Lonely Week.

So this being a single mom thing is NOT fun! Ella and I both eagerly await Josh's homecoming on Friday!

Lets back-track a few days....I heard about some great deals at Old Navy....so on Saturday...oh wait...let's back-track a few more days....the Xterra was due for a state inspection...so Josh brought it on Wednesday to go have it inspected and the oil changed...and guess what...it got rejected :( It needs a new muffler (just what I wanted to spend money on right before Christmas!) soooo....back to the story...on Saturday morning...the Xterra had an appointment to get a new muffler...so we dropped that off...and then Josh wanted to get a hair cut before leaving for GA...so we went and got that done. Sometimes Ella and I stay in the car and sometimes we go in (it's a Barber Shop)...but this time we went in...well Ella really doesn't like loud noises...and they use a "hair vacuum"....she didn't like that noise...especially when they used it on her Daddy...she kept watching him and yelling, "Daddy!" She had to make sure he was ok! So THEN we went to Old Navy....and I stocked up on some things for Ella...they had shirts on sale (still from Black Friday) for $4....and as fast as Ella grows out of her clothes...that was a deal to me! So we got shirts galore, a pair of pants, and a dress...and Josh picked up some shirts as well. So while Ella napped...I went downstairs and started wrapping :) Although we aren't going to put anything under the tree until Christmas morning...if she sees it earlier I think she will want to unwrap it!

Sunday we all went to church and then right after Josh headed out to GA...of course neither one of us thought about it being a really busy travel day as people were headed home after the Thanksgiving break...so unfortunately it added about 2 extra hours to his trip. However, he finally made it...and has had a good week. He has learned lots and passed his big test.

Monday - the usual. I went to work. Ella went to the sitters. The end. Oh wait...well just about normal...Sunday night....at 2:15am....I woke up out of a deep sleep to a loud THUD. Which I was already on edge for being home by myself...and I immediately thought, "this isn't right!!" But then I heard..."uh-oh"...."UH-OH"....hmmmm....why is Ella awake?? So I go upstairs into her room...and she is WIDE AWAKE....jumping around her crib and laughing. She is allowed 2 things in her crib...a little lovey that she has...and seahorse....which you push his belly and it's a light and has a little music that plays....well seahorse went flying through the air...hence the THUD. So I picked seahorse back up, put it into the crib, laid her back down, told her it was time to go to sleep, turned her music back on...and went back downstairs....well the hysterical crying began...and didn't stop...she kept it up for about 30 minutes...finally I came back upstairs...picked her up, changed her, got her a sip of water, gave her some motrin (maybe her teeth hurt??), put orajel on her gums, rocked her for a bit, turned the music back on and laid her back down...I went back downstairs...and again...crying....but only lasted about 10 minutes before she gave it up and fell asleep....so perfect...I was up from 2:15 to 3:30...thanks Ella! So that was actually Sunday night...so MONDAY night...I forgot to add this earlier....Ella was crabbbbbby!!! Super cranky...I told Josh she was in one of the worst moods I have ever seen her in. Absolutely nothing made her happy. At one point she brought me her teething medicine....carrying the tube in her mouth...she was trying to put it on herself...so I took the tube....and put some on my fingers so I could rub it on her gums...well I put my fingers in her mouth to put the orajel on...and Ella bit down...immediately hot tears sprung to my eyes...it hurt sooooooooooooooo bad....I couldn't believe it didn't break the skin...but I had two really deep teeth marks on my fingers. The worst pain I have had in a really long time. I don't think it was intentional on her part...she just wanted relief from her teeth hurting her...and took it out on me :(

So Tuesday...was a little better...still did the same routine...but not as much grumpiness. Ella never woke up Monday night....but I woke up at 4am and couldn't fall back asleep...so Tuesday felt like a really long day...I couldn't wait for bed Tuesday night!

Here is Ella being a little silly...

 

Although she did have one melt-down as I was picking her up at the sitters...she had a babydoll in her hand...that wasn't hers...and I made her give it back before we left...yeah that turned into a melt-down! And she did have to have a few time-outs over the past few days....she has turned into a hitter...which is NOT ok! 

So onto Wednesday....whew....can you see why I can't wait for Josh to be back!

