Another week gone...

I battled cold # ?? I've lost count now...4, 5...maybe it's number 6?? Once again...thankfully Ella managed to escape it. As I was driving home Monday night from work...I thought hmmm I feel a little stuffy...where it went downhill quickly from there....I got all the symptoms...chills included and woke up feeling ehh on Tuesday....but off to work I went. Tuesday night I was miserable...it took all I had in me to take care of Ella. Wednesday...Grandpa and Grandma came over to play for a bit in the afternoon...and Josh did a pretty good job of watching her...as I was trying to avoid being in her face...as I didn't want to pass on my cold! Thursday...went to work again...barely! I made it through the day...and was granted to go home an hour early! I stopped and got some Sudafed...went straight home and took it (that is after you sign your life away to even be able to buy it!)....within an hour my extra strength Sudafed was beginning to help. Friday was another low-key day...and today I was ready to face the world again! Still not 100% but on the mend!

I can't remember if I spoke of my fantastic deal I got on eBay. Now and then I will scope out eBay...and it always leads to trouble as I find "deals" I can't pass up! :) Well I came across a "lot" of baby girl clothes, all 9 months...44 pieces and all brand name (Gap, Gymboree, Carters - all good baby clothes names)...so I thought...ehh I'll bid on it. $25 was what I bid...and I won! So when the package came - it was like Christmas!! Such great stuff! I threw it all in the wash so I would know it was clean...and folded it all up and put it in her dresser....today we pulled out the first outfit...

How cute is that?? :) She of course loved the little vest and the zipper...that was fun to play with! Most of the clothes are "casual" and great to take her to the sitters...and I just love how I got such a bargain! :)

Well today was our fun day this week....it's been a pretty dull week! Ella and I had a girls morning. We ran to Target this morning and had fun looking there...I got a new shirt, I stocked up on some good food items...snacky things that Josh likes to have around, and a new toy for Ella....it's a little tea set! She's had fun with it....

This was taken with my phone...so not the best quality...but how cute!



After our Target trip we went to Kroger for groceries...Ella fell asleep in the car on the way there and actually stayed asleep when I carried her car seat in...and slept the whole time we were in the store! She woke up as we were checking out...maybe it was all that beeping! Then we came home and just spent the afternoon hanging out.

This is a fun little video I got this evening...again taken with my phone...so not the best quality...but she was laying on the couch...I unfortunately missed when she was laughing really hard...she was snorting :)

After that - we went and got ready for bed...we always do story time....

She went from looking at the book to very quickly eating that book! :) (which did come out of her mouth immediately!)

I think some of that squash stayed on her face from dinner! We had to wash her face again before bed! :)

So that's been it....what a week!

Ohhh....how could I forget this! So yesterday Josh was sleeping...and I thought it was about time that he would be waking up....so Ella and I snuck into the room to see if he was up...he was. So we went over and sat on the bed...and Ella was all excited and bouncing up and down on the bed. Josh had laid his head back down on the pillow and Ella said, clear as a bell, "Dada." He sat straight up and looked and me...and said..."did you just hear that??" To which I replied, "yeah, I just heard her say MAMA!" He laughed :) And I hate to admit it...I believe that will be her first word! Now I don't believe it was said with intent that she knew it was her "dada"....maybe she did....but she likes to babble lots of sounds....and this particular sound was definitely "dada" and that's all it was...there wasn't extra sound to it...just that one word....and of course he tried to get her to say it again....which didn't happen! She made lots of noises...but none like the first one! :)

January 22nd...

2 more days and Ella will be 8 months!! Where has the time gone??

Lets see...

Monday - Josh was off. He of course slept during the day as he had worked Sunday night. He picked Ella up around 4 (I was working until 7)....they hung out for the evening...I came home around 7:45...came upstairs and who was still up...Ella was laying on the couch with Josh...he told me they were "resting." Well apparently she was not happy about bedtime....which is strange because she always just goes right to sleep at night...doesn't usually make a peep! So...I thought...hmmm...so I tried...I laid her down...and the water works began...she cried, cried, and cried. I let her cry for about 10 minutes thinking she was going to go to sleep...no luck. I went and got her...brought her back out to Josh to let her play for a few more minutes...I got a bottle ready...and some infant tylenol (maybe her teeth were hurting??) - so she got to have some tylenol...which she doesn't mind...it's grape flavored...and just a little 2 oz bottle. That calmed her down and I rocked her in the dark. I put her back in her crib and talked to her and stroked her face for a few minutes then I started to walk away...well you would have thought the world was ending...hysterical crying. So I came right back and kept stroking her face and her hair. I stopped and she looked at me (but was still quiet.) I stood there for a few minutes...she closed her eyes...I started to walk away after a minute...her eyes flew open and started the waterworks again...so I came back and stroked her face...we played this game for about 45 minutes...FINALLY she was asleep! I was tired out from that...and working 10 hours! I went straight to bed!

