8 Months Old

Ella is 8 months old today!  I cannot believe how fast time has gone by. I enjoy watching her grow and learn.

Now that she's 8 months old, Ella

• is in 12 month sized clothing
• is wearing size 4 diapers
• weighs 19.2 pounds.
• Nurses every 3-5 hours.
• She loves to eat. She still enjoys the little baby puff snacks that melt in her mouth and loves table food. We mainly give her bread or potatoes. She tried yogurt for the first time today and enjoyed it. Ella drinks from both sippy cups and bottles.
• Takes about 2-3 naps a day and still wakes up at least once a night. Ella has been sick so we are up a lot lately at night.
• Loves it when her daddy and or mommy comes home from work
• enjoys going outside
• is crawling and everywhere and pulling up on everything. She has learned to climb the step in the living area and can get every where in the house now. Ella wants to walk so badly. She will pull up on things and let go. She also loves to walk around holding someones hands. She can stand for a few seconds by herself.
• enjoys grabbing things, especially electronics like mommy and daddy's phones
• Has just started saying all done and shaking her hands to sign "all done". She is saying dada, but has said mama only once. 
• wants to listen to music when she is tired in order to go to sleep
• Loves entertaining herself playing with toys and talking.
• She has two bottom teeth and her two eye teeth
  Ella is such and wonderful baby. We are so thankful for her. 

7 Months old

Ella turned 7 months old November 14

Now that she's 7 months old, Ella

• is in 12 month sized clothing (she can wear very few of her 9 months clothes and can also wear some 18 month clothes)
• is wearing size 4 diapers
• weighs probably around 19 or 20 pounds. Weighed 18.2 pounds on Nov 1 at her checkup
• Still nurses every 3-4 hours
• is very interested in food. She loves to eat the little baby puff snacks that melt in her mouth and loves table food. We mainly give her bread or potatoes. Ella also has been introduced to a sippy cup and after trying different ones, likes the cheap plastic top ones.
• Takes about 2-3 naps a day and since her hospital stay she wakes up about one time a night
• Loves it when her daddy and or mommy comes home from work
• enjoys going outside
• is crawling and everywhere and pulling up on everything. Ella wants to walk so badly. She will pull up on things and let go. She also loves to walk around holding someones hands.
• enjoys grabbing things, especially electronics like mommy and daddy's phones
• high fives and claps. When she claps she says yea. She is trying to wave but has not totally figured it out.
• wants to listen to music when she is tired in order to go to sleep
• enjoys her johnny jumper and will entertain herself for a long period of time with her toys on the floor
• loves to scream and make noises. She is very loud!
• She has two bottom teeth and one tooth just came through on top (5 more are on their way!)
  I can't believe how quick she is growing up. The doctor told us developmentally she is about 3 months ahead. She figures things out very quickly. She is my joy and I love her so much.

6 Months Old

I just realize I had not updated this blog in 6 months! A lot has happened in the last 6 months. Our little Ella is getting so big.

Now that she's 6 months old, Ella

• is in 9 months and 12 months sized clothing (depends if she is wearing a cloth diaper or disposable)
• We use cloth diapers at home and disposables when we are out and at night. When she is wearing disposables she is in size 4 diapers
• weighs over 20 lbs (her next checkup is Nov 1)
• Still nurses every 3-4 hours
• She is very interested in food. She loves to eat the little baby puff snacks that melt in her mouth and baby food/baby oatmeal. Her favorite is squash and sweet potatoes. She does not like apple sauce.
• Takes about 3 naps a day and since her hospital stay she wakes up about one time a night
• Loves it when her daddy comes home
• enjoys going outside
• is crawling and scooting everywhere. She is working on getting from a crawling position to a sitting up position. She is sitting up great and is scooting to mommy when she wants to be picked up.
• enjoys grabbing things, especially electronics like mommy and daddy's phones
• high fives and even sounds like she says "Hey" when people tell her hi
• wants to listen to music when she is tired in order to go to sleep
• enjoys her exersuacer and floor time
• loves to scream and make noises. She is very loud!
• She has her bottom teeth.
  Last month we went to Disney with Ella and she did great. She loved the characters and even tried to eat Pluto. I think she thought it was a big stuffed animal. Stuffed animals are her favorite toys. 

