Incoming......

Ella has four incoming teeth.  Not 1, Not 2, Not 3, but 4!!  One tooth alone is enough to make her miserable, but four is just too much.  She won't eat her solid food and chews her thumb all day long to put pressure on her gums.  She won't take the frozen teething rings we got her and she'll barely chew on Sophie her teething giraffe.  It's rough.  Teething was one of the things I didn't realize was going to be so tough before I had Ella.  But, it is and it goes on FOREVER!!  Poor thing.  To top it all off, she's been battling a ear infection and a sinus infection.  Her Mother's Morning Out cold turned out to be a sinus infection that turned into a nasty ear infection.  We hate to see her in pain, but she keeps on smiling (aside from a few tears here and there).  Can't believe that little smile will have four top teeth to go with the bottom two very soon.  She's just turning into a little person right before our very eyes!  But one question-- seriously, how long do babies teeth???  Any tips on how to help besides tylenol/advil and teething rings/toys??  Brent said we just have to ride it out...and I totally trust his advice--since he's a pediatric dentist and all-- but didn't know there was any old wives tale remedy that could help us out.  Don't worry, I'm not going to try to cast a spell on her teeth or anything...just thought someone might have something that really works.  If you read this, I would love to hear your suggestions.  In the mean time, I hope those incoming teeth find their way down soon so Ella will get back to eating.

On another note, Ella went in for her 9 month "well" check up Friday.  Obviously she wasn't "well"due to the fact she was sick-- but here are her stats:  Weight 55%, Height 70%, Head 88% (big head, big brain, right??).  She met her new pediatrician, Dr. Ben-- he is wonderful.  He grew up in East Cobb near where I did in Roswell and is an avid UGA fan.  I think we're going to get along great.  He showed me his "personal" office which had Georgia memorabilia galore...he said we had to brainwash her into being a UGA fan early.  I told him I didn't think that would be a problem especially with her daddy's influence!  I thought she was going to escape this visit without a shot, but alas, it's flu season so she had to get a flu shot.  Maybe we'll have a shot free visit one of these days!  Aside from the ear/sinus infection, everything looked great.  We are so very fortunate that Ella continues to be a healthy and happy baby!

Chewing on that thumb...all day long

Daniel

I've been putting this post off for a while now.  Thinking maybe if I didn't write it, somehow it would make it not true.  A friend of mine from high school, Daniel Peake, was tragically killed in a car accident last Wednesday night.  He was so full of life, had everything going for him, and was the smartest/deepest person I have ever met.  It's so tragic.

Here's a little about Daniel...and I mean a little-- I could never do him justice even if I wrote for days.  If you went to Roswell High School and you were a girl, you probably had a crush on Daniel Peake at one time or another--he was a cutie.  He was a genius--and thought and talked like a genius, but somehow also related to us common folk and was a lot fun too.  He had the most incredible, witty sense of humor.  He loved music, was musical, a brilliant writer, and a dear friend to so many--in short he was LOVED.  Lately he wrote a lot on Facebook about LOVE and being a person who loved unconditionally.  If you look on his Facebook wall now, you can see that he was exactly this-- LOVED by so many.  Pictures of Daniel smiling and enjoying life are added to his wall each day from people lucky enough to have met him through the years--it's safe to say he touched many.  I found myself overwhelmed with emotion as I looked through pictures of him and all of our dear friends from high school.  It just doesn't seem right that he's gone.  So many wonderful memories.  My heart hurts for those closest to him-- his parents, brother, and dear group of guy friends, and so many more.

I wish we could have him back.  We lost him too soon.  He had so much more to give the world.  Until we all meet again-- I'd like to picture Daniel in paradise on the beach conversing with the likes of Socrates, Einstein, and all the philosophers that came before-- I imagine that he can give them a run for their money in a debate and is smart enough to actually win!  When the debate is over, he'd move on to hang out with Jimi Hendrix or some other amazing musician and talk about his passion for music and love.  Somehow I know he's doing something cool.  But those of us left behind will love and miss him forever.  Thanks for the memories, Dear Daniel.  Until we meet again, you will be near to our hearts and never forgotten--I hope you are at peace.