It was Romp N' Roll day today...Ella LOVES it there. She really comes out of her shell there....and just has the best time playing....and is always well behaved. So after we left there...it was Ella's 18 month check-up....she weighs 20lbs and 13oz...still tiny....but 31 1/4 inches tall...so long and skinny! Everything else was great. I just love Ella's Doctor there....she is so good at putting Ella at ease...not that Ella appreciates that yet...but Ella had her beloved stuffed puppy with her that lately goes everywhere with her...and Dr. Gagen was so sweet...she did everything on "puppy" first before doing it on Ella...listened to puppy's heartbeat...and then Ella's...looked at puppy's ears...and then Ella's....looked at puppy's eyes...and then Ella's....I was very impressed by her doing that...and thought it was very sweet as I know not every Doctor in that practice would do that. So then came the shots...which were given by the one nurse that I don't care for there. We have only seen her one other time...but she is my least favorite (extremely not friendly and very quick)...so Ella had to get two shots...and she did them both in the same leg...which Ella has always gotten them...one in each leg instead of in the same leg...but I didn't really think anything of it. So we left, stopped at the grocery store on the way home, and then came home. We had lunch, Ella played, and then I put her down for a nap. After her nap I got her up, carried her to her chair where she had her milk and a snack. I took her out of her chair and put her on the ground and walked into the living room to start picking up. Well Ella started crying...and I was like come on Ella just come into the living room...but I wasn't really paying attention...lately her mood has been so grouchy...I just thought she was being difficult...so I continued cleaning...and after about 5 minutes she was still crying...so I peeked around the corner and she is standing on on leg and won't put any weight on her leg that got the shots. So I get really close to her and get down on the ground...and try to get her to take a few steps towards me...she starts to but falls onto the ground hysterically crying...so I thought..hmmm well maybe her leg is asleep...and it's all tingly...that's not a good feeling....so I pick her up and hold her for a few minutes...I look at her leg...where her shots were given...everything looks just fine...it's not red or swollen, etc. So I bring her back to the living room and set her down...still the same thing...won't walk on it, won't put any weight on it....and now she doesn't even want me to touch her leg...still crying hysterically. (which this has never happened before with other shots)....so I call the Doctor's office...talk to a nurse...explain the situation....the nurse says...just give her some motrin, put an ice pack on her leg and just really baby her for an hour...and then see how she does....so I do that whole routine, she gets motrin, I get an ice pack out, I put her up on the couch with me and we cuddle for a while watching Veggie Tales....after about 30 minutes...I test it out...still won't walk. I set her up on the floor with books and some toys....we play for a bit...try walking again....still won't do it....by this point I have called Josh and he is ready for me to take her to the ER! I was like no, no, no....I really think her leg just hurts from the shots...I don't think anything is actually WRONG with her....but shots hurt....I'm sure she is just being dramatic....so long story short..she finallllly starts limping around...and a little while later running around...by the time it was bedtime...she was even dancing to Veggie Tales and having a good ole time...I think she's over it! Hopefully when she wakes up in the morning it will feel better!

Whew - I feel like I have typed a novel...a lot has happened this week! That's the low down so far...we'll see how the next few days go!

 

Wrapping up the week....

Josh has had the entire week off! However, he leaves on Sunday to go to Georgia for the week...so we've enjoyed spending time together as a family before he's gone.

Monday - I worked, Ella went to the sitters, and Josh did stuff that he wanted to do (reloading ammo, visiting his old work, stopping to get a milk-shake!)

Tuesday - I went to work while Josh had Daddy Care. He did a great job...and he actually took Ella (all on his own - it was his idea!) to Thomas Road - to go play on their indoor playground. He said she did pretty good...but she needs to work on her social skills a bit...which I thought that meant she was shy...but no...when the other kids who were playing there got to close to them she was trying to push them away...throwing punches! So we will work on that!

Wednesday - we all went to Romp 'n Roll together. Oh, but before we went...right around 8:30 - the power went out. Which it was a clear gorgeous day...so we weren't sure why it went out. At least my hair was dry...I wasn't able to straighten all of it...so I had to wear it half pulled back. I wanted to run to the store to pick up a few things...but I didn't because I wasn't sure if the power would be back on by the time we got home....which....it wasn't. Finally around 12:30 it came back on...so I went and  did my errands then. I made a peanut butter pie to bring over to Mom and Dad's for Thanksgiving. Which Josh insisted we try before bringing it over...you know...just to make sure it was good!

Ella knows the word, "bite"...and if you have something she wants..she will yell, "BITE" until you give her a bite. And come to find out...she really likes peanut butter pie!

