One week old

I am trying to get out the camera at least once a day. I don't want Ella to ever say I didn't take as many pictures of her...

Wide eyed and bushy tailed!

Just hangin' out!

Pink ruffle bum!

Also of note, Maddie sat on Santa's lap! Our ward had a pajama breakfast and Maddie was brave enough to meet Santa! She was pretty freaked out, but she didn't cry. Now she won't stop talking about it!

I thought this was too cute-- Maddie and Grandma doing yoga! We are going to miss her.

Welcome Home Baby!

We are home and happy. Maddie loves her baby sister and I love my own bed and real food (as opposed to the very fake food at the hospital).

The 'going home' outfit!

Mike loves to find artistic shots... thanks for the gorgeous flowers Mom & Dad!

FINALLY getting in the car! Check-out took all day!

Welcome Home Ella!

Maddie helped Grandma decorate the house for the Homecoming. She loves to hold and kiss her little sister! I don't know what it is but having two kids makes us feel more like a real family. Like I said, we are home and happy.

I'm late, I'm late, I'm late!

That's the theme of my life right now. Not only was Ella a week late (and yes, we were induced, for those who asked...who knows how long she would have waited!), but I am just posting about Thanksgiving! And I'm learning that it takes a lot longer to get two kids ready to head out the door, so we have been late to a couple of appointments. Being late drives me crazy!

I have to admit I had a very restful Thanksgiving pre-baby, and it was so nice to have my family visiting. Here's a little photo summary of the week:

Uncle Cole and Maddie had a good time together.

The girls stayed busy in the kitchen.

The boys helped set the table. It had special significance for my first Thanksgiving in my own home. I was given some of my Grandma Jensen's china when she passed away, and my mom gave me some linens and brought her own grandmother's silver. It was beautiful.

Mike discovered a new talent. He is a master napkin folder! Every setting had it's own unique creation.

Maddie learned what olives are really for.

The finished product. Thanksgiving dinner is one of my all-time favorite meals!

The boys did the dishes! What good guys.

Emily cleaned the turkey. We had TONS of leftovers!

To top it all off, Maddie enjoyed her blueberry pie!

Just to wrap up the week of visitors, here are a few more pictures:

We visited the Bellagio fall display and admired the flowers that Emily used to help with!

We put up our Christmas tree!

Played lots of Guitar Hero! Even Mom and Dad got in on it for the first time!

Polish party! Auntie Em continued her tradition of painting Maddie's toenails. Unfortunately, Emily headed to the airport the same hour that we checked in to the hopsital, so after a week visit she still missed Ella's debut. Maddie loved every minute of the visitors and excitement--thank goodness Grandma is still here or she would be sad!

Ella!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ladies & Gentlemen,
The Andrews family is proud to present its latest addition. Ella Mae Andrews was born Monday, December 1st 2008 at 11:05 PM. She measured 20" long and tipped the scales at 7 lbs 9 oz.

Ella made us a little nervous at first. She struggled to pink up completely and the receiving nurse was threatening to put her in the NICU.

Mom kissing little Ella for the first time.

She really reminds us of Maddie as a newborn.

Grandma & Grandpa brought Maddie by before the birth to give Lauren a pep talk and tell her that she could do it.

Lauren's parents w/ Ella in the tanning bed.

Maddie loves baby Ella. She wore a shirt that said "Big Sisters Rock!"

Yes. The proud dad.

Sweet kisses from grandma.

Awake and alert for a picture w/ grandpa. We are glad that mother and baby are doing well and will post more picture in the next few days.

Good Timing

With the countdown to big-sisterhood on, Maddie decided it was time to throw us for a loop. A couple weeks ago she started begging, "Maddie go potty?" and wanted to sit on the throne. I have heard many times that you should take advantage of any interest kids show in potty-training, but a week before a new baby? Really? I decided to just take it at her pace and have allowed her to try whenever she asks, but I'm not pushing it. So far, nothing to "show" for it, but she thinks it's fun.


Another lovely development is a sleep disturbance resulting in 5 am wake-ups for about the last week (normally she sleeps till 7). She has also been taking horrible naps, and in fact yesterday I resorted to putting her down twice so she could get enough sleep. All signs point to 2 year old molars, but again, nothing to show for it yet. It seems cruel to me that I am losing sleep during my last week before true sleeplessness begins!

Despite these difficulties, the big sister is getting prepared. She often says "Ella come out and see you soon!" and loves the mini diapers and clothes for the baby. Another mommy in our ward had her over for a Big Sister Party, crowns, cupcakes and all!

The little sister's timing remains to be seen. The latest is that if she doens't come before Tuesday the 25th (day after the due date) I will be scheduled for induction. Unless she has other plans... like right during pumpkin pie. :)

My little socialite

Maddie has been having so much fun with kids lately! Every morning she asks me what we are doing that day... "Walk, Abby?" or "Park, kids?" or "Kids come over?" We are part of a babysitting co-op and we had it here last week. A few of the kids were older so I got out a Thanksgiving craft.

The turkeys with leaf 'feathers' turned out so cute!

Maddie just plopped down next to one of these boys, and the other plopped down on the other side. She's starting her flirting days early!

Abby is Maddie's best little friend. They have so much fun together.

Sharing pretzels in the dirt....

And sitting under the park toys. I love Maddie's silly cheese. She is getting so grown up!

We went to a little lunch get-together today and I brought ladybugs for the kids. I thought they turned out pretty cute.

There were a couple of babies at the lunch and Maddie was just mezmerized by them. She loves babies--let's just hope she loves ours!

Man of the House

I am feeling sentimental today. It could be from the country tunes I was listening to on the radio, or just because I am hormonal and feel like a time bomb, ready to go off any minute... but nobody knows when.

In any case, I have been thinking lately about how a Dad gets pretty forgotten when a baby is on the way. The Mommy is constantly asked how she is feeling, and she frequently gives her own opinion of how she is feeling (a.k.a. complaining). Baby-to-be gets lots of planning, measuring, and gifting on her behalf... and even Big Sister is worried over and receives special treatment. But Dad just sits on sidelines, expected to listen, soothe, do dishes, rub backs, change diapers, and everything else the Mommy doesn't have energy for. This is all aside from the hard work he does during the day to provide for the needs of his family.

Needless to say, Mike deserves a pat on the back. He works hard for us and comes home with a smile, always ready to play with Maddie, help around the house, work on his calling, and listen to my feelings of the day. I don't tell him enough, but I am a lucky girl. Come to think of it, we're all lucky girls, all 2.9 of us. So here are just a few things we love about him:

He is adventurous

He is zany!

He's got some brains!

(Above accomplishment occurred after spending way too much time HERE!)

He loves kids (something I knew would benefit me eventually)

He can build things!

And fix things!

He is helpful.

He enjoys the outdoors (and carries the load)

He looks good in a suit.
(Incidentally, this was exactly one year ago, 11/11. Isn't it amazing how fast kids change?)


He is a good story reader.

He is fun.

He is fun.

Did I mention he is fun?

He is snuggly.

I could go on and on, but instead YOU help me out! What do you like about our guy?