Getting Life Back To Normal...

To recap...we spent the week at the lake last week...since we had a baby-sitter for Tuesday night...Josh and I went out and saw a movie...although Ella was in bed long before we left...since Josh is on night shift we went to the latest movie...which started at 9:40pm (I realllly like being in bed by 9:30!) So before the movie we took the dogs for a walk and then headed over to the theater...we went and saw Spiderman in 3D...I have to say...I really liked it...it was over 2 hours long...but the time flew by...and I stayed awake for the whole thing...that's impressive in itself!

July 4th was good...Josh had to work...so he missed the fireworks...and I am grateful to say that Ella slept through them..so Mom, Dad, and I sat out on the deck of the condo and watched them...it was great...and once they were over we could go inside and go right to bed...there was no battling traffic involved!

Thursday...once again...we had a baby-sitter! Josh has been wanting me to do a "ride-along" with him....which has been pretty much impossible...but now we had someone to watch Ella....

We put her in the care of Grandpa....

(and Grandma too)....looks like they survived just fine! :)

I drove to Lynchburg and Josh picked me up in his cruiser :) I rode with him for about 4 hours...and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it...I was a little disappointed there wasn't more action....most of downtown had just gotten their power back...so people were inside...which I suppose was just as well! We got to go on a few calls and I was allowed to get out with him...I got to experience the type of people he gets to deal with (I can see how that would get old fast!) All in all it was fun...oh there was one call where there were 2 dogs at large...I said, "What does that mean?"...to which Josh replied, "that means there are two dogs out and we have to go catch them." Then I found out it was a pit bull and a rottweiler...I opted to stay in the car for that call! I said there is no way you are getting me out of this car...but thankfully it was an easy fix...the owners of the dogs were at home and were on their way to go pick them up....no dog-chasing had to be done :)

On Friday we moved back to our house in the afternoon...we finally had power back...

We've gotten Ella back on her routine...which has been helpful...she's been super super clingy...but I think she is actually getting a tooth...it looks like it is making it's way up...and I think that might be what has been bothering her.

We went to Romp N Roll on Saturday...and church on Sunday...I had nursery so Ella and I went in together...she was very upset every time I held another baby...she would come over to me and put her head down on my lap and cry and cry...this is that clingy thing I was talking about!

We came home...and got her to walk...she's taking more and more steps every day (excuse the mess...this is before I cleaned and picked up this afternoon...our house was looking like the wind came through our living room!)

We tried a new dish with Ella today...I did a delicious chicken dish in the crockpot today...it was chicken, italian dressing, italian seasoning, parm cheese, baby carrots, and red potatoes...cooked on low for 6 hours...I took some out and mushed it up a little for her to eat...she LOVED it!

Tomorrow we get back into the swing of things...

No power!

Whew...so lets see...

Ella is 13 months now...and taking more and more steps...still not "walking" yet...but definitely takes at least 10 steps at a time...then drops to her knees and does a "run-crawl"...we've tried a variety of new things...she had some Chinese rice and noodles...which she ate...but it didn't stay down for long :( Maybe not a fan of Chinese food?? (I don't like Chinese food either...maybe she will take after me!) She loves cheese, I've tried egg a few different ways...in the form of an omlet and also hard-boiled...she hated both and spit it out. I did some more avacado...again...spit it out. She likes turkey...bread...pickles...rotissere chicken (she really liked that).

She has been "swimming" a few more times...which really means it's mom holding her and she gets to splash....she loves it. We tried giving her a bath in the tub...instead of her infant tub...she had the biggest meltdown she has ever had....she did NOT like that...she likes her little tub...needless to say...she doesn't like change....

