These Little Mittens

A Trip to Cambodia

2011-01-02T02:45:00.000-08:00

We just got home from our trip across the world to see my sister and brother in law, Daphne and Ryan (aka: Ming and Poo).
We had such an amazing time in Cambodia with my whole family!
The trip over with a 17 month old was.....well, not the most thrilling adventure I've ever had. Ella Grace was a champ but on the way there she slept just 6 hours out of a total of 36. With four legs to the trip and an overnight layover in the Bangkok airport we finally arrived on Christmas Eve.
Layover in Bangkok. Trying to get some sleep.Sleep was clearly not happening for Ella Grace.
Seeing Ming, Poo, and Grandpa and Grandma at the Phnom Penh airport.

We began our time in Phnom Penh (the Capital city) with a tuk tuk ride to get a couples massage! Ming and Poo watched little miss while Nathan and I had some much needed relaxation. (If you are ever looking for an inexpensive massage definitely go to Cambodia. $5 - $10/ hour is the going rate!).

Just getting off the plane and into a tuk tuk in Phnom Penh. Wondering where in the world she is.
We headed to Prey Veng by bus on Christmas Eve which is the province where Daphne and Ryan live and work. The staring at "fat white baby" began immediately as we arrived at the bus station. Many Khemer folks have never seen a white baby so they were enthralled with her fat legs and cheeks, slapping them and clapping in her face.

We had such a wonderful time seeing their home and surroundings.

We have a much better picture of their life in Prey Veng and a better understanding of the culture they are in. Ryan and Daphne are assimilating remarkably well to life there. We were amazed at their ability to communicate and relate to folks. They definitely face challenges in such a different environment but they are growing together and glorifying the Lord.
My sissy and brother were amazing hosts! A few of the treats made were pumpkin pancakes, Grandma Hollinger's Moravian Sugar cake, Grandma Krabill's peppernuts, and homemade peppermint ice cream. All of which take considerably more effort to make with limited availability of ingredients.

After tuk tuk, bike, and moto rides around town and a Christmas service at their church we left for Kep Beach. Kep is an area along the coast of Cambodia with beautiful scenery and sunsets. We stayed at an eco lodge in the mountainous jungle called Jasmine Valley that uses renewable resources to build their rooms (like the tree house where we stayed!) and solar energy throughout their resort. We enjoyed a mountain trek, swimming, good food, and some down time.

The last part of our trip was spent back in Phnom Penh. A few things we did in the city were a visit the Royal Palace, a Wat (temple), a museum showing the attrocities of the Khmer Rouge (a horrifying Genocide that lasted four years and killed millions of Cambodians in the 1970's). We also met Daphne and Ryan's MCC friends on a boat ride down the Mekong river and spent time with our second cousins Sarah and Andrew Burkhalter who happened to be visiting while we were there.

The time went WAY to fast but we were so grateful for the opportunity to see Daphne and Ryan. If only Cambodia weren't so far away........

The Miracle of Birth

2010-10-29T18:35:00.000-07:00

Last week I had the opportunity to witness my newest nephew being born. It was an AMAZING experience that I will remember forever! I always wanted to have a natural birth experience with little intervention but I was not so lucky. My sister in law, Melissa, invited me to be part of the labor and delivery for baby Jackson and I could not pass it up. I was so intrigued to find out what a normal delivery would be like. The coolest part was that Melissa had a home birth! Her midwife delivers a lot of babies in the Mennonite and Amish communities around Lancaster County, PA. She had an amazing ability to make everything calm during even the most intense contractions and pushing. The labor was pretty quick as Melissa started having contractions at 4:30 am and had her water broken at 6:50. Baby Jax was born at 7:30 am. I know......those of you who had 24-30 hour+ labors are extremely jealous right now. Anyway, Melissa did an awesome job and was very calm and collected.
After seeing the whole process take place I was reminded of just how miraculous and precious life is. It is an awesome reminder of how creative and powerful our God is.

Sticky Orange Fun

2010-10-13T18:17:00.000-07:00

Today Ella Grace invited a bunch of friends from her play group over to decorate pumpkin cookies. 7 toddlers plus orange icing and lots of sugar = a delightful and fun mess!

Grandma & Grandpa Took Me to the Pumpkin Patch!

