Morning Naps

What a difference a week makes.  Last week, Ella was taking back her six-hour stretch of sleep during the night and being overall very needy.  This week, she's sleeping through the night (last night she clocked eight hours!) and being a more independent baby.  She's smiling, laughing, and talking A TON.  She's so animated and expressive.  I feel like we chat all day long, but then I have to remind myself that she's just cooing and not actually saying real words.  She's definitely at a really playful stage and her personality is starting to show through her interactions with us.

All this week she's been falling into a nice little routine where she wakes up around six or seven o'clock, nurses, and hangs out in her Rock 'n Play while we make coffee and feed the pugs.  Soon after Adam leaves for work, Ella will fall asleep on her own in her rocker.

It probably doesn't sound like a big deal (and chances are she'll take it all back next week and need to be held all morning), but Ella has always been a cuddle bug and usually needs to be held and walked around to fall asleep during the day.  She was especially resistant to sleep on her own when I put her down (versus Adam, who has the magic touch of getting her to nod off in her bassinet or rocker).  Her morning naps give me the use of my two hands and some time to start the day.  At the same time, I look at her sleeping and I think, "Wow, she's growing so fast!"   And it's only been eleven weeks tomorrow.  I already miss her little spastic, newborn ways, but am definitely embracing this "easier" phase.

Earlier this week, Ashley and I took Ella to scout some gear for our upcoming trip to the lake.  Ella slept through the entire shopping excursion, even when we had to drive back with a car full of wake boards and water skis.  (We barely fit her car seat in!)

We are definitely looking forward to Ella's first trip to our cabin!