Ella's First Christmas

Christmas Eve at the Rawlinson house was busy busy! Ella slept through most of the excitement. She fell asleep before we left Charleston and slept all the way home. After her 8pm bottle, she fell asleep as we were reading the Christmas story. Mary Catherine opened Ella's presents this year. Ella got a pink scrapbook from Mary Catherine and the whole set of Baby Einstein music CD's from Mommy and Daddy. When Aunt Flo arrived at our house on Christmas Eve, Ella cuddled up with her and stayed there until it was time for her to go home. Aunt Flo exclaimed "I have the best Christmas job of all!" Santa came to see Ella this year and left her lots of first toys. She got an octotunes, inch worm, baby doll, teething toys, A guess who loves baby photo book, PJ's, and lots of socks. Santa also left Ella an ottoman for her room. Ella enjoyed going to Gaga's on Christmas morning for breakfast. Ella also received her Christmas Bell and a note from Santa this year. Her note from Santa will be attached below.

Santa Claus
1 Christmas Lane
North pole, Alaska 11111

December 25th, 2006

Dear Ella,

Ho! Ho! Ho! Thank you for the wonderful cookies and Chocolate Milk you and Mary Catherine left me. They were Yummy! My reindeer loved the candy canes, carrots and food. Candy canes make Rudolph fly so much higher.

Welcome to the world Little Ella. Old Santa is glad to visit you for the first time this year. Zip has been giving me some good reports from your house. Looks like you have been a good little girl. You were on the “NICE LIST”. I brought you some things for your room and some great toys. Make sure to check out what is under the carport for you and Mary Catherine! Enjoy everything and make sure to share with Mary Catherine. I added in a few surprises. Next year, work on just a few things. You need to start sleeping in your bed through the night, and as your get older this year no fussing or biting. It is also very important for you to obey your Mommy and Daddy. Be nice to your big sister, Mary Catherine. Santa will be watching to see how you do with these things this year.

This year you are receiving A Christmas Bell. When you put out Christmas decorations each year this special bell should be placed on the door of your room. Each time the bell rings, be reminded of the true spirit and meaning of Christmas. The ringing of this bell is a reminder that God sent his son Jesus as the greatest Christmas gift of all. Merry Christmas!

Love, Santa

Ella's First Trip To Charleston

Ella & Mary Catherine joined their parents in Charleston to visit with Meme, Mel, Pop Pop, Aunt Pam and Uncle David for Christmas. We left on Thursday evening December 21st at 8pm. It took us two and a half hours to get to Charleston because we had to stop in Lake city and feed Ella (who was screaming her head off). When we arrived in Charleston, we stayed at Meme's house this trip. Meme set up the pack and play in the dining room and that is where Ella slept. Meme was just inside the den with Mary Catherine on the hide-a-bed. Meme got up with Ella and did the night time feedings the whole time we were in Charleston. It was the greatest Christmas gift Kevin & I got this Christmas. We actually got three full nights of sleep for the first time since Ella was born. We love you MEME! On Friday Ella went with Mommy and Daddy to Kassis Brother's to get Daddy shoes and then downtown Charleston to pick up a few things for Christmas. It was raining by the time we got downtown so Daddy and Ella just drove around the block while Mommy ran in to get what she needed. On Saturday, we had Christmas at Meme & Mel's. Ella got all kinds of neat stuff. Mary Catherine helped her open her gifts. She got a Bumbo,a musical book and some really neat clothes.

Saturday night we attempted to go see the Christmas lights at James Island Park. It was a nightmare. Ella had two really bad diapers before we left home. That should have been my sign to stay home. When we got to the park (in traffic) Mary Catherine decided she needed to go potty and told us through the whole first half of the light show. The first parking lot(which is the one closest to the restrooms)was full. So we had to park in lot B (which was approximately 1/2 mile away) and walk. In the process of hurrying everyone out of the car, Ella in a stroller, and to the area where the restrooms were, Ella's bag fell out of the car. Kevin picked it all up before I even knew it fell out. Unknown to me, the bottle, burp cloth and extra formula container also fell out and undoubtedly rolled under a nearby car. Before we could get in the restroom, Mary Catherine had an accident. She and I stood in the bathroom 45 minutes rinsing out her clothes and then drying them with a hand dryer in the bathroom. By the time we came out of the bathroom, Ella was screaming hungry. When Kevin went to look for the bottle, it was missing. We couldn't figure out what happened to it(keep in mind, I didn't know the bag had fallen out of the car when we were unloading). We finally got back to the car (Ella still screaming) where we searched for the bottle (which was never found). We then attempted to get out of the park but that required going through the 2nd half of the light show. Everyone was driving slow and it was bumper to bumper traffic. I didn't see any of the lights (Ella was screaming bloody murder at this point). We finally got out of the lights and to the Walgreens on James Island. Kevin went in an bought a bottle, formula and water. She never stopped screaming until we got the bottle in her mouth. What a nightmare!