2010-10-03T15:27:00.000-07:00

One of the great things (for us personally) about my dad's job is that he and mom get to visit Charlotte quite frequently to meet with people at Gordon Conwell's campus here.
We had a great weekend together walking on a greenway (much needed for my busy daddy), getting breakfast together, visiting the pumpkin patch, and watching the Gators lose miserably to Alabama (could not believe this).
Here are some shots from Hunter Farm (a 5th generation farm in South Charlotte)...

My Creative Sister

2010-09-29T10:01:00.000-07:00

For those of you that know my sister you are aware of how creative and, well, awesome she is. Daphne and her husband, Ryan, are living in Cambodia for three years working for Mennonite Central Committee with local partner organizations in their community. They have set up a delightful little home for themselves and use it to host people as well as enjoy their time together as (still) newly weds.
Daphne has always been quite creative and has a wonderful way of making anything feel cozy and homey. She has just started a new blog called "The Home Away" that enables friends to share creative ideas for living simply abroad. Ideas are posted for cooking, gardening, and basic living. It's sort of like looking at a Martha Stewart Magazine....overseas edition.

Check it out at http://thehomeaway.wordpress.com

Pretty cool, huh?

Recents

2010-09-27T11:43:00.000-07:00

I know some of you have been wondering if I fell off the face of the earth. I am not so good at keeping up with this blog...I know. :)
Hopefully with the Summer being over and the routine of Fall settling in I will do a better job.

Our Summer was incredibly busy (surprise, huh?). We enjoyed visits with family, a Heistand Family reunion (with folks on my mother's side), going to the NC mountains, an Anniversary trip to Asheville, a trip to Virginia Beach to see Auntie Jess and Temple, a Mommy and Daddy only trip to California for a green building training for Nathan, and a visit with the Harlans in West Virginia.

Miss Ella Grace is...well not so little anymore. She is almost 14 months old and is growing into her own little person...with her own personality, independence, and interests. She weighs about 23 lbs and LOVES to eat. I mean this girl can put food down! I'm not sure if she always knows when to stop. ;)
Thankfully, she has still been quite healthy since birth. We realize that this is definitely not a given and it is something we praise God for.
Ella Grace is just starting to take her first steps. She would rather crawl most places though because its way easier. :)
She LOVES to sing and dance and is quite the talker. She just loves to tell us what's on her mind and uses such inflection and intonation when she speaks. Her favorite words are "mama", "uh-oh", "hi", "baby girl", and "bobby sue". I have no idea who Bobby Sue is and where she came from but she is very popular at the Mitten house!
Ella Grace's favorite foods are edamame, yogurt, bananas, and cheerios.

We have really been itching for Fall to arrive in Charlotte as it's been sweltering in the 90's for MONTHS! We visited an apple orchard in South Carolina in hopes of welcoming in the new season. Unfortunately, it was 95 degrees but we had a great time with friends Jon, Sarah, and Claire picking apples while perspiring.
Here are a few shots from our excursion...

Happy Dada Day!

2010-06-22T11:56:00.000-07:00

Ella Grace quite possibly has the best daddy in the whole world! Though EG was sick over the weekend, (with her first fever), we had fun celebrating our daddy guy.
It definitely makes my heart melt to watch her little face light up and her whole body jump when that daddy guy walks through the door. This must mean that he has found a very special place in her heart. <3

Some of their favorite things to do are:
to go flying ....anywhere
play pattycake
take walks
have Ella Grace crawl all over daddy
laugh
share ice cream

I am thankful for the example that Nathan is to Ella Grace and for the ways that he cares for and loves her. Happy Father's Day!!

Also, a very special Happy Father's Day to my daddy and daddy in law. Thank you for all of the love you have shown us throughout our lives! We love you soo much!!

Grandpa Hollinger
Poppy Mitten

Thankful For Each Mommy Moment

2010-04-28T18:12:00.000-07:00

Some days I find myself going through the routine and schedule I set before myself and not taking the time to step back and thankfully enjoy my time with my baby. I can hardly believe Ella Grace is almost 9 months and sometimes I ask myself "where has the time gone??? How is our baby growing so fast??" I remind myself to soak in each moment of being a mommy- the fun and the tiring times; the sweet moments along with the aggravating ones. I want to be thankful for the gift God has blessed us with and not go through life so quickly that I look back and wished I would have lived more in the moment that God had placed me in.
Our Ella Grace is most certainly a gift from above...

She's crawling!!

