HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY BABY ELLA MARIE!

Happy First Birthday to my precious baby girl. You are a beautiful, happy baby and a wonderful gift from God. Our family feels complete with you making us laugh and smile every day of our lives. I'm so proud of you and how far you have come in just a few shorts months. It's been awhile since I've kept this journal, however, we sure have been busy! You took your first steps on December 1st, at 11 months old. 6 steps to be exact. I thought for sure you were off to the races, but a horrible stomach bug got you down and out for over 5 days. Then I caught the bug you had but it turned out to be a 24 hour flu with days of recovery. Lastly, Daddy got sick too, his lasted for days. Somehow Tyler was able to stay healthy, but December has simply been a trying month. Luckily for us, October / November was the BIG month of many milestones. On Oct. 31st, Halloween night, you FINALLY slept through the night at 10.5 months!! I thought this was a fluke b/c of all the trick or treat excitement, but your shocked us by sleeping through the night almost every night in November! What a blessing for Mommy and Daddy! (Dec has not been so great but I like to blame that on your illness messing up your schedule :) ). In November you finally masted using a sippy cup, took to whole milk and you became much more aware of your surroundings. Today I'm celebrating your life, your health and mini milestones like: being off a bottle, off formula, on whole milk, walking, you are beginning to try and dance, new babble words, and your contagious laugh :). On a different note, you have been extra whinny. I mean, really whinny. You are still VERY attached to me which I LOVE, BUT it is nice for Mommy to have some space to cook and get a few things done. You have also got your 2 top teeth which seemed to really hurt as they came in. I am going to chaulk up all this whinning to more teeth on the way (even though I cannot see them yet :) ) .
You and Tyler and now best friends. If I ask you, "Ella want to go see Tyler?", you laugh and giggle and head for his bedroom. You two love to play together and you are a really good sport when he takes your toy away. (which is often :( ). You LOVE when I say, "Ella no touch" and then Tyler walks over and touches it and laughs....you crack up! Hard to get mad at two smiling kids, even though they are doing something mommy and daddy said no too... like touching ornaments on the Christmas tree.
For your birthday today, it was 35 degrees and we had a first real snow of the season, even though it only covered the grass, it was a nice suprise. Grandma Wilma, Great Poppa, Grandmommy and Grandpa Rob all came to our house to help celebrate your big day! After a lot of debate, i decided to have an owl cake made for you to match your owl themed crib bedding - which you love and is simply adorable! You did not hesitate at all and ate almost the entire smash cake; luckily it was small. You favorite gift was from Granda Wilma...a pet kitty that purs and meows. You seem to think it's really funny and Tyler named it baby strykie. Today was also the day that Grandmommy and Great Poppa and Me all gave you your time capsule to reopen when you are 18 years old. I must say, i cried a lot while writing it but not matter how deep and heartfelt I wrote you, words just don't seem to describe my love and hopes of happiness, healthy and love for you. I pray for you both daily and think about you practically every second of my existance. There is no possible way to know a mother's love until you are a mother yourself. I hope we are close and that I am still here to celebrate that with you. I love you with all my heart Ella, you are a gift and an angel in my life.

Ella's 8th & 9th month and Tyler's 25th & 26th month

Ella Marie~

A few days after turning 8 months Ella said Mom-mom and Dada; although she says Mom the most :) Her new thing this month has been standing. Anything she can pull herself up on she will. I also started her on table foods this month. First watermelon, then puffs, sharp cheddar shredded cheese (my favorite too), yogart, cottage cheese, mac and cheese, pees and carrots. Turns out she loves feeding herself and so far does not have the gag reflex that Tyler did. She got her second illness this month, a brief 3-4 day bout with a stomach bug - coming out both ends. After about 2 weeks we finally got her back to only getting up once a night.

