Bumbo Floor Seat I ended up buying our Bumbo from Target (mainly because it was the only place I found it in the color I wanted). I thought the mint color was the cutest and it would be good for a girl or future boy. We started putting Ella in her bumbo around 2 months old. She wasn't quite big enough for it then but I definately think it's helped her build some neck strength and teach her how to keep her head up. Now at 3 months old, she loves it and we put her in it all the time! I'm afraid her chunky legs won't fit in it much longer!

Baby Jogger City Mini GT Stroller My mom got us this stroller for our baby shower (it was on our registry) and we are so so happy with it. I love baby items that don't scream "baby" which usually leads me to buying baby items in black. This stroller rides super smooth and is easy peasy to fold up and put in the car. Ella loves riding in it, mama loves pushing it. It's a win/win.

Vulli Sophie Giraffe Teether Ah who doesn't love the Sophie teether!? I think this is probably the #1 "first baby item" that parents buy..probably because it's so damn cute.  I'll admit, it was the first baby item we bought. Ken actually surprised me with it shortly after we found out I was pregnant. We have both this one and the original, larger one. I think this one is perfect for 3 months though since E can now start to grasp objects. The loops on it are the perfect size for her tiny hands to hold.

Tommee Tippee Milk Feeding Bibs I went back to work when E was 11 weeks old which means that she was going to end up getting alot more bottles than she did in the first 11 weeks. My husband has her for the most part the 3 days a week that I work so he was in charge of feeding her when I was away. He used a few different bibs/burp cloths to help catch that extra milk dribbling down her face and into those hard to clean crevices of her neck. I started to notice her neck creases were turning red and looked irritated. I found these bibs at Target and decided to try them out (well, my husband did) and he said they worked great! They catch all that excess milk and keep her neck and chin nice and dry. 

Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Bottles I decided to breastfeed from the get-go but knew that I wanted Ella to be able to take a bottle for a couple different reasons. 1. because I knew I'd have to go back to work when she was a few months old and she would have to be able to suck from a bottle, and 2. because well, mama needs a few cocktails every now and then which means E gets a bottle of pumped milk :) When I was pregnant, I read tons of reviews on which bottles to get and these were always highly liked by others. We introduced a bottle when Ella was only about 2-3 weeks old (this is also when we introduced a paci) and I'm so glad we did. I was suuuuper nervous trying it since she had such a difficult time latching to my breast in the beginning. Surprisingly she took to it well and will suck from a boob, a bottle, or a paci without any confusion happening. She takes these bottles with no problem (plus there isn't 1000 pieces to clean) so they're a win in my book.

Summer Infant Swaddleme We got these for our shower as well and I was a little skeptical about them in the beginning. Why not just use a regular swaddle? Hmm, well if you're my kid you bust out of a regular swaddle blanket within 2 seconds, that's why. Plus, dads can never seem to get a swaddle as tight as mom so these are super easy for dad's to use :) We didn't really start using them too much until Ella started sleeping in her crib. I thought it would be hard for her to go from the comfort of being in a rocker that hugged her body, to an open crib. So from the start of putting her in the crib at night, we swaddled her with these and I think it does help her feel more "secure" and comfortable. She's always haaated her arms being swaddled so these are nice because you can just swaddle the bottom half of her body nice and tight. Plus I love that they come in a small/medium size and a medium/large size that she can grow into. 

That's all for these past couple months. It's so fun and exciting to try new products and see what works best for her. Each month gets more and more fun and playful so I'm excited to see what the next month brings!

Two & Three Month Favorites

Ella | Three Months

This has been one of my favorite months so far. You're alert all the time and taking in all of your surroundings. I think you're even starting to recognize us because your little face lights up when you see us! 

At three months you are...

- smiling like crazy

- have laughed like 1 or 2 times. It's the sweetest, softest little laugh :) I can't wait for more giggles

- wearing 0-3 month clothes and size 1 diapers

- starting to really like playing on your activity mats

- have a predictable nap schedule now

- officially sleeping in your crib at night

- still sleep a 6 hour stretch at night, eat, then sleep another 3-4 hours. We're so grateful you're an awesome night time sleeper!

- have started drooling

- starting to grasp objects (if we put them in your hand for you) 

Overall, you're such a happy baby and we love spending every day with you and watching you grow!

XOXO!

