It’s the Dawsons!

Where has the time gone?  Our little peanut is now two-and-a-half months old!  I just looked at the clock and it reads 7:11pm–10 weeks ago to the minute Elliott came into our lives.  The tiny bundle we brought home from the hospital is now a smiling, giggling ball of love. 

Elliott Dawson, 9 weeks

Elliott could be the happiest baby ever. She is constantly smiling and is probably the most content when she’s laying on her back on her activity mat or sitting in her bouncer chair.  The mat is great. It has a mirror for her to gaze into and three dangling animals, which are now her best friends. Al the octopus gets all of her affection, while Morty the Moose is her punching bag.  And then there is poor Freddie the Fish.  No love for Freddie.  We noticed Elliott favors all of the animals that hang on her left side…..we’re wondering if this could mean our little girl is a lefty.  We’ll see….

Elliott on her activity mat checking out her friends Al and Morty.

The bouncer chair is a new addition. We’ve had it from the start, but until recently, Elliott was too light to sit on it.  But now….ooh man…you turn on the little vibrating seat and she is as happy as a clam.  We used to put Elliott in the swing during the day, but we’re trying to cut back a little with that. She fell asleep regularly in it, and we don’t want her to get used to that.

Elliott loves her bouncer chair.

This week is a big one for Elliott. She is making the transition from her bassinet in our room to her big girl crib in her bedroom. I’ve had her napping in the crib during the week to make the overnight transition a bit smoother. It’s taken her a little longer to fall asleep, but it’s getting better.  We have a white noise machine going, as well as her mobile overhead.   It’s funny to see that little body in her big bed. I know I’m going to have a tough time when she’s not sleeping in her bassinet next to me.

Elliott's first nap in her big girl crib. June 1, 2009

Last week we had another Elliott success story. She took a bath without screaming. I won’t go as far as to say she was smiling, but she wasn’t screaming, which was huge.  What changed?  For one, we tried Johnson’s Bedtime Bath soap, which supposedly calms babies. Two, we used this frog washcloth that I received for a shower gift.  According to its directions, you put the dry frog over the baby to keep her warm, and then when it becomes wet with warm water, the baby adapts. I must admit, I was a naysayer when it came to the frog. I’ve since changed my tune. All expectant mothers I know will be receiving a frog washcloth from me. (Of course, you could probably just use a regular washcloth for this, but what fun is there in that?)

Elliott's first non-screaming bath. We credit the adorable frog washcloth.

So, it’s been a busy month. In the next few weeks, we hope Elliott can hold her head up by herself (she’s getting close) and sleep completely through the night.

Parents are sure right when they say they grow up so fast…