Ella is 4 Weeks Old - February 2

Ella turned 4 weeks old on February 2. Although I don't know exactly, I'm guessing she weighs about 8 1/2 pounds, and she is much chubbier than she was before. We went up from Newborn diapers to the Stage 1 on Friday night. She looks like she is getting close to smiling - often when her eyes are closed her mouth breaks into a big "smile", it makes me grin every time I see it. Her skin is a lot smoother now and feels like silk when you touch it. Her eyelashes look a lot longer and curl up - it is so cute. She is so active and alert so much of the time, and turns in the direction of our voices. Here are some other pictures from the week



Me and my sweet girl


Her first successful bottle


Steve's sister Teresa came to visit us for the weekend with Carmen. We had a great time with them and Ella really enjoyed meeting her Aunt Tisi. It was so good to have them and we hope they come back soon!

Steve's Birthday

Steve turned 31 on January 30th - he said he wanted "a night with his girls" - we celebrated by our first trip out to lunch and dinner with Ella. I brought her to meet some of his co-workers and then we had Japanese; she had fallen asleep on the car ride on the way to Steve's work, then she stayed asleep through lunch and didn't wake up until we got home. The waitresses at the restaurant checked on us way more often than necessary and gave us 2 free appetizers - it pays to have an adorable baby in tow!

That night we went out to dinner and had Mexican - it waas so loud in the restaurant but she didn't wake up at all until, like clockwork, she woke up 3 hrs after I had last fed her. Steve held her for a while and managed to keep her from getting upset, but we did have to hurry home and feed her. It was awesome seeing how portable she is and it was so easy to take her with us.

Here is the birthday boy and his baby

My First Baby Purchase

When we first found out I was pregnant I was sooooo excited but also slightly worried that everything would be okay and that she'd be healthy. I didn't want to get too completely attached to the idea until I had been to the doctor, heard the heartbeat, and knew that everything was going well. So I made just one baby purchase - a tiny onesie that said "Instructions Not Included." When I got it, I couldn't believe that she would be so tiny and actually be able to wear it. I remember standing in Target daydreaming about my little baby (boy or girl?) wearing this little outfit. And now, 9 months later, here she is wearing it!

Ella & Cory

Ella and her "big sister" Cory

Cutest.Picture.Ever.

NEED I SAY MORE???

Ella is 3 Weeks Old - January 26

Ella turned 3 weeks old on January 26. She weighs over 8 lbs now and looks more like a baby and less like a newborn every day. Her cheeks are much chubbier than they were and her eyes are open so much more often. I know they're not 'real' smiles, but she makes faces that look an awful lot like a smile and make my day - I can't imagine how it will feel when she actually smiles at me. She is always in a happy mood when she wakes up in the morning and is content the majority of the time. Once she gets overtired she'll get fussy late in the day but other than that she is a happy and laid-back baby. Breastfeeding has gotten much easier and she definitely eats like a champ.

Mom, Erin & Josh came for the weekend, Ella is a family-magnet!



And Erin was so completely sweet with Ella - she held her almost the whole time and had the sore arms on Monday to prove it.







Check out that pose!




I got a pedicure on Saturday, and Steve & I went out to dinner and left the baby with our excellent 'babysitters' - this time there were no tears (progress!), and it was great to spend time together and out of the house.

First "Real" Bath

Ella's umbilical stump finally fell off when she was 18 days old, so that night we gave her first submerged bath instead of a sponge bath. The little baby tub still seems way too big for her, so we used the basin on the kitchen counter. I could not stop laughing at how precious she looked sitting in there!!

No more stump! Check out that 'big-girl' belly button



In the basin, sitting like a little frog




Drying off


Have you ever seen anything so cute??

Fresh Air

It's finally warm enough for a walk in the neighborhood, so I used the travel system for the first time to get a little bit of exercise. I got Ella bundled up and packed her in her carseat and into the stroller. She went to sleep almost as soon as I start pushing her around! It was so cute to look in on her sleeping; it was really bright out so I had to keep the shade low and just saw those little cheeks most of the time. Since walking is the only exercise I can do for the first 6 weeks, I'm hoping the weather cooperates and we're able to walk pretty consistently.

Ready to go!

2nd Trip to the Doctor

We took Ella for her 2-week doctor's appointment on Tuesday Jan 22.



She weighed 8 lbs 1 oz, almost a full pound above her birthweight - I was really happy about that and it gave me a confidence boost in how breastfeeding is going. She was 19 1/2 inches long (so she grew 1/4 of an inch). Her weight and head circumference were both 50th percentile, and her height is 25th percentile.

We asked some questions about her umbilical stump (still hanging on!), sleeping habits (the swing!) and all the noises she makes when she's sleeping. The doctor said she looks so great and very healthy, so she does not need to go back until her 2-month appointment, when she'll have to start getting vaccines.

Ella is 2 Weeks Old - January 19

Ella turned 2 weeks old on January 19. She already looks so different from when she was first born - her eyelashes are coming in and her hair is growing. Her eyes are still a dark gray-blue, I know they'll change but the current color is so gorgeous. She can definitely see our faces and focuses on them, and has a lot more 'awake' time than before. Her hands are always moving, and usually around her face. She's a very noisy sleeper and makes lots of grunts and groans while she's asleep - Steve says she sounds like a little teradactyl (sp?). She is just so incredibly precious.

Here are some other photos from her 2nd week.

So tiny and adorable





On Mom's birthday, the 13th - she was hoping for a shared birthday with Ella :0).
Now we have 3 January birthdays in the family (Steve's is the 30th)



So peaceful, and look at those teeny hands!


With Grandpa - Wednesday January 16th


Little snuggler


Very alert in her glider



Fast asleep in her sling




Maybe she's a lucky charm! Patriots win the AFC Championship and are headed to the Superbowl.