Home Sweet Home

Being at home has definitely been interesting.  Today (Monday) is the first day since last Tuesday that I got dressed....I even went the extra step and put in contacts and brushed my hair!  Welcome to the land of the living!  Watch out Nick--You're not even going to recognize this same girl you've been living with all week!

It's so wonderful to finally get to meet Eli and have him on the outside.  8 lbs. 8 oz. sure is a lot to be carrying around with you 24/7.  He is so sweet and looks so much like his big sister.  (Although this one definitely takes after me.  I'm putting a strong claim on the lips and chin already!)

Eli's first bath



Ella-notice the lips-they are SO mine!

 I was really surprised at how much easier the whole delivery went this time.  I was also surprised at how much more pain I'm in now afterwards than I was the first time.  The cramping after nursing alone is enough to have me practically begging for another epidural!

Ella has definitely had some adjustments to make.  She is doing really great with this--much better than I had expected in fact.  However: warning to any potential visitors....You should ask Ella's permission before holding Eli.  Should you neglect to do this, it will result in a fit full of tears and betrayl, as I have witnessed several times already.

Overall, she's doing great though.  Feedings seem to be a really hard time for her, as I'm sure it looks to her like I'm just hugging and cuddling with Eli instead of her.  Last night though, it was ADORABLE.  Eli was hungry and crying, while I was struggling getting him to latch on.  You know, the typical frustration that accompanies learning how to nurse again.  Ella climed up next to me and said, "Okay mom, but you need to be careful with my Eli.  You need to be easy with him because he's just a baby." [patting my leg] "Okay, so you'll be careful, right?"  Seriously, you can't get any cuter than that.  HER Eli?  I love it.  Especially since most of the time, she won't let his blankets or boppy pillow anywhere close to her. :)  It melted my heart. <3

I don't have any pictures of us at home though, so despite the title of today's blog, here are some hospital pictures.

Apparently just like her mother, give Ella treats, and you will make her happy.  She was really excited about her "Big Sister Popsicles" that the hospital had JUST for her.

A gentle kiss for her baby brother- a bribe for a few bites of mommy's chocolate cake

Our family of FOUR- I can hardly believe it

The gifts Eli brought for Ella each month I think really played a big role in her accepting him.  So far, he's given her a Cinderella dress (hated it), a hooded frog towel (ignored it), a baby doll set including stroller, crib, diaper bag, pumpkin seat, and swing (knocked the box down, kicked it, and said, "I don't want that), [break from the gifts for awhile until she began asking my belly for specific gifts], sidewalk chalk (so excited), and catapiller sprinkler (LOVED IT!).  Notice the transformation of acceptance. :)

Okay, as Nick has reminded me twice now as I type that I should really be napping while both of the kids are.  This afternoon promises at least an hour of fun outside playing in the sprinkler that Ella loves so much.  I love being a mom. :D