Ella update

I can't believe that my Ella is 9 months old!! Time flies. She is more fun everyday! It's amazing how much personality she has already. She has decided that she is a big girl now and doesn't like baby food. She prefers whatever we are eating and must eat if we're eating. She grunts until we give her a bite. She also gave up nursing and is now on formula. I was sad for about a day and then I realized it was freedom!! It was crazy how she hit 8 months and decided to do everything at once. Her newest accomplishments are crawling, pulling up, walking around things while holding on, standing by herself (for about 30 seconds), playing peek-a-boo, eating finger foods...I can now rock her and she will lay her head on my shoulder! She's never been a cuddly baby so I'm cherishing it! 

She loves bath time! She's a prune by the time she get out.

I know bath time is over when she starts sucking her thumb!

Showing off her new shoes that her NeNe (her grandma in Kentucky) made her
The poor cat is constantly being chased and layed on


she's making her "scrunchy" face where she puckers her nose and mouth up...too funny!

Strawberry Fields Forever

Kim, Amie, and I thought it would be fun to go strawberry picking at Washington Farms!  We failed to think about how much work it would be with a 8 month old and a 18 month old! My back is sore today from carrying Ella, my camera, and the strawberry bucket through the strawberry fields while bending over and picking strawberries =)  You truly do grow another set of arms when you become a mother! I shouldn't make it sound like all work, because it truly was a lot of fun. Ella was so cute eating the strawberries afterward. She shoved as many in her mouth as she could...she was afraid I'd take the bucket away! 

Loving the strawberries

Liam is all boy...playing in the dirt...eating rocks...eating rotten strawberries off the ground...you can see the dirt and strawberry juice mixture on his face...so funny! 

Liam thought Ella's strawberries look better!

You know it was a rough day when you fall asleep in the sitting position!

Our 1st Family Vacation

We just got back from our 1st family vacation to St. George Island, Fl. It was a blast! Although, I must say that we packed the kitchen sink. We borrowed an external baggage carrier b/c we couldn't fit everything in the car! We looked like the Beverly Hillbillies on their way to the beach. Grammy, Chris' mom, went with us and it was so nice to have a 3rd person to help watch Ella. Chris and I even got a date night and some alone time on the beach! Ella loved playing in the water and eating the sand. She definitely didn't mind getting dirty. She loved the seagulls too. We were thankful she was sooo good. She even took a couple naps on the beach in her little tent! She couldn't have been any better. 

Chris has always bragged about St. George (no other beach compares), so I finally got to see it. Boy, was I in for a treat! It is the best kept secret (I probably shouldn't be telling you about it;)  Absolutely beautiful! It has white sands, few people, a large national seashore, no hotels, and no commercialism. I can't wait to go back!!

She learned to play peekaboo in the mirrors

Sweet girl

Groovy chic!

Her first 2 teeth are here!

They are both very excited about the gold fish in our pond!
Having fun in the spring flowers!
Not so lady like when she eats
Her 1st easter...she got 6 easter baskets...a little much don't you think
5 generations! Ella is actually my great grandma's mothers namesake...we didn't know that until we already decided on her name...pretty cool!   
Ella with grandpa (my dad)
Ella and her uncles!

Priceless

You spend tons of money on toys and they love the FREE balloon!! 

Spring is here!!

I am so glad spring has sprung! I don't know about you, but this has felt like the longest winter ever. Miss Ella takes lots of naps (which I can't complain), so I haven't been my "busy body" self. We have been indoors a lot and that makes for long winter days. I know now that I am definitely a spring/summer person. My mood is effected by the weather and sunshine. We've been taking walks in the neighborhood and Ella has made friends with neighbor babies...she loves little kids and babies. It is so funny how she knows that they are like her...her legs and arms kick and she squeals=)  Ella had a doctor's appointment and she is 16 lbs. 8 oz. (75th percentile) and 26 3/4 in. (90th percentile)... nice and healthy!!  She continues to sleep 12 hours a night (7:30-7:30) and takes 2 naps a day. Continues to nurse. She eats a variety of fruits and veggies now. I bought some chicken and turkey baby food...it smells and looks like cat food...do people really give there babies that stuff? I couldn't bare it! Better go. Enjoy the great weather.