Life with Ella {week 6}

I realize I say this every week, but I can't believe Ella is already 6 weeks! I could be going back to work today...I can't even imagine! There's no way! 

I do get to work out today, though! Yay!!! I'm so excited to RUN! (Who says that?!?!) 

{Ella is also excited! She's a great little cheerleader :)}

It's such a yucky day here...but let's flash back to last week.

It was gorgeous last Monday, so I met my friend Amanda at the park. 

Her little boy, Rhys, and Ella had a little date. Ella was asleep for the whole thing, but she did look pretty cute in her sunglasses!!

We took a whole bunch of walks last week in the nice weather...it was even too hot for clothes on Tuesday! 

We also bought her a new pair of (slightly smaller) sunglasses. Because a 6 week old clearly needs several pairs. 

This week, Ella officially outgrew her newborn clothes and newborn diapers! I may or may not have shed a tear or two.

Here she is in her very last newborn diaper!!! TEAR! The good news is that we were given several packs of size 1 diapers, so now we don't have to trek off to Target every few days for more diapers (although, now I will need a new excuse to go to Target, but I don't think that will be difficult)!

We also made several trips to the Apple store... (Tuesday: to buy my new computer; Wednesday: to take my old laptop in so they could transfer my files; Thursday: to pick everything up!!)

Ella was NOT impressed with the Apple store, haha.

On Friday, I was greeted with a sweet surprise!

That's right...Ella smiled at me for the first time!! I had to quick put her "First Smile" sticker on...it took me 35 minutes to get this:

Gahhh. That little smile just warms my heart! 

Also on Friday, we had a little lunch date with my friend from work, Caitlin, and her brand new baby Frankie!

They slept while we ate. :)

Ella also had her first trip to Costco on Friday...

{I am NOT a big fan of putting her carseat in the cart...but the stupid boxes at Costco are too big to fit under the stroller!}

Saturday was gorgeous, so Ella chilled outside while her dad and I did some yard work. All of the neighbors kept coming by to see her! 

We also walked up to dinner and ate some yummy sushi!

{ignore my neighbor photo bombing and Trav's awkward expression}

Ella was so chill, and just hung out like this the whole meal...

I think we need to eat out more, when she's so calm like this...while we still can!

Saturday was also bath night and I thought my little dolphin looked so cute...

...until she peed on the towel. At least it wasn't poop this time :)

Side note: This weekend, Ella decided that she does not like to nap. She was WIDE AWAKE pretty much all day Saturday and Sunday. She took a few 2-3 minute cat naps (I timed them, they were all seriously less than 5 minutes long). She did not get too fussy, and she is sleeping great at night. But, anyone have suggestions on how to get my child to nap?! I'm hoping this is just a phase.

Anyway...instead of napping yesterday, we watched basketball....

...and her bf Rhys came over again. He is SO intrigued by Ella, it is hilarious!

Look, they are holding hands!

Now Ella and I are off to make our bracket...

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Five on Friday!

Was this not the longest week ever?! I'm not complaining, more time with my teeny tiny peanut, but still! 

Anyways, I'm linking up again to share 5 things! :)

1. I finally broke down Tuesday and got a new computer!

This is my first Mac and I'm still trying to figure out how to work this thing, but so far, I LOOOOVE it! Much better than my 6 year old virus-plauged PC, for sure!

2. I forgot to mention in my last post, that last Saturday night was my first night out without Ella! I went with some friends for sushi and to one of those wine and design classes. 

I had lots of fun, drank some wine and made a pretty picture. But of course, I did miss my sweet girl (don't worry, she was in excellent hands with her dad though)!

3. I am SO excited for March Madness to start on Sunday! I think Ella is pretty excited too...this was her watching the ACC tournament last night with her dad. She was mesmerized! 

{And yes, I know the AAP says no TV for children under 2...sorry!}

4. If you have a Gap card (or even if you don't), get yourself there ASAP! Everything is 40% off (30% off if you don't have a Gap card), even sale stuff! I picked up a whole bunch of stuff yesterday (because Ella totally needs more clothes)! My personal fav? This little chambray shirt!

I happen to have one juuuuustt like it and I'm overly excited for us to match!

5. Where is spring? I am so over winter. Our neighborhood is lined with these pretty trees and it just doesn't seem fair to look at them while wearing a winter coat! 

Happy Friday! 

Life with Ella {week 5}

Ok, so I know I said I wasn't going to do these weekly updates after she was a month old....but seeing as I am sucking horribly keeping up with her baby book, I know I will want to look back one day and see what activities we did each week! Plus, let's face it, this child occupies pretty much all of my life, so it's not like I am going to blog about anything else anytime soon. 

{Sorry, I'm not sorry.}

Let's back up just a teense...to last Friday (2/28). Ella got a visit from our minister (who just happens to share a birthday with her!) and he brought her these beautiful flowers!

The next day, Saturday, we had to go to the hospital to return the pump they let me borrow (long story, but I have my own now!), so we swung by to see my friend's new baby! She was almost the same size as Ella, because Ella is such a little peanut! 

Sunday was a gorgeous day, so we had to break out the sunglasses! 

Trav's family came over and his grandma got to meet Ella! 

We celebrated Ella's one month birthday last Monday by taking treats up to the nurses who helped deliver her! I was too busy crying (apparently my crazy hormones have not completely disappeared) to take any pictures! I was so mad at myself for not doing so!

Tuesday, we went to visit Dr. Horne for my postpartum checkup...which was a little anticlimactic, since she did not clear me to exercise (I have to wait 2 more weeks). But she did love seeing Miss Elle Belle!

We then met Kathryn for lunch at Panera...

Apparently, Panera doesn't excite this girl either.

Also on Tuesday, my friend Chelsea stopped by to meet Ella!