Sunday was somewhat better Ella stayed with Meme and Mel while Mom, Dad and Mary Catherine went to First Scots Presbyterian for church. She then slept through the Cracker Barrel lunch with PopPop, Aunt Pam and Uncle David. We then went to Aunt Pam and Uncle David's to open presents. Ella got some baby wipes, diapers, and a gift card from Pop Pop. All very needed items for Ella. Aunt Pam gave Ella some cute clothes, bibs and and elephant ornament. Ella did wake up long enough at Aunt Pam's to throw up on her floor. She then slept all the way back to Florence.

This was Ella's first trip outside of the county of Florence and first trip to Charleston!

First Bath

Today Ella got in the baby tub for the first time. She loved the water. She splashed and waved her little arms. She is such a sweet baby and smelled so good after the bath. She likes the bath as much as Mary Catherine dislikes it.

Christmas Blessing!

The latest photos of my Christmas blessings! I know I am bias but aren't they just about the cutest things you have ever seen? I know they are the sweetest if not the cutest! These photos were taken on Saturday by Graceful Images Photography. Celia, Jen Jen and I took Mary Catherine, Wills and Ella for a photo session. Talk about WILD circus! These kids experienced a whole range of emotions...they were happy, sad, mad, excited, sleepy, hungry, tired, laughing all in a matter of one hour. What a TRIP! We got a bunch of good shots. There is one I am going to have to get them to send me...it is of Ella and is a close up. She is sleeping in Santa's sleigh on his red velvet bag. OMG...it is gorgious!

I selected the photo above for our Christmas card this year because it is 100% what is happening at "OUR HOUSE" this holiday season. Poor little Ella sleeps most of the time and is missing all of the fun. Mary Catherine is into everything! She loves to poke little Ella and does everything within her power to wake her up. Just be thankful I didn't get a photo of her in one of her many attempts to hold ella's eyes open. I definately have my hands full with these two girls! I will try to post more photos as I get them.

Ella Stayed With Emily Roberts!!!

Ella stayed with a baby sitter for the very first time today. Emily Roberts (one of Mary Catherine's sitters) came in this morning around 8:30am. She is home from College at Erskine until New Years. Mary Catherine loves Emily and always called her EMMY. I stayed here with them until 11:15am to make sure they would be okay together. I helped her get adjusted to Ella's schedule (yes, I actually have her on schedule of sorts). I also helped her get used to the different crys Ella makes for different things. I am all into DUNSTON BABY LANGUAGE. I haven't bought the DVD yet, I am hoping Santa will leave it in my stocking. However, I can hear the baby language. Instead of the horse wisperer, I am now the MOMMY wisperer. The lack of sleep has given me a sence of humor about all this. LOL! Honestly thou I have found the baby language thing works wonders. I recorded the writer on OPRAH this past week and I play it over and over to get the different crying sounds in my head. I can tell you what is wrong with Ella before I ever touch her. I do it by listening to the sounds she makes. Emily was amazed when I was in the kitchen this morning and heard Ella crying and making an OWH sound...I said..."she is wet." Sure enough, I was right. Then she made the NEH sound and I immediately told Emily "she is hungry." Right again! I have been really working on the GAS sounds as those are, I think, the hardest to interpret. EH and EIAR! The ER sound is they need to burp and the EIAR is for lower gas problems. These two are hard for me to tell apart and Ella does these alot. I am really having to work on this but I love being able to understand Ella and what she needs.

Having help today was wonderful. I am thinking about asking for more help for Christmas- maybe Santa will leave me 2-3 elves. I need one that cleans, cooks and tends babies. Seriously thou, I was able to vacume and dust the girls rooms, clean the kitchen and bathrooms all without having to stop every five minutes to take care of a child. The best part about the entire morning was that I was able to take a shower without having to put a baby in a car seat and take her in the bathroom with me. I didn't even have to jump out of the shower, with soap in my hair, to put a passy back in a screaming babies mouth or hold the baby until she stopped crying. It was absolutely wonderful.

I picked Mary Catherine up from school at noon. She and I had some last minute Christmas shopping to pick up. She was a big help and it was nice not to have to take Ella in all those stores and places. I am thankful, Emily agreed to help me out a few mornings next week too. Maybe I can get some "real" work done and get some new real estate agents trained. What a blessing. . . WE LOVE OUR EMMY!

Motherhood 102

Ella is doing GREAT! Saturday night she slept in her crib for the very first time. She went to bed at approximately 9pm. She got up at 12am, 3am and 6 am for feeding but she went back to bed in the crib. She is actually learning to self-console a little bit. A wonderful night of sleep for the parents in BED--YEAH!! I have never been so thankful to sleep in a bed.

Ella did all kinds of interesting things this week. We moved up to 3 oz feedings on Thursday. She ate 2oz and was still hungry so we did it and it worked. I love being a second time Mom. The difference is that I don't call Dr. Whitehead before I do anything this time. I am learning to just Mother and not second guess myself. It is somewhat empowering.

