Twenty Weeks Old

So the biggest news this week is that we entered Ella in the Buffalo's Most Photogenic Baby contest. She has one picture entered in the Beautiful Infant category and another picture entered in the Precious Infant category. And the way she 'wins' is by collecting the most votes through donations. Since we already paid a registration fee, 100% of the donations we collect will go directly towards Women & Children's Hospital. Therefore, for each 50 cents in donations, Ella will receive 1 vote. For example, if someone donated $5.00, Ella would receive 10 votes.

If you are interested in 'voting' for Ella, there are a few ways you can donate. The formal voting where you can view all the participants' pictures takes place at the Walden Galleria (outside Steve & Barry's) from 10am to 7pm on Friday, October 3rd and Saturday, October 4th.

If you are unable to make it to the mall, you may make a donation (checks made out to Women & Children's Hospital) and hand it to any of our immediate family members (Todd, Me, Mom, John, Dad, Heather, Mom Rassman, Dad Rassman, Jeff, or Kim) by Thursday, October 2nd. We will then make sure it gets to the mall and Ella gets the votes.

Alternatively, you can also make a donation through PayPal (it accepts credit cards and is ultra secure) if you would like. To donate through PayPal, go to https://www.paypal.com/ and click on Send Money. Monies can be sent to me using the e-mail address: nicole_radder at yahoo.com. It's actually VERY easy to do!!! Then we will write a check from the money we collect online and bring it to the mall so Ella can receive more 'votes'.

And...if Ella raises $100 in donations, we will receive the CD with all of the photos that were taken of her so we can print them off for whomever would like!!!!! We then find out at the Awards Ceremony on Sunday, October 5th if Ella's pictures collected the most votes/donations.

Unfortunately, I do not have the actual pictures to show you that will be displayed on Oct. 3 & 4th. You'll have to go to the Galleria on one of those days to see them. But, we will receive 8x10's of Ella's two 'poses.' I will be sure to display them online after October 5th!! Thanks for your help in raising moola for Children's!!!

Furthermore, Ella and I have been asked to say a few words about our experience in the NICU at an upcoming Women & Children's Hospital Foundation benefit hosted by Elm TWIG (Together With Individual Goals) - a women's auxiliary group - at Fox Valley Country Club on October 28th. Apparently, the event sells out so let me know if you'd like more info about attending with Mom and me!

In other news, we are full of appointments this week. PT today, a developmental check up at Children's tomorrow, hematology check up on Thursday, and OT (occupational therapy) on Friday. Luckily, Ella receives both PT and OT here in the house!!

In the meantime, Ella is such a big girl now that she can sit up in her bathtub without the sling! Todd loves giving her baths, Ella loves playing with Daddy during this time, and Mom loves that she doesn't have to do it!


Ella enjoys spending time in her ExerSaucer too! Her favorite toys have become that rolly thing in the front right part of the above picture, any burp cloth (just like Maya & Zachary), and froggy and ducky that sit with her in the car seat. She can often be found hugging ducky and putting froggy's legs in her mouth. We practice rolling over - front to back and back to front, tummy time, sitting up in the Bumbo and reaching for toys, along with a little infant massage each day. When we're not playing you can find Ella attached to Momma in the Moby Wrap aka Metro Wrap facing outward so Ella can take in the surroundings and Mom can get some work done.

That's it for now. Until next week...