My Favorite Job

Although I don't earn money each day in my role as a stay-at-home mom, I have already learned that this is by far my most favorite job that I have had in my lifetime. I am rewarded with so much more than anything money can buy. I am rewarded with the smiles and laughter that my daughter randomly emits; the kisses and hugs that come from tiny little legs running toward me. I am rewarded with so MANY, MANY things.

Fun with Elliana

15 Months...

Last week, we had Elliana's 15 month check up. Our little peanut is now weighing in at just 20.4 lbs (11%) and measuring 31" (66%).

Each day, Elliana's new talents amaze me. She seems to understand everything we say and mimics us more than I sometimes realize. Today, we ate lunch on the deck. I saw a few crumbs on the deck floor, so I bent down, picked them up and threw them into the grass. Not realizing Elliana would make the connection, she dropped a piece of her cracker, bent down and threw it over the side of the deck. Umm....guess I learned not to clean up until AFTER meal time is over.

Yesterday, I learned not to give a 15-month old a chocolate chip granola bar when it was 80 degrees out. Oh, and then not to pick her up once finished eating, while Momma is wearing a light colored shirt. Ahh...I love learning new things. But most of all, I love the lessons that only Elliana is able to teach me.

I wasn't prepared...

During my pregnancy, I read almost daily in preparation of what laid ahead. I read on how the baby was developing, how my body was changing and how to prepare myself for the many changes that were in store for our family. I sought out advice of new moms, experienced moms, and practically anyone I could zap knowledge out of.

I prepared to be the best person that I could be as my role morphed from solely wife to a balancing act of wife and mother. I feel like I prepared really well for all of the baby "stuff." It's been 15 months since this bundle of preparation and joy entered my life.

I've experienced a lot and learned even more since Elliana was born. I've learned the joy my heart can have when I first heard her tiny giggle. I've learned the happiness that comes with watching my daughter learn. I've experienced the excitement of watching Elliana take her first crawls, and soon after her first steps. I've experienced the frustration of not always being able to solve Elliana's problems. I've experienced the mess involved with a toddler learning to eat table foods, and the joy of Elliana actually taking her first bites of "real" food.

Overall, I've learned that I wasn't prepared for perhaps the most important teaching I had been told: how quickly time would pass. In the blink of an eye, this tiny helpless newborn has morphed into an independent, beautifully opinionated toddler.

A toddler that walks up stairs, rather than climbs. A toddler that eats the same food that I do. A toddler that communicates with me through words and sign language, better than some adults that I have met. A toddler that knows what I am saying when I say it, and answers appropriately when I ask her questions.

I guess I wasn't prepared for how quickly she would grow and the incredible impact this tiny baby would have on my life. I wasn't prepared for how much more my heart could grow when our family of two, became a family of three. In the years ahead, I'm sure that there is more to come that I won't be prepared for. Until that time comes, I will try to prepare my heart for more love, more laughter and more growth...and realize that being unprepared is sometimes a blessing.

Lots of Egg-Citement

On Saturday, our neighbors invited us over for an Easter Egg Hunt. It took a few minutes for the kids to get the hang of it, but oh, how fun it was to watch!

Elliana quickly got the hang of collecting the brightly colored eggs and putting them in her basket.

Elliana loved opening the eggs to find the hidden treats within. As you can tell, she was really excited to learn that this egg contained a dollar bill!