Thirteen Months Old

Ella weighs: 16lbs 6oz

Ella measures: 27.5 inches 

Milestones this month:

-said, "ba-ba-ba"

-putting herself in sitting position and swiveling her legs around

-getting herself down from standing position without crashing

-repeats sounds we mimic that she has made

-feeding herself yogurt bites

Ella loves: 

-feeding herself yogurt melts

-people watching

-plastic Easter eggs

-her paci Gerald

-drinking water from cups

-pulling herself up on new objects 

-giggling

Health and Doctors: 
Ella has two teeth! Days after my last post, her two bottom teeth emerged. They are pretty cute! Her paci giraffe, Gerald, has made a comeback. Now that she has teeth, she can actually keep the paci in her mouth. She will drag that poor giraffe anywhere and everywhere. 

Our one year-old check up at the pediatrician's office went a little differently than expected. When we arrived, Ella had a slight temperature, which I had attributed to the teething, turns out it was an ear infection. Mom of the year right here. I am proud to say we went 9 months out of the NICU and through sick season before we required our first antibiotic. The infection cleared up pretty quickly. We went last week and she received her 12-months shots. This was her first round of live vaccines. As soon as Ella saw the nurse, she burst into hysterical tears, jutting her bottom lip out as far as she could. She is traumatized from months of Synagis shots. I don't know how those nurses do it. 

When we visited the developmental pediatrician, Ella was right in the middle of her ear infection and still not quite herself, but the doctor was able to complete the exam. She was pleased with the results. We will not need to see her again until after Ella's second birthday. 

We returned to the eye doctor this month. The exam revealed that Ella's nearsightedness will require her to be fitted for glasses when we visit again in July. Overall, the laser surgery has done the job it was supposed too. All of her laser scars still look great. The laser scars will limit some of her side vision, but she does have strong central vision. The doctor reminded us that her eyes are extremely fragile. She should avoid high-impact sports when she is older. 

What we have been up to: 

Ella becomes braver and braver with each new day. She tries her best to climb up anything she can get her hands on. She has a new game we call trust fall, where she is standing holding onto something and then turns around to see who is around and lets go. She has started to balance for a few seconds on both feet without holding onto anything. 

Her curiosity continues to evolve. She can find things that are hidden and intensely studies new objects placed in her surroundings. We were recently at a friend's house. Ella was watching their dogs as they walked around her. Without hesitation she reached out to pet them. 

We spent Easter weekend with family. Ella loved the plastic eggs. She could not get enough of them! The last weekend of her twelfth month was a busy one. Ella participated in her first March of Dimes walk. The cold weather caused much of the event to take place inside, but it was still wonderful! Her nurses, our family, and our friends joined us to celebrate Ella and all babies. She wore a onesie with the words: one pound miracle. I loved watching her take it all in. We baptized her the following day. Life is starting to feel much more normal around here. I finish up school this month and can't wait to spend my summer exploring with Ella. 

Ella turns ONE!

Ella weighs: 15lbs 4oz

Ella measures: almost 26 inches (will update after next appointment) 

Milestones this month:

-turning one! 

-pulling herself up to standing position

-standing while holding onto something

-reaching down from standing position to grab objects

-stranger anxiety...

Ella loves: 

-blowing spit bubbles! 

-splashing in the bathtub -guacamole

-banging objects together or banging them on the floor

-crawling ALL over the couch, her new trick is climbing on top of the pillows

-remotes, she now has her own, Ella sized

-exploring Cabela's magazines with Daddy

-stroller rides
-pulling herself up onto new objects

-playing "high-five!" with grandpa

-exploring new surfaces and textures

Health and Doctors: 
This past month was pretty quiet on the doctor visit front. Ella received her 5th and final synagis shot for this year. I am thankful she qualified for it, but also glad that the shots are over for the time being. 

Next week, we will visit the developmental pediatrician and our regular pediatrician for Ella's one-year checkups. 

We are still waiting for those teethers... she is showing all of the signs, minus the actual teeth popping up... maybe next month. 