2010-04-22T10:25:00.000-07:00

Hey friends! It has been way too long since our last post but today is the perfect day for an update. This morning Ella Grace decided to crawl for the first time at Kelly's house! Here is a video of the action...

More updates to come!

Saying Goodbye to Our Ming and Poo

2010-02-17T09:24:00.000-08:00

Today is the big day that my beloved sister, Daphne, and brother in law, Ryan, leave for Cambodia. It has been exciting to watch how this opportunity evolved and we are soo eager to see what God has in store for them there. They will be traveling to the capital city of Phnom Penh and will stay there for a while till they head to the provincial town of Prey Veng where they will reside.

Please pray for safety, wisdom, and confidence as they venture to a new place, experience new culture and people, and attempt to learn the language. If you are interested in learning more about what they will be doing stay tuned to their blog: http://ryandaphne.typepad.com/

"Ming" is the word for Aunt in Cambodian and "Poo" is what they use for Uncle. Ella Grace loves her Ming and Poo so much and will be sending monthly updates and photos to them for the three years that they are there. Ella Grace and I were able to take a last minute surprise trip to see them. Here are some photos of our time together...

The big surprise. They were having a goodbye party with some friends when we arrived on the scene. Ming's face is priceless...
Disbelief
Ella Grace got scared because there were so many people she had never seen before and everyone gasped. Ming made everything better.She was mesmerized by the fire with Poo.
Piano lessons with Ming
Helping to get a few last minute things before the trip.

We will miss you and love you more than words can express!

Flippin' Momma

2010-02-09T09:33:00.000-08:00

Ella Grace thinks her Mama's gymnastics is funny...

6 Months Old Already!

2010-02-05T12:08:00.000-08:00

We aren't sure where the time has gone but Ella Grace is already half a year old (hard to believe!). The past few weeks have been filled with meeting great grandpa Wilfong ("Papa") in Orlando, celebrating Daddy Guy's 28th birthday (yikes.....we are awfully close to 30!), helping out in a kindergarten classroom at a nearby school, and going to our 6 month check up. She now weighs 18 lbs (90th %) and is 25 inches long (50th %). Here are some of the latest pictures...

Playing with mommy and daddy....

tripod over baby.....the newest skill I've mastered
Handstand over baby...
Handstand push-ups. She is cheering me on.
Daddy's sweatshirt is cozy!!
After bath time

Dancing with daddy...

A New Year

2010-01-14T14:39:00.000-08:00

It has been FOREVER since my last post. If you are reading this, thank you for waiting it out and continuing to check for updates!!
Our Christmas break was wonderful. We began by going to Gainesville for Nathan's GRADUATION from UF!! CONGRATS, DADDY DOC!! Mama and Ella Grace are very proud!!

After Gainesville we went to Boston for a week and then back to Charlotte to host the Mitten's for New Years. Mimi got to stay for an extra week afterward to spend some quality time with the baby.
Miss Ella Grace is growing like a weed. It is unbelievable! She is about 5 1/2 months, weighs around 17 lbs and getting very strong! She is sitting by herself for just a few seconds at a time, loves to roll from her back to her stomach, and is eating big girl food once a day. Not to brag, but her mama milk is a definite favorite still. ;)
I recently joined a Mom's group called "New Mom's of South Charlotte" and am excited to meet new people from different walks of life around this area. There are multiple events and "meetups" scheduled every day of the week so that mom's can go to as few or as many events as they'd like. Meetings involve anything from meeting for coffee, lunch, play dates, walks on greenways or in the mall (since its soo cold), yoga, storytimes, kindermusik, discussion groups, book studies, and mom's nights out.
Here are a few snapshots from December (actually, there is a lot!)...

Christmas in Boston with the Hollingers...

I love my Uncle Ryan. He is so nice to me.
Christmas is so exciting that I'm bustin' out of my britches!

Here Grandma, have a present.
This is a fluffy present.

Let me see it, Mama. Ohh, I like it!

Grandpa's face is priceless here. I think he likes it.

I love my daddy sooooo much.Hot tubbin' in the snow...without baby girl.

Bath time with grandma.

This is the shirt Aunt Daphne wore when she was a baby.My grandpa is so cool!

New Years in Charlotte with the Mittens...

I'm lovin' my GranMimi
Jess & Temple make brunch!!

Spending time with Mimi after New Years :)
Bathtime is great!!Visiting daddy doc for lunch in his office.

