He still makes my heart skip a beat.

Most days I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.  I wonder sometimes what I did to deserve someone so wonderful and, to have such an amazing little girl.  Devin will spontaneously buy me flowers...I came home last Tuesday to a pleasant surprise :) I love my tulips mostly, I love their color. Ella loved them too...so much she tore one apart.  She doesn't understand yet that sometimes it's ok for mommy to have pretty things.

It was a nice weekend however, Ella had been wanting to get into EVERYTHING!!!!! sigh...here's proof.

Little stinker...it's lucky she's so cute!!

The Start of a New Year

Last year was such a BIG year for us.  The biggest highlight would be Ella coming into the world May 29th.  I feel like I have changed a lot since the year previous...and sometimes I feel like this is all just a dream.

 I am not one of New Years resolution's because, very few people actually are true to them.  I can however say these are the things I would like to work on. 

1. Be a better mom/ Significant other

2. Try and be more patient

3. Lose the rest of the baby weight

4. Start School again

5. Find a new job

6. Go to the park with Ella

7. Find a bigger place to live

8. BE MORE ORGANIZED

9. Improve my writing skills

10. Get back into photography

These are the ten things I think I should work on this year. This year is going to be another big learning year.  Ella will be walking, talking, and causing even more trouble.

 I think the being more patient is going to be the thing I should work the hardest on.  I find that I get easily frustrated and then take things personally.

Losing the baby weight will be a big goal.  I don't have that much to lose, but I also really enjoy food now but, I also dislike working out.  So I am sure you can see that the last bit of weight will be challenging.

Starting school again is something I really want to do.  It's all a matter of balancing everything. I haven't yet found how I will be able to do that but, I know I can if I really set my mind to it.  I miss school, I was the kid that actually did like going to school...but, I was also the kid that didn't like to study ;)

Find a new job...I have been at my current job for about 2.5 years. I feel like my time there is coming to an end and it’s time to start a career.

Go to the park with Ella, this may seem like a silly thing, but I love the park.  Some of my favorite childhood memories stem from going to the park. The swings, the lake, the ducks, and the togetherness...what's not to like? I want Ella to enjoy things like this too. I feel like kids today are so consumed by technology that they don't enjoy the minor things anymore.

Find a bigger place.  Well we need a bigger place, we are currently busting at the seams.  Not only that, but we're also not in the best of neighborhoods.  I hate buying a house is so difficult now.  They look into EVERYTHING. They pretty much want you to give them your soul....I am just hoping that when our lease comes due we can either find a nice little town home to rent, or a bigger apartment.  I don't think we're exactly in the position to flat out buy a home.

Be more organized, well that's easy enough.  I am a clutter bug, Devin can tell you that.  The problem is he kind of is too.  I feel like I always say "well we don't have any space" is that really the issue?? Or am I making excuses? Bottom line...I need to try and be more organized.

Improve my writing skills; I think this is on here only because of this blog.  I don't think that many people actually read this...I think they just come here for the pictures.  I used to love writing in fact; when I was young I wanted to be an author.  I suppose as I got older I just stopped.  Now when I write I feel like it is all jumbled and could use a good proof read. So I guess I just want to brush up on my skills...which would go hand in hand with going back to school :)

Get back into photography.  There was once a time where I was going to school for graphic design/ photography.  I loved taking photo's and would never be anywhere without a camera.  I didn't take photos of people. Typically, I took pictures of nature.  I took pictures of random objects. I took pictures of things I thought were beautiful.  Things I felt other people were too "busy" to see.  My photography teacher said I had an amazing gift.  Well that gift seems to have left me as well.  I miss photography, I miss the excitement I would feel when I’d here the shutter click.  I miss going over and over hundreds of pictures just to find one I liked.  I liked some of my photos because they had feeling.  You could usually tell the mood I was in by the picture that I would take :) I guess I just miss being so passionate about something.  

I think a part of me is scared to get back into school, photography, and writing because of the fear of failure. Perhaps this year I won't be so afraid. 