LikeComment

Tag Photo

Baxter and the Missing Money

We have a thief amongst us in the Herrin House.  It's not me, Brent, Ella, Dolce, or Emma the Cat--so by process of elimination, you might guess-- It's Baxter.  Oh, Baxter.  What can I say?? He's our 105 lb. Marley-- we never know what to expect.  Over the past week he's eaten (and passed) 3 socks and has been repeatedly trying to sneak to get in all the trashcans to eat paper.  I think that I should have named this blog "Raising Ella Grace, Dolce, Baxter, and Emma"-- because around here it's a zoo and our pets are full time jobs too...especially Baxter.

So, here's the re-cap.  Ella and I spent an hour in Target stocking up on everything we were out of out our house...which was a lot.  The buggy was full and I was also dragging a new hamper behind me as I pushed the cart.  We get to the register and Ella is smiling at the cashier and babbling at her.  We were invited to a wine tasting last night at Garibaldi's (so yummy), so Ella's babysitter, Melissa, was coming at 5:30.  In an effort to be prepared to pay her in cash, I got $40 cash back.  This was an improvement over last time--I forgot that babysitters don't take debit cards like everyone else, so we had to stop at the ATM after our evening out.  Not this time, I was determined to be prepared!!  SO- I get my cash back, receipt, and a random coupon from the cashier--roll it into a wad and stick it inside of the diaper bag and proceed to load the car while watching Ella in the buggy.

We get home, unload, make a bottle, Ella eats some lunch, I let the dogs out of their pins, and have just begun play time with Ella when I subconsciously realize I hear paper rustling.  About ten minutes later, it occurs to me that the rustling paper was probably something important that Baxter got a hold of.  So,  I get up, only to find the diaper bag nuzzled open and the receipt, coupon, and ONE of the twenties on the floor.  The other twenty---gone!!  Baxter is approximately 10 feet away trying to look nonchalant.  But, I saw it in his eyes.  He ate the twenty!!  I was furious...but couldn't "prove" he had eaten it and they say there is no use punishing a dog if you don't catch them in the act.  I scolded him, but didn't do much else-- what could I really do at this point??  So annoying.  Anyway, so my trip to Target ended up costing me and extra twenty dollars :( and we still had to stop at an ATM after the tasting.

Lesson: Never leave anything important where Baxter can get it.  But here's a confession-- this lesson should have been learned a long time ago-- we have also lost two debit cards, a Macy's card, a Visa, my teaching certificate AND a voter registration card-- all eaten by Baxter (he stole them off our entryway console that is like 3 feet tall).  So, I take some responsibility in the incident-- I had been more than warned. But, I mean, come on--seriously, Baxter!! Some days I think Baxter is the most frustrating dog ever...other days he's not so bad.  But, He better have A REALLY good day today-- I'm just saying!

So another day, another (costly) lesson learned at the Herrin house...stay tuned.

Ch-ch-changes

"Part of life is letting things go." ~Phil Dunphy, Modern Family

Ch-ch-changes...have always been extremely difficult for me.  I am a true creature of habit-- I want to know what to expect and how to prepare for it.  This personality trait has caused me a lot of stress and anxiety in my day.  Letting go, moving on is never easy for me.  I found myself tearing up tonight as we watched the re-run of Modern Family Season 2, Episode 1 of our DVD set that just arrived.  It was about their old station wagon and how they had trouble with letting it go because it had so many memories attached to it that reminded them of the past.  Don't we all have an "old station wagon" so to speak?  Anyway, in the end, the station wagon rolls off a cliff in a hysterically, dramatic fashion and the Dunphys realize that they needed to let go of the past and look forward to the family memories to come.  But, what you also see is that their son, Luke, has salvaged one memory from the car-- a jar of "sunshine" he collected as a small child-- so they had something to remember it by.