Ella is so sweet

Today Ella is 1 week and 1 day old.  She was born April 14th at 8:39 am via c-section.  She was 7 lbs and 7 oz and 20 inches long.  I was able to hold her right after they took her out and they were still doing the surgery.  She is such a beautiful little girl.  We stayed at the hospital for 3.5 days and 3 nights.  We had wonderful nurses and a really good experience.  I have been recovering really well; there is still a lot I can't do though.  Ella looks A LOT like her daddy.  She seems to have my hands and feet and possibly my eyes.  She is a really good baby.  She only cries when she is hungry or cold and wakes up about 2 times a night to eat.  The feedings can last up to or over an hour because she likes to fall asleep right away before she is full.  Todd is such a great daddy and Ella responds to his voice and touch.  He seems to calm her really well.  Todd had a "first" last night with her.  I have so much milk that I do pump and he was able to feed her last night.  I think the milk must have come out too fast for her and she spit up/threw up all the milk ALL over herself and her daddy.  If anyone knows Todd he was pretty disgusted.  We have some funny daddy stories already which with his permission I may post later.  I woke up yesterday morning laughing so hard at what he was doing that my mom came running in the room thinking I was crying. 
Speaking of my mom, she has been great.  She has stayed the night with us since Ella came home and has really helped out.  My parents are out of town this weekend, so tonight is the first night just the 3 of us.  Our friends and neighbors have brought us delicious meals at dinner time the last few days which has been awesome.
I hope to be able to post pictures soon.

Ella is coming!

I am 39 weeks and 2 days today.  Ella is still in the breech position.  If she does not flip in the next few days her birthday will be April 14th.  I really was hoping to have her naturally but we have peace about our decision and we can't wait to meet our little girl.  We finally have her room complete and have everything (we hope!) we need.  Tomorrow is my last day of work before Ella comes. 
Our parents are really excited as well.  It seems weird to know we will have her here not later than Thursday!  I am really not nervous or scared that it looks like I will have a c-section, but I am not looking forward to recovering from surgery as well as adjusting to having a newborn.  I am however looking forward to having our newborn here with us. 
The last few nights have been sleepless; it is hard to get comfortable with this belly, but worth every minute.

Just a little over 2 days! 

38 Weeks

I am 38 months pregnant today.  We are looking forward to meeting Ella!  Currently Ella is still breech.  We are hoping for her to flip before D-day but are also preparing ourselves for the chance this does not happen.  I have peace about however she gets here.  I am anxious to hold her for the first time.  We have had 4 baby showers and Ella has A LOT of clothes.  I am sure she will wear most of it :)  Her nursery is just about ready.  My mom has made her quilt, bed skirt, and is in the process of making her curtains and decorations for the wall.  My friend Becky made letters that spell out her name and sister-in-law Brandi got her a few decorations for the room as well.  I can't wait to get it all up.  I have my bag and Ella's bag packed.  Im ready and excited!

Sweet Ella

Since my last post we have had 2 ultrasounds and we are having a girl!  We are excited and can't wait for our little girl's arrival.  We have decided to name her Gabriella Alyzabeth. We will call her Ella, Todd's nickname for her is Ella-bell (so sweet).  We have our baby furniture and a few clothes so far.  This wee I am 25 weeks along, so we only have around 15 weeks left.  I cannot believe how quick the time has gone by.  I love feeling our little girl move around inside me; it is the neatest feeling.  I have been told that pretty soon it will be a bit annoying though once she is bigger. 

My mom is going to make Ella's bedding and we will be going soon to pick out the material for that.  I am excited to pick out cute little girly things.  This is an exciting time