TRICK OR (SWEET) TREAT!

Eliza's First Halloween (I'm a cupcake!)

We had a great time Trick or Treating in the neighborhood with cousins Noah and Morgan.  We look forward to next year when she will actually get to eat the candy!!

RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES - A 4 MONTH UPDATE

Eliza has grown so much in the last month but recently she's hit a couple of memorable milestones in the last couple of days.

As of today she is 20 weeks old.  She can wear #3 diapers (depending on the bran) and is wearing mostly 9 month clothing.  She can still fit into some of her 6 month outfits but she is most comfy in the bigger stuff.  At her doctor's appointment on October 19th she weighed 16 lbs and 4 ounces.  

Eliza now really enjoys bath time...yay!  Our third bathroom was recently (partially) renovated and we are just trying to find the time to get it put together.  This will be Eliza's bath.  I am looking forward to no longer leaning over the high sides of the claw foot tub.  She will have much more room to play, too.

Sweet Eliza is now sleeping in her crib.  I miss seeing her first thing in the morning but we are creating a new morning routine that we are both enjoying just as much.

Eliza has never been a fan of tummy-time but we recently borrowed some tummy mats from the Sevier's.  Within the first day of using Eliza rolled over on her own.  She's now done it several times, most of the time on her own, most of the time by accident. :)

She spent some time with her Aunt Megan and Uncle Adam recently without Mommy or Daddy.  There were some tears at first but in the end she did great!  We heard that her cousin Noah did a great job of keeping her entertained.  Thanks, Noah!

She still won't take a bottle and although she took a pacifier a couple of weeks ago she has since ditched it and we think it is for good.  She started cereal on October 15th!  With luck we will be starting first real foods around Thanksgiving. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY!

 

I recently celebrated another birthday and I have to say this one was the best ever.  It was a quiet day but spending it with my husband, baby and of course, dogs and cat made it quite near the most perfect day.  The sun was out, I baked a cake and had a yummy, greasy burger and fries for dinner.  Eliza was a dream and I got some great gifts...who could ask for more?

A VISIT WITH GRANDMA

Grandma came to visit recently while she was in town and it was great!  We were able to work on some house stuff while Eliza played with Grandma.  Thanks, Grammy!  Come visit again soon!

FIRST TRIP TO THE ZOO

Last Friday was a wonderful fall day so we decided to join Lori for lunch at the zoo.  We plan to make this a regular lunch date.  We love that Aunt Lori works at the Zoo!

Eliza's first trip to the Zoo...

PRECIOUS PICS

A couple of weeks ago we traveled up to Kokomo for a photo session to capture as much of Eliza at this age as we could.  Here are some of the photos from that session.  

Photography by Erica Freeman. 

SWEETNESS

Sweet Eliza, 15 weeks September 30, 2011

THREE MONTHS ALREADY?

 

Our sweet Eliza is just a little over three months old and is just as sweet as can be!  She recently had a weight check at the doctor's office and gained almost a pound in three weeks. She now weighs over 14 and 1/2 lbs and has outgrown nearly all of her three-month sizes. 

She is still in love with her fingers, sucking on them or staring at them for most of the day.

She still won't take a pacifier or a bottle.  We are very close to officially giving up trying.

She is ticklish on her feet, the left more than the right.  Her little giggle is darling!

She finally likes the swing we got from Adam and Megan (thank you!).  She hated it for so long but she seems to enjoy it now.  We are thankful for a new and exciting activity to add to our daily routine.

We'll have more updates in the coming weeks!  

31,556,926 SECONDS

La Brea Tar Pits, September, 2011

On this day a year ago Jason and I were leaving sunny Los Angeles on a red-eye flight back to Indy.  We had just spent 12 days driving down the coast of California stopping in amazing places like Napa and Sonoma Valley, Yosemite, San Francisco, Monterrey, Moro Bay, Big Sur, Long Beach, Beverly Hills, Venice Beach and Hollywood.  We celebrated our one year anniversary on our last day in California (9/12) and it was a trip to remember.  And the perfect start to an incredible year to come.

A year is 31,556,926 seconds long.  We managed to make the most of every single one.

We got pregnant. 

I stopped selling hot dogs. 

I started an amazing new job with Wish For Our Heroes.

We decided to seriously start looking for a new home for our new family. 

We looked at one house and decided it was our dream home. 

We started sorting, packing, and donating our possessions in January and didn't stop until April. 

We saw Squiggy (aka Eliza) for the first time.  She was perfect. 

We sold our house to the perfect family - our neighbors, the Sevier's. 

While seven months pregnant we finally closed on our new house and moved in late April.  

We started renovating our new house one week later.

