Pictures!

Let's try this again....

STILL NOT WORKING! I'm going to have to get my "techy" husband to take a look at it to see why it won't upload!

Ella's off her antibiotic...so she's feeling better...YAY! Finally!

She has her moments of throwing a fit here and there...but she is such a good girl! She really wants to do everything by herself...sometimes good...sometimes makes more work for me! However she has such a caring little personality. When we leave the sitters she has to hug everyone bye and tell them bye. When she gets there she goes and hugs everyone good morning! When Josh leaves in the morning she has to hug and kiss him goodbye. She's even getting to the point if we are leaving a store...she has to tell the cashier bye. :)

We have a new game...Ella loves buses right now...due to "Wheels on the Bus"...so when we're in the car...we are on the look-out for buses! She yells BUS every time she sees one. Although sometimes it's really a truck that she sees....so I explain to her that it's a truck, etc.

We've had lots and lots of rain this week so far! This morning I pulled into the sitters driveway to drop Ella off...and it was just POURING....and you can't get a toddler out of the car holding an umbrella...just doesn't work...so I got soaked even though I had a coat....it didn't help...and then I had to go to work....looking like and feeling like a drowned rat. We even sat in the car for about 5 minutes as I was really hoping it was going to lighten up just a little! (it didn't!)

So Ella is going to be 2 in just a few weeks! AHHH! I can't believe it! So her big birthday present is going to be a tablet...I don't know what kind yet....I'm leaving that up to Josh to pick out....but we thought that would be a great thing to have before we do a 12 hour drive up to Vermont! As she can play movies on it and play games...so I put him on a mission to find one on Amazon.

It's getting close to bed-time for me..and I want to read my book some before bed....so I guess I'll try the pictures again another night!

Low-Key Weekend

I wish I could say the pro-biotics helps...but they didn't really...as least not from what I could tell....so we didn't venture too far from home as her poor little tummy was still not happy!

Saturday - I did get out to run some errands...I asked Josh if I could go to the new TJ Maxx...they just opened in a brand new location a few weeks ago...and I hadn't been yet....so he stayed home with Ella so I could go out for a bit on my own...which I appreciated! I picked up a few new shirts :) Then hit the grocery store. And picked up lunch at "cook-out" for a special treat. Then home again...home again! I took over "Ella-Care" while Josh retreated to downstairs to finish school work...it's the last week of the semester...so he's trying to get everything done....two papers, a quiz and a test. He pretty much stayed downstairs all day while Ella and I played up-stairs alllll day!

Sunday - it was the same. We didn't go to church....I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have let her in nursery with an upset tummy! Thankfully...today was the last day of her antibiotic...and now we can resume to normal life again! So Ella and I cleaned..she swiffered, I vacuumed, and she even helped clean the bathroom. It's so funny...she says "Helper Mommy, I'm Helper." She's quite proud to be able to help.

Oh...and I realized Friday night that I was covered in a rash....from MY antibiotic....it's been a LONG time since I had to be on an antibiotic...I think the last time was when I had a sinus infection in college...and I was put on amoxicillian....and I remember breaking out in a rash but it was also when I had mono and the Dr. thought maybe it was related to the mono....so I didn't think of it when the Dr. prescribed it this time around....well Friday morning I thought my neck looked a little red...but I honestly didn't pay much attention....Friday night...when putting my PJ's on...I went "Ahhhhh!" I looked like I had I don't even know what....there were red dots everywhere! Actually...just my arms, neck, chest, stomach, and back were covered...my face and legs were spared. Went to bed...and Saturday morning...I woke up and it was 10 times worse....so when I went to TJ Maxx...I wore a sweater with a high collar to avoid the rash peeking out! :) Tonight it's looking a lot better...has almost faded already!

A few pictures from the week...


Well apparently that feature isn't going to work tonight...it won't let me upload anything...I'll try again tomorrow!

Update

I feel like life has been a whirlwind!

