A Night Out

Our first night out after baby

This weekend my mom came up to see Mary Ella and babysit for the first time. Friday she watched her while I got my hair done (much needed)! And Saturday she stayed with her while Brad and I went to a wedding in Hot Springs. One of my roomates in the Kappa house got married. We had planned on going before Mary Ella got here, but I wasn't really sure if it was a good idea. She didn't have any problem taking a bottle from my mom Friday, so we went for it. It was a beautiful wedding and fun reception at the Hot Springs Country Club. It was nice to be out of the house for a little while and see some old friends. Congratulations Lauren and Lance, and thanks Mia!

Three Weeks

Three Weeks Old

Chubby cheeks

This is the face I see every night in the middle of the night. Daddy changes her and brings her to me, I feed her, burp her, change her again, swaddle her, and then she's wide-eyed and ready to talk. It's tempting to stay up and enjoy every minute, but I do need my sleep. So, we rock a little bit, I put her down, and we go right back to sleep. Such a good girl.

This was our first week at home on our own. We had more visits from friends and family and went out to eat with friends for the first time. She made it until the souffle came out, and then she decided she wanted dessert too! Early in the week Mary Ella had some very fussy days, and I was beginning to wonder where my smiling, happy baby went. She cried and seemed like she was in pain every time she was awake. We are crossing our fingers it's not colic or reflux. I talked to the doctor, tried a couple things to help her tummy and by Thursday I got my baby back. Thanks, Gripe Water!

First Sunday at Church

This was our first family outing besides going to the doctor. Mary Ella was an angel during worship and didn't make a sound. She stirred one time, and her Daddy immediately grabbed the paci and stuffed it in her mouth. I think he was terrified that she would interrupt the service. Not this time. :)

Two Weeks Old

Two weeks old

Gigi and Papa stayed with us this week to help out with Mary Ella, but she's such a good baby all they had to do was hold and cuddle and chat with her. Well, we did eat really well and Rita kept the washing machine, dryer, and dish washer going constantly. Thanks for all of your help! Here's what Mary Ella's been up to....

She's a little piggy when she eats and snorts.

Sweet feet

Bright eyes

Loves her paci

And her thumb

Woo Pig!

Amen.

First Photo Shoot

Feast your eyes on these! I thought they turned out great! Thanks Aunt Lisa for coming to Little Rock to photograph our pretty girl.

Seven Days with Mary Ella

One week old

Hangin in the bed with Daddy


Sweet kisses



Hmmm...


Sunnin in the nursery...she had a touch of jaundice

Too many bows Mommy

Getting ready for bed

Sweet smile

We have enjoyed every minute of our first week with Mary Ella. She is a beautiful, happy, healthy girl. She is eating like a little piggy, peeing and pooping with gusto, and smiling and making faces that make her Mommy melt. I know that soon the days and weeks will run together, so I want to try to remember as much of our first days together as I can.

Mary Ella,

Friday, August 7th: You were born at 3:19 in the afternoon. You were bright-eyed and recognized your Mommy's and Daddy's voices. You looked at our faces as we met you for the first time. We already knew you and loved you, but finally seeing you filled us with more joy than we could have ever imagined. Mia, Gigi, Papa, Oma, and Opa made it to Little Rock in time for your birth. Soon after you had more visitors arrive: Cole, Jennifer, Mike, Julie, Anna Claire, Trey, Ranjo, Chad, and Janet all came to see you that day.

Saturday, August 8th: Your family looked at you and held you all day. Everyone said what a beautiful girl you were. New visitors were: Lindsay, Reese, Eli, Tom, Renee, Hannah, Nancy, and Leonard.

Sunday, August 9th: You got to come home! You had many people anxiously waiting on you. Gigi cooked, and we all had our first Sunday dinner together. Everyone went home that day except for Mia. She stayed all week to help take care of you.

Monday, August 10th: You had your first bath, and Michelle came to see you. You really started to eat well, and we loved that you only got up once in the middle of the night.

Tuesday, August 11th: We had a lazy day hanging around the house. You snuggled with Daddy, had lots of smiles for Mommy, and loved talking with Mia.

Wednesday, August 12th: You had your first doctor's appointment. You are growing well, and you were so good during your check-up.

Thursday, August 13th: You had your first photo shoot with Aunt Lisa, Johnny, and Heather. I had picked out two outfits, but you were so good that we changed you five times and got sooo many cute pictures.

Friday, August 14th: Happy one week! Gigi and Papa came back to see you. They helped take care of you during your second week home. We love you so much baby! What a beautiful first week we had!

First Doctor's Visit

Mia helped get her ready.

Waiting at the doctor's office

Mary Ella is braver than I am when it comes to doctors. She did great during her first visit! She weighed 7 lbs. 1 oz. and was 19 3/4 in. long. She had lost down to 6 lbs. 13 oz. when we left the hospital, so I was very pleased with her weight gain. We had lots of questions for the pediatrician, and we were really impressed because she spent ALOT of time with us. We thought she might have a little bit of jaundice, so they did a blood test. She took the stick in the heal like a champ! She was more upset that the nurse was messing with her feet. Her levels were a little up, but not too bad. At the hospital she had blood work and a sonogram on her kidney. We have not yet heard back on those tests, but I will keep you updated. She seems to be a very healthy girl, but please keep praying that the cyst goes away and never gives her any trouble.

First Bath

Not happy

All better

Bath time is not Mary Ella's favorite part of the day. She only cries when she's hungry (well whimpers really), sometimes during a diaper change, but she really tunes up when she gets a bath. While my mom was here I made her do it, because I don't like making her cry. She likes her back being washed and LOVES her hair getting shampooed, but the rest is crying. Hopefully she will like it better when we can get her in her tub and do the whole thing right.

Coming Home

The New "Us"

First picture in front of the fireplace

The nursery is complete.

These were the little critters that were hanging out at our house all weekend and greeted us when we got home from the hospital.

Papa and Gigi with all the grandkids- Reese, Trey, Mary Ella, Anna Claire, and Eli

We had more company this weekend to see Mary Ella than we did the entire time we lived in Mississippi. She was visited by grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and great aunts and uncles. I am so thankful we got in our house and had a place for everyone to stay while we were in the hospital. When we got home Gigi had cooked a Sunday roast with all the fixings. Thank you all for coming to Little Rock for our big event. Mary Ella is so blessed to have such a wonderful family.