4 Months Old

June 3rd: K.E. is Four Months Old!!

This is the first monthly post with us living full time in the new house! WOO HOO!!
Katy Ellis was born in Charleston, but at 48 hours of life, she left the hospital and came straight to Lexington. Since then, we have made at least 2 trips per week up and down I-26. She probably thought she had been born into a family of Gypsies or Nomads. Now it is time to put down roots for this girl!!



Four Month Old Well Child Check: Katy Ellis is growing and developing beautifully!! Dr. Kate (Powell) gave Katy Ellis a clean bill of health. Her only medical problem is cosmetic- the dreaded cradle cap (or as my more colorful patients call it "cradle crap." I just wish they were making a joke.)

Height 24 3/4 inches
Weight 12lb 11oz
Head 40 1/4 cm

Height 64%
Weight 19%
Head 39%

Favorite Things: Bjorn bouncer, bumbo seat, activity mat, being smiled or talked to, air conditioning.

Dislikes: Heat and humidity, prolonged tummy time, but that is about it. This is one happy, easy going baby.

Nicknames that have stuck: KE, Kay-Kay, Katy Girl, Katy Did, Baby girl.

Milestones: Giggling (only for PopPop), Smiling A LOT, short breathy laughs, rolling over back to front- STILL trapped in tummy time. Initially she rolled over both ways, but now ONLY back to front.

Katy Ellis has MAJORLY discovered her hands this month. She brings them to mid-line, holds them together, and LOVES to chew on them. Her hands are almost always wet with drool.

Blakely has become very aware of Katy Ellis this month. She is constantly asking me "where Kay Ellis go?" when she is napping. She always goes "Oh! Kay Ellis!" whenever she happens to notice her in the room.

Blakely has also become concerned when Katy Ellis cries and feels the need to inform me, "Kay Ellis crying, Mama." One night around midnight I was sleeping downstairs with both monitors when the nursery monitor wakes me to Katy's cries. Within 10 seconds, the second monitor (to Blakely's room) goes off with Blakely yelling "Kay Ellis crying! Kay Ellis crying!! Help Mama! Help! Kay Ellis crying!" She loves her little sister, and NEVER wants to hear her cry. I have yet to discern if this is out of true concern and affection for Katy Ellis or out of self preservation and desire for quiet. Hmmmmm... 

Blakely has also started calling every baby doll she owns "Kay Ellis." She has a three inch baby doll from GrandAnnie and a two inch baby doll from GG, which she has dubbed "Big Kay Ellis" and "Little Kay Ellis."

This child is such a pleasure to have around. Imagine taking care of a living baby doll that is only smiles and sunshine. This child NEVER cries. It is the strangest thing. Just keep her on her schedule and she's as happy as a clam.

Big Events for the Month: Moving out of the Charleston townhouse, moving fully into the Lexington house, first time in the pool, first big weekend away from Mommy and Daddy.

 No major schedule changes for this month- so see 3 months old if needing a reference. We are still on the 3 hours baby wise schedule. I have shifted her from a 7-7 schedule to an 8-8 schedule to maximize our time outside in the evening. This has allowed us to stay at the pool or lake just a little longer in the evenings. Katy Ellis has not yet learned to appreciate the water yet, but her big sister Blakely is a major water bug.

Oh Pudge Pig Baby!! I just love you so much!!

FOR SALE!!

May 28-30th:
Wednesday, I finished my first job out of residency at Sweetgrass Pediatrics. It was definitely bittersweet. While I am very excited to spend more time at home with my girls, I am going to miss my patients and these sweet women (and Dino!!) that I have had the pleasure to work with for the last two years. Y'all have been my teachers, colleagues, and friends. I feel so blessed to have had the perfect job right out of residency. This is so long, but not good bye!

Thursday, the moving company came to pack up the townhouse. So surreal to see it completely empty! This has been a great home for my family for the last 6 years. We bought this house 1 month before we married, and I lived here for a month by myself. Then we married, honeymooned, and came back to this little house to start our married life together!! After 3 years of just us, we found out we were expecting Blakely. Two years later, we welcomed our sweet Katy Ellis. This little house has brought me so much joy and has seen our family DOUBLE in size. I will always love our little house, but now it is DEFINITELY time to move on to a bigger house. We NEED more space! By the end, we had my mother-in-law sleeping in the hallway behind a shower curtain, Katy Ellis sleeping in a closet, guests sleeping on the floor and my nephew (Banks) in the guest bathroom. We DESPERATELY NEED more space! Onward and upward!!

