Our weekend

Ella Jae and I look forward to our weekends because we get to spend time with Daddy!! But unfortunately, they go by way too fast! Friday, we went to Mom and Dad's to wait for the family to get in from RI! It was quite an eventful night but oh so fun! Saturday, Adam had to work until 12 and Ella Jae and I along with all the girls went to Megan's bridal shower, and the guys went to Augusta. We all met up later only to go our seperate ways again haha! Half of us went downtown to eat dinner while the other half went to Dairy Queen for supper. I went with the downtown half and Adam and Ella Jae went to Dairy Queen. Sunday, we met everyone at Dunkin Donuts for breakfast and headed to Church. Then we all went to eat lunch at Golden Corral. It was really yummy!! Then we went to Mom and Dad's for movies and munchies! It was a relaxing day and I got a little much needed rest. Ella Jae looked quite sweet on Saturday in her smocked dress and unfortunately I did not get a picture...I am so mad at myself...ahh...there is just too much to remember haha!

1 month old

Ella Jae,

What a month it has been! You were born on a Saturday and we brought you home on a Sunday. Our first month together has been nothing short of perfect! You have brought so much joy into our lives and we love you more than we could have ever imagined. You were the most anticipated little girl and now you are the most loved and adored little girl. We are in awe of beauty. You are just plum perfect, from the tip top of your head to the bottom of little feetsies! Each time I look at you, I am so overwhelmed with emotion. I cannot believe that you are finally here and you are ours. Daddy and I pray for your health and safety each night. You already have your Daddy wrapped around your little fingers, all of your fingers actually! He comes in from work and if you are asleep, he will sit and stare at you! We love you so much and are so thankful for you! You are our sweet sweet blessing!

What you are up to:

-You were born with highligths, a tan and mohawk.

-You squeak like a little mouse for no reason at all.

-You yawn while you sleep.

-You like to sleep in your Boppy pillow (and on your belly).

-You drink breastmilk from a bottle for over a week but now you drink formula.

-You sleep with your hands by your face.

-You make tons of faces while you are awake and asleep.

-You make direct eye contact with your Mommy and Daddy.

-You know your Mommy and Daddy's voice. Sometimes your Daddy's big voice startles you.

-You found the toys at the top your swing.

-You like to held over the shoulder the best and it cures your cry everytime.

-You don't like when your clothes are changed. You squirm and cry a little. You typically don't mind when your diaper is changed.

-You sleep A LOT and don't like to be woken up.

-You eat every 3 to 4 hrs. And usually 2 1/2 hrs once a day.

-You squirm during feedings when you need to burp. You are an excellent burper!

-You are very strong! You have been holding your head up very well since you were 2 days old and you scoot and squirm all over the place with your little strong legs.

-You love music! We listen to music often and I sing to you. We sing: 'He's got the whole world in his hands,' 'This little light of mine,' Jesus loves me,' 'I'm a little teapot,' and I sing 'I love you' to the tune of 'Happy birthday!'

-You go to sleep on your own.

-You really like movement. You loved being bounced, rocked, and when I walk with you.

-You weigh 7lbs 12 oz and are 20.5 inches long.

-You are a very good and happy baby!

Playing catch up

Blogging has kind of taken the back seat the last few weeks....my bad! Things have been a little hectic trying to set a routine and get used to being a mommy and a family. I have been busy taking care of Miss Ella Jae, and trying to nap and clean when I can! E is quite demanding and takes up most of my time, that little sweet thing! She very much likes being held and really enjoys movement, so not only do I hold her the majority of the time I also have to be moving when I am holding her haha! She is a pretty good sleeper but is starter to nap less and stay awake more. She is quite the little piggy. She really likes to eat. She loves to be sang to. She likes her diaper to be changed. She will just lay there and look around. She really likes to lay on her tummy. We don't let her sleep throughout the night on her tummy but I let her play and nap on her tummy. These past few weeks Ella Jae has had many first experiences! She went to Target, Church, Walmart, Zaxby's, the mall, family night at Mem Claire's on Wednesdays and Grandma's for Sunday dinner, went to downtown 3 times to enjoy the beautiful weather, she went on her first walk with her Mem around the neighborhood, she has been on several errand runs with me and Mama, had newborn pictures taken, she has met many family members and she has seemed to enjoy it all! She will meet her "yankee" great-grandparents this weekend! Mem and Pep Lambert are coming in tonight and we cannot wait to see them! I talked to Pep earlier and he has a little basket of gifts for her...come on....tell me she isn't spoiled already haha! Looking forward to a fun weekend!! TGIF!

Jaundice

When the pediatrician visited us at the hospital, he said Ella Jae's Jaundice level was a little high. It was at a 6. He said that we needed to make an appointment to follow up with him again once we came home. When we went to see him, he suggested that we take her to have Billy Ruben test to check her Jaundice levels. It was then a 12, then the next day it was 14. When we went yesterday, it had finally stabilized! Praise the Lord! We don't have to be in fear anymore and she doesn't have to get her little foot stuck and neither one of us have to cry! I do have to say, she was very brave, bless her little heart! When we went to the pediatrician today, he said she did have Jaundice but that it would go away on its own and it was nothing to worry about. I was getting worried because her levels kept going up and they weren't recommending any treatment. Even the whites of her eyes turned yellow and are still a little yellow because of the Jaundice. But thankfully, it is nothing to fear! Thank you, Lord, for hearing and answering our prayers! Ella Jae is our perfect, heaven-sent angel! We love her so much and pray for her health daily among many other things!

