ELLA IS 2 MONTHS OLD!

Our little Ella is already 2 months old. What a happy time we are having. I really think that the old cliche is true about not knowing the depth of your love until you have a baby. I love her so much I could eat her up! Every day is so wonderful. She is a very good natured baby and is especially happy in the morning (I have NO idea where she got that from, maybe her Auntie Lorelei). I truly enjoy every moment with her and love dressing her up in her cute little clothes and let's not even get started on the coordinating hair bows!

I feel that, in a way, we were blessed to have the hard experiences we had at the beginning of her life because we are really able to appreciate these first few months fully. People ask us if we are sleeping at all and if we are adjusting alright to being new parents and we couldn't be happier (okay, maybe if I had a maid, I could be a tiny bit happier!)

How can we complain about anything when, for 19 long days, we were away from our little baby? To have her home and even just to get to hold her as long as we want is a blessing every minute of every day.

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HER FIRST SMILE!

Today after dinner Ella was fed and burped and laying in her bouncy and she looked right at me and did a little laugh. I wasn't sure so I tried to get her to smile and she did. I called Matt into the room and for the next 20 minutes we made fools of ourselves cooing and singing and goo-goo-ing in order to get her to smile over and over again. Here's a picture of her 3rd smile and it's the one when the flash didn't go off...dang! She's smiling at her Daddy. So fun. This is the beginning of a whole new era of ching with her and the interaction. I am so thrilled!

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Finally finished the dress!

Here's the little dress I made for Ella. I made the correct size, but apparently, dress patterns for babies run way big! Oh well, it can be for summer. Her face is so funny in this shot that I laugh out loud every time I look at it. She is so adorable. I could just eat her up. I am loving being a mommy.

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Finally finished the sweater!

After months and months of slow working because of carpel tunnel syndrome (from pregnancy) I have finally finished Ella's little lavendar sweater! It fits perfectly and I am so proud of it, mistakes and all. Here is a picture of her in it followed by a picture of the back so you can see the fun satin ribbon closure which can't be seen from the front view.

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A Walk in the Park

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A breath of fresh air! NO OXYGEN!

HOORAY FOR TODAY! I have been checking Ella's blood/oxygen levels all week and they have been perfect. Then today both of her sticky tabs came off so I took off her oxygen and monitored her all day. Her stats were really high, so I called her Pediatrician and the nurse conferred with the Doctor and sad she only had to wear the oxygen at night now.. NO MORE BABY ON A ROPE!!! This will make our lives so much easier.

Of course, I took a million pictures of her without the tubes across her face. Here's just one, but check out the others, there are some really cute ones including bathtime and naps with Daddy.

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This Little Piggy

Today we received such a fun package from Kezia with gifts for little Ella and the St. Marks NICU. We are so grateful for everything our family has contributed to our cause. I don't know how we would have managed without everyone's help. This is a little hat the Kezia sent and we thought it was so cute.

And here she is a little later that same day...

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SUNDAY BEST

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The decision is made...Time to move forward.

Well, last night we talked and discussed and then prayed together and decided to start switching Ella over to formula. I really feel like I tried my very best to get her to breastfeed, we saw lactation consultants in the hospital, I tried 2-3 times every day to get her to breastfeed and now it is time to move forward and do what we can.

I started mixing formula in with the pumped breastmilk today and she is not seeming to notice at all. I will just keep increasing the ratio slowly until it is all formula.

I didn't pump at all today and with my new found freedom I was able to clean the house, do the dishes, fold laundry, organize our bedroom and make 88 homemade meatballs to freeze for dinners. I feel this is the best move for our family.

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All Tuckered Out...zzzzzzzz.

All tuckered out from drinking her bottle.

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COUSINS-A-GO-GO!

Ella had her first visit from the Chapmans today. They drove all the way from American Fork to Layton to see her and visit which was so nice of them. The kids seemed to love Ella.

Porter was wanting her to be fun and play, but Ella was sleepy...

Bryn seemed a little tentative, but it may have been the oxygen...it makes everyone nervous...



and Ryann showed her excitement by bouncing up and down and offering Ella her teething ring.



We had such a nice visit this weekend and can't wait for many more in the future. It is really nice to have family, and especially cousing, living so near by. I hope little Ella comes to love and have friendships with her cousins as much as I did. My cousins were such an important part of my life and still are. Heather checks up on me almost every day and Heidi also calls when she can. It has been a real comfort to know they are there for me.

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A new sweater!

Last night we headed to Layton so Matt could go to Priesthood session with his Dad and brothers. Ella had her first sleep over. She didn't like the bassinet that Grandma and Grandpa Ahern had to offer, so she opted to kick Daddy out of the bed and sleep with her Mommy....spoiled. We went to visit Matt and Jenny Meese and had a great time. It was very fun.

Today Ella tried on the sweater I knit for her. It's still a bit big, but I'm hoping it will fit soon. Ella is looking so big to me all of the sudden. This 5 weeks has flown by.

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Swingin' the day away!

Another gassy day and another chance to feel frustrated that she can't be helped too much, except by gas drops. She finally likes her portable swing...a little bit. She's not entirely convinced it's soothing yet, but I think when she's a bit older she'll like it more.

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