B-Ellie goes on a trip

Cousin Wynn, Aunt Peg, and Ellie

We had a great trip to Columbus last weekend. Ellie did great on the car ride and slept most of the way. We loved playing with the whole family. Her cousins Mac and Wynn were so much fun to be with and we enjoyed seeing Aunt Carter. Aunt Paige and Uncle Charlie were there briefly too. They were headed to Chicago and left Mac and Wynn with Baba and Grandchuck. Ellie earned her first nickname from Wynn who combined Baby Ellie into B-Ellie.


Ellie and Aunt Carter


Ellie with Aunt Carter and Aunt Paige


Wynn


Cousins Mac and Wynn with Ellie and Uncle Jim



Naked J-birds!

We also enjoyed our visit with my oldest and dearest friends Lynn and Shriver. They brought their girls over and it was surreal to see the next generation playing at mom's house. So hard to believe that all three of us have girls for first born.


Shriver and Ellie, Dorsey and Ellie, Kathryn and Lynn


Kathryn and Ellie
(They look just like their moms when they were little!)


Wynn, Kathryn, and Ellie playing dressup

We were exhausted when we got home, but loved every minute of our trip!

Heading on a trip!

I am currently procrastinating because I don't want to pack. Jim, Ellie and I are headed to Columbus this afternoon to see my family. My sister Carter arrived last night and my brother Charlie, his wife Paige and their two kids, Mac and Wynn, are coming in tomorrow! I can't wait to see everyone! It will be fun for Ellie to meet her aunts, uncle, and cousins. We will also get to see some of my dear friends throughout the long weekend.
I can't wait to see how this trip goes. I feel like we need to take the whole house with us. Jim's advice was don't worry because whatever we forget, your mom will go out and buy it for Ellie. Scary, but true.
Here's a little update on what we have been up to recently. Last Saturday, my Aunt Peg and Uncle Jerry stopped by on their way back to Columbus from Baton Rouge. It was great to have a little visit with them. On Sunday we took a field trip to the hunting camp. Yes, six weeks old and Ellie has already been to the hunting camp! Jim was going bow hunting with his brother Robert and Ellie and I were invited to come along for the ride. She did great on the two hour car ride and we loved being outside. It was nice to get away from the normalcy of everyday happenings. On Monday my friend Sarah and her daughter Grayson came over from Orange Beach for a visit. We loved spending most of the day with them! Grayson and Ellie share the same birthday, but just six years apart. On Tuesday we found out that Jim's dad had fallen and broken his hip. We didn't know whether or not he would need surgery. He probably would not have enough energy and stamina to pull through the surgery and/or the recovery process. His health is not great, but at least he is at the hospital where he can be taken care of and rest comfortably. They have found a nursing home that will be able to take care of him and he will be moving there tomorrow afternoon.
The rest of the week has been spent with a fussy baby. She just got in a funk each afternoon/evening and has had two not so good nights sleeping. Maybe a big trip is what she needs to wear herself out. We are off for a walk! That's right, more procrastinating. I hate to pack! I'll post pictures when we get back from our trip.

Locked Up Mama Cow Escapes

So this is Mama Cow at 1 a.m. Nothing like trying to go to sleep and having the feeling that your boobs are going to either explode or turn into rocks! So here I am pumping away instead of sleeping. Thought I would try to write some thank you notes and be productive, but I can't find my stationary. Oh well, if you are waiting for a thank you note, sorry you will have to continue to wait.
Mama Cow did make one major break through this week. Ellie and I now have a walking route and are so glad to escape the house everyday for at least an hour, but usually more. I do feel like I have been a prisoner in my own home for the past five weeks. On Saturday I told Jim that I had to get out of the house or I would go crazy. He looked at me like I was crazy already and then sent me to the grocery store. Gee thanks! It was good to get out and so on Sunday I ran away to Target all by myself. Have no idea what I did for an hour and a half, but I felt much better when I returned. So now each days excitement involves walking to Spring Hill College to walk the campus.
I talked to my good friend Melanie today. It was great to have a conversation with someone other than my mother, my mother-in-law, or my hubbie...not that I don't enjoy talking to the later two each and every day, but a nice change of pace. I really miss my friends at school and can't wait to get back to B-ham for a visit! By the way, Melanie and Lelie, I am sure that rest time is almost over...Have you finished your progress monitoring? :)
Milking session complete! Off to bed...

