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!

Baby Shower #2

I literally have the best co-workers ever. On Tuesday May 27th, my good friend (and work wife!) Ashley threw me the cutest baby shower so all my co-workers could celebrate baby girl! She worked so hard on putting it all together and it couldn't have been more perfect. It was at one of my favorite places to eat, The Living Room, in Chandler which turned out to be the perfect place to have it. We had our little area in the back blocked off and munched on appetizers and sangria. I was pretty obsessed with the decorations since they all matched baby girl's nursery. Light pinks, white, gold, and black/white stripes! Adorable.

My co-workers totally spoiled baby girl. We got tons of clothes, diapers, and other baby goodies! 

We couldn't be more grateful! I really can't thank Ashley, and the rest of my co-workers enough for throwing us such a fun shower. We really do appreciate all the love and support we've received and I think we're officially ready to have baby girl!

Baby Shower #2