Updates. Grand Updates.

Well, you guys proved me wrong. I'm surprised how many people have viewed my last post and sent messages. So I guess I'll give this whole regular-updating another try! 

I'll try to get you up to speed on what's been happening since Easter. I'm sure I'll leave some things out, but I'll do my best.

Baby on the Way!

We found out a few months ago that we'll be adding another Wierzbicki to the world. We're having a boy, and Ella is excited to have a Baby Brudder! I'm due January 7th; currently 28 weeks along. Other than monitoring a few odd things, the pregnancy has been going really well. I'm trying to stay active and avoid the donuts and ice cream - I don't want to hit the 50+ pound weight gain mark that I did with Ella. (So if you hear me talking about cookies, tell me to lock it up!)

Still Working

Mike is still working at Penn State doing marketing in the athletic department. He's still in charge of marketing for hockey and the ice arena, and they've added lacrosse, golf, and football. It's safe to say he's a busy guy! Ella and I try not to be too needy when he's so busy, but we're not always successful :)
I'm still working at the rehab hospital part-time. There are some weeks I work only one day, and some weeks I work nearly 40 hours. It all depends what Mike's work schedule allows and what the hospital census is.

Ella is still going to the same in-home daycare, and she's still loving it. She gets along really well with the other two kids and the caregiver. Some days when she hasn't gone for a while, she'll even ask if she gets to go play there! 

Iowa/Nebraska Trip
The summer began with a Memorial Day Weekend trip to Iowa. My family's annual fish fry was scheduled for that weekend, so we decided to make a trip of it. Even though the fish fry was cancelled last minute, we had a great trip anyway. We got to see a lot of family and friends, including a trip to Omaha!

Minnesota/Wisconsin Trip

We also took an early summer trip to Wisconsin for the wedding of two friends who live here in Pennsylvania but are from Wisconsin and Minnesota. It was a beautiful wedding, and we were able to make a quick trip to St. Cloud (where we lived in MN before moving here to PA) while we were there!

Michigan Visitors

In early September, we had some road tripping visitors from Michigan. Mike's mom, grandma, aunt, and cousin came to visit for a few days. We had a great time hanging out, visiting the arboretum, and refereeing toddler play.

Iowa Visit

In late September, Ella and I took a fairly impromptu trip to Iowa. Our annual family fish fry had been rescheduled for a weekend in September, and I wanted to spend some time with my childhood bestie.

Play Time!

I promise we did more than travel this summer! We spent a LOT of time at the local parks and pools and playing outside. 

Ella Turned Two!

In early October, our teeny tiny little baby girl turned two! I have no idea how two years have passed, but they've definitely been a fun two years. 

Because we didn't have any family visiting, we didn't have too exciting of a celebration. And Mike has been very busy working, so we thought a low-key family night was the way to go. Per Ella's request, we had pizza and 'yellow' cake. Seriously - those were her requests. What a goof! 

A few days after her birthday, she saw a leftover cupcake and requested a candle to blow out. So we had a mini celebration in the middle of the kitchen floor -- candle, Happy Birthday song and all.

Pumpkin Patches

There are a lot of fall festivals around central Pennsylvania, so we took advantage of a couple different ones. Ella and I went to a fruit farm with some friends, and we came home with orchard-fresh apples and a big pumpkin, as well as great memories. The next day, we went to another fall festival with my family that came to visit. We came home with a couple pumpkins to carve (which hasn't yet happened) and some more great memories. 

Family Visit from Iowa

Just last week, I had some family road trip the 17+ hour trek from Iowa to visit for a week. We visited a fall festival, went to a hockey game, and did some sight-seeing. We had a great week, and of course ate entirely too much food.

That just about brings us to the present. As you can see, it was a fun, eventful few months since we've last chatted. I'll try to keep you posted with our goings-on in the future! (Unless, of course, no one reads it....)

**LOTS of pictures to be added soon.

To Continue or Not to Continue...

That is the question.

I realize I haven't posted since Easter. That's kind of pathetic. But to be honest, I wasn't sure if anyone was even reading this. I was getting very few page views, and I wasn't sure it was worth my time to post photos and updates.