So what does this have to do with us and raising Ella? Well, a lot, actually!  Moving to Savannah has always been an incredible opportunity for us, a true blessing.  But, it didn't mean that it was easy to get here.  We had amazing friends/family in Augusta, GA and made a happy life for ourselves there.  Then, we up and moved to Dallas, TX.  Once again, we found ourselves with amazing friend who became like family and made a happy life for ourselves there too.  Plus, we received our greatest blessing to date, Ella, during our time there.  Then, we moved on--again.  This kind of pattern wears you out in time.  Leaving incredible people is never an easy task.  Picking up your life is never fun.  But, in the words of Phil, Dunphy, "Part of life is letting things go."  This is incredibly true.  I think that God puts you in a certain place at a certain time for a certain reason.  We were meant to meet wonderful people and have wonderful experiences.  These relationships will last us a lifetime, I have no doubt.  But, we were also meant to move on.  Let me clarify--when I say letting things go, I don't mean the people and the memories...I mean the comfort of the life you know.  You let that go, so you can experience what God has in store for your next.

I hate change-- moving makes me feel like that awkward middle school girl again-- unsure of myself, will people like me?  Maybe you know the feeling.  But, I can honestly say that when you open yourself up to change amazing things happen.  Since we've been in Savannah, we have grown as a family.  We have taken joy in watching Ella become social with other children.  She's starting to make friends...Big Ella, Adelaide, Hudson, Emma Jane, Annabelle...to name a few.  We've become close friends with people from the past-- Megan and John, Ashley and Ben, Caitlin, Lauren.  We've met friends with babies--Jen and Matt, most recently, Emily and Ryan.  We've been graciously welcomed by the partners and their families where Brent practices-- Si and Suzanne, Carey and Jeff, Ashley and Bryon, Lisa and Jay.  The wives even threw a beautiful luncheon to welcome me to town.  They invited other ladies that welcomed me, gave me encouragement, and some names of great restaurants in the area.  All of their wives are so incredibly gracious and lovely and I cannot express how touched I was by such a genuine and warm welcome.  We've become involved with a lovely church and are getting connected through a welcome class.  Exciting things are happening!

So here's the long and short of it-- letting go of the wonderful life we've made in the places we've lived has allowed us to experience so many things.  So, sometimes, you have to let go.  BUT-- you always hold the past near and dear to your heart-- and never forget.  We're starting to feel settled here and that's a great thing.  I think Savannah is a wonderful place to raise a family and we are truly blessed to be here.  We look forward to all that is to come and know that letting go, feeling out of our element and a bit uncomfortable, led us to where we are now-- we had to let go.

But...to all those that we've left behind in the places we've lived-- we love you dearly and want you to know how close to our hearts you'll always remain!!  You are our little jar of sunshine from the past that we keep with us perpetually.

Nine Months Already!

Ella, you were nine months old on Saturday.  It's hard to believe!!  You truly are a joy and are so much fun.  This has been your Mommy and Daddy's favorite stage because you are so interactive and love to have a good time...and are a little more independent too.  We love you more and more each day that passes!!  Here's a recap of month 8:

New things that happened during your 8th month:
-crawling (the first week you were 8 months)...you are a girl on the move!!
-pulling up and walking around things like the couch, your crib, book shelves
-waving-- you have the cutest little wave :)
-clapping with joy...you stop and clap when something makes you happy.
-saying mama and dada--not sure you know that they are our names yet...but you might be catching on
-attending Mother's Morning Out...which you love!
-having your first babysitter that wasn't a family member, Sweet Melissa (you wouldn't go to bed for her, but she said you were sweet).
- getting your first cold from MMO :(

"Hobbies"
-Playing...you play your heart out everyday-- it's your favorite thing to do!
- Trying to crawl out of the barracade in the family room to get to the dog water bowl in the kitchen
- Trying to eat everything you find
-Playing with your tongue...she photos below!
-Pulling things out of baskets....just wish you also liked to put things back in :)
-Playing with other children...you love other kids and can't wait to play Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays with the babies in the nursery

