Some Sleepy Milestones for Us

This week we had several sleep related milestones...

(1) Jake is officially night-time potty trained (so cool!) -- he's been dry in his pull up for several months now, but we haven't really wanted to deal with any night time accidents since things have just been crazy at home lately.  When we got back from vacation, we were out of pull ups so we were kind-of forced into a night in underwear.  He did great and we're not looking back!

(2) Trent had his first sleep over! -- he has been begging for a sleep over for almost a year now, but we've not been too sure of it.  One of his good friends invited him for a sleep over/birthday party this weekend.  He was SO excited.  We resisted the urge to call numerous times to check on him :)

(3) Ella's new bedtime -- Ella has been much more alert and awake more for the last few weeks.  It's been great because she's smiling now and playing more, but it also made for a very over-tired baby.  Ella is a little more difficult (sensitive?) than we remember Jake being.  She spent the last week screaming her lungs out from around 5pm until we went to bed (and I mean ear-pearcing screaming!).  I did some re-reading of some of the sleep books that we had for Jake and realized that she was just over-tired.  So we started putting her down for bed around 7pm and now we have a nice break in the evening vs. a screaming fussy baby for the last hours of our night!  (I know, DUH mom and dad!!)  She's still not sleeping for more than a 4 hour stretch at a time, but I know that will come soon enough.  Just glad she's a happy baby again!



Ella's "baby leggs"
(the adorable leg warmers she's wearing)



Ella playing and smiling

Christmas, Christmas and MORE Christmas!

Christmas and the days leading up to it were great.  We celebrated with some friends in early December and had a personal visit from Santa at their house.  The boys thought it was so cool and even Ella had her first meeting with Santa.

The boys tried extra hard to be good this year as we had a new addition to the family (and I am not talking about the baby!)  Yes, we finally got an Elf on the Shelf!  The boys decided to name him Comet and he was magical!  The whole "schtick" wore off after a few days with Jake who told Santa when asked that he is "only sometimes good" to which Santa replied: "well, at least you are honest!"  But with Trent, it was magical!  One evening I was praising Trent for having such great behavior since Ella was born (which has been such a blessing).  I told him that I knew he was being so great because of her, etc.  After I went on and on for a while, he finally spoke up and said: "yeah, and because we have an Elf living with us now and watching everything we do!"... ahhh the magic I tell you!

We went to Hudson Gardens to see all of the lights on the day before Christmas eve.  The weather has been very mild here so we really enjoyed walking around and it was not too cold for baby Ella.  The boys really enjoyed it.

At Hudson Gardens light display

On Christmas eve we decorated a gingerbread house (which the boys were SO excited about) and went to Christmas mass.  We prepared for the big guy by putting out some of the cookies the boys helped me make and some egg nog then it was off to bed!

Trent working hard

Despite how it looks, this picture was NOT easy to get
(but it's a Pham family tradition!)

We spent Christmas day at home just the 5 of us.  It was nice to be home and do the intimate family thing for a change, though we missed being with family.  It was strange to have no where to go, but the boys really enjoyed playing with all of their toys all day.  I made a ham and some of my Aunt Barbara's cheesy scalloped potatoes for dinner which actually turned out good!

The JOY of Christmas morning
(yes, I bribed them with thier new toys to get this picture!)

Ella Bella

Is Christmas over ALREADY!?

Finally we traveled back to Oklahoma City after the holiday and had more Christmas there :)  It was great to see everyone.  John's grandparents celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary and almost all of his family came in to celebrate with them.  It was a nice to see a lot of his family we haven't seen in a long time.  We got all of the cousins together also - as always all of the boys loved playing together!

The whole PHAM damly!

3 weeks

Ella was 3 weeks old on Wednesday.  My how the time flies by when you have a new born (and are not sleeping!)  At her 2-week appointment, she was already well past her birth weight (7 lbs 6 oz) and had already grown another inch and a half (to 20 1/2 in).  I'm so thankful that she's such a great eater!

We've had tons of help with family here since before she was born.  On Saturday afternoon, we will be on our own for the first time since she was born.  It's been so great to have all the help - now the real test will begin!  We will need a few days I am sure to figure it all out, but hopefully will settle into a routine soon.  Here are a few more pictures of the growing girl!

Jake loves to hold Ella

Ella on her changing table looking at the light

Full of milk

After first bath at home

Look a Like?

When Ella was born, John and I both thought she looked exactly like Jake.  Their stats were pretty much the same as well (her's at 7 lbs, 19 inches, Jake's at 7 lbs 3 ozs, 19 inches).  After looking back at Jake's pictures, there are definitely a lot of similarities, but of course some differences too.  Here are some pictures of both to compare...



Jake a few minutes old



Ella a few minutes old




Jake a few hours old




Ella a few hours old




Jake day 1




Ella day 1




Jake unwrapped




Ella unwrapped




Jake going home

Ella going home




Jake resting on mom's chest (day 5)




Ella resting on mom's chest (day 5)




Jake's scowl




Ella's scowl



Welcome Ella Rose!

Ella Rose was born one day before her due date on November 17th at 1:11 PM.  She weighed 7 lbs even and was 19 inches long.  She is such a joy, a perfect little angel.  We are all so happy she's here!

Ella Rose - just a few hours old

sweet baby girl

Jake meets Ella Rose

Jake and Trent with Baby Sister

So happy she's here!

Jake getting to know his baby sister

Making Room for Baby

Here are a few pictures of the nursery...




view from the door

 



view from the closet

 



view from the window

 

Time for School!

Trent is back in school this week.  He was so excited to go back.  We went to the school to meet his new teacher the Thursday before he started.  She is new to the school this year and so very nice.  He was so excited to start the first day.  We had a slight snafu when he rode the bus home on the first day.  It was his first time riding home (he rode to school all year last year, but never back home because he was in AM kindergarten).  When the bus came to drop off all the neighborhood kids, I watched them all get off one by one.... then the door closed and the bus took off - NO TRENT!  Of course I panicked.  After some kind words from a neighbor I frantically called the school holding back tears.  They quickly determined that he got on the bus and had just missed our stop.  They radioed to the bus which promptly brought him back to our stop.  He was a little worried, but relieved when they brought him back.  On day two, the process went much smoother.  I don't think he'll miss his stop again :)!