What day is it?? My days are beginning to run together! Let's see...Monday was a good day...Ella went down for the night on Sunday night at 9:30 and slept all the way until 6am! Those nights are always my favorite...and it was the first night in months and months that I actually slept through the entire night without waking up once! Josh and I both worked and Ella was at the sitter's for the day...although she came home in a different outfit...it was not the one she arrived there in...glad she was at the sitter's for that one ;)

Tuesday morning...ehh a different story...Ella was up at 4:48am and ready to eat...no problem...she eats and goes right back to sleep...when I get woken up at that hour...I rarely can go back to sleep...so I laid in bed hoping to fall asleep...which never happened...that was a, "stop and get coffee on my way to work" morning :) I picked Ella up after work...normally Josh picks her up every night but he has night training for a few days this week...so I was on duty...we came home and she was all smiles....

 

However that didn't last for very long...she was super fussy...the fussiest she has ever been...I did everything I could think of...she had multiple diaper changes, a new outfit put on, we sang every song that I knew, played with every toy we own, went in the swing, walked around, ate...she would be happy for 5 minutes...then get fussy...over and over...finally at 8:30 my patience was worn out and I thought...I'm sure she must be ready for bed...my plan was to rock her in the dark room with hopes that would make her sleepy and put her right out! Well we go downstairs and as I am holding her getting ready to sit in the rocking chair...she spits up...and I won't go into details....but eeewwww....so that was what had her so cranky...I quickly laid her down on our bed...so I could peel my soaked t-shirt off...after spitting up...she was instantly happy...I rocked her for a few minutes (which she didn't really need - she was out within 30 seconds!) and put her to bed...which I then also went to bed!

Wednesday morning was a repeat...up at 5am...however I was able to fall back asleep this time...until 7 at least :) Grandma and Grandpa O'Bryan came over for a visit...so that was exciting! Ella had a bath today...bath time really isn't her favorite...every time I put her in the bath tub...she just gives me this look of, "what are you doing mom??" She just stares up at me puzzled....but the minute she is out of that tub and in her towel...she just grins and grins!

 

Ella spent her afternoon napping, and we read lots of books, she helped Mommy fold laundry and do some organization, and we played with toys...we had a busy afternoon :)

This is Ella in her new PJ's and playing with her favorite...Katie the Caterpillar! 

Long Week!

Where to start...what a busy week we've had! I ended up working all week this past week as my work is installing a new computer system. So extra training had to be done...and I was helping put our inventory on the new system...working full time with a young baby is hard work! Needless to say - I'm not ready for full-time for a while...I really missed having those few days off with my little girl!

Well we survived the earthquake! What an experience that was....I don't recall ever having been in an earthquake like that before! I was at work in our lab. And in our lab it is all glass shelves and lots of trays stacked up for the "jobs"...well those shelves and trays started rattling...and I kept saying over and over, "is this an earthquake, do you think we are having an earthquake??" Finally someone answered and said, "yeah - I think it is an earthquake." Well that was all I needed to hear...I threw the glasses that I had in my hand on the table and ran :) Josh never even felt it! He was outside when it happened at the shooting range and they never felt it out there. Although he felt a few of the aftershocks! The one at 1:00am woke him right up...and I slept through that one!

Then there was the superglue accident this week...Josh was super-gluing something together...and called for my help...I went into the kitchen to see a mound of super glue on the counter...I immediately grabbed a sponge and started to wipe up the superglue...I stuck the sponge under the sink to run it under water...and I went to let go of the sponge...and it stuck to my fingers...so I pulled and chunks of sponge stuck to my fingers! Well Josh didn't see the sponge stuck to my fingers...he was concerned about getting the glue off the counter...so he grabbed the sponge and started to scrub at the counter...sure enough he did the same thing I did...except he had it worse! I had tears running down my cheeks from laughing so hard...it finally wore off...time for a new sponge...and time to get rid of the super glue! :)

Ella is growing like a little weed...she will be 3 1/2 months on Tuesday...although she is still in all her 3 months outfits...it won't be long and we'll be moving up a size. She has her next Doctor appointment on the 23rd...so still a few more weeks to go before we see how much she weighs...my arms can definitely tell you she has gained some weight though :)

Here is a little picture of the princess sleeping...I felt like the only time I saw her this week this is what she was doing!