But since then, I have had a few friends and family members ask if I was ever going to update again. And ask how they're supposed to know what's going on. And request pictures, since they weren't getting them on here. So may it IS worth my time to update??  We've also had a lot of things happen in the past few months, and some more exciting things to come in the coming months.

So my question to you is... Should I continue to post updates? Or not?

I'll check out my page views in a week or so, and I'll decide from there. If you're reading this and you want continued updates, shoot me a message! I'm more than happy to share photos and updates, but not if it's just going to the crickets in the corner of internet-land.

Ok, thanks.
Maybe see you soon.
Maybe not.

Easter 2015

Like last year, Easter was pretty low-key this year. I guess with no family or really close friends around, holidays are just that way. But we had our own fun nontheless!

We dyed Easter eggs, which Ella loved. Supervision and papertowels were definitely key, but it was great messy fun. 

And they turned out so pretty!

We enjoyed some Easter candy, compliments of the Easter basket that Grandpa Dave and Deb sent. I think it's safe to say that Ella loves Peeps!

Grandpa Dave also sent her a cute little bunny cup, and we got out the bunny ears from last year from Grandma Marie. She was all decked out for Easter!

Unfortunately we missed the two Easter Egg Hunts we were thinking of going to (mostly  because of a boycotted nap). She wasn't going to hunt because she's too young for the hunts here, but we were going to watch the madness and meet the Easter bunny. But we made our own egg hunt in the house! Mike hid the eggs and Ella hunted and collected them.

She didn't know what to do at first...

But then she was so proud of her full basket!

It was a great Easter. Church, brunch, a basket, and an egg hunt. I'd call that a win for a 1-year-old. Hope you had a great Easter too!

Ella {18 Months}

How is our little baby Gabriella Marie a year and a half already?! It has been a whirlwind. I feel like just a few weeks ago she was a tiny little baby. Wrong! She's growing so fast, and she continues to learn funny new things nearly every day.

We just had her 18 month checkup, and she's still got Mike's height! The doctor is happy with all her measurements, and says that everything is healthy & consistent.
She weighs 25 lbs 4 oz, which is the 80th percentile
She is 2 ft 10.5 inches, which is the 99th percentile for height
Her head is 46.4 cm around, which is the 52nd percentile

I may have said this before, but Ella is saying SO many words. It seems like every day or two, she learns a new word. She connects the word to the object, too, which is funny. When she sees that object, she gets really excited and shouts the word. A recent one was Clock. When she sees a clock on the wall she gets really excited, points to it, and shouts "Clock!" Some other new ones are Swing (although it sounds like Weee) and Slide (which sounds like Fries). Even though she doesn't pronounce all the words correctly, Mike and I can tell what she's saying most of the time.

One of her new favorite things is singing the alphabet. She can get to E correctly, then she stumbles through.. but she does get some of them right! She obviously has no idea what she's singing, but she loves the song. She also likes counting songs. She has one that's 1 to 5 and one that's 1 to 10, and she likes to sing them randomly... but I try to correlate it with counting objects. When we go down the stairs, we count them--things like that.

Early in the month was March Madness. If you know Mike, you know that means nothing exists on our television except college basketball for a full month. (oh joy.) In order to keep Ella entertained and involved, we had her fill out a bracket. We wrote each team on a slip of paper (using crayon, of course), then we laid down the matchup, and she picked one slip of paper for each matchup. For the first couple of rounds, she actually did really well! She had a few upsets, and her Final Four was quite impressive. She even had a major favorite (Kentucky) winning it all. In addition to filling out her bracket, she requested basketball for weeks on end. Seriously, she would say "Ba-ball" anytime she either saw a basketball clip, game, or commercial, or if there was something else on tv she would say "ba-ball" and once we'd change it to a game, she would get excited. Mike has officially created a monster.

At the very beginning of the month, Grandma Marie and Grandpa Dennis (Mike's mom and dad) came to visit. They were both here for a weekend, and Marie stayed for a week. It actually worked out really well, because she came when Mike was out of town for several days. It was great to have an extra pair of hands to help (and entertain!). I'm not sure who enjoyed it more-- Ella or Marie!

