Saturday, November 28, 2009

Ella's First Birthday

Ella's first birthday turned out to be a three-day extravaganza! On Friday night, her actual birthday, Ella opened gifts from Grandma and Aunt Sandra. Ella loved her Pooh Bear bubble maker from Aunt Sandra.



Grandma gave Ella some fun books. Ella is holding up her book of Van Gogh paintings . . . we like to start them early around here!


Aunt Sandra is pointing out the pictures in her book on America's famous sights.


But Ella didn't feel like reading just then . . . she wanted bubbles!


On Saturday at Ella's party, Aunt Tracey decorated the house with balloons, streamers, and party hats.


Ella gets a birthday hug from Sierra :)

Ella did not want to wear her party hat :(


Ella had a large cupcake for her main cake and then Mommy made several cupcakes to go with it. Here everyone sings happy birthday to the birthday girl.


She was careful at first . . .

But then it got a little messy . . .

And even more messy! I wonder what she's thinking . . .

Cousin Vanessa got in on the action too!


A birthday kiss from Aunt Tracey :)


Later in the evening, Ella opened a couple gifts. Ella was not so sure about the laughing, rolling monkey that Nonna got her.


On Sunday, Ella opened the rest of her gifts. At times she seemed more interested in the tissue paper than the gifts themselves :)


Ella tried on the hats for her new Pepito doll from the Garretts.


Ella squats down to get a good look at her new sock monkey from Heath.


Ella says hello to her new doll from the Hammers.

Aunt Tracey gave her this fun sound puzzle of zoo animals.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Our Little Honker

Last Friday night, we took Ella to the Yuba City vs. River Valley football game. She had a blast walking around the stands, watching the crowd and the cheerleaders, and cheering on Yuba City. I now realize what a handful she is going to be at basketball games this winter--she hates being held and only wants to walk around--yikes!

Ella and I posed on a bench facing the crowd. We had her bundled up well.


Daddy did not like the attention he thinks talking pictures creates, but he humored me :)



Here is Ella warily eyeing the Honker mascot. She wasn't too sure about the big duck.





I had to hold the camera out in front of us for this one . . . Daddy was done with picture-taking :)

Monday, November 2, 2009

Ella's Big Halloween Weekend

Ella had a big weekend as Mommy and Daddy invited some friends from McNair up for a little party on Friday night. Kelley was the first to arrive, and Ella took to her quickly.



Ella also got to see her old friends from baby yoga, Kirin and his mom Brandi. They had a blast playing on Brandi's lap.


Then on Halloween, Stacy and Gabriel came to visit. Ella had fun goofing around in her elephant costume with Stacy.








Dad was not a big fan of the elephant costume. He preferred Ella in her "Daddy's Little Pumpkin" shirt.


Saturday, October 10, 2009

She walks some more!

Today Daddy used some favorite toys to get Ella to walk to him, and walk she did!!!


Friday, October 9, 2009

She really walks!!

This morning I saw Ella taking baby steps away from the coffee table! It took my breath away. I immediately got out the camera and tried to capture her doing it again, and I did! She only takes a few steps, but they are definitely steps. I think the television helped her to forget to drop to her knees and crawl.

This is my second attempt to get something on camera. She takes a couple steps but then she falls--still cute!

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

She walks!! (sort of)

Here is video of Ella using her "walker" tonight. She has been using everything she can find--a chair in the doctor's office, her stroller--to help her walk around, so I went and bought her one of those convertible walkers. When she is tall enough, it converts into a little car she can sit and ride on.


Monday, October 5, 2009

The Bookworm and the Traveler

Ella has become quite the bookworm! She loves to sit and flip through her books. Her favorite books right now are ones with little patches of various textures she can feel. She has an animal one with all kinds of fluff and fur on each page. In the video below, Ella is flipping through her Dr. Seuss book.


Ella is also quite the traveler these days. She walks all around the living room with the help of the coffee table, her larger toys, and Mom and Dad.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Erin and Greg's Party

On Saturday, we went to Erin's new house for a party with her family. She made tasty elk chili with the elk meat Greg brought back from hunting in Colorado. It was VERY hot--around 100 degrees, and we were in the backyard under tents to keep out of the sun.

Nonna and Ella are trying to keep cool.

Ella does this thing where she lifts her chin up in the air, smiles, and looks right at me as if to say, "I'm so cute I know I can get away with anything!

There were some other little boys who were swimming in the baby/dog pool, so Uncle Greg dipped Ella's toes in, and before I knew it, she was having a blast splashing around. Here Aunt Tracey looks on and Ella looks up at her as if to say, "Well, are you coming in?"



Ella didn't realize that the pool doubles as the dog's water dish :)


AHHHH!!! Now I'm cooled off!


Kurt and Heath played Baggo. Heath celebrates his last toss as Kurt demonstrates his intense concentration. Kurt makes it look like the bag weighs 50 pounds!


That's better Kurt! You were going to pull something if you kept that up. Nice follow-through Heath :)


Here Heath and Kurt play while Erin and her dad watch from the gallery.
Here are Tracey and Greg at the other end while Nonna and Ella watch. I think it was Greg and Kurt versus Heath and Tracey.

CONGRATULATIONS ERIN!!!!!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Ella's 10 Month Birthday

On Sunday night, we hosted a little Sunday night dinner for the family, and it happened to be Ella's 10 month birthday. She hung out with Nonna and Tracey and Heath all night.




Ella wasn't interested in watching the Emmys, so she grabbed her favorite Dr. Seuss book to read.




Later she goofed around with Aunt Tracey and Heath.



She also showed Heath who is boss around our house. Rule #1: don't put anything you don't want grabbed within her arm's reach! Aunt Tracey looks like she is enjoying this a little too much :)