Library and Tummy Time

2009-11-10T16:03:00.000-08:00

Baby girl is now a little over three months and seems to be changing and growing every day. These days are definitely easier than when she was first born as she isn't as fussy and we are learning more about her all the time. She has been sleeping through the night for a while now and is getting on to somewhat of a schedule during the day. We are trying to find a good balance of building some routine but also flexibility so that she can hopefully adapt to changes in schedule.
This week Nathan got to come with us to Baby Story time at the Mint Hill library (which is right across the street!). Here are some pictures of Ella Grace and Daddy Guy (his new nickname) having fun.
This is so much fun!!! (and, yes... my bow is HUGE)
Learning a song
This is so great, Daddy Guy!!
Ready for tummy time

This is hard, guys!I'm exhausted
No more, Daddy Guy
Time for bed now

Crying Duet

2009-11-08T12:43:00.000-08:00

Kelly and I went to a Christmas craft show this weekend and took the babies with us. Of course on the way home Clara and Ella Grace decided to start crying. It sounded like a choir.....with Clara's crying being the lower octave and Barlings the higher. We thought it was hilarious!

Our House

2009-10-28T12:16:00.000-07:00

For all of you who have been asking, here are some pictures of the house. :) We have guests coming for dinner tonight and since it's currently clean I thought I would take some pics.
By the way, if you havn't checked out Craigslist.com you need to! We got all of Baby Girl's nursery things on Charlotte's Craigslist along with some other things around the house. If you are patient, it's definitely the way to go!

Entry way

Kitchen

No, the table does not always look like this.
Gotta love fall decor :)
View from the back. We are hoping to plant a community garden with our neighbors in the Spring! The town is also supposed to be putting in a greenway through the woods.
Our bedroom
Guest room......please come and visit!!!!!!!!!
attic room that Nathan is finishing

Bathroom.....check out the Gainesville Swamp picture ...Thanks Mel! Thank you also to sissy for her awesome photography from Burkina Faso
Baby girl's room

Thanks to Sarah for making the cushions on the rocker :)
Thanks Mel for your AWESOME art work!!
This did not come with the house
12 weeks old.....and loving her fist

October

2009-10-22T18:24:00.000-07:00

October is going by quickly and I am continually amazed at how fast our baby girl is growing. People always tell you that "they grow up so fast" and it is SO true! Even in the challenging times I am trying to savor each day and be thankful for the blessing God has given us. Sometimes I catch myself wanting to be in the "next phase" where communication is easier and more of a routine is established. Hopefully God will give me the ability to be in the present and enjoy this time of life.

Some of our latest happenings are going to the pumpkin patch (both with Kelly (my dear friend and college roommate) and Julie (my sweet friend from Gainesville who taught next door to me at Norton Elementary). We also had Mimi and Poppy Mitten along with Uncle Josh, Aunt Melissa, and cousins Madison and Carter come to visit! We went to Gainesville last weekend for Nathan to defend his thesis and ........HE PASSED!! He has worked so hard over the past few years on his dissertation (which was on Desalination). I couldn't be more proud of him! We also got to tailgate at the Gator game vs. Arkansas (close call, huh??)

Fall in North Carolina

our neighborhood
Kelly, Izzy, and Clara
Checkin' out the pigs.

Mimi and Poppy visit!!
Madison gave "her baby" a bath all by herself
Taking charge :)
We keep trying to get a good cousin picture....havn't had much luck yet
Go Gators!

Cozying up with Debbie while tailgating (it was actually quite chilly in Florida)

With Mel!

What a surprise to see Messiah College friend Chris Regan and Elise at the game!!!!!!
Daddy's finished product. He pulled an all-nighter to get his dissertation in the mail before we left. 225 pages long

With Julie and sweet Carson!Check out Carson's arm. He was makin' the moves. Ella G was wondering what in the world is going on

Nathan's work is a a few miles from the pumpkin patch. He stopped in to see us!
With the little (actually big) Barlings

Barlings

2009-10-09T17:26:00.000-07:00

When we chose the name "Ella Grace" we knew we loved the sound of it and couldn't wait to call her by her name. Ever since I became a mom I am constantly calling her by other very random nicknames. One that has stuck is "Barlings". It came about because I called her "darlings" a lot and we both used the name "bug" for her as well. One day, the two were accidentally combined and thus, the name "Barlings" was created. We use it all the time now and I wonder if she will know what her real name is when she goes to kindergarten....