Fun, relaxing day!

My Mama and Aunt Sherri took Ella Jae and I to the pediatrician today. Afterwards, we showed Ella Jae off a little bit to family. We stayed in the car, but it felt so nice to be out and about. I was getting a little cabin-fever. I am not one to just sit at home. We had Firehouse subs for lunch and Addie even made it home to eat with us! Mama stayed with me and let me rest a little. I have felt the best today and feel like my old self again :) Labor will take the life out of ya, that's for sure. I am so thankful for my Mama and for all she has done for me! I can't thank her enough and words won't suffice. She is my rock and I don't know what I would do without her! Ella Jae is so blessed to get to know her and love her, too, and if she spoils her like she does me then Ella Jae is in for a treat :) I am pretty sure she will spoil her, she had her closet filled with clothes even before she was born :) Spoiled isn't a bad thing, right? It just means that you are loved well!

Our days at home so far...

We came home from the hospital on Sunday at 4 pm or so. Fortunately, my doctor released us a day earlier than expected and we didn't have to sleep in that uncomfortable place any longer. Our first night home went a lot better than I expected. Ella Jae woke up about 4 times during the night but only because she was hungry or needed a diaper change. Between time we got home and early morning, we had changed 9 dirty diapers. I know babies go through a lot but couldn't believe we had already gone though that many that fast haha! We put the pack-and-play in our room and had planned to let her sleep there. BUT....she kept making noises and we couldn't see her and got nervous so we decided to put her in her Boppy and let her sleep between us. We had to be at Ella Jae's pediatrician appointment at 12:45 on Monday so we got up and got ready for the appointment. When we got home we had visitors until we went to bed. Our second night was much easier! The doctor told me to supplement with formula and I think that really helped her sleep better and be more comfortable. She only woke up once during the night last night. We fed her and put her to bed at 11:30 pm and then she woke up at 3 am and then again at 7 am! She is such a good girl! She does everything exactly like she is supposed to! She even burps each time we feed her :) She sleeps pretty much all day. She only cries when she is hungry or needs to be changed. She would probably sleep much longer if I let her but the doc told me not to let her go longer than 5 hours with out eating. Today, has been a relaxing day. We had to go to the hospital to have her Jaundice levels and now we are home relaxing which is so nice. My Grandma made us some chili so we had that for lunch and it was perfect because it is a cold rainy day. We will have some more visitors later this afternoon but it is nice hanging our as a new little family even though Ella Jae sleeps the majority of time :) We call her our little sleeping beauty :)

My two sleeping beauties this morning!

Labor

Our sweet angel is sitting at my feet sound asleep in her Boppy pillow as I type. What a past few days it has been! Ella Jae arrived at 11:50 am on Saturday, February 27, 2010. I went into labor Friday night at 12:07 am. Adam and I had been on a date. We went to Beef O'Brady's for supper and then to Books-A-Million. I woke up at 12:07 (to be exact :-P) to the breaking of my water. I knew that what was happening was not normal. It wasn't a big gush so I couldn't be for certain so I called the doctor and the nurse on call told me to go to the hospital to get checked. I was not having any pain so I took a shower and woke up Adam. Waking up Adam was not easy because he had taken Nyquill haha! After he collected his senses we drove axiously to the hospital hoping this was the "real deal!" When we got there, I got checked and my water had indeed broken! It wasn't much longer and I started experiencing slight cramping aka labor pains. Fortunately, I was never in terrible pain. We got to the hospital aroun 1:00 am and I didn't get to a room until 3:30 or so. It was a full moon and 30 or babies were delivered that night and they were a little short staffed so I had to wait for a nurse to be called in. I had wonderful nurses and was treated like royalty! I got the epidural pretty early because she said it was best before I got in a lot of pain so I could stay still. The epidural was something I feared most but the worst part was when they pulled off the tape. They started pitocin to really get my labor going at 6 am. I mostly slept. When I asked my nurse what time she thought I would deliver, she said I would be eating lunch and she was right. At 10:30 am I was in active labor. My nurse then said she thought Ella Jae would be here at 11:05 am but little did she know, E was turned sideways and that left me pushing for 1 whole hour! Whoa, it felt like 5 hours, but it was so worth it! When she was born she let out a few cries, and when they layed her on my chest, she looked me right in the eyes and it was the sweetest most precious moment! And bless Adam's heart, he stayed seated for the most part :) He turned white at one point and was given a washcloth by the nurse. He didn't like seeing me that uncomfortable. He was a real trooper and feel in love with Ella Jae instantly. I am so blessed to have him as my husband and as my baby's father!! He was so proud and walking on a cloud the rest of the day! It was a very emotional day that I will never forget. Ella Jae is perfect in every way and I am thankful for our health! She is truly a special gift from above and we are enjoying every single second with her!