It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Ok...well, sad but true because it is just beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the Gramkow household. I guess maybe that started last week - we did put up some Christmas lights on the spiral staircase in the apartment, got some tiny stockings to hang on our entertainment center, and did actually get the nativity scene up. Our tree this year...is only 8 inches tall. Looks a little bare, but does have lights...but the string isn't very long so well...it's hard to have it plugged in. Oh how little Miss. Ellie has sure been a delightful addition to the Christmas holiday, but unfortunately we're not going all out with decorations until next year...more space, more time. It is beginning to look like Christmas because we finally got our presents wrapped today...yes, Christmas Eve Eve. :) Ben and I decided to get eachother presents (and more than one too! Yippee!) and then we both bought some for Ellie, which I think is great...she won't know, but it'll be a surprise to each of us because we don't know what the other one got...and also, since Ellie can't open her own presents, then we have to help her! :) How fun. :) We went to the Dr. today for another weight check and our little princess is now a whoppin' 8 lbs. 1 oz. Wahoo! That means she gained 5 oz. from the last Monday. She's supposed to gain 5-7 oz. per week and this is the first week that she's met the range! We're still feeding her every two hours (every three at night) and she seems to be doing well - still really streaky - but I think her record high has now been 80 mL. We were shocked. We're still doing the fortifying all the breastmilk to 22 calorie with some(actually 1 or 2) straight up breastmilk feedings during the day too. She's also increased her pooping. She had her first blow out of her diaper, thru the onesie and thru the sleeper - We were so proud :) She hadn't done that before! Mom's been diligently trying to get her practicum hours made up on campus - and also working fro home. It's been a hard adjustment leaving little Ellie at home with Ben. Ben however has been totally taking one for the team and still needs more time to do his homework - we need to get those incompletes changed to letter grades! We're staying put for Christmas this year, obviously. We have enjoyed a couple visits from Aunts and Uncles and will dearly miss getting together at the big family gatherings...but then again, there will be a lot more Christmases! Ben and I are going to try to make a gingerbread house (well, actually I have a kit)...but we thought it'd be fun as we're setting our own traditions with just Team Gramkow. We are very blessed to have this little one with us this holiday season. Until next time...and no worries. I will post some pictures soon! And from our Christmas too. Hmmm....after which morning feeding will we open presents....hmmm...