Tuesday - Again Josh picked her up...but thankfully we didn't have the melt downs like Tuesday night...she went right to bed...no problems!

Wednesday - Ella and I had a playdate! We went over to my friend Micah's house. She had a little girl there that she watches, Madison. Madison is 2 days younger than Ella...but about twice her size! Little Madison was wearing a size 18 months PJ's! Ella is still in her 6-9 months!

Thursday - Josh was working - so I picked Ella up...and we went home and she had dinner, play time, story time, and then bed time!

Friday - It was a low-key day. Josh had worked Thursday night...so he was sleeping. Ella and I played, I did some picking up, etc. Josh had a Doctor's appointment on Friday afternoon...he has a cold that has been persistant and not getting better...so I advised that he should be checked out. The Doctor didn't diagnose him with anything but still wrote him an RX...and told him that if he didn't feel better by Monday to get it filled...(he was coughing so much Saturday - I begged him to just please take it!!) He did.

Saturday - While Josh slept...Ella and I went to a "Babies Class" at Romp N Roll (a children's "gym"/play place). It was a trial class (our friend Micah was teaching)....I think Ella really enjoyed it! They have a little story time, lots of singing, playing on the "equipment," meeting other babies, playing with bubbles/musical instruments, etc....she was asleep in less than 3 minutes once we got in the car. I think we are going to continue on with the class...Josh will always be sleeping on early Saturday mornings...so it will be a fun thing for Ella and I to do together...it's a 3 month class. We got home, and I let Josh sleep a little while longer...Ella had "snack time" and more playtime. Once Josh got up...we went out to run some errands...we went to go get his hair cut...but they were packed...so he said...well lets just go get lunch then come back...well what is right across the street...his favorite...Chinese....(not my favorite!) But there were a few things that I ate...I got a few different things (veggies) - and I put it in my mouth...and it was spicey!! Josh said..."was the sign red?" I said...what?? He then told me that all the spicey foods have red signs...I didn't know that!!! So after that..we went and got his hair cut, went to the pet store to get dog food, and then to Toys R Us to get "stuff." 3 items in the cart...and we walked out spending $97...babies are expensive! :) After that trip we agreed - Ella is so going to be an only child!!! :) Saturday night...we rented a movie...so Josh and I had our date night...Taco Salad (for me), Regular Tacos for Josh...and a movie on the couch!

Sunday - We went to church...After church Josh went to the shooting range with one of his friends while Ella and I went grocery shopping. Ella took a nap, as did I this afternoon. This evening I've been picking up and giving baths! Bella was up first...she got into something outside...mud? I don't know...but she wasn't happy with me...into the tub she went first! Then Ella. Brinly managed to escape the bath-tub tonight...After two baths I was done (and wet!)

Ella this weekend has started having "lunch"...so she now gets food at every meal...plus her bottles. She knows that when she goes into her highchair that its food time! She gets really excited! A tooth or two is bound to pop through any day...I can see them under her gums. She can start to scoot backwards now...if I put her on the floor on her back...she immediately rolls over onto her tummy...and slowly starts to scoot back. She loves tags. Tags on the blankets. tags on her clothes, tags on her stuffed animals...you name it...it something has a tag on it...she will find it! She is so good at making noises...she "talks" and "talks"...sometimes really loud! She does love to stare at people and not smile! She is one serious baby...but I did get some smiles out of her this weekend...

She was playing before dinner.

Such a big girl playing with her toys!!

Busy Week

Well let's get caught up....

The last time I wrote was on Monday night...so Tuesday our day was exactly the same. I went to work, picked Ella up at 5...came home and we did our routine. Josh worked Tuesday night.

Wednesday - it was a cold RAINY day...I had errands that I could have gone out and done...but it was hovering around 38 degrees all day and rain, rain, rain! No thank you - we'll stay inside and save those errands for another day!

Thursday - out the door by 7:30...and I worked until 7pm. Josh had Thursday off...so he picked Ella up on Thursday afternoon after he got up, etc. I came home and she was already in bed. Josh had called and asked me to pick up some medicine on my way home...cold medicine as he wasn't feeling well...the sleep schedule has definitely caused him to be a little run down...so he's been taking daily vitamins and now some cold medicine.