month 9 - still up at night, sometimes once, sometimes 2-3 times and will only stop screaming if i feed you. you finally crawl now instead of just scooting. you can now wave and are starting to think about clapping your hands. you are also more aware. you love looking at everything when you get to sit in the shopping cart when tyler is not with us. The trips with just the both of us and fun and needed :) You are still a crazy sleeper! Mommy is tired please sleep :). Up again twice this month and sometimes once. We do dinner at 5 or 6 and eat oatmeal again around 7 and i try to give you 6-8 oz of milk before bed but somehow that is not doing the trick. I cannot stand to hear you cry and hope you grow out of this stage really soon :) We got pumpkins this month and have played more outside knowing that Fall will soon be coming to an end. you love putting grass in your mouth and crawling around anywhere. you're favorite word is still "mum mum mum", which i love :) and you are walking with the assistance of the baby walker toy. You have also really become attached to your book, 'Who Lives in the Pond' by Baby Einstein. You coo / scream when you see it. I think you like talkig to the frog b/c when we try to read it you just eat the pages or try to get down and crawl around. You have not taken to a sippy cup yet and it is driving me crazy! I dislike bottles and could like to be done with them by your 1st birthday which will be here before we all know it. I've also noticed you really are starting to recognize familar faces. Grandmommy, Grandma Wilma, and some of the neighbor kids from our Wednesday playdates.

Tyler - you went from saying a few words to telling whole stories. I'm caputuring a lot on video and you get so excited when you are thinking about what you want to say. It's really cute. you are also say, Oh yeah in a really really funny tone. I'm trying to capture this too!! you just went through a phase (hope it's over) that you took off your pjs in your crib and then take off your diaper. you are doing it b/c it makes you feel like a big boy that you can do it yourself; however we have now put you in a onsie, zippie. you play with the zipper, up down up down until you fall asleep but thankfully haven't taken it off yet. you are more interested in ella (feeding her, playing with her, and bossing her around) Little Ella is such a good sport! During our neighborhood walks you refuse to be straped in the wagon and insist on pushing your lawn mower or winnie the pooh toy. We are continuing to talk about going potty on toilet or telling mommy before you have to go but really there is no interest from you yet. you still love to hide behind the oversized sofa chair when you poop and i really don't think you even notice when you pee. looks like you will be closer to 3 b/f you are out of diapers. I love you tyler! you are thoughtful and funny soo lovable!!!!!!!!!!



I love everything about you and sometimes my heart is so full of love and joy and it's impossible to express it all to you through kisses and hugs. I love every minute we are together and pray that we have a close relationship in our life and can share in everything to come. You are truely beautiful inside and out and I love every second of every day that i get to spend with you.





Ty Ty~


Month 25 & 26

Ella's 7th month

Ella your 7 month has been challenging for mommy but you have had 2 big milestones! You finally can sit up on your own and you figured out how to get anywhere you want by scooting. it's very funny because you use both arms but only your right leg. You have also begun getting up on all fours and rocking back and forth but we are still waiting to see you officially crawl. Still no words, but some mumblings of gaga bababh. I thought i heard momma once at a last night feeding but nothing officially counts until i can tell it's for real. the last few days of month 7 you came down with your first real illness. you woke up with a fever, puked on mommy and cried non stop. we went to the dr and turns out you got a virus that was going around - sore throat, fever of 102.5 and lots of crying. 4 days last you broke out in a blotchy rash which the dr warned about - (you didn't have rosiola).
so far you are not sleeping through the night and continue to be a crazy eater. i dont' know why you can't sit still and drink your bottle. i literlly have to strap you down in the carseat to eat during the day. you don't like your highchair either, you open your mouth to eat your food but just whine and want to get down. personally mommy doesn't get it. you want to be held and / or have mommy in sight at all times, it's pretty crazy. mommy is really hoping you grow out of this stage ASAP b/c it's exhausting! :( I love you and want you to be happy. one thing you love more than milk is your mesh ice thing that holds ice cubes, you love that!
I am welcoming month 8 with open arms!

Tyler as an official 2 year old toddler boy!