Josh went to Virginia Beach last Monday - Wednesday. Came home Wednesday afternoon and then was was involved in a "man-hunt" and worked on that until 11:30 that night. Worked Thursday and Friday...he had qualifications for work...so didn't get home until Midnight Friday night....so needless to say Ella and I didn't see much of him last week...while he was busy working...Ella and I were both busy coming down with "something"....Ella's started on Sunday...coughing, runny nose, etc...I chalked it up to allergies..maybe a cold....Mine started Monday...the only thing I ever had was a sore throat...but by Wednesday I no longer had a voice...By Friday morning...still no voice...and I just knew that I had a sinus infection...so while getting ready for work...I was trying to decide if I should go in late to work...and go straight to the Dr...or go on my lunch break...so while I am thinking this through...Ella wakes up...I get her up...and she's got a fever....so guess I'm not going anywhere! I stayed home with her...and by the afternoon her cough was getting really bad...still had a fever...so I scheduled her an appointment with her Doctor...after a really long wait...which we actually left at one point..and went back...Ella was seen....and had a sinus infection, start of an ear infection and still a fever....The Doctor was surprised her lungs were clear with all the coughing she was doing...but they were! So started her on an antibiotic...I let her pick out a new coloring book at the store while we waited for her prescription to be filled...she LOVES to color...I buy the books with the markers that only color on the paper...she loves it! Finally home at 7pm....dinner, a little bit of coloring and bedtime (for us both!)

Saturday - I get up with intentions of going straight to the Doctor...I was able to be there by 8:45am...and had my diagnosis by 10am....Sinus Infection....of course! So off to the store I went to fill my antibiotic and get a few groceries for the week.

I'm tired of Doctor's offices! :) And co-pays, and getting prescriptions filled!

So I wish I could say Ella is better...I'll spare you details....but the poor thing...the antibiotic has done a number on her stomach...not a good reaction to it! I called the Doctor today and she said to give her yogurt (was already doing that) make sure she takes the antibiotic with food (was already doing that), and take some probiotics...so we stopped on the way home so I could get some probiotics....I mixed some in with her yogurt tonight...so I'm hoping that will help her! She thankfully has been in good spirits and hasn't been too bad mood wise.

Josh has been gone again this week....it's been a long week...I've been giving Ella a bath every night as she needs one...so by the time we get home, eat dinner, do a bath, then bedtime...Ella's been getting to bed between 7:30-7:45...then I've been cleaning, laundry, etc....then boom it's time for me to go to bed! :)

I've got some more photos/videos I need to upload...but I'll leave you with a cute one...Ella could play with her baby dolls allllll day!

 

She's really starting to put a few words together now to make mini sentences...Mommy milk please! or "baby sleepy go na-night". She is starting to learn colors...the top two right now are yellow and blue...she's got those down! 

They weighed her at the Doctors..only 23 pounds! :( I was hoping a little more...the Doctor didn't say anything bad about it...she has her 2 year checkup next month...so I'll find out more than...she's just such a PICKY eater...and a very light eater....she doesn't ever want to eat much.

Shopping Trip!

Ella, Gigi (no longer Grandma...we're going to try out Gigi!), and I have been planning a shopping trip to Roanoke for a few weeks now. Saturday was the big day! Josh had made a few plans of his own...was going to go get his hair cut, go shooting with some friends, and work on some more homework. Ella and I were out the door at 7:56am...headed to the lake. We got there around 9:15...Ella took a little nap on the way over...and when we got to my parents house I let Ella run around for a few minutes to burn some energy....about 20 minutes later we headed to Roanoke...our first stop TJ Maxx...Ella was in her stroller...so she was pretty happy....she didn't really like me being out of her sight...she would call out "Mommy!" However we spent probably close to 45 minutes to an hour....picking out an outfit for Ella, new cups that she HAD to have, new shoes for me and a new top, a book for Ella and a shirt for Grandpa. After TJ Maxx we headed over to the little mall that is attached...it's a pretty empty mall....but it was kind of nice...Ella was able to get out and walk around (holding my hand of course!) but it wasn't crowded....she had her first escalator ride...which was so much fun! Then they had 4 or 5 little cars made for kids to climb in and ride....so we had to check out every single one!! (and ride the carousel!)