Ella and Grandma Marie at the last home hockey game of the year

ice cream at the hockey game!

playing with a shaker at the game. she had enough hockey for one season.. she just wanted to play!

Ella and I at the game

She has officially figured out how to get to Mike during the games!

Ella's first donut, compliments of Grandma Marie & Grandpa Dennis

a lunch date to Chick-Fil-A while Marie was here. Ella loved the play area!

first-ever kids meal. yum!

Since the weather has finally been nice, we've been playing outside a lot! Sidewalk chalk, bubbles, walks and parks. Even a sandbox at daycare! Ella really never wants to go inside; if it was up to her, she would play outside all day. Last week she even took off toward the park on her own twice. It's not far from our house, but far enough that she's too little to go alone. I have a feeling it won't be the last time she wanders over there alone!

As far as food, she's eating more "regular" foods. She is tolerating more spices and more meat, so she's eating dinner with us a little more often. She still has things like tortellini or ravioli if we're having something that really isn't too kid-friendly, but that's happening less often (which is nice). She still LOVES fruit and enjoys some veggies. She's using a fork and spoon a little better each week, and she definitely likes her independence.

starting to eat things like a big girl!

As you can tell, it's been a really fun month around here. We're really looking forward to summer-- a couple trips planned, and lots of fun outings around town. Ella is a blast, and she entertains us each and every day. Here are a few pictures of our fun over the last month.

snack time in her little nook in the kitchen

library storytime, and emily just had to come along 

washing hands in the library bathroom is the best!

she loves webster the bear at the library. visits him every time we're there.

a new favorite activity:  rearranging the entire silverware drawer

she always has to be helping in the kitchen

washing and drying a lime. cutest helper every! 

(no child was harmed in the taking of this photo. but now you know why we need the kitchen helper kid stand!)

she brought the chair over from the table and got up all on her own. 

oh, independence.

playing her own version of lacrosse at the womens lacrosse game, while wearing the necklace that she and Mike made there

first baseball game of the year, and psu beat michigan! 

(sorry, not sorry Grandpa Dennis!)

We hope you're enjoying some sunshine wherever you are!

Ella {17 Months}

So maybe it has been entirely too long since I last posted anything. If I'm going to write and remember anything about Ella's 17th month, I better get on it. Month 18 will be here before I know it!

Here goes...

Since I last posted about 16 Months, Ella has learned some fun things. She's really developing her personality and even getting a little sassy! At the very beginning of the month, she was saying "yeah!" to everything. Every question she was asked, that was her answer. And she really seems to understand what's a question rather than a statement - it's fun. But about two weeks later, she learned "no!". So that was a fun week. Rather than "yeah!", everything was "no!". And I mean everything! So she obviously wasn't understanding the meaning behind her saying yes and no, but she realized that it made us laugh so she kept it up with the empahatic yeahs and nos.

In true toddler fashion, she has been throwing fits when she doesn't get her way. Not all the time, but it's definitely not something she was doing a short time ago. Perhaps the Terrible Twos are starting already?? Yikes. When she wants something to eat, for example, we give her a few options. But if she doesn't like any of those options, she might throw a fit. She knows what she wants, and if she can't have it right then -- watch out!

Ella has always loved helping in the kitchen, and that hasn't changed. She wants to be right there helping, no matter what it is. If I'm using something sharp or hot, she obviously has to stay back. And she's not a fan of that. Occasionally she'll scream about that, too. Ahhh, the life of a toddler. It's so rough.

Just in the last few days (ok, so in the last few days before 17 Months), Ella has shown some interest in "the potty". We got her an Elmo seat that sits on top of the regular toilet seat, and she has sat on it occasionally. She obviously doesn't understand what going potty is, but at least she's not afraid of sitting on it. I've heard from a few different toddler moms that they wished they had paid more attention when their toddler was first showing signs of interest in potty training. That their toddler was interested about 18 months but they ignored it, then at 3 they're not potty trained an no longer have interest. Yes, I do understand that it's really early and she won't be potty trained any time soon, but if she's showing interest then I'll roll with it. I clearly have no idea what I'm doing in the realm of potty training, but I really don't want her in diapers until she's 3!

