ordeal with me, and for shlepping us around for two days while my car was in the shop. Elizabeth weighs 13 lbs and is almost 24 inches long. Dr. Andree said she looks great and gave her a clean bill of health. Unfortunately, he also gave her some shots, which did not make Elizabeth or me very happy. The next day, Elizabeth was absolutely miserable and just wanted me to hold her most of the time. Luckily, by Thursday, she was back to her usual smiley self. I took her to my work Christmas potluck lunch. It was fun to show off my little girl and to let people hold her so I could eat!

In other news: I found a two bedroom apartment! We'll be moving over the long New Year's week-end. It will be sooo nice to have more space. The apartment I'm in right now is getting more crowded by the minute. My new roommate may be small, but she sure takes up a lot of space:) Actually, though, I'm having mixed feelings about her having her own bedroom. I really like having her closeby at night. I feel like she is going to seem so far away when she is in a whole other bedroom. But it's best to do it now, before she even realizes that we do in fact share a room. I'm dreading the actual process of moving, it's always a hideous experience. I am excited about the new apartment though.

Also this week, I got Elizabeth on the waiting list for Early Head Start ("free" day care). But in the meantime, she'll be going to a Family Day Care just down the street from where we live now. Her official start date will be 1/7/08, but I'm going to take her over there a few times over the next two weeks so she will get familiar with the caregiver (Miss G) and with the lay out.

Just some random pics from today...

Elizabeth and Santa

I won't say that Elizabeth actually "met" Santa today, since she was sound asleep by the time we got to the front of the line. But she did get her picture taken for the first time sitting in Santa's lap. Too bad for Santa that by that point, Elizabeth had spit up over herself several times and had a suspicious odor coming from her diaper. Oh well, she started out in good shape. Not my fault we had to wait an hour in line! :)

Two weeks together!

Well, today is Elizabeth's and my two week anniversery. Wow! She has been with me such a short time but has made such a huge impact on my life. Wow, that was an understatement! The last few days have been busy. I have been looking into day care for her. I plan to return to work on Monday 1/7/08. I'm really not looking forward to it, but it will be good to get back to work and finish up my hours so I can finally apply to take the MFT (Marriage and Family Therapist) licensing exams. Barring unforseen circumstances, I figure I should be able to take the first exam maybe late Spring, early summer. Should be piece of cake studying for the exams with a baby around...NOT!! Oh well, I know everything will work out. The most important thing is that I have my Elizabeth, and I'm not lettin' her go! She has got to be the most animated, sweetest, cutest, smartest, funniest 5 month old ever!! And I'm being purely objective here... :)

Anyway, we visited two Family Day Care Centers this week that have space for Elizabeth. I really like them both, so I'm debating which one to choose. One is less than a block from our apartment, which is great. I'm leaning toward that one, but I don't know. It's such a hard choice, because when it comes right down to it, I don't want to have to send her to day care at all. I want to be able to stay home with her, at least until she's 18 months or 2. But, I haven't won the lottery yet, so off to Day Care she goes...
Yesterday, I left Elizabeth with MaryAnn and Carol while I went to have my hair done. Thanks again, ladies!! I got so relaxed while Elena (my hairdresser) was washing and cutting my hair that I started yawning nonstop and almost fell asleep! It was quite a luxury having my hair washed.

Here are some Elizabeth pics. She continues to love her rice ceral and her bathtime.

Enough with the pictures, Mom!

She loves her "Aunties" too!

5 months old today!

Miss Elizabeth is 5 months old today and as you can see, quite pleased about it!

She is such a happy baby. For the past two nights, I have woken up to her chattering away in her crib. It sounds so sweet, and I just wonder what she is saying! I have a feeling when she does start talking, I'll never get a word in edgewise, she just has so much to say!

