Nineteen Weeks Old

As I watched the bus pick up our next door neighbor, Jesse, for his first day of kindergarten, I momentarily missed the first day of school excitement. But that only lasted until I heard Ella calling and found her smiling up at me in her crib.

Sometimes I feel that Ella is changing right in front of our eyes. For one she is filling out her car seat now. And when we pick her up she feels as though she's got good substance to her! Ella is more consistently rolling from her belly to her back without our help too. We try to put her on her tummy as often as possible to not only strengthen her head control (which is very good according to Carol, her PT) but to encourage other motor skills such as being able to drop an item once she has it in her hand. Ella still has somewhat of a death grip which means it is still a reflex. Which, by the way, one theory is that it is a reflex that is similar to the one needed by primates to hold onto their mommies. We are also trying to get her to reach for objects while on her tummy.

Now that she's nice and strong, Ella enjoys sitting up in her Bumbo. I think she looks like an old lady in it sometimes.

This past weekend I was able to get together with a bunch of my college roommates for our friend, Michelle's baby shower. Her baby girl is due in the middle of October. Ella was able to meet Emma, Breanne and Seth's 6 month old. Breanne was my roommate and then housemate at Fredonia. Seth lived next door to us. The result...Emma (and a marriage too)!!!

With September here we are starting our California countdown. Just 22 more days until Mom, Ella, and I leave to visit DJ, April, Zachary, and Maya for two weeks.

Hmmm...can't think of anything else to report. To all my teacher friends and those with school-aged kiddos - enjoy the school year!!!