month 24 and 25 proved to be the biggest milestone since walking (in my opinion). At your 2 year visit you were 28lbs and 35 inches tall. The doctor asked if you were putting together two words at a time and i said yes, but the real answer was, no - not really. The next day you started putting two words together - no joke. Instead of Mommy........Please, it was, Mommy please. Two word sentences has quickly turned into 3,4, and 5 words. Some cute things you have said:
"Mommy, turn off mouth" - as you pointed at my lips while I talked on the phone during your favorite Mickey Mouse episode. To your credit, what a great sentence, but we will have to work on manners too. Still, pretty cute!!
Everything to you is on and off. You particularly love water fountains and say, "water fountain, ON" every time you see one running.
Yesterday while eating dinner you randomly said "Turn on fireplace please, Gran-Mommy" This was adorable, #1 b/c granmommy wasn't here, and #2 b/c that was a big sentence for you! You love fireplaces and find them in every house, restaurant and book and ALWAYS want them to be turned on so you can say, "fireplace, ON, HOT". LOl. Some really cute things you have said are " Daddy, finger kiss" when you hurt your finger. "mommy, hug please" when he wants to snuggle
Words that you refuse to say right:
a light is a Yuck, a fan is a Fiy
You love to call yourself Ty Ty Boston, you are always concerned and asking Ella Boston? It actually sounds like Ella Bossin? When we visit friends you get up really close in other peoples faces, kids or adults and say, Ella Bossin? As if you are asking, where is my sister? I don't know this house....VERY CUTE! You have also begun to show 'a very slight' concern when Ella cries, you say, Ella cry, OKAY...meaning Ella don't cry, it's okay.
More updates to come.
I love that you want hugs all day and kiss for all ouches, but unsolicited hugs are the best!!

Life as a stay at home - all is the way it should be...

Wow, it's almost August and I haven't written an update since April. I guess life as a stay at home mom is busy :) Honestly, it's everything I thought it would be: rewarding, stressful, difficult, exhausting, fun, but most of all the best thing that has happened to our family! When I was still at Quest I noticed that Ella was turning 4 months old and I felt like I barely knew her. Since coming home in May, I feel closer to her and Tyler! I know all their little noises and what they want at all times. It is really nice to be that in tune with my kids. Everyday is an awesome adventure. Typically we try to get out of the house by 9:30-10am and be home by 12:30. Some adventures include going to the zoo, letting the kids play at the YMCA daycare while I workout, going to the park, going on a stroller jog, swimming at the Y, playing with the neighbor kids and going on errands.

Looking back Ella's 4 month was certainly trying for all of us. Our sweet little baby got her first cold that last a good 2 weeks. There is nothing worse than wrestling a baby to make sure you are getting saline spray up there nose, then suctioning it out. She hated it! I elevated her mattress, used baby vicks and at times gave her some Tylenol. After she beat her cold, she got acid reflux. I didn't know it was possible to get reflux at 4 months old. I didn't know it was reflux at first, but after shrill screaming that was unconsolable and more than normal spit up, i told her to the doctor truley thinking that she must have an ear infection. She checked out fine and the dr said it must be reflux and to give her Maalox 3 times a day. After about a month i was able to get her off Maalox completely and in about 6 weeks she seemed cured from the reflux. But just when I thought we could maybe TRY to return to a normal sleep schedule; she became severaly constipated from begining her first foods. I started her on prune juice but then switched to prune purees and kept that in her daily regime once a day for about 2-3 weeks until she became regular.

Ella is now 7 months old and the most beautiful and radiant little baby!! She still contines to be very happy most of the time but Mommy has to be within eyesight or she gets mad. I actually love the attention :) b/c i know that it will not last forever. In Ellas's 6 month she also sprouted her first tooth which was a 2 week endevor that was filled with consistant whining and crying. I sometimes wonder who i got through it....that must be exactly like what mother's day to endure when their babies have colic. OMG - HORRIBLE! thanks to my neighbor Tiffani who is a pediatric nurse at Children's, she told me to 'up' the dosage slightly and give her Tylenol around the clock. This definatley helped!! Shortly after, i noticed the small new white speck of a second tooth - thanks goodness it's not the same painful drama that we went through with the first one :) LOVE YOU ELLA but all that crying almost broke me :)

Cute things about Ella 4-7 months
Ella adores her daddy. she will smile at him across the room - even if he is not looking. She is already a daddy's girl!
She also LOVES her big brother!! She watches everything he does and always hopes to get his attention.
You love most foods but make a very funny face when something seems too tart (peaches, pears, etc). Tyler finds this very funny.

You two make each other laugh. I tell Tyler, go make Ella laugh, and he walks over on command and laughs out loud in your face - this ALWAYS makes you smile in laugh. It's very very cute!