Favorite foods:
Chicken and rice/ Turkey and vegetable dinners
Anything BANANA!!
Green beans
Your organic puff cereal (banana and sweet potatoes)
You still love your Nutramagin formula...you are a milk drinker!
Avacado

Sleep:
You still fight sleep because you hate to miss out.  You don't nap.  I am lucky to get a thirty minute nap in the morning around 9ish and a thirty minute nap in the afternoon around 4ish from you.  It makes getting housework done a challenge.  You go to bed around 8ish and usually sleep until 6:30 or 7 in the morning.  You always wake up in the middle of the night at either 2 a.m. or 5 a.m. and fuss a little (or play), but we don't go in there to get you because you need to learn to sleep through the night. We do go in there if you do become hysterical (you throw up sometimes if you get yourself too upset).  Naps are something I wish you took...they'd be good for both of us-- but overall you sleep well at night.

MMO:
You are so well loved by the your Mother's Morning Out teachers, Miss Audrey and Miss Christa, and the Director, Miss Charli.  They love you and tell me that you are the easiest baby to have in class.  This makes me laugh because if only they knew how far you've come from your colic days.  They say you play and keep yourself entertained.  You love to be around other children.  You love to go outside.  You are always smiling.  They tell me the only time you cry is if several of the other children are crying....they say you get upset to see others upset.  I think this is so sweet.  You love MMO and I never feel guilty having to leave my baby all upset like many of the other mothers do...I'm very grateful for this!! :)

You are everything we hoped for and more in a little girl.  You're still as spirited and feisty as ever, but you are also a sweetheart.  You love your family and spending time with your grandparents and uncles.  You are a social butterfly and this personality will serve you well.  We love you!!  Happy 9 months, Ella Grace!

Please Pass a Boogie Wipe...

It's official...first Mother's Morning Out (MMO) cold.  It only took a week.  We knew this was coming at some point soon with all the exposure she's getting to new germs and drool.  Luckily this is just a cold, but it's the first time Ella's ever been sick.  One of the benefits of me staying home with her all this time is that she didn't get sick.  However, I think we've officially been initiated into MMO and this cold is the verification.  Ella sounds kind of like Darth Vader as she breathes out of her mouth.  Her nose is dripping with snot.  When she cries you hear the gurgling sound of her post nasal drip---too much info, but true!  No fever though.  She went to bed at her usual bedtime last  night, about 8:15.  By 10:15 she was back awake and hysterical.  I think she was having trouble breathing.  Poor little thing looked so pitiful as her lower lip quivered :( She cried for about 15 minutes and snorted and snotted.  Then, she was happy and smiling.  I got a picture of her playing with her cold-mist frog humidifier.  This child LOVES to play...even when she's sick!! 

So, frog humidifier-- check, Boogie Wipes--check, a couple of hours of rocking in the chair keeping her up-right...check.  Let me stop for a minute here...Boogie Wipes, you say?  Yeah, this was something I never knew about before I was a mom.  Basically, Boogie Wipes come in packages kind of like diaper wipes.  They are wet with saline solution and extremely soft and gentle on the skin. If you wipe your nose with Boogie Wipes, you can avoid that raw, dry irritation you get around your nose during a cold.  I think adults should use them too.  Couldn't you picture an office with everyone sitting around with packs of Boogie Wipes on their desks when that office head cold hits??  They smell pretty good too...Ella's are Fresh Scent,  but you can choose from a couple of other scents too.  

Anyway, she eventually fell asleep for good around 12:30 and I was able to put her down in her bed to sleep.  I couldn't sleep though because I was busy listening to the monitor to make sure she wasn't wheezing or not breathing.  I've gotten much more laid back as she gets older, but bedtime and making sure she's breathing still makes me concerned from time to time...especially when she's was so stuffy.  She was fine when she awoke in the morning.  Still stuffy, but on the mend.  