Friday = Fun Day! As usual - we were up early! Around 10am Ella and I left the house to go meet Grandma in Lynchburg! They were having the Murano worked on...and it was going to take a few hours...so we had a girls day! First we went to Once Upon a Child....I brought some of Ella's clothes to consign. I bought a really cute outfit there for her. It's a bright pink shirt with a little white jean skirt...both are brand new with Old Navy Tags - I got it for $5.50 - what a deal! Retail it was $20! I love a bargain! :) So from there - we went to Sweet Pea's (another childrens consignment shop) - we didn't score any bargains there - but had fun looking around. Then we decided it was lunch time...so we went to O'Charley's for lunch. Everyone that walked by Ella had to comment on her eyes...and how cute she is! :) She was such a good girl at lunch - as happy as could be! Smiling and laughing at everything! After lunch we went to Target and spent a while walking around. I had the hardest time...they had all these great clothes that were on HUGE clearance (Christmas/Holiday/Winter clothes) - and I really wanted to buy a few things...but I just didn't dare...I have no idea how Ella will continue with her growing. If she hits a growth spurt she may catch up in size...right now she currently is wearing 3-6 months in quite a few things and straight 6 months in other items...I am getting ready this week to start introducing 6-9 month this week...and she's almost 8 months old! She's just petite! So I bypassed all the great deals :( But she did get new socks! :) Oh and of course Grandma went a little crazy on eBay and Ella made out all right with quite a few new outfits off of that! :) She'll be a walking model for Carters/Gymboree/Childrens Place! After Target - we headed back to Nissan as their car was done and it was mid-afternoon. Josh was awake and Ella and I wanted to get home to see him for a bit before he was gone again. We made our way home and showed off all of our goodies when we got home! Josh took Ella and snuggled up with her on the couch...while I did a few housework things...Poor little Ella...one thing I did was I brought out the vacuum to do the rug in the living room...which Ella has seen me do many times...but I turned on the vacuum and she wasn't expecting it...poor little thing jumped a mile and burst into tears...and then her Daddy rescued her! :) Around 5 - Josh headed off to work. And Ella and I did our night routine again. After she went to bed...I started taking pictures of all kinds of things that I wanted to sell on eBay (I was inspired after seeing Ella's new wardrobe!) - so I went through a good portion of clothes that she has outgrown...and set aside all the one's that I couldn't part with :) And started snapping pictures...I stayed up late listing all my items...up until 11pm!

Saturday - Ella wakes up at 4:40am...are you playing tricks with mom Ella?? I get up -  change her, give her a bottle, and lay her back down. Thankfully she goes to sleep without a problem! It took me a bit but I was able to fall back asleep and not to much later Josh comes home. So Ella hears the noise and I am up again...thankfully for Christmas we got a big supply of coffee - I was drinking it this morning! :) We did our best to stay quiet - mostly playing in the living room. We read for a while in Ella's room. She took a few cat naps. This afternoon before Josh went to work...I was putting her swing away. She hasn't used it in a while - so I was making space in her closet and I brought out another toy that she hasn't played with before. She is "borrowing" it for the time being from her cousins in NY - it's a little "rocking horse"....

Josh stayed knelt down beside her to make sure she wouldn't fall...but she had fun on it! She would have kept playing except I picked her up as Josh was getting ready to leave.

After he left it was dinner time for Miss Ella - she had Sweet Potatoes and Chicken (Earth's Best) - I just love their combo's and Ella really likes it. Then we did bath time. And then Ella got to get into a special pair of PJ's that Grandpa O'Bryan picked out just for her....

She was pretty sleepy - I worked hard to get some smiles out of her...it wasn't happening! She had a few minutes of playtime, a bottle and then bed...



Sweet Frog Socks...

Lets see....to catch up....

Last Wednesday was Josh's first night on the job...he came home Thursday morning at 6:30am...I was just getting out of the shower when I heard him coming up the stairs...I could hear Ella "talking" away in her room...I opened the bathroom door to step out and Josh was getting up Ella up. I reached my hands out to take her as I was going to change her and give her a bottle...and she looked at me and turned her shoulder the other way towards Josh!!!! Of course who was loving that...?? :) So as I got ready for work...Josh got ready for bed....that was weird! He was in bed by 7ish (AM!) and told me that he was able to sleep until 11:30 and that was it. He got up for a few hours and then took another nap in the afternoon...it's just going to take some time for his body to adjust to sleeping during the day and being awake at night! So Thursday came and went...I dropped Ella off in the morning and picked her up in the afternoon. I get off at 5...by the time I get her and get home...it's 5:45...we come in and I put her in her high-chair while I get her yummy dinner ready! I always set a few toys on the tray which she loves to hold and bang them against the tray :) After dinner she goes into her Jumperoo and jumps away while I make myself dinner! And then usually around 6:30 she gets to take a bath and get her PJ's on...then when she is all warm and cozy she gets her bedtime bottle...and then we do story time and read a book or two, have bedtime prayer, and go to bed! It's quite the routine we have!