She is growing VERY fast! We had her two month check up complete with three shots (she was NOT a fan). She weighed in at a whopping 12 lbs 9 oz. and was 23 inches long. Her weight is in the 90th % and her length in the 75th %.
The doctor was very impressed that she is sleeping anywhere from 9-11 hours straight at night. This is SUCH a blessing!!
She is holding her head up very well, smiling a ton and responding to us, and loves bath time.

When daddy came home from work one evening Barlings was not a very happy camper.

He tried to distract her from her distress by doing "airplane". Her eyes are hilarious in this video:

We used to swaddle her every night but decided maybe the swaddling days are over because this is what we found in her crib............
Here she is at 10 weeks:

Thank you, Debbie!!

2009-10-05T12:57:00.000-07:00

Our good friends Matt & Debbie Miller came from Ocala, FL to visit for the weekend. We had a blast catching up and spending time together. Of course, we had to go to the mountains again because we couldn't resist. :)
Debbie has been doing a lot of photography lately and is AMAZING. Here are some of the pictures she took for us during the weekend. Little Ella Grace cooperated with us!! (Even when we put her in an apple barrel at the orchard)
Im including A LOT of pictures from the photo shoot to get some peoples opinions on which ones to frame. Sorry there are so many to look at!

Gingercake

2009-09-29T13:14:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend the three of us ventured to the NC mountains to visit Gingercake (where Aunt Ruth & Uncle Mark have a home). Every time we are out in nature we feel rejuvinated and it reminds us of God's presence is our lives. Gingercake mountain was so beautiful and the leaves were just begining to change! After being in Florida for four years we welcomed Fall with excitement!! Ella Grace decided she loved being in the mountains, too!

Breakfast on the porch overlooking the mountains
just lounging while daddy worked on finishing his dissertation :)
I love the hammock and my daddy!
the lady of leisure
so sweet :)
We ate BBQ and listened to bluegrass at a general store in Linville
This is what we found on the wall
hiking with mommy and daddy

We visited an apple orchard on the parkway

Miss Ella Grace decided she didn't want to be in her car seat anymore. She is so fiesty that she slid almost the whole way out!

Meeting Family

2009-09-19T07:38:00.000-07:00

Ella Grace has had a very busy couple of weeks meeting her extended family! Her Aunt Jessica (Nathan's sister) came from Virginia Beach and couldn't get enough of the baby girl. :) We had lot's of fun exploring Charlotte and spending time together.

Ella Grace's first smile caught on camera! Justin and Kelly were over for dinner and Ella's good friend Clara was by her side for the event!

Ella Grace had her second plane ride adventure to Boston last week. She was perfect on both parts of the trip, including the layover. We visited with Grandma & Grandpa Hollinger and met Great Grandma Hollinger and Aunt Ruth for the first time. Aside from some fussy spells we had a great time.

Grandpa was elated!
Could he be any more proud?? Grandpa had a very important job of carrying his granddaughter from the car!
Meeting great grandma

She was definitely the center of attention
Loving on grandma
Going to tea at the Wenham Tea House Just had to capture this picture

Six weeks old
We went to our first polo matchThe crowd definitely looked like New Englanders

Rockport, MA Daddy was so happy to have us home. He brought two roses- one for each of us- to the airport.

Loving play time with daddy

On a roll...

2009-09-07T11:41:00.000-07:00

So, I am very ambitious today and have found the time to do TWO posts! I have some more pictures of the baby and of our house.

Here is our new home! I will take some more of the inside later.

On Saturday morning we made our first visit to the Mint Hill Farmer's Market. They had the BEST BBQ ever!!!
Look at all of the yummies I bought!!

On Sunday we visited a nearby church. Nathan and I were busy chatting about church searching in the front seat and all of a sudden we heard a yelp from the back seat. When we got out of the car this is what we found. She was probably thinking "Mom- seriously- why do I have to keep wearing these silly headbands!!!"

Bathtime last night consisted of pottying on the rug before getting into the water. She keeps her parents hoppin'!

This morning we explored a nearby park and walked on the nature trail.
Momma attempted her first cartwheel post surgery. It went fairly well but will take a little time to build up to the back tuck.
These next photos are for my sissy. She wanted an up close shot of every body part since she is so far away from her niece. Here is her little hand and leg. Notice the rolls forming!!
Still loving mommy's sling. This thing has been the golden ticket on many occasions! If she is crying and nothing else soothes her this often has the magic touch.

Goin' to Carolina.....

