Past Month's Activities

So lots has happened in the past month:
-Ella saw her first real snow
-Lots of fun playdates
-Skip & I took our first alone trip to Mexico
-I started a part time job
-Celebrated GG's (10th) , Grammy's (15th) & Auntie Mary's (16th) B-days
-Ella celebrated her first St. Patty's Day
-My Dad & Step-mom came to visit
-Tanner & Jill's First Wedding Shower

Ok so now that we are in 70 degree weather it seems like the snow was so long ago but here it was on March 1st....

Ella loved looking out the window, trying to figure out what was going on out there. (Well that or she wanted to be close to Sophie)

Sophie watching the snow (or planning her escape out of the crazy house)

Ella standing at her favorite toy, watching Dora. What can I say, she loves everything going at once. Sometimes I feel like I am becoming schizophrenic, since everything either flashes, dings, rings or sings. I am starting to hear them even when they are not playing! ;-)


Ella giving Sidney a "kiss." I use this term loosely since it's more like a soggy love bite. (Please excuse the piles of clothes in the back, Mommy & Daddy were trying to pack)




Ella steering Daddy around the house. After they are through Skip has to jump in the shower because his hair is full of Ella's happy drool!

Ella wanting to be a big girl wearing her sunglasses!

Daddy's lucky charm! No green beer this year!

Ella doing her almost crawl....she rocks back and forth and can somewhat scooch backwards but hasn't figured out how to go forward. Also notice the drool pool on the jacket. She is drooling like a champ and is still shoving everything in her mouth but no teeth yet.

Cheese!



All the girls in the Brown house!

Bubie, Grandpa, Mommy & Ella.

Valentine's Day & Family Festivities

It was a year ago on Valentine's Day that we found out we were having a little girl! Needless to say she looks a little different from the ultrasound but we could tell even then that she was a cutie!

Then to celebrate Papa's birthday we had the whole gang over for a celebration lunch. We all borrowed Ella's bibs since we had ribs and licked our plates clean! Here's the Brown Family.

Ella walking around the backyard.

Ella getting a little taste of Papa's Birthday Cake icing, yumm!

Also I always hear, what color eyes does she have? Blue like Daddy or brown like Mommy and really they seem to change a little bit each day but here's what they look like now.Peek-a-Boo I see you!!!

Here are some more photos of Ella at bathtime, always a favorite!!

See mom still no teeth.

Splish Splash I love the water!!!

Goth Baby or Chocolate Syrup?

You tell me....Goth Baby or Chocolate Syrup?

Ok actually it's neither but who knew prunes could make such funny photos...and yes for those of you thinking "that's what it looks like going in...think of it coming out!" You are right she had 2 explosive diapers following that fun feeding. And go figure, she loved prunes but I think the lesson is a little goes a long way!

Happy Birthday Papa!

Happy Birthday, Papa!!!

More Pics...

Here are some more pictures....Ella meeting Auntie M's new little furry one, Merlin.

All bundled up for a cold day!

This is how the playdate started with Ella (6.5 mnths), Hannah (5 mnths), Caroline (3.5 mnths) & Blake (2 mnths)...

And this is how it ended...Needless to say Ella & Caroline were ready to go!

Oops this is what happens when you sneeze while eating carrots!

6 Month Check-Up

Today we went to the Dr. for Ella's 6 month check-up and everything looked good! She is 17.3 lbs (75%) & 26" tall (50-75%). She was all smiles until the shots but really who likes shots anyways! ;-) Here are some recent pics.

"Wait Mommy here I come!" Ella loves standing & dancing around, but she still needs someone helping her keep her balance!

"Cheese or should I say Applesauce!" No surprise here, Ella loves to eat!!!

"Who needs re-runs of Seinfeld when you have my Daddy's show every night!" Daddy playing fun games with Ella.

We thought this photo was funny since it looks like she is holding the camera & taking a picture of herself. ;-)

"Look into my eyes and count to 10 then you shall be under my baby control!" Ella uses her big beautiful eyes to melt Mommy & Daddy's heart!

6 Months Old!!

It is hard to fathom that Ella Grace entered this world just 6 months ago! I feel like that is such a short amount of time but yet we already have a lifetime of memories. Maybe now I understand why older people forget things. I think at this route I will be absent minded in a year! We always knew our lives had changed forever the day she was born, but I don’t think we completely understood how much joy & love this precious little bundle would bring. While it hasn’t been all smiles or clean diapers, I wouldn’t change this experience for the world! She has made our family complete.

I have started packing up her 3-6 month clothes and bringing in the 6-9 months. It is such a bittersweet time. You fold up each little outfit, each with it’s own memory and pack it away. While I want her to grow and hit those milestones, I also want her to stay just the way she is, small & cuddly. Needless to say, it is very fun to see her develop her little personality with her big smiles and rolling laughs. We are blown away at how much she has grown & how much she has learned in the past 6 months. (I know this is a saying that won’t go away since I still hear it when people talk about me.) So at 6 months this is where we are:
-She has really started to like all the solids. Right now she is on the yummy diet of sweet potatoes, carrots, applesauce, pears & cereal. (And for all those with potty humor, solids definitely make diaper changing interesting!)
-She is rather impatient if she sees a full bottle and it's not already in her mouth. ;-)
-She is “talking” a lot, telling us all about her day. While we say we have heard her say “Ella” I really think it might be wishful thinking!
-She squeals & does the running man in her exer-saucer when she sees a kitty.
-When she is on her tummy she can do push-up & pull her feet under just not at the same time.
-She can sit up on her own with the occasional slow fall and if she is holding something like a couch or the outside of the exer-saucer she can stand on her own.
-She is a great sleeper going from 830p-630a.
-Basically she is now a sponge taking everything in and if you look at her you can see her little wheels in her brain turning all the time. She loves to be held when you are working in kitchen so that she can see your every move or when you are driving and she is truly looking out the window to see what's out there. It's so funny to see her taking it all in.

Well I think that sums it all up. TGIF and happy 6-month birthday Ella!!