We got hit by an awful storm which you have all heard about...I was so thankful Josh was home...he was supposed to actually work that night...but decided since he had time off that he would take Friday off (decided about 2 weeks before the storm)....we were downstairs when the storm swooped in...it sounded like a train...I looked at my phone as I get weather alerts on my phone...and 10 alerts popped up...saying to expect winds 75-80 mph...and then we lost power...oh...and it was also the hottest weekend of the summer....about 105 degrees. Josh quickly made the decision that we should move Ella down to the basement...so we set her pack and play up and ran upstairs and got her....which she was already sitting up and awake since the storm was so loud. She wouldn't go into her pack and play...so it was Josh, Ella, Brinly, Bella, and I all piled on our bed downstairs...the wind was so strong it kept blowing open our doors....we were very fortunate to have only lost one tree in our backyard...a tree that was already dead....we had neighbors down the road that had a tree fall on their car...we saw a tree on a camper and of course...a gazillion trees on power lines! The next morning (Saturday)...we decided we were getting out of the HOT house...so we packed up and went to Panera...Josh had a paper he needed to finish up. Of course half of Lynchburg had the same idea :) Finally in the afternoon...Josh said why don't you, Ella, and the dogs go to the lake to your parents house...at least there is a pool there that you can go in (they also didn't have power)....so that is what we did (Josh had to work)...we went to the pool....and then sweltered for the rest of the evening...it was a restless sleep for all. Sunday morning we sat in the hot house...and then went and did errands...after not being able to take much more...and with all the talk of it being 5-7 days before power was restored....Mom and I went on the hunt to find something...we tried hotels...nothing...then turned to condo's for rent...success!!! A condo with power, and the ability to take a shower! :) We went to our house on July 3rd...still no power...we cleaned out the fridge (Josh wore his gas mask from work...haha....wish I had a picture of that!) Our area is the last on the list for power to be restored...they are estimating July 7th...ugh! But at least we have a place to go.

A few pictures/video's over the last few weeks...I need to take some more!


Ella loves her puppies!

This is Ella and her friend Neko at Neko's house a few weeks ago!

Catching Up...

I feel like I am on the run all the time!!

I can't even remember everything that has happened in the last few weeks...

We have made the switch to Ella drinking all milk now (no more spending $30 a week on formula....yay!) We took almost 3 weeks to transition completely...started with just one formula bottle being replaced with a milk bottle...and just over the few weeks switched out another bottle, and another bottle, and so on...She is still spoiled and still has her bottle...the Doctor said to start transitioning her to a "sippy cup"...but she just doesn't get how to drink out of it...and I have tried different brands, etc. So she has a cup of water that she has access to all day...and will take little sips of water here and there.

Along with the transition of switching to milk...she has been trying more "big girl food"...her majority of food is still baby food...but she has had some other things...I made shepherds pie last week...and she ate a little of it (still not a fan of mashed potatoes)...she likes cheese and I have also given her little pieces of deli meats...a little bit of cucumber...mushy things :)

Ella still goes to Romp N' Roll on Saturday mornings and she just loves it! She also had two play dates last week (this is why I feel like I am always on the run!) She has a busier social life than I do!

Josh just switched back to "Night Rotation" :( He was excited about it though....he doesn't love the heat...and with the day's getting up into the 90's...he was actually looking forward to going back to nights! He's still working on his Master's as well...will be finishing up one class in a few weeks...and he has another one starting on Monday (they overlap for 2 weeks).

Ella is just on the move all the time...she doesn't sit still...which does make for good "nap-times"...she usually conks out for a good 1.5 hours in the morning and in the afternoon! The hard part about her being on the move is it is hard to go anywhere! For our anniversary we went to Roanoke and brought Ella with us...we went to Red Lobster for lunch...we turned into "those parents!" Although really...Ella was very well behaved...she wasn't being loud or screaming at all...she just didn't want to sit...she wanted to be up and moving around! So we had to take turns occupying her! She's gotten to be very chatty in the past week or so....she just babbles on and on...saying who knows what! The only words I can make out are "dada" and "mama."

Ella got to go swimming for the first time on Sunday...Josh was working...so Ella and I packed up and headed to Smith Mountain Lake (but she went swimming in the pool).

