35 degrees to 90 degrees

Last week I drove home in a snow, sleet, rain mix. Today it was 90 degrees out....crazy! With the 90 degree weather comes the news that our Air Conditioner unit needs a new coil. Just peachy! Which of course they can't be here until next week. So that means it's a warm house for us....at least it's supposed to be in the 70s in a few days...that will help cool down our 83 degree house! I told Josh we were getting take-out tonight as I wasn't going to come home and start the oven up! So we had "Cook-Out" where they have the best milkshakes ever....and we indulged in those! I put a fan in Ella's room thinking that would help cool it down...the first night she cried so I turned it off...tonight I asked her if I could leave it on...and she said ok....it's been about 45 minutes since she went to bed and there hasn't been a peep out of her..so must be she got over her fear of it!

Josh came home on Friday night after being gone all week. Saturday he went to a shooting competition...his first one ever and he loved it and will be doing another one in July. So while he did that Ella and I went to Target to do some shopping :) Well first we went to the dry cleaners to pick up our clothes. Then onto Target....then on to the grocery store.

Ella got to pick out a new toothbrush at the store...and talked about her teeth the whole way home...and couldn't wait to get home to brush her teeth!

Saturday afternoon we did our usual...we went to Sweet Frog and to the Pet Store...I'm not sure who enjoys it more...Ella or myself!

Sunday my parents came over...and we talk the puppies for a little walk around the yard! Ella likes to do it all by herself!

 

After we came in...Ella and Grandpa played in her princess tent!

 

Monday brought the beginning of another work week....at least Josh is home for a few weeks!

We went out to dinner Monday night at Texas Roadhouse (a co-worker of mine was doing a fundraiser there - 10% of all food sales went to her for the money she is raising to go live in Haiti for a year to help start an eye clinic). So the three of us went to dinner...Ella actually ate a lot! She was chowing down on a "Bloomin' Onion"...I would have never thought she would eat that!

Now we're in the midst of hot weather...Josh is miserable...can't stand the heat....I however will take this any day over the 20 degree weather! :)

Strong-Willed

Strong-Willed - that's how I describe Ella this week....it's like a switch went off and she wants to do everything herself and not listen to a word Mom says...it's been a long week...in just a minute I am headed to bed...the girl has worn me down this week!!

I'll recap the past week or so in pictures...

Ella loves balloons...she's never actually had her own balloon...just has seen them....so on Saturday we went and got Josh's hair cut...then went grocery shopping....while I was picking out the veggies for the week...Josh said I'm going to go over and get Ella a balloon...and I said that was fine by me...so he took her over and they picked out a pink balloon...and the nice lady at Kroger just gave it to her and didn't charge us! And then the check-out people gave her a sticker...life was good!

This is a favorite past-time of Ella's...

She would stay outside for hours with the puppies if we let her! She loves "walking" Bella!

I actually forgot about this picture...it was on my camera...it's from about a month ago before church one Sunday. I couldn't get her to smile without her hand in front of her face. But still a cute picture!

So of course the Easter Bunny made a little stop at our house...her favorite thing was the coloring book...it actually came with markers...but they are "magic" markers..they are actually clear until they write on the page...I don't know how it works...but they are wonderful as she can't make a mess with it...and she loves it. Every morning...."color mommy"...so I think she likes it!

Oh and I said that everything Ella wants to do by herself...that includes taking out the trash...

That's been my week in pictures!

Where is Spring??

This is what our Sunday looked like...

I think we ended up with around 6 inches...what is up with that?? Thankfully it melted in a matter of 2 days! However....the weather can't seem to get above 50! Although I think next week we get to see some days in the 60's!

Let's see...I have so many little Ella stories...

Today on our way to the sitters...a deer ran out in front of us...(thankfully we didn't hit it)...and it was actually a decent sized deer (the deer down here are tiny compared to "northern deer"!)...so the deer runs out...and Ella sees it (we've been driving the xterra this week...so she sits up higher in the back and can see really well out the window)...and she starts "neigh-ing"....she thinks it's a horse! I guess she has never seen a deer...so that was pretty funny!

I worked just a half day today...and during my afternoon...I ran and did some fun errands for me....shopping by myself! I went and got Ella around 4...I thought...well maybe I will take her for a special treat...and we'll go get some frozen yogurt at Sweet Frog...well I go and pick her up...and what is she eating....a pop-tart!!! So no sweet treat for her...she had a little treat at the sitters!

Ella loves trying on my shoes and trying to walk in them....this morning it was my heels...this afternoon my flip-flops...

 

Ella and I have had lots of battles over the past few weeks...since it's just the two of us...Josh is out of town again....

