HOPPY EASTER!

We celebrated Ella's first Easter today. Hope everyone had a great day.

Ella is doing really well on her medication. The spot has decreased significantly in just 2 weeks! We are really excited about her progress.

Finally moved and settled in

We are now in Amarillo. It took a few weeks but we got all unpacked and settled. Ella is adjusting really well to her new house. She loves her new room cause it's much bigger. In the last month she has learned to sit up unassisted and is making a lot more noise!

She got to see a blizzard last week, which was amazing to her! She was feeling a little sick so we didn't get to go outside and play in it. Last week she went to the doctor and weighed in at 19.2 pounds...wow! She's a chubby baby.

Recently we've made the decision to start treatment on Ella's hemangioma, which is a vascular growth that she has developed on her upper lip. This didn't pop up till she was about 3 months, but it's considered a type of birth mark. There are several options for treating this, but it may go away on its on by the time she's 3 or 4. It could keep growing till she's 12 months old though. After talking to several doctors and a pediatric dermatologist, they've recommended starting steroid treatment. She will be on a low dose for 4 weeks to see if it stops or shrinks the growth. We are optimistic about it. I'll update each week with pics to show her progress. If the steroids are ineffective, then we will move on to other options.

We are so lucky that Ella is such a happy, healthy baby. This is really a minor thing that she will grow out of someday.

Packin' up next weekend

Well, this is really happening! We are packing up and the movers are coming next weekend to help us load. We plan to drive the truck to Amarillo next Sunday or Monday. Matt's last day of work is March 6th. I'll be taking some vacation time between jobs so I'll have time to get settled. I start my new position on March 16th in Amarillo. Anyway, it's kind of bittersweet to leave our home here in Arlington, but I think it will be a positive thing for us.

Ella is doing so well. She's rolling over and trying to sit up on her own. She is such a happy, easy baby, we are so blessed. Ella can't wait to see all her family in A town.

We are moving back to Amarillo

After much thought and prayer, Matt and I have decided to move back to Amarillo...yes we will be taking Ella with us. :) We can't wait to be closer to family and friends in A town. Bonus: there will be plenty of babysitters. We are so sad to leave our friends here and our home but I think it's the right decision for us. We love our house here in Arlington and it will be hard to say goodbye but home is where you are, not 4 walls. Hopefully it will sell fast, but I'm worried about the housing market. I've been given a transfer with CPS so I'll just move right into a new position in Amarillo. Luckily I know the folks there and it won't be a difficult transition. Matt has decided to start working for himself and is starting his own venture.

We will be moving around the second week of March.

Ella is so excited to see everyone soon!

Happy birthday Ella!

Today Ella is 5 months old! What a big girl she is now...can't believe how much she's grown.

She is hilarious, laughing all the time...except for when we get the camera out. Ella has recently discovered her feet...she also loves carrots obviously.

Ella meets her great Grandma.

Greatgrandma got out of the hospital this weekend so Ella finally got to meet her! She even showed off and rolled over for her for only the second time. This is a new thing we just learned on Sunday! We were very proud.
No matter how hard we try, we can't get her to smile for the camera. She does laugh and smile a lot though. :)

4 months old and already talking!

Ella turned 4 months old last week. We had another cake, she seems more interested in food now. I'm sure she'll attempt to try some soon. Matt swears she was talking to him the other day and said "I earned a dollar" in baby speak. :)

She is such a big girl now! Had her 4 month checkup. She weighs 15 pounds, 10 oz. Still in the 90th percentile for weight and head size and 95th for height.