Category: Ellery

I think we can already see a great deal about how their relationship is going to be in 20 years.

I feel a little behind on updates for Ellery. Once she gets bigger and louder, I’m sure she’ll demand her share, but for now, she’s mostly just hanging back.

Ellery, you’re just so…easygoing. Neither of your siblings were like this. Neko was chomping at the bit from day one, and Shep cried and screamed his way to six months. But you’re just hanging out. You love to watch the world go by. Although you’ve recently shown some interest in toys, you’re really just happiest if someone talks and laughs and smiles at you. Clearly a people person from the get-go.

And that interest in toys? We think it may be due to your first tooth, which we discovered yesterday. Chewing on all those things must feel good. And now I have something to pin your non-stop drooling on. Excellent.

You’ve also recently begun exploring sitting for a few seconds on your own. Although, you quickly clunk to the ground or end up with your forehead on the ground in some near-impossible yoga move, you’re giving it a try, and I applaud that.

This morning we gave you a chance to stand at the exersaucer, something that requires me to be three inches away and unoccupied which happens, well, never, thanks to your siblings. Much to my surprise, you could hang out for quite some time if we propped you in the right position.

So even though I don’t have all the time I had with the first two, you seem to be zipping along quite well. And maybe that’s the thing about third children—they’re independent and figure out how to do it on their own. Because they have to. And maybe that’s not such a bad thing at all.

Even more scrumptious than an iPhone.

After the kids bent our sunglasses into oblivion, we decided maybe it was their subtle way of saying that they’d like some sunglasses, too. So when we were at Target, Neko picked out a glittery pink pair. Shep picked out a green Diego pair (but nearly picked out some glam Hello Kitty ones). And then we decided we should get some Thomas ones for their cousin Chris, who would be arriving in a few days.

In the meantime, Neko has decided that Ellery should wear them.

A few days ago Susie came over to get the exersaucer out of the Babies ‘R’ Us in our basement. She mentioned it, and I’m all like, “Oh. Is it that time already?”

When I stopped to think about it, I am noticing Ellery looks a little bored these days, and she sure does like being upright. So we got out our exersaucer, and lo and behold, she’s totally into it. Of course, so are Neko and Shep, so she might have to fight for it.

I didn’t take a single photo today, so it seemed like a good time to post one from 5/11 that my dad sent me of Alex and Ellery. I have a feeling this scene may be repeated sometime in college.

As a third child, I’m trying to make sure Ellery doesn’t look back and think we forgot about her on the porch for a few months. But it’s hard. The other two are constantly on the go and moving and climbing on me and asking for things and needing to be fed and clothed and then omigosh where did the whole day go? Then I look down and a little smiling face is looking up at me from the sling and I feel a pang of guilt. I hope I’m giving her enough. I’m a third child, and I seem to have turned out okay, but my mom was superhuman and was used to taking care of seven younger siblings. The three of us must have been cake in comparison.

Anyway, I’m learning to love this little pumpkin a whole lot. She’s so laid back in comparison to the others. Sure, she has her crying jags, but only when she’s hungry or tired. Otherwise, she’s chock full of smiles and good nature. So she must be happy, right?

Ellery, I hope you’re taking in the little hugs and kisses I squeeze in between prepping lunch and tying shoes. I hope you feel like part of the action when we’re singing the alphabet or counting cars. And know that you may not be getting my full attention, but that is fully made up for by your two siblings who think you are quite possibly the most delicious thing on Earth. If she could, Neko would take you to bed with her each night. She would tuck you under her arm and tote you around. Shep wanders over several times a day and looks at me with his furrowed brow and demands with extended arms, “Hold her.” You get more kisses from that kid than your father and I put together.

So hang in there. And just think, when Neko and Shep move out, you will have my full attention and will likely develop eye strain from the sheer volume of eye-rolling you do in response to the vast attention I lavish on you each day.

Ellery’s party girl ways are beginning to wear on us. We get Neko and Shep to bed and she boings awake. Or she’s awake until they go to bed, and then only sleeps if she’s being held, otherwise she’s screaming. Or sometimes she just spends hours on end screaming even if she’s being held. However it shakes out, it’s usually at least 11 or 12 until she conks out for good.

Anyway, it’s getting old.

So I’ve been reading up on sleep theories, and last night we tried some new techniques. And, lo and behold, she fell asleep. At 8:30pm. For good.

Half of me is beyond excited because maybe this could be the beginning of something good. The other half of me thinks it was just a one-time fluke. And the third half (I was always bad at math) is a little bit sad, because if this does really work, then my evenings of snuggling with a teeney, tiny baby on my chest are mostly over.

It may have been a crappy day, but Ellery really is starting to smile. Definitely what I needed.