Let's see...one battle was last night...she wanted to get down and play...and not eat dinner....I told her that she needed to eat a few more bites and then she could get down....after 15 minutes of crying and throwing herself around in her high-chair...she finally ate 2 bites....just like I asked...so I let her down to play....and she likes to play with someone....so she will come grab my hand and drag me over to where ever she wants me...I played this to my advantage...I taught her how to rub Mommy's shoulders...and "make mommy pretty"....and she will play with my hair....yeah sure I'll play with you Ella! :)

We sometimes battle over food....she is actually pretty good at eating vegetables...a few of our favorites...

 

I roast them for an hour....she really likes the sweet potatoes. She also has been eating a lot of olives, cucumbers, and red peppers. Oh...and pizza...I buy the Amy's all organic pizza...she's gone to town on that a few times.

Another battle...she likes things "apart"...I think it's due to Mr. Potato Head and pulling the pieces off and putting them back on....well she wanted her own finger off..."apart mama apart!!!" She was pulling and yanking on that finger....I told her I'm sorry but her finger is just not going to come off! She finally gave up!

I had a case of forgetfulness last week...I have never forgotten anything for Ella (when going to the sitters)....Monday I forgot diapers....that's kinda a big one! So I had to stop at the store...such a pain to do....at 7:15 in the morning! And they were vacuuming at the store...and Ella is TERRIFIED of vacuums...it was a great Monday morning...then Wednesday...I forgot her cup...that wasn't a big deal...she just borrowed one for the day....I told the sitter....goodness by Friday I was going to get 1/2 way to her house and then realize I forgot Ella! :) Thankfully that didn't happen...and I haven't forgotten anything yet this week!

Well that seems to be all that I can remember :) It's only 8:30...yet I am tired and so ready for bed...and for Josh to be home! I'm worn out! 

80 degrees!

It just keeps getting better and better....we were able to enjoy an 80 degree day today...

We've had Josh home this week....yay! Makes life a little easier with an extra hand around to help keep an eye on Ella! However Josh did catch Ella's cold...so he was a little miserable for part of the week.

It was a busy week at work for both of us...Josh was trying to get as many projects as he could done at his work (in-between a court case and training that was held on Thursday) - he's getting ready to head out of town again.

Ella is turning into such a little girl...and very quickly getting away from being a "baby"...one day this week I was dropping her off at the sitters...and she came running to me and gave me a kiss and said, "bye Mama!" and then proceeded to actually push me out the door...she was ready to go play with her friends! And every night she comes to me and gives me a hug and a kiss and tells me good-night (Josh puts her to bed). Such a sweet little girl!

Josh was home this week when a package arrived for Ella...he caught me...I bought more clothes for her! :) He told me that she didn't NEED anymore clothes...my argument was....she's our only child and she's a girl....and I like shopping for her! :)

Ella also received another package (from my grandparents)...so Ella's great-grandparents...and her favorite thing out of that box was...a little car that has a long rope on it...so you pull the rope and the car follows you....well let me tell you what...Ella LOVES it! She's always saying..."car! car!" and she runs up and down the hall pulling it....she had it at 6:45 this morning...I made her wait until Daddy was up before she was allowed to play with it again :) (Thank you for the package!)

I brought a few bags to Kidz Kraze this week....the huge consignment sale that the hold here a few times a year...I'm hoping to make around $150....that's my prediction....so see...it's ok that Ella got some new clothes! :)

Today was beautiful...I wish I could say that I was outside a lot....however I ran errands for a few hours...did some housework...we met my parents at Sweet Frog (yummm!) and then we took Ella to the pet store....that was fun! So many puppies, bunnies, fish, birds, and even snakes....we checked it all out! Ella liked the snakes and laughed and said they were funny....that was until they would get close to the glass...then she was scared....we didn't stay in the reptile dept for too long...I don't like that section! :) Then the rain started in....it was actually a really quick storm....but it got really dark, really windy, and heavy rain! But then it blew through and the sun came back out.

And the weekend is almost over...and back to another week!

60+ Degrees Today!

Well in the middle of the week...this is what we had...

Then just a few days later it was in the mid-60's!! I went to a baby-shower today...and I left Ella in Josh's hands :) He said they went for a little walk around the house...and he put the dogs on their leashes...and let Ella carry Bella's leash...and Ella did great..as did Bella...they just walked side by side...and Ella never let go of the leash....I thought that was pretty cute!

It was another week without Josh...he came home Friday night a little after 7...so Ella was able to see him before she went to bed.

It was a pretty uneventful week...our bathroom is ALMOST finished....Josh bought the light fixtures today and is actually working on that right now. 

Ella has another little cold :( She was up around 4:30 this morning...coughing away...which meant I was up around 4:30...I waited it out for a while and finally around 5:30 got up and got in the shower....I'm already ready to go to bed!

