Ella and the boys

Dancing Queen!

City girl or Country girl?

(Adam and Ella riding a 4wheeler. We can add this to the list of things Ella loves to do!)

Adam and I discuss moving quite often. Not too far out, but we would like to move somewhere where we could have a little land, peace and quiet, and no neighbors in sight. I never considered myself a "city girl" until I met Adam. From day one he (and his family) have called me a "city girl." I do love to shop and have all the modern conveniences of living in the city. My whole life I have lived in the city, and I couldn't imagine myself anywhere else. I always used to say if I was going to move I would move somewhere bigger.

I am not sure when it happened, but I have slowly began to think this isn't the life I want. Maybe it's seeing Ella and the boys run through their tiny backyard. Maybe it's hearing our neighbors phone when the windows are open. Maybe it's looking out our kitchen window, and the only thing I see is our neighbors house. I am tired of living in a subdivision. It was fine before we had Ella, but now it's definitely not what either of us want. Hopefully someday in the near future we can move and give Ella the huge yard I know she desires with plenty of room to run. What more could any child want?

It will be interesting to see where life takes us in the future. There would have to be many things worked out before we could make a move like that, and we would of course have to sell our house. For now I'll just wonder... will Ella be a city girl or country girl or maybe a good combo of both? Only time will tell.

Tueday randomness

It was a beautiful day today. Ella and I pretty much lived outside. Tonight there was such a nice breeze. I love it. Fall is right around the corner. I can feel it!

An Elmo to watch Elmo. This is Ella's new Elmo chair. It talks and spins. She loves it.

Ella is now eating with a fork. She has gotten pretty good at it. Every time she takes a bite she puts her fork down and claps since I get excited for her. I am so proud! She is moving right along.

Ella is laughing at Elliott. I can always count on Elliott to make Ella laugh!

The cutest thing I've ever seen!

I adore...

...her pigtails

I know I post a lot of pictures of Ella's hair, but I really love it. I love the curls. I love that it's getting longer, and I can put it up. I don't love the fact that as her hair gets longer it means Ella is getting older. I love the stage she is in right now, but I do miss my baby. Ella is FINALLY starting to say more words. She came walking towards me last night with an empty container of carmel sauce and was saying "apple". She wanted some more apples with carmel sauce. She is also saying "boom boom boom." She is trying to sing a song from her Elmo DVD. If you ask her what a duck says she will say, "quack quack." She can also say "woof woof." She loves to explore, and she is very intuitive. I love watching her learn new things. She is growing up way too fast. I better hold on, because this ride will be over before I know it!

Making progress

Ella started out the summer pretty much hating anything to do with water. She despised the ocean, pool, and sprinkler. She has been getting less apprehensive around water here lately. She has been drenching herself in the hose, and today she played in the sprinkler. Next up...the pool!

I love this picture of her. She was so happy!

Friday funday with Autumn

These two love each other and love playing together!

Playing in the playhouse together...

Sliding together...

Autumn being silly...

Some of Ella's tricks

Kindermusik

Tonight was our first visit to Kindermusik with Valarie. I had a couple friends going with their kids so I thought that gave me a good excuse to go. Ella was a little unsure at first. I have to admit it was a little overwhelming for me so I can't imagine how she felt. Once the music started she got really into it. Everyone sat in a big circle. She was supposed to be sitting in my lap ringing her bells, but instead she was in the middle of the circle dancing by herself. It was really funny. She didn't care who was watching she just wanted to dance! Ella really enjoyed herself so we ended up signing up for the next 15 weeks. She will be a dancing fool by the time it's over:)

20 months today!

Buddies

This is Ella's buddy, Olivia.

She comes over quite often to play. She just started walking so it was funny to see them playing together today. I absolutely LOVED her shoes. I could not stop laughing at how funny she looked in her little Nike's. I have to get Ella some for this fall/winter. There is nothing cuter than a baby in Nike's.

Olivia looks like a baby still and Ella, a little girl..tear:(

We are taking them to kindermusik tomorrow night for the first time. I am interested to see if Ella likes it. I think she will since she loves to dance. Hopefully the adults don't have to dance around and sing. I'll keep you posted on that.

I'll leave you with this picture of Ella from this evening. It's been beautiful out, and I have had her out in the fresh air as much as possible! Good night!

Ella's hair...

Get's longer and curlier by the day. I never thought I would have a little girl with curly hair, but I love it:)

I love watching her hair blow in the wind and bounce when she runs. I hope her hair stays like this forever.

Love

Oh happy day!

I WON... I WON I WON I WON!! What did I win you ask? I won this....

A blogger that I follow did a give away for her 2 year "blogoversary." I of course entered, because I enter every giveaway hoping that I will win. I checked this morning, and I was actually a winner. I am feeling so lucky that I may go buy a ticket for the St. Jude dream home. Too bad I don't have an extra $100 laying around.

