Sadness with a Snotty Nose

Last Sunday was Eloise's first time to church as I was in much need of some spiritual nourishment and socialization. Although it went pretty well, there were several drawbacks and I am sorry to admit that I put my own needs ahead of my baby, but what's a mom to do? I should have prepared myself better for all the random people wanting to touch her. Only a select few of our close friends held her that day, but Brian and I were not as diligent in insisting that people use hand sanitizer before touching her as we had been when visitors came to the house. Now Eloise and I are paying the consequences and it makes me so sad to see her suffer. I have been sucking nasty yellow boogers out of her nose left and right all day long, and it never seems to let up although the saline drops do help. Luckily there is no fever and she is sleeping pretty well, minus the constant gurgling sound as air attempts to sneak through her snot-filled nasal passages. She can't suck on her pacifier for comfort since she must open her mouth to breathe. I feel as though I have failed my little one in protecting her and watching her suffer is heartbreaking despite the fact it is a common cold. I hope it will clear up soon.
On a related side note, some people just really irritate me. While at church, I was walking through the hall trying to find Brian and I was holding Ella in my arms (as I had just finished feeding her) and this woman (whom I have never met) came straight up to me and tried to pull El out of my arms. Trying not to be rude (as she so plainly was) I said "I don't believe I know you". She went on to say that she was very close with another well-known person in the ward, as if that would make me trust her. Regardless of her desire to hold my child, I kept moving and found Brian soon enough. At the end of the third hour I tucked Eloise into her car-seat as Brian helped put away chairs. Several other friends came to take a peak at her, but there were many whom I had never seen before. Now I know this is church and we are all supposed to be friends, but it is really irritating to me when there are people whom I have never spoken to at church who come up to me now that I have a cute, adorable baby and expect friendship and trust. I guess it's human nature to be drawn to cute babies, but I find it rude for others to assume they can hold my baby when they don't even know my name (and even if they do that does not grant them admittance). Just because we are members of the same church does not mean I trust you. The woman that I mentioned above, came up to me holding someone else's baby and told me "I take everyone's baby and don't worry I always give them back". I responded with as polite a smile I could muster and kept my mouth shut, as many thoughts came to mind that were not so Christ-like. Just because everyone else lets her hold their babies does not mean that I want her holding mine. My trust is not so easily given. By the time Brian was finished, I had just about had it with the random people who hung around me having nothing more original or interesting to say about my baby and no interest in getting to know me. Although it can be nice to have admirers of my precious one, my inside's were just screaming "Back Off and leave me alone!".
I would love some in-site from many of you whom I know have been through this before or have had to deal with similar situations. Forgive me if I sound too harsh.

The Right Name

Today Eloise turned 1 month old!


Aslinn and I spent much time looking through baby names (thanks Erin for the book) trying to pick the perfect name for our little Eloise. I think that we have picked the right one.

Eloise is a combination of Ella (Light) + Louise (Warrior). There are other meanings for each of these names, but those are the ones we liked, and the combination is Warrior of Light, which is pretty cool.

Eloise loves to look at lights. No matter how big or small the light is, she will find the light in the room and stare. Or maybe she's just trying to avoid looking at me? Plus, Eloise lights up the room when she comes in (if I ever let her leave). She is such a little sweetheart:) See her beautiful smile below and see if you don't light up :D



What a fighter too! She still has a tendency to kick her socks off at every opportunity, and kicks her blankets off while she is sleeping. She tried to kick my head off today! I was laying on the couch minding my own business when Eloise starts kicking me in the head! Now granted she was eating, and maybe she was worried that I would move in on her territory, so it was all justified. I don't remember her kicking when she was in Aslinn's tummy! I guess these are what is known as growing pains?