Fall is here...

So to catch you up on our week...it was more of the same...I worked, Josh worked, Ella gets waited on hand and foot (ahhh the life of a baby!) Grandma (my mom) came and watched Ella on Thursday as Josh or myself were not able to pick her up by 5:30 on Thursday (she has to be picked up by 5:30 from the sitters). Then Friday rolls around...so normally I am off on Fridays...but I was asked to work to help cover some hours as other employees were out. So we do our normal routine of getting ready...I start running a little behind...seriously some baby clothes are hard to get on! It took me a whole 20 minutes to get Ella dressed...but she looked cute! :) So then I let the dogs out...and I go downstairs...out of the corner of my eye I see a huge dog in our back-yard...great! I race up the stairs in my PJ's...prepared to run outside to rescue my little chihuahua's...but thankfully they were standing in the front yard by the door and came bounding in when I opened the door...I get them put away, finish getting myself ready and out the door we go...I called my work to let them know I might be 5-10 minutes late...then again I might not be...there is just a possibility of it and I wanted to let them know...so off to the sitters. I get to the sitters, get Ella out, carry her up the front steps, knock on the door...and then I am greeted by a crying baby-sitter! She's crying...her dad is there...says, "I'm sorry I just can't watch Ella today." She apologized over and over (clearly something was going on)...ok on to plan B....ummm which there wasn't one since I was not prepared for that at all!! So Ella...looks like you're coming to work with Mom! :) I am all panicky and nervous...because I am not sure what kind of reaction I will get when I pull in with a baby with me...Ella isn't really just a sit around baby...she likes to be laying down so she can kick her legs...or sitting up and seeing all thats going on. So I get to my work...and Ella joins me! I apologize profusely and say I know that you're not going to want me here all day...obviously this wasn't a planned thing, etc, etc...so I did the few things I had to get done and then Ella and I came home :)

Saturday rolls around...it was kind of a lazy morning...we talked about what we wanted to do...we talked about maybe going to an orchard...or maybe we'll do that next week...then we decided no lets do that today...its 60 and sunny...beautiful Fall day! So we went to Carters Mountain Orchard in Charlottesville, VA (about an hour from our house)...it was so pretty up there (it's truly on top of a mountain!) They have a fall festival every weekend in October. We got there just in time for lunch...so we had cheeseburgers (yes I ate a cheeseburger...salad wasn't an option!) Then Josh bought Apple Cider Donuts and apple cider. So I splurged and ate 2 bites of a donut...it was tasty!! We walked around some and then went and picked some apples! If we were 8 feet tall we would have made out great as all the apples were at the top...the pro's had their "poles" with them...or whatever they are that they could reach up with and pick the apples. They had hayrides, a pumpkin patch to pick your own pumpkins, a country store, and also wine tasting. The downside to the day...it was so windy!! It wasn't that windy in Lynchburg...so I didn't even think to pack a hat for Ella...I felt bad once we got there! But we kept her pretty bundled up in a blanket in her stroller....

We did get one smile out of her....

Ella slept the whole way home...I think we tired her out! We got home and Josh took right off...it's open range day for LPD (with all the ammo provided) - he was all over that! So Ella and I got ready to go to the store...we had to get stuff for Apple Crisp!

Now we're home...and she's sleeping away in her swing..she only slept for about an hour this afternoon on the ride home...that wasn't a long enough nap!

Teething??