Our dream home's basement stays flooded for the majority of April and early May. 
We spend April through June wondering if buying and renovating a 100+ year old house while having our first child was such a good idea. 

We have a new bathroom and second floor laundry room, some new plumbing, a repaired kitchen ceiling, a new living room ceiling, a new roof over the living room, new drywall in the master bedroom, new paint downstairs and new paint upstairs, some new electrical and the whole exterior of the house is painted by June 16th, 2011. 

On June 17, 2011, Eliza Everlee McLane was born. 

In July Jason changes territories at work and is getting to know his new team at Monster. 

In July I attempt to go back to work. 

In August, I realize taking care of Eliza is the most important job I will ever have.  I become a stay-at-home mom. 

By September 12th, 2011, all of our Phase 1 renovations are complete and our precious and perfect Eliza turns three months old. 

We celebrate our two year anniversary and decide that a very quiet and uneventful October, November, and December sounds absolutely wonderful. 

SLEEPING BEAUTY

Eliza Everlee 9/6/11

ROCKWOOD TUBERCULOSIS SANITARIUM - HOME SWEET HOME

Many of you know that we moved into our dream home back in April.  Pretty much since day one we've been inundated with contractors working on Phase 1 of our renovations.  We are nearing completion of this stage and can't wait to post before and after pictures (soon!).  Many of the contractors (painters, plumbers, electricians, etc) grew up in the area and were familiar with our house through it's previous owners.  We've been told about the horse farm and the acres and acres of land that used to be part of the property.  Most of the land was sold over the years leaving us with three acres.  We also had heard stories or what we thought may have been rumors about the sanitarium.  Well, Jason did some digging and the rumors are true.  Our home was the main house for the Rockwood Tuberculosis Sanitarium (1907-1913).  

Here's a link to a brief history: Rockwood Tuberculosis Sanitarium

We also found some interesting text from the Indiana Medical Journal

We hope to visit the Hendricks County Historical Society to learn more about our home's history.  We'll keep you posted on what we find!

TWO MONTH UPDATE - AT 11 WEEKS

We are a little late in posting Eliza's two month update only because we've been having so much fun watching her grow!  Today she is 11 weeks old and is as adorable as can be.  At nine weeks she had her first set of vaccinations, which she took like a champ!  Here are some new and old stats. 

June 17, 2011(birth)

Weight: 7 pounds, 15 ounces

Height: 19.25 inches

July 21, 2011

Weight: 11 pounds

Height: 22.75 inches

August 19, 2011

Weight: 13 pounds, 4 ounces

Height: 23.5 inches

She's talking up a storm these days (albeit indecipherable) and we are on pins and needles just waiting for that first big chuckle.  She's been chewing on her hands for some time now (still has no interest in a pacifier) and is kicking her chubby little legs all day long.  Eliza is a pretty good traveler and recently made the trip with us to Rensselaer for my family reunion.  She's also been to Starbucks a couple times to visit with Auntie Lori, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Target (of course!) and even to a couple of farmer's markets to name just a few of her jaunts out of the house.  Mommy had her first trip away from home without Eliza, thanks to Aunt Megan, for an hour a couple of weeks ago.  Eliza did just fine but I still need to work on my separation anxiety.  I coped by buying an antique settee.   Maybe next time I will just go get a massage instead of visiting the local antique stores.   

Eliza loves to be read to and will even read along to some of the books she knows by heart.  Again, it is 100% gibberish but she jabbers when I read and stops when I turn the page.  I will be a happy mommy the day she reads her first book to me.  And although she slept through her first visit to the library I have a feeling it will become one of our favorite places. 

We couldn't be more thankful for a happy, healthy baby and all of our family and friends who just adore her.  She is loved and we are blessed.  

Eliza enjoying a nap with one of her many four-legged companions, Otter Cat.

WHAT'S YOURS IS MINE

This is Eliza's of course, but don't tell Daisy that.  Considering she's deaf these days she wouldn't hear you anyway :)

 

 

 

HAPPY BABY - PART 2

 

 

A TINY GIGGLE

Don't mind the fool behind the camera but enjoy the tiny giggle and fabulous smile about 6 seconds in. 

TWO MONTHS - TIME IS FLYING BY

Sweet Eliza Everlee turned 8 weeks old this past Friday (August 12) and she's growing fast!  She is smiling and cooing all the time and like all babies is mesmerized by her hands!  She took special notice of her feet this morning but so far her hands are still her primary delight.  Eliza has her 2 month check up this Friday so we'll have some stats to share later this week.  My money is on a 4 lb weight gain!

The beautiful quilt was a gift from our favorite quilt-maker and extra special person, Bev.  It has already become a family treasure.  
Thank you!

HAPPY BABY

Eliza Everlee

July 18, 2011

ONE MONTH UPDATE - MY HOW SHE'S GROWN!