To top it off Adam sent me flowers today. What a sweet surprise:)

Trip to the grocery

A trip to the grocery for me is a job. The only reason I am writing about this is so I can look back and remember what it was like to take a toddler to the grocery store. Here is what our grocery shopping is like:

I usually try to find a parking spot by a cart return, but this is next to impossible on a Sunday morning at Wal-mart. I end up parking a mile away from a cart return so this means I will be one of those bad people that leave their cart in an empty parking spot next to them when they leave.

I get Ella out of the car, grab my purse, and in we go. I grab a cart, and it seems like the first cart I grab usually has a messed up wheel. I get another cart, wipe it down, and Ella goes in.

I get my list out of my purse. Ella usually wants my list so she can eat the paper. The child won't eat anything, but she sure loves paper! I just so happen to have a zip loc baggy of puffs in my purse. I give her this for a distraction.

We usually hit the dry goods first, and then I get my cold stuff. By the time the cart is getting full, and Ella is getting bored. She turns around and starts grabbing random items to chew on. Once I stop this she usually throws one or two items out of the cart.

I usually buy 3 or 4 gallons of milk, 2 big jugs of juice, 2 cases of water, and soft drinks. Try figuring out how to fit all this in the cart along with her.

After this I am almost finished, but I am slowed down since my cart now weighs about 40 pounds (27 of that is Ella).

I scan my list one more time just to make sure I have everything. I usually forget one of two things for some reason.

We finally hit the check out line only to find out it's a mile long. I find a line and pray that Ella stays patient. Since she hasn't learned what patience is yet it's usually pretty hairy until we get up to the register.

I start emptying the cart onto the conveyor belt, and Ella starts taking items off. After about 5-10 minutes we are done and out the door.

We get out the door into the parking lot and hear something scraping on the concrete. It's a case of water that fell off the cart. Luckily, a nice man puts it back for me. I walk a few more steps. I hear scraping again. This time I have to go around and put it back myself.

We made it to the car! I start the car, put Ella in her seat, and start loading the groceries in the car. I have to leave my cart in the empty parking spot next to me (oh well).

I get in my car and exhale. I am exhausted just from grocery shopping!

We finally pull in the garage. I open the back, get Ella out, and take her in. I turn Elmo on and let the dogs out of the laundry room. I start bringing groceries in. Sometimes I am lucky enough for her to cooperate while I put everything away.

My grocery shopping is complete!

Is anyone there?

I just realized I haven't posted all week. I must be sick or something. That is so unlike me. I have taken quite a few new pictures, and I have been meaning to put them up. I think this heat is just wearing me out. It also hasn't helped that Ella woke up two nights in a row and got up at 6:00 one morning. I am not a morning person and neither is she. That isn't a good mix.

We have mostly stayed in this week. If you didn't notice it is HOT! I have lived here my whole life, and I can't remember a summer this hot. I am soooooo ready for fall. I think about it all the time. I used to hate fall since it meant going back to school, but I love it now! I am already burning my hazlenut coffee candle (mom, I laugh to myself every time I light it). I have also been looking for the perfect Halloween costume for Ella. This is a big decision, and I can't decide between a few things. She hates things on her head so that limits my choices.


Ella has enjoyed playing in the hose this week. That is the only way we can go outside. I sweat to death taking pictures of her, but it's OK since she is staying cool. This is the girl that hates the pool, ocean, and sprinkler. She LOVES playing in the hose though. Probably because she has control over it. That's my girl!

Soaking wet and loving it!

We have also been playing in Ella's room a lot looking at books and doing puzzles. We have also seen our fair share of ELMO videos this week. I constantly have Elmo songs stuck in my head. It's driving me insane!

Ella reading with her pal Woody
Ella loves her blankets. She loves for us to wrap them around her. She will definitely be getting a soft robe for Christmas this year!
I hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Weekend

Saturday morning Ella and I headed to CMOE with a couple of my friends (Erin and Alison) and Erin's kids (Kaiser and Leila). Ella had a great time playing and exploring. I think it's one of her favorite places to go. Ella and I were both exhausted and ready for a nap by the time we left. I am not sure what it is about that place that wears you out!!

How old are we?
Kaiser and Ella up to no good...
Ella sharing with Leila
Aunt Ali with Ella and Leila
Saturday evening my parents were going to keep Ella for the night. I had high hopes that she would sleep good since she is used to them and their house. Unfortunately, it didn't go so well. Ella woke up at 2:30am and was up until I picked her up at 8:30 Sunday morning (I owe you one mom and dad!!) It looks like Ella will not be spending the night anywhere until she goes away to college..haha. I wouldn't take it to that extreme, but it's going to be awhile. She is just content at home in her own bed just like her mama used to be;)

One worn out little girl rubbing her eyes way before her bedtime. Needless to say she went to bed early tonight.