Ella Boo is definately Lactose Intolerant!!!!

Today we decided to try and switch Ella Boo to regular formula. I bought a small can to just see how she handled it. I was hoping it would work. Initially my hopes were high as she drank the bottle well, seemed to like it and was happy. Approximately one hour later I sat in the nursery covered in spoiled baby formula from my shoulders to my shoes wondering why in the world I had done this. It was a violent reaction. I was dressed for work and she threw up all over me, all over Emily the baby sitter who had just arrived, the floor in the nursery den, hall and bathroom. She later threw up all over the the couch, her boppy and her crib. This went on all day from one bottle. Needless to say we went back to the Soy formula immediately and we have decided to stay on it for a while. What a DAY! We ended the day with the bunny glasses. Too Cute!

Cereal

Ella LOVES cereal! She was acting like she was still hungry after eating a 8oz bottle so we went ahead and started Cereal! She is eating it like a champ and loving it. Ella is trying to turn over back to front. She talks all of the time. Of course it is nothing you can understand but she babbles. Her favorite games are blow my tummy and pull hair. Everything goes in the mouth. In the mornings Ella sings to us. She never screams...she just talks. The new game is that she wants a passy to go to sleep. We give it to her and then about 4:30 am she wakes up crying for it. Kevin wakes up and gives it back to her. 5:30am Ella wakes up again crying for the passy. Kevin wakes up and gives it back to her. 6:30am Ella wakes up again crying for a passy. Kevin wakes up and gives it back to her. She then begins to sing until I wake up at 7am and give her a bottle. She has also out grown the bundling blanket. The blankets only come in Small and Large. Ella is Medium. So in the mornings, she now has one arm hanging out of the top of the blanket waving at us.

Four Month Doctor Appointment

Ella had a good doctor appointment today. She is really growing. She weighed in at 14 pounds 1 1/2 ounces. She is 25 inches tall and her head is16 inches around. On the pediatrician curve, she was at the top of the range for height and right on for weight. So she is tall--wonder where she gets that from. She got 3 shots today. She didn't fret until the 2nd shot went in. She only cried for a brief moment. Once I picked her up and held her she stopped crying and did great! She has been a little grumpy today but I would be too if I had gotten three shots. She was vaccinated for Pneumococcal, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Haemophilus Influenzae, Polio and Hepatitis B. Dr.Whitehead said we can try to switch her to regular formula in the next month and see what happens. He said, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I also asked him if it was true that Soy formula caused ADD? He said that was not a proven fact. He said that they do not know the long term effects of soy products but it has not been proven that soy causes ADD. Anyway, that made me feel some better. He also said as we get between months 5 and 6 we can begin to do some cereal on a spoon. He said Ella looks great and is doing everything she is suppose to be doing at this point. Our next appointment is May 17th. As we were leaving we ran into Ella's friend Caitlyn Bray, her Mom and Grand mom. Caitlyn is really growing too. It will not be long before she catches up with Ella.

Ella is an absolute joy. She is happy all of the time and just laughs, gurgles and coos at everyone. She is doing every thing a 3-4 month old baby should do. She enjoys being with other people, looks at sounds, smiles, laughs and squeals. She turns her head to look at objects moving and puts things (everything) in her mouth. She is trying to turn over and is learning to sit up. She also drools a lot! Ella thinks Mary Catherine is so funny. Mary Catherine is trying to teach her the animal sounds. She does the sounds with hand motions and movements. It is funny to me but Ella finds it absolutely hysterical. Ella is learning to give kisses. She gives open mouth kisses. They are usually very messy wet ones. Ella started Mothers Morning Out at Central Methodist on Tuesday and Thursdays this month. She enjoys being with the other children. Her teachers are Mrs. Brenda and Mrs. Vicky. Cousin Wills Urquhart is in her class. They made hand print shamrocks this month. I think sending her to school has been more traumatic for me than her. I miss her when she isn't with me.