Ella | Three Months

Newborn Favorites

Fisher-Price Newborn Rock 'n Play Sleeper Finding a good, and safe, place for Ella to sleep when she was a newborn was difficult. We originally bought a pack 'n play with the intention that she'd sleep in it in our room for the first several weeks. However, she was soo tiny when she was a newborn and our pack 'n play didn't allow me to have eyes on her when I was laying in bed. I had anxiety about not being able to actually see her when I was in bed. In fact, I wanted her in the bed with me at all times but I know this isn't safe and I didn't want her to form a sleeping habit where she needed to be in our bed all the time. I always read where other families had their newborn sleep and soo many people mentioned the rock 'n play. We bought ours at Target and for only $60 it was well worth the money. She slept great in it from the first night. We put it right by my side of the bed which was perfect because I could open my eyes while lying down and see her. It also vibrates which E loves and allows me to rock her to sleep while I'm still lying down. Can't rave enough about this thing!

Puj Flyte Mini Tub Another obstacle we faced with Ella being so stinkin tiny was giving her a bath, safely. The first few nights we did sponge baths but once her umbilical cord fell off we were pretty excited about giving her a real bath. We also have the 4moms Infant Tub but she was just too small to put in it yet. We found the Puj tub at Buy Buy Baby and decided to try it out. It's so nice because it's the perfect size to fit in the sink in our bathroom. It's easy to fill, easy to clean, and easy to store since it folds up. The other great thing about it is it would be great to travel with since it folds and can be used up until Ella is 6 months old. 

Boppy Bare Naked Pillow This was a must when it came to breastfeeding E. It's crazy how many pillows you can use and stack around you to feed your infant in those first few days. In the future she'll also be able to use it during tummy time. I'm sure the Boppy pillow is a staple baby item in most households and sure is in ours!

AVENT Soothie Pacifier I was mixed about giving Ella a paci in the first few weeks, especially since she had difficulty latching as a newborn. But, one night she was being extremely fussy before bed so we decided to try it out. She took it great and I really do believe it helps soothe her to sleep or just calms her down in general. Note: you should probably buy about 9,000 of these things because they really do just disappear around your house! 

Carter's Newborn Mittens I'm sure every parent attempts to put mittens on their newborns to keep those little fingernails from scratching their baby's precious face (helllooo, how many pictures do you take of your newborn... nobody wants to see bloody scratches on a fresh newborn face!) But of course, most mittens are too big, fall off, and end up getting lost. We got a pack of the Carter's newborn mittens from my in-laws and they're the only mittens that actually stayed on Ella. They're the perfect size and come in a ton of cute colors and patterns. 

Baby K'tan Wrap Babywearing is probably one of the greatest things when you have a new baby. Ella couldn't be in this wrap until she was about a month old but it was well worth the wait. She loooved to be held which I loved of course, but at the same time it didn't allow me to get anything done around the house or even eat/brush my teeth. Some wraps seem so confusing on how to put them on and I'll admit, even the K'tan was intimidating, but it really is simple and comfortable for both me and Ella to use. Plus you can wrap her up in like 4 different positions which is a bonus. 

Having a newborn has been the happiest, hardest, emotional, yet most rewarding few weeks of my life but I wouldn't change it one bit. I wish she could stay a newborn forever!

Newborn Favorites

Ella | Two Months

This post is suuuper late...a whole month late!

My sweet little Ella Eve.  Everyone's right when they say time flies when you have a kid. We can't believe you're two months old already! I can see us saying that each month you get bigger and bigger. 

At two months you...

- survived a growth spurt from hell! From 6-8 weeks to be exact. Fussy and non-stop eating for two.straight.weeks. I guess it payed off though cause you gained 4 pounds this month!

- got your 2 month shots and only cried for a few seconds

- weigh 10lbs 7oz

- smile daily and it's just the sweetest little smile we've ever seen

- are very good at sitting in your bumbo

- can hold your head up

- are pretty good at tummy time and can lift your head up, not quite your chest yet

- love your swing

- stare at all of your surroundings and especially love looking up at the fan

- love bath time

- can follow objects in front of you

We love you to the moon little peanut!

Ella | Two Months

Ella | One Month

My sweet snuggly peanut, I can't believe you're one month old already! It's been a busy, sometimes sleepless, overwhelmed with love kind of month.

At one month you are...

- wearing newborn diapers and newborn clothes

- eat about every 2-3 hours during the day, and 3-4 hours during the night

- sleeping at our bedside in your Rock N' Play

- have gone from 5lbs 15oz to 6lbs 11oz

- love your swing when you're sleepy, otherwise you hate it

- put your hands in your mouth or touch your ears at all times

- only like to be swaddled with your hands free

- love to be skin to skin or snuggled in our k'tan wrap

- most alert after you eat and will keep your eyes open for about an hour, then it's back to sleep you go

- love your paci, it helps soothe you and puts you to sleep

We have easy days and hard days but it's all worth it. We love you to the moon!

XO peanut

Mom & Dad

Ella | One Month

Ella's Nursery

Putting together Ella's nursery was one of my favorite parts of pregnancy. It came together exactly how we imagined it and it's definately my favorite room in the house. I'm excited for when E's older and loves to play in it, cause right now she basically lives with us in our room or the living room. I love that it's feminine and girly without being too girly.  Enjoy!