I guess germs and viruses come along with the MMO territory.  I thought about the socialization and the independence she'd gain from MMO, but forgot that she'd be in a germ breeding ground.  Hopefully it gets her immune system up and running...in the mean time...pass me a Boogie Wipe and feel better soon, Ella!

Last night, playing with her
frog humidifier...I promise
she was sick!

This Morning...pretty much back to her old
self.  Standing and pulling things off shelves!

What's for dinner...Meatloaf!!

So, last night we had an awesome dinner...yes I'm tooting my own horn...but only because it was really good and really easy.   We ate Bacon-Gruyere Meat Loaf and it was delightful.  I have a confession...meatloaf use to really gross me out.  But, Brent loves it and I have to say it's grown on me during our almost 9 years together.  So, even if you're not a meatloaf fanatic, I still recommend that you try this!

Anyway,  I've been trying to cook more lately.  As we say at our house, I have the talent to be a good cook...just not the dedication.  So I'm working on it.  I am finding lots of delish recipes on RealSimple.com (http://www.realsimple.com) .  The recipes are simple (hence the name) and oh so yummy.  This one was easy to prepare and I wouldn't be a good friend if I didn't share it with you...seriously.  By the way, I substituted the ground beef with ground turkey. Bon Appetite!!

Bacon-Gruyère Meat Loaf With Roasted Carrots and Onions

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup ketchup, plus more for serving
• 3 small red onions (1 coarsely grated and 2 cut into wedges)
• 2 slices bacon, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 large egg
• 3/4 cup grated Gruyère or Cheddar (3 ounces)
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 1 1/4 pounds carrots, cut into 3-inch lengths and halved lengthwise if large
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

1. Heat oven to 400° F. In a medium bowl, combine the beef, bread crumbs, ketchup, grated onion, bacon, garlic, egg, ½ cup of the Gruyère, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Transfer the mixture to an 8-by-4-inch loaf pan and sprinkle with the remaining ¼ cup of Gruyère.
2. Meanwhile, on a large rimmed baking sheet, toss the onion wedges and carrots with the oil, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper.
3. Roast the meat loaf until cooked through, 40 to 45 minutes. Pour off any accumulated fat and let rest 10 minutes before slicing. At the same time, roast the vegetables, tossing once, until tender, 35 to 40 minutes.
4. Slice the meat loaf and serve with the vegetables and additional ketchup.

Ella's Room is Complete...FINALLY!

For the first 6 months of Ella's life, she was our third roommate.  In Dallas, we only had two small bedrooms...our room and a guest room.  We decided that we weren't going to decorate a nursery since we knew we were moving.  We also didn't want to give up the guest room.  We had a minimum of a guest a month and didn't feel like our family or friends should have to share a room with little, colicky Ella.  So-- we set up a crib and changing table in our room and became roomies.  This was a challenge...after she went to bed, you couldn't make a sound.  Brent and I would lie in bed whispering over the roar of the vacuum cleaner c.d. that was a necessity to put her to sleep back in those days.  Looking back, it was comical and will always be a treasured memory--but all good things must come to an end--Ella needed a room of her own.  We needed a room of our own.

When we moved to Savannah, we decided that we would rent for the first year so we could really get a chance to decide what area we wanted to live in.  I was fine with this...except for one thing...I wanted Ella to have her nursery.  Luckily we have a wonderful landlord who got a painter to paint Ella's room the color we wanted.  The last painting I ordered for her room came Friday and her nursery is complete!  It took 3/4 of a year to get it done...but I'm pretty sure Ella didn't notice.  We are enjoying spending time in her room and are blessed that we have a little girl to decorate a room for!  Brent even thinks it's a beautiful room and says it is perfect for Ella! See pictures below.

Our big cozy chair

See the pink shelf Nana painted for Ella!

Love this word art!

View from the bathroom door

Ella's infamous swing...it got us through
the first three month!  I love the curtains
Nana found at the Pottery Barn Outlet!

