First visit home with Ella

So I am extremely late in posting this.  I was waiting for a certain someone (cough Michelle) to send me pictures from her phone, but I'm still waiting haha, so I decided to do a post with the pictures I have on my phone.  In August I flew home with Ella for a visit.  It was Ella's first plane ride, and I was panicking for weeks and weeks before the flight.  I was so stressed to be flying with a newborn.  You have to take 3 flights to get home... Perth to Sydney, Sydney to LA, LA to SLC.  The Sydney to LA flight is 16 hours!!! So you all can appreciate why I was stressing so much, however Ella surprised us all and did AMAZING on the flight.  She slept seriously the whole time.  I had to wake her up to feed her, and then she would fall right back asleep.  Apparently the high altitude can make babies very sleepy.  No complaining here! 

 I was also fortunate enough to fly to SLC with my mother-in-law Joni.  She was so much help, and I am so grateful that she was there with me.  We also had a lot of funny memories on that trip home haha.... one not so funny memory was that I left my phone in the LA airport.  My phone was unlocked meaning the person had access to everything.  A nice man found it, and mailed it to my parents house.  Definitely a blessing!    

Michelle meeting Ella for the first time.  This picture says it all.. :)  It melts my heart every time I see it.  There were so many emotions.  Two of the most special people in my life meeting for the first time.  Still makes me a bit teary eyed looking at it.

As you can imagine Ella was smothered in kisses by her grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends.  

My grandparents were visiting from Indiana.  I was so happy that they got to meet Ella, and that I got to spend some time with them.  I haven't seen them since our wedding in 2008.  My grandma is an amazing seamstress, and she taught me how to sew.  I made a bib for Ella, and am still in the process of making a diaper bag.  

4 generations

Ella and I flew to Cali for a quick visit with Rach.  I had so much fun. Little baby Ronan is due any day.  It was so much fun seeing her pregnant.  Such a beautiful mommy! 

More kisses

Ella in her bassinet on the plane

I am horrible at remembering to taking pictures.  I didn't get any of the Reese family while I was visiting, even though I spent equal time with both families.  :(  I am so happy that I got to bring Ella home to meet family while she was still a newborn.  She is growing up so fast!  

Ella's baby blessing

I am completely failing at this whole blogging thing.  You would think that now that I am home with a baby that I would have more time to blog.... well I have good intentions of posting on my blog each day, but some how time seems to get away from me.  So although I am a couple months late posting this, here are pictures from Ellas baby blessing.  Ella was blessed at our church in Dianella, Western Australia on July 15, 2012.  It was a very special day, and we were so blessed to have Brandon's parents there to share the day with us.  Here are some pictures from the blessing.  :) 

My sweet family

Gorup involved in the blessing circle

Thanks to all those that came!  

Grandma and Grandpa Reese visit Perth

Brandon's parents came to Perth to meet Ella (and visit us of course)!  This was a long anticipated visit!  This is the first time that someone from the Reese side has visited us.  :)