Thursday - Thanksgiving Day! We got up in the morning and headed over to the lake. We feasted on good food (steak and chicken on the grill). Had 3 different kinds of pie. Went to the park for a beautiful walk (where we got to see a horse drawn carriage -they were out for a ride!) and play on the fun playground. Ella got to hang out with Grandma and Grandpa for a bit, while Josh and I went on a date to the movies (to see the final Twilight movie - Josh was thrilled!)

Our day in pictures...

Ella went full-speed all day....we got in the car to head home a few minutes after 7...and she was asleep within minutes! We drove through Lynchburg right around 7:50...and it looked like it was gearing up to be some crazy shopping...we avoided that!

Friday - time to decorate the tree! I wanted to clean some first before putting the tree up...so we did that for an hour this morning...and then Josh brought up the tree. Ella really wasn't sure what to think of it....she watched Josh put it together and just stood back. Then he went and got the ornaments...and had her come stand next to him while he showed her how to put them on the tree....well she just lit right up. That was the best thing ever!! She was grabbing an ornament and running over to the tree where she just set the ornament on the branch....and then went running back to the couch to get another ornament....and running back to the tree...she was having a blast!

 

That was fun! After the tree decorating we went into town to get a few things that Josh wanted and to hit the grocery store....the store was so empty...it was great! It was again about 65 today...so Josh and a few friends went to the shooting range by our house...he was in 7th Heaven! 

And that's been our week in a nutshell! 

I'm constantly asking Ella what a cow says...I just love hearing her "mmoooo!" I don't think she's picked up on any new words this week...she has however gotten a little picky on how her food is served to her. I normally cut up whatever she is going to eat into small pieces (like her sandwich)...well when I cut it up she wouldn't eat it! So I cut a strip of it and handed it to her....which she ate just fine...so she no longer likes little baby bites...she wants to be a big girl! (With Mommy or Daddy right by her side watching her!)

Oh - Josh did install her new car seat today. So she is now forward facing...we actually put it in rear facing to begin with - but her legs are too long and she couldn't stretch the out - so he changed it to forward facing...and let me tell you what..she thought she was hot stuff!! The biggest smile from ear to ear!

Ella's Adventures

So as I told the story before of Ella holding her crackers down too low...and the dogs grabbing them....here is Bella getting brave...

After the dog tries to take it (which sometimes they do get it) - she yells, "No! Mine!" And yes...she is totally wearing a tu-tu....Josh really isn't a fan of it and hates when she wears it out in public...but I think it's super cute!

Ella knows the word, "book," she will pick up a book and bring it over to one of us and say the word, and then she wants to sit down with us and look through it...sometimes she likes us to read it or she will "read" it to us.

Josh and I  often sing the, "ABC's" to Ella - especially before bed...or during bath time...but we usually sing it to her at least once a day...well tonight while Josh was brushing her hair after bath time, and I was folding her laundry....Ella starts singing all on her own...and while it wasn't the REAL ABC's....it was her gibberish...it was definitely the right tune of the ABC's....it was quite cute!

Ella has mastered what a cow says...

She actually sees cows when she is at the sitters house...there is a farm behind their house...which I am sure will be bought up soon and more houses built...but for now...she gets to see cows!

She also knows how to say "Hello"....

Ella is also a bit of a drama queen....maybe gets that from me! :) The other day...she starts yelling, "eeewww! eeewww!" I had no idea why she was yelling this...and she runs over and grabs her baby-doll and runs back over to the baseboard in the living room...where there is a lady-bug and she begins to hit the ladybug with her doll! And tonight she saw a stinkbug in the kitchen and came running to me, I picked her up and she clung onto me for dear life....she wouldn't let me put her down...she kept yelling, "noooo!" each time I tried.

Poor Ella had her first gagging experience tonight...she has molars coming in...and I gave her a teething ring to chew on...well she dropped it and before I could pick it up to wash it off...it was back in her mouth...but it must have had dog hair on it. And she was trying to get the dog hair out of her mouth and she was doing this gag thing...so I was trying to help her...and Josh was sitting on the couch...saying..."she's going to throw up"....which I was like oh my word..no she's not...not over a dog hair...so I was trying to get her water...when sure enough....she gagged and threw up...it was just fantastic! I totally didn't expect it! We then had bath time! :)

I think that wraps up our Ella adventures from the past few days..I did get her to try a few bites of salmon at lunch today...that was a first...she ate only a few bites and wouldn't eat anymore...although she did eat quite a bit of my portobello mushroom on Saturday...she's getting braver in what she eats! 