Crib and book shelf!  We love to read
to her!

Wide view!

View from the door way

View from the hall...I'm thinking about painting
the armoire green!

Love the Oopsy Daisy art work--the colors
are so vibrant!

Ella's famous E pic...thanks to my friends
who threw a wonderful baby shower for us!

We will never forget...

Where were you on Sept. 11th, 2001?  I was a bright-eyed freshman at UGA headed to math class wearing my GEORGIA shirt and black running shorts on an early fall day.  I was late for the 9:00 a.m. class...as usual.  As I walked through the lobby of Brumby Hall, people were gathered around the big screen.  "Oh my gosh, a plane just crashed into the World Trade Center..." I heard as I briefly stopped to look.  I watched for a second--confused and heart broken for the people on the plane--it didn't even occur to me at that instant all the thousands of people inside the building.  My brain hadn't been wired to think in such terrible terms until that fateful day.  Then, I scurried on to class wondering how something so horrendous could have happened...didn't they have air traffic control for this reason??

I made it to class...late..and the professor started teaching like any other day.  Not sure that he even knew about what was going on.  About thirty to forty five minutes into class, a frazzled lady entered the room, pulled him aside.  He returned after a brief conversation looking dumbfounded.  "America has been attacked by terrorists...they believe they targeted the World Trade Center. Class is canceled.  Return to your dorms and apartments."  It all sunk in like a blow to the stomach.  The people on board the plane were dead.  So were the people in the building...oh my gosh...how did this happen?  And that's how I first came to know the word "terrorist" outside of a text book or a news clip from some far away land.  Terrorists were something that existed in other war torn countries...not ours.  But that day changed everything for us as AMERICANS.  The rest of the day was a blur.  We made American flags and hung them in our dorm windows and stayed glued to the TV.  The death toll kept rising as the carnage and smoke filled the NYC skyline--the city that never sleeps had been turned into a war zone.  My mom had traveled to California to visit her mom several days earlier.  I called her and gave her strict instructions to not board any plane until this was "figured out."  The truth of the matter is, that day will never be figured out.  It was barbaric brutality at it's pinnacle.  How could this happen to America?

In the days that followed names, pictures, stories filled the TV screen.  Fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, daughters, sons, nieces, nephews, friends--there were now faces to put with the names who had perished. They were ordinary people who loved life and woke up that day only to have it taken away.  Their families left to pick up the pieces.  There were stories of heroism, bravery, and patriotism at it's finest.  We were a country angry, but united as one.  So many emotions.  This is what I remember from experiencing it from afar.  I cannot imagine the angst and utter devastation of all those directly effected.  One of my dear friends, Lauren, lost her Uncle that day.  His name was Thomas Hobbs and he was a wonderful family man who is still missed everyday.  I've been keeping her family in my prayers as I do each year, especially at this time.  Sadly, there are many stories like his.  We must never forget.  

Then, followed a war about freedom and the right to be safe in our homeland.  You may be for or against the war, I'm not here to have a political debate with you.  I'm writing to remember all that were lost on 9/11 and in the war against terrorism.  I writing to thank the soldiers that serve selflessly to keep us safe (especially Christopher S....we pray for your safety DAILY and NIGHTLY...love you Linds).  I am saying thank you for our FREEDOM...and every American should too regardless of your political stance.

Things changed for the USA on 9/11.  We see the world differently...especially we Milleniums.  We had never seen things like this...we had a general sense of safety until then.  But, that day changed everything for us.  I think about all the lives lost...nearly 3,000...that was 6 times my graduating class of 500...this doesn't even account for the service men and women who have given their lives for our freedom since.  We think about things like terrorist attacks and terrorist alerts.  We think about plane rides being safe.  We think about those going to foreign, desolate lands to protect our freedom.  We wonder how terrorists could hate us so much to do this to us.  In the end, all we have is faith, hope, and love and we pray that God continues to give us strength as a nation and that our troops begin to come home safely (for good) and that nothing this terrible happens again.