The day they arrived was a bit of a rough day... I got in a car accident that afternoon and was really shaken up about it.  Brandon and I had been driving to pick up a rental car (our Getz is too small to fit 4 people and a baby).  After we picked up the car Brandon took the rental car home, and I took the Getz with Ella.  I got on the freeway and was headed home.  There is this horrible spot on the freeway where there is an on ramp and off ramp right next to each other, so people are always trying to merge, and the traffic is horrible.  I was behind a pick up truck, and was trying to switch lanes.  I couldn't see past the truck (the Getz is very small) so I didn't realize that traffic was slowing down due to people merging.  Just as I was switching lanes the truck slammed on it's brakes, and I smashed into the back of him.  Ella had been asleep in the back seat, and immediately started screaming.  It was the worst feeling in my life because I didn't know if she was hurt.  My car was completely smashed on the left passenger side, and it wouldn't move.  I was trapped in the middle of the freeway with cars racing by me.  It was terrifying.  All the while Ella was screaming.  I called the police and Brandon, then jumped in the back seat to try to calm down Ella.  I didn't want to take her out of her seat in case she was hurt, so I just tried to rub her face and calm her down.  I felt so helpless.  Finally the police and an ambulance came, and shortly after Brandon showed up.  The paramedics took a look at Ella, and said she was fine but said they would take us to the children's hospital just to be safe.  Everything checked out fine at the children's hospital.  We were so grateful.  This seriously was the worst experience.  Even after the accident I just kept crying thinking about Ella screaming in the back seat, and thinking about what if something had happened to her. I feel so blessed that we were protected.  Anyway, by the time we got home from the hospital it was time to pick up Joni and Steve from the airport.  I was still feeling really upset so I stayed home with Ella.  There were big plans in the works, for Ella to be holding a welcome to Perth sign and everything, but after a horrible afternoon I just didn't feel up to it.  They were both very understanding.

Steve was able to stay with us for a week, and Joni stayed for two weeks.  It was so nice having them around, and getting to show them around Perth.  We took them to all the main attractions: Fremantle, a drive around the coast to all the main beaches, Curtin University (the university I graduated from), the city, Kings park, Margret River Chocolate Factory, Hilaries boat harbor, Perth aquarium and Caversham Wildlife Park.  They even watched Ella a couple nights (even through the night) so that Brandon and I could go on a date, and get a full nights rest.  It was awesome!  We had such an amazing time, and as always it went by way too fast.  I'm so grateful that they were able to make the long trip, and that we were able to make some Aussie memories together.

In Freo

Caversham Wildlife Park

Perth aquarium (this picture is for Heather because she is terrified of sharks) 

Caversham Wildlife Park (Joni had the time of her life.  I'm pretty sure kangaroos are her favorite animal now) 

Some how Joni and Ella always ended up being color coordinated. haha  

Hilaries boat harbor 

Happy birthday Maddie

Happy birthday little miss Madeline!  We got to celebrate Maddie's first birthday this weekend.  Jade threw a "Madeline" party (from the Madeline books).  It was adorable.  The cake turned out amazing.  Jade's friend Jen made it.  I wish I could decorate cakes like that.  One day I hope to take a cake decorating class.
We all sang Happy Birthday to Maddie, and people took pictures of her sitting next to the cake.  As if in slow motion Maddie started to grab for the flame on the candle, and I let out a huge shriek (so embarrassing) haha. Luckily Jade grabbed her hand in time, but poor Maddie started crying because it scared her.  Oh dear. As soon as she dug into her cake she forgot all about it though.  Such a little cutie!  I have loved watching this little munchkin grow over the past year.  She will always be my Australian niece.  :)  

Visiting daddy at work

Ella and I went and visited Brandon at work.  Brandon was excited to show off his little girl (who wouldn't be)!  Ella of course slept the whole time.  She was wearing little ugg boots, but kicked them off by the time we took this picture.  It was fun to meet some of the people that Brandon works with, and to see his new office.  They recently moved buildings about a month ago.. .and let me just say he has the best view in all of Perth.  He sits right next to the window which is over looking the Swan River.  I don't think I'd get any work done with that kind of a view.

Dang back lighting kind of ruined the photo

Ella sitting with daddy at his desk! 

Ella is one month old!

Last week my friend Jade took some newborn shots of Ella.  She is also the one that did my pregnancy photos.  She does such an amazing job, and should really consider becoming a professional photographer.  Ella was just a couple days away from being one month old when the photos were taken.    

Before and after shot

 My friend Jade made a joke that you should never work with animals or babies as a photographer... and after helping her take photos I couldn't agree more.  Babies are so unpredictable!  The one thing Ella hates more than anything is having her clothes changed.  She has gotten use to having her diaper changed because she associates it with being fed... because I typically change her diaper before I feed her.  Little chunkster loves her food!  When it comes time to change her clothes Ella really puts up a fight, so I knew the photo shoot was going to be a challenge considering we would need to be dressing her in multiple outfits.
This is pretty much how the majority of the session went. haha

But with lots of patience we were able to get some amazing shots.  I couldn't be happier with how they turned out.  :) Here are a few of my favorite pictures.

