An Ella Update

My beautiful little Ella-girl.



Can I just say, that when you have one, gorgeous, special baby that you love with every part of your being, it is hard to imagine how you could love a second one so much.

I was terrified when I was pregnant with Ella -- afraid that I wouldn't love her as much, as deeply. I have to smile now, thinking back about those worries.

I heard somewhere someone explain it as your heart just growing larger--so there is more room to love another child just as much as the first. That moment when I saw her for the first time I thought my heart would just break it was so filled with love.

(sigh)

Anyhow.

I have been meaning to jot down a few things about Ella in a post. She is sleeping, and James is on the couch watching Little Bear (one episode of which, incidentally, I found out today is the exact amount of time it takes for me to fold one basket of baby laundry.)

I digress.

I took Ella for her 4 month appointment on Tuesday. She has grown! She now weighs 14 lbs 13 ozs. Everything looks great.

During the appointment, the Dr. asked me if she had rolled over from her back to her stomach yet. "Nope." I said. Then he left the room to take a call and she proceeded to make a liar out of me. "Oh yeah, Mom?" and just like that she flipped over, easy as pie. It was fantastic. She's going to be a pill, I can tell already.

So what else? She has started on rice cereal and will be beginning bananas this weekend (although she has already gotten a taste of bananas from her Grandmother.) That's what grandmas and aunties are good for, right? The sweet stuff?

She is too big for 3 month clothes and too little for 6 month. Why doesn't anyone make size 3 to 6 month clothes? Or, I guess if they do, I don't have any. Isn't that funny?

I do, however, have TONS of 6 month to a year clothes for her, thanks to my Mom, my grandmother, Gini, Kimmy and Denise (and a great last minute stop at the Carter's Outlet in Freeport a few days after Christmas.) This girl is SO LUCKY--decked out in Polo, Gap, Old Navy, Le Petit Bateau, JUICY for heaven's sake?? Puh-leeze. I'm going to look like a bag lady next to her!

Oh, and she also yells. A LOT. James was a very quiet, silent, introspective, gentle baby. Ella is loud. VERY LOUD. That high-pitched, nails-on-the-chalkboard kind of loud screeching that makes your blood curdle. Thankfully we only hear that scream if we are REALLY late with a bottle.

She is so smiley, and happy, and giggly. She is, in essence, SUCH A GIRL.

Oh, and I almost forgot. She ADORES her big brother. I swear she only has eyes for him. And to see the two of them together is simply fantastic. James comes with me into her room in the morning and sings her the Good Morning Song (I need to get that on video one of these days). He also puts his face right up close to hers and asks, "Baby Sister--what choo doing?"

I just love it all.

I think I really forgot how enchanting having a new baby in the house really is. Mind you, we are very lucky--just like with James, Ella has been sleeping pretty much through the night, from 7pm to 7am without a peep. She isn't fussy, or gassy, or colicky--so far. And as long as you have a bottle ready to go, she is, as far as I know, the happiest baby girl on the block.

So that's my long-overdue update. Sappy for me, I know, but that's the way I feel lately. I just have stars in my eyes for my baby girl.