God bless Pacimals

Mommy's friend gave me a 'Pacimal' - half pacifier half animal. It's sooooo much better than just your run of the mill binky. Don't ask why... just accept the fact that it's the only thing that soothes me when I'm cranky (which has been pretty frequently, these days...). This was the split second I was napping today. :)

Good morning and gesundheit!

Mom had the camera on some weird setting that makes the video blurry... but we wanted to upload this anyway to support the theory that I can only sneeze in multiples. I get that funny quirk from daddy!

(daddy calls me a 'garden gnome' when I wear my night cap... but I have to keep my melon warm when I sleep!)

Head lift... in action!

Mommy will be able to tote me on her hip any day now!

Muscle-strengthening in action

Mommy insists on daily tummy time. Some days I like it more than others. Today has been a "crabtastic" day, so I don't exactly looked pleased in these pics; but I'm sure I look cute, nonetheless.

Mom gets really excited when I lift my head up!

2 months old!

Well, I was excited to go to the doctor this morning, until the very end, when the seemingly nice nurse came in with a couple of needles. What are those for, I wondered? Now that my legs are adorned in Snoopy bandaids, it is no longer in question. Mommy told me that the shots & their sore aftermath don't compare to what I'd be experiencing with the diseases DTap, Hib and IPV. I'll take her word for it.
At least I've gotten to eat some baby Tylenol... something other than breast milk for a change!

My 2 month stats:

10.6 lbs. (45th percentile)
22.75 inches long (65th percentile)
head circumfrence is only in the 55th percentile, but given my parents' craniums, I'm sure mine will steadily climb the charts... if not leap off of them.

On another exciting note: my mommy had her 1st Mothers Day yesterday! We got to spend a lot of time with the family... where everyone ooh'd & aah'd over me. Can one get spoiled with love? I'm such a lucky little lady!



me resting with Aunt Stephanie on Mother's Day eve. She's tired from working on her play! I'm tired from ingesting lots of milk.



Family photo




just 'cause

What are these???

Our little Ellie Belle is in full on discovery mode --- the wheels are definitely turning now! She analyzes her hands and sucks on them (for comfort, I assume). She hasn't quite isolated the thumb, but I know it'll be any day now. It's makes the cutest slurpy noises!

Spring (more like Summer) has sprung!

(FYI: Mom let me take over the blog, hence the first person usage)

Mom finally got her BOB jogging stroller, so I don't have to bum around in that rickety KeyFit frame. It's really smooth and has all sorts of cool features, like a sun roof! Mom doesn't open it, though, because she doesn't want any sun on me.

4 weeks old!!!

My little munchkin has been in this world for 4 weeks --- and what a wonderful 4 weeks it has been! She continues to be a mellow, easygoing, type B baby (a trait she certainly didn't get from her mom or dad!) --- let's hope it's not a phase. Ellory has gained a couple pounds and she looks like a completely different baby than her birth photos. The cheeks are finally filling out like her mama's!

In just 4 short weeks, she has already been to her first birthday party (Great-Grandpa Bernie's) and first funeral (Candy's mom). Here is her first Easter. Hunting all those eggs really wore her out.

Newborn photo shoot

Thanks to our wonderfully talented photog friend, Jenny, we were able to capture some precious moments of our Princess Buttercup! She fussed most of the time, then got her act together when the camera started clicking. Atta girl.

There's just something about naked babies that makes my heart smile.

Someone call MENSA. STAT

Ellory continues to confirm what Jim & I have known all along: she is a one advanced little human! Or do all babies smile at 2 weeks of age? Nevermind, don't tell me.

1st Pediatrician Appointment

We took Ellory to meet her new pediatrician when she was 4 days old... and to everyone's amazement, she weighed in at her birth weight! I like to attribute it to her superb latching skills in addition to my super-strength breast milk.

Ellory is HERE!

One week ago today, Jim & I welcomed our little bundle of joy into the world. Ellory Faith Plohg was born Tuesday, March 10, at 1:03 p.m. weighing 6 lbs. 11 oz. and 19 1/2 inches tall. What an amazing experience!!!