3:53am

3:53 A.M.....yes that is the time Ella woke up this morning....as did Mom. Well it's really not that unusual - she normally is up anywhere from 3:30-5:30 most nights...eats and goes back to bed. Well I was trying to be nice...so when Ella started to wake up at 3:53...I thought well I am going to take her upstairs since Josh will be up at 4:30...and I wanted him to be able to get all the sleep he could. So upstairs we go...Ella eats and I put her in her swing...I went and laid down on the bed that is upstairs. When I went to go lay down - around 4:30 - Ella was still awake, but happy. I of course never go back to sleep....but instead "rested" for a bit...thinking about the day ahead of me. 5am - might as well get up and get in the shower (Ella is now asleep). After my shower, I'm downstairs...and Josh comes down with Ella...I was like what are you doing?? He told me that she woke up. To which I responded...well was she crying?? He said no - just looking around. (This wasn't part of my morning plan - I thought for sure she would sleep the entire time I was getting ready...but clearly this was not going to happen)...but we made it out of the house in time (by 7am). I again - thought she would sleep the entire way to the sitters (she does every morning we go) - again she proves me wrong...never once closed her eyes! The sitter said she did get a good 2 1/2 hour nap in this afternoon! And as I type this - Ella is fast asleep in her swing! :)

So work from 8-5, pick Ella up, come home and make dinner, feed Ella, bathe Ella, fold and put away a load of laundry, dishes, prepare lunches for tomorrow...I am EXHAUSTED now...and to top it all off...this cold just hit me about 30 minutes ago :( My sore throat was all better by Sunday...I was feeling good...and all day I have been sneezing...I knew it was coming!! I just wanted to get that off my shoulders - Super Mom ;) Ok not really - I know Moms all over the world do that everyday...it's tiring....8:30 is my bed time tonight :)

Well we did have a pretty quiet weekend...yesterday we lost power for about 3 hours...we came home from church and I was going on and on about how I loved AC - church was really warm yesterday...and then not even an hour later our power goes out (which means so did the central air)...so it quickly became nap time for all since there wasn't much else that could be done :) All those chores would just have to wait!

Here is a picture of Ella ready for church....

 

It was really funny...I got Ella ready to this point...then I handed her to Josh...while I went and got dressed for church. He put her in her car seat and added socks to her outfit. I come upstairs...and looked at her and burst out laughing...he put white socks on and had them pulled up (they almost reached her knees!) - I said what are you doing with those socks?? He said in a very practical tone - her feet were cold. Daddy - it's all about fashion ;) It's ok - he'll soon learn! So Mom removed the socks! And instead added a blanket around her legs for the car ride.

Ella likes to Share...

Well Ella has learned to share...her sickness that is! Ella is feeling almost all the way better...still a little stuffy...but her cough is almost gone...but yes...now she has given it to Mom :( Although all I have right now is the really sore throat...I'm sure the rest will come...so Ella and I are still sleeping upstairs while Josh is downstairs...I'm really trying to avoid getting him sick too! And so it begins I've been told...the start of many colds to be shared! :)

We had quite a lazy day today...Josh was off...although he wasn't lazy...he finished a 16 page paper today...for his Masters class...which I proofread for him...a 16 page paper on China and their business ethics...not pleasurable reading :) Ella and I played this morning...and then she took a 3 hour nap this afternoon....yay for me...I took an hour nap while she slept...which was much needed!

Ella has learned something new again! She was just reaching out and grabbing her toys...today I set them down on her belly or next to her and she was picking them up all by herself! So cute to see her get excited that she was holding her toys all by herself!

Well tomorrow brings more of the same....errands to do, chores around the house...Ella's cousins sent down lots of toys for Ella to play with...so I need to find a home for all these toys...so I think I will be doing some organizing tomorrow!

Chatty Cathy...

So little Miss Ella today has been such a "chatty cathy!" She has just been making all kinds of noises today...I couldn't resist posting a few pictures...

