Ella's Antics

It's been another abnormal week-Chris is home but jet lagged, I started school this week and we're moving LOTS of things around in our schedule to accommodate my new full-time student status. Should be exciting (and stressful). I've been able to get some breaks from Ella since Chris got home which has made me MUCH more excited to spend time with her. Napping is still not happening but that's partially been our fault (we've had reasons that she hasn't been home at nap time 2 days in a row) so we'll see what happens when we start to try again tomorrow. I'm hopeful...here's what she's been up to...


Dressing up in her 4th of July Dress from Aunt Bobby

She sat in this chair and read to Raleigh for 30 minutes!!! I love this child.

Making Monkey sounds for Raleigh

Outing with GG

My sister, Ella, and I had a fun visit to see my grandmother yesterday. Ella let GG teach her some choreography and they danced together for quite a while! Ella loves running around GG's house from interesting "toy" to toy. We went out after that and we had a 45 min wait at Outback. Ella did pretty well...I was kinda surprised we didn't leave regretting it. Go Ella! She hasn't napped in 10 days which is HORRIBLE but her behavior has been better the last couple days. Chris has been out of town this whole time so I'm hoping that once things are back to "normal" she'll start sleeping again. Here are some pics from last night.


GG and Ella cheesing it up

GG, Ella (not looking at the camera this time-but she is getting better at posing), and Marissa

Reading while we waited for our table at the restaurant

Momentous Occassion

To give you an idea of what kind of week it's been I just want to note that Ella fell asleep in the car this evening. This may not sound like a big deal but I kid you not, it's been close to a year since this has happened. I won't go into all of the sordid details but clearly, the last few days have been crazy enough that my child, the no-car-sleeper, fell asleep. Pray we make it through the next few days and that the back-talking, no napping, waking-up-at-night-child who has moved in with me gives back sweet little, sleeps-15hrs-a-day Ella. I miss her.

Interesting...

So we live in the suburbs and I don't know anyone who fits any kind of hunting-fishing-gun-toting stereotype yet still there is a store very close by that has acres of products geared towards these hobbies. I don't quite understand how they stay open but, whatever. What drove home the point that I really don't know who buys the stuff they sell is the vending machine outside this store that I came across the other day.

No Joke-they actually have a vending machine for meal worms and night crawlers and other nasty LIVE things. Do people really pull up in their yuppy cars, wearing business suits after their drive in from DC or Baltimore and grab a pack of night crawlers before they head home to their gated community or suburban picket fence-y neighborhood? I really want the statistics on how many times that vending machine has been used. I have nothing against outdoorsy-ness, I've just lived in the area for 20 some years and don't know a single person who would buy live bait at a shopping mall. Why, you ask was I at sed store? Because it's like another world for us-an amusement park full of real animals (taxidermy style) everywhere, a waterfall, and fish bigger than Ella in a tank as big as our living room. So, people who buy live bait, whoever you are, thanks for providing an afternoon excursion destination to fascinate my two year old (and me).

Christmas 2007

We had a great Christmas this year. We celebrated with my side of the family at my Aunt and Uncle's house on Christmas Eve. My Aunt is a great cook and we had appetizers and desserts that I confess I'm still fantasizing about...mini "burgers" made with steak, shrimp and cocktail sauce, smoked salmon canapes, egg salad with caviar (I've always hated egg salad but LOVED this) and the best fudge I've ever had. I've got to get the recipes. Anyway, lots of presents and fun and Ella was the star of the party. She really loves the party environment and is almost always really well behaved, even if it's hours past her bedtime (which it was).
Christmas morning Ella slept until we woke her up at 9:45am to go over to Nana and Grandpa's house. We celebrated with all of Chris' family until well into the afternoon and again, had a great time. It really was a blessed Christmas and we're so thankful for that!


Ella has been talking about Aunt Bobbi's house and the "big, big Christmas tree" almost every day since then

Ella saw the candles on this Christmas decoration and insisted that she needed to blow them out (and kept saying "Happy Birthday to you!") GG got a kick out of helping her blow each one out

Nana bought Ella this ADORABLE Christmas dress that fit her perfectly! She had so much fun passing out presents to everyone and was very good about not trying to open them all herself

Looking hardcore with her new guitar from Aunt Marissa