Eliza is now five weeks old and she just had her one-month check up this morning.  She was such a good girl while Dr. Jason poked and prodded her and while the nurse gave her a Hepatitis B vaccination.  Here's a picture of her first owie: 

We were really excited to find out her current stats and boy, has she grown like a weed!!  

Here are Eliza's birth stats: 

June 17, 2011

Weight: 7 pounds, 15 ounces

Height: 19.25 inches

What Eliza weighs today:

July 21, 2011

Weight: 11 pounds

Height: 22.75 inches

Happy One-Month Birthday Sweet Eliza!

THREE WEEKS ALREADY??

 Our sweet Eliza was born three weeks ago today (Friday, June 8th) and boy, time flies!  Here are some highlights of the last (or first) three weeks of Eliza's life.

Eliza had her first doctors appointment her first week home.  She checked out great but really didn't enjoy her first exam.  We left so quickly we didn't even have time to take a picture of the big event!  We go in for our one month check-up in just a few days.

Eliza gained nearly a full pound between the end of week 1 and week 2. After a special weight-check visit to the doctor she weighed in at 8 pounds, 14 ounces, up from 7 pounds, 15 ounces. We had a couple of rough days when she didn't nurse as much as she should so she was down in weight.  We made some changes and we are now growing a little each day.  We are already out of newborn diapers and into size one and wearing a lot of our new 3 month clothing. 

Eliza and mommy made a trip to the northside to see Daddy at work.  She really enjoys riding in the car, especially when it is moving.  She has gotten used to the carseat as Miss E slept in it for most of her second week.  It was one of the changes we made to help her sleep through the night.  She is now back in her Moses Basket and is a great night sleeper (for now!)

She has enjoyed visits from MamMam Bev, Auntie Lori, Great Aunt Sandy and Great Uncle Bill, Uncle Adam and Aunt Megan and cousins Noah and Morgan, Aunt Mickey, Uncle Pat and cousins Will and Leanna (all the way from Toledo) Mimi and Poppa (Mary and Fred, all the way from Michigan), special friends Kristen and Jeff, Jim and Ashley, Kim and the boys, Erin, Linda and Brooke, Uncle Fred and Aunt Laura (all the way from Phoenix), and Aunt Kelly and cousins Parker and Madison (all the way from Kentucky).  We hope we didn't forget anyone! Eliza promises anyone who visits these days at least one smile, which she is sharing pretty freely these days. 

We get asked a lot about how the dogs and Eliza are getting along.  We are more than thrilled to say that they get along great.  The dogs see her as a new pack member and she sees them as something furry to rub her feet on (with mommy's help, of course).  We are sure these friendships will continue to grow and blossom into one of the best gifts we can give her - the loyal and unconditional love of a dog.

We've taken several walks in our new stroller (thank you Bev and Ken!) with Daisy and Joey.  We recently took a walk with all dogs (Eliza in the Bjorn carrier) and met another neighbor who gave us an ice cream pie as a welcome to the neighborhood.  We'll need a few more walks around the block before we can treat ourselves to a slice.  We've met quite a few neighbors now and have been warmly welcomed to the neighborhood.

Eliza has finally gotten past her dry skin phase on her legs and arms.  Her skin is a healthy pink and is ever-so-soft!  We are now dealing with baby acne which we hope clears up soon.  Her hair is turning a little lighter in color and her eyes are a very pretty blue.  And for those of you who saw her those first few days, her nose has straightened out nicely.  YAY! 

Eliza had her first holiday, the Fourth of July, and although she slept, ate or cried through most of it we look forward to next year's Fourth as she will be one year old! 

We've been taking lost of pictures but they usually turn out blurry.  We will need to figure out a better setting on the camera so we can show you all just how adorable she is and how fast she is growing!  We hope to post some new pictures soon.

ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY

Our first family picture taken July 8th, 2011 by Laura McLane.

MISS E

We want to thank everyone for their overwhelming welcome to our new addition, Eliza Everlee Mclane.  Once we get a little more settled into our routine we will post more pictures with some updates about our daily adventures.  So far Eliza's had her first bath, first walk around the neighborhood, first doctor appointment and she's lost her umbilical cord.  She is as sweet as she looks and we spend most of our time just snuggling and staring at her precious little face.  

Here are some random pictures.  More to follow!!!

Eliza on Day 2 in the hospital

Eliza, Day 2

Eliza, one week old at home

Coming home from hospital, June 19th

Miss E, June 26th (one week and 2 days old)

First bath, June 25th (one week, one day old)

Last day in hospital, June 19th

Miss E, June 26th (one week and 2 days old)

Joey, the Protector

Daddy's Girl

June 26th, 2011 (one week, two days old)