Happy Holidays

We hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year! I'm not sure if I'll get to post again before Christmas as things are about to get really hectic around here...but here are some new pictures of my two lovely ladies.

Grace is getting very strong and can hold her head up quite well. She is also starting to follow things with her eyes and smiled at both Daddy and I for the first time last night (her first "real" social smile...not just gas!) We were so proud. She is sleeping a longer stretch at night (~4.5-5.5 hours) so that's a nice Christmas present for Mommy!

Ella has had lots of fun making Christmas presents for people; she has really been into the art projects more lately. She may even start up her own ornament making business! Her other favorite thing is to have family dance time every night to her favorite song "All I want for Christmas is You" by Mariah Carey (currently playing if you have your volume on) and we all have to dance around the family room together.

The girls sat on Santa's lap a few weeks ago. Ella didn't cry but looked scared to death and wouldn't talk to him. Luckily Mommy was there to tell him what she wanted.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

It's December!

Sorry it has been so long since our last post...the girls are keeping us very busy these days! Grace has been sleeping much better at night between her feedings so that is good. She has been having more awake, alert time during the day which is fun. She enjoys being under her activity gym and looking at all the dangling toys. We have resumed our normal schedule so Ella has been happy to be going back to her weekly school and playgroup. Ella has been getting more adjusted to having Grace here to share the attention of Mommy & Daddy but still has some occasional jealousy. Overall, things are getting easier for everyone!

We celebrated Thanksgiving here in Minnesota and Grandma & Grandpa B drove out to visit. Grandma cooked a yummy Thanksgiving dinner, Ella especially loved Grandma's stuffing and the cranberries.

We also celebrated St. Nicholas' Day this past weekend. We all woke up on Saturday morning to find our stockings filled with lots of goodies...St. Nick brought books for both girls, a puzzle and videos for Ella and some baby toys for Grace.

In addition, Grandma & Grandpa V came to visit us this past weekend. They were very excited to meet Grace and Ella was happy to get some extra attention (and Jeff was happy to have Grandpa here to help with the shoveling...yes, we have snow!!)

Grace is 2 weeks old!

It's hard to believe that 2 weeks have already passed since Grace was born. Where has the time gone...especially considering we haven't slept much during these past 2 weeks! Like a typical newborn, she wakes several times during the night to eat. At her 2 week checkup, Grace was just about back to her birthweight. She is still a little jaundiced but her bilirubin level was low enough that we don't have to monitor that anymore. Yay!

Tomorrow will be the first full day with no family here and me with the girls by myself...yikes! Luckily Jeff works close to home and is going to come home for lunch to rescue me for a half an hour or so. At least Ella still takes a long afternoon nap so hopefully Grace and I can also catch a catnap during that time. We are so thankful that we have had people volunteer to come help us during the last 2 weeks, it has been SO HELPFUL!

Other than that, not a whole lot else going on here...just gearing up for the holidays that are quickly approaching! I'm thinking I'll be doing most of my shopping online this year...

Earmuffs!

For any of you that have seen the movie Wedding Crashers, Uncle Adam taught Ella the concept of "earmuffs"...its pretty hilarious!

Lookalike Sisters

We didn't realize how much Ella and Grace resemble each other at the same age...until we compared these 2 pictures. Its almost hard to tell them apart!

Ella (January 2007)

Grace (November 2008)

Proud Big Sister

Ella has been such a helpful big sister these days! While she wasn't too sure about "Baby Gace" the first day we got home, she has now gotten very involved in helping with baby tasks. She especially enjoys retrieving things for diaper changing time. I think she is starting to realize that Grace is here to stay...and so far, she seems to be okay with that!

Ella helping during Grace's diaper change- bringing Mommy the "paste"

Ella practicing diaper change on her baby

Bringing Grace her pacifiers

Leaning in for a sisterly kiss

Welcoming Gracie home

We were discharged from the hospital yesterday and brought our new baby girl home. Ella had made a welcome home sign for Grace and was very excited to have us all home. Grace's bilirubin levels are a little on the higher side (which makes a baby jaundiced) so she has to be on a phototherapy light when she sleeps, hopefully for just one day. Otherwise, mommy and baby are doing wonderful and happy to be home!

Grace ready to leave the hospital

Grace bundled up for the ride home. It was chilly 30 degrees outside!

Ella welcomes Baby Grace home

Our newest angel, Grace Anna