Lunch Time

I've been trying really hard to get Ellie into more of a routine when it comes to sleeping and eating.  (I know, I know.  I should have been doing this since day 1, butttt... better late than never.)

I attribute this to sleep training.  Sleep training has been a huge (HUGE) success.  I am so glad we finally decided to give it another go.  I think we were finally able to be successful because A) Ellie was ready and B) we were consistent.  She still isn't a great napper - but at least she knows now that when she's in her crib, it's time to close her eyes.  This has made getting into a pretty basic routine so much easier for us.

Ellie wakes up anywhere from 6:30 to 8:30, and she eats - either by nursing or a bottle.
I usually eat toast for breakfast - usually Ellie helps me eat it too.  It's pretty cute. :)
About two and a half hours after she wakes up, it's time for nap number one.  This is where mom gets to shower.
When she wakes up, we get ready for the day and eat lunch.  Our lunch routine consists of eating a jar of baby food (usually she only eats half), eating Graduates and yogurt bites, and drinking about two ounces of apple juice.  (We use Mots for Tots - it's freaking disgusting, but not loaded with sugar.)
Then it's play time (usually she'll have another bottle sometime during playtime) until E starts to get sleepy - which is usually between 2 and 3:30.  Then it's time for nap number two.
When she wakes up, she will usually have another bottle and then play for awhile until her daddy gets home around 6.
Then it's time for dinner.  Ellie's dinner routine is very similar to her lunch routine - she'll finish whatever is left from her jar of baby food from lunch, eat Graduates or yogurt bites, and finish off with a bottle.
At 7:15ish - we start getting ready for bed.  Lotion, jammies, singing and saying our prayers.  One of my new favorite things is listening to Clay say a prayer with Ellie.  Then Ellie is in her crib by 7:30 and always asleep by 8.
Then it's mom and dad time.

Of course, there are diaper changes and baths, pumping, running errands and other things that happen during our day - but that's what I like about our "schedule" it's flexible, and works for us.  And Ellie has started to come to know what to expect, and she doesn't seem to be as fussy.

All that being said - lunch time has become one of my favorite times of the day because Ellie is SO happy and SO much fun.

Happy happy happy.

When I told her to say "cheese!"

One of my new favorite pictures.  

Last week, I realized I didn't have many pictures of Ellie's dimply little baby bum.  So I let her crawl around my house naked for a little while after her bath.  I got some pretty cute shots.

Nothing cuter than a baby bum.

Happy Wednesday!  xoxoxo