Thanksgiving! Part 1

We have arrived back in Grand Forks after a whirlwind trip home. It was VERY busy but more importantly, VERY fun! I unfortunately was sick half of the trip which now my poor baby boy has brought home with him...I am working on uploading all of our photo's today as well as tending to a very sick Elliott...Post to be finished soon!

Here we go people! The much anticipated (well, at least to me...Haha!) Thanksgiving post! It was a very busy week like I previous said and was so much fun. The week flew by so quickly, too quickly and we cannot wait to be back (weather permitting) over Christmas!


SUNDAY: We left for home on Sunday around 1 p.m. The drive went surprisingly well and we stopped mainly for our adult selves and only once for the little guy. He did great! He slept the majority of the trip down, fussed when he was hungry and then talked a little bit and slept the remainder of the trip. That night we stopped at my parents house to see my brother Josh, sister in law Erica, and my niece and nephew Reagan and Luke! I haven't seem them since March and Evan probably hasn't seem them for probably 9 months! Here are some photos of the kiddo's meeting and hanging out with Baby Elliott!

Little Rea with Elliott..."Bay-beeee"

Luke playing with Elliotts Carseat toy...E loved it...Rea observing from behind

After we introduced Elliott to his Uncle, Auntie and Cousins, we headed over to Evan's Mom's house and introduced him to Grandpa Jim and the "girls" aka Maggie and Sammy...the sweetest puppies you will ever meet. The "girls" LOVED baby Elliott and had no idea what he was...it was so funny to watch. Maggie, the older of the two dogs had some strong mommy instincts come out and when Elliott let out a cry, she ran over to check on him and make sure he was okay. She also was "crying" with him at one point...it was so funny hearing her howl at the same time Elliott would cry...if only I had caught it on video!!! Here are some photo's of Elliott meeting Grandpa Jim and the "girls".

"Get him out!"

Grandpa Jim and Elliott

Maggie and Sammy checking out the baby...

The girls were unsure of baby...moreso Maggie who is sniffing Elliott!

Checkin out the baby! Fun Fact: Elliott rolled from belly to back probably 5 times for Grandpa Jim while we had this initial visit. Can you say showoff?! :)

MONDAY: I woke up extra early (7 am) to hop over to Shannon Park Elementary where my mom works to have my mom introduce Mr. Elliott to the staff. He was told how handsome he was MANY times! Evan also came along on the visit and saw his mural on the side of the library wall in Shannon Park...He was SO proud! We both discussed how Shannon Park had a smell that we remember from when we went to school there...that was SO long ago. We started Kindergarten 18 years ago. WHOA.

After we left Shannon Park, Ev-Elliott and Myself, and Josh-Erica-Luke-Reagan all made the trek to see my Grandma Anna. I haven't seen my Grandma since Memorial Day and I had missed her so much. I knew she was VERY eager to meet her 2nd- Great Grandson/ 3rd Great Grandchild and boy oh boy was that statement true. Her face lit up when I handed Elliott to her and she immediately kissed him! She also sends rapid fire (what I like to call it at least) kisses to him. It's when you make kissing noises rapidly and repeatedly...its her thing! Haha! Here are some of those pictures!

First Sights... :)

Kisses!

I know Elliott doesn't look top notch in this photo but I love it for my gramma's face. She is overjoyed. What an amazing sight...and I love being able to look at this picture and see my reaction to her reaction to him. A memory I will never forget thanks to a wonderful husband photographer! :)

Elliott was in his food coma after having his bottle...I LOVE this picture more than words can say!

Smiles for Great Gramma Anna!!!

Meeting Great Grandma Anna was amazing for Elliott...He loved her! After we left Great Grandma's, we then met up with two of our best friends Eric and Sarah at Fuddruckers for Lunch. Great Food and Great Company...A lot of laughs were shared and Elliott was able to finally meet an honorary uncle and auntie!

Fascinated by Eric's glasses

Love from Auntie Sarah!

He always has his hands like that when he sleeps! Silly boy! Lovin' hanging out with his auntie and uncle!