We went to Baylor Medical Center on Monday evening at 7 p.m. to be induced. Jim & I ate our last meal as non-parentals at Vickery Park. Dr. Brothers suggested I eat heartily, because there would be no more food until after the baby was delivered! As soon as we got to the hospital, 2 very nice nurses set us up in a room. I changed into the oh-so-sexy hospital gown and then started to answer the endless questions about me, Jim, our health, etc.
At around 8 p.m. the resident doc came in to insert the cervidil --- which is supposed to soften/ripen the cervix. That was honestly the most uncomfortable part of the whole labor experience! Once that was finished and the IV was inserted, I could relax. Until the contractions started, a few hours later. Jim & I got maybe 3 hours of sleep that whole night, between contraction pains and nurses coming in every 10 minutes to check you and your baby's vitals. Fortunately, the cervidil worked and by 7 a.m. the next morning I had dialated to a 3/80% effaced! They then started the pitocin drip --- which made the contractions even more painful. I wanted to hold out as long as I could before getting the eipdural, but then realized I declined to enter the "who has the highest pain threshold" contest. So as soon as I saw that anesthesiologist, at about 8:30 a.m., I said NUMB ME! Jim watched the process (sitting down) and was fascinated by it. He spared me the details, by request. :) Post-epidural, things were smooth sailing. Although to monitor Ellory's heart rate (which kept dropping during the back-to-back contractions), they inserted a monitor which attached to her head. (!)

Mid-morning family had started to show up. I dozed in and out that morning, and when Dr. Brothers checked me at 12:30 p.m., she said, "she's ready!" I remember her flipping on the overhead lights and yelling, "I need a baby nurse!" while the nurses whisked the family out of the room. Jim grabbed the camcorder and asked if he could record it. Why not? Unfortunately, in the ecstatic frenzy, he forgot to push the 'record' button. Oh well. They told me how to push, when to push --- I felt confident and ready. In just 10 pushes (a little over 10 minutes), Ellory was born at 1:03 p.m. Seeing her for the 1st time was indescribable. Tears started flowing immediately at the sight of our perfect little daughter, who instead of yelling and screaming, gave out a little "eh" as she was placed on my chest. What a peaceful sound! She latched on immediately, and it was the most amazing feeling (mostly relief!).
Jim, Ellory & I bonded as a new family for about 2 hours (which seemed like 20 minutes) before being whisked away to the post-partum room. Family was waiting patiently, and it was so wonderful introducing them to the new miracle member!

2 more days!?!

After discovering that I am still at a 1/60% at my 39 week checkup, we set the date to induce Monday, March 9! Jim & I check into the hospital tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. (after I eat a nice, hearty meal... my last one until post-partum. yikes), which is when they will insert the Cervidil. That next morning they will take it out and see how far I've progressed... which will determine whether or not I'll need Pitocin. HOPEFULLY Cervidil will do the job and cause me to go into labor, but I have no idea what to expect!?! I'm nervous, anxious, excited... cannot believe we are going to meet our little girl in a matter of hours. Tonight is our last evening at home as NON-parental units, so we are going to go out to eat and then see a moive.
I think everything is ready to go... if not, then hopefully my mom will take care of it when she moves in on Thursday. Ha!

My next post will either be pre-labor from the hospital (due to boredom), or post-partum to give you the details/pictures of our little princess!

38 WEEKS!!!

I cannot believe I'm already in the home stretch. Emphasis on the word 'stretch'... because I feel like my belly has reached maximum capacity. Little Ellory weighs about 6 1/2 lbs and is approx. 20 inches long! She's quite an active little lady, too. Her arms are down low and I can feel her punch my bladder (about as comfortable as it sounds), and her feet are in one side of my rib cage at all times --- tickling away! Other than having a lot of pelvic pressure, I'm feeling great. The most surprising side effect I've been plagued with is leg cramps, which I don't notice until I lie down to go to sleep. Painful charlie horses that won't go away no matter how much I stretch/massage. It's so annoying! But I'm fortunate to not have had any heartburn, constipation, etc. I'm sleeping well --- most nights --- and able to bend down and pick things up, still put my shoes/socks on, go to the gym, etc. I actually shaved my legs the other day --- don't want to scare the hospital nurses! I never thought I'd still be doing these things 2 weeks from my due date. Lucky me!

My 36 week OB appointment revealed that she has dropped (i.e. "engaged") and is in position --- ready to go. Since then I have been dialated 1 cm and 50% effaced. I go back in 2 days to see if there has been any progression. Fingers crossed --- because I'd like her to debut earlier rather than later. Especially since Jim has to go to India on March 31.

I shall keep you posted!

Photo Shoot - 36 weeks

My budding photographer of a friend, Jenny Fogel, was kind enough to use me as her 'muse' for a day to beef up her portfolio. And boy was I lucky, because she is quite a talent!!! I am so glad to be able to capture this amazing moment in life... where I'm growing one. :)