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,