Dear Ella . . .

You are really starting to coo, gurgle, and babble in the last few days! We had a great conversation this afternoon when you should have been napping. Talking to Mommy and Daddy is way more fun than sleeping though!

Dear Ella,

As absolutely adorable as it is, you cannot smile and eat at the same time. It just doesn't work. But boy is it funny!

I love that you're such a happy baby!

Love,
Your Very Happy Mommy

Dear Ella . . .

You do the sweetest thing when you are done nursing. If you're really sleepy, you'll raise your head up just a little and then put it back down me to use me as a pillow. You've done it since you were just a few days old. Now at 8 weeks, it doesn't happen nearly as often, but when it does (like you're doing at the moment), my heart just melts. I love you, sweet snuggle baby!

Love, Mommy

Dear Ella . . .

I have been with you day and night for just shy of eight weeks now and there is not a day that goes by that I'm not totally overcome by how utterly adorable you are! I love you, little cutie pie!

Love, Mommy

Dear Ella . . .

You finally got to meet your Great Grandmother Ella Jane Stewart last Sunday. It was a very special time for all of the Stewart family and many of your aunts and uncles were there to see the two of you together. Grandpa and Mimi, Mommy and Daddy, and Grandpa Floyd were all there with you. Aunt Rosalee and Uncle Paul and Aunt Mary Sue and Uncle John (Grandma Ella's sisters) came, and Aunt Sheila (Grandpa's sister) was there to help too.

We all gathered in the great room in the nursing home and you and I sat next to Grandma Ella. She has a hard time knowing what is going on around her now, but we helped her hold you. When we asked her about you, she talked about how cute you are! Later on, when I was holding you for her to see you you let out a little cry. She immediately held out her hands for you and said, "Oh, come here, baby!" She was ready to help us love on you and take care of you!

She may not have much memory left but she does know how to love. I pray that love is an everlasting quality with you too, baby girl.

I love you,
Mommy

Dear Ella . . .

One day you will probably be embarrassed to read this, but it has to be said - you have the cutest chubby cheeks!  On BOTH ends!!  :)

I love you!
Mommy

Dear Ella . . .

We had a fun time celebrating Daddy's first Father's Day! While we were in Tulsa we took Daddy and Grandpa (and Mimi) to IHOP for some yummy pancakes and omlets. You wore your special "I Love My Daddy" outfit just for the occasion. We gave Daddy a card that sings, "I Love You a Bushel and a Peck" and a framed picture of the two of you together right after we came home from the hospital.

We also gave Grandpa, Bumpaw, and Granddaddy framed pictures of you with each of them. You are so blessed to have your Daddy and these three Grandads.

Dear Ella . . .

Smiling in Mommy's lap after your supper

You have truly begun to smile in response to people!  I really started to notice it on the way home from Tulsa yesterday afternoon, but I didn't want to say anything and jinx it.  I've been testing it with you all day and I think I can really say for sure that I can predictably get a good smile from you instead of just hoping to get lucky and see that cute grin.  Your Grandma is going to be so happy when she sees you smiling tomorrow and I can't wait to get to Alabama later this week so you can show Grandmommy and everyone else what you can do!

I love you, you smiley little bug!  :)


Love,
Mommy

Dear Ella . . .

With Mrs. Jeanie after our first class

You had your very first Kindermusik class today with Mrs. Jeanie! We're officially taking classes on Saturdays this fall with one of Mommy's other KM friends, but it was very important that you have your first class with Mrs. Jeanie. She's the best (plus she's the reason Mommy taught KM classes before you were born!).  It just wouldn't do to have your first class with anyone else.

Here's to many many more days of making music together, baby girl. I love you!

Dear Ella . . .

This weekend we took our very first family road trip! We went to Tulsa to meet your aunts, uncles, cousins, and great grandparents on Daddy's side of the family. Grandpa and Mimi came too!

Grandpa and Mimi came to our house on Friday. Grandpa was so happy to see you that he scooped you up as soon as he came through the door and got to feed you a bottle. He is such a sweet grandpa. Mimi absolutely adores you too. She even made you a soft little teddy bear. We need to find a good name for him.

On Saturday we drove to Tulsa. You were so good in the car and only got fussy for a few minutes right before we got to Great Grandpa's house. We got to meet your Great Grandpa Stewart , your aunts and uncles and almost all of your cousins in the Stewart family. Everybody just loved you! They've been wanting to meet you for a long time.