How do you explain terrorism to a child...I've tried as a teacher.  It's a tough concept to convey because a child cannot fathom why someone would want to destroy another human being.  But this is very much a part of the vocabulary of today's child--sadly.  It will be a part of Ella's world once she gets old enough to know that the world isn't purely good.    We can educate our youth about the cold hard truth, but we can teach them too.  We can teach them kindness, compassion, how to be patriotic, appreciative, passionate, peaceful, and hopeful...how to be a GRATEFUL AMERICAN.  We can't change terrorists...but we can't let them change us as a nation and what we stand for.  We are blessed to live in this wonderful country and are blessed to be free.  Today, we remember all that was lost on 9/11.  We pray for the families and soldiers, we pray for hope, and we pray for PEACE.

Mother's Morning Out...Week 1

Day 1: Happy Camper
Please ignore the drool
she's teething!

Last Tuesday marked the beginning of Ella's Mother's Morning Out (MMO) school year.  We've been attending a wonderful church here in Savannah and the nursery director kept encouraging me to sign Ella up for the upcoming "school year."  At first I wasn't sure...I wouldn't have hesitated if Ella was older and could walk and talk.  But she's still a baby that crawls and can't communicate with words.  Was it right for me to send her there if I didn't really have to?  Let me clarify, I have nothing against daycare.  I realize most mom's are not able to stay home with their babies and that daycare is a must.  I totally respect that and agree...if I had continued teaching that was what I was going to do too.  But, I didn't have to send Ella to Mother's Morning Out...did that make me a slacker mom?

Day 1: Still playing...had to change
clothes b/c we had a very
messy diaper!

 Brent encouraged me to sign Ella up and was rather insistent.  He's kept Ella and knows that she is a full time job and said that I absolutely needed to get a short break twice a week.  After some debate, I filled out the paper work, wrote a check, and she was enrolled.  I was nervous about he first day--and feeling guilty too.  Would she cry?  Would she be overwhelmed?  As I packed her bag Tuesday morning I felt some anxiety.  This was my first time taking her to stay with someone I didn't know well!  I dropped her off--she didn't cry one bit.  She just starred at the other kids.  I gave her a kiss and walked out.  When, I returned at 1:00 her teacher, Miss Audrey, was holding her.  When she saw me she gave me a HUGE smile and I knew it had been a good day.  They told me how sweet she was and how well she did.  They also said she made a new friend--Annabelle (we thought about naming Ella, Annabelle...what a coincidence)!  Thursday morning was the same, Ella greeted her teachers with a smile, I handed her over, gave her a kiss, and walked out.  When I returned, she was sitting on the rug with the other children, chewing on another baby's shoe...yes kinda gross...but at least she was happy.

Day 2: Came home happy!
Practicing her new trick:
The Wave

What I learned this week is this-- Ella is happy as long as she can be around people and is taken care of.  I also learned that letting go is much harder for me than it is for her.  I'm grateful that she has an outgoing personality and feels secure in new situations.  I also realized that  I need this time too.  I need a chance to decompress and have some me time.  I came home and sat in the quiet house with a bowl of cereal and listened to the stillness.  I had forgotten what it felt like to be completely quiet and still.  I am able to get the house cleaned from top to bottom, work-out, spend time with the dogs, have me time, shower and put on make-up without rushing, run errands, and grab lunch with a friend during my time "off".  It's a nice change of pace and frees me up to spend quality time with Ella when she gets home.  MMO makes me a better mom because I have some time for myself. I think as a mom it's sometimes easy to sacrifice your needs for the needs of everyone else, so it's nice to have a little break.  MMO also helps Ella because it makes her more social and independent.  She loves other children!!  It's a win-win situation! :)  We will continue to enjoy Tuesdays and Thursday at MMO and I'll always be excited to pick Ella up at 1:00 and give her a big hug and kiss and see her bright smile.  I'd say my guilt about leaving her is gone and that this is certainly going to be a positive experience for all of us!