Ella's Nursery

Welcome to the world, Ella Eve!

Her birth story really begins last Tuesday, June 3rd when I went to my weekly OB appointment. We've been watching her growth via weekly ultrasounds and NSTs and she's still been below normal and trending down. So when I saw Dr. B at my appointment Tuesday, she was trying to figure out a way to get me admitted to the hospital to be induced. Apparently the hospital has guidelines for admitting a patient (Ella would've had to been less than 10% on her growth curve to qualify-she was at 14%). Since my blood pressure was slightly "elevated", there was a little protein in my urine, and along with Ella's IUGR, Dr. B decided to send us to Banner Gateway OB triage to get checked out and hope for an admission/induction. Ken and I were so excited! This could be it! We were hopeful but also aware the hospital could very well send us straight home. We decided to grab lunch quick, head home and let the dogs out/grab a few things, and then headed to the hospital. We got situated in OB triage where they drew blood, took more urine, and watched my blood pressure. Everything looked totally normal and looked like we'd be headed home. Boo. However, apparently my doctor argued with the manager on the phone and they allowed me to be admitted for IUGR. We were going to have our baby! 

We got settled in our labor & delivery room where one of my best friends, Katie, would be my nurse! We planned on her being there for the delivery so it was perfect that she was already set to work when I'd be delivering.  In our room they took some more blood, started my IV, and inserted Cervidil to get things moving along. I was still only 1cm dilated and between 60-90% effaced (hard to tell apparently). The Cervidil stayed in for 12 hours overnight. My nurse, Mary (who was amazing through this entire process) checked me the next morning only to find that I was still only 1cm dilated and about 90% effaced. She decided to call Dr. B to see what the next plan was to get this labor started. Dr. B decided to break my water and hope that would start contractions and labor. She came in at 0730 and broke it-weirdest feeling EVER! Like a huge warm gush of fluid that did.not.stop. Right away I could start to feel contractions. The nurse told me to walk around for an hour or so to get things moving. Ken finally showed up while I was walking around (he had gone home to let the dogs out, etc) and the contractions were getting stronger and stronger and were only a few minutes apart. When I couldn't walk any longer, we headed back to the room where they really began to get strong. The nurse checked me again and I was 3cm dilated. I knew I wanted an epidural and at this point was thinking sooner might be better than later. I could barely breathe through the contractions at this point. My nurse called for the CRNA to insert my epidural-which he attempted THREE times! Holy moly talk about being uncomfortable and in pain while also trying to breathe through contractions every two minutes. My poor nurse-I was squeezing her arm so hard through it all. The epidural was finally placed around 0930 and really kicked in around 1030. Who wouldn't want an epidural? I felt amazing after and could actually get some rest (since I didn't sleep at all throughout the night). It felt like my legs were dead asleep, tingly, and weighed 400lbs each. But, I was so comfortable and relaxed. Thank god for epidurals! 

The nurse kept reminding me to call for her any time I felt anything different or strange. So around 1:30pm I started to feel more pressure/pain in my belly. Pain across my lower belly and pressure at the top of my belly. I called for the nurse and she came in to check me. I was dilated to 8cm! Ah, she was going to be coming so soon! The nurse had me get into different positions with the peanut ball to help me get fully dilated. A little after 2pm she checked me again and I was complete and ready to start pushing! They called my doctor who showed up around 2:15pm. A few pushes, and an episiotomy later, she was here!

Ella Eve Nardelli was born June 4, 2014 at 2:32pm in the afternoon. She weighed 5lb 15oz and was 18 1/2 inches long, a perfect little peanut! She's the most beautiful thing we've ever seen. They immediately put her on me and I immediately started to cry. I couldn't believe she was here! Ken cut her umbilical cord and we sat there for a few minutes staring and touching her. While my doctor finished with me, they took Ella to the warmer to be assessed and give her meds. Ken followed her the whole time, he was such a happy daddy! Her apgar scores were 9/9, meds given, and her assessment was perfect (despite an initial low blood sugar and some feeding issues-but I'll save that for another post). She's a healthy little girl and we are so in love with her. Even during pregnancy I would think how I could love someone else so quickly that I'd never met and wonder if that's how I'd feel when I got to finally meet her. But it really does just hit you and completely consumes you. You immedately feel so much love for your baby and would do absolutely anything for her. 

We feel beyond grateful and blessed to be her parents and look forward to what each day (and long sleepless night) brings. We're also so thankful for all the support from our friends and family. We appreciate all the gifts, visits, food, and comments and feel overwhelmed with love!

Welcome to the world, Ella Eve!