At the Hospital

I'm writing this entry after putting Abby to bed and as Ella is napping on her Daddy's chest next to me. Two little girls. It's still hard to believe, but I've never been more fully aware of the overwhelming blessings I've been entrusted with in my little family. I'm so thankful!

 Ella made a pretty speedy entry into the world! I woke up at 5:30 Tuesday  morning having contractions. We were at the hospital by 9 a.m. and I was holding Ella in my arms by 1:04 p.m. It was quite the whirlwind day, but it was perfect. We were only in the hospital for a quick 24 hours before we headed home to recover and adjust to our new life.

These are some of our first pictures of Ella and our time at the hospital. 

frustrated?

ohhhh how I love love love baby feet

hair

meeting G-Diddy

meeting Grammy

Heather and Nichole came for a visit.

The moment had arrived. It was finally time for Abby to meet her baby sister. She was so excited! It was all Abby could talk about when she called me at the hospital the night before to say goodnight. She called me that morning to make sure Ella was ready and waiting for her. 

When Abby walked into the hospital room, I was standing up waiting to hug her and make a big deal about her being there, but she looked right past me and said, "Hi Mommy! Where's my baby sister?" It was precious to see the way Abby loved on Ella. She was so tender and nurturing. No one told her what to do and she just gently started kissing Ella and talking in a soft voice. Abby didn't like it when Ella cried, but once Abby got over the initial shock of a wailing baby, she starting singing to her to calm her down. Abby kept asking me to unwrap Ella. She loved Ella's feet and was the first to do "This Little Piggy" on her little toes.

At one point a nurse came to take Ella into the nursery for a quick check, but as the nurse took Ella out of the room, Abby got really upset. "I want my baby sister. I don't want them to take my baby sister." When Ella was brought back into the room, the nurse commented that she was returning with a hungry baby. To which Abby responded, "Mommy, Ella wants your boobies!"  :) She gets it!

Abby and Daddy brought us flowers and Abby brought Ella her first baby doll.

best friends for life

our first family (of four) photo

giving Ella her flower. Abby and Mommy each got one too.

Abby introducing Ella to Grandma

meeting Casey

getting ready to bring Ella home

here we go...

so excited to bring baby sister home.

Meet Ella!

Welcome to the world baby girl!

Ella Margaret Cassel 

Born July 10, 2012 at 1:04 p.m.

7 lbs. 14 oz. 

20.5 inches of sweet baby

Happy Birthday Ella!

Proud Mommy Moment

39 weeks and counting...

This might just be the last belly shot I take before Baby Girl #2 arrives! I guess it really could be any day now, though my official due date is this coming Monday. Of course, Abby posed with me for the picture, but instead of touching my belly this time she decided to show off her belly too!

The other day, Abby came out of her room with a baby doll, went over to her Daddy and said:
Abby: Daddy, this is Amelia.
Joe: Ok.
Abby: Daddy, say hi to Amelia.
Joe: Hi Amelia!
Abby: She came out of my belly.
Joe: Really?! Well it's so nice to meet you Amelia.

39 weeks

After playing downstairs by herself for a bit, Abby called for us. "Family, it's lunchtime now!" When Joe and I went downstairs we found the table completely set, food on our plates and a little vase in the center of the table filled with pipe cleaner flowers. My sweet little hostess. 

Enjoying the tea party and her watermelon

Lots of friends are having special birthdays this summer. Here's a picture of Abby and her friend Makena at Makena's 3rd birthday party. Abby especially enjoyed painting her wooden birdhouse. I think she would paint/color/craft all day if she could. 

  

When Joe is done with work in the late afternoon, Abby and her Daddy spend lots of time in the water together. We even have a water slide in our backyard. ;)

pool time

Everyone is asking and I think we can now say: We are officially ready for Baby's arrival. Hospital bag packed. Car seat installed. I even have a few meals put away in the freezer. 

Abby loved helping us the night we installed her sister's car seat. Of course, she had to test it out! When we went to the grocery store the next day, Abby asked why her sister wasn't here yet to ride next to her. 

 

We took Abby to her first movie today. We weren't sure if  she would sit through a movie in the theater yet, so the $1 summer kid's movies were a great place to start. Happy Feet 2 + popcorn + some Swedish fish = an excited little girl. I was so proud of her. She sat for an hour before she got restless! Fun family time.