So at the Doctor's on Friday he mentions that teething will probably begin soon...when he said soon - I am pretty sure he was referring to last night being the beginning of it! :) Ella went down last night at approximately 7:45...she only ate about 2 ounces before bed (usually its much more!) but after 2 she was done...she kept using her tongue to push the bottle out of her mouth. So I put her down...a little while later I go to bed (around 9:30)...I fall asleep quickly...and wake up to Ella fussing...I look at the clock...sure that it's going to say 3 or 4 something (her usual time of getting up to eat)...nope...it says 11:37pm...ugh...so she's going to go back to sleep right? I wait for a few minutes to see if she quiets down....no not happening...I had a bottle all ready to go so I bring her upstairs and warm the bottle up...4oz she sucks right down...so I figured she must have been hungry since she only ate 2 oz before bed...I try to put her back down so I can go back to sleep...but she's really not liking that and just keeps making little fussy noises...I hate to keep Josh awake since he has to be up at 4:30am...and he's awake now with all her fussing...so I said well I'll just take her upstairs and I'll sleep up there with her (we haven't made the transition yet of putting her in her room...I just hate having our rooms on different levels)...so I bring her and put her in her crib...and I get in the guest bed...she fusses for just a few minutes and then goes to sleep...by now it's about 12:30....I finally fall asleep...I wake up to hear noises from her...surely it must be 5-6ish....no...2:27am...ahhh what?? She can't be hungry...maybe she just wants a pacifier...I try that...she spits it out after about three seconds of having it in...about 10 times in a row...maybe a little bottle will help...so I make a 2 oz bottle...that does the trick...she's sleeping by the end...down she goes again...and again takes me a while to go to sleep again....what's that...she's awake again...4:46am....really?? So I get up and make a 3oz bottle....she downs that and goes right back to sleep...but now I'm wide awake...I hear Josh getting ready, the dogs are barking, Josh comes in and gets my phone...he's lost his and is calling from my phone to find his phone....I finally fall asleep around 6...7:00am...alarm goes off :( I peek into the crib to have big eye balls staring right back at me! But at least there is no fussing! I hop in the shower quick before the fussing begins (I hope!) I get out and she's still just looking around and is all smiles...I get her up and she eats again :) I put her on the floor (on a quilt) after her breakfast to play with her toys while I try to finish getting ready...she gets fussy soon...so then I try the swing...still fussing....finally I come out after blow-drying my hair to see this....

 

Poor girl...finally falls asleep...and I then have to wake her up as we have 30 minutes before we have to leave the house and she has to have a bath! (She only got a 10 minute nap). She gets bathed and dressed and off we go...I thought for sure she would sleep on the way to the sitters...nope! She "talked" to her little animals in the car...I bring her in to the sitters...and I tell Beth...well I am sure she will nap lots today (I proceed to tell her about our evening/morning)...Josh picks up Ella and the sitter said...well she didn't really nap...a few cat naps and that was it...he brings her home and feeds her...she didn't want her whole bottle...kept pushing it away...I get home at 7:30...and I try to feed her..but she doesn't want that bottle...she wants to instead shove her hands in her mouth and fuss! So at 8pm...instead of a nice sleeping baby...we have a drooling, messy, fussy baby....ahhh! So I said...I think it's teething...maybe a little baby tylenol?? So she gets a little (not a whole dose - but 3/4 of a dose)....I make another bottle...put her clean dry jammies on her...feed her the bottle...and she was out like a light (and I pray its for the night!!) and not just a few hours!

On a side note...Bella and Brinly met a huge toad tonight! I let them out while I headed downstairs to switch the laundry...and on my way back up I open the door and look outside to see the two of them side by side right in front of door on the sidewalk...and they both have their little necks stretched out as far as they can stretch them...face to face with a toad! I call them in and they both come bounding in...I kind of wish the toad would have jumped at them...I would have REALLY enjoyed that laugh :)

9:38pm....time to run to jump into bed so I can hopefully get a few hours in before the little girl is up again! :)

4 month Check-Up!

Well Ella is just a little peanut!! 11lbs and 15 oz (just about 12lbs!) and 23 3/4 inches long....so she has doubled her weight since birth and grown 4 3/4 inches.

Today was also a day of shots...like before we did only 2...I set them up for a day Josh was off...so he came with me today...really he was there to do the dirty work (hold her down during shots!). I was actually surprised...Ella did much better with her shots today, then she did at her 2 month appointment....Josh held her arms down while the nurse gave her a shot in each leg...and yes Josh looked away (he didn't want to see his little girl in pain)...he scooped her up off the table as soon as they were done and snuggled her close to him :) A precious sight to see! She let out a few small wails and a few whimpers...but there really weren't any tears...which I hope she repeats this again when I bring her back in a few weeks to get the other two shots!

Josh was a little concerned with how Ella would be in the afternoon...I was asked to work a few hours in the afternoon to cover someone at work...so Josh was left with her for the afternoon. The other times she had her shots she was a little fussy and just wanted to be held...but she really wasn't like that this time...we did errands for a few hours after her appointment and she did great...and then we got home and I fed her and put her in her swing...and within 10 minutes she was asleep - I went to work...and when I came home Josh said that she had just finished eating and had slept the entire time I was gone...which is normal...Ella usually only takes a cat nap in the morning (30-45 minutes) and a long afternoon nap (2-3 hours)....so he lucked out!

We talked with the Doctor about starting rice cereal...and I've also asked around as to what other people do...I think we are going to start that at 5 months.