Ella's food preferences haven't changed much. She really hasn't tried many new things (hello winter and no seasonal produce), although she did try blackberries. She loves them nearly as much as blueberries, and strawberries have even gone to the wayside because she loves blackberries so much.

Unfortunately Ella had kind of a rough month in that she had two rounds of a cold. She first got it from the little boy at daycare (who had gotten it from a sick kid during his 3 year old well-visit to the doctor's office), then she gave it to Mike and I. Just as we were getting over it, she got another mini cold. It was a germ-filled month for us, but with a lot of Lysol and a lot of laundry, we got over it.

Poor Ella-girl when she wasn't feeling well.

Snuggling all her buddies to make her feel better.

Her friends got a bath a few times this month. Thankfully, they're all holding up well!

Finally feeling better, so running around Pegula Ice Arena while the snow continues to fall. Thanks for letting us come run laps, Daddy!

Grandpa Dave sent a sweet Valentine, including two heart-shaped suckers! This was the first day Ella wasn't feeling well, so she didn't want to eat anything. But the sucker sure was yummy!

The goofball helping in the kitchen one morning. Who needs pants to cook, anyway?!

Reading a book in her cozy chair. Yes, we're still recounting The Christmas Story in February.

After learning how to use crayons at daycare, pens are so much fun! Apparently we need some Crayola to happen at our house.

Ella has learned a new version of Peek-a-Boo. If she can't see you, surely you can't see her, right?!

Too cute not to post. Quite the dancer we have on our hands!

As you can see, it's been a fun month yet again. Ella is just growing and learning so quickly, it's amazing. She mimics everything, which is a riot. 

Until next time (which shouldn't be long)... Hugs to you!

Work It

I have eluded to this in the past couple posts, but I haven't really officially updated you all about this. I started a new job about a month ago.. my first day was January 5th.

When Mike and I were still in Minnesota, I had planned to go back to work in December of 2013, taking 12 weeks of maternity leave after Ella was born. But when we moved here, I decided I would take a couple extra months, then go back after the first of the year. But a couple extra months quickly turned into a year. I feel extremely fortunate that I was able to stay home full-time with Ella for so long, but it was really time for me to get back to work. For so many reasons. Ella was at an age where she wanted to be playing with other children. I felt the need to use my brain and have adult interaction, more than a quick chat in the park. And even though we were doing a good job cutting unnecessary costs, I was looking forward to have a little extra income.. you know, for delicious sugary coffee and new shoes :)

I began the job search probably four times in the last year, and I had to finally bite the bullet and apply. But I soon realized that it was going to more difficult to find a job than it had ever been. Seriously - I had more trouble getting hired now than I did right out of college! That's unheard of in nursing. Out of college, I applied for two jobs. Just now, I applied for eight. EIGHT! I think between wanting part-time hours with minimal weekends and holidays, and having not worked in the last 16 months, I had a very hard time. Finally, I was given an interview and then offered a position - which I took. I didn't know if anything else would come along, so I had to jump on it.

The position I accepted is a Registered Nurse at a company called HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital. It's a nationwide company that has 107 rehab hospitals across the country - though I had never heard of them before. It's an acute inpatient rehab hospital.. which means that we get a variety of patients that are needing intensive therapy before they can return to their regular living situation. Patients who have had knee and hip replacements, strokes, brain injuries, bad accidents.. things like that. People who aren't needing a regular hospital anymore because they are mostly stable, but they need the therapy to get moving again. All of our patients have three hours of physical and occupational therapy a day, so it's a pretty intense rehab. Most of the patients are older, but we do get some younger patients who have had car or work accidents.

The work is pretty similar to what I have done in the past. Giving meds, helping patients get dressed, go to the bathroom, and eat their meals. Nursing is glorious, isn't it?! There are a few things that are different because it's rehab.. mostly just how you go about caring for these patients. In a hospital, you do most things for the patients because they're so weak or sick. In rehab, you want them to do as much for themselves as they can. Anything from opening their Cheerios, to putting on their shirt, to combing their hair. All those little things that you don't really think about, that they need to be able to do at home. We have to make sure they're able to do those things for themselves.

