Addie has been very interested in looking around lately…at lights, photos, toys, faces, and her newest visual treat, the stim-mobile! It seems to keep her interest longer than Mom’s homemade index-cards-and-Sharpie “toys”…probably not the first time she’ll prefer a commercial version to homemade.

After a relaxing morning rocking on the front porch (thanks Aunt Jeanne and Uncle Richard), Addie did some intensive work, focusing and cooing at the shapes. Don’t worry, I didn’t work her too hard. Naptime soon followed!

At six weeks old, Addie has been smiling more and more! She also likes imitating our facial expressions – she’s pretty good at sticking her tongue out – and coos all the time. She loves looking at toys, especially her My Friend Emily doll.

All this activity must be tiring her out, because last night she had her longest stretch of sleep yet – almost six hours. She definitely sleeps best when she’s in her “baby straightjacket” aka Miracle Blanket (see previous post for a visual), but the only downside is that she often grunts and squeaks throughout the night as she struggles against it. It doesn’t seem to bother her (or Steve!) so I’ll take it!

Here’s another waking up video that includes a smile! Those who are easily offended might want to mute the video.  Let’s just say after filming Addie was rushed in for a diaper change…

Sweet Relief from Ellen Strong on Vimeo.

Don’t I look ready for a good night’s sleep?

Addie got suited up last weekend in a swimming diaper (really, they have these) and headed out to Great Aunt Jeanne’s house. She was accompanied by her entourage down to the pool. Here’s a glimpse into her diva-ness:

1. Mom – carrying Addie
2. Aunt Em – Covering Mom/Addie with a golf umbrella to protect them from the sun
3. Dad – Camera body, three lenses and a remote flash (papa-razzi?)
4. Great Aunt Elaine – post-swimming towel, secondary camera
5. Great Aunt Jeanne – running interference to protect Addie from the very interested dog

Mom went in with Addie and once her butt got wet, the tears started. Warm bath in the whale tub next to the kitchen sink this was not!

She was shivering and blubbering so we retreated (a feat for her armada of adorers in various stages of flotation) to the “beach” for shallower and warmer waters. Dad retired from behind the camera to see if Addie could appreciate the pee-warm waters more than the open sea. Besides wiggling her arms, there was not much sign of enjoyment laying on the wet flagstone.

She was scooped up and escorted to the awaiting towel (organic Egyptian cotton, silk trim, integrated hood). Back to the bathtub for now. We’ll try again next month…

Addie has been growing so fast! According to our very scientific “step on, step off, step on with Addie and subtract” method, she’s weighing in close to 11 pounds at just short of 6 weeks old. All her sleep – 4-5 hour stretches most days – must be helping her pack on the pounds.

Over the past week she’s become much more alert and stays up for an hour or two at a time during the day. She’s holding up her head more and more and we’re seeing the beginning of smiles! She is working on getting her thumb, fingers, or whole hand in her mouth and hopefully she’ll figure it out soon, because she has refused each of the five brands of pacifiers we’ve tried! Luckily she is pretty easily soothed as long as she has someone to snuggle with, preferably on the move. She loves walking around – maybe it was all the walking I did while teaching last year?

Here she was in her swing at two weeks.	And here she is at five weeks.

To complete Addie’s spa day on Lake Travis, we treated her to a manicure. She’s been scratching her face a little bit and Dad’s neck is sporting some battle scars as well. Time to trim and polish those little nails. Never one to be ungraceful, she gave us her best pose of outstretched arms. We skipped the nail polish this time around because she couldn’t decide on a color to match her green diaper cover but stay tuned…

Oh Daddy, easy on the cuticles!

Stop scaring me, Daddy!

Addie has been spending time on her playmat, exploring the different areas with a little help from Mom and Dad, checking out the hanging toys, and even drooling a bit (she must have learned it from big brother Ben). She can lift her head a few inches when she’s on her tummy but prefers to do it propped on the Boppy or while lying on Daddy’s chest. Here’s a video from last week, right before she turned one month old! She is sporting a romper – so fashionable!

Addie on her playmat from Ellen Strong on Vimeo.

Bonus video – Addie’s Aunt Meg also follows fashion trends. Rather than a romper, she is sporting the 2010 version of hammer pants. Check out this video for her interpretation of M.C. Hammer’s masterpiece. Addie can’t wait to learn the routine, Meg!

Addie was not too excited to wake up for a diaper change so we took the opportunity to document her “changing station.” Starting from the left you’ll see the basket of clean diapers, then the changing pad proper, complete with multiple layers of absorbent material (oh, and there’s Addie!). Next we have the assortment of diaper creams, powders and other magic rash-b-gone concoctions. The roll is used for the diaper cream that can’t go in cloth diapers because it makes them non-absorbent. Then there is the wipes warmer, the true symbol of a future helicopter parent, so that nary a cold, clammy wipe touch the little princess’s hiney.