A Note from Ellie...

Hi Everyone! I thought that it had been a while, so I wanted to write on Mommy's blog just letting you know what I've been up to these days! I am getting into lots of mischief now that I am mobile and life is just full of adventure.

One of my most recent developments is now I can CLIMB! So, if there is ANYTHING around that looks like I could possibly climb on it, watch out. I climb on boxes, books, purses, everything! And much to Mommy's dismay, I can also do what I like to call the "Spiderman" up the back of chairs - AND up the rails of my crib. It won't be too much longer and I'll figure out how to get out of there!

As you know, school recently started so I have been spending LOTS of time with all of the college kids. Don't worry, I am never lonely. I have lots of big people friends who are all very nice to me. I love the college kids! They are so much fun!

We had a big BBQ for welcome back week and I had lots of fun eating hot dogs (sorry Uncle Joe!) and chips and other big people food. I'm eating a lot better these days and Mommy says that she thinks I will soon finally hit 20 lbs. :) Then I can get a front facing car seat!!!

As you can see, my hair is also getting LONG and sometimes looks kind of wild if Mommy hasn't fixed it yet for the day. I don't like to keep pretty bows in anymore, so I usually just have a little Pebbles ponytail on top of my head to keep the hair out of my eyes. And notice my new teeth! I now have 5 teeth - two on top and three on the bottom. I am getting ready to get several more soon! Here I am in my t-shirt from my Aunt K-Lo. I love it and can't wait to see her in person in a couple of weeks!

Often I play SO hard I crash hard at night! On this particular day, I just laid down mid-afternoon on the rug and fell asleep! It's hard work to run around like I do. I don't often stop, unless it's to play with Mommy or Daddy's cell phone or eat. So, when I sleep, I am a very good sleeper! :) I have a very FUN life and love to play, play, play! I'll write again soon and fill you in on some of my other new developments. Mommy doesn't yet have pictures or video of me sneaking into the bathroom and lifting up the toilet lid so I can play in the water or of the way I like to make baskets into the kitchen trash can with anything I can throw in there! Needless to say, Mommy has found lots of tupperware, a cell phone and many other things in the trash!

That's all for now! More soon...

groovin'

Ellie is a dancin' machine these days! She dances to any kind of music and if there is no music, she makes her own! :) It's a blast...

Can't get enough...

I can't believe how smitten I am with this little person in my world... I just can't seem to get enough of her! I tell you what, she is definitely the joy of our lives! She brings such new life to everything that we do and I feel incredibly privileged to get to be her Mom... I don't deserve it, but I sure am grateful!

Tonight as I was giving her her bath and getting her ready for bed, she happily played and chatted away, discovering all these new things in her world, I just thanked God for the gift of my little Ellie Hope... This is the baby we prayed so long for and sometimes I have to pinch myself to believe that she's really here and we really get to raise her. She couldn't be a more perfect addition to our family...

The only thing I wish is that time would slow down a little bit... That each stage would last a little longer cause they all seem to disappear so quickly. She's growing and changing every day. She's starting to use more big girl words, walk like a big girl, understand like a big girl.

So quickly she is becoming a toddler and our "baby" is no more...

I just want to hold on to these days...

So, we cherish every minute we get with her and try to soak it all up.

And I pray to God that He'll help me remember the special blessings of these days.

13 months old!!!

Happy 13 month birthday, Ellie!

Our little princess is growing up SO fast! She just turned 13 months old on Friday August 14th! I feel like I can't even blink or I'll miss something... We have been having so much fun together this summer and Ellie really is my little buddy... Right now, she is VERY into Mommy's cell phone. She puts it up to her ear and says "hi".

It's the cutest thing EVER.So if you ever get a call from me and there is no one on the other line, it probably means that Ellie called you. :)

Ellie also loves to try to bounce balls, can wave and say "hi", looks and points at a light and says "light", but her favorite word is still "Da Da"... No "Ma Ma" yet! But I'm so glad that Daddy and Ellie are such good buddies, for sure...

Ellie missing Daddy...

Ellie and I are in Iowa for a few days while Daddy is in Florida for the last few days of Kaleo... It's amazing how much changes with a one year old in a few short days! El has started walking much more proficiently AND she is chattering up a storm! Today as I was feeding her she was telling me just how much she misses Daddy...

Future Classy Cat...

Ellie is ONE!!!

It's so hard to believe, but our little sweetie turned ONE on Tuesday! And what a fun day it was... We got to have a really fun party out at City Park and lots of friends got to come and help us celebrate. Ellie had a great time, despite the 98 degree temps and 105 degree heat index. :) Thanks so everyone who came and celebrated with us. Here are just a few pics... Joel's Dad took most of the good ones, so I need to get those from him. But here are a few from our camera!

Ellie enjoying her cake!

Daddy was right there to make sure she had something to wash it down with. :)One of Ellie's birthday cakes...
Here are a few of the friends and family who came to celebrate with us!

Because it was so hot, we ended the day at the splash park! I didn't get any picks of that but I know Barry did, so maybe I'll add more soon!

There is so much to be THANKFUL for over the last year. Now on to year TWO!