Ella only took about a 45 minute nap today - that's it! I tried all kinds of things to get her to go to sleep...rocking her, singing to her, feeding her, giving her the paci...she wasn't having any of it...I set her in her boppy lounger while I stepped into the kitchen to make dinner...I peak around the corner...and this is how I find her...

All that talking finally made her sleepy! :)

Ella is Feeling Better...

Cold vs Allergies - it was her first little cold! :( Over the past few days Ella has gotten through her first cold. It started Saturday night with her coughing quite a bit through the night...then Sunday came and that's when the sneezing began...she dealt with that all day Sunday with a little fever to go along with it. Sunday night I kept her in her swing for the night as I didn't want her to lay down as that's when her coughing begins. So I made up the bed in Ella's room (we have a double bed in her room as well...which serves as our "guest room/Ella's room")...and brought her swing in there for the night. Monday comes, and thankfully my mom was able to come and watch Ella...I really didn't feel comfortable bringing her to the sitter's as she was coughing and sneezing...I didn't want to share the love with the other kids there! So Ella got to spend the day with her Grandma! I came home Monday night and the poor little girl was looking a little rough :( Her cheeks were all pink, eyes were red, and she was so stuffy! I took her temperature and it was a little higher...so I gave in and gave her some baby Tylenol (the Doctor said she was allowed to have some after her shots a few weeks ago - but I hate to give medicine unless it's absolutely necessary) -so Ella got 3/4 of a dose of baby Tylenol....grape flavored...she was a BIG fan of that - she sucked it right down :) Then I had also read about bringing them into a steamy bathroom...so I ran the shower with the door closed...and after a few minutes I carried her into the bathroom...and we hung out in the steam for about 10 minutes...she liked that! She was holding her head up and looking all around and best of all - breathing a little easier. She slept again in her swing. Tuesday it was more of  the same...Grandma stayed with her again...still a little cough, stuffy nose...but no fever. Again - slept in her swing. Now it's Wednesday - and she seems to be doing much better. Still has a cough whenever she is laying down - so I think I'll keep her in her swing for another night. We all survived her first cold! :) I got little sleep as I was always waking up to check on her and making sure that she was breathing ok...but with a couple cups of coffee I was good to go!

This is a picture of Ella after her bath Sunday night...she wasn't really happy about the bath, getting out of the bath, being wet....she just wasn't feeling good!

So I have to tell you of my amazing deal on diapers/wipes! My friend Erin told me that she bought her diapers from Amazon...and I was like really?? I happen to LOVE Amazon and always do about 75% of my Christmas shopping from there - it's just one of my favorite sites! So I check it out...do a little research...and found that they have some good deals! I signed up a while back for Amazon Mom or something like that - so it makes you an Amazon Prime customer - free 1 day shipping, etc. So with these diapers I found that you get 15% for being an Amazon Mom, AND if you sign up for subscribe and save - you get another 15% off! YAY! Subscribe and save is you put yourself on an automatic order (1 month, 2 months, 3 months or 6 months) and they send you what you have on your "subscribe and save" order for whichever duration you pick. So my bargain - Josh only likes the Pampers Swaddlers with little color changing line that shows when they have messy pants :) If the color has changed and its really bright...he knows he's going to be calling me to help :) So they had those - 234 diapers for $51.44 - BUT after my Amazon Mom/Subscribe and Save deal - I got them for $30! I was quite excited...same goes for wipes - I like the Huggies Natural Care wipes - $15 for 648 wipes! So $45 and I know that will last for at least 6 weeks - not too bad! Whoever thought I would be price checking for diapers and wipes - not me! :)

Cold vs. Allergies...

First - I went through and read my last post - yes there were a few typos and misspellings - sorry - I don't like to make mistakes in my writing...however, my "mommy mind" at 10:00pm got the best of me :)

