Playdate with Ivy and Brayden

Ella had a really exciting day today. She and I went to Georgetown for a playdate with Ivy (Sarah's little girl who is only a little over a month older than Ella) and Brayden (Ashley's little boy). It was also nice getting the chance to see friends and talk. Brittany, a friend from college, also came by to visit with us today. She is getting married in less than two weeks! As far as the playdate goes, it was very funny watching Ivy and Ella interact at first. This is the first time Ella has been around someone close to her age and size. They touched each other and talked to each other. Ella on the other hand had an super sensitive day and cried any time Ivy touched her in a way she didn't approve of! Ella is typically the rough one in groups, so I was completely shocked! Brayden was awake a good part of the morning, so it was wonderful getting to visit with him. Ella and I both cannot wait to do it again!







Dear Ivy,
You were not a bully. I was sensitive today and might be getting in more teeth. I can't wait to play with you again and hopefully next time I won't cry as much. You looked very pretty in your dress by the way! And, thank you for letting me borrow your onesie--I made a mess at lunch!
Love,
Ella

New Toys and New Accomplishment

Yesterday, my mom took Ella to get some new toys for her house because all of her other toys were "baby" toys. With the school year approaching, my mom wanted her to have fun stuff to play with when Ella goes to her house. So, we all made a trip to KB Toys and found several fun things. Ella got a big tent thing that is full of balls (like Chuck-E-Cheese), a toy that you can ride on and walk with, and a cell phone. For our house, I bought her a cute grocery cart to push around. We weren't sure if Ella would be able to master the pushing yet, but she did! She walked her toys around all night long! This morning when she woke up she pushed her cart, her big stroller and her little chairs that go to her table! It's so funny. I guess she really enjoys this walking thing!

A Fun Day With Ava!

Today, Jackie and Ava came over to play. We had planned to get together a lot more this summer, but living so far away and the girls being on different nap schedules has changed those plans a little. Regardless, our day today was fantastic!
Jackie and Ava brought over Gold Star for lunch and then we played until we couldn't play anymore! The girls took turns riding around the house in the stroller and Ava even helped push Ella when it was her turn. They played on Ella's new table and chairs, her rocking horse and even watched a few trains pass by. Ava carried around Ella's brush, brushing both hers and Ella's hair! We tried to take a walk this afternoon, but as soon as we set off Ella fell asleep! She did not take her 11:00 nap today so she was a tired little girl! If she does end up dropping this nap, playdates will be much easier to schedule! Her and Ava went down around the same time and woke up within 20 minutes of each other! I was proud of both of them for playing and sleeping so well today! As you can see in the pictures, they both had a lot of fun!

Ella is 10 Months Old

Tomorrow, Ella turns 10 months old! It is so hard to believe first of all that she is 10 months old and second that in two more months she will be 1! Where does the time go? It has definitely been the greatest 10 months of mine and Kermie's life!

Here is a little update on Ella

Age: 10 months

Favorite Shows: Sesame Street, Elmo DVDs, Signing Time, Price is Right (at nap time)

Favorite books: Any book she can destroy! Ella does not sit long enough to let me read to her. She wants to eat the pages and tear the pages. Every now and then she will let me read her Baby Einstein books.

Favorite Songs: All the time: The song to Elmo's World, Casting Crowns, Do-Di-Do-Do (Nana) At nap time: Old Mc Donald, Jesus Loves Me, K-K-K-Katy

Favorite Foods: Any type of bean, Veggie Hot Dogs, Potatoes, Pretzels, Rice Cakes, Bananas

Favorite Activities: playing outside, going for walks, crawling around the house, loving on Gorilla, bath time, visiting family

Favorite place: any place where there are a lot of people for her to look at, home, Nana and Grandpa Rob's, Granny and Grandpa Jack's, Nanny and Grandbubby's

Things she hates: getting in the car, not getting what she wants when she wants it, peas, getting her diaper changed

Recent Achievements: she crawls faster than I can, she can stand on her own for about 15 seconds, she says lots of random things (most unrecognizable), she puts her face in water, she reaches for things she is wanting to touch or hear you say the name of

My Day at Home

Today, Ella and I decided to stay home and play. Usually, when we stay home our days are pretty much the same. We nap, play, take walks, and lots of other fun stuff. Here is a look at a few parts of Ella's day today.

The weather was nice and hot (90 degrees), so we filled up our pool and headed out to swim. Ella enjoys the water hose and splashing more than anything.



After swim time we ate lunch and Ella took a nap. Here is what Ella does when she wakes up from her naps (she tries to destroy everything in her crib!).



Ella was ready for a bottle after she woke up, so we sat, drank, and watched tv. She looks lovely after nap time and still has sunscreen in her hair!


We played around the house for a while and Ella laughed and laughed! I tried to get a glimpse of her two teeth!






Ella and I always take at least one walk each day. Today we took two, one with daddy early this morning and one this afternoon. Here are some of the things we saw on our walk this afternoon. We missed the train :( , played at the park, stopped at the police station, and finally made it back home! Isn't the fence Kermie built cute? I love it and am so glad he is a handy man!










Ella got really mad at me when I wouldn't let her taste my barbecue chips anymore at snack time. This is her pouting.


Nana and Bekah stopped by on their way home from Cincinnati and brought us a pizza from La Rosa's. Ella was so glad to see Nana! She reached and cried until Nana picked her up :)


And finally, Daddy came home after Ella ate dinner and had her bath. Kermie and her have a cute thing they do every night now. Kermie makes up these funny beats and Ella dances and claps. I think she may be musical like her daddy:) I will try to capture this on video soon!


We had a really nice day and hope you did too!

Four Weeks to Go and Many Contemplations...

Well, I'd have to say that this summer has been absolutely wonderful! This is the first summer in probably five years that I have not worked and it is wonderful. I've always been the type of person to stay busy, so it has been a big change having lots of time to play, take naps, etc! I am so grateful for the time I have had with Ella and all the memories we have made! We've grown even closer than before and I can only hope we stay this close as she continues to grow. I always wanted for me and my children to have a relationship like my mom and I have. It is so exciting to watch that relationship develop.

As the weeks go by and I am now starting to get prepared for this next school year, I am more excited than ever. There are only four more weeks until the start of school--I just can't believe how fast time goes by! When I first had Ella, I thought staying at home would be ideal, but as I have prayed and thought about the situation I am reminded that I am "called" to teach. I honestly feel it is a gift God has given me and that I must use. I love my students (dreadful or not) and I love watching them learn. I feel so blessed to have a profession that allows me to interact with others, see growth in others and myself, and maintain a balanced family life at home. I would not have it any other way. While Ella would probably love for me to stay home and play all day, I think she will grow to admire the fact that I help other children as well. Most of them need the interaction more than she does. I know Ella is well taken care of by all those who watch her and she is loved by them too.

Basically, this is summer has been a wake up call for me and I am thankful God has allowed this to happen!

"Teachers who inspire know that teaching is like cultivating a garden, and those who would have nothing to do with thorns must never attempt to gather flowers."

"If you promise not to believe everything your child says happens at school, I'll promise not to believe everything he says happens at home."

Lemons

Today, Ella and I went to lunch with Sejla at Mi Casita. Ella decided she would taste the lemon from Sejla's water and couldn't decide whether or not she liked it. It was obviously sour, but she kept going back for more. Sejla gets married two weeks from today! She bought Ella the cutest little dress for the wedding. She will be so cute in it!