Sunday was special because we got to celebrate Daddy's very first Father's Day. We gave him a framed picture of the two of you and a card that sings, "I Love You a Bushel and a Peck". He loved it!

We also got to meet Great Granny and PawPaw Gregory and Aunt Rhonda. We even got to meet your cousin Jason!

And, of course, we made a very special trip to the nursing home so you could meet your Great Grandma Ella. She's a very special lady and she's the person you were named after. She's not able to say much anymore, but she did say what a cute baby you are. I'll tell you more about your visit in another letter.

This morning (Monday) we went to Uncle Brett and Aunt Gina's house and your cousin Abbey took some beautiful pictures of you. She's an amazing young photographer who is trying to start her business so she just loved playing with you today! After lunch with them, we went back to your Great Grandpa's to visit with him and your Aunt Rosalee (Grandma Ella's sister) and Uncle Paul. They are all do proud of you and love you do much!

We're almost home now and you've been such a great little traveler! You've even been smiley and happy when you're awake! I'm so thrilled that you're so good in the car. I hope you can keep it up because we're going home to Alabama at the end of this week! :)

I love you, my sweet little traveling baby!

Love,
Mommy

Dear Ella . . .

You wore your very last newborn size diaper today and are officially in Size 1s. You've also started wearing all of your cute 0-3 month clothes now.

I've been a little sad today because I know you will never be this little again - its going by so fast! But I'm also loving every minute of each new phase. I love how well you're holding your head up and how alert you've become. You're smiling more and more at your daddy and me and you've started using your little voice to coo and gurgle and squawk at everything. It's adorable! I think my friend Emily was right when she said that every new phase is the best one yet. I wouldn't trade a minute of where you are right now (but it would be awfully nice if those minutes would slow down some)!

I love you so much, my sweet 6-week-old baby girl!

Love,
Mommy

Dear Ella . . .

You are 5 weeks old today. I know I say this all the time, but I really can't believe how fast time is flying!

Your cheeks are really starting to pooch out now. I love your little chipmunk cheeks - especially when you're nursing!

You've started smiling a lot more - real responsive smiles. They are just beautiful! I haven't heard another giggle yet, though. That's ok. I know we'll be hearing those magical little sounds soon enough. I'm not in a hurry. :)

I need to quit thinking that you're finally getting on a schedule. Every time I do, you change the game plan.

I think you must be having a growth spurt. You've been nursing longer and more often these last couple of days. Very hungry babies make very sleepy (and hungry) mommies. You've also been a little more fussy. I hope your little tummy isn't hurting you. your Grandmommy thinks you're fussy because your still hungry. Maybe she's right - it seems like you're eating all the time right now.

You really are the cutest little thing I have ever seen! Everything about you - from your feathery soft hair to your soft baby feet is so perfect (and squishy!).

I love you, beautiful baby Ella!
Love,
Mommy

Dear Ella . . .

Your sweet Grandmommy flew out here to visit you this weekend. You may not know this yet but that is a BIG deal! Until you were born, Grandmommy had only flown a couple of times in her life - the last time when I was only about 2 years old. But all of that changed when you came into the picture. Grandmommy has flown twice now! Once to be here when you were born and then again this weekend. That's how much she loves us! :)

I've realized now, after watching her with you that I learned so much of how to be your mommy from her. Nearly everything I do or even say to you is similar to what she does and says. I know a lot of that comes from watching her take care of your Aunt Anna when she was little. What a blessing it was to be old enough to watch, learn, and actually remember what it was like to see my mommy take care of a baby. I know it's already making me a better mommy to you.

You are so blessed to have this amazing woman as your grandmommy!

Dear Ella . . .

You are such a happy baby! You just light up a room with your little smile.

Your Grandmommy took this picture this morning. She loves you so much! We all do! :)

Dear Ella . . .

We went on a family walk around the neighborhood last night. You were bright eyed and alert the whole time. I think you really enjoyed the fresh air. Gizmo certainly enjoyed himself! Walks are one of his very favorite things (along with stealing your blankets and eating cheddar cheese).

While we were walking, it hit me again (as it does many times a day lately) how very blessed we are to have you in our lives. I just love our little family so much! I wish I could have had a picture of us tonight - you, me, Daddy and Gizmo - the Stewarts' little family. It was just perfect. :)

The Stewarts' Little Family - Ella, 1 week old