Well is it a cold or is it allergies? Ella coughed some last night. Which of course made for a restless night of sleep for mom - every time she coughed I sat up in bed, reached for my glasses (because I can't see without them!) and peered over the edge of her pack and play and waited for her to move and make a little noise...which of course she always did...but I needed that reassurance that yes she is in fact breathing and is just fine. Finally at 7, after tossing and turning all night, I got up and Ella was just looking around waiting for someone to pick her up :) We came upstairs and Ella had breakfast and got some fresh clothes on...and then her sneezing began :( She sneezed about 10 times in an hour...which of course seems like a lot to me. So the slightly paranoid person that I am is researching online about cold vs. allergies in infants....the conclusion....I have no idea?? She has only coughed once in the last 3 hours, sneezed quite a bit, is rubbing her eyes a lot...and that's all I've got so far....so I swept the floors, did a little dusting, and soon will be vacuuming...to see if that helps. So we decided that we would be skipping church today :( Josh actually had a training that he is doing this morning with the academy and I don't want Ella around other kids...in case it is a cold...or maybe just her immune system is a little weak. I just put her in her swing and she went right back to sleep - I'm hoping she has a good long nap!

Yesterday we had the discussion of right handed vs. left handed. Josh is a lefty, and I am right-handed. What will Ella be?? Well of course it is too early to tell...but we noticed that Ella when she goes in for the grab - is favoring her left hand....time will tell! :)

Pajama Party!

Well today it was just Ella and I all day! So I decided today would be pajama today...well really for Ella she went through 2 pairs of pj's - but that's another story ;)

I think Ella must be going through a growth spurt - twice this week she has woken up for a 3am feeding...and she had been so good about sleeping through the night...but I am not complaining...it's only happened twice and she is excellent about going right back to sleep! So after she had her 3am feeding last night she went back to sleep and stayed asleep until 6:45ish...then she was ready to rise and shine...we do have a semi-routine down...we're always up between 6:30-7am - it's breakfast time and then she goes into her swing to play with her "friends" - Roosty and Miss Piggy - which is what Josh and I have named them :) She usually falls asleep in her swing after about 45 minutes to an hour...which of course she did this morning..and she took a good nap - about 2 1/2 hours - yay for Mommy! I got lots of cleaning and laundry done during that time. By 11 - I figured she was well rested and I woke her up! She is alllll smiles whenever she wakes up from her naps...I tried to get a couple of pictures...

The first two pictures were in our first set of PJ's...the third picture was before we got our fresh new PJ's on! :) Notice the changing cover has been removed as well :)

Ella did snooze from 12:30-1:45 as well - which yes I did take a quick little 45 minute nap as well :) Then she was up for the rest of the afternoon/evening!

I love when Josh comes home and she hasn't seen him all day - he sets his bags down and comes right over to talk to her. She was sitting next to me on the couch in her boppy lounger and he bends down to talk to her and her feet start kicking, hands flailing, smiles from ear to ear, cooing noises galore - it's so cute!

I noticed today that Ella can really grab onto things and hold them know...all day she wanted to grasp my finger...I would get a few of her little toys out and she would wrap her fingers around them and really hold onto them. It's fun to see them learn new things!

Well Ella is now tucked away into bed...she has a large pack and play that she sleeps in next to our bed. Josh said around 8 - I think I'm going to go to bed now...I was surprised...but the last few days at PT really gave him a work-out and he could barely walk tonight his muscles were so sore. So Ella and her Daddy had the same bed-time tonight! :) Bed time is one of my favorite times - I don't know if I've said this before or not...but I could sit and rock Ella for hours with her all cuddled up in my arms - absolutely one of my favorites!

Well I do believe our weekend adventures won't lead us far - Josh has a 16 page paper to write along with a few other assignments...and it's supposed to be a rainy weekend...maybe tomorrow will be another pajama day?? :)

Catching Up....

So the last few days have been a whirlwind! I have been filling in for a couple of the girls at work who are out on vacation...so that means I have been doing different hours/more days - and haven't had a chance to write! I am so thankful to be off tomorrow as the house also looks like a tornado has blown through!

So a funny story about BELLA before we get to Ella :) Last night I went downstairs to do a load of laundry in the unfinished part of our downstairs - Bella followed me in there (however I never saw her - they aren't allowed in the side) so I came back upstairs and a few minutes pass and I realize that Bella isn't around...I'm looking for her and Josh and I are both calling her name...then we realize that she must be downstairs - that she followed me in and I closed the door after I left! Sure enough...Josh went downstairs and opened the door and Bella came flying out! This has happened before! :)

So onto Ella - she is so fun! Right now she's really into "talking" to her friends...