On Friday's I don't work...so Josh was home at 6:20ish AM...and it was just about the time Ella gets up...so sure enough...she wakes up...and Josh gets her...and then he isn't up for very long...by 6:45am he is headed to bed...which means I have Ella and have to try to keep her semi-quiet while Josh tries to sleep...easier said then done! He stayed in bed until about 2pm...sleeping pretty well he said.

Friday/Saturday/Sunday nights he was off...but tried to keep close to the same schedule...so he was going to bed around 2-3 and sleeping in until 11-11:30.

Saturday....Ella was up at 5am...yes...5am....she clearly doesn't know that her mom is NOT a morning person! :) I dragged myself out of bed and went upstairs and made her a bottle...she got her bottle and then she got to go right back into her crib...I put some toys in there so she could play if she wanted. There is a bed in her room...so I crawled into that bed...and the next loud noise that came from her was around 7:30am...she was up...! So we got up and played for a while...made plans to meet Grandma and Grandpa at Sweet Frog after lunch in Forest. We did some organizing as well in Ella's room...well she laid on the bed and played with her toys while I organized :)

These are Ella's Sweet Frog socks...

Sweet Frog's colors are Lime Green and Hot Pink....her socks match perfectly :) They aren't really from there...they just happen to match so she of course had to wear them there!

Saturday night was low-key...I was in bed early...reading...while Josh was up late :)

Sunday we went to a different church as our friends were in town and they were having their little baby girl dedicated...so we went there. After church our plans were to go straight home as Ella missed out completely on a morning nap...oh yeah (she was up at 5am again Sunday morning!)....but as we were driving home she fell asleep...and Josh said we should just let her nap...why don't we drive to Charlottesville and go to lunch...I said...well sure why not! So that is what we did...we went to lunch...and just as we pulled in Ella woke up...which was perfect...so she was in a great mood during lunch...and then we went shopping at Babies R Us/Toys R Us...got a GREAT deal on the baby food that she eats...$10 off of a case of it...I was happy...that was the best price I have seen! I still plan on making a little bit of it...but I have found that I love all the different kinds of baby food (all Earth's Best Organic)...as they use different kinds of food....a few of Ella's favorites (Pears & Raspberries, Apples & Apricots, Apples & Plums, Apples & Blueberries, Banana & Mango, Sweet Potato & Carrots) just all kind of great combinations! So we got a bargain on that...and then we headed home...where again Ella had another afternoon nap...and we got home just in time to get her ready for dinner, a bath, pj's, a bottle and bedtime! Josh and I stayed up and watched a movie...Contagion...which was pretty good....and then I went to bed and Josh stayed up til 2 again!

So that has been our weekend...sad to say....it's 8:30 and I am ready for bed...Ella was up at 5:45am this morning...and tomorrow morning my alarm is set for 5:30am...ugh...have I mentioned that I am NOT a morning person :) I unfortunately am one of those people that need 9 hours of sleep to function really well and not feel tired.

Talker...

Well Ella has been "talking" up a storm!! Monday it was Josh and Ella all day...he said she did very well all day...however she was in bed by 6:30...so I missed out on seeing her as I don't get off until 7.

Tuesday - It's amazing how many things I have to fit into my morning before heading to work...I got up at 6 to be ready to be out of the door by 8....so in those two hours...I had to shower, do my hair, make-up, get dressed for work, make my lunch (and coffee to-go!), feed the dogs, then take them out, get Josh's lunch ready, wake Ella up, feed her a bottle, then feed her baby-food (fruit in the morning), bathe her, get her dressed, finish packing her diaper bag and out the door we ran (I was only 5 minutes behind schedule!)...after those 2 hours I'm ready to go back to bed! :) Ella went to the sitter's on Tuesday...and Josh got off early so he was able to pick her up around 3:00. I called him as soon as I got off at 6 on Tuesday...and said please please try to keep Ella up as I wanted to see her before she went to bed....so he fed her dinner and had her dressed in her PJs when I got home at 6:30...he told me on the phone...I don't know if she'll stay awake until you get home...she's really tired...I got home and started walking up the stairs...she stopped playing her blocks and just started "talking" and "talking" and screeching (not the bad kind...the kind where she is excited!). Josh just laughed...he said well someone is happy to see their mom! She was just grinning ear to ear...so sweet! I did get a little video...this is right before she went to bed....

