Sleeeep

Mama is happy to say that she got 10 hours of much needed sleep last night! Ella always gets about 12 every night...but she has a cold (again!) - we're on day 12 of this cold...it's really not that bad...just the cough...and it's always the coughing in the middle of the night...she actually sleeps through it..and coughs during her sleep...but it keeps me awake and I often get up to go check on her, etc...so the night before I had about 4 hours of sleep...so last night I was ready to crash! Josh actually had a "guys night out" with his work friends...so I read for a few minutes and then I was out!

So I think all Ella needs for Christmas is a cardboard box...for the past 45 minutes she has just been happy as a clam sitting in a cardboard box playing with a few toys!

I think today we are going to upgrade to the next level of car seat for Ella...she will still face backwards but it will no longer be the infant seat.

This morning I've been battling her strong will...teaching her we don't hit. We'll see how it goes!

Here's a little video of Ella saying her favorite word....

Here is Ella fresh out of the tub...after her Daddy just gave her a bath....

Another picture from Vermont....(the whole family!)

 

Ella does understand quite a bit of things we tell her (haha - except for "no" - she may understand but chooses not to listen!) - but she knows what her water cup is and where she is allowed to set it after taking a drink, if I say, "Ella please come here" - she comes running over, if I hold my arms out she comes running over for a hug, etc....it's fun to watch her learn these new things!

15 months!

Well the little girl is 15 months old (as of August 24th) - so we celebrated today by going to her 15 month check-up! :) Ella weighs in a whopping 19lbs and 8 oz...man not even to 20lbs yet! And she is 30.5 inches long...still in the 25th percentile...which she has stayed in for quite some time...so she's on target! The Doctor said she needs to start eating more "big girl" food and less "baby food"...did I mention that Ella still doesn't have any teeth! So those big girl foods need to be mushy...so after her appointment we went and got some mushy foods that weren't baby food (mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, broccoli soup, etc)...so she didn't have any baby food at lunch today! :) Of course we followed up her appointment with some shots! I turned down the flu shot...but I did give her the two vaccinations.

Ella is just on the move all the time...I think I had said that she says the word shoe...well not only can she say shoe...she is in LOVE with her shoes!! She carries them around all the time...and if they are out of her reach she will fuss until someone gets them for her. I ordered two pair of stride rite shoes as that is supposed to be a great brand for kids, etc...so we got those in the mail last week...here she is wearing one pair and checking out the second pair...

 

 She also loves to try and put them on herself (which she can't do)...but she will try...this was right before bed this past weekend...

 

Lets see...oh Ella is "driving" already...

Or so she thinks she is....she was showing Dad how it's done (in our driveway) - they were waiting for me to switch the car seat. 

Josh is back in town...makes life easier when there are two of us taking care of Ella! I do a lot of the morning routine and dinner routine...and he often will do bath time and bedtime. 

Little family picture from when we were up in Vermont!

It was chilly and rainy here this past weekend...felt almost like Fall! So I made some pumpkin muffins...Ella approved...she helped eat them right up!

Well the goose just woke up from her nap time...

Long Week!

So I have decided...juggling work, an almost 15 month old, and 2 chihuahua's all by myself for a week is a lot of work! A LOT of work! :) Thankfully we had a decent routine down...of course it meant that I had to get up at 5:30 every morning to make sure I was completely ready before Ella woke up...because once she wakes up...the girl is on the move!!

Things we did while I wasn't working...hung out around the house :) Taking Ella anywhere right now is hard...she wants to be walking by herself...so we hung out at home...and things Ella has learned this week...

She learned how to play with Lego's...

She had lots of fun with those...especially if I would build something and she could knock it over.

Ella found a cabinet that she can open and climb into...it's one of our smaller kitchen cabinets that doesn't have anything in it...it's right on the end so I can't keep it closed with a tie...so she can climb right into! She has discovered that she can climb the ramp that Josh built for Bella (to get up on the couch)...which she has gotten a little swat for climbing it...tonight I had to pick it up so she wouldn't go near it as she was choosing to ignore my "NO!"

Ella learned the word "shoe" today...it's so cute to hear her say it...she picked up a shoe this morning and said..."sshhhh shhhh ooooo"....quite cute :) She now says "bye" when waving good-bye.

Josh came home Friday night at 7pm...and was gone again on Saturday morning by 4:45am...wow! Now he's off to MotoGP in Indy this weekend. So Ella and I decided to go to the lake for the day. We hung out with Grandma...did some shopping...and then Grandpa was home from work...played for another hour...and then we were on our way home...

I think Ella had fun!!

Well time to go get some cleaning in...that only happens after Ella has gone to bed :)

Time for an Update...

I really haven't been on the computer much...Josh has had the laptop a lot because of his school work...and now he's already in Dallas (with the lap-top)...so I fired up the ole desk top (which it's been probably at least 6 months since it has been turned on)...I bet it's about 4 years old...and is so unbelievably slow...I feel like I am back on dial-up :)

So anyways...lets see...