She will sit in her swing and just talk away to her little friends...I have got to get it on video - so cute!!

Last night was our longest stretch yet for sleeping - 9.5 hours!!! Yay!!! :)

Ella's sitter told me yesterday - well I finally got a smile out of Ella - I was like she doesn't smile here?? That made me kind of sad - at home she smiles all the time! So I hope she isn't miserable at the sitters :(

Well tomorrow Ella and I have some fun things planned out...reading, singing songs, tummy-time...hopefully we'll get to take some fun pictures for you all! :)

Daddy Daycare!

Well today was the big day - Ella and Daddy had the whole day together - just the two of them! I worked today 7:40 - 5...and Josh had today off - so he got to take care of Ella today instead of sending her to the sitter. So the day started at 5:20am - when my alarm went off - well really I woke up almost every hour...you know that feeling that you are nervous you are going to over-sleep so you constantly wake up to check the time...that was me last night! But finally my alarm went off and I was up...I took care of my fur babies first this morning...took them outside and gave them some love, got my shower in, and then I went down to wake Ella up and feed her....this was about 6:00am and I put her right back to bed and she went to sleep again....so fast-forward to about 10:15am - I texted Josh on my break and asked how him and Ella were holding up...Josh said, "we're doing good - Ella is a little fussy - she's had 2 1/2 bottles to eat..." I about fell on the floor - in 4 hours Ella had eaten about 11oz - which is more than what she is used to!! I said well I am sure she is fussy because her belly is probably aching!!! That goes back to the well if she's fussing - she must be hungry!! :) :)

All in all the two of them did well together...even though I did get another text late in the afternoon that said Josh changed his mind...he no longer wants to be a stay at home dad!! :) Now he knows that I don't sit up at home all day with my feet propped up - taking care of an infant is hard work!

Ella tonight is really loving being held where she can hold up her head by herself...every time I set her down she gets fussy....I pick her back up to where she can hold her head up and she instantly starts "talking" :)

Sunday

Well miss Ella has mastered the art of napping - she took a 3 1/2 hour nap today - I don't know if that's a good thing or a really bad thing! I woke her up around 5:30 with hopes to keep her up til about 9 and then we'll go to bed (I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she will want to go to sleep!) Ella really isn't a big napper - most days she will take a few little cat naps - but not usually long naps - I have to admit I went over to her a few times to make sure she was still breathing! :)

We took a few fun pictures after nap-time:

Look at that HAIR! Sticking straight up!

Josh has tomorrow off - and I am working extra hours this week to cover some people on vacation - which means Josh has Ella all day tomorrow (7:30-5:30) - I can't wait to see how it goes! :)

9:45am

Well last night - Ella was a bit fussy...so we rocked, she ate, we walked around the room, she laid in her bed and I stroked her forehead, we rocked so more, she ate some more...so on and so on...finally 11:00pm and she was out! Not super late - but Mom was ready for bed! She slept great until 6:00am - we got up and she ate and I rocked her for a few more minutes and put her back to bed...and Mom went back to bed - thinking I could at least get another hour in before I got up and started chores around the house....well I woke up to hearing Josh sneeze - he was sitting up in bed reading the news on his phone...I looked at him and asked him what time it was...he said 9:45!!! I couldn't believe it!! I can't even remember the last time I slept in that late..college?

I thought I was tired when I was pregnant...I really think I am more tired now then during pregnancy! I can't even imagine how those poor new moms feel when there is already another child in the family -eeks!

Today began my "work-out routine." I hope I can stick with it! Josh said to me after I did 25 minutes on the treadmill, "maybe we can go running together now?" I looked at him (all sweaty after my 25 minutes with only a few minutes of running) and said, "I haven't worked out in 11 months and you think I am going to be able to go running with you??" (Which by the way - Josh works out with his new job EVERY day from 6am-7am - running multiple times a week - like I could keep up with that!) I told him it would probably be next time this year before I could even keep up with him - and really I'm not a runner - I'm just not into that.

Playdate...