Friday, we finally, completely moved to Lexington (SC that is. Why does everyone think I am commuting from Kentucky?). This eliminates three obnoxious problems I have had for the last 6 months. Number one- I no longer have to ask myself the question "Is that (insert whatever lost item I am searching for) at the other house?" Number two- the washer and dryer is FINALLY at the same house as the messy kids, the iron/ironing board and their closets. And number three- I don't have to explain WHY we are living in two cities. I've explained it a THOUSAND times, and if you don't value the same things that I do (God as number one, Family as number two, all else a distant third) then you won't understand. Suffice it to say, this is and was the best decision for our family.

Farewell Little house!! Many, many, many wonderful memories!!

I pray that the next family who enjoys your safe harbor will find as much joy within your walls!!
(Obviously, Blakely is devastated to be leaving! Ha!)

It is official!! We are FOR SALE!!! If you know of anyone looking for a spacious 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom townhouse in the West Ashley area give me a call!!

Dear Charleston,
Thank you for 9 amazing years, 2 medical degrees, 2 residencies, 1 fellowship, 1 husband and 2 babies!!!
You were an amazing place to spend my 20's!
Now it is time to take my minivan and move to the burbs!
Lexington here we come!!

Happy Memorial Day, Y'all!!

May 25-26th: Non-stop, Lake Party Y'all!!
This past Sunday, we had our big Memorial Day party at my parents house on Lake Murray!! If you are in the midlands on Memorial day weekend, then you know that it is an official LAKE DAY!! Sunday was so beyond perfect/amazing/fabulous, that we turned it in to a two day party and kept it going on Monday!! Thank you Gigi and PopPop for having the "Perfect Party Pad!!"

Katy Ellis got to try out her Bumbo chair for the first time. She absolutely love it. She think she is a big girl!

"Oh yeah Mama! A girl could get to used to this!"

Gigi had told us there would be a BIG surprise when the kids got to the lake, and she did not disappoint! PopPop had bought and assembled this ADORABLE little play house!!

This kids absolutely loved their new little house complete with front porch, mailbox, kitchen and flower box.

Banks immediately went in and started cooking, while Blakely grabbed the phone and started talking.

Hi Banks!

Gigi added this adorable decal to the mailbox! Welcome home Littles!!

Blakely was cracking us up with this cordless phone. She was walking around and sitting on the porch just chatting away! She would say "Hi Gigi. I right here. Uh-oh. I Blakely. No poo poo. Bye bye."

This girl was loving being in the water. She just played and played and played and played.

Then that night she slept and slept and slept and slept. She didn't wake up until almost 9am the next day (normal wake up is 7am). So crazy!

She kept saying "Come with me PopPop! Come on!" Who could resist this sweet girl?

Obviously not her PopPop!! She is always taking him off on an adventure, and sweet PopPop always says yes. She LOVES him!!!

This little inner tube thing is the jam! Blakely can swim and play on her own. Last summer going to the pool or lake was exhausting because we were always having to hold her. She wanted to be independent, and we wanted her not to drowned. We were at cross purposes. BUT THEN... Behold this hideous yellow suit! Independence and safety in a perfect union!! Too bad fashion got left in the dust.

She is so cute; she makes this yellow suit look good!

One of the best parts of the weekend was that we got to spend lots and lots of time with Uncle Ryan and Aunt Olivia!!

Uncle Ryan winning some major brownie points with Blakely.

The introduction of the bumbo led to an impromptu photo shoot! I thought this one was cute because they both have their hands in their mouths!

I just love these two little girls!! Richard and I had a magical weekend with them and gave us a tease of what life is going to be like once we live here full time!!

COUNT DOWN:
-2 work days for Mommy left
-1 work month for Daddy left
-3 days until the moving truck comes
-4 days until we move into Alston Circle
-ZERO days left for the girls to be on the interstate!!!
-1 home left to sell

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY Y'ALL!!!