Ella is such a busy bee!! On the go all the time...she loves to chase the dogs...which they don't love so much but put up with it :) I taught her yesterday how to "talk" into a paper towel tube...that was a bad idea...it  resulted in yelling in it! We went to Target yesterday...I used up all my patience by 10:30am...Ella has a hard time sitting in a cart now...she's at the age she knows she is mobile and wants to be down on the ground walking...so it was a long battle trying to keep her seated!

I have to say...she's a smart cookie...she can't really form words yet (a few here and there)...but I was testing her yesterday...and I would ask her to go "get" something...the keys, her shoes, her water, her monkey...all these things were in different places...I never pointed to where they were...I would just say, "Ella, can you go get your monkey?" And she would go to the bag where all her toys were and find the monkey, etc...that's my brag moment...go Ella!

I am still trying a "sippy cup"....Ella's 15 month appointment is in a few weeks...and I know the Doctor will not be happy that she is still drinking her milk from a bottle! She will drink water fine out of her cup...but milk...forget it...I've tried 4 different cups...all failures.

Ella has eczema on her arms...it comes and goes...it doesn't really seem to bother her...except for yesterday...actually last night...she kept itching it (which she never has done)...and itched it so much it was bleeding...I was so upset because I couldn't get her to stop itching it...and I put this cream on it that is recommended...I was trying to reason with a 14 month old on why she should stop itching it...it wasn't working!

Oh yeah...still no teeth!!! I can't believe it! They are there...so close to poking through...but they still haven't popped up yet!

Ella's favorite words right now....Dada, Mama (excessive use on that word!), Baby (we learned that in Vermont with the twins...and now everything is "baby"), doggy (we are working on making that a little clearer...but she knows what it is), mmmmm (she uses that when she has just put something in her mouth and it tastes good!), Baaaa (ask her what a sheep says...and she knows! That so far has been the only consistent animal sound we have had)...that's all I can think of right now.

Oh a fun Josh story...hahaha...so on Friday (his last day with Lynchburg)...he calls me on his way home...we're talking for a few minutes...I asked how his day went...and he said, "well...I had a bird poop on my shirt today...a nice big streak down my back...and noooo one told me...I saw it when I was changing out of my uniform at the end of the day." I at least had a good laugh out of that :)

I've got a cute video to post...however I am waiting until the laptop is back...I might be here til midnight trying to get it to load....hopefully I can get a few pictures on...(we spent the day at the lake today...)

 

She's a water baby for sure....we tried our first boat ride today...she was so scared of the life jacket...it was a short ride!

Pretend...

Ella is learning how to copy everything Mom and Dad do...

This is Ella...putting lotion on? Putting hand sanitizer on? Who knows...I put both on my hands often...and apparently Ella was watching me...as she also wants to do it!

So back to last week...Ella went to the sitters on Thursday...(her last day for a week...Beth has been on vacation this week). Friday, Ella and I went to Target to shop around (because I always am ready to get out of the house!) Josh had to work Friday night...so it was just Ella and I hanging out...and of course we got another nasty thunderstorm with high winds...I grabbed Ella and we went and camped out in the basement...it thankfully was a quick storm and blew over in about 25-30 minutes...but I still didn't like it! Saturday was low-key...the only outing I had was to the grocery store...Josh had just woken up...so he got to watch Ella for a few minutes while I ran to the store. Sunday was church...and Ella went straight into nursery...no fussing at all!!! YAY! (maybe that stage of clinging onto Mom and crying is over!!)

We also had a tea party this past weekend :)

Now Josh taught her that!

Josh watched Ella Monday and Tuesday as Beth is on vacation this week. Today it was just Ella and I...Josh is back on day-shift...so he's been gone all day. We have done some laundry and dishes! We did do a fun little outing to Target...haha...again...I love TARGET!

Ella has this book called, "Moo, Baa, La La La"...and it is her favorite book right now! She repeats everything you say...so she does the "moooo" and the "baaa" and the "la la la"...it is quite cute! If you tell her that you want a hug...she comes walking over both arms open wide. If I ask for a kiss, she will blow kisses. She can wave. We're working on saying "puppy"...she is constantly amused by them...and tries to get ahold of Bella to pick her up (we are discouraging that...telling her that we must be gentle with the puppies). She has just started holding her puffs over the edge of the high chair and dropping them (on purpose to give to the puppies)...and looks and me and says "uh oh" with a big smile on her face! She has a little bucket that she likes to put things into...like her shoes, or blocks, etc...and carries it up on her shoulder like a purse...she's so girly already!

Still no teeth...but I really believe that maybe by next week one will come through...I am so shocked it hasn't made it's way up yet...it's so close!

To Vermont and Back...

Well...We did it...a 12 hour trip to Vermont...there and back...and it went just fine...it really was only 12 hours...not 15 like the last time I went last Fall! :) It was actually easier at the age Ella is now....as opposed to her at 4 1/2 months old. We left on Monday afternoon...I worked for a few hours on Monday while Josh slept (he worked part of Sunday night)...and then we were on the road at about 1:00pm. We arrived in Vermont at 12:30am...not bad! Of course Ella woke up when we got there...and she was a busy bee...got down and walked around, had a snack...and then it was bedtime. We tried to put her in the pack and play...but everything was different...not what she was used to...so she screamed and cried every time we tried to put her into it...so she ended up sleeping between Josh and I...note how I said..she slept...Josh and I did not! I dozed off here and there...and caught little naps...but by 6:30am...Ella was up...not a great start to our week off!

