4 months old!

The last 4 months have flown by. I cant even remember those sleepless nights anymore, they really went by so so fast. She continues to absorb everything around her life a little sponge. A few posts back she really had just started to like the sound of her own voice, now she loves the sound. She spends several hours a day making various noises and she is very loud when doing so. Her talking usually accompanies her hands in her mouth, its like she is saying man these hands taste delicious! She contiunes to be a happy happy baby. We can pretty much take her anywhere becuase she is our little angel. She loves action. On thanksgiving we took out her high chair and let her sit at the table with us. She was so content just watching everyone eat and listen to all the conversations. She continues to love her playmat and jumperoo. She self entertains in her jumperroo for at least an hour. She really is insterested in looking at just about evertyhing. She takes it all in. She is much more interested in books than she was before, because of all the colors. She really likes when people sing to her, she thinks it is just too funny, its probably because no one in our family has the greatest voice and it is actually pretty comical that we try to sound good while we sing to her. She laughs but it is still this quiet little laugh and she literally gets the hiccups everytime she laughs. She is getting stronger and stronger. She is not yet rolling, but is so close. She gets both legs going when she is on her belly she just has realized how strong she is yet. When she is on her back she rolls to her side and even kicks her legs all the way over but as soon as you think she is going to roll she rolls right back onto her back. She is just so much fun! I look forward to each month just to see what new things she can do!

On another note: Tyler and I just bought our first home. We will be moving to Winfield, IL and into our new townhome in mid january. We are going to paint and get the place all ready before moving. They are brand new and in the perfect place. The neighborhood is surrounded by forest preserves with tons of paths! We cant wait to ride our bikes and take long walks to explore our new neighborhood! The place is beautiful (pictures later this month). It is 2 bedrooms with a loft, 2.5 baths, 2 car garage and a english basement (a.k.a franki's toy room)! We are excited about another journey in our life. We have been blessed over and over again in the last few years with big changes. We are looking forwad to sitting tight and settling into our new home that we plan to be in for quite awhile! We are feeling very lucky to have gotten one of the last townhomes! We are also exctied that Ellen can start her daycare in our home! It is a great start for her and also a great way for Franki to be around other kids! We are looking forward to decorating our new place. I think I am most excited about getting Francesca's room ready for her to grow-up in! (we want to pick a timeless design). We had a wwonderful holiday because of all the things we are grateful for.  Her is our little gal rocking out her 4 month self!

Thanksgiving

I am so thankful for my family this year on Thanksgiving. Holidays are so special with a beautiful baby around. It makes the meaning of family that much more special. We will be headed to my Aunt's in just a few hours, but for now I sit her watching my sweet baby sleep and think of all the things that I am thankful for this year. At the top of the list: Francesca (obviously), all of my family, old and new friends, rekindled friendships, health, happiness, our new home!, the beautiful weather we have had, and so much more, too long to list here. This year I have been given a new perspective on life. My eyes have beeen opened to all of the beauty that surrounds me and I am thankful for this new perspective that has been provided. I am happy, scratch that i am elated with the life I have been given and for that I am thankful. I cant wait to take in our first thanksgiving with our new babe! The smell of turkey in the oven, football on television, the sounds of cheerful conversations, baby laughing all of the surrounded with the people you love the most. Doesnt get much better than this, Love! God Bless all and Bring on the Christmas season!

Drama Queen

My super sweet baby girl continues to have a blossoming personality! She is a bit of a drama queen and it is hillarious. She has never really been a baby that cries. She still really doesnt cry much, but at even the slightest thing that she doesnt like, she doesnt just cry she throws an all out freak out session until you pick her up. I mean this is as simple as I have to go to the bathroom so I set her down on her mat and she doesnt want to be put down because just a minute ago we were playing and laughing. Well the second  set her down its she screams and kicks her legs, arches her back and throws an all out fit. (Can tantrums really start at 3 1/2 months). She is a girl and she definitely gets some of her Drama Queen from her Momma and Aunt Elle. She just wants everyone to know she has a strong personality in there (hmm I wonder where that comes from). We actually have to laugh at here when she does this becasue ou really would think we neglected her or something when she decides it is time to cry. The best part is you pick her up and she has a huge smile across her face, like HA HA gotcha, suckers!
We are all suckers too. I mean just can help it she is so cute.

She got to hang out with her Daddy all by herself on Sunday night for the first time alone at night. They had fun cuddling and playing for about an hour before she decided to have one of her freak out sessions, which eventually turned into an exhausted little baby that Daddy got succesfully asleep in her crib by the time I got home from my meeting. I think Tyler loved his time with his little girl though even though she was crying a little bit. It was nice to see how well they did without Momma around. Maybe ill be leaving them a little more often now! It's not that I dont trust Tyler (clearly I do he is my husband). I am just so attached (obsessed) with my little girl that I like spending as much time as I can with Francesca and Tyler. I used to hate leaving Hulk alone without me, so imagine when it is a baby. I am just a huge mamma bear and asolutely love everything about being a momma and a wife. Both are at the top of my list of favorite things in the world. I continually strive to be the best I can as a mom, wife and a friend and part of that is spending as much time as possible loving up on Francesca and Tyler!

Tyler and I did get out this weekend. My mom and Aunt came to watch Franki so we could go to the Iowa vs. Northwestern game. We went out for a nice breakfast in Evanston and then enjoyed a rainy football game. It was fun to spend time with my hubby doing one of his favorite pasttimes! It is our anniversary tradition to go to Iowa games which make is that much more special. Unfortunately Iowa lost, but either way we had a wonderful time together!

The last three and a half months have been trully amazing. No words can describe the happiness that I feel in my heart. Having a baby really has changed my life in so many amazing ways that I could have never seen coming. I continue to feel blessed everyday for my life. Loving my little Drama Queen!

Enjoy Francesca's talking!

Happy Girl!!

Franki is such a happy little girl! This week she all of a sudden began laughing and making lots of noises! She gets the hiccups when she laughs because she sucks air in while she laughs! It really is too cute. She also has really started to enjoy the sound of her own voice. She is making lots of screaching noises. We had her in the bath and and we know that she loves the bath but with all her happy noises tonight we knew she was really loving it. She also continued to kick her legs like a little frog. It is really so fun to see how much she changes from week to week! Elle is doing a great job taking care of her, they have so much fun during the day. Everyday I come home she is dressed in her cute little outfits with a pretty little bow! It's her staple. She is going to be known for her pretty little bows and I love it! I was so not the girly girl, so its kinda fun to make her girly (at least while I can!). Im sure she will eventually hate dresses like her mother! I dont think she will be quite the tom-boy like her momma was, but we will see! Her personality continues to bloom! She is drooling like crazy, so we are anticipating teeth poking through anyday now, we shall see i might be posing on a crabby baby soon :) She is taking the bottle during the day really well and she gets to nurse when I get home, overnight and in the early morning. Nursing her seems even more special now that I am back to work, im happy I have that special time with her while I am at home. Oh man I love this baby so much. Work and pumping and all that good stuff is going as good as it can. Did I mention how excited we are for the holidays! Halloween is officially over and we can start getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas! Is is too soon to start singing christmas carols to Francesca at night?! I just bought her a stocking and the chirstmas decorations will be making an appearance in just about 20 days. I cant wait to have the holidays with my new little family! Time to enjoy this cold weather today and snuggle with my two favorite people!