I can tell Ella is smart as a whip. She loves human faces. Her favorite thing to do is to stare at my face approximately 10-12 inches away. She likes for me to blow her tummy, make car noises and click my tongue. She also likes to touch my hair. It must feel soft to her. She mocks me when I stick my tongue out at her. It is soooo cute. Friday she laughed for the first time. It was so cute. She gets tickled and just giggles. I could absolutely eat her up! Her favorite spot is to lay just below my chin on my chest. She purrs like a little kitten when she sleeps and that little soft fuzzy hair is so soft as it rubs on my chin. It is like being in heaven.

The challenge so far is having two children. Mary Catherine wants to HELP all of the time and there are just somethings she is too small to do. She doesn't realize how strong she is and she tries to pat and sooth Ella and at times she does it too hard. She also likes to poke, annoy and wake her up. Someday Ella is going to be three and Mary Catherine 6. It will be at that point when Ella annoys the dickens out of Mary Catherine and she complains. I am going to remind her of how she annoyed Ella and tell them to go in the other room and work it out. I can't wait!

The latest challenge is that today Mary Catherine is sick with a cold and fever. Ella is not sick. I am trying to keep them in separate rooms (to keep Ella from getting sick) and keep them both happy. I sent my Mom a text message to see if she could come over and help with Ella this morning. She has a headache and can't come help so I am stressed out. Mom calls this is Motherhood 102. I am going to just have to deal with two crying babies all day (except when they are sleeping). I have Ella in her nursery and Mary Catherine in the den. Mary Catherine wants me to hold her nonstop and Ella wants me to hold her nonstop. Both girls wake up at the same time and sleep at the same time. It is a challenge. I have had to explain to Mary Catherine that Ella is little and sometimes she has to eat and just be held. I am also having to just let Ella self sooth. It is very stressful. I called the nurse and when they call back, I am going to tell them they are going to have to give someone something...Me, Ella or Mary Catherine one!

Two Week Check Up

Today was our first visit to see Dr. Weaver Whitehead. Ella did so good until we took her clothes off and then she screamed only for little while. She now weighs 7 pounds and 12 1/2 ounces and grew a little over an inch taller. She is now 20 3/4 inches tall. Her head is 14 1/4 inches.

We clarified in writing that "You can not spoil a NEWBORN!" However, Dr. Whitehead said,I do need to let Ella learn to self console some. Which means I have to let her cry some. I am not big on this idea. We are going to attempt to let Ella learn to sleep in her big girl crib this next week. We shall see...I will probably sleep in the rocking chair in her room. She and I have been learning about the nursery the last week. She has been taking a few naps in the crib. Naps and night sleep are very different things. Dr. Whitehead asked how the sleeping was going and then he laughed. He said, as we well know, there is no method to the madness which is newborn sleep schedules. He said what we are experiencing is normal and this too shall pass. Just pray it passes soon...I am becoming an OLD sleepy woman!

We discussed Ella's eating habits. Dr. Whitehead said for now to leave her on the Soy formula and at six months we would try regular formula again. He said if she couldn't do it at six months we will wait until she is one year and try her on whole milk and see what happens. Of course, like all Moms I was worried she isn't eating enough. She is still only taking two ounces every three hours during the day and two ounces every four hours at night. I tried to move her up to three ounces a few times and she drank it but then about 15 minutes later threw up about an ounce. Dr. Whitehead said that is a sign she isn't ready to move up to three ounces yet and that I did right by going back to two ounces and not pushing her. He wants us to continue on the two ounce track for the next few weeks and then try three ounces again later this month.

Over all Ella did good at her first doctors appointment. Dr. Whitehead said she appears to be a happy healthy baby girl. She and Mary Catherine go back for check ups together on January 15th. That will be shot day---Yippy!

Christmas and Birth Announcement photos

We are having a veryhard time getting photos of Ella with her eyes open. She sleeps all day and wants to play from midnight to three am. Kevin and I are both exhausted. On Friday at 7pm Ella decided to wake up so we threw clothes on both she and Mary Catherine and took photos. Above are the photos we got. We are definately not photographers. I guess we are going to have to try to find a photographer that can be on standby to take the photos when she decides to wake up. Oh well, we tried!

Ella's First Outing

Today was our first day to leave the house. We picked Mary Catherine up from school, went to lunch at Redbone Alley with Aunt Flo Vinson, Mrs. Polly Lester and her sister Aunt Mozelle. Daddy also met us there. While at lunch, we ran into Cathy and RJ Lee having lunch. Ella slept through the entire lunch. We then ran to Target with Aunt Sissy Urquhart. Our last stop was Hobby Lobby to pick up some craft supplies for Mary Catherine. Ella likes her car seat and slept just about the entire trip. She woke up in Hobby Lobby when she needed a diaper change and a bottle. She immediately went back to sleep.