Father's Day

Carl’s first Father’s Day came and went and we had lots of fun. I started the day by making Carl a cake, wrapping his presents, getting Ella fed and dressed, and allowing Carl the opportunity to sleep while I did all of this. When Carl finally came down the stairs he was greeted by Ella and his presents. The gifts weren’t much since Ella doesn’t have any income yet. Ella got Carl a frame with a poem about fatherhood around the edges and her footprints inside. She had made this at daycare. Ella also got Carl an electric griddle for making memories over Sunday breakfasts. There was also a photo book and a card.
We got immediate use out of the griddle then Carl was encouraged to just sit and read his paper and do nothing.
In the afternoon we went to the parents house for a bbq and to relax over there. The whole day was full of relaxing and I hope Carl enjoyed that, although Ella won't remember much.

Growing...

At her doctor's visit Ella was weighed and measured.
Her brain is getting huge because her head grew quite a bit.
She is now 22 3/4" tall and weighs 10.8 pounds (with a wet diaper).

Just in case you are wondering, she started out at 19" and 6.13 pounds two months ago.

Ella got shot

She got her shots. A few days ago we went in for her two month appointment and Ella had to get three shots in her chubby thighs. Everyone who knew about the appointment seemed concerned for Ella and for me, worried about how we would deal. I say "we" because everyone assumed I was scared to see my baby go through the pain of the shots. I wasn't worried though. Not to say that I am cold-hearted, because I truly love my Ella, but she needs those shots and sometimes you just have to deal with tough things.
Ella screamed when she got her first shot. She gave that big cry that breaks my heart when i hear it from her. Her face turned red and she screamed through the next two shots also but once that was over I held her tight to me and rocked her and within a minute she had stopped crying although she let out some whimpers for a little while more.
I had failed to bring anything to help soothe her, such as a bottle, so as soon as she had stopped crying I put her in her carseat and we ran out of there.
My girl is a tough one. She was sleeping before I even got her to the car and she slept much of the rest of the day. She was not fussy or anything. I think she was experiencing some pain but I bought her some children's tylenol and after that she seemed fine.
We get to do this all over again in another couple of months and again a few months after that but if she deals with it the same way she did this time I shouldn't have any worries.

Yeah! Mother's Day for Me.

I have been celebrating my first Mother's Day today and I have been having a very enjoyable time. I am all about having an additional holiday devoted to me. I know that sounds selfish but who wouldn't be?
My gift from Ella/Carl was a flower bed in front of the house. We had this half-circle patch of grass with some dying bushes in front of the house and Carl decided to change it into something more enjoyable to look at, for me.
He worked on it all day yesterday, getting up the sod, pulling out the dead bushes, and planting various plants including hostas and lilies from his mom's garden.
I helped him out for awhile as Ella looked on from her chair that we set up on the stairs. I think she had a good time outside because she stayed awake the whole time.
This morning Carl was tired from losing sleep all week long so he slept in but once he woke up he made me some pancakes and eggs for breakfast. After that we went to Costco!
Well, we didn't have anything planned for the day so we ended up there buying paper goods for the house. Afterwards, we went to a new eatery named SmashBurger. If you enjoy greasy food you would like this place. I got a SmashBrat and the bun looked like it had been soaked in butter. I can't deny that it wasn't good but I am sure that if i had a heart condition that this Brat would had done me in.
It's only 2:30 pm now. Much of the day is still left and i am planning on going over the Carl's mom's house so that Ella can say Happy mother's day to her.
that will likely be it for the day.

six weeks old

Ella, Carl, and I have made it to the six week marker. Everyone and all the books we have read said that it would start getting easier at this point and more rewarding. Well, i better hope so. no, really, it has not been so bad now for a couple of weeks. It was very helpful to have my mom here for the first two weeks, then Carl's mom helping out in the mornings for the next two weeks and being on standby since then.
Ella and i spend most of our days in a pretty good routine now. She is doing better about being able to entertain herself for longer periods of time while i get things done around the house, like updating my blog.
right now she is looking around the house while sitting in her vibrating chair. that thing is a life-saver, give to us by one of carl's friends.
I still have six weeks left of maternity leave. i am trying not to think about the end yet but it will be here so quickly so i better make the most of my time with my baby girl until then.
Tomorrow i am going to sign Ella up for her daycare, Jack and Jill Childcare. I hope she loves it because she will get to spend more time with them than with me. we will still have our nights and weekends.

SMILE!

So I am counting this as Ella's first smile. Well the first one we captured on film. Carl had been telling me that Ella would smile for him in the mornings as they did there usual routine which includes leaving me alone to catch up on the sleep i missed due to night feedings. Ella had been smiling for me too but it was rare so i told Carl that i wanted him to capture the smile to prove it to me.
Well on this day, Easter sunday, i was in the bathroom doing my thing when i heard Carl running through the house then he shouted out to me asking where the camera was. i yelled back and when i came out of the bathroom i saw him in the bedroom snapping away at Ella because she was smiling for him.