We left Fuddruckers and made our way over to Inver Grove Heights to visit with my Aunt Vicki, Uncle Dan, and Cousins Dani and Matt! I hadn't told those guys that Josh, Erica and the kids would be coming to and then eventually my mom! It was a full house! Elliott got to hang out with all of his cousins and Luke and Matt played and played. We were able to watch some footage of Dani's school play and Matt's football game...Man! I have some talented cousins! It was just delightful visiting with them!

Smiles with cousin Dani!

We were at Auntie Vicki and Uncle Dan's house when Rea climbed in Elliotts carseat...then she wanted to hold the baby. He looks like a giant! Haha! What a sweet picture.

Almost ending the evening...  we ventured out to Lakeville where Evan's folks moved! They just built a new house and it is gorgeous! Elliott was able to hang with his lovely aunties for awhile before we finished the night and headed to applebees to meet Uncle Ryan!....Monday was BUSY!

Ryan has a new friend! Baby Elliott!

Mini-Vacation Approaching!

Our mini-vacation home is quickly approaching! I am both nervous and excited. I am moreso nervous of packing up an infant and traveling with him as well, but I am sure everything will be fine. I am overly excited to be coming home after 6 long months of being stuck here. 6 months. TOO LONG.

I will try to update the blog thanksgiving week as I am available, if not...prepare for a super long post turkey day post!

Picture and Video Post!

Baby is enjoying his playmat and is very happy!

Fell asleep in his big boy bath! He LOVES bathtime...until we get out...then he screams bloody murder

Nakee!

Happy Bug!

Smiles!

Being cute is a tough "job"!

My sweet Monster!

Grumpies!

Shows him rolling from belly to back twice within like 15 seconds!

 

 

Fishy Lips!

 

So strong!

and one last one to make you giggle!

6 weeks old!

Hello Everyone!

So sorry I have been gone for the month! This whole "new mommy" thing has been fun, exciting and challenging!

Elliott seems to be growing like a weed. We look back at pictures and he is just chunking up! On our home scale he is 9.2 lbs already! He has almost doubled his weight in about a month! Insane! I haven't been able to measure him but I know he is longer as he has grown out of Newborn clothing!!!!!!!!! It's so exciting that he is growing and he changes everyday. I already miss him at how small he was when we brought him home but he is doing so many new and exciting things already for 6 weeks too, its all exciting!

Some of Elliott's accomplishments are:

Supporting head very well already...He can sit in his bumbo with his head supported and will hang out with mom and dad vertical with a little head wobble.

Elliott has also flipped from belly to back numerous times! I did capture this on video and might try to upload it, however...it is nearly one whole minute of him crying until he flips! haha! We have discovered he loves being on his back when awake but tummy when sleeping...

Elliott has just recently upped his food intake and distanced the time between his feedings. We are now averaging 3-5 hour feedings with him guzzling 3-6 oz..For the longest time he was only eating 2 oz. every 2 hours...That was pretty tough on mommy. He would take a whole hour to eat so by the time he was done, mommy only got one more hour before it was feeding time again! Oofta!

Both Evan and I have been lucky enough to witness and capture our little man smiling too...Oh...It melts your heart watching your baby sleeping away and then all of a sudden smile! Elliott is now also smiling with those beautiful eyes open!

Elliott slept in his crib for the 1st night two nights ago...it went very well. Mommy finally got his room all organized and clean! We forsee this being one of his favorite places to be...so cute in there!

We have yet to get to the sleeping through the whole night thing, which honestly is fine with me...Elliott has had some pretty intense tummy troubles since we started the formula...we have had to switch 3 times from Enfamil Premium Newborn, to Similac Advance to Similac Advance Sensitive which is where we are at now...Poor little guy could not go #2 for the life of him and mommy would have to assist him...That is the most difficult thing to watch...a baby in pain. If I could take it all from him I would! He's so tiny and pushed so hard I swear he was going to break blood vessels in his head. We finally got a system down though and its going GREAT! With the new formula discovery also came the discovery of his painful gas along with painful #2's. We use Gripe Water to assist him with gas and hiccups and it works great! I had read multiple places to hold your baby tummy down draped over one arm to relieve gas and that has also worked for Elliott. That is actually what made me try having him sleep on his tummy. I know that "back is best" but he wouldn't sleep...ever. He would strain so badly from his gas pains that I couldn't handle it and flipped him over. He and I both got the best nights sleep of our lives! I check on him much more frequently now that he is sleeping on his tummy but I am not too worried...Years ago it was sleep on the belly so they do not choke on spit up or vomit...I think whatever works for your baby is best and you just need to be attentive and cautious!

