Hobbes

Ella loves Hobbes.  Every morning when we wake up, she will go find him to give him loves.  She is so gentle with him and loves to give him kisses and scratches.  Hobbes is pretty tolerant of her and allows her to sit by him and love on him occasionally.  Every now and again he loses his temper.  It's so funny/pathetic to see the look on her face when he gets mad but, in the end they end up friends again.

18 Months

It's so hard to believe that my little girl is a year and a half.  She's getting so big and learning so many things.  She's smart, funny, sweet, crazy, wild, loving, adorable and, loud.  We love this girl so very much.  Some of her exciting things at 18 months:

26.5 pounds!!! 

Not sure on height =\

Is almost able to jump

Has her favorite friend (puppy)

Can say : Mama, Daddy, Papa, hi, bye, thank you, no, mine, shoe, what's that, what is this and, more...

She tries to mimic almost everything we do. 

She's a very sweet girl but we're thinking the terrible twos could be starting early =\ 

Thankful

I did not do the things I am thankful every day for the month of November.  Honestly, I am a slacker when it comes to blogging.  I started a blog a bit ago to try and catch up for not blogging for about a month...Then I realized that there was just too much to say and that I don't really think many people read this anyway :) So, I am just going to jot down the things I am thankful for now.

I am thankful first and foremost for Devin.  I am so lucky to have him in my life and can't imagine what things would be like without him.  Although things happened quickly for us and to some it was out of the normal order, I think we've done very well.  He is my rock and I love him so so much.  He is my best friend and the worlds greatest dad.  I don't know what I did to deserve such a wonderful man but, I thank God every day that I found him :)

I am thankful for my beautiful baby girl.  Ella is such a little firecracker.  I know she's going to give us a run for our money but, she is the sweetest little thing.  I was always told you never knew love until you had a child..and I never understood it but now I do.  I have never loved something so much.  She is the light of my life and I am so proud and happy to be her mom. 

I am thankful for my family.  I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.  My parents are so amazing.  I know that I have taken them for granted in the past but, I am so grateful for them.  They are there whenever I need advice or when I need to vent.  I have called my mom at 2 in the morning with questions on Ella...or just because I needed someone to talk to.  Not many of my friends can say they have the same type of relationship that I do with my folks.  I also love what wonderful grandparents they are.  They are so involved in her life and have taught her so many wonderful things.

I am thankful for my new family.  I hear people all of the time complain about their in-laws.  I don't have anything to complain about.  Mine are great, they are so good to Ella, Devin and, myself.  They welcomed me in with open arms and have just been so sweet and supportive.  Ella is just so lucky to have such wonderful Grandparents, Great Grandparents, Aunts and, Uncles :)

I am thankful to have such a wonderful job.  Given the economy it is just really great to say I have an awesome job with great benefits.  I am blessed to have been hired on with a great company.  Although I spent three very hard and long weeks in New Jersey, I am confident this will be a great fit for me.

I am thankful to have a place to live.  I think some people take this for granted.

I am thankful for all of those who currently are serving or are currently serving our country.  I have lots of people in my life that have been or are in the military.  I am so thankful for them and also that they are all safe.

I am thankful for our silly kitty Hobbes.  Ella loves her cat very much :) 

I am also thankful that I have had such an amazing year.  This seems to have flown by but it has been great.  I have learned so much and had so many wonderful experiences

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year.  We went to Devin's dad and step moms house.  My parents drove in from Pinetop Wednesday evening, Devin's sister Caity flew in from England with her daughter Irish and, Devin's brother Ben drove in from North Dakota.  It was a nice Thanksgiving and I was so happy to have most of the family there.  Ella was a bit of a crazy baby =\ I am not sure she's use to sharing the spot light with another baby :) We had yummy food and it was just great to chat with everyone.  My mom and I finally got to do black Friday in the city :) We have been talking about it now for ages but, I usually go there for the holidays.  This was a very nice change and I enjoyed shopping with her :) Our best bargains came from Bath and Body Works and the awesome new vacuum I got.