To put our week into a shortened version...

Joy, Joe, and the 5 boys came over for 4 days, and Josh's Nana and Papa drove up from Texas while we all were there as well. So...yes...14 people all in one house...8 adults and 6 kids under the age of 5...we need a vacation from our vacation! We did however have a great time, and Ella misses having all her cousins around! Josh and I got to go visit my grandparents and Ella wasn't shy at all (which I was thankful for!) Ella and I went to go see our friends Scott and Cheri (again she wasn't shy there either!) We went to church and Ella got to meet a lot of new people! We visited Church St. in Burlington...and went out to lunch. We went to dinner for Josh's Dad's birthday. We got to do a little shopping. There were a few Dunkin Donuts runs (for their Iced Coffee....I miss that down here!) A photographer came to the house and did lots of family shots, the boys all went fishing, lots of swinging on the swing set outside, and lots of just hanging out with family!

A few pictures....

Swinging...which Ella loves!

 Silas and David...Ella learned how to say "baby"...she also tried to "rock" the babies by grabbing onto the handle and "rocking" it!

 Nanny and Nana loving on those boys!

 Church St.

Ella learned what a cow was....she could even "mooooo" to them!

We arrived back in VA at 2:30am...and we were in bed by 3am...and I was up at 6am to get ready for work...I was tired! Lucky me...I also caught a cold in Vermont...so I am still battling that almost a week later...I just can't seem to shake it! Ella was very quick to settle back into her routine!

The puppies came back to our house today after being with their grandparents at the lake for 3 weeks! They are excited to be home...and Ella enjoyed seeing her grandparents today! She is turning into quite the little ham...and was good entertainment today!

A special present that Ella got while in Vermont are some blocks that have been in the family for quite some time...she really enjoys playing with them!

 

This morning Ella and I went shopping....she lucked out with some new shoes....

I however didn't find a new bedroom "comforter set"...I'll keep looking!

Busy Week

It felt good to get Ella back on her routine...I was a little nervous about bringing her to the sitter's on Monday as she was so clingy the week before (and would really have a meltdown every time I set her down)...but we walked in...and she smiled big at Beth and went right to her (phew - that was a relief)...and off I went to work!

Our week went along...normal as usual for the whole week. I did get my hair cut on Friday (Josh watched Ella so I could escape for a little bit)...and then I came home and Ella and I went and met Hailey and Sebastian at a playground....Sebastian is older (2.5 years old)...so Ella probably wasn't that much to play with...since she can't run around with him (yet...she will be soon!)...however Ella enjoyed watching him and had fun on the swings!

Today we went to Romp N Roll....yay! It was our last class :( Just for a few weeks...then I will enroll her again...I have to decide on which class...she has outgrown the babies class! After that we went to Target and walked around....picked up a few things we needed...and then made our way home...I now just carry Ella to and from the house instead of putting her in her carrier...that thing is just too heavy! So I took her out of her seat and got her in my arms...grabbed one bag of groceries and started to walk towards the house...I looked down...and went, "oh no," I had milk all over my leg! Apparently the milk spilled somehow in the bag...so I set the bag down outside...come inside...strap Ella into her highchair...give her some puffs to snack on...clean my leg off...go back outside and carry in that messy bag...then I have to clean milk off of everything...go out to my car and carry the floor mat in as that also had milk on it (Wouldn't that have smelled good...as it baked in the car in the 95 degree heat!) Finish carrying in the groceries, change my clothes, feed Ella, get Ella a bottle, get Ella changed and ready for her nap, clean the mat from the car, get myself something for lunch, and then yes...I too was ready for a nap!! And nap I did...I took an hour long nap! I had so many other things I should have been doing...but I was tired...it didn't help that this week we got new phones (numbers stayed the same)...but it's a totally different phone that I have no idea how it works yet...and last night it kept vibrating all night long! I have to figure out somehow to change my settings on it...so since it kept vibrating...I kept waking up...and then Josh was home from work at 6am...so I got woken up early...I needed that nap! :)

This afternoon we had a little thunderstorm...thunder has never bothered Ella...until today. It thundered...she stopped what she was doing, burst into tears, and crawled as fast as she could towards her Daddy...who scooped her up and put her in his lap...and she wasn't budging! It was time for him to go to work and she wouldn't go back on the floor...she wanted to be in my lap...poor little thing!

Ella's new thing is reading her books by herself...she will sit on the floor with her books and "read" them aloud....it's cute! Here she is this morning...cup of coffee and all!

She has this cute little tea set...that has a singing tea pot, and two cups...and Josh has taught her to "pour tea" and then drink it from the cup...so now she walks around holding that little cup and "drinking" from it.

That seems to be our weekend so far...tomorrow is church...and household chores!