You don't like to sit up yet. You would rather have someone help you stand, lay on your back, pivot and roll around on your belly. you get everywhere you need to go. Recently you have been learning more to move your knees and i'm hoping that you will soon figure out how to crawl!

many nights you still are sometimes up 4 times....and someones only once. when i watch you on the baby montior it seems that once you awake in the middle of the night, you cannot get comforable again, which really urkes you, and then you get mad b/c you are very tired - then the crying begins. I will also mention that your cry is a horrible, loud, screaming, seemingly painful yells. BUT as soon as mommy comes to the resure you often smile, giggle and flap your arms and legs in excitment. You realize you won and want to celebrate. I can't get mad b/c it's really stickin cute! You also are not much of a cuddler :( However, once you've fallen asleep you will cuddle until i lay you down in your crib. i definately cherish every moment.

when tyler wakes up in the morning or from his afternoon nap, he wants to run in your room, climb your crib and smile at you. you LOVE seeing Tyler smiling at you. It's SOO cute!!

you have recently also been taking baths together and only once did tyler pour a cup of water on your face. that was scary but you were fine and love chewing on the purple octopus toy while kicking your legs in the water.

Tyler - Fun Words
Pool - Poo
Whistle - missle
On, Off,
Light - Yuck (don't get it)
Play Set - Set


Favorite toys - ball pit, all cars, jumping,

The BEST and WORST of April 2011

All I can say is, WOW - April started off with a bang! The first Monday in April, I put in my notice that may last day of work would be April 29th. This has been a long time coming and after all the built up anticipation over the years for this one moment - I thought I would be jumping up and down. Truth is - since I've been back to work our life has been complete chaos! Tyler's new teacher's at his new daycare yell at the kids all the time. I guess positive re-direction is just too much work for them. I knew this could not be an environment that I let Tyler stay in for long. On the other hand, Ella's teachers are wonderful! For some reason, I don't feel as guilty leaving her throughout the day. Maybe it's because she is still so young and happy to be with anyone - or maybe it's because she is the 2nd child and I've already lived this once with Tyler. Either way, not more than a day after putting in my notice, Tyler caught a icky cold at daycare. That Sunday afternoon, he got pink eye. On Monday the Dr confirmed that Ty indeed had pinkeye AND ear infection. By Tuesday the pinkeye spread to the 2nd eye and finally he was back in school on Thursday. On Friday morning Tyler vomited all over the himself and my car.....I turned around and headed back home. After speaking with the Dr again, he had now caught the stomach virus that was also going around his classroom. By Sunday night he was still puking and running a low fever. Wednesday he was feeling better and I took him back to school only to get a call from daycare on Thursday that Ella had diarrhea twice and low grade fever of 99.6. Looks like she caught a bit of what Tyler had. By Saturday both kids appeared better and we headed for a family outgoing at Deer Creek State Park, but now I was sick - I had a sinus infection. If all of this wasn't enough, Saturday night at 2am Tyler was crying...I thought, maybe he peed the bed, maybe he puked, maybe he had another fever....After all, he couldn't be thirsty b/c I have been putting him to bed with a sippy cup full of water to try and prevent dehydration after 3 weeks of illness. Turns out, he was cold. We changed his wet diaper and layered his clothing. I told Nate to go to bed since he threw out his back earlier in the day. 3:30am - an hour and a half later, I finally got Tyler to lay down and go to sleep! 'Nak' 'Pees' 'Nak' 'Pees'. Wow! There is NO reasoning with a toddler to go to sleep and you can have your 'snack' in the morning when it's time for breakfast. Tyler screamed and cried for until he laid back down to sleep. Why didn't I just leave him in his room?? Well, since he can climb out of his crib (at my mom's, not ours yet) I feared that if I left him mad and pumped up full of energy that he would try and climb out of his crib. Instead I choose to ignore the cries and stand there and console him until he calmed down. I refuse to transition him to a big boy bed until Ella is sleeping through the night. Speaking of Ella, Saturday night during all this, she was up every 3 hours, crying and only eating a few ounces of food. Something was wrong with her, but we didn't know what. 7am - Nate gets Ella out of her crib, since he is awake, again! About 20 minutes later he comes flying in the room to tell me that Ella is screaming and constipated. She passed 3 formed poops and was very uncomfortable. Oh my gosh, I can't believe this - she is still only eating formula! Sunday, she was screaming and fussy all day, so I called the Dr. emergency line. I knew she was still constipated and I needed to know how much prune juice was safe to give her. 1oz prune juice and 1oz water. 10 minutes after Ella drink this she started screaming and passed another formed poop. Still a bit discontent I gave her some Tylenol to help ease the pain of her belly ache. Last night, she went to sleep at 8:30pm, got up at midnight and again at 5am. Nate and I exhausted to say the least! On top of that, he left this morning for a business trip in PA. Thankfully, my Dad is coming into town tonight to help me with the kids until Nate gets home. I am still sick and VERY tired, but at least it's me and NOT the babies! Ella's 4 month checkup is tomorrow - so more to come. Ty was supposed to go with her to get a vaccine but since he was sick for 3 weeks, I decided to cancel his appointment to a later date. All in all - Yes, I am excited to come home in 2 weeks, but I can hardly see straight enough to really enjoy the anticipation that I have long awaited!