Ella Starts to School!

Today was my first day of school at Central Methodist Mothers Morning Out. My teachers are Mrs. Brenda and Mrs. Vicky. They think I am so cute. Initially my Mom and Dad are only letting me go on Tuesdays and Thursdays. My Mommy just misses me too much to let me go more than that right now. Wills Urquhart (my cousin) is in my class. There are also a bunch of other girls that I don't know real well. Mommy likes to come in and play with us when she picks me up. Aunt Sissy sometimes plays with me in the morning when she drops Wills off. She tried to feed me cereal with bannanas the other morning ....nasty! I made a bad face to let her know I didn't like it and my Mommy hasn't given me cereal yet! I think Wills says my name. I am not sure but I think he calls me EDA. He likes to give me kisses and hold my hand. We are going to be best of friends and I know he will always have my back.

A Beautiful Day for a Baptism.

Today Eleanor Love Rawlinson was baptized at Effingham Presbyterian Church. Reverend Andrew Putnam returned to Effingham to perform the baptism service. Ella was a beautiful and happy baby. She wore a gorgeous duponi silk christening gown with pearl embellishment on the yoke. The dress was made by Gaga- Donna McLaughlin. She also wore a beautiful enamel and gold cross given to her by her God parents- Jay and Flo Vinson. She wore precious little booties with pearl embellishment and a christening bonnet that Kevin and I purchased for her. She was a very good baby who laughed and cooed through the entire service.

We had lots of special visitors for the service. Mr. Eddie & Mrs. Linda Potts came all the way from Fort Mill to see me. Also attending included: Paw Paw & Grand Ma Lindy, Great Uncle Larry and Aunt Carol Anne McLaughlin, Mr Jack & Mrs. Janet Miller, Aunt Mary Bridges, Larry & Gloria Bridges, Meme (Fran) & Mel Wright, Aunt Pam Marek, Uncle Brian & Aunt Sissy(Celia) Urquhart, Wills Urquhart, Laurie & Cliff Turner, Aunt Myra Epps, Marlyn Moros, Bobby & Miller McElveen, Henry & Nevitte Swink, Norma & Robby Meggs, Jimmy & Jo Anne McLaughlin, Mrs. Harriet Swink, Mrs. Sadie Meggs, Mr. Charles & Mrs. Betty Dennis, David Dennis, Rooster, Mrs. Pat Lambert, Pop Pop (Wade) Rawlinson, Great Aunt Linda & Uncle Ricky Strickland, Cathy, RJ and Margaret Lee, Gaga (Donna) McLaughlin, Virginia & Emily Roberts, The Malson Family, Jay & Flo Vinson, Jay, Christyn & Jayce McLaughlin, Francis Swink, Polly Lester (Gram Polly), The Cottingham Family and Morgan & Helen Coker. I am sure I have left some folks off. Please feel free to list your name if I did.

Ella received some beautiful gifts from her guest and other family members. Pop Pop gave her a beautiful christening bib. Meme & Mel gave her a special little silver bracelet. Gaga gave Ella a special little silver cross. Aunt Sissy gave her a silver spoon (every southern girl needs a silver spoon). Her sweet little friend Caitlin Bray, her Mommy, Jan Bray, and her Grand mom, Miriam McCain, gave Ella a silver passy holder and a handkerchief church baby. She also received a little bible, a silver piggy bank and some precious little books.

We had about 100 guest for a lovely luncheon in the family life center following the service. We served veggie soup, fried chicken, corn bread and desserts. We used lots of pretty bright colors and Gerber daisies to decorate. Special thanks to Great Aunt Linda Strickland who helped cook and serve, Meme and Aunt Pam Marek for helping cook, Uncle Ricky Strickland for the amazing photos, the choir at Effingham for the beautiful special music and to our good friend Reverend Andy Putnam for taking time off to coming down from Rockhill to perform the service.