This morning she woke up as happy as could be! (at 6:20)....doesn't she know Wednesdays are for sleeping in...until at least 7!!! So I got out of bed (which was hard to do...it was warm under those covers and so cold out of them!) and dragged myself upstairs to get her. I was greeted with a big smile and a loud squeal! We tried to be quiet for quite a while as Josh stayed up really late last night so he could sleep in late this morning...as tonight is her first night out!!! His shift is 6pm - 6am...that's a long night!

I planned ahead a little bit tonight...as tomorrow morning I have to be out the door by 7:30am...ugh! My lunch is packed, the diaper bag is almost fully packed, Ella got a bath tonight so I won't have to worry about it in the morning...the nice thing is that Josh will be coming home just as I am running around to get everything ready for the day...so he can sit on the couch and hold Ella and feed her the bottle...that will be one less thing off of my to-do list! Then as I head off to work he'll be getting into bed...this will take some getting used to!

Bucket List

On Christmas Day...Josh and I were asked what was on our "Bucket List." Having never really thought about it...I didn't have an answer...but the persuasion of Mom and Dad - we were told we needed to come up with one ;) So we tossed around a few ideas...

Ashley's List:
1) Own a Michael Kors purse...however I didn't expect it to happen so soon....I bought one this weekend! :)

It's a little blurry...(this picture is one I found online)...and this color looks a little more silver than the one I got...I feel like the color is more of a gunmetal. But I LOVE it!

2) I want to go stay at a luxury cabin on a lake (well this was on both of our lists)...so we haven't booked it yet...but we decided that this Spring that we are definitely doing a weekend trip (Grandma and Grandpa...you might get a visitor that weekend....make that 3 visitors!)

Ok so there were more than just 2 on the list...but those are the two that I've made headway on :)

It was a bit of a quiet weekend....I got into bed on Friday night....at 8pm!!! But....I did read for 2.5 hours in bed...and finished a book.

Saturday Josh, Ella and I went shopping (hence the new purse), went and got his hair cut, went out to lunch, went grocery shopping...it was a fun filled day! We went out to dinner with some friends for New Years...and I was in bed by 9:30...Josh said he stayed up til 12:05am...I asked him if he had to stay up til midnight so he could say that he did it...he said no...that our neighbors were playing such loud music it would have kept him up....obviously it didn't phase me....although I think I could sleep through a hurricane! :)

Today was another low key day...church in the morning, Ella had a good nap this afternoon while I did some picking up and cleaning...then we ran to Target...and went out to Sweet Frog (yummm!)

Tomorrow is another Daddy Daycare day!



Busy Week!

Whew...it's been a busy week!

Monday - Josh was off...lucky him....I worked 9-7...not so lucky! Ella and Josh spent the day together...having fun!

Tuesday -Josh and I both worked so Ella went to the sitters. I worked until 6...however, Josh was off at 3...so he picked Ella up early and they got to spend the afternoon together.

Wednesday - Josh worked and I was off....and it was my birthday! Yes...28...another year closer to 3-0! Yikes! Mom and Dad came over and took Ella and I out to lunch..and then to Sweet Frog....yum!
Ella and I played in the afternoon....

Josh came home around 3:45...he went and got Ella out of her crib (I had just put her down for a nap...she wasn't having it though!)...he got her all ready to come out and deliver my gift...

I don't think she was too thrilled with the hair accessory!! :)

Thursday - Josh was off...and I worked 9-7.

Friday - Josh was off...and I worked until 5:30. Josh did bring Ella by for a little visit today! They were out and about for the afternoon...he took her to his old work as well...they went and hung out.
Josh said he felt like he was a stay at home dad! But he said he was thankful to be able to spend time with Ella...just the two of them...as soon his long shifts are about to start.

And I hate to even say this...it's 8:00 on a Friday night...and I am going to go get into bed...I have a book that I am going to go read for a while and then go to sleep...I am exhausted!! And I know I will be up early with Ella tomorrow...as 6-6:30 is her time to rise and shine!! This morning she was making little peeps at 5:50am...my alarm was set for 6:45am...she was 55 minutes ahead of schedule!! :) She however got to lay down for a nap at 8:15 and took a 45 minute nap...while I was getting ready to go to work!

Tomorrow is shopping day! Time to go spend some gift cards! :)