2009-09-05T08:07:00.000-07:00

For all of you faithful followers of this blog THANKYOU for your patience as it's been two weeks since the last post. It has been a very busy couple weeks in our lives!! I left a week and a half ago for Charlotte with the baby. She was a champ on her first plane ride and slept the whole way!

Some new friends (Jeff & Erica) so graciously hosted the two of us at their house until it was time to move in. In the meantime I closed on the house by myself and managed a painter who was working at the house for several days. The closing was quite a production! I had power of attorney for Nathan and little did I know what I was getting myself into! There were 200 papers to sign and every time I signed for Nathan this is what I had to write:

I thought my hand was going to fall off and on top of that I was attempting to nurse my fussy baby. Our sweet realtor, Karen, was very helpful and took Ella Grace for part of the event!

On Friday, sister in law Melissa and the cousins arrived and met Ella Grace for the first time!! It was so fun to see their reactions!
Madison was certain that she needed to hold Ella. She said that "her baby doesn't cry when she holds her". :)

Everyone was very helpful on the day of the move! We had Josh & Melissa, Uncle Dave, Aunt Donna, and Jamison, Grandma & Grandpa Hollinger, Melissa's brother Adam & his girlfriend Jenna, and an awesome group of guys from Justin & Kelly's church! The truck was unloaded in an hour and by evening the whole kitchen was unpacked and most of the furniture was in its place. Thank goodness for help...it is such a blessing!!

Since the move we have been working on house projects and getting to know our surroundings. The grocery store, library, restaurants, bakery, ice cream shop, and farmer's market are all within walking distance! Our neighbors are very friendly and one couple even welcomed us to the neighborhood by bringing a plate of brownies! People from Kelly's church brought us a welcome basket as well. :)

Nathan started work on Wednesday and is really enjoying it. His first several months will be devoted to learning the ins and outs of the HVAC and energy services industry. Here he is on his first day. I felt like a mom sending her kindergartener off to school for the first time!

Little Ella is now 5 weeks old and is growing a lot! When we went to her new pediatrician here in town she was 9lbs 14 oz already! She is in the 75th percentile for her weight and 50th for length. She is still having tummy troubles and the doctor says that perhaps she has a food sensitivity or acid reflux. We are hoping to get to the bottom of it soon!

Here are some other photos from this week:

Goodbye to Gainesville ;(

2009-08-23T18:03:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that we are saying goodbye to this chapter of our lives. This was our last full week in Gainesville and we have spent some good time with friends. We will miss G-ville very much and will forever be thankful for the friendships we have formed here. This morning our church family had a goodbye blessing/sendoff for us which was sad but very sweet.

Miss Ella Grace is now three weeks old and is keeping us very busy! We think she is having some stomach disturbances which is causing quite a bit of fussiness. It is definitely creating some sleeplessness and frustration on Mommy and Daddy's part. Despite this, our love for her grows each day! She is begining to focus her eyes more, loves being in her mommy's sling, still eats up daddy's pinky finger, makes lots of strange snorting and squawking noises at night, has an unbelievable amount of dirty diapers, and her cheeks are filling out and becoming more irresistable. At the doctor this week Ella Grace weighed in at 8 lbs. 4 oz. which means she is getting plenty of nutrition. Oddly, her newborn clothes are still a bit big. Her eyes are still big and blue and we are anxious to see if they will begin to change.

Here are some snapshots from this week.

Dinner in Ocala with The Jones and Millers

Matt, Nathan, and Dan enjoying their purses :)

UF Natural History Museum trip with Mel, Daisy, and Isaac
Isaac inspecting the large turtle shell
Auntie Mel with Ella Grace

Daisy gets to hold the baby! Daisy did a fabulous job and Ella was a super trooper at the museum!

Isaac wanted in on the action. He enjoyed tickling her little toes.

Sweet baby girl in her car seat

Visiting with Auntie Debbie
Our last Sunday here

I fly to Charlotte on Wednesday with Ella Grace to do the closing on our new home and Nathan arrives on Saturday with the moving truck. Thanks in advance to Uncle Josh, Aunt Melissa, and cousin Madison for coming to help us with the move! Uncle Dave, Aunt Donna, Jamison, Grandma & Grandpa Hollinger along with a group of very servant hearted members from Justin and Kelly's church in Charlotte will be there to help, too!!