We have set up Ella's "Fall Photo Shoot" - hopefully October 21st - the photographer is getting back with us at the beginning of the week. I'm excited about that! And praying for a happy baby that day! :)

We read 6 books tonight...I could have read 10 more - she was having a blast! :) I held out the book in front of her so she could see the pictures...and she wanted to help hold it...so each time with her left hand (we're convinced she will be left handed!) she held the book and kept smiling and making faces at the pictures...she was also trying to crane her neck around to see me and watch me read...and then turn again quickly to look at the book with a big smile...by then end of book 6 - she was rubbing her eyes pretty fiercely...time for bed! So downstairs we went...I had a bottle ready...and she couldn't even finish it..she was so tired she kept falling asleep while eating...so I snuggled with her for a few minutes and we rocked and I laid her down to sleep.

Never a dull moment...

Well the title of this blog is actually because of little Bella (one of our chihuahua's). Ella and I had just gotten home from a busy morning/early afternoon....I was busy getting Ella fed...and then changed...and then put down for a nap...it's about 2:00 and I am eating a few bites while emptying the dish-washer...the phone rings...it's Ella's doctor's office...her Doctor is now going to be out of the office on Friday...did I want to reschedule or see another Doctor....well honestly...neither! I want to go on Friday and see Dr. Gagen! However...now not an option...I first say well I will reschedule...but then I am thinking about it...and I am working some extra hours to help cover vacations, etc, at work...and Josh and I already are both off this Friday...so I said oh nevermind...we'll just come Friday and see another Doctor...she lists 3 Doctor's available....I pick Dr. Mutch...he was the only name I recognized....so while I am on the phone I hear Ella crying...so I hurry up and get off the phone...and go into her room...it's not a full blown out cry...but more of a...I need a nap and I'm just unhappy cry...so I walk out of her room to go to the living room to get her pacifier...sometimes it helps...although 90% of the time she doesn't want it...I come out to the living room to get the diaper bag which was sitting on the couch as we had just gotten home...and Bella is chomping on a piece of brownie (sorry Erin - I really wanted that brownie!)...but Bella had buried her whole body into the diaper bag where this brownie was wrapped up and had unwrapped it and was chomping on a corner of this brownie...my immediate reaction is ahhhh she can't eat chocolate...she gets a swift spanking and gets punished! Ella is still crying...I'm now panicking...do I call the vet?? I can't call Josh as he is unavailable while in the academy...so I stand in the hallway and screamed...it was that or cry...a scream seemed to do the trick...luckily the neighbors didn't call the police :) After my scream....I go back to the living room, find her pacifier...go back to Ella's room...which she is now just about asleep...is slightly whimpering but her eyes are now closed...I leave her room and go and get the laptop...and research for about 20 minutes about dogs eating chocolate...I then make the decision that she is going to be just fine...I'm not calling the vet...and I will just keep an eye on her...it's been about an hour and a half since she ate it...and is acting just fine...and believe me...I haven't let her out of my sight!! From my research...she didn't eat enough of the chocolate to be considered a toxic amount. I think this is just a taste of what's to come when Ella is a toddler...I won't be able to let her out of my sight :)

What a week...

To catch you all up...we have returned from our trip to Vermont...and last week Ella and I spent the week at Grandma and Grandpa's house at the lake. Since Josh was gone for the week, I didn't want to be left at home by myself...so I packed up (everything but the kitchen sink!) and Ella and I and the other two fur babies made our way to the lake! I worked Monday, Tuesday and Thursday - so on those days Ella got to spend time with her Grandma and Grandpa...Wednesday we had a girls shopping day, and Friday another mini shopping day before coming home.

Before we went to the lake I thought maybe Ella would learn to roll over as she was getting very close to it...instead she came up with a new trick...Ella now laughs!! Here is a little video...I was kissing her belly before she got into her PJ's for the night.

I wish I had her laugh from last night on video...I was kissing her hand right before bed...and apparently it struck her funny...she was just throwing her head back and laughing! I was excited...it was the first time Josh got to see it in person. He saw the little video...but she hadn't laughed for him yet...she would smile at him...but had yet to laugh.

Another great thing...Ella enjoys baths finally...every time I give her a bath she would just look up at me...not impressed. On our shopping trip last week with Grandma...I came across this great little Whale bathtub...and had to get it! Ella loves it. I filled it up with water this morning and set her in it...and she was just kicking away and splashing and smiling! It was the first time I have ever seen her happy about being in the tub! She was kicking so hard she was splashing water up onto her face...the first time she did it she looked so surprised :)

Well Fall is here...maybe it's just a taste of it...as it is going to be 80 again by the end of the week. Josh and I however LOVE fall...Josh said to me yesterday...I wonder if there is a place in the world that is like this year round...it was about 63 yesterday...to me that is a touch too cold...but it is a nice break after such a warm summer...when we were outside yesterday Ella was smiling away at the breeze that was blowing...she might be just like her dad and love that weather!