It's also different in some funny ways. The facility itself was built in the 1980's, and I don't think anything has been updated since then. This maybe doesn't mean much sense unless you're used to the ins-and-outs of a hospital, but... Oxygen isn't pumped into every room. No rooms have wall suction. The hoyer lift uses a crank lever. Almost all the rooms are double occupancy. The respiratory therapist isn't on staff overnight, on many weekends, and on holidays.. so I now do respiratory treatments and EKGs when necessary. I refill portable oxygen tanks outside from the liquid oxygen reservoir. We don't do ACLS. If there is an emergency, we call 911. Oh, and we do paper charting. All these things are totally safe for the patients and completely legal and ethical, but it's just funny to see the differences in how hospitals run and operate.

For the first few weeks, I was working full-time. Now I'm doing three days a week until I really get used to how things operate. Once I get used to things and in my regular routine, I'll be doing one to two days a week. My minimum requirement is four weekday and four weekend shifts in a six-week period. I can sign up for as many shifts as I want, but I am the first to get cut if staffing needs drop. I think it's really going to be a good fit for our family's needs. I didn't want to get wrangled into too many weekends because Mike works so many during hockey & football season, and I didn't want many holidays because that's when we're able to travel to see family. And we found a fantastic daycare provider that is flexible and able to cover the hours we need. All the while, I still get to spend most days with my Ella!

It took some time, but I think we've maybe found a good fit for us for now. Now, I'm off to bed. Up early for work tomorrow!

Ella {16 months}

This month hasn't been too crazy; we've gotten into a little routine. Mike has been busy with hockey and I have been working three to five days a week, so Ella has still been spending some time at daycare. She continues to love going there. In fact, most days she doesn't want to come home with me. As sad as it makes me at the time, I'm so glad she enjoys going. It makes it much easier to leave her there during the day, and I don't worry that she's having a rough day. She enjoys the daycare lady and her son, and she really loves their dog and their playroom. I feel very fortunate we found her for daycare.

As I said, Mike has been really busy with hockey. January was probably the busiest month, as far as home hockey games go. He has been busy every weekend. He is pretty exhausted, and we miss him! But Ella and I have been enjoying our quality times.. and of course going to games!

Ella at the basketball game (the Penn State - Michigan game, actually!). Mike had to be there to oversee an appearance for the hockey players, so Ella and I tagged along.

At the hockey game. She is getting much more used to [and tolerant of] the goal horn, and she really loves the second-intermission ice cream!

Because it has still been really cold and snowy, we have mostly been hanging around at home. Ella has become quite the little helper around the house. She has to be right beside you, no matter what you're doing. She especially enjoys helping in the kitchen!

Playing in the dryer. She's really good at unfolding clothes, too.

On one very rare Sunday that Mike didn't have any hockey events going on, we were able to enjoy a little night out. We went bowling with our friends Chris and Carrie, and Ella even got in on the bowling action! 

Ella used the ramp, so she was able to push the ball and watch it hit the pins. Once she figured out what was going on, she loved it. She actually thought it should be her turn every time!

Over the past several weeks, Ella has really become more vocal. The little boy at daycare is quite the chatterbox, so I think maybe Ella is picking that up a little. She jabbers and jabbers, but we really have no idea what she's saying. But in the past couple weeks, she has started saying more real words, too! She says up, down, on, off, snack, tickle tickle, shoe, boot, teeth, and bath. I'm sure there a few more too, but those are some that she's using pretty regularly. It's so fun! 

Ella is still eating most of the same things, though she has become more selective. She has figured out that there are options, and she'll let you know if she doesn't want something! Her favorite food is blueberries, by far. She would definitely eat an entire pint if I would let her! She has also come to like hot dogs. I don't really love that fact, but I suppose she's a kid so I'll just roll with it. She doesn't have them often, but she really enjoys them when she does. She is starting to eat more of our regular dinners, but she still has a hard time with meat. But she is getting four [yes--FOUR] molars right now, so hopefully soon she'll be able to chew more things soon. 

I think that's about it for this month. I'm amazed how much Ella is becoming a little girl rather than a baby. Week by week she grows up a little more!

Have a great February! Sending hugs to you, wherever you are.