Morning Girl

I don't know what the new obsession is but Miss Ella keeps waking up at 5:00 am. She has been doing so well and I was even having to go in and wake her up so I could get her changed and ready to be at Elaine's by 7:30 am. The past two nights she has woken up several times but the 5:00 am one she just sits there screaming. Maybe it's teeth? She did also start 1/2 & 1/2 yesterday (1/2 formula & 1/2 whole milk) so maybe it's her stomach or maybe she is just being a baby! Mark has been going in to get her when she does this and I go ahead and take my shower. This morning she was still crying when I was done getting ready so I fixed her a sippy cup and she fell back to sleep after inhaling it like she always does. She slept until about 7:00.

We had what they are calling her a massive storm (ice & snow). I stayed at home this morning until it was light out but most of the roads are clear but it's supposed to start again tonight. Mark just laughs because people freak out on the roads and run and buy bread and milk. It's because this is everyday weather in Cleveland.

The 1st Birthday Party

Ella had her first birthday party on Saturday and I think she had a lot of fun. Thank you, Thank you to Tim for letting us invade his beautiful house. She was so tired on Sunday from all the excitement, food & presents! She had a good party and was surrounded by a lot of love from all of her family & friends. The lady who made our wedding cake (I'll do a little advertising for her - Christi's Cakes) lives down the street from Tim and made the most adorable cake and it was delicious. It was hard to take it apart and cut it because it was so cure. She devoured the cake, like I knew she would. Her new obsession is to put all of her food in her hair which I would of thought she would have done right away with the cake but she was a very good girl. In fact I think all the cake and yummy icing would have gone directly into her mouth if it wasn't for Daddy. He wiped a little on the face which looked extremely cute of course. Thank you to all that came and helped make her party so much fun!! I can't believe my baby is 1 (I keep saying that)!!

One Year

I was just sitting her eating my lunch thinking to myself "what was I doing last year at this time?" I was definitely feeling the contractions and close to getting my epidural (best invention ever). Mom and Dad and the Grivna Family had just come back from lunch and remember Mom asking me if she cared if she could put her coat over in the corner. My response resembled my pain. "I don't care where you put your coat (sorry mom)."

Anyway I can't believe my baby is a year old today. Next you know she'll be driving (sorry Cory I had to throw that in there). Poor Cory had his first accident today and thankfully no one was injured. We all had them and I think we all had them in the first couple months you start to drive. Mine was when I rear ended the Judge in Anderson. No one was hurt but scariest part was calling your parents to tell them. Then having your parents take you to his house the next day to apologize again. Definitely made a lasting impression. Just think Cory you can reminisce about your accident every year on Ella's birthday.

She was very happy this morning when I got her up and very excited to see Elaine and Jacob when she got to daycare. All the kids at daycare celebrated Ella's birthday today with the breakfast that I took, yummy banana bread muffins, yo baby yogurt and bananas! I know your not supposed to tell your kids to fight back but I gave Ella permission to hit Jacob back today if he bullied her. He knocked her down yesterday and of course she hit her head and left a mark. I have to make cupcakes tonight for work so I think we'll give her part of one as her cake. I'm sure she'll devour it. I'll post pictures tomorrow!!

The Boyfriend

I dropped off Ella this morning at daycare (Elaine's) and Jacob was already there. Ella spotted him right away and started that sweet little grin. Elaine said when Jacob got there his dad took his coat off and he just started screaming "ELLA, ELLA, ELLA!" Elaine said sweatheart she's not here yet, didn't matter though out it came again "ELLA, ELLA, ELLA!" Isn't that the cutest thing you have ever heard except for the fact that this is the same boy who gave her the love bite last week.

I think Ella is finally getting over whatever virus she had. The throwing up and diarrhea has stopped and she is definitely starting to act normal again. The doctor said on Monday that he couldn't believe that she didn't get when we did before but anyway I think it's on its way out. She was so excited to get back to Elaine's with all of her friends although her boyfriend yesterday must have been so excited to see her that he bit her - not cool Jacob!!

The party planning for the big one year celebration is moving right along. I think all of the remaining loose ends can't be done until right before the party.

Mark is going out of town with Jason & Chris this weekend for a big hunting trip so I think Ella and I will go to Anderson to visit with her cousins, aunt and gam ma & pappaw (if she continues to feel ok).

Christmas Day

Ella slept in until after 8:00 so no getting up at the crack of dawn yet to open presents. I'm sure that day will come. I put her down as soon as we got in the living room and she made a mad dash for the tree. Santa had left some gifts unwrapped and she immediately starting playing with them. She did really well opening gifts. She would start ripping the paper and stop and look up at us and you could read the look on her face (I can't believe they are letting me do this). I had to help with just a couple presents. I made a special breakfast for Christmas morning - blueberry pancakes. She devoured them. Ella looked like Violet from Charlie & the Chocolate Factory. We had a great day and Ella played her little heart out, like always!!

December 27, 2008

Saturday, December 27th we drove up to Cincinnati to the Newport Aquarium with the Padget's. We thought Ella might sleep in the car on the way there so she would be well rested for the aquarium but she did only the last 30 minutes before we got there. I think she loved it. We would say all the animals names and she would reply "ba ba." That is the word for everything. Overall she looked interested in everything but I think she'll enjoy the fishes better next year. We ate lunch afterwards and drove back. Ella was so worn out from the excitement slept the entire drive home.

Big Walker

Yes, she did it, she's on the move. I went to pick up Ella at Elaine's on Tuesday (December 30, 2008) after work and Elaine said stop wait right there. She walked all the way to me from their living room into the dining room. We knew it would be soon but wow that was fast. She is all over and it is so cute!!! She still probably prefers to crawl because she is very speedy but she is walking all by herself.