I saved the first for last, to be a better mom/significant other. I have an explanation for this but I feel as if it will go on forever.  Mostly, I just want to be the best for my family.  I want to feel like I provide more for my family.  I also want to make sure that I don't take them for granted. My little family is more than I could have ever asked for and, I feel so lucky to have them. I would like to work on the ten things above for them and, for me.  

This was much longer than I intended it to be, looks like I got a bit carried away.  This post was intended to show off Ella in her New Years outfit my mom and dad got her.

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So, from my family to yours Happy New Years

&

Good Luck with the resolutions ;)

Crawling Bug

I am not sure if this is the best video to share of her crawling but, it is the shortest :) Trying to keep it short and sweet here.  She's still a bit rusty at it..but still she's crawling.  Each day is a new adventure for her.  Like yesterday, when she got into the cat food.  She goes a short distance stop, push herself into a sitting position, and rest.  

Omm Nom Nom

Feeding Ella gets a bit challenging every now and then.  Tonight was one of those nights.

As I was putting the spoon up to her mouth, she decided it was a perfect time to rub her eyes. 

And again...just to make sure she REALLY rubbed it in there.

So naturally after making a really big mess, daddy gave her a bath! 

She has been trying to crawl in the tub...

I like that her belly is so big I don't have to edit the picture :)

Ooh The Weekend

We were all very busy this weekend.  My mom and dad came to visit and, that is always fun :) We always enjoy when they visit and are always sad to see them leave.  I wish that my parents lived closer so that we could see them more...but we take what we can get.  Ella loves her Grandparents and they just spoil her like crazy.  Sadly I didn't get a new picture of her with them :( 

Anyway, we went out to Surprise to see cousin Maddox and go to Melodee's baby shower.  Ella of course was a hit as she decided that would be the perfect day to find her voice.  She was very vocal the entire time squealing and "talking" and scooting around the ground.  

We also opened Great Grandma Bonnie, and Great Grandpa Merle's Christmas gifts.  They were so sweet and sent us all some new clothes, and some toys for Ella.  She loves her new singing tea pot.  I think she gets upset that the "snacks" aren't real.  We also received Ella's very first Christmas ornament with her picture on it, which is absolutely beautiful. 

Crawling...

An update on little Miss. Ella...She is now a crawler...yes, my little girl is now on the move.  I am terrified, saddened, thrilled, and proud.  All of these emotions for this very BIG mile stone.  We have been encouraging her now for what seems to be weeks...taunting her with toys, pushing her feet, and constantly having her on the floor.  Last night she decided she would take off.  I am so proud and happy for her, yet I felt an overwhelming amount of sadness.  Choking back some tears, I thought to myself...time is just really NOT on my side.  It seems like just yesterday we were brining home this tiny fragile baby. I guess now is the time that the baby proofing begins, as I know she will be into EVERYTHING...she already is.  For now, her favorite thing is crawling a short distance and then sitting up to take a break.

This obviously isn't of her crawling..but it's one I took yesterday.  I will upload a video of her at some point.  

Hello...

So, I am not sure how I will do with this whole blogging thing..but it seems like a good way for family to keep up with day to day things. So I figure I will give it a whirl and see how I like it.

I suppose I should start out with a bit of a background.....

Devin and I met almost two years ago, and in that time so much has happened to completely change our lives.

  May 29 we welcomed the most beautiful little girl.  Ella is our little ray of sunshine and, I can't imagine my life without her.  She continues each day to show me how beautiful life is, and feel like the luckiest person in the world.  At almost 8 months she's babbling, crawling, bouncing, sitting, clapping, and constantly laughing.  She's the happiest baby I have ever met.  Ella has a wonderful little personality and LOVES attention.  She loves her food,  blankets, and playing peek-a-boo with mommy and daddy.  I can already tell she's going to be trouble once she figures out how to walk...so she'll keep us on our toes which is probably a good thing ;) 

I don't know how much I will really get on here and write, or who will even read this...So that's why I decided to keep this first entry short and sweet!