Busy Week

So lots has happened in the last week. We took some cute little portraits ourself this weekend. Although, she wasn't very smiling they turned out great. We also set up her high chair because she is sitting up pretty well by herself. She likes to sit in it and looks forward to oatmeal and bananas in the morning. We also started her on sweet potatoes, her favorite thus far. Carrots are going well but peas still not so great. Also, today we just bought her a little jumper. We have wanted to get her a little exercauser but they are kind of spendy and only go up to 25 pounds, well knowing her she could be 25 pounds in 3 weeks. So, we bought a less expensive jumper. We just tried it out for the first time tonight. She seemed to like it, I think with time she'll like it even more. As you can see she has also found her toes, and loves to play with them, no sucking them yet, though! She continues to amaze us. We love her so much and look forward to more firsts.

Special visitors

Last weekend we had friends from college visit from Minnesota. Evan's best friend Steve and his wife Nichole. They only were here 1 day but it was a fun day! It worked out real well, because I worked all day on Sunday so I didn't miss anything. We went shopping and ate out. Ella was a very good baby the entire time, I was very proud of her. I don't think she even cried once. I haven't updated for awhile again, sorry. We actually lost cable and internet connections on Sunday due to strong winds (75mph) from hurrican Ike. People are even still without power. Ella still has giggled much, I am still waiting! We are now eating carrots as you can see, she doesn't mind them but likes her oatmeal and bananas more. No other exciting news with us. Oh, I did find out I am going to make it home for the holidays. Pretty siked about that one! We will be able to be home for about 2 weeks. Can't wait!
In the pics: Ella is definitely more aware of her surroundings. She was hanging on for dear life on top of Evans shoulders. He said his head hurt after from her pulling his hair so much. She likes the paper, actually she likes to eat the paper. :o)

4 month Appt.

So today was the big day. I was excited to see how much she's grown. She is only 16.1lbs and 26.5 in. I was expecting her to weigh more, she definitely feels heavier than that. She, of course, cried and fussed quite a bit there with them poking and proding her. But, since I have been giving tylenol she hasn't been fussy at all. It's a lot better than last time. We got the ok to start more foods, vegetables! Yippee, doesn't peas sounds appetizing. I'm sure she will do lots of gagging. Otherwise everything went well. She now is at 95-97 percentile for both her weight and length. So growing wonderfully! Hope everyone has a good weekend.

Real World

So mommy has finally entered the real world and has to go to work. This is why it has taken me so long to update. I am sorry! I have been called into work more than I was scheduled due to people sick and vacation time. So, I have been filling in the overnight position. Which is from 9p-7a. But remember I work in a home with 3 handicap children. At nights I am in charge of all 3 and they are sleeping, so that means that I can usually rest and maybe catch a few hours of sleep in between meds and frequents assessing of all of them. So, it hasn't been that bad! Still overly tired but I can deal with it for now. Especially since those are not my normal hours. I am scheduled for every Wed. and Fri. nights just from 5-9 and every other Sat. from 7a-9p. It works out perfect for us. Ella never has to go to a babysitter, so we save lots of money.
Since updating last we haven't done to much more. Been in the pool once more, still doesn't know what to think of it. But, doesn't hate it! It's just been so hot out here. We are all ready for fall! Last night a friend from school whom I was pregnant with came over with her little boy. They are only 6 days apart. Ella for some reason was kind of crabby most of the night. She didn't know what to think of different people in our house. By the end of the night she was smiling more and more interactive with Aiden. I think she is just used to her mommy and daddy and thats it. I know its not a good thing but we don't know too many people and the people we know are all too busy or young. So we will do our best to have her around different people so she doesn't play strange. I had a good night, hanging out with another mommy. We obviously have so much in common.
Tomorrow is our 4 month check-up, which is exciting but not. I am interested to know exactly how much she has grown but I do not want to experience the shots again. But, its reality! Daddy is going to come again to help mommy out so that will be good and we will also premedicate her. Hopefully that will help a little. I will update tomorrow or this weekend sometime letting you all know about her results.
In the pics: Ella in her swing drooling, she has been doing a lot of that lately! Ella on daddy's shoulders, you can't see her mouth but you can obviously tell she is smiling and loves it. The first two are of Aiden and her, figuring each other out! So cute, huh!

Swim time

Ella had her first dip in the pool on Saturday. We thought it wouldn't last long, but she actually enjoyed it. I guess it wasn't to big of a surprise because she loves bath time. The pool actually was very cold so we didn't go to deep and didn't stay too long, but she didn't cry once. She has become kind of challenging the past couple days. I can't figure out what she wants. When she gets overtired she cries in any position you try to hold her in. So, I end up just putting her down in her bed and letting her cry. I feel awful! Hopefully I figure her out. Hope everyone has a wonderful long labor day weekend. No big plans for us, maybe just an outdoor movie one night and more pool time if its warm enough. Take care!

