1 Month Old

Ellie is 1 month old today! Her birth still seems like yesterday, but at the same time it seems like it was so long ago! So much has changed in this last month! We are definately noticing changes in her every day. We don't have an official weight (no Dr.'s apt. again 'til 2 months), but my unofficial standing on the scale with her makes me guess she's between 9 and 10 pounds now. It's definately obvious that she's getting bigger in how her clothes fit. She's already outgrown outfits that she was drowning in as a newborn. She's mostly in 0-3 month clothes now, but I'm noticing some of the onesies are getting shorter - she has a long body - so we may be trying the 3-6 month for some of those. She's graduated out of newborn diapers into Size 1 as of this week! The hats also fit on her head now and don't fall down over her eyes =) We're noticing a few little rolls on her legs and belly and a little double-chin that wasn't there before. I think of any part of her, the change is most noticable in her face. Her eyes are still very blue, so it'll be interesting to see if they change being that Colin and I are both very brown. She's making more eye contact now and is really close to a legitimate smile. We've gotten a few smirks here and there, but not a definite smile yet. She's making a lot of sounds, and we've nicknamed her 'Grunty' as that's the most popular one =) Sometimes I am shocked that she DOES NOT have a dirty diaper with all the grunting she does! The last 3 baths have been very calm so maybe we're turning a corner there. Her favorite things right now are our living room ceiling fan and sleeping with/on Mom or Dad. She'll sleep for hours sprawled out on your chest. With the few short car trips we've taken she's also really good in her car seat - usually right to sleep. Hopefully that keeps up when we really start going places. Ellie's public outings have been limited to the Dr's office and to one friend's house - the price you pay for being born mid-winter at the peak of cold and flu season! Hopefully the weather warms up soon so she can wear more of the cute outfits she has. So far it's mostly been lounging around the house with mom. Here are some shots from this past week. Sara and I did doll her up for a photo shoot at least =)

All dressed up and nowhere to go!







Look how tall I stretch!



2 weeks and 4 weeks with my pink doll



I really like to sit up with help from Mom or Dad





Dad giving me elf ears



Auntie Sara had to head back to Spain yesterday so we brought her to the airport. Ellie was in a ceiling fan trance here.



Looking at the camera (kind-of)



Bye bye Auntie Sara



Tuckered out after a busy day

All Good!

Ellie's VCUG went well this morning. She was such a good girl while the doctors and nurses were poking and prodding her - she was better than I was! They gave her a little local anesthetic so she didn't even flinch for the catheter. Then through everything else they had a little sugar water to dip her nuk in to help keep her calm. The only time she cried was when it was all done, and she had to get dressed again, but then after that it was back to sleep in the carseat. The good news is the Radiologist said everything looked normal! We'll get the official ok from our Pediatrician, but it sounded like we won't be needing any more tests - yeah!

Ellie also had her first non-Dr. outing yesterday! We went to visit our friends, Joanne and Alex Kaufman, for a little bit in the afternoon. Ellie wasn't too social as she slept the whole time - oh well! Here are some shots from our visit.

Joanne and Alex with Ellie and I. Alex and Ellie are only 3 months apart so someday they'll be buds!



This was Ellie for most of the visit. I said she was a little boxer in her hoodie.



Sara with Alex. Only 3 months older, but a lot more baby than Ellie right now! Ellie will catch up soon - we're already noticing her filling out more. Alex has the cheeks you just want to pinch! =)

Family Weekend

We had another family-filled weekend this past weekend. Grandma and Grandpa Pomeroy, Uncle Levi and Auntie Lindsey, and Auntie Shannon and Uncle Andy all came to visit. Our friends Ryan and Suzy also came to visit on Sunday. I was able to get out and do some shopping with all the babysitters around which was really nice as well! Here are some shots from the weekend.

Hanging out with dad after work





Grandma Donna



Papa Herb



Auntie Shannon and (soon-to-be) Uncle Andy



Uncle Levi and Auntie Lindsey (and Baby Boy cousin due in May!)



Ellie hasn't been a big fan of her crib so far, but we've been trying it out with daytime naps. Her little papasan chair is her favorite place to sleep (if not in someone's arms)



Saying her naptime prayers

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Well, the good news first. This past Friday I had my follow-up with the urologist, and I am kidney-stone FREE! Yeah! I had a another CT Scan, and she showed me the difference between this one and the one I had the day Ellie was born, and it was all clear. After reviewing the scan, we then chatted about prevention measures if I were to become pregnant again because now I'm more likely to develop kidney stones again (great!) Drinking a lot of water and eliminating excess calcium from my diet were things I already knew, but she also told me to take a few teaspoons of lemon juice each day. Lemon juice is the best natural form of citrate which offsets calcium build-up in your body. So I learned something new there! She also asked me if I had a lot of morning sickness early in my pregnancy (yes, morning, noon, and night!) and thought that that's probably when all the problems started because I would have been really dehydrated during that time. So, that's the good news...

Unfortunately, a few hours after my appointment we got Ellie's kidney ultrasound results, and she needs to have more testing done. Her kidneys look good now, but one of her ureters (the tube between your kidney and bladder) was dilated putting her at increased risk for vesicoureteral (urine) reflux. I had no idea what that was so have been researching online. Urine is only supposed to flow in one direction, from kidney through ureter to bladder, and reflux is basically when it flows in the wrong direction. It's not an uncommon problem in infants and is something that can correct itself as a child ages though which is a good thing. I found this site which explains the detail if you're really interested in educating yourself!

www.urologychannel.com/pediatric/vur.shtml

At this point, we don't even know if she has the problem so Wednesday we head to the hospital again for more testing. It is not an extremely serious condition, but something that they need to check because the most common symptom is urinary tract infection which would require antibiotic treatment.