On Wednesday, I took Ella to meet the kids I nannied for last summer (and put up with my crazy morning sickness and exhaustion!). 

Thursday, we had another bath (we try to bathe her every other day or so) and discovered Ella loves to go under the faucet, or as we call it "the waterfall."

Friday, we went for Ella's one month checkup. I am so grateful for our wonderful pediatrician...she was so patient and answered all of my crazy questions! 

This was right after she peed all over the table, but before she got her shot (she did NOT like it)! 

To reward her for being such a healthy baby, I did what any mom would do...I took her shopping! Duh. How cute are these sunglasses?!?

On Saturday, Ella got ready to watch her second UNC/Duke game...

And we also got out to enjoy the sunshine too!

Yesterday, our friends Nick and Andrea came over with their little boy, and he and Ella had their first date, in matching car seats, of course! 

I'm also super excited that the little peanut has begun to fit into her 0-3 month clothes! We have been having some fun playing dress up (aka "which outfits fit Ella today?!") every morning! 

Happy Monday! :)

One Month Favorites

I never really did a whole baby registry post, because I wanted to see what Ella actually liked before I wrote about it. So, here are some things we couldn't live without for Ella's first month of life!

First some essentials....

1. These side snap shirts are the best! I hate putting stuff over her head.

2. We love our Wubbanubs! Ella has the dog, giraffe and lamb :)

3. Ella has been living in these sleeper outfits. My favorites are the Carters Sleep and Plays with ZIPPERS. Snaps get really complicated!

4. These changing pad liners are the most essential thing in this whole post. It is awesome not to have to change the whole changing pad cover every time she has a little accident (which is almost every day). I'm pretty sure I will be buying these for any and every baby shower I attend from here on out. Not the most fab present, but those moms will thank me later! 

Ella doesn't get cranky very much, but these 4 things definitely help during those rare fussy times...

1. Travis' sister got this owl for Ella and she loves it! It helps soothe her when she's in her car seat.

2. Ella loves her bear play mat! During her newborn photo shoot, she actually stopped crying whenever we put her on this! (I promise I'll share pictures soon!)

3. Also crucial during the newborn photo shoot, and in subsequent nights, was this sound machine. It even lulls me to sleep.

4. My parents got Ella this dog, and it plays music and birds chirping, which Ella loves. It usually calms her right down. 

And last but not least, some super glamorous essentials for me...postpartum care is not pretty, friends. 

1. Hospital squirt bottle. I may or may not still occasionally use this thing. I actually stole 2 from the hospital (don't tell!) and have the other one in Ella's room for especially dirty diaper changes.

2. Soothies Gel Pads....helped my poor, sore boobs A TON.

3. Mesh underwear. I literally cried when I ran out and had to wear real underwear again.

4. Yes I am still sleeping with my pregnancy pillow. Is that fine?! 

Ella Grace {One Month}

Dear Ella,

You are a whole month old today! It's been the fastest month ever, yet at the same time I feel like you've been here forever--I can't even remember what life was like before you came around. 

Height: 21.5 inches (60 percentile)

Weight: 8 pounds, 12 ounces (27 percentile)

You are tall and skinny! Clearly, you did not get that from your 5'2" mom!

Head circumference: 14.5 inches (51 percentile) 

Clothes: You are still wearing newborn size clothes and diapers! I know you're slowly growing and I love you being a little peanut, but I'm ready for you to be out of the newborn clothes...you have a ton more {cuter} clothes in 0-3 months size! 

Nicknames: Ell, Ell Bell, Ella Bella, peanut, sweet girl, stinky/stinkyhead (only when you have a poopy diaper!)

Milestones: You are so alert, sweet girl! You don't want to miss any action. You are also starting to hold your head up--you are a strong little lady! And during tummy time, you try to move your legs like you are wanting to crawl (although, I know real crawling is still a long way off)!

Sleep: You've definitely slept through the night a few times, and slept for a few 6-7 hour stretches as well. Lately, though, you seem to go to sleep around 11PM, wake up at 4:30AM; then sleep from 5AM until 9AM. I'd like you to go back to that sleeping through the night thing, so we can transition you from the Rock n Play in our room to your crib, but for now, I'll take it!

Best Moment: I don't know if I can pick one exact moment...any time you are awake and alert is so fun! But, last week, we gave you a bath and Daddy figured out that you did not like your baby bathtub, and held you in the open waters of the big bathtub instead. You LOVED it! You were kicking and splashing all around. Maybe you will be a swimmer like your mom?!

Worst Moment: Those first few days when my hormones were out of control, and you weren't sleeping very much at night. I'm so glad we are all passed that sleep-deprived mess! Another not so glamorous thing? When we change your diaper and you immediately pee or poop in the new diaper. Once, we went through 4 diapers in a single diaper change! 

Likes: Wubbanubs/pacifiers, the Mamaroo, your car seat & riding in the car, snuggling, tummy time (for short periods of time), sucking on your hands

Dislikes: getting your diaper changed, being cold (like your mom!), when you can't get to your hands (like when you're swaddled...you bust out of your swaddle almost daily!)

Health: We thought you had a fever the other day, but turns out you were just a little over-heated when I dressed you in too many layers! Sorry! Other than that, you are as healthy as they come!

Eating: You are nursing every 3 hours and as far as I can tell, eating a decent amount. I hope you are getting enough because I never can tell exactly how much you drink! 

You have brought so much joy into our lives, Ella! You love to snuggle with me, and especially your dad! You certainly have him wrapped around your finger! Also, I'd like to add that UNC has not lost a game since you've been alive...so keep up the good luck! :) You are such an easy, sweet baby...you are definitely making me love my job as your mom! I can't wait to see what the next month brings!