Sierra club hike

We took Elia on her first Sierra club hike this morning. It was really nice except that it was nearly 90 degrees at 9:00 in the morning. We didn't last the whole hike but it was great to be out and we will definitely go on the trail again.

Faces

Push ups and sit ups

Elia is in such a hurry to grow up! She is pushing up higher on her arms and does these little pilates sit ups when she is on her back. She straightens her legs and lifts her head up off the floor. Like a little baby crunch. She is able to grab for things but really prefers to kick things with her feet. Her toes are constantly moving and if you are not careful, she will pinch you with them. She also turned half way over today!
It is all happening too fast.

I don't remember who gave us this peacock toy but God bless 'em. She loves it. It crinkles and she loves the sound. She also is able to bring it to her mouth and suck on the feathers. It has saved us many times from major fits while in the car and out and about. So whoever gave it to us, a great big thanks!

Nap time

This is an excerpt from a recent email to an old friend. Since I have less and less time it seems, I just copied it into the blog.

We are doing well. Settling into our new home(for now). Josh likes his new job. It is weird to finally have a real paycheck! I have found some mother's groups and think we found some friends. The other day we went to a park that has live music on Fridays and we sat among a bunch of other families that knew each other and the kids were running around and the moms were planning a mom night(to get drunk) and the husbands were all sitting there wishing they were watching baseball. I looked at Josh and laughed and said "welcome to your new life!" No more gallivanting around in third world countries and eating strange foods. Play dates, and birthday parties are our new agenda. We love it though. It is what we have both always wanted. I am having a slight identity crisis. It weird to have always worked and now to not be. I miss being creative and making my own money. I hope to maybe work from home later. Right now Elia will only nap for 20-30 min at a time. Only enough time to answer e mail and MAYBE shower. I woke up early today in order to get some stuff done. She is growing so fast! Her personality is starting to emerge. She loves to kick her feet and is desperate to sit up. She does these hilarious little sit ups all day long.

Elia woke up shortly after and now is awake from her morning nap. Hope all are well!

Strawberry Butt

Seriously! Could you die? I wanna dress her in this everyday.

How to pronounce my daughter's name:

ELIA MARIE CANFIELD

I found my daughter's name even before she existed. Her middle name was to be a no brainer. Marie. It is my Omi's (Grandmother) name and my middle name. I was looking at baby names online while we were in Costa Rica. I had a lot of time to kill while Josh was at his internship.

I was looking for something unique but not trendy, not traditional with a new spelling, not a totally weird name that no one could pronounce. A good name that would lead to a great life. You know, something that sounded good coming after "Amazing doctor cures cancer..." or following "and the academy award goes to.....". I found a few names I liked and ran them past Josh. He instantly liked Elia. It was decided then and there, before we even created her. Elia Marie Canfield was to be our daughter's name. Then we found out we were pregnant. Before we found out we were having a girl we called the baby Jelly. We had also chosen a boy's name. Jake Brown Canfield. Jake just because we like it (and there is a J thing going in Josh's family) and Brown because it is Josh's mother's maiden name as well as his middle name. Jelly comes from the combination of Jake and Elia. (Brilliant Grandma Robin!) We still call her this.

So as soon as we found out we were having a girl, people asked us if we had chosen a name. Some friends of ours warned us not to tell people what names we had picked because everyone will give their opinion and try and change your mind. We did tell a few people and pretty soon I realized that we HAD chosen a name nobody could pronounce! I started to second guess the name. Could the name Elia Marie Canfield be president? (Come on now, Barack??) Were we dooming her to always correct her teachers when they were doing attendance? She will never find a nameplate at roadside gas station with her name on it! Maybe we should come up with something else. Josh was sticking to his guns. He loved the name and there was no changing his mind. Don't get me wrong, I do love the name too. I just hope she does not resent me someday for giving her a name that she has to constantly re pronounce for people.

We have heard so many people say
Elle, Elijah, Aleeah, Eli, EElyah, Elliot (oh sure, baby in the pink outfit with maryjane socks has a boy's name? Geesh!)
Here is how you say it:
el-lee-uh
or
L (like the letter)
E (like the letter)
and uhh (like duhh)

As soon as I have re pronounced it a few times for them, people do say ,"oh, that's different" and then they proceed to pronounce it themselves a few times to hear it out loud and in their head. Then they say "that is a beautiful name".

Yes, thank you..it IS a beautiful name.

Three months old

Elia is three months old today. She has grown soooo much. People love to tell me how chubby and big she is. (Why do people feel compelled to say that?) She is even more alert now then ever and wants to be moving all the time. She really wants to sit up and gets frustrated when she falls over. She also really likes to stand up. Her favorite thing to do is still to stare at ceiling fans. Heck, even just the ceiling alone has produced a cackle. She is starting to laugh a lot and makes all kinds of hilarious noises. Josh and I think she was an old man in a past life with emphysema and lost his dentures. She enjoys being outside and like her mother, loves to people watch. Everyday she makes some new discovery; her hands, feet, that toy makes a funny noise, if I make this noise mommy will pick me up. She has had her first earache too. Hope that does not become a common occurrence because she was really cranky. Every now and then I sit back and stare at her. She is really here. Three months ago we actually brought her into existence and I cannot believe it. It is truly amazing. Josh and I enjoy every second with her and are so grateful for having her.

Boliviana

slobber monster

Woah Dad! Don't drop me. Elia loves to stand up. She has really strong legs. She has started laughing and her favorite thing to do is to stare at ceiling fans. She thinks they are hilarious. No need to invest in fancy toys. Just a ceiling fan. We don't have one in the new apartment. For the most part she is a very happy baby except for the last few days where she has been really cranky. I think she is teething already. Notice all the drool!

Sleeping monster

I think I am teething so I was REALLY cranky today and now I am exhausted!