Let's start at the beginning...which was last Fall! :) End of September - Ashley announces - "I'm pregnant!" Just weeks later - Erin announces - "I'm pregnant!" A month later - Caison announces - "I'm pregnant!" Due dates - June 1st, June 20th, and July 10th. Wow - don't drink the water at the Virginia Eye Clinic!! :)

It was great being pregnant with others that I saw everyday...I loved being able to say, "hey have you experienced this? or what about this?"

Now fast-forward to this summer. May 24th - Ella Joy arrives (6lbs), June 20th - Neko Grace arrives (8lbs and 3 oz), July 19th - Payton Elizabeth arrives (9lbs and 2 oz)!

Today was our first play-date...here are a few pictures of the girls! (so we couldn't really get them to pose! a few quick shots was all we could get!)

 Left to Right - Payton (2 1/2 weeks), Ella (10 1/2 weeks), Neko (6 1/2 weeks)

Josh looked at this pictures and said - poor Payton is crying, Ella is kicking Payton, and Neko is head-butting my daughter! Then he laughed and asked Ella if she had fun :) To which she replied that she did! :)

Round 2...

Ella was not a smiley girl yesterday...it was like she knew we were going back to the Doctor!

She just kept giving me this look - the, "I am not amused look."

So off to the Doctor's office we went - I need to start scheduling all of her appointments on a Wednesday morning instead of Friday - the place was practically empty and we only had maybe a 5 minute wait time!

They called us back with another family (since we were only there to have shots and not see a Doctor) - they brought us back to the allergy testing area - I guess that is where they do all the shots only appointments. The other Mom had 4 kids with her - that's a handful! I could tell right away that one of her children was autistic. In the back of my mind I of course had the, "shots controversy" going through my head. Since we were in the same room I could hear everything that was spoken. The nurse asked the other mom if her son (one of the other ones) was there for his 6 month shots - and the mom said, "No - we do our own schedule of shots. My first son I didn't space any of the shots out and just got them as they were ordered and he ended up with autism. My second child I spaced them out and they DIDN'T end up with autism. So for peace of mind I am spacing them out." Now I know that they haven't proved it one way or the other - do shots cause autism? But sitting there in the doctor's office I started to panic - was only a week of separation enough?? Should I walk out and come back next week? All these thoughts ran through my head - but now Ella's name was being called as it was her turn - so I took a deep breath and said a little prayer - praying that I was making the right decision with her shots. The little boy, Corbin, that got his shot ahead of Ella didn't even make a peep - so I thought hmmm maybe Ella will be the same...ha! The minute that needle touched her skin, little Ella held her breath and her face turned bright red - then the wailing began :(

Back at home - it was much of the same as last week. Ella didn't want to be put down. Only wanted Mom to hold her. Since I know that time is short of me getting to hold her - I took advantage of it! She did fall asleep in my arms and since I was starting to get hungry for lunch - I tried to lay her in her crib. The minute I stepped away - those eyes popped open!

 

She did finally fall asleep at 2:30 and slept until 5:30! Which I may have also taken a little nap! :)

Well now it's Thursday morning and she seems to be a little happier today :) Grandma is coming soon to watch her while Mom and Dad work today. I'll leave you with a few pictures that Grandma took this week...

 

This is Ella with Katie the Caterpillar (as Josh has nicknamed her!)

Daddy giving Ella a snack before Mom gets home from work!

New Milestone...

So Ella has a new thing she has learned in the past couple of days...if you play with one of her toys in front of her...she likes to reach out and grab it...she doesn't always get it the first try...sometimes she reaches out with her fist all clenched and keeps hitting it before she realizes she needs to open her fist up to grab at the object in front of her. I came home from work today and Josh was sitting on the couch with her playing this game - they played for quite a while and Ella loved every minute of it (as did her daddy!).

Ella's babysitter is on vacation this week...so Ella has been getting to spend her time with her Grandma...which I love - are you sure you all don't want to move to Lynchburg?? :) Ella has learned all kinds of new songs with Grandma (so I've been told) - Ella has yet to sing them to me though! :)

Since I chose to space out Ellas shots - that means tomorrow is round 2! :( Mommy is not looking forward to that.

Well Ella is choosing to fight sleep right now...which means it's time to go rock her and put her to bed (one of my favorite times of the day)...combines two of my favorite things...cuddling with my little girl and then sleep (for both of us!)