Happy 30th Birthday, Daddy!!

Happy 30th Birthday, Daddy! We hope you have a great day. We love you bunches!!!
Ella & Mommy

August Recap

As usual another month is "flying" by! We seem to be always on the go, but we have had lots of fun times!

In the beginning of August, Ella took her first airplane ride to see Grandpa & Grandma Saluter in Baltimore. I didn't know how she would react but she did amazing. Considering this is the same child that we couldn't take in public for the first 6 months I think she has made huge strides. She watched Dora & Deigo on her new DVD player & munched on some goldfish and was happy as a clam! Grandpa playing with Ella.

Grandma holding Ella during the "Meet Ms. Ella party!"

Uncle Glen & Aunt Arlene making Ella giggle.

Ella hamming it up for some cake!


Here are some recent cute photos....

Ella loves bathtime and her 500 bath toys!

Ella in her bath robe running around her room before bed. Hmm doesn't look like that bedtime lavender bathwash worked, she still looks pretty wired to me.

Future Verizon Wireless customer, she loves her cell phones!


For Ella's first birthday we got her tickets to go see Dora Live at the Fox Theatre. I didn't know who was more excited, Mommy or Ella ;-) I really think Ella loved it because her eyes would not leave the stage and when Dora or Boots went off stage she waved bye bye to them. Plus it was fun to do something different and watch her reaction to all the new things.

It ended up that the Sat 11a show was quite popular since we saw Katelyn, Katie, Jeff, Erin & Wes. So much fun to run into friends!

Some more random August photos.

When she puts her sunglasses on we call her Hollywood!

Can we say Daddy's clone? Not only does she look just like Skip but she tips her sunnies down just like Daddy when he is mowing the yard. Too cute!

Hollywood getting ready to greet Daddy in the front yard. (Also notice the nice stream of drool, we can thank 2 teeth cutting through for that one;-)

Ella so excited & waving like a crazy person as soon as she sees Daddy's truck driving down the street.

Fun in the sun

Since Daddy has been really busy at work we planned to have a family fun day and I think from her smiles it was a huge success!

Fun in the Sun!

Close up of Ella's face as Daddy throws her high up in the air! She loves it, however mommy was cringing as I took the photos!

Wee!

Higher, Daddy!

Then we had some fun at home!

Daddy playing kissy monster with Ella.

How can you resist my cute little face!

Ella trying out her new power wheels and learning how to press the button to make it go zoom!

Birthday Girl Photos

Birthday Girl Photos!!! Since the website is being difficult today the photos will be out of order, but at least you can see our little birthday girl!!!

Here are the photos from Sunday when Ella had all her little friends over for cake!

Here are some photos from Thursday on her actual birthday....

Headed to the kitchen for my birthday cake!

Geez, would you bring me my cake already? (I guess the song is right, it's my party & I will cry if I want to!)

Pretty tasty cupcake!

Then on Saturday we had over the whole family to celebrate......

Ella greeting all the guests showing them how old she is. Plus how cute is the little confetti b-day skirt that Grammy made for her!!! (It even had her name in confetti in there!)

The house all festive for the big day!

Ella's ladybug cake. Not only was it precious but delicious too! The top layer was chocolate with fudge filling & the bottom layer was vanilla with a strawberry & cream filling. Thanks Grammy!

Ella's smash cake!

Ella not real sure what to do with her cake ;-)

Ready to get down and party with all her guests!

All of us filling up our plates with BBQ, Again thanks grammy & nana!

Mommy & Daddy with the birthday girl!

We made this picture board to document everyone that came to Ella's party to share in her special day! We will print all the pictures & put them in a book for her so she can see all the people that love her to pieces!

Happy 1st Birthday, Ella!!!

Happy 1st Birthday Ella!
We can't believe that you are 1 today!! This has been the most amazing year and we thank God everyday for such a precious & healthy little munchkin!! Thank you for bringing so much excitement & love into our lives.
We love you always!
Mommy & Daddy

(I promise there will be a million photos to follow of the birthday girl!)

Photo Phrenzy

If pictures are worth a thousand words, here's a few million! Ha ha ;-)



We had a KD kiddie fun night. Look at all the cuties born in 2008; Ella, Hannah, Caroline, & Blake. Also look at the cute matching outfits that Ella & Hannah are wearing. Erin's mom gave us those last year and finally they were able to make their debut!


What a difference a year makes!!!

Ella & Caroline playing while Blake, the ladies man hangs out. (Sorry Hannah you were left out of this one but I had to redeem Caroline & Ella since in most photo shoots with all the kids they are the ones crying ;-)

Ella climbing the stairs. (She can go up but hasn't figured out how to scoot down, right now she tries to come down just like big people which isn't working!)

Look I am almost to the top.

Our pensive little one. For those that see Ella regularly know that while Ella has her silly moments she usually gives people a very serious look. I am not sure what she's thinking about, maybe Dora's next adventure or Deigo's animal rescues, who knows? ;-)

Yeah Daddy about to take me into the pool!

Wee, Mommy higher!!!

Happy 4th of July Daddy & good job running the Peachtree.

Mommy loves to snuggle me even if she is sweaty & nasty. ;-)

Clap, Clap, Clap, Happy 4th of July!!

Aren't I cute? (Yeah this is the smile that she gives right before she bends down to put her hands in the kitty food. Flaked Tuna, delicious!)

Look in a couple of weeks I will be ONE!!!

Summer Fun!

Summer fun is truly here. We have continued the world wind of activity and Ella is still amazing us with her new tricks. At this rate I think we need to get her a Peachtree Road Race number!

May flew by & June is almost over so next month will be the big day that Ella turns one!!! How crazy! Here's what we have been up to:

-Mommy & Daddy celebrated their 2 year anniversary

-Mommy & Grammy went up to NY to see some of our old friends, The Brennan's (I met Allison in nursery school - which is so crazy to think that some of Ella's friends that she is meeting now will be here friends some 20+ years later!)

-Uncle Tanner & Aunt Jill got married @ beautiful Lake Toxaway

-Celebrated Father's Day at the Brown's

In between all these activities Ella has managed to learn some new tricks too!

-She is a walking machine & sometimes gets going to a little trot

-Climbs the stairs all by herself

-She said her first word, Da-da! (we've been hearing lots of works, but this was the first word she used in the correct context)

-She went in the pool for the first time (granted we dipped her toe in last year but I use the word "dip" pretty lightly)

-Loves to help daddy play the guitar & clap to "if your happy and you know it...."

-Plays peek-a-boo around corners

-Knows that if she shakes Sophie's (the kitty) toy that she can con her into coming closer.

-Her top front right tooth has broken through

-Celebrated with Daddy, his first Father's Day!

Here are some photos:

Robin, Me, Grammy, Dodson, Allison, & Andrew enjoying brunch in NYC

The Lovely new Brown couple, Tanner & Jill

Mommy & Daddy

Ella showing off her pearly whites

Helping Daddy play guitar

Conning Sophie into playing with her




Bath time is so fun!

Getting ready to jump in!


Weee! Daddy pulling me around the pool.

Aren't we cute!!! I love my Daddy so much!