Elle at Two Months

Editor’s Note: Happy Monday! Today’s post is the second in a series of monthly updates that will be published during Elle’s first year. You can read my letter to Elle at one month here. 

A Letter to My Daughter

My sweet Elle,

How in the world has it been two months already? Paradoxically, it feels as if time has both flown by and stood still. While I don’t know how it’s been two months already, I also feel as if you’ve been with us forever. I certainly can’t imagine life without you.

At two months old, you now weigh 9 pounds 15 ounces. You can’t get much closer to ten pounds than that! In fact, while we were at the doctor’s office, I jokingly asked if I could give you some milk in order to boost you over the ten pound mark. Double digit poundage – here we come!

The great part is that you have progressed so much up the size charts. Here’s how you’ve moved up in the world, weight wise:

• At birth, one percent
• At one week: two percent
• At one month: sixth percentile
• At two months: eighteenth percentile! Grow, Elle, grow!

At two months old, consequently, you have grown the cutest cheeks! And you are getting chubby everywhere else too. Again, it’s a mix of emotions – logically I know growing is good for you, but it makes me sad in some ways that you are growing so quickly. In fact, I have to admit, I got a bit emotional as you grew out of your preemie size clothes. Speaking of…

At two months old, you are starting to fit in 0 to 3 month sized clothing. While we are still squeezing into some newborn sized clothes, I have a feeling that we are in our last week or so of those clothes. The good news is that there are a lot more cute outfit options now that you are out of the preemie and newborn realm of sizes! Important stuff, right?

At two months old, you now are 21.25 inches. It’s still looking like you’ll be tall, which makes sense since both mommy and daddy are pretty tall.

At two months old, you still have blond hair and blue eyes – just like your dad. It is cool to see how much you look like your big sisters and brother. Those Hogan genes are strong! Now, up until just the last week or so, I saw none of myself in you. But my side of the family has recently started commenting that pictures of you resemble pictures of me as a baby. So, that’s pretty cool. Prior to that, based on looks, I wasn’t quite sure if you were mine. 😉

At two months old, you have started becoming more interactive and reactive. In fact, we are starting to get some smiles! And that is the coolest thing in the world! Seriously, your smiles melt my heart. Your smiles more than make up for all the lack of sleep and rough times and all that. Those thing fade away when I see you smiling back at me.

At two months old, you also are starting to talk back to us when we speak. It’s fun to have little conversations with you. Besides that, you are starting to react to some of your brightly colored toys. It’s fun to watch your eyes track the toys and to see you even start to reach for things.

At two months old, you’ve met even more family and friends in the last month. The family highlights included meeting your big brother Rob (age 23) and your Aunt Macey (also age 23). Funny, huh? Your brother Rob had been working in Colorado for the summer and finally made it back to Texas. Mommy’s (much younger) sister Macey is currently in law school at the University of Virginia and had some internship interviews here in Houston. In addition, your big sisters Claire and Lauren spent more time with you this month. And it is the best thing to watch how much they love you. I love watching them dote on you, take pictures of you, bring their friends over to meet you, post photos of you on their social media. It really warms my heart.

At two months old, you’ve already watched a great deal of horse racing, tennis, and golf with Dad. You’re going to know all about how to bet on horse races by the time you can talk – I’m sure of it.

At two months old, you’ve acquired another nickname. Your Aunt Kelli loves to call you her little nugget, or nuggie for short. It’s really cute and fits you well.

At two months old, we’ve made one big change, and that’s welcoming someone into our life to help take care of you and love on you. One of my goals in this second month was to find a sustainable scenario for us – a situation that would allow mom to resume being productive and stay sane by taking care of myself as needed, plus a situation that would allow you to be safe and secure and well loved and cared for. And we couldn’t have been more blessed and fortunate and lucky to find Miss J. We love her like family already, and she loves you.

Finally, at two months old, you have changed my life even more. I have a love for you that is a love like no other, sweet girl. No matter what life brings, mama is here for you. I will always love and protect you. I will always be your biggest advocate and cheerleader. Nothing can come in between us.

I love you so very much, my Elle Belle.

Love,

Mom

A Few More Things

A huge thank you goes out to Ailee Petrovic for the beautiful photos, as well as Big Ass Balloons and Riley Elizabeth Designs for the fabulous balloon. We hope you all have a great week and we’ll see you back here tomorrow morning!