She had a blast on those!

Then she was done....she did well for a few hours...I wasn't going to push it any further...baby steps! So we skipped the second mall. Instead we headed over to Rocky Mount to visit Grandpa at work...which he had about 10 more minutes before he got off...so we made plans to meet for lunch....we went and stuck our head in another store to kill a few minutes while we waited...and then went to Cookout for lunch! Grandpa shared his fries, and Gigi shared her milkshake with Ella....she was in 7th Heaven....by now it was about 2:45...Ella was happy and had a full belly...and fell asleep in the car...and got a good hour nap in.

We came home and played until bedtime! Ohh I did have to bribe Ella to eat her dinner....I told her that if she ate 3 more bites I would let her come outside with me and walk the puppies around the house...that bribe worked wonders! :) We made 3 big loops....and then BELLA was ready to come in!

Sunday we went to church, grocery shopping, and I came home and made a Rosemary Salmon and Corn on the Cob....and got everything ready to go in the slow cooker for dinner...

 

An organic whole chicken stuffed with a lemon and cut up carrots, celery, and onions....with a garlic rub...on low for 6 hours....it was good! And then I also cut up some sweet potatoes, squash, zucchini, and carrots and roasted those in the oven....I feel like I cooked all day! But now...meals are covered for at least the next 3 days with left-overs! 

Throw some laundry in there, cleaning the floors and kitchen....and I call it a day! Ella's in bed sleeping...I'm getting ready to go read for a few minutes...and Josh is packing as he is getting ready to head to Virginia Beach for a few days to do a presentation at a conference being held there.

Oh I did finally start a little birthday shopping for Ella today...I ordered a big Pottery Barn towel that is navy, white, and pink and has a whale on it...and is embroidered with her name....it matches perfectly with the bathing suit that Grandpa and Gigi got for her birthday! 

Fun at the Zoo!

Ella has me up at 6:30 this morning...that is about what time she gets up during the week...so of course on the weekend she's ready to roll at 6:30...so I got up and went and got her....and heated up a pancake for her (I made a big batch last week and froze some).

Josh came upstairs around 8...and said are you ready?? To which I was like ummm no....ready for what? And he said....remember we talked about it last night...we're going to the zoo...and I was like ummm no I don't remember that...he really had me believing that we had that conversation...but he was just teasing me....we didn't have that conversation...he thought of it himself...so I got ready....and we walked out the door around 9....so we start off...and Josh pulls out...and I say..."don't we usually go 130?"...he says..."I don't remember....lets just go to Charlottesville and get on 81...." well 2 hours later we get to the zoo....hahhaa....I tried not to rub it in too bad...that my 35 minute trip was the right way to go....and not his way....but it worked out because Ella slept for about an hour in the car...so that was her nap for the day...she just took a morning nap instead of an afternoon one!

So we finally get to the zoo....Ella felt safer in her stroller...and didn't really want to get out....

However...she FINALLY warmed up and once she saw Josh and I feeding the animals...she wanted to check that out...

 

She liked the camel...she was too scared to feed him...but she did pet him a few times. 

Then we moved onto the goats....she kept saying "hi" to them...and calling everything "her friend"...

 

I think she enjoyed herself! There's a little smile there!

She did keep calling some of the animals "puppy"....and there were all these roosters walking around...she really wasn't a fan of those.

It was perfect weather....the day started out at about 60....but then warmed up to 75ish...perfect weather!

On the way home we stopped and got lunch at Sonic...and then came home....we relaxed for a little bit and I let Ella play to get some energy out....then I took her to the grocery store with me. And that was our Saturday!

Tomorrow I have nursery at church, a Baby Shower to go to at 3, I need to make lunches for the week, and make some kind of dessert for a dinner Monday night, and finish house work...it's going to be a busy day!

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!