Here some pictures we took today.

Deep thoughts by Ellie Hannahan


Look I can sit up all by myself...well not really, but looks impressive doesn't it?


Chubs!

Family Visit

Ellie, Me, Goggie


Four generations named Elizabeth Dorsey.
Baba, Ellie, Me, Goggie


Baba and Grandchuck getting one last hug before heading home to Columbus.


We had a busy time last weekend. It started on Friday when my friend Libby, her mother Mary Pat and my pre-school teacher Tootie stopped by on Friday. They were in town for a wedding. We loved their visit!


Mary Pat, Jim, Ellie, Tootie, and Libby

On Saturday my grandmother, Goggie and my Aunt Shubie came down to visit us. Baba and Grandchuck were also in town for the wedding. It was so much fun to have them all here. It was great for Ellie to spend time with her Great Grandmother. We had four generations named Elizabeth Dorsey together. Goggie, who is 90, loved holding Ellie and talking to her. This won't surprise my family, but Goggie repeated the infamous saying, "Dorse, I wouldn't give a million for this." I told Goggie that she might have to up her ante and start making it a billion. Jim cooked us a wonderful meal Saturday night, crab cakes, which got rave reviews. I am amazed, and so appreciate, his talent for cooking!
Sunday we had everyone over for lunch. Jim's brother Robert and his family were able to join us too. It was a treat to have all 10 of us together and a great test for our renovations. It was sad to see everyone go, but we were exhausted by the time everyone left.


Goggie, Ellie, and Aunt Shubie


Ellie and her Great Grandmother.


Goggie and Ellie in deep conversation.


Grandchuck, Ellie, Me

One Month Checkup

Jim and I took Ellie to the pediatrician for her one month checkup. I can't believe that she is already one month old. Ellie weighed 8 lbs 13 oz. Neither one of us could believe that she had gained almost 2 lbs since she was born. The doctor said she looked great and was doing well. Ellie did have to get one shot. She made the most pathetic face you have ever seen, but only cried for just a minute. They also had to prick her heel, but that wasn't as bad. We survived.
When we got home Jim had to go back to work and then all hell broke loose. I was feeding Ellie and I felt something wet. She had an explosive diaper that went all up her back, through her outfit, and onto my pants. We both got all cleaned up, changed, and settled back down. Then I felt something else wet and realized that her heel was bleeding profusely. So we had to get all cleaned up and change again! Oh the trauma! It was just one of those afternoons. Needless to say we were both exhausted.

More pictures

Just a few more pictures from our third week of life.

The Gift of the Flying Squirrel

Ellie is doing well and becoming more and more active each day, and some nights :) Some nights have been more eventful than others. Her big brother kitty-cat, RC has decided to make some of the nights very eventful. We believe he is trying to welcome her to the family by bringing her gifts. Either that or he is trying to earn his keep. It started with the gift of a salamander, then another salamander, then two locusts, and then a frog or two.
There was already a pet door onto the back deck when we bought the house and we new RC would love to be able to come and go as he wished. What we didn't realize was that this would also give him the freedom to bring in anything he pleased. The small insects and amphibians have not really bothered me, but alas one night at 3 a.m. I realized that there may be a problem. I woke up and new that RC had brought in a treasure and then discovered that this "treasure" was actually a flying squirrel (and no it was not dead). Ellie's wonderful daddy got up and took the critter out to be released. I don't know if I was more amazed to see the flying squirrel or more amazed that our not-so-agile cat had caught it. And now that we have released our third flying squirrel in the wee hours of the morning, we are hoping that either the flying squirrels become smarter or our cat becomes bored with them. Who even knew that flying squirrels lived around here.
So thanks RC for make our nights even more eventful than they already are!