Oh no...I've done it again...skipped a week. I hope I'm not losing Ella's fans. So I just realized that one of the reasons I need to keep up with blogging is it helps me remember how many weeks old Ella is. I've been going around telling people she is fourteen weeks...for the past two weeks. I didn't realize until right now that my baby is actually SIXTEEN weeks old (or 112 days)!!! After reading April and DJ's blog I realize that I forget to include the 'little big stuff' that Ella is accomplishing. I think it's because I am with her 24/7 and these things gradually begin to happen but then I don't think about mentioning it. However, I definitely can tell that Ella is growing up right in front of our eyes. To begin with she is probably at least 11 pounds by now!! According to her doctor's appointment last week, most babies have a curve when they plot their weight gain. But, Ella has a straight line!! The GI doctor we saw in Batavia two weeks ago was further impressed that she was gaining from breast milk alone! And with all this weight gain comes rolls - lots of them - on her legs, wrists, and neck - along with some good pinching cheeks!
And as April mentioned about the twins, Ella is also bringing her hands together, bringing them up to her mouth, and sucking on her right hand mostly. Only once have I seen her thumb only go in on its own. Ella also is kicking her legs around and bringing them up which apparently is the precursor to rolling over!! Ella loves to talk...a lot. According to her physical therapist (PT) she is 'quite socially advanced.' How's that for my first brag!! Her favorite word is 'gee.' And like Zachary saying 'egg' we like to have fun with it too. Todd often asks Ella, "Where's Gee?" when we want her to talk and then, "Who's Gee?" I think he's already afraid she may have a boyfriend. Just the other day her vowels came out too - a, e, and u. It's fun because it seems as though we can actually have a conversation with Ella. Although she smiles a TON we haven't heard the hearty laugh yet. I can't wait for that to come!!! However, she's got one heck of a scream when she's happy!
Physically, Ella is getting stronger each day. She is holding her head high up during tummy time. Her PT, Carol, brought over a Bumbo for her to use. It's basically a foam seat that allows Ella to sit upright but makes her really practice head control (like what tummy time does). Ella is also getting better at her 'pull to sit.' That's when you gently pull her up using her arms while she is lying down encouraging her head to come along with her body. No rolling over yet but she does work her way down her crib at night to a perpendicular position from what she started at!
A couple Wednesdays ago on July 30th, I had a couple friends over for lunch. For the first time, I was able to actually handle taking care of a baby and entertaining because Ella is more willing and able to entertain herself if I put her down for a few minutes. Although I'm really trying hard to not get used to putting her down too much as it can easily become. I can just hear you all saying - 'don't hold that baby too much or she'll get used to it.' But you know what, after not being able to hold her whenever I wanted to for the first 30 days, I can do what I want (smile)!! Anyway, I mention this luncheon because it was the first time she took a two and a half hour nap!!!
Remember in my last blog how I said I was trying to get this sleep routine down. I have discovered that the book is correct and the more I can stick to a 'schedule' the better she sleeps. As I write she has been sleeping for almost two and a half hours. Unfortunately, it is proving hard to stick to a schedule with the appointments we have as well as trying to maintain somewhat of a social life. But when I can, we try to stick around home so she can sleep! They say the brain and body grows when the babies are sleeping - so we want Ella to sleep as much as she can!!!
We did end up meeting with a new GI doctor in Batavia on July 31st for a second opinion. Dr. Rossi is great! He and his nurse practitioner were very impressed with Ella. They both expected a 'different looking' baby from what they had read about her on paper. He does not think her liver will have any fibrosis or cirrhosis and, therefore, does not think she should have a liver biopsy to find out. We will just continue to keep an eye on her liver functions - which seem to be all close to normal!!!