Vacation

So sorry its been so long since I've updated. Nothing to write about right before we left and I didn't want to take the time with moms dial up to update them from the house. So vacation was fun and the baptism couldn't have been more perfect. Ella's first plane ride went smoothly. She slept and was quiet the whole way home, but by the time we met grandma and grandpa Lindahl she was overtired and was sick of being held. She was quite crabby. Grandma Mary had to wait till the next morning to hold her and love her. Kind of hard for her! We finally made it home on Sunday after stopping in Fargo to visit with close friends and relatives. Trying to juggle our schedule so that each set of grandparents got Ella the same amount was tricky and kind of stressful but I overall I think it went well. We stayed with my mom Sunday and Monday, the Lindahl's Tues-Thurs. and than back to my parents Fri-Sun.
Monday: Grandma Donna had invited many girlfriends to come and meet Ella so that day went pretty quickly. It was fun though!
Tuesday: Great-grandma Evelyn came to visit with family from Fort Dodge, IA. Actually 4 kids, my cousin, and my aunt came. It was a great day. The little girl is only 1 and that is the cousin I get all the hand me downs from. But on that she was still wearing a 3-6 month outfit. Hopefully she starts growing so we can continue to get her clothes.
Wednesday: Both Grandparents were busy on Wednesday with work so we just showed Ella off downtown. Evan's great-grandparents were there so we spent some time with them. They thougherly enjoyed her.
Thursday: We were at the Lindahl's so grandma enjoyed every moment with her. Grandma Donna and Auntie Nellie and Uncle Tom stopped by the Lindahl's to say hello and visit awhile. Evan's aunt and uncle were there also so it was a busy day of visiting.
Friday: Auntie Hope and her cousins CJ and Savi came home on Friday so we went out to my house around the time they got home. We had a bonfire and roasted marshmallows that night. We were up late waiting for Uncle Brett and Aunt Ashley to get home. Evan and I didn't make it though we had to go to bed.
Saturday: The entire Vondal clan went into the Lindahl's to celebrate Great-grandma's 80th birthday. It was fun that we were all together. Aunt Alana and her parents showed up later that evening so we got enjoy their prescence.
Sunday: Our last day. The baptism turned out to be perfect. She was good in church and was quiet while the pastor poured water over her head and she smiled when the pastor was blessing her. We then had a picnic in the park while our families mingled.

We arrived home today without luggage. Hopefully within the next 24 hours they arrive, good thing everything valuable we carried. Overall our vacation was exciting. Ella tried rice cereal for the first time while at home so our families could be part of that first. She did real well, gagged a little! She was a happy girl other than being overtired from traveling. Everyone enjoyed her! We miss everyone so much already and can't wait to visit again.

Pictures: She is with Uncle Tom sleeping in the rocking chair, Auntie Hope put her in the plaid baby doll crib (she liked it). The one with us four girls is our 4 generation picture. Her godparents are (left: Jon and Alana and Right: Brett and Ashley).

Almost time to go home

We are all super excited to leave this Saturday for the big CANDO. We miss everyone and Ella sure misses her grandma's. :o) I had a busy weekend so daddy took care of Ella all day Saturday and a few hours of Sunday. I had to get recertified for CPR and I also picked up some hours at my old job, so I was gone all day. Then, on Sunday I went to a friends bridal shower. It was nice to get away but I sure did miss her. Evan did really well with her but she was a little fussy and wouldn't nap so the day ended up being really long for him. Hopefully she just had a bad day because when we return home I will be working as an RN in home health and daddy will be watching her more frequently. I am staying with Katie's and will work every Wed and Fri. evenings from 5-9 and every other Saturday. I also will pick up some overnights here and there. It works perfect for us because then we won't ever need a babysitter.
In the pictures: the one with her and Madison daddy took. Evan likes for the two girls to spend lots of time together. He's hoping it will make Madi more relaxed with Ella.

Ella's 1st baseball game

Chrissy left on Saturday morning, so it was a quiet day for us. Ella slept a lot and I did lots of laundry. My cousin Theresa has been sending clothes from her little one for Ella so we had a lot of clothes to wash up and put away. I am so thankful for that, it really saves us a lot of money.
My job searching is not going to well, have applied for like 5 jobs and have not heard back from one person. Although, I have been in touch with my old job and they want me as an independent RN so at least I could work there until I find the job of my dreams or move home. They are really flexible and pay good money so it will work until we move home then I could get the job of my dreams. If I did that I wouldn't feel so bad leaving the job of my dreams.
So we went to a REDS baseball game today in Cincinnati. We weren't planning on bringing Ella with considering she is so young but we couldn't find a babysitter so she came along for her 1st baseball game. We already had an outfit for her to wear because they are daddy's favorite baseball team. The bad thing was we had really good seats but since Ella was with we couldn't enjoy them because they were in the sun and it was 85 out with no clouds in the sky. Evan enjoyed the close seats for the first 4 innings and met Ella and I higher up in the shade. Ella did do wonderful so we are proud of her!
The pictures are of Chrissy and Ella and then of the baseball game. As you can see it is a nice stadium and the atmosphere and surroundings make it even more enjoyable. I just love the river and all the boats! In the picture of Ella and I there doesn't look like a lot of people there at all thats because it was in the 8th inning and the REDS were losing 11-0. So, Evan enjoyed his baseball game so I am happy it went well.

Another visitor

Yesterday my best friend from UND visited. (Chrissy) She just recently got married and moved to Chicago to live with her husband. Since she now only lives 5 hours away she decided to make the trip. I think its good birth control for her, Ella is a good cryer and does a lot of it so I bet its making her think she definitely wants to wait awhile. Ella continues to grow, this week all she has been doing is sleeping and eating. We actually went out shopping today and that was a big mistake because when we go out she likes to look around and take in the environment therefore she doesn't sleep. So, she got really fussy and eventually way overtired. I was thankful when we finally arrived home so she could go to bed. Have only a few new pictures. Evan puts her in her spot in the middle of the couch, she sits so perfectly there and likes it a lot. The other one is a picture of her rolling over (in action). Hope everyone is having a wonderful week, it's almost the weekend.

Crystal

I'm an RN

Just found out I passed the NCLEX (or as Hope would call it, the KFLEX). I AM NOW AN RN! Now I need to find a job, hopefully it will be one I like. Thought I also better mention Ella rolled over today. Yeah I know it sounds crazy because she is only 2 1/2 months but I promise she did it all by herself. I even got the videocamera out, she did it 3 times. I'm such a proud mommy!