In honor of her 5 month birthday, I decided to start her on cereal. She LOVED it! She really seemed to catch on quick to being spoon fed and ate a lot more than I expected for the first time. I think she may even have gotten a little in her stomach, instead of just ON her stomach :)

The Party Girl

Today was such a special day. Julie had a baby shower for Elizabeth and me-something I've waited for my whole life!! Everyone was so sweet and gave Elizabeth such beautiful gifts-blankets, clothes, a dust ruffle for the crib (thank you Auntie Julie!). And of course, the food was delicious. Elizabeth had a great time and loved looking at Julie's Christmas tree. It was a wonderful party with a very special group of ladies.

It was cold and windy out today. Good thing Grandma sent Elizabeth an adorable fleece snow suit!

I think this is my favorite picture of her ever...

So, Elizabeth has been with me for over a week now. It's hard to remember when I didn't know her. I am so sorry to be one of those annoying mothers who brags about their kid, but this baby girl of mine is just about the cutest thing on earth! Hey, I think I've earned bragging rights, I waited long enough for her! :)

Meet the parents

Elizabeth and I have had a busy couple of days. On Tuesday, we had lunch at Jeanette's house- thank you Jeanette!! It was great to introduce Elizabeth to yet another "Auntie," and I can't believe how big her daughter Grace is now! Elizabeth is already enjoying all the cool toys that Grace was nice enough to pass on to us, now that Grace is such a big girl!

Today, Elizabeth had a supervised visit with her birth parents. She was picked up by a monitor from the "visitation center" and brought back to me afterward. When the monitor came to pick her up, I had a really hard time letting her go, and kept hovering as the woman put Elizabeth into the car seat. The monitor was sort of looking at me strangely since as far as she knows, I'm "just a foster parent." Elizabeth was only gone about an hour and a half, but it seemed like much longer. I was trying to get so much done while she was gone, but I couldn't focus, and kept misplacing things and just basically spinning my wheels, and got very little accomplished. I did however, finally get her stroller put together. It was a rough hour and a half, apparently for both Elizabeth and me. When she came back, the monitor said that Elizabeth had been very fussy during the visit and so the monitor helped the parents try to soothe her. Elizabeth was exhausted after the visit, and took a very long nap this afternoon.

During her nap, I finally got to put a lot of things away and straighten up the apartment somewhat. Regarding the visit, am I bad for being sort of glad that she was fussy? I was thinking that maybe the parents will think, this is too hard, we don't want to do this! We'll see...All I know is, these visits are supposed to take place twice a week every Mon. and Wed. for who knows how long. Ugg...

Anyway, Miss Elizabeth continues to be doing great! She is so alert, and so interactive! She smiles and shreiks constantly. I am so in love!

Another day, another photo-shoot...

More pics of my little munchkin. What can I say, I am over the top about her! She is making such a great adjustment. Every day she seems happier and every night, she is sleeping better-yay! Her favorite things to do are shriek with excitement (LOUDLY!) and drool (wonder when the first tooth will be coming?). Things she hates are: waiting 10 seconds for her bottle to be heated, and when I wipe her face.

Honestly, I'm still in awe that this has actually happened. I just can't believe I've been so blessed. I love you my little Elizabeth Chanel!

Our first week-end

I am just falling more in love with this little girl every day. She is so animated and smiley. And she has this wonderful high pitched screech when she is excited. I love it, but I hope our neighbors don't mind!

We've been busy! On Saturday, we went to Auntie Julie's house for brunch, where Elizabeth received some very special gifts from another Auntie, Linda, who came down from LA this week-end. And Julie gave Elizabeth an adorable new onesie. Thank you Julie and Linda!!

Cuddling with Julie and Linda

On Saturday night, Elizabeth got to meet even MORE Aunties, Carol and MaryAnn. They came over bearing delicious food and lots of beautiful clothes for the little princess. But the hit of the evening was a "baby gym" that Carol brought. Elizabeth absolutely loved it, and her little legs were just kicking away with excitement. And boy did she shriek!!

Working out at the gym

Today we did some errands, including my favorite store, Babies R Us. I feel I showed amazing restraint, though, and walked out having spent under $100! Yay me!

Time for bed!