Although she looks good as a Florida baby....

This is Ella on her "Florida Blanket" - notice the bright pink flamingo's!

Ella goes back to her sitter's tomorrow...after having 2 weeks of being gone...hopefully she will adjust fine to being there. She has lots of new outfits to wear (thanks to her Nanny and Grandma)...I think its safe to say she is now out of 3 months and into 3-6 months. I think she is going through a growth spurt....2 times in the last week she got up twice to eat in the middle of the night...I had gotten spoiled with her sleeping so well...those 2 nights were rough for mom!

Vermont Adventures

Well Ella got to go on her first "trip." Ella, Grandma (my mom) and I packed up the car and headed to Vermont this past week. Josh was working and was unable to go...so it was him and the fur babies to take care of each other while I was gone. We were out of the door at 3:30am on Wednesday morning...and what was it doing outside...why raining of course! So the typical 12 hour trip took 15 hours...now of course that included all the stops to feed Ella/change Ella/get gas for the car, etc...but with all that rain it made for a slower speed which made for a longer car ride! Ella did fairly well...in and out of sleep the whole time...would play for a bit with her little animals and then fall asleep...she did have one melt down at 4:30pm (we were about an hour and a half away from our destination) when the tears began...she was done with that car seat! But finally we arrived! Ella got to meet lots and lots of new people while we were there...and see some familiar faces...

Cousins Matt and Aaron were so excited to see Baby Ella!

Cousins Matt and Zachary were checking on Baby Ella to make sure she was doing ok.

Ella talking and smiling with her Grampy.

Well that was Ella's trip to Vermont...it was very short and time went by fast! It ended in a 17 hour trip back to Virginia. This time there wasn't any rain...but it involved the GPS system getting us messed up in directions, detours on I-88 due to flooding, and a few extra stops to calm Ella down - she was done with long rides!! As I got home at 11:00pm I said to Josh, "I can promise you that I am not doing that again!!!" We will just have to break up our trip into 2 days while she is young. Even then...it will be quite a while before I get into the car for a long ride!!

Ella did have a great night of sleep...and was quite a happy baby when she got up this morning. She played for quite a while and she is so close to rolling over!! I think it just might happen this week...she was laying down this morning having some play time and she got right up on her side...she just needed one more swing of that leg and she would have rolled over.


Well I am on laundry load #5 right now...Ella, the puppies and I are going to SML this week to stay with my mom and dad...Josh will be gone for the week as he has training out of town...so I am packing for everyone!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Internal Clock

Ella has got her routine down pat...almost always asleep between 7:30-8:30...if I am able to wake her up at 10-11ish I will to give her a little "snack" - and then no matter what time she went to bed....always about 4-4:30 she's up to eat, back down for a little bit, and then up for the day between 7-7:30. So not too bad...I know what to expect now...which is better than trying to figure out what her routine is going to be...it gets mixed up a little bit on days that I go into work early...but that's ok...we just work around it.

Yesterday we didn't have any plans...so we lounged around for a bit...Ella was the most talkative she has ever been...and why I didn't get a video of it...I don't know....but I promise I will very soon! We had quite a full bed, the two of us, Ella, and the two dogs! And Ella just talked and talked...she loves having something to put her feet against and push..so Josh put his arm out so she could just push and kick against his arm...all while talking...she did this for about an hour straight...a little motormouth she was! :)

Today was our long nap day...on Sundays she doesn't get a very long nap in the morning because we are at church...so she gets just a mini cat nap...so always on Sunday afternoon she takes a good 3 hour nap...so Ella napped in her swing, I was on one couch sleeping with Brinly, and Josh and Bella were sleeping on the other couch...but Ella was the one that took the 3 hour nap...Josh and I didn't!

We've been working on getting Ella to hold her head up...she still is a bit of a "bobble-head!" - so she got lots of neck exercises this weekend...she's getting really good coordination with her toys...and has learned to bring things up to her mouth to try and put it in her mouth...yuck!

I've been doing my research about making baby food...and have been bidding on a few items on eBay that I would like to have for that project :)

That's been our week in a nutshell...Mom, Ella, and I are making the 12 hour trek up to Vermont this week providing the weather is ok...I'm very nervous about this adventure with a baby and such a long drive! But Ella has lots of people anxious to meet her! Then the following week Ella and I will be spending the week at the lake while Josh is out of town for training. Then September will be practically over!