Tyler 20 months - Ella 3 months

Damn! Can my kids get any cuter? lol :) This duck raincoat is a hit with Tyler. It's a hand-me-down from someone and since his obsession with ducks continues - this was a great find hidden in the back of our coat closet! Tyler continues to be a wonderful big brother to Ella. He is a bit ornery and tries to steal Ella's bottle if I leave it unattended in arms reach. I have caught him twice now with it in his mouth! He just laughs when I take it away.

Ty is now 20 months old and started at Enchanted Care in Lewis Center on March 11th. For the first 5 days in daycare, he cried all day asking for Mommy and Daddy and kept saying 'home'. This was very heartbreaking! He now has to take his naps on a cot and eat school food. Although he is choosing to skip most of the main meals at lunch b/c he is still a picky eater - or should I say - he is simply unwilling to try anything new that doesn't look familiar. Ty's teacher's have taken him to Ella's classroom several times to make him feel better and he also go over to 'A-ya!' and gives her a kiss. How freaking cute is that?? I believe he is slowly adjusting and doing better at 'school' but I'm hoping to be home in a few months and spend quality time together! (Now if we can only decide if we are going to build that new paver patio...??)

New obsessions - Book 'Things that go'. Tyler LOVES trucks, school buses and cars (beep beep). It is too cute to hear him say that. He loves pushing his toy cars and trucks all around the house. He is babbling to himself a bit more now and really making an effort to try and talk, although he does get very frustrated and whinny if we don't understand or get him what he wants. Also he is now infatuated with the Moon and looking for it in the sky. Much like the word train, he is getting Moon confused with "Mooo". More favorites are broccoli and hummus! Finally a veggie he likes!

Ella updates: LOVE LOVES to COOOOOOOOOOO! Much like the pictures above taken from my cell phone, Ella just loves to talk if you are willing to spend some time and look her in the eyes, she will smile back and gurgle, coo and sometimes scream - happily of course.

I will say her schedule is still all over the map. One day she sleeps a lot, the next day she barely takes naps longer than an hour. Sometimes she wants 1 oz, other times she wants 4 - she is so hard to predict. She still doesn't like snuggling on my chest (her belly) but will do it from time to time with Nate. Last night I noticed her checking out her hands and fingers while she was drinking her milk. Sometimes she sleeps 3 hours at night and other times she sleeps 6 hours straight. We are trying to give her a consistent routine at night and that now consists of me putting her to bed sometime between 8:30- 9:30pm - whenever she is hungry for her last bottle. We were doing 10pm for almost a month b/c than she usually only got up once at night and that was saving us on sleep. However, I want her to begin to work on longer stretches of sleep and I want her to get overly tired.

Another thought, we are still swaddling her for nap time and bedtime - did I mention that she loves it?? Well, once she is able to rollover, it's recommended we stop swaddling her for fear of self suffocation. I would be glad to end the swaddling but I have NO idea how she will sleep. I call her, Ella crazy arms! Her arms have a mind of their own and are flying around everywhere, even when I'm feeding, I have to hold down her arms so she can concentrate on sucking and not hitting herself in the face. lol - kind of funny and cute - I know I will look back and laugh but I’m hoping she will be ready for this new freedom in a month or soo. Time will tell.

Tyler 19 months - Ella 2 months

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY! I AM 3 MONTHS OLD TODAY!

THANKS MOM FOR PUTTING MICKEY MOUSE ON!