Parents

I have to say, I have the best parents in the world.  Last night, Ella got VERY sick.  She has never thrown up before so this was something I was not ready for.  Spit up is one thing...puke is something totally different.  My poor little girl woke up at 12:00 this morning...Devin and I were up with her until 3:30..she was sick about every thirty minutes.  Every time she would get ready to get sick, she would have to sit on my lap.  Needless to say we have LOTS of laundry.  I was freaking out and called my mom at 2:00 am.  I didn't know if I should have taken her to Goodnight Pediatrics (Late night Urgent Care) or just let it go until the morning. I tried a nurses hotline..and of course, no one answered. Like always, my mom made me feel better.  She gave me very simple advice but still the same, she made me feel more level headed.  I am so thankful to have such wonderful parents and Ella is lucky to have such awesome grandparents.

=\ sorry again for waking you up so early mom

Utensils

My mom is pretty amazing :) When Devin and I went to Pinetop last, my mom worked with Ella on using utensils.  I was amazed at how quickly Ella learned.  It took my mom just a few days and some whipped cream  (=  We give Ella a spork or a spoon with just about every meal now and she does really well with them.  She will take a bite and clap because we would clap when she successfully get a bite of food.

However, tonight I am pretty sure she just got lazy....

Socks

Ella loves to wear shoes and socks.  She likes to bring us random pairs of shoes to put on her feet and now she also bring us socks.  I think it's funny when she tries to put them on by herself. 

Side note...I never knew babies could have stinky feet....Ella's feet are SUPER smelly!

Busy, busy, busy

We have been so busy lately! Everyone told me how much things would change when Ella started walking.  Truthfully, things haven't changed too much but, she is always on the move.  She loves to walk in rocks and we're not entirely sure why.  When we are at the mall she enjoys walking around staring up at the big people. 

I am pleased at how well she adjusted to me going back to work (minus her getting sick).  It's hard for me because I don't really get to see her much during the week.  About an hour in the morning and two at night.  She's just so tired when she comes home.  So the weekends are mostly spent focusing on Ella :) I enjoy my weekends so much more now.  I think she does understand the weekends because the last couple she has been more clingy than normal with me.  

All in all, we are still doing wonderfully as a family. Although we have had a lot of changes recently and even more to come, we are all still just very happy. I can't imagine things being any sweeter than they are now.  

Pink Eye.

This last couple weeks has been pretty hard on Ella.  Since I started my new job, Ella went back to daycare.  Daycare has beat this poor little girl up onside and down the other.  Her first week she got sick, popped through more teeth, was bit, and was scratched.  The next week (last week) wasn't any better.  She contracted pink eye =( and an ear infection.  To complete her week, she was bitten again!! I felt so badly for my little bug. Today is the first day she has been really well.  She was wide awake when we came into get her and was happy as can be. I am praying that this week will be better for our little bug.  Devin says he kind of prefers her sick only because she's more cuddly.

Hats

I have a thing for hats, especially animal hats.  Someday I want to buy three hats and get family photos done...perhaps that will be my theme for a Christmas card one year.  I know that it's not Devin's favorite thing in the world but, he's a good sport.  Even little Ella is getting better with hats ^_^

Pinetop

Last week, Devin, Ella, and I went to Pinetop.  We had such a wonderful time while we were there.  We went to the fair in St. Johns and watched my Uncle Tom play with his 'Blue Crates' band.  It was a nice drive and we enjoyed listening to my uncle play harmonica and sing.  

My parents had given Devin and I a gift certificate to Los Coralas a Mexican food restaurant in Pinetop.  They took Ella to the 9/11 symphony and Devin and I went to dinner.  It was nice to have a night with Devin and to eat a full meal ;) 

Devin left on Sunday after we had a nice breakfast at Darbi's and went to Woodland Park to feed the ducks.  Ella though she ate a ton of breakfast still managed to eat all the bread we gave her to throw to them.  Although we were sad to see Devin leave, Ella and I were happy to stay a few more days.  We did a lot of shopping with my mom and went to lunch ever day.  It was nice to be able to hang out with her and watch how Ella interacted with my parents.  We are so lucky to have such wonderful families.  

Ella is such a lucky little girl with amazing grand parents.  

Thanks Grandma Flochie and Grandpa Moosie for such a wonderful time!!