Coming Home

2009-08-14T20:51:00.000-07:00

We have had a very full first two weeks with little Ella Grace as both sets of grandparents and Auntie Daphne and Uncle Ryan were here to visit. Coming home from the hospital the Tuesday after c-section was so exciting! Since being at home we have been spending quality time with family, going on some fun outings, and of course enjoying and getting to know our little baby. Today the Grandmittens left and this is the first time we are just the three of us at home.
Here are some pictures of the first two weeks.

Leaving the hospital

meeting our little friend Lissy Gill for the first time.
Mimi :)

going out for ice cream
getting our footprints done at Do Art
Farmer's Market
little angel

after first bath
with Poppy Mitten

First doctor's visit

the lady of leisure
Daddy putting his daughter to bed. She loves to be tightly swaddled and he has the magic touch!

Mommy is getting better!

2009-08-03T20:57:00.000-07:00

This is my first chance to write on here since the start of the weekend. I still can’t believe she is actually here! Having Ella Grace, getting to know each other, breastfeeding, and being together as a family of three has been an amazing experience. Nathan has been the best husband and daddy anyone could ever ask for. He takes charge in changing her diapers, swaddling, helping with feedings, and taking care of me. My recovery is going well but it has definitely been painful and difficult to get around to help with the baby.

We appreciate everyone’s thoughts and prayers! Tomorrow we will get to bring our sweetie home. Grandma & Grandpa Hollinger and Auntie Daphne will be here for the rest of the week and we can’t wait for Mimi & Papa Mitten to arrive.

Here are a few pictures from today :)

Ella Grace: Here by Grace

2009-08-02T11:33:00.000-07:00

We are officially the proud, proud parents of a sweet baby girl! Ella Grace came into this world last night at 12:32 am. She is healthy, beautiful, and quite vivacious already!

So, you may be surprised she came this quickly according to my last update. It ended up that she was to be born by “C” section. Several times yesterday her heart rate decelerated immediately after Naphtali would be up and about to go to the bathroom or do some moving of the hips. It began as a very isolated event that the midwife wasn’t too concerned about. It then happened twice in a matter of an hour every time Naphtali would move and one of the episodes lasted almost two minutes. Clearly, this was quite frightening for her mommy and I while it also changed the level of concern for the staff here. Our midwife came and discussed the situation with us at about 11pm. With all things taken into account including her very slow progression into the birth canal, being overdue by a week, and the increasing occurrence of the decelerations we made a decision to get her out of there. It was much better to plan for an orderly C section then to have to do it in an emergency situation later down the road. This was not what we were originally hoping for as you know but the decision seemed to be pretty easy given the circumstances and at the recommendation of people we trust.

I went with my girl and helped to take her vitals and give her a first bath. Grandma and Grandpa Hollinger and Auntie Daphne were able to rotate in shifts helping, holding, and taking pictures. Two hours later, after Naphtali was more recovered and awake, the three of us were reunited in our room together; mommy was extremely tired but absolutely thrilled at the sight of her precious baby girl!

Today, we are working on the breast feeding which is going quite well, getting rest, and just soaking in the miracle. Thanks for bearing with us on our inability to answer all the calls and texts. I am a little busier with the fact that Naphtali can’t get around too well yet. We know Ella Grace is loved dearly and we thank you for all your support. I will keep trying to update the blog. I may go try to shower and change…it’s been a while ;)

She is an angel.

Stubborn Little Cervix

2009-08-01T12:02:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, Nate here. So we are still waiting for dilation…waiting…waiting. We came in last night and began a treatment of Cervadil in order to soften the cervix (which must happen before dilation, which must happen before labor). The treatment ended at about 1pm today without any noticeable changes unfortunately. Because Ella is a super champ and all her vitals were great, they let us get up and walk some laps in the hospital a bit and Naphtali has been able to continue eating solid food.

At 2pm they notched up the cervix softening treatment to a small pill called Cytotec which again is a prostaglandin to kick the cervix into gear. Naphtali now has to stay in bed for about two hours upon which she can then move about the room for another two before the process is repeated. This will likely go on until she is into her dilation. Fortunately, she has been having medium intensity contractions every 4-5 minutes for the last 45 minutes…a great sign. Our midwife used a helpful analogy: these treatments are like playing the flute when you need a hormonal orchestra to start playing.

