1 month!!

Ella is now 1 month old and has grown so much!  At her 1 month visit, she measured 21 inches and weighs 9.75 lbs.  She is doing great eating and loves bath time and floor time.  She is "Cooing", "Caaing" and telling us stories.  Too cute!

For the past few nights 1 a.m. is playtime for Ella.  She is a regular party animal! When everyone is in a deep sleep...Ella, Mark and I are doing bicycle kickies, reading books and pacing the floors.  She finally crashes around 5 a.m.  Coffee is definitely a close personal friend of ours!!  : )

3 Weeks...

My goodness...I can't believe Ella is 3 weeks old already!  Time is really flying by and I am not sure I like that.  I always hear people say "Where does the time go..."  Now I understand.  So much has happened in the past few weeks.  Ella is becoming more alert.  She has been very alert since she was born, but now she is staying awake longer as well.  It's funny because when she has visitors and is meeting someone for the first time, she knows it and has to be awake so that she doesn't miss anything!  I know every parent thinks highly of their children, but this little girl is truly amazing.  She has the cutest facial expressions, she already has so much personality and I swear she is going to roll over anyday!  Haha!  Really...she is two thirds of the way there.  She is so strong.  She moves her head all over the place and while giving her a bath...she locks her legs to try to stand up.  

Playing in my activity gym!

Throwing the peace sign with Daddy!

My stretching while I sleep pose.  Oh, I grunt while I do this as well!

Ella's cousin, Madison, was born on October 23, 2009.  That's right...12 days apart!  Madi was 8 lbs 3 oz, healthy and oh so cute!  Ella welcomed her new cousin in the hospital.  I think they are already plotting on what kind of trouble they will cause at family gatherings.  Lol.  Welcome to the world, Baby Madi!!

Madison and her Daddy, Matt

Ella celebrated her 1st Halloween.  She wore her Pumpkin gear that Grandma Orzel, Aunt Colleen, Uncle Tony and Great Aunt Roni gave her.  Mommy tried posing her for pictures and Ella was not too happy.  I did pull off getting some decent pics of my lilttle Pumpkin though.  : )  

Mark and I couldn't pull off our usual Halloween tricks with scaring the bejesus out of the kids because of a very good reason.  Mark had to work, so Ella and I handed out candy and had a very relaxing night.  So she was a cute Pumpkin this year....next year will be a different story.  Stay tuned to see what she will be next Halloween. Muuuwahahaha!!  Mark and I already discussed that we will most likely be the parents getting phone calls from the school on Halloween regarding how inappropriate our child's costume is and how she is scaring the other kids.  Haha!  And no worries, Aunt Candi, if she wants to be a princess...that will be up for discussion.  I will compromise and talk her into a gory princess.  Just kidding!!  She can be what she wants.  : ) 

ELLA AT HOME

Ella has been home for a little over a week now.  So much has happened already.  When we were leaving the hospital, we found out that she was a little jaundice.  We had to take her a few times to have her blood tested.  She does not like that!  We had a visiting nurse to the house to check her out and she was on a Billi Blanket which provided her with artificial sunlight to help with the jaundice.  Remarkably within 48 hours that treatment was complete and she is free of the blanket.  : )

Lots of family and friends have come to welcome our lil nugget into the world!  She even had a visit from her great pop pop.  That was awesome!  We had the oldest McGrath and the youngest McGrath together.  Great pop pop even brought Ella something from her daddy's childhood.  Mark had the Snuggle Bear growing up and his grandfather found it and brought it to the house for Ella.  It was absolutely so sweet!  Mark was floored when he came home to see Snuggle Bear.

Grandma Orzel stayed with us for the 1st week to make sure we were settled in and rested for the long haul ahead.  Thanks Mom!!  The day she left was the same day Mark went back to work.  It was a very rough day for me.  I was worried about being alone to care for this precious little thing on my own and saddened because Mark had to go back to work.  I knew how hard it was going to be for him.  We made it through though.  

There is no doubt that she is our kid.  She loves sleeping in.  The past few days...Mommy, Daddy and Ella have been sleeping till about 11 a.m.   She surprisingly has been letting us sleep about 6 hours a night.  Of course not in a row, but we couldn't ask for more.  It's funny though, she is awake periods during the day, but when it's time to get ready for bed...she is the most alert.  I know it's still early, but any advice on how to keep her awake more during the day so that she's sleepier at night would be greatly appreciated : )

Mark loves changing diapers!  This guy...haha!  Ella loves giving her daddy something to work for.  Mark has had at least a half dozen mishaps during diaper changing time.  It's hysterical!! She will have a a wet and a dirty and daddy will start changing her and then start peeing as he is doing it.  Once the pee pee is over he continues...then she starts pooping. After the 3rd diaper...he finally finishes. Mommy finds this amusing.

Well after week one of being a 1st time mommy, I have to say it's hard work but yet absolutely rewarding!  I have noticed that the TV is on, but yet no one is watching it.  Instead Mark and I watch baby Ella 24 hours a day.  It's the best!  She is absolutely beautiful and we are still in awe that she is ours.  Love you baby girl!!

She's here!!!

Ella Amaya McGrath was born on Monday, October 12th, 2009 at 8:59 p.m.  It was a long 24 hours, but well worth it!!!  I now have a great appreciation for every mother out there. Mark and I were so overwhelmed with joy with the arrival of our baby girl.

Mark helped deliver Ella and survived.  Haha!  He really thought it was truly amazing!! He cut her cord and I cried hysterically and kept yelling "Oh my God, Oh my God!!"  I just couldn't believe I did it and that she was right there.  It was completely surreal...and the most extraordinary milestone in our lives!

She is the most beautiful, perfect little angel.  Mommy and Daddy love you so much, Ella!

The Week Before the Arrival

So we are in week 39 of the pregnancy and anticipating Ella's arrival more than ever.  We hope that she comes on her own, but if not I go into the hospital a week from today at 9 p.m.  I am excited and nervous!  I think my nerves are setting in because I am not sure what to expect and I am one who enjoys having details in place.  


Currently sleeping has become a chore for me.  There is no comfortable positions to lay in for a long period of time.  The doctors tell me I have what is called pregnancy carpal tunnel which is extremely uncomfortable (especially while sleeping).  My hands go numb and ache.  This also happens during the day, actually it is happening right now.  Supposedly this will go away after Ella is born and I am really looking forward to that as well as welcoming my beautiful baby girl!  

We are all ready to welcome Ella. Her room is complete, everything is washed, bottles are cleaned and mommy and daddy and super excited!!