From Canada, with Love

May: GrandAnnie is here!!

May seemed like it was going to be rough. I finished my maternity leave, had to leave my two little monkeys at home, returned to work and we had to spend WAY less time at the new house and more time in the townhouse (ie the abandoned warehouse). Instead, thanks to GrandAnnie, May was amazing!! GrandPop, are you sure we can't keep her?

Thanks to Richard, GrandAnnie and I got two Mother's days! On Saturday, he watched the girls while we went to lunch and shopping with Gigi, Pam and Alyssa. Then on Sunday, AnnMarie and I went downtown Charleston for a traditional low country meal at Virginia's on King and Pedicures at East Bay Spa.

As a thank you, we stopped in to Cupcake and brought Rich (and Blakely) some surprises!

GrandAnnie and Blakely trying the Pink sprinkle cupcake. CHEERS!!

Needless to say Blakely LOVED the cupcake. Duh! It's a carbohydrate.

For Mother's day, Richard had beautiful flowers delivered to the house for me and his mama. The doorbell just kept ringing that day! I just love a special delivery.

Gorgeous! Thank you Ricky!!

One day, while GrandAnnie was watching the girls while I was at work, this girl unleashed a new skill. GrandAnnie left the room and when she came back this girl had rolled over from back to front!!

"I was just showing off for GrandAnnie, Mama!"
(If you look closely in the back ground, you can appreciate some of the décor at the abandoned warehouse. Literally, our best chairs in the house are camping chairs! HA! GrandAnnie sleeping in the hall with a shower curtain for privacy. Katy Ellis in a pack 'n play in our closet. Really fancy here, ya'll!)

We had a surprise guest!! GrandAnnie ran down to Florida and brought back Grandma Pinkie to meet Katy Ellis. Pinkie had met Blakely at Brian's wedding 2 years ago, but we did not know how they would get along. Two years is a long time, and we did not expect Blakely to remember her.

At first Blakely was a little hesitant and shy, but Grandma Pinkie gave Blakely lots of personal time and even got down on the floor and played with her. Within an hour she was giving Grandma Pinkie hugs and kisses.

Katy Ellis was a little quicker to give her affections. This little cuddle bug just loves to be held.

My favorite moment of the weekend was definitely when Grandma Pinkie taught Blakely to say, "Oh my stars and garters!" Blakely kept saying "Oh stars! Oh stars!" HA!

We had such a great visit with Grandma Pinkie. I was so happy with how well these two became fast friends. I think Blakely even looks a little bit like Grandma Pinkie.

Three generations of Lapinsky women.

I love this picture! Such a beautiful picture of these three.
Such a wonderful visit, come back and visit soon Grandma Pinkie.

This baby girl just loves her Granny!! The two of them will just spend hours staring at each other, smiling, singing and talking. Katy Ellis has definitely inherited her "gift for gab" from her GrandAnnie. Maybe her singing ability as well?? (fingers crossed!!)
(Notice Blakely saying "cheese" for the camera in the background. HA!)

GrandAnnie was such a trooper during her visit. We had her sleeping in the hallway in Charleston, driving up and down 26 twice a week to go back and forth between Lexington and Charleston and watching babies while I worked. She never complained about our less than stellar accommodations. Don't worry GrandAnnie the new house has a guest room with a door!

These sweet girls love, love, love their GrandAnnie to the moon and back!!

Thank you GrandAnnie for turning what should have been a terrible transition into something amazing!!
Thank you for loving my babies as much as I do.
You are our hero, and we are counting down the minutes until you are with us again!!
We would not have survived moving out our first home, finishing my job and leaving Charleston without you!!
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
 

As I look at this picture, I get choked up again. These three are best buddies and a great team. I am so glad they got this special time together. My only regret is that it had to end. We REALLY, REALLY miss you GrandAnnie!! Hurry back to us GrandAnnie!!!! And bring that Gran-ha fellow with you next time!! (Thank you GrandPop for sparing GrandAnnie. We appreciate your sacrifice. If she were ours, we wouldn't let her go!)