By the way, we also received more explanation about the seemingly quickly change of plan to induce rather than just waiting until next week to see how things progressed. Our midwife said that they like to see progressive weight gain even after 40 weeks as a sign of growth and development. According to the ultrasound yesterday she hasn't gain appreciable weight in the last two weeks. There is some possibility that this means the placenta is "maxed out" so to speak and dear Ella is better off out in the real world. It doesn't seem to be an immediate threat, but it helps understand their comment yesterday about there being "no reason to have her in there any longer."

As for now, it could be tonight yet if things really pick up or it could be into Monday if her body just isn’t quite ready. We are just trying to stay relaxed and take each thing as it comes. The family is here for support and company. It turns out I don’t have internet access in the room – only in the first floor cafeteria. I will try to send something out as I’m able with notable news. Thank for your thoughts and prayers and love!

Baby News

2009-07-31T17:49:00.000-07:00

We are officially one week overdue and had an appointment today. After an ultrasound they determined that she hasn't gotten bigger in the last few weeks. In addition, I have made no progress in terms of dialation. The midwives see no reason for her to stay inside and want to start an induction process tonight. At 10 pm they will give me "Cervadil" to see if my body progresses naturally. If not, they will administer a low dose of pitocin by mid-morning. We are trying to remain positive, as this was not how we envisioned our labor to be. We were hoping to labor as naturally as possible. Please pray that my body would progress on its own with very little intervention.
We are being reminded that this process is out of our control and that we need to put our trust in the Lord.
Despite all of this, Nathan and I are thankful for a relatively uncomplicated and healthy pregnancy and for all of our supportive friends and family.
Grandma and Grandpa Hollinger along with Auntie Daphne and Uncle Ryan are here with us now in Gainesville. Mimi and Papa Mitten will arrive on Wednesday.

We can hardly wait to hold our sweet Ella Grace!!

Practicing Patience

2009-07-25T17:46:00.000-07:00

Today is July 25- our due date. So far baby Ella has decided not to show her face. For some reason I thought this baby girl would be early but now I am having to practice more patience than ever. I have had contractions off and on now for almost two weeks but the midwives say that my progress is slow. They won't do any interventions to induce me till my 42nd week. I am working on getting sleep (very difficult right now) and keeping myself occupied while I wait. The Lord is definitely my strength. Nathan is also such an encouragement to me and tries to keep me distracted. I feel very blessed to have him as my husband and baby daddy. We are both ecstatic about meeting her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Baby Countdown

2009-07-14T17:00:00.000-07:00

We are officially 11 days from due date!! Each day that passes makes us more excited to meet our baby. Of course, since this is my first pregnancy, I wonder if every new feeling and body change is some sort of "signal". I am learning to be patient as Ella Grace will come when she is ready. We know that it is going to be the most amazing feeling in the world to hold our own child in our hands and are so thankful to the Lord for giving us this gift.
Here are some pictures from throughout our pregnancy......

first trimester
28 weeks (Sissy's wedding!)
34 weeks

36 weeks

Quick Update

2009-07-09T21:26:00.000-07:00

I didn't ever anticipate being a blogger but with family and friends spread so far it seems most appropriate to dive into the blogging world to keep everyone updated on our lives.

For those of you that don't know, Nathan is finishing grad school at UF in Gainesville, FL this summer. We have been here for four years and have made so many wonderful, lasting friendships. We will miss our community here, living in the Swamp, being in grad school, going to football games, teaching.....the list goes on. But we will always remain Gators even as we move to our new place of residence.

Here are some photos of our memories in the G-ville:
Amelia Island

FL vs. TN game with the Millers
Nathan's Grad School Friends

My kindergarten class 2008

Teaching buddies from Norton Elementary

The Jones family

Our Church's Young Married Group
FL vs. GA Game- Tailgating Casie :)

God was gracious to us as we were able to find a job for Nathan in Charlotte, NC where he will be working with a company called MCI (Mechanical Contractors, Inc). This company designs and builds HVAC systems for commercial buildings and Nathan will be working to advance their efforts in renewable energy and efficiency. We feel very blessed to have found a job in this market and Nathan is very enthused about this opportunity!

I just finished my fifth year of teaching, packed up my classroom, we sold our condo in Gainesville, and moved into a temporary place for two months until our move to Charlotte at the end of August.

In the midst of all of this craziness we will be having a baby. :) Ella Grace Mitten is due July 25 and we can't wait to meet her!!!! With only two weeks from our due date we are getting more and more curious when she will make her appearance! Check back often for baby updates!!