39 Days Left Until Christmas!

So I am very much in the Christmas spirit! Last weekend we made a quick trip to the lake...to get some pictures done for our Christmas Card! I am almost done Christmas shopping....now time to decorate and start wrapping! Our neighbors have their tree up already!

Last weekend we enjoyed 70 degree weather everyday...now we're back to the 40's/50's...booo! I took Ella "coat shopping" yesterday...that went over like a lead balloon...she was excited to put it on...and then she was trying to yank it off and squawking in the store...so I said forget this...she instead gets wrapped up in a blanket when we walk to the car. Once she's in her car seat she really wouldn't be able to wear a coat - they are just too bulky...so we run the heat and she keeps her blanket on her.

Ella has learned some new things...

1) She can now stand up in her crib on her tippy toes and stretch as far as she can and she can reach the light-switch. We discovered this on Monday. Josh went to go in and get her...he came back out and said, "did you already go in and turn Ella's light on?" To which I replied that I had not. Then again this morning...we were walking down the hall to get her and sure enough...underneath the door we could see that the light was on....she's sneaky! Time to move the crib over so she can't reach that anymore!

2) Ella has learned how to say, "Hello,"...more specifically this morning she picked up Josh's phone, turned it on (the light), put it up to her ear and said, "hello." Well it was in her baby-talk so it wasn't as clear as a bell...but you could tell that was exactly what she was saying...that was something new this morning!

3) Ella is now really into her crackers...and tonight she was walking around eating one. Well, she takes a bite, and then holds her hand down by her side....which is the perfect height for the dogs! And Bella is a brave little chihuahua. Bella snatched that cracker out of her hand so fast. To which Ella yelled "NO!!" and started chasing Bella yelling, "No! No!" What a good girl! :)

Ella is really on a "mine" stage right now. I'm sure this was picked up at the sitters! Having 4 kids all right between 1 1/2 - 3...everyone probably thinks the toy is theirs!

Ella's favorite thing at Romp 'N Roll this week was the trampoline. They have a little mini one...and she thought she was hot stuff. She kept running over to it to jump on it.

Josh was busy this weekend (along with his fellow co-workers)....(check out the link below to see)

http://www.wset.com/story/20067716/nc-man-arrested-in-bedford-for

Well everyone likes to look at new pictures...so here are some from last weekend in the beautiful weather!

Overdue!

I feel like I have been in a whirlwind the past few weeks!

My cold is gone...Josh caught a mild version of what I had...his is gone. Ella also had another mini cold...and thankfully she is over that too!

Ella is working on cutting some molars right now...her mouth has just exploded with teeth! Thankfully she has been very good through it and not too fussy!

Let's see..the highlights over the past few weeks....we went to Virginia Beach...we met Josh's parents there for a long weekend...that was fun! (a little on the chilly side - but still fun). We visited an aquarium, a big mall that had a carousel in it, outlet shopping, pawn shops, good food, and our Ella's first ocean experience!

 

Ella had a fantastic time at the aquarium...and loved looking at all the fish, and getting to push buttons (it's very interactive for kids). 

Today Grandma and Grandpa came over and went to Rompy's house with Ella and I! (Romp 'n Roll).

 We had a great time!

I have been making good progress in my Christmas shopping! :) I bought Ella a pair of Christmas PJ's today...for her to open on Christmas eve...that will be a tradition that I want to do...getting new PJ's to open every Christmas eve.

Ella loves her Baby Doll...she was given a few things from one of the girls I work with...and one of the items is a little bottle (to feed a baby doll)...and Ella just loves it...she is always feeding her doll, rocking her doll, singing to her doll, wrapping her doll up in a blanket....so for Christmas she is getting a few "doll" related things...she is girly through and through!!

Ella is very much in a repeating stage....so there are words that we say...that she will repeat and has started to add to her everyday vocabulary.

Not too many new foods...she is a very picky eater! We've added ritz crackers (whole wheat)...she got those at the sitters and loves them. I do a lot of the "pouches"...its a mix of veggie/fruit purees...and she eats it out of the pouch...it's still pureed and I would like her to eat the real thing....but I rather her eat the pureed kind versus not eating it at all. She has gotten into eggs...she likes those....so I am still working on it...we give her (or try to give her) bites of whatever we are eating...sometimes she'll eat it just fine...other times she will spit it right out :)