I love this one because you can see her name on her bracelet 

  

Three generations :)

I love to kiss these chubby cheeks! 

Funny enough Ella is actually screaming in this photo... you can see her little hand is flapping in the picture.  At the time I was desperately trying to calm her down.  I love how peaceful and serene the picture turned out considering Ella was screaming bloody murder.  I think this picture should be labelled "The love and patience of a mother".  There is nothing in this world that can teach your more patience than being a mother.  This little bug is teaching me new things every day! 

  

I want to take pictures of her every month so that I can see how much she changes over time.  These are her one month old pictures I took today. Technically she is 5 1/2 weeks today, so I am a little behind. 

This photo cracks me up... she looks so unimpressed. haha

Shortly after the last photo she fell asleep

Ella has grown so much already.  We have already had to adjust the straps on her car seat.  My baby is growing so fast.  I think about how tiny she felt in my arms when I held her for the first time and how big she feels now. I am so grateful for a healthy baby! Here are few little facts about Ella at one month.  

• She was 7 lbs 12 oz at birth and she is now 11 lbs.  
• She is getting cute little leg and arm rolls, and is still sporting a double chin.  I love her little baby rolls. 
• She is also much longer.  I think she will be tall when she grows up.  
• She is the nosiest sleeper.  She was originally sleeping in our room, but we had to move her into her own room because we weren't getting any sleep.
• She makes the cutest little grunting noises.  We have nicknamed her Ella Goat.
• She loves to listen when people are talking.  If you talk to her she will get really quiet and her eyes will open really wide.  You can tell she is listening.  
• She hates having her clothes changed.
• She has the funniest scowl.  I suppose this is partially my fault.  I had an impressive scowl when I was a baby.  My parents use to take pictures of me in time out because they thought my scowl was so hilarious.  
• At around 6:00 every night our little angel turns into a dragon.  Poor little thing has major gas (mostly because she likes to gulp down her milk) and a bit of reflux, so she gets really fussy at night time.  We have started using a natural medicine called Infants Friend for nights when she is really unsettled.  We like to call it liquid gold, because as soon as you give it to her she calms down immediately and falls asleep.  I highly recommend it to other parents our there!  
• She fights going to sleep at night, but once she is asleep she will go 6-7 hours in between feeds.  She has been doing this consistently for about a week now, so lets hope it stays that way!  
• She has rolled on her side once.... and it just so happened to be when my mom was watching her.  Apparently she isn't much of a show off because Brandon and I are still waiting for her to do it when we are watching.
• She loves her stroller and going for rides in her car seat.. She pretty much likes anything that moves.  
• She loves sitting in her bouncer that vibrates.
• She hates tummy time and usually only lasts about 5 minutes before she gets upset.
• She loves bath time!  She is such a little water baby.  :) 
• She typically poos every other day and they are usually huge blow-outs... meaning it goes through her diaper and clothes.  On two occasions it has gone through her diaper, clothes and onto my pants. haha
• She smiles constantly in her sleep and has started smiling more when she is awake.
• She currently has baby acne... apparently it is because of hormones passed through the breast milk and should go away soon.
• She no longer has an old man hair cut.  When she was first born she had a major reseeding hair line, but her hair is finally growing in on top.  

We love our little girl! :) 

Happy birthday to me

Happy birthday to me (and Michelle haha)!  Brandon surprised me with new bedding for my b.day.  He even picked it out... which could have been a complete disaster, but he did an amazing job.  Great taste. Great hubby!  Thanks sweetie.  :)

Happy Birthday Chell I love you!  Can't wait to see you in a month.  :)