Ellie Learns a Sunday School Song

Aunt Alvana Comes for a Visit!

On Friday night, Howie's sister, Alvana came flew down to visit us for a few days! She is here until Sunday and we're having a great time with her! Ellie loves her Aunt and has taken to her very well!

Ellie Finds Her Leg Muscles!

Ellie in her Stroller

Quality Time

Mommy taking Ellie for a stroll around the neighborhood



Mommy loves to give her kisses!




Ellie enjoys getting all dolled up to go out!





Starry loves her little sister!

Eliana Smiles!!!

We FINALLY caught several of Ellie's adorable smiles on video, from her smirk, to her Elvis impression, to her wide open-mouthed smile! Enjoy the video - and see if you can't help but smile back!!!

Ellie Pooh Bear

Ellie was just too precious for word in her brown and pink sleeper with her Winnie the Pooh beanie! Below is an adorable video of Daddy-Daughter time - Howie didn't want to post it because the professional photographer in Howie (and the fact that he's a Crosby) said that the video is too dark and not clear enough, but I'm posting it anyway cuz it's too cute not to! LOL

Sleep!!

I forgot to post on Tuesday, but we had Ellie's 1 month doctors appt. She is now 8llbs 5 ounces!! Also, yesterday, Alvana (my sister) came down to visit! It's so great to have her here, and for her to meet her niece. :)
Last night after picking her up at the airport, we all came home and were quite tired so we all wanted to go right to bed. Well, Ellie was ready for her feeding. Since soon after Eliana was born, and when Hannah was unable to breast feed, we had to use some formula to supplement while Hannah was healing. So every now and then, we still use the formula when she isn't able to breast feed. Well, last night I used the formula when I was feeding her to put her to sleep. I figured something out the other day, if you add just a little bit extra formula, making it a little thicker, then she sleeps a little better. So when I fed her last night about midnight, I added a little extra formula. Well, that did the trick! We had to wake her up at about 4:30 this morning to feed her again! You see for the last few days she been going about an hour between feeding at night, which has left Hannah and I a little on the tired side. So, having 4 hours of stright sleep was a HUGE blessing. Hannah fed her from about 4:30 to 5:30 and she then slept till about 7:30. Yeah, compared to recent nights, we had a great night sleep! I am now awake and refreshed! :)
Once everyone else wakes up, i'll upload more pictures. Hope everyone has a great day!!

Bath Time!

For Mommy and Daddy, we think it's bath time for Ellie, but it looks like she thinks its time for boxing lessons! :) LOL

Ellie perfecting her right hook...



Now that boxing lessons are over, lets get cleaned up...

Eliana likes getting cleaned up!



Watch out, I'll throw my right hook again!



Drying off...




She was so good throughout the whole bath! Didn't cry or anything. :) Isn't her hair SO cute!?!






Ellie thinks she ready to do it on her own!

The Happy Family

On Sunday, we finally got some family photos

taken, so that all three of us are in a good picture

together. Thanks to Amy for taking them:)

Amy's Visit Comes to an End :(

Saying goodbye to Amy at the airport. Thanks again for everything!!!

Amy Arrives in Florida!

One of my best friends from Delaware, Amy Cain, came down to visit us for a few days to meet Eliana and help out. She arrived on June 4th and stayed thru the 7th. Her visit overlapped with Sarah and Janines for a day - which was very fun! Poor Howie had all that estrogen in the house, but he is such a Super Trooper! Her trip was extra special because Amy is expecting a little Bundle of Joy herself!

Sarah and Janine Say Goodbye :(

Sarah and Janine - thank you for all your help! We appreciate

all that you did for us on your trip! You guys are great and we

are so happy you came to viist! We already miss you!

Mommy and Daddy Times

Napping with daddy is so peaceful!


Ellie is becoming an avid Crosby traveler!

Learning to Shop with Mommy at the mall!

Sarah & Janine's Surprise Visit!!!

On Monday, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Howie came home from work early! Only to find out that he was 'only there to grab some papers and head back to the office' - or so he told me. He wanted to hold Ellie for a few minutes before he left. I was in the process of nursing her, but relinquished her anyway. All of a sudden, there was a knock at the door and since Howie had the baby in his arms, he asked that I get it. I then proceeded to make myself decent and answer the door after the second knock. LOW AND BEHOLD - my sisters were standing there to surprise me from Delaware! My parents, Howie, Sarah and Janine kept it a secret all the while telling me that they were't able to come visit us after Ellie was born. They got it on video - the best one being on Sarah's camera and unfortunately we didn't have a way to hook it up and download it, but needless to say, I was so shocked and surprised I almost shut the door in their faces! LOL I love you girls so much - thanks for coming down!!!

Missing Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop!

Dad and Mom did a great job of gardening with us while they were down here! These are our new planters on either side of our back porch. :) Didn't they do a great job on them?! :)



Mom and Hannah in the Kitchen making 'The Last Supper' (Which was great by the way!)

Ellie sleeping in her swing chair...

This evening after we took Dad and Mom to the airport, we came home and took Ellie for a walk around the neighborhood. She misses them!! She also can't wait to see the rest of her family!

Morning time with Mommy!

A cute video from Tuesday morning..

Another Doctor Visit

Today we went to the doctors again. WOW what a difference!! We went to University of South Florida campus at Tampa General hospital. Our doctor that came in was a guy, which at first I guess I would have rather had a woman doctor looking after my daughter. However, he blew me away! He was so great with her, was extremely knowledgeable. Talked with us about what we should be expecting over the coming weeks, stuff that looked good about Eliana, things to keep an eye one. Here's something that he told us, that I would have never known, it is normal for a baby to have 8 messy diapers a day, it is also normal for them to only have one messy diaper in a week! (A number 2, that is, a wet diaper should average about the same number of feedings) So yeah, I was very, very impressed with him. Oh, and he also washed his hands, after he entered the room and had touched the dirty door handle. Then when he sat down and typed stuff up on the computer, he washed his hands again before touching Eliana again! We had taken Eliana in because she was getting green goop in her eyes, and it spread from one eye to the other. I don't know the name of it, but I know that you need eye drops to get rid of it. So not only did he take care of her as far as her eyes went, but he checked everything else out as well. VERY impressed!! His name was Danny Lenord for the record, and a special thanks to him for doing a great job!

Back to Work!

So yesterday I came back to work...
It's good to be back, and get stuff done... But not being with Hannah and Eliana isn't fun. I love the time that I am able to spend with her at night. It is so cute to hold her and have her looking up at me just staring with wonder. Wathcing her make all sorts of cute faces!
But, for now, it's back to the grindstone...