 

Ready to go hit the pool!

Sunscreen is on....

The consensus....she loved it! 

The next big milestone...she took steps!! Lots of steps! I came home Tuesday night from work...Josh had picked Ella up...I went and changed out of my work clothes and came back upstairs...I sat down on the floor with Ella and I was talking to her...and I had her standing up and I was letting her jump up and down while I was holding her...and I let go...and she just started taking steps towards Josh...she probably took about 10 or so...and then of course wouldn't do it again for the rest of the night. So this morning...we got her to do it again....only a few steps...but Josh caught it on camera...

Well that's been it in a nut-shell....the goose is sleeping...so that means it's treadmill time.

Shakin' it!

The girl has got the moves...she "dances" all the time now!! Anytime there is music on she starts to dance. Josh was carrying her and an upbeat song started...she started dancing in his arms...bobbing up and down...I was feeding her dinner last night and asked Josh to turn off the music because Ella was hopping all around - she couldn't focus to eat. Maybe a future in music??

Walking (with help!)

Ella is so close to walking...she can do it...with a little help...

This was on Sunday...we came home from church (and Josh put her in this NON-MATCHING outfit)...it wasn't worth trying to change her...from what I hear I will be in for it when she wants to dress herself (I must remember to pick and choose my battles!)

So yes...she thinks she is hot stuff walking around with her little walker!

Pictures! (and a cold!)

We've got some pictures!!! And poor little Ella has a cold and a little fever...she is still in pretty good spirits though...playing away! She got to try some "big people" food tonight...she got to have a few bites of some enchiladas...she liked it!

 

I tried to narrow it down...there were about 75 great shots to choose from...these are a few favorite ones!!

June Already!

The days are beginning to blend together! Ella keeps me so busy...from 6:30am-7:00pm that girl is on the go! Let's see...Memorial Day - Josh had to work...so it was Ella and I on our own...we stayed home and kept ourselves busy...we did venture out to Target to get out of the house...Ella needed some new PJ's...she has gotten taller and all those 9 month PJ's were just starting to get a little too tight...so we did what we do best...went shopping! :) After Target, Josh called...he had a little break and we were able to meet for lunch.

Ella had her 1 year check-up on Wednesday...18lbs and 10oz (the Doctor said...well Ella has never been the biggest girl on the block!) and 29.5 inches long...she did have a 3 inch growth spurt since her 9 month appointment...lucky girl...she'll be tall and thin hopefully :) We talked about foods, and milk, etc...what we can give her now that she is a year old...so the possibilities are now endless! She has tried quite a few new things this week...she had some sugar free/fat free chocolate pudding...which she thought was good stuff! She got to try a "snack bar"...which is made by Earth's Best Organics...it's basically like a Nutri-Grain bar...but a kid's version...it was strawberry...that was a little messy as I had to cut it up and she managed to squish a lot of it in her hair :) She has also had some peaches cut up, I mashed a banana up at lunch today...I was having a sweet potato with hummus on it (I got the idea from a co-worker...and it was soooo good) so I mashed a little bit of that up and Ella tried that...she wasn't quite the fan of the sweet potato...it was a different texture than what she was expecting! She had some Sweet Frog frozen yogurt...she has had that before...but I let her have a few more bites than usual!

We went to Romp N Roll yesterday...which she always has fun at. Josh went shooting with a friend yesterday at the Isaac Walton League (a park nearby that he joined which has a shooting range) so Ella and I played at home. Anything she can do standing up is her favorite thing...as long as she can stand up and hold onto something then she is a happy girl!

Today was church...Ella has such a hard time going to the nursery...I think because it is always different people...so she cries and cries and is very serious...doesn't smile or "talk" at all...then as we were walking out to the car and it was just the two of us...she was "talking" up a storm! Must be she saved it all just for me :)

Here she is dancing around one of the kitchen chairs...a favorite of hers!

Often when I go to wake her up...she is sleeping just like a little inchworm...bottom straight up in the air!