Milestones

We gave Ellis his first taste of cereal this weekend and he did great. He likes sticking his hands in his mouth so of course we had cereal everywhere, but just sucked it right down. I haven't really given him any since then. I still nurse him at night and in the mornings and he gets all Breastmilk during the day that I pump at work. It's just too much work right now, so he'll have to stick to cereal on the weekends. In a couple of weeks I'll probably try some veggies and then fruit after that. I can't beleive I'm going to back to making baby food again. I loved making it for Tessa, though. I thought it was very therapeutic and I felt like I was doing something good for my baby.

The other "milestone" is that Ellis has started blowing bubbles and sticking his tongue out. He didn't do it all weekend and then yesterday when I picked him up from school, he was doing it. It's like he learned it at school and LOVES to do it. That's all he was doing last night and in the car this morning. I'll try to get a video of it, since it is so cute.

Handsome

Took this picture after an afternoon at the pool. He loves the water and watching all of the older kids play and splash around. Ellis especially loves watching his big sister jump in. She has truly turned into a water bug and I am sad that this weekend is the last weekend the pool will be open.

Pun Intended

Conversation between Mike and I....

Mike - "So, you're getting a new computer, a new iPod, and new car. Next thing I know you're going to want a new man"

Me - " No thank you, I like my old man"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Omi Liselotte

My great-grandmother, Omi Liselotte, passed away yesterday. She was in great health for most of her life, always touting the healing powers of Cider Vinegar (which she took every day). She was 91 when she passed and to imagine everything that she has lived through and experienced is phenomenal. She survived World War II in Germany after being uprooted from her home several times. She had to walk across northern Germany with her 6 month old daughter in her arms. Just imagine all of the changes she has witnessed her country and the World go through in her lifetime.

She was a GREAT Omi who always had kisses and treats for us grandkids. She was an amazing seamstress, making lots of clothing for us, like our Christening gowns, Holy Communion gowns, etc. She also LOVED to bake. Anytime we would visit, she always had three or four different cakes and never missed Kaffee Klatch. She had this wonderful squeaky voice and was not afraid to put us in our place. Kirsten and I would spend our vacations with her and our cousin, Henning. We would ride the train from Stuttgart to Bielefeld by ourselves (5 hours) and then would stay with Omi for a week.

She was so happy that she got to meet Mike at the wedding and thankful that she could be part of it. Although she never got to meet Tessa or Ellis, she loved getting pictures of them and enjoyed hearing all the updates about them. She was so good about getting them birthday cards and Christmas presents. She would have LOVED to meet them and watch them run all over the place.

Ich werde dich sehr vermissen und ich liebe dich, Omi.
I'm going to miss you and I love you, Omi.

Nilpferd

Nilpferd (pronounced kneel-phaird) is German for Hippo. My dad has started calling Ellis Nilpferd and even got him a Hippo Steiff stuffed animal in Germany. True to his nickname, he is still in the 75% for height and weight. He had his 4mo check-up this morning and was 16lbs 1oz, and 25.5" long. He was very brave when getting his shots, he barely whimpered after the 1st one, but definitely screamed out after the 2nd one. But he calmed down as soon as I picked him back up again. By the time we got to school he was in a great mood, smiling and cooing and hamming it up for every one. I love him so much.

Four Months

I can't beleive that my little hippo is 4 months old. We have his appointment tomorrow so I'm really curious to see how big he has gotten. He is such a great baby, I am so lucky to have been blessed with an easy-goping, low-key dude. It truly feels like it was just last week that I was having contractions and ready to bring him into this world and now he's been here for FOUR months. Time really does fly.

Southern Belle

Tessa somehwere has picked up the word "Momma". Instead of calling me mommy, she now says "Momma" in a very southern sounding twang. I'm not sure who says it like that or where she picked it up from, but it's pretty cute.