Happy Thanksgiving

We stayed here for Thanksgiving instead of traveling. Nana and Poppy came to visit and we have had a great time relaxing around here. Yesterday, Poppy watched both girls while Mom and I went shopping and Joe had to work. Poppy was alone with Anna and Ella for about 5 hours. Thanks Poppy!

Ella is doing great! I took her to the doctor Tuesday for her 3 week check-up and she weighed 10 lbs. 1 oz. and was 22 inches long. Her weight is in the 75th percentile and her length is in the 90th percentile. She is now eating every 3 1/2 hours during the day and had been doing about every 4 during the night. Last night, she slept 5 hours and 20 minutes! I feel very rested today!

Happy Birthday Daddy! We love you and are so thankful for you!

Our Family...

Loving on Nana and Poppy!

Helping Daddy open his birthday presents. Anna thought they were her presents.

Helping Daddy set the table for Thanksgiving dinner.

Anna helping Daddy dry the dishes Thursday.

Life with 2 Girls

In the past week, I have only taken a few pictures. I simply just don't have time or just forget to take pictures. Last week was our first official week home alone with just us girls. We had a great time just being home and adjusting to our new life. We ventured out two times last week and it wasn't as hard as I thought, however, it is easier to just stay at home. Anna is doing great being a big sister! She loves to help Mommy with Ella and has really grown up since Ella has been born. Ella is also doing great! She takes good naps and is doing pretty well at night. We are trying to stretch her at night, so we have had several nights of not as much sleep for me and Joe. Hopefully she will be like Anna and sleep through the night by 8 weeks. Here are pictures from our week.

Ma and Aunt Janet came to visit last Saturday. Ma brought Anna a gift...BIG GIRL UNDERWEAR! I think Ma thinks we are behind on the process.



Anna likes all of Ella's toys!

Anna LOVES to hold Ella!

My friend JoAnn and her girls came over to visit last week.

Jack and Jake seemed to like Ella. I think they are ready to be big brothers!

Craft time at Aunt Frannie's house.

Last night we met Abbie and Todd at Carrabas in West Knoxville. They were driving back from Atlanta. It was great getting to visit and meet baby Tray for the first time. Ella and Tray seem to be about the same size now.

Newborn Pictures

Rhonda came over last Sunday to do Ella's newborn pictures. Ella did not cooperate as well as Anna did with her newborn pictures, but Rhonda was still able to capture so many good pictures. Thanks for coming to our house Rhonda!

Our First Week as a Family of Four

Anna came home Tuesday night. She had really missed us and was very clingy to me when she got home. She woke up Wednesday morning in a great mood! Joe was off on Wednesday, so we took Anna on a date after Ella's doctor's appointment. Ella's appointment went great! She had gained more weight and was 8 lbs. 9 1/2 oz. Wednesday morning.

We had so much fun taking Anna to the zoo. This was the first zoo trip I have enjoyed since I was not pregnant. It felt great to walk around and not be exhausted.

During Anna's nap, Joe got down all the Christmas decorations and Mom and I put up the tree. When Anna woke up, she helped put the ornaments on the tree. Anna also played with Ella alot that night. Wednesday was the perfect day!

Thursday, Anna woke up on the wrong side of the bed and decided to test Mommy ALL DAY LONG. She has never acted as badly as she did on Thursday. I was so frustrated and wanted to cry all day at how she was acting. We disciplined all day, but nothing seemed to work. Ella also took horrible naps on Thursday, which made the day even worse because I had to listen to her cry most of the day. When Joe finally got home from work, Mommy was mentally and physically EXHAUSTED.

Friday was a much better day. I decided to call Anna's doctor because she still had a terrible cough that had lasted over a week. Nana took Anna to the doctor and I took Ella with me to get my hair cut. Dr. Kimble said that the cough was due to the weather and allergies, but he gave her some medicine that should knock out the cough. Nana brought Anna to LeAnna's to get her hair cut too. Anna sat like a big girl all by herself while LeAnna cut her hair. This was the first time she had not sat in my lap. After her hair cut, Nana took the girls back home while LeAnna finished my hair. After my hair cut, I went to Target ALONE! It was great! Friday night, Joe and I took Anna to Family Fun Night at FCA. Anna had so much fun playing all the games. Friday was a much better day than Thursday! Praise the Lord!

Ella is doing much better with naps and night time too. Yestarday, she would have about an hour of wake time, then go right down for her naps. I woke her up each time to eat. Then last night she slept for 4 hours, then I fed her. Then 3 hours and 45 minutes, and then finally 3 1/2 hours. She is catching on to Baby Wise much faster than Anna did!

We went to Fall Family Fun night at FCA last night. Anna had fun playing all the games. She wasn't sure what to do with two suckers.

Getting ducks with Joel.

Playing golf...

Haircut in the big girl chair.

Ella ready for a trip out.

Anna helping with the Chirstmas tree.

Anna loves to pat on Ella and give her a pacy, even if Ella doesn't want the pacy.

Anna and Daddy at the zoo.

Fran brought an amazing dinner Tuesday night and came over to visit. Thanks Fran!

Joel and La La came over to play Monday.

Ella did not enjoy her first bath very well. She likes them now though!

We took Ella to church last Sunday.

Grandma had to leave Monday morning. We were sad to see her go. Thanks for all your help Grandma.

Ella's Friends and Family

Joe and I are so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends! Thanks to Nana and Poppy for keeping Anna while we transitioned home with Ella. We missed Anna so much, but feel like we have really been able to bond with Ella since we have been home. We cannot wait for Anna to get home tonight so we can begin our new life as a family of four! Thanks to Esther for staying with us and helping with Ella and all the things around the house. It was so good getting to spend time with you. Tim, thanks for letting your wife be gone for even longer. I know you are glad she is finally home! And to all our friends, thanks for your love and support through this new season in our life. We are so thankful for each one of you and what you mean to us. We know God brought us to Knoxville and has kept us here because of our church and all of our friendships we have formed because of CHBC!

I just love to watch Ella sleep!

Darcy and Ella

Josh and Lauren look like they are ready for another one!

La La, Ella, and Joel

Grandma with Ella and Anna. Yes, Anna is eating in almost every picture. She had WAY too many sweets while we were in the hospital.

Wow, look at all of Ella's friends! Well, I guess they are Anna's friends, but Ella will love playing with them when she gets a little older.

Rhonda and Ella

Anna and Lexi having a snack.

Chuck and Ella

David Stewart and Ella

Nana changing Ella's diaper.

Chris was driving through Knoxville Tuesday night, so he was able to stop by and see Ella!

Carrie and I switched babies for a few minutes. Hudson is 11 days older than Ella.

Ella and Grandpa

Ella gave her big sister a doll for her bath. Anna has played with this everyday!