10 Months Already?

Time sure does fly. Ella will be 10 months tomorrow and I can't believe that we are getting so close to her first birthday! I am already planning the celebration (Kevin keeps reminding me that I said I am just having a low-key family party.) It is so fun to see Ella learning new things each month and to see more and more of her little personality developing! These are some of her latest tricks....
-She now gives kisses on demand...it's so cute she'll open her mouth so wide! She loves to kiss the animals in her books. Today we were driving and I could see her in the mirror and I said, "Ella can you give your little bunny (her favorite new friend) a kiss" and she picked him up did it! It's so fun to see her comprehending and learning,
-She also knows what a phone is now...The other night she picked up her toy phone and put it to her ear twice. Kev and I both saw it and we looked at each other and said..."do you think she knows that is a phone?" Well, she does because she did it again today. I am surprised about this because I always hold my cell phone up for her to hear my mom or family members say hi to her on speaker phone! I guess she has seen me on the phone enough to understand.
-Ella can growl like a tiger and she tries to make a monkey sound. I'll go oo oo oo oo and she goes he he he he he. It's cute and I know what she is trying to do.
-Ella completely refuses to eat baby food now so we are experimenting in table foods...most days she is only interested in her yo baby yogurt and puffs. I feel like I spend the majority of the day trying to get this girl to eat a balanced meal!
-I have been trying to get Ella to drink from a cup and hold it herself. She is doing better on the drinking part but when I try to get her to hold it she gets so tickled. I don't know why this makes her laugh but...usually she has water pouring out of her mouth and it completely defeats my purpose!
-Ella got a little scared of the vaccumm cleaner the other day and Landon's stuffed pony! These were the first times she appeared fearful.
-Ella has become a great crawler and cruiser..now she has been working on standing alone...we are yet to take any steps!
-She loves to clap, patty cake and gives hi-fives...she still refuses to wave!
-Last thing...She loves to roll her ball back and forth. The other day we were playing and I leaned in and gave her a kiss. Now she thinks this is part of the game. My mom kept the church nursery this past Sunday night and Ella and her were rolling a ball and sure enough she expected some kisses with each roll. So cute!
As you can see I am quite the proud and grateful mom! I am thankful for these 10 happy months loving little Ella.

Thankful

So I've seen this idea on lots of blogs and I like it because I know I need to focus more on praise and thankfulness in my life...so here goes my 10 things I am thankful for this Thursday!

1. Kevin who takes out the trash every Tuesday.
2. Ella stretching her arms out for me to get her!
3. Subway's 5 dollar footlongs- we've been taking full advantage of this.
4. My flowers are actually still alive this summer-it's amazing what a little water will do for a plant!
5. Ella has started rubbing/pinching my upper arm...rubbing my face...I know she loves me!
6. Homemade things-I have recently found etsy.com and rediscovered my crafty side!
7. My mom-she lets all us girls call her many times a day...to answer questions, give medical advice, listen to an Ella story etc.
8. Finding old friends on facebook.
9. Healthy Choice fudge bars-these are my indulgence...I try to keep them at 2 a day! So creamy!
10. Kevin having two weeks off of school!

So they may not be extravagent but these little things make my every day more enjoyable!

More Cuteness!

Baby Proofing!

Ella is on the move....and when I say move I mean she never stops! I am beginning to think she may have Kevin's temperment...Lord help us! In our FROG (furnished room over garage- sorry but I've heard people be totally confused over that before) we have lots of Ella's toys! We also used to have a tredmill, bowflex machine and lots of our other junk. This room was like a fun house for Ella. She even figured out how to climb on the tredmill and enjoyed sitting on it. That's when I decided that we had to do some re-vamping! So gone are the work-out jungle gyms and we now have a new loveseat thanks to Joy and Chad.

We also have a bookshelf in our FROG that won't be removed. This has become ...let's say a power struggle for Ella and I. She loves to crawl and pull up on it. We don't want her to do this...it's cheap from Wal-mart and not anchored to the wall. So she'll see it and take off as fast as she can for it...and then stop and look at me and smile and laugh as I tell her "no!" She goes as fast as her little arms and legs can and pulls up. So after doing this over...and over...and over everyday. I decided to just block it with her two big toys. (see above for the cute picture of her realizing what I'd done)

SO...I'm thinking this probably isn't the best parenting move...I've been telling her no and not allowing her near the bookshelf...and now I have her toys propped up against it. Poor girl...she is probably too confused.

A Samuel Day!

Today I am having a Samuel day. I guess the only person that knows what this means is Kevin. We usually just say that and we both understand. A Samuel day is a day when I feel like I am on the verge of tears all day...a day when I feel sad...a day when I just wish I had my two kids riding happily in the back of the explorer...a day when selfishly I wish Samuel was not in heaven but at home with us. I know that if I could see him in heaven that I would for not one second want him to leave the peace and joy of heaven for this old earth..but the mommy in me misses my little boy. I am thankful to have this blog. I need a place to go to just say...today I am sad and that's okay. I hate burdening others with my grief and it's hard to explain how affected my life is by losing him to those who have never expereinced such a loss.

I just can't stop thinking about how cute he and Ella would be now playing together. We see such a resemblence of little Samuel in Ella and we wish we could see what he would look like at 2 1/2. I am going to post a few pictures of him for those of you who are curious as to who our special little guy was.

Friday

Today is Friday and I have tons of laundry and housework that I need to get started on. I always feel like I have to get my house cleaned and laundry done before the weekend. I think this is my mom's fault because she always did this when I was growing up. Ella had her 9 month check-up yesterday. She is 19lbs. 110z and 271/2 inches long. She is in the 50% for both weight and height. She has come a long way from the little peanut she started out as. She is so busy now...I mean she is everywhere and into everything. Gone are the days of her playing in one spot on the rug. She is pulling up on everything and cruising around in her crib and other furniture. She loves playing patty cake...it's so cute because if we just say "patty cake" that is her cue to begin clapping. Her latest trick is we say..."how big is Ella...so big" and she raises her hands over her head for the so big part! So cute. I also taught her how to hi five. She can do all these tricks but still refuses to wave. We wave at everything..even ourselves in the mirror everyday and still no waves. I know it will come. Well, I guess I better get to my work. For some reason being on the computer while Ella naps is so much more enjoyable than cleaning!

Happy 9 Months Ella Kate!

Nine months ago today God answered the biggest prayer request I have ever petitioned him for...another baby! Ella Kate arrived on October 8, 2007 at 1:31pm. She was 6lbs 7oz. and 19 inches long. She was the cutest little girl I had ever seen! I cannot believe how fast these 9 months have gone and how much she has grown. You always hear that God knows the desires of our heart and longs to bless us and He has shown me this once again through Ella. She is the little girl I have always dreamed of....from her red hair to her bright blue eyes! She is so funny now. She is crawling and pulling up on everything!! Her favorite toys are electical cords, outlet covers, the bookshelf, tredmill and stereo. I can't seem to keep her occupied in a room full of toys because she is so busy exploring all the hazards. I love when she wakes up from a nap and normally begins crying and I walk in and she is so happy to see me. When she is crying for me I often say "Ella do you need your mommy?".. and then I tell her "Your mommy sure needs you!" and I do!