If you are lying on your back with Ellie on your stomach during a warm summer day. It’s not sweat running down your side. This is how Ellie welcomed me home on Wednesday. Victoria was getting ready to go out for dinner with us and I was keeping Ellie calm. I guess I still have lots to learn.
Ellie has been busy, with Coffee group, Babies and mom class, sushi dinner, a walk on the beach at Long Bay, and a trip into Images to see me. Everyone at Images loved her!
Yesterday, Ellie received her New Zealand Birth Certificate in the mail. To Victoria and my surprise the column that states New Zealand citizen by birth is marked yes. Next week all three of us are going to the US consulate in downtown Auckland “to establish an official record of the child's claim to U.S. citizenship at birth” according to the US Consulate. We will be getting her a US and New Zealand passport for travel.
Ellie and Victoria met with the mid wife for the last time earlier this week. Ellie weighs a little over 9 lbs and is doing really well. The mid wife said for Victoria to stop by her office periodically so she can see her and Ellie. She also mentioned to Victoria that she would see her when she is pregnant again. I wonder what their conversation was leading up to that statement.
Ellie decided, with help from her parents, to sleep in her own room last night. She had no problems sleeping and Victoria was able to get more solid sleep. For me there was little difference, as I sleep through almost anything.
She went out to a restaurant on Thursday night with Victoria, my parents, and I. She slept through the whole dinner and didn’t cause any trouble. Her presence was also required at Danielle’s Birthday party today and was a big hit with everyone (Danielle turns 4 on Tuesday).
My parents have been visiting for the last 2 weeks. They were greeted by Ellie, drunk on milk. Ellie quickly realized that Granddad took lots of pictures and was a great place to fall asleep, while Grandma was good for cuddles, dirty nappies and cold hands. They both took Ellie for walks to the beach. While the short cuts weren’t very short they returned with a sleeping baby.
Ellie was posing for this picture when she decided to roll over, from her belly to back. No one could believe it, so we set her on her belly again. Then after about 1 minute she rolled over again! She has started holding her head up and is able to turn it from side to side when laying on her belly.
Ellie was the star attraction at the café scene last weekend with everyone looking at her and commenting about her full head of hair. Her schedule has been very busy with the arrival of my parents and a dinner at Geoff and Rose’s house.
She has been drinking large amounts of milk lately and is getting some chubby cheeks. Ellie is a little Houdini getting out of her swaddle wraps within a minute and is very proud when her hand brakes free.
Ellie is getting us organized. She cries and we come running. It’s not quite that bad but at times it feels like it. For a baby that is 2 weeks old, we are getting into a routine. She has been feeding every 3 hours or so and sleeps much better during the day than the night. I have been trying to help more between 9 and midnight so Victoria can get a little more sleep. She is a very good mum to Ellie.