What we have been up to: 

Chasing Ella around is our new favorite pastime. She enjoys the thrill of the chase and we are suckers for a cute baby. Ella recently discovered that she has more house than she thought she did. She has traveled from her room to the living room, roamed the kitchen, and made her way towards our master bath, drawn by the rushing sound of water running in the tub. The same sequence has occurred at Grandpa and Grandma's house where she spends her days while Mommy and Daddy are working. 

The couch is Ella's official "rock wall". I am seriously considering finding a way to build her an actual one in the future. One of her favorite things to do is race to the top of the couch, clamoring over pillows and blankets, all because I say, "I'm gonna get you..." The best part of this game is the shriek of laughter that she lets out. While she is turned with her back towards me, I state her name stretching out the LA at the end, she turns back to look at me and giggles some more. I do not see either of us tiring of this game in the future, unless she actually figures out how to get to the top, which is possible. 

Ella has finally started to love avocados! More specifically guacamole. She enjoys both baby version, avocado-cucumber-cumin, and the real deal. More importantly, she shares her mama's love for mashed potatoes. I mean what more could she need? She loves pears, sweet potatoes and carrots with cinnamon, and bananas. Her interest in self-feeding has picked up a bit. She successfully fed herself a few yogurt melts last night. The biggest smiled crossed her face as Ross and I clapped and cheered in what could be classified as your typical cliche proud parent moment. Yes, we yay'd in cute high-pitched voices with our faces scrunched up in excitement. 

Bedtime is the puzzle that continues to perplex us as first-time parents. If your baby isn't sleeping well, certainly do not come to us for advice. Nighttime sleeping for Ella is comparable to solving a Rubix cube, we always seem to be just one color off. To soften the blow of the bedtime tantrum, I tell myself it is simply because she loves us so much and does not want to miss out. I am still trying to figure out who deemed 6 hours as a reasonable amount of sleep to be considered "sleeping through the night." Is it really sleeping through the night when you go to bed at 8 and wake up 2 in the morning? We might have a micro-preemie, but I am pretty sure every parent and I share common ground with my previous statement. 

The weather is warming up around here, well at least a few days out of each week, and we are getting out and about. Walks to the park and listening to the birds outside in our tree are becoming more common activities. Ella visited her second restaurant, Yokozuna, where she enjoyed a nice plate of avocado slices. It felt way too "normal like" to be out at a restaurant enjoying lunch as a family. 

While moving forward this year, I have often found myself back in the past using events from the previous year as a comparison of time. The words, "this time last year," have left my lips often. After time, the comparisons turned into a personal therapy of sorts. The week leading up to Ella's birthday, I spent time remembering the events of last year. I had entered the hospital, unaware of what the week would entail. My world was turned completely upside down. We had entered unknown territory. As I recounted the moments, I found myself surprised by the emotions I encountered. I had prepared for sadness and maybe even some residual guilt, but instead was greeted each morning with an overwhelming feeling of gratitude. My heart filled with joy, remembering each act of love we encountered that week. The nurses and doctors who worked tirelessly to bring comfort. The room service employees who completed their route a second time, most days, because my gluten-free ordered had not been entered correctly. The phlebotomists who visited my room at all hours of the day and night to draw labs. Our friends and family who put their lives on pause to sit with us, send us messages, and bring us food. And those we did not even know, who prayed for us and our miracle. They are all a part of our journey, every single one. And I am forever grateful for their presence. 

It may have taken a year, but now when I reflect on the week of Ella's birth, I am able to appreciate all of the amazing things that happened. There is a saying that says, "It is not joy that makes us grateful. It is gratitude that makes us joyful."

We had Ella's party on her actual birthday surrounded by our family. She turned one right in the middle of her party, 1:29 PM. I watched our little girl take it all in. I watched her smash a cupcake and crawl all over her presents studying each with intense curiosity. Joy filled the room. 

In celebration of babies world-wide, we we will walking in the Tulsa March of Dimes, April 22nd, at ORU's campus. Please consider joining us for the walk, donating to the cause- or both.  

https://www.marchforbabies.org/team/ellamarie

***A special thank you to everyone who donated scrapbook paper and board books for the NICU. We collected 52 books! 

Birthday photography by: Tiffany Tolbert.