Happy Birthday Devin!!!

Devin turned 28 last Wednesday!  We had a very chill birthday celebration this year.  We went to dinner with his family the weekend before :) Then on his actual birthday, we had a nice dinner and cake and ice cream.  I don't know how many ways I can say what a wonderful man Devin is....Ella and I are so lucky to have him in our lives.  This is a little bit late but, Happy Birthday Devin.  We love you very much.

Fifteen Months

Ella is exactly fifteen months today :) The time seems to be flying by and I really wish it would stop.  I look at Ella now and see her as more of a toddler then a baby.  It honestly kills me a little bit seeing how quickly this little girl is growing up.  She is a very bubbly, curious, silly and, loving little girl.  She has us both wrapped around her little fingers.  Here are some of Ella's stats and things she's doing :)

12 teeth! (four molars in one month OWIE)

Says:

Uh oh, what's that, what is this, mama, dadda, obbes (hobbes the cat) and, hi

WALKING

knows where her nose is

plays patty cake (mostly with papa and grandma on skype)

stacks to three

scribbles

knows how to play peek-a-boo

gives raspberries 

blows kisses

gives kisses

waves 

puts lids on bottles

I love this little girl with all my heart <3 I am so lucky to have her as my daughter.

Walking.

About a week ago, Ella decided that she was ready to walk.  For a very long time now, we have all been convinced she knew how but that she just wasn't into it.  She had been cruising since about nine months so, naturally we thought she would be walking rather quickly.  We were VERY VERY wrong.  A few days before she took off on her own, she would let go and take a few steps and fall but, she would NEVER walk without being coaxed to do so.  One day, I was cooking dinner and in she walks.  I was just so shocked that I just stood there looking dumb founded. I praised her and she sat down and continued to watch me cook.  She then crawled out of the kitchen to the living room and just a couple minutes later, she walked back in.  From that night on, she has been a walker.  She makes it seem like she's been doing it for ages.  She is still a bit wobbly and if she wants something quickly, she will crawl because she is lightening fast at that :) Either way, she is walking and I am very happy.

   

Sick

Recently, Ella and I were pretty sick.  I think the worst thing is when a mommy and her baby are sick together.  Ella seems to be pretty attached to me when I am sick.  This last bout of sickness was REALLY terrible for me. I don't think I have felt that weak and ill in a long time.  I love Ella to pieces but I just couldn't cuddle with her :( which made me so sad.  Thankfully, daddy saved us both! I can't say enough how lucky I am to have Devin, he is such a wonderful fiancee` and father.  He took care of both of us!! 

Dress Up

When I was a little girl, I used to love playing dress up.  My mom as well as some of my neighbors had lots of dress up things.  I remember dressing up, playing house or, Pretty Pretty Princess.  One of the exciting things about having a little girl is getting to dress up :)

 Well, my little girl has taken it upon herself to dress up.  She loves to play in our clothes, if there is a laundry basket Ella will most likely be in or beside it.

Can I Stop time?? For just a moment??

Why is it that when we get older, time speeds up???? I just want things to slow down a little bit.  Mostly, I want Ella to stop getting so big.   I have a lot of friends who have new babies and I so badly miss the little baby stage. I miss Ella just laying in my arms and being able to just sit and rock with her.  She is constantly on the move and is growing up much too quickly for my liking.  As much as I want her to walk a part of me is ok with her just crawling...it means she is still a baby.  

Here is a little stat update on my little baby :)

Ella:

She has 8 teeth

Blows kisses

Waves Bye Bye

Blows Raspberries 

Points to her nose when asked where it is.

Hits her head when someone says "Owie"

Dances any time there is a good beat

Eats EVERYTHING

Uses hard top sippy cups and is getting better with grown up cups

Loves cuddles and kisses

Her favorite game is playing Monster with daddy

Hugging ALL stuffed animals

"Helping" mommy do dishes
Giving hugs
Saying "Mama, Dada, Uh Oh, What's that?, That, Obbes (Hobbes)"

She also loves being my little shadow...

Crawls super fast :)

Pulls herself & Climbs on everything.

Our little Princess is growing up so quickly.