Ella is starting to learn colors...well she's in the very beginning stages of it...I was putting on a purple sweater the other day..and she said purple...so I asked what color her shirt was...she said red (it was bright pink...so kind of in the red family!)...she's pretty good at knowing what blue is. You can tell that her little mind is like a little sponge...if you ask her to say a word...she is going to try to say it...and she remembers it...and will use it correctly later on. 

Her new phrase right now is..."I did it! I did it!"...every time she does something all by herself...she will say that over and over...it's cute! 

She LOVES to read...

 

It was just Ella and I this week...so we played a lot!

 

Mr. Potato Head right now is a favorite!

I had my eye exam this week..my eyes got even worse! :( Well just the right eye...my left eye didn't change...but that would explain why I've been getting a lot of headaches! Guess it's time to find some new glasses! I've pretty much given up on contacts...they bother my eyes too much...good thing I'm in the "eye industry!"

Since Josh was out of town this week...I didn't have to make "real dinners"...I ate a sweet potato almost every night....Ella had real dinners...kind of...she would pick at it and then end up eating half of my sweet potato.

 Well I'm off to throw another load of laundry in...have to catch up from the week!

Busy Weekend!

Working full-time makes the weekend fly by now! Saturday morning....we all got to sleep in until 7! :) That really is sleeping in for me...I was pretty excited! We all got ready and went to Target and Kroger (fun Saturday morning!) Well...first we went to McDonald's so Josh could have breakfast...as he was crying that there wasn't anything good in the house (this is after he ate out for an entire week! - of course what we have in the house doesn't look good!)

At Target - I actually went in to Target while Josh and Ella went into PetSmart. I finished Ella's Easter Basket shopping (a new outfit, shirt, and hair-bows) while Ella wasn't with me. They came in and found me...and Ella was telling me about the cats and the fish she got to see....Josh said there was a chinchilla there and Ella was very puzzled by it...she didn't know what it was.

After Target we went to Kroger to finish up grocery shopping...then came home to do housework most of the day! Oh I did actually take a nap...when I put Ella down for a nap...I laid down on the couch with a book...which didn't last long...I fell asleep...and I woke up to Ella putting her favorite puppy next to my face so I could snuggle with it (Josh got her up once she woke up) - I thought that was so sweet that she was sharing her favorite little stuffed animal.

Ella's REAL favorite puppy...

 

Ella and Bella are just the best of friends! Ella does love Bella! And Bella is so good with her. This is Ella feeding Bella...piece by piece...which she does EVERY morning! Bella kept trying to get on her lap...and Ella thought it was so funny...she was just laughing away!

Josh is gone again this week :( I literally emptied his suitcase...divided it...put it all in the wash...and then refolded it and packed it again. He was in Fairfax last week...and is in DC this week (I think that's where he said he was going). It's the girl and I again this week!

The life of a Single Mom!

Let's go back to last weekend...

Grandma and Grandpa came over to watch Ella on Saturday while Josh and I went on a date...a date to the shooting range :) It was the outdoor shooting range by our house...we did some handgun shooting...and rifle shooting (300 yards). I have never shot a rifle before...so that was kind of fun. We were aiming at an 8 inch metal plate target...on the third try I hit the target! I was pretty excited! :) After shooting we went to Red Lobster for a nice dinner. We were home by 7:30...no late night partying for us!

Sunday we went to church....and Josh went back out to the shooting range. He went with a friend of his from the Police Academy (they went through it together). So while they were gone for a few hours..Ella and I cleaned...and she took a nap....once Josh was home...he went and put a coat of paint on the walls of the downstairs bathroom...we did a second coat around 8:00 as well...I get to say "we" as I helped with the second coat...I did the edging while Josh did the rolling :)

Monday - Josh left for the week...he went to Northern Virginia for training for work...and Ella and I toughed it out. It really wasn't too bad...it was definitely a little tiring though! I was glad to hear that he was going to be home Friday afternoon! He came and met me at work...he went and picked Ella up...and then we went out to dinner together. He got Ella a special present...a little baby doll and bottle...she carried it around all evening! As a matter of fact when she went to bed I had to take it away.

I'm going to try something new this week...a detox diet...I'm not really doing it for the diet part...which losing a few pounds would certainly be ok...but to cut processed foods out...I feel like I eat fairly healthy...but could certainly do better...so I am working on making a menu of foods that I will be allowed (certainly all fruits/veggies, hummus, wild rice, nuts, almond butter) - I found a few recipes to make banana bread using the "allowed foods"...which I think I am going to try. It will certainly be different...but good for me. The goal is to do it for 21 days...and then I can add back foods...which I of course am going to try to still avoid eating processed things. We'll see!

Here's a picture of Ella playing while I was making dinner one night...

 

She piled up all of her baby dolls and stuffed animals and gave them a ride around the house! :)