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!!