Ella had her first sleepover at Grandpa and Grandma Rassman's on August 1st since Todd and I had a wedding to attend. The wedding was a 2pm on Friday so we went to Todd's parents' house between the ceremony and reception so I could feed Ella. Of course, Grandpa and Grandma had a kick wheeling her around the neighborhood showing her off to the neighbors. I then had to leave the reception half way through to pump in the car so I wouldn't burst. Todd really enjoyed sitting with me while I tried to discretely pump on the side of Delaware Avenue...ha ha ha! After the reception we slept over his parents' house. Ella did great with them. Slept from 8:30pm to 2:30am...in her car seat. I then handed her off to the grandparents at 7:45am for them to feed her the leftover milk I had defrosted and got to sleep until 10am!!! I could get used to that!!!!
Last week Ella also received two more of her shots - polio and pneumococcal. She did get a mild temperature but nothing that wasn't taken care of with some Tylenol.
Finally, this past weekend the three of us took our first weekend trip - down to Ellicottville. We have gone down each year for the Taste of Ellicottville since the festival was going on the weekend we got married. Speaking of which, tomorrow is our big three year anniversary. We will be celebrating by going to Toro Tapas on Saturday for dinner - yum!
Okay, I think that's it for now. Let me know if I'm forgetting to fill you all in on some part of her development. But before I go, a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to ALYSIA today!!
A couple Wednesdays ago on July 30th, I had a couple friends over for lunch. For the first time, I was able to actually handle taking care of a baby and entertaining because Ella is more willing and able to entertain herself if I put her down for a few minutes. Although I'm really trying hard to not get used to putting her down too much as it can easily become. I can just hear you all saying - 'don't hold that baby too much or she'll get used to it.' But you know what, after not being able to hold her whenever I wanted to for the first 30 days, I can do what I want (smile)!! Anyway, I mention this luncheon because it was the first time she took a two and a half hour nap!!!
Remember in my last blog how I said I was trying to get this sleep routine down. I have discovered that the book is correct and the more I can stick to a 'schedule' the better she sleeps. As I write she has been sleeping for almost two and a half hours. Unfortunately, it is proving hard to stick to a schedule with the appointments we have as well as trying to maintain somewhat of a social life. But when I can, we try to stick around home so she can sleep! They say the brain and body grows when the babies are sleeping - so we want Ella to sleep as much as she can!!!
We did end up meeting with a new GI doctor in Batavia on July 31st for a second opinion. Dr. Rossi is great! He and his nurse practitioner were very impressed with Ella. They both expected a 'different looking' baby from what they had read about her on paper. He does not think her liver will have any fibrosis or cirrhosis and, therefore, does not think she should have a liver biopsy to find out. We will just continue to keep an eye on her liver functions - which seem to be all close to normal!!!
Ella had her first sleepover at Grandpa and Grandma Rassman's on August 1st since Todd and I had a wedding to attend. The wedding was a 2pm on Friday so we went to Todd's parents' house between the ceremony and reception so I could feed Ella. Of course, Grandpa and Grandma had a kick wheeling her around the neighborhood showing her off to the neighbors. I then had to leave the reception half way through to pump in the car so I wouldn't burst. Todd really enjoyed sitting with me while I tried to discretely pump on the side of Delaware Avenue...ha ha ha! After the reception we slept over his parents' house. Ella did great with them. Slept from 8:30pm to 2:30am...in her car seat. I then handed her off to the grandparents at 7:45am for them to feed her the leftover milk I had defrosted and got to sleep until 10am!!! I could get used to that!!!!
Last week Ella also received two more of her shots - polio and pneumococcal. She did get a mild temperature but nothing that wasn't taken care of with some Tylenol.
Finally, this past weekend the three of us took our first weekend trip - down to Ellicottville. We have gone down each year for the Taste of Ellicottville since the festival was going on the weekend we got married. Speaking of which, tomorrow is our big three year anniversary. We will be celebrating by going to Toro Tapas on Saturday for dinner - yum!
Okay, I think that's it for now. Let me know if I'm forgetting to fill you all in on some part of her development. But before I go, a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to ALYSIA today!!
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