The test she's having done is called a voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) - another thing I needed to research (http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=voidcysto&bhcp=1). It's supposedly painless, but doesn't sound pleasant. Basically what they'll do is fill her bladder with a fluorescing liquid, and then use X-ray to watch whether the liquid flows in the right direction. To fill her bladder though they need to use a catheter, and she'll also need to hold really still. I don't think this will be a fun appointment, but something we need to have done. If the result is that she does have reflux she'll be put on antibiotics to prevent a UTI.

So, I guess if you get anything out of this post, it's an increased knowledge of the urinary tract! I know I've learned more than I ever would have thought with all these issues and procedures we've have in the last 3 months. Everything has worked itself out so far though, so hopefully Ellie's appointment on Wed. will be nothing more.

Onesies

Ellie has quite the collection of onesies, so she's been modeling as she tries them out! A lot of them are from one of my baby showers where friends and family got to personalize them for her. A few of them are just witty little sayings. Here are some of the small ones she's gotten to wear already - not playing favorites - some just don't fit yet!!! =)

Lucky for us she hasn't pulled an 'all-nighter' quite yet - knock on wood! I think we have a pretty good sleeper actually!



I commented on this one when I was pregnant...let's see, what she 'gets' from me so far - her eye rolls and the ability to flare her nostrils! =)



Pretty flowers



We love her too



She loves Auntie Shannon



It's hard to see, but right below the duck this ones says 'little cutie' (from Auntie Sara)



#11 like Auntie Sara

Let it Snow

No, let it stop! Colin and I both grew up with a lot of snow, but this is easily the most snow that we've seen since living in Wisconsin. Our neighbor who's lived here A LOT longer than us said it's the most snow he's ever seen as well. And this week we also get the sub-zero temperatures - yeah! Needless to say, we've been spending lots of time inside the house! Feel free to stop by if you're in the neighborhood!

Great-Auntie Gretchen, Great-Uncle Darryl, and cousin Cory stopped by for a visit yesterday. I had to look up what Cory (my first cousin) would technically be to Ellie...he is her 'first cousin once removed'! That's a mouthful - we'll just stick with cousin! =)

Great-Auntie Gretchen



Great-Uncle Darryl



I've come to the conclusion that all babies like ceiling fans. I know our nephews did and other friends' kids as well. Ellie likes to lay on my lap with her feet free and kicking looking up in a trance!

Hanging out on mom's lap



Looking in the mirror behind the couch (from Ellie's angle)



I also took some pictures of the Winter Wonderland. This is our back deck...you can't even tell where the step is, the snow is even with the ground!



Looking out our front door



The front landscaping - notice the icicles hanging off the porch.

Cold & Snowy Day

The weather is just miserable here today! It has been alternating between rain, snow, and freezing rain since before 6:00 this morning, and it's supposed to last through the night. A good day to stay inside and watch TV movies which is just what we're doing =)

Ellie had a big day of visitors yesterday! Our friends Jim and Sara Lagina stopped by for a short visit in the morning and then Grandma and Grandpa Boyer, Great-Grandma Ruth, and Great Auntie Debbie were here in the afternoon. Here are some shots from the day.

Colin and I realized that after 2 weeks we did not have a picture of the BOTH of us with Ellie! So, I guess this is our first family photo =)



Auntie Sara has been here visiting with Ellie all week.



Great Auntie Debbie



When my mom was looking for my newborn hospital picture she found this one of Aunt Debbie (and Uncle Les) with me as a newborn!



Grandma, Ellie, and I

Happy Valentines Day!

Our little Valentine is 2 weeks old today!! Ellie had her 2-week check-up at the Dr. today, and she's doing great. They didn't have her ultrasound results yet unfortunately, but the pediatrician thought we'd have them later today or tomorrow. Baby girl also had to have ANOTHER painful prick on the heal as the hospital screwed up her second blood test just like the first. We are less than pleased with this whole ordeal, but the girls in the lab at the Dr.'s office today assured me that it would be done correctly this time. I wasn't so emotional this time as I was more concerned with them getting it done right so we DO NOT have to do it again! Here are Ellie's measurements from today's visit.

Length - 20 3/4 inches (70th percentile) - she's grown 3/4 of an inch since birth!
Weight - 7 lbs, 13 1/2 ounces (35th percentile) - up and over birth weight!
Head - 36 cm (52nd percentile) - right on track!

Her next scheduled Dr.'s visit isn't until 2 months now, but that'll be when she gets her first immunizations though so another painful visit =(

Here are some Valentine shots of our love bug =)

Week 2

Ellie had her kidney ultrasound today. We won't get the results until her pediatrician visit tomorrow, but she was such a good girl while they did it! Just laid there all calm while they put the goopy gel on her belly. After it was done, it was back in the carseat and right to sleep.

Auntie Sara got here late Monday night so having some company this week has been really nice. Ellie isn't holding back at all either - Auntie Sara is getting her share of poopy diapers to change! =) Here are a few of the pictures from this week.

This is Ellie's 'limp noodle' pose...this is the position right after feeding right before a big hearty belch!



After eating, we change her diaper, and then she's pretty calm and alert. We've been doing some neck strengthening exercises...she hangs on (with help of course) and we do a few sit-ups.



Almost up...



Close-up!



Awake time is usually no more than 30-45 minutes...then it's sleepy time again.



Back to sleep