Bye Bye "baba"

Today is the day I have been dreading for months. I took Ella's bottle away cold turkey. I have known for a long time that I needed to do this, but I didn't think I was strong enough. I also thought I may lose some sleep, and anyone who knows me well knows I love my sleep!

Today while Ella was trying to fall asleep for her nap I packed her bottles away. I would be a liar if I said I didn't shed a tear or two while I was doing this. Twenty months ago I was in the exact spot unpacking, washing, and putting away these bottles in preparation for Ella. I cleared out room in our cabinet and put them away nice and neatly. I remember worrying about the fact that I may not have enough bottles. I had 17 to be exact. Today there were 12. I am not quite sure where the 5 missing bottles went. I had no idea how to make a bottle before I had Ella. I knew someone would teach me, and in time I became a pro. Ella started out taking a mere 2 ounces of formula, and she worked her way up to 8 ounce bottles. Once she hit a year old I worried about how I was going to get her off of formula. If you haven't figured it out yet, I worry quite a bit. At first Ella was not a fan of milk. I had to mix her formula and milk together. She gradually started liking milk and eventually I was able to get her to drink straight milk. So now it was onto the next worry. How will I ever get Ella off her bottle? I knew the day would come that I would just have to stop her cold turkey, but I just didn't know it would be today.

These bottles remind me of the MANY nights I got up to feed Ella. We put the formula and a bottle in the bathroom every night before bed. When I heard her cry on the monitor I would drag myself out of bed and get up to make her bottle in the bathroom. I rocked her and fed her hoping she would go back to sleep easily. As much as I hated getting up during the night I wouldn't trade these times for the world.

Notice that these bottles have been put through the ringer. Not only did Ella love her "baba", but the boys loved them too! You can tell how much they love them by how chewed up they are:)

So far, things are going better than I expected. I did take Ella over an hour to fall asleep for her nap today, but she slept two hours. Tonight she went to bed without a fuss (that may have something to do with the fact that I let her take her toothbrush to bed with her). I have no idea what the night may bring, but I keep telling myself that I have to stay strong. It could be a rough few days. I'll keep you posted.

The bottles are now residing in a box in the garage. I figured it was best to get them out of the house. Out of sight, out of mind (I hope)! I am not quite sure if these bottles will ever make their way back into our house. I have no idea what the future holds for us, but I know these bottles are where they need to be for now. I will remember this day, 9/8/10, as the day Ella officially went from being a baby to a big girl.

Farewell "baba". It was nice knowing you.

Labor Day Weekend

Wasn't it a beautiful weekend? We spent a ton of time outside, because it was so nice outside. Fall is right around the corner, and we can't wait!

Saturday morning we went to the zoo. Our friend, Alison, went with us. She hadn't been to the zoo since she was a kid so I am glad she got to see how much it has changed. It was so nice walking around the zoo and not sweating to death. Ella walked almost the entire zoo. I got her out of her stroller in Amazonia, and she didn't want to get back in. She tried to take off running a couple times, but she did a great job.

Ella and I in Amazonia

Alison and Ella

Wild animal on the loose..

This butterfly landed on Ella's shoulder and sat there for awhile. She didn't even notice.

I love the picture of this lion. It looks like it's smiling at me.

On Sunday we went to my mom and dad's for dinner. Great-Grandpa was there. He is doing really well. It's nice to see him happy again. We had some yummy steaks and enjoyed some time outside. It was a good 3 day weekend. I am sad to see it end!

Who needs a wagon when you have a box and a chain?

Ella was loving this!

These two are so sweet together!

Autumn cheesin for the camera:)

Kindermusik update

On Thursday nights I take Ella to kindermusik. Tonight she was especially cute so I wanted to share. I enjoy taking Ella, because I like to watch her around other children. She hasn't been around a whole lot of kids so far in her 20 months of life. At the beginning of the class the "babies" get social time. All the parents sit in a circle, and the kids are in the middle. Tonight they had maracas in the middle to play with. Ella was so sweet. She kept handing another little girl maracas. She does not mind sharing at all. I think it's amazing that she has picked this up since she isn't around other kids that often.

After the kids play with the instruments the leader goes around and collects them all. I told Ella she needed to go put her maracas in the basket that the leader was holding. Ella walked over to her, reached up, and put her maracas in the basket without a problem. She is very good at listening and understanding what I am saying.

Ella really got into dancing tonight. It's so entertaining to watch her. She was shaking her instruments and dancing to the music. She was really enjoying herself. It's especially funny, because she is usually the only one dancing. She doesn't care who is watching. She just wants to dance!

My mini-me

That's Ella wearing my shoe. This shoe was sitting by the back door. I heard her clunking around in something, and she had on my shoe! I have caught her doing this a few times now. She is getting pretty good at walking in them too.

Not only does Ella love my shoes, but she also loves my robes. She always goes into my closet and pulls out my robes. I have been telling Adam that I need to find an "Ella sized" robe. I went to the mall the other day, and I saw this robe. I love the pink leopard print, and I also love that Ella looks adorable in it!

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.