8-10 weeks old

Ella went for her eight week check up last week. She is getting to be a big girl! She weighed 11 pounds, 8 ounces, and measured 22 inches long. The doctor calculated that she was gaining an ounce and a half every day! She also got her first set of shots and did extremely well! Only cried for a second, we were all very impressed with how easy she handled them. Ella is in size one diapers, but only barely. She really could be in size two, but I'm trying not to waste the ones I have left. She sleeps pretty good, still in the bed with mommy. I should try to get her in her crib before I go back to work but since her crib is upstairs that would be several trips up the stairs every night.

Below is a picture of Justin and me the night we went out to celebrate our five year anniversary. It's taken in front of the theater where we had our reception. Such a great night. 

We grilled corn last week too. Jack usually isn't one to eat corn but had fun eating it straight off the ear.

Here's my little bunny after a bath. Such a cutie! Ella loves her baths. Jack did too. I have a couple of baby fish :)

A few weeks ago, they put up palm trees around the park. Jack loved watching them haul the palms over and plant them using one of those little trucks. He watched them for the better part of an hour.

 Jack is 17 months now and continues to be such a good eater. He'll try anything! He's cut his molars in the last month. He drooled like a maniac for two months but we finally saw those molars pop through. Now, he can really go to town on some dinner. He has his central incisors on top and bottom, lateral incisors on top, and all four molars. He's working on cutting his lateral incisors on bottom now. I felt one coming through just yesterday.

 As much as I hated hearing that it was more fun to dress little girls when Jack was a baby, it's true! This little girl has so many precious outfits! I try to get her in a smocked dress and hair bow everyday. Pretty soon she'll have outgrown all these adorable outfits. She has a ton of 0-3 month clothes which she is finally fitting into. She plumped up almost overnight it seems.

Its' been lots of fun having Katie down for her summer internship. Jack has enjoyed it most of all!

Here are a few more of my smiley girl!

Jack was very smitten with Ella's first Barbie for several days. One day I noticed him examining her and then he went to the room and brought back a diaper for Barbie. I think he decided she needed better coverage :)

Ella has started smiling at Daddy too!

Such a happy baby. And Jack is still in love with her. He hold her hand, kisses her, and is constantly trying to give her the paci.

Justin and I took Ella and Jack to the pool for the first time on Mother's Day. Jack wasn't too sure at first but them started enjoying himself. Ella napped.

Ella really woke up the week before I went back to work. Her schedule became wake up, eat, play for an hour and a half, and then nap an hour and a half. Repeat. She started smiling consistently at me first, then dad. Now she regularly smiles at Aunt Katie and, of course, Jack. She loves watching him play. He is a great source of entertainment for her. 

I love this little outfit and ballerina socks!

In her bouncy chair, she has started swatting at the toys hanging above. I distinctly remember when Jack did this too. I need to find pictures for side-by-side comparison.

Jack is still very in love with his pacifiers...ella's too! He can find a paci better than anyone. Very sneaky about it too. Then he just comes walking in the room with it hanging out of his mouth like, "what? I found it." We usually let him have a few good sucks off of it before we ask him to put it crib (where pacifiers live). He begrudgingly obliges.

Boys innately love cars and trucks, I think. Jack is all boy. He drives trucks and makes the best "vroom, vroom" noises. Trains too. He pumps his arm up and down when he hears a train outside our house or when we ask him what a train says.

This purple outfit is my absolute favorite! And Jack really loves peanut butter (just like his daddy). Below, he's licking it off my toast.

One afternoon, while Justin was traveling, Katie helped get a lot of little projects done around the house. Hanging the broom holder, the wine bottle holder, organizing the huge pantry. Of course, no job can be completed without a little helper!

Jack this his monkey and tractor. This about sums it up :)

My Ella girl has gotten so chubby over the last month. Really filled out, got a double chin and belly rolls. They are the absolute best! She's not ticklish yet.

I started this blog around 8 weeks of age and didn't get done until about 14. Goes to show how often I'm able to update but I have since returned to work and things are going incredibly well. Kim (our wonderful nanny) came to help Jack adjust to her being here about the last month before work started. They are good friends now and go some place fun everyday. Typically they do the library on Tuesdays, water park on Wednesdays, and Monday/Thursday vary between Chuck-e-Cheese, playdates, rec center, and the park. He is one lucky boy! Ella is adjusting well too. Found out that she doesn't much care for Medella bottles and changed her to Avent. She seems content with the change as well. Work for me is wonderful. A little four day break for sanity that makes time with them even sweeter! Such an easier transition that I could have hoped for.

The night before I started work, Justin was getting Jack to bed and told him mommy would have to go bye-bye in the morning. He did not like that at all and anxiously held on to me as we read stories and said prayers. He got Justin and I both going but those were the only tears shed. Otherwise, super great. Kim has made all the difference. I have been in constant prayer for a wonderful nanny and we have found her! Thank God! My mom asked me if I was jealous that she got to spend such good time with them...absolutely not, I replied! She makes leaving in the mornings possible. The last few days, Jack has walked me to the door, given me a kiss, pointed me on my way, and shut the door behind me. Such a blessing!