Playtex Ventaire Advanced are the bottles Elliott now loves...we tried Medela from when I was nursing, and then heard good things about Dr. Brown bottles. Unfortunately...they were horrible for Elliott. They actually made him spit up and projectile vomit multiple times. Not pleasant for anyone. So happy to have found the playtex bottles!

Elliott has been doing a lot of tummy time lately too...He enjoys it for the most part but maybe only for 15-20 minutes tops. We have a forest themed tummy mat and he loves his Squirrel from it. It's bright orange and its the only one he ever stares at! When he gets frustrated and mad at being on his tummy, this is when he will roll over to his back! I was so shocked when he did it at first, I thought it was a fluke...but he has done it now 10+ times.

Elliott also LOVES bathtime...it puts him into a trance! When Nana and Papa G were up on the latest visit...Nana gave him a bath and once he got dipped in the water it was instant nirvana for him! So funny! I have great pictures of the 1st bath at home with Nana and the later bath with Nana and oh my! What a difference! We also have no been able to upgrade from the little hospital tub they gave us for his baths to his big boy bath!!

Elliott is a total cuddler too. He loves laying flat on his back sprawled out only on Evan. He prefers chest to chest with Mommy! Its so sweet for the both of us!

I apologize for the scattered-ness of this blog as I try to remember milestones and fun things with our boy. He is just the most amazing kid ever. I think you really never will understand the whole "loving" thing until you have a child. I know its not in the cards for some people, but to experience that feeling is just amazing. To see a human that you created rely and depend on you and watch grow is the most amazing thing ever. We are so blessed!

Here are some pictures I have captured from the past month! Enjoy!!

Elliott's One Month pictures! What a handsome little man huh? He dressed up for the occasion...obviously! ;)

Elliott was a Monster for his 1st Halloween! (This shows his mad Bumbo skills as well!)

Daddy, Elliott, and Elliotts Pumpkin

A mistake picture, but kinda cool because E's pumpkin is shadowed so you can see it! We tried to carve the same little face thats on his costume...

Mommy and E-Baby

Our 1st Family Halloween Shot! We look forward to actually all dressing up together next year!

Elliott in his Pea Pod. One of my dear clients, hand crocheted this for our little man. She is SO talented. *Side note- Mommy is back to work a month early to help out at the salon and get used to being back before she hits it full time...it is going well. *

This shows how BIG my little man is getting...What a SWEETHEART!! 

Nana giving him a bath and LOVING it. He was staring at himself in the mirror :)

Thanks for the bath Nana! 

This picture is very special to all of us. Elliott was born 2 days after the one year anniversary of Grandma Laurel passing away. Nana V, Mommy and Baby walked in the "Take Steps to Save a Life" breast cancer walk in honor of her. Baby supported Grandma Laurel by wearing a breast cancer ribbon and the Pin that mommy made in honor of Grandma Laurel that she had everyone at her and daddy's wedding wear. 

:):):)

Love the Hortons!

-Another blog to come sooner than later! We will be traveling home for a whole week over Thanksgiving and meeting family and friends for the first time in Minnesota! Elliott gets to meet his Auntie Erica, Uncle Josh and cousins Luke and Reagan and Dani and Matt, Great Grandma Anna, Great Grandma Jo, Grandpa Jim, Uncle Travis, Great Aunts Vicki, Linda, and Nancy, Great Uncles Chad, Ben, Dan, and even more family! PLUS many of Elliott's honorary "Aunties and Uncles"...WE CANNOT WAIT!!