MOTE.....MOM TURN ON MICKEY FOR ME...I AM THE GODFATHER

TRYING TO STRENGTHEN NECK DURING TUMMY TIME

TYPICAL MEAL FOR TYLER

CUTE~

A RARE, BUT LOVED SLEEPING POSITION

FIRST TIME IN BUMBO...MY HEAD IS FALLING OVER...

GETTING CHUNCKY!

The past 10 weeks

Family Trip to Morrow to Papaw and Mamaw

Papaw and Ty visiting his chickens

Papaw loves his Grandaughter!

We are reverting backwards to eating with hands again and no spoon. I guess messy is more fun

Second play date with Anna and Brooklyn. Reilly are pretending to be babies again

Who needs Sears? Homemade photo shoot :)

Gorgeous princess

Uncle Jason and Ella

Me, Ella and Poppa

Poppa, Grandmommy and Ella

Tyler and Ella with Poppa, Great Grand Poppa, and Grandpa Rob

Lifting her head!

First Haircut. Come to find out poor Tyler had a fever and was sick :(

Eating with hands again.

Funny how babies barely blinkFirst playdate with Anna and Brooklyn. Tummy Time!

My boys are handsome!

Ella on Christmas Eve

Family photo in front of our new Christmas tree.

YES we look alike :)

First bath!

FIRST Tummy Time!

Claire and Maddy LOVE Mr. Tyler!

Claire and Maddy also LOVE holding Miss Ella

So I've been a bad blogger since Ella has been born. There have been higher priorities when both kids are sleeping...and that was ME taking a nap too! All in all it's been a very exhausting, sometimes stressful, patience testing, but BEST time of my life. I'm sad my maternity leave will be over in 2 weeks!

Below is a small recap of the past 2 1/2 months!

Ella is everything we prayed she would be: beautiful, peaceful, easy going, and mostly a good sleeper. Just a few days after being born she was eating 3ozs per feeding! WOW, this little girl is growing! She was discharged at the hospital at 6.8lbs and up to 9.9lbs by her one month appointment and 11.12lbs at her 2 month appointment. As far as length, turned out Riverside didn't measure her that accurately at birth. They said she was 20.5" but at her 4 day Dr Appt she was measured at 19.5". At her 2 month visit she has already grown to 22.5"!! Like Tyler, her head is in the 96 %. Ella and Tyler are proving to be very different already. Although many people think they look alike (including me) Miss Ella sleeps on her back (thank God!), LOVES her swing (will swing for hours), hates playing on her belly, has only lifter her head off the ground a few times, slept up to 7 hours at night (5 on average), LOVES having her diaper changed (She always smiles and coos at me as a big thank you for changing her. ), LOVES car rides, LOVES her car seat, LOVES being swaddled, and LOVES her mobile. Overall, she couldn't be more different than her big brother Tyler when he was her age.

As for Tyler, he has been an angel. He loves saying Baby - Ella or as he pronounces it, Bahbee, A-ya. He continues to thrive and just last week said Mommy for the first time! Now he says it all the time. He is my little buddy and has no doubt learned to love saying more name more now that we have been able to spend more time together at home. Since Nate works from home on many days I tried to find a way to distract Tyler from crying at his office door while I was busy with Ella. The result? Mickey Mouse Clubhouse turned out to be a hit! I was so glad he would watch TV even for 2 minutes while they sang the "Hot Dog Song". Moi Moi MOI! or "More" in our language. Awesome, Tyler loves the singing and dancing on TV!! Success! Sure, Ty, Mommy will rewind the TV for you. YES a distract. A week later, I’ve created a monster! "Dit-doh, Dit-doh" - Translation "HOTDOG". Tyler brings me the "Mote" first thing in the morning, "DitDOHH", after Mickey ends, MOI MOI MOIII!! Okay my son went from not liking TV to becoming obsessed with it! On another note, Tyler has started to call Nate, "Nate" instead of Daddy, so I guess I need to call Nate "Daddy" for awhile. Ha! More Tyler changes, 25lbs and 34" at his 18 month Dr appointment. He loves diving head first off the couch, standing on chairs, burying himself with pillows, playing in the snow, and throwing all his food off his highchair. He always asks about Ella and wants to know where she is. Sometimes he gives her an unexpected kiss and it melts my heart. I love my kids and pray for their continued health and safety.