Adam has been bugging encouraging me to start up a side photography business for months. Taking pictures of Ella is my favorite hobby, but I never thought that my hobby would ever make me any money. A few weeks ago Adam said if someone paid me to take their picture I could get a new computer. My computer was slllllow and definitely on it's last leg. Little did Adam know that I would actually take him seriously. My computer arrived about a week ago;) 

This Saturday will be my fourth photo shoot. I still need LOTS of practice, but I have had a lot of fun taking pictures of friends, family, and some cute kiddos!  I wanted to post a few pictures for you guys to see. 

This is Adelyn. Isn't she adorable!? I love her hair! 

Next up is the Storm Family! Olivia and Ella are in the same kindermusik class! Leslie and I have been friends for YEARS so I hope Ella and Olivia will be too. Olivia is such a happy little girl. She always gives me a good laugh! 

Lastly, the Aull family. Addison is a little over a year and Aiden is 5 months old. He was born premature. Addison is also in Ella's kindermusik class. Shelly works nights in the ICU at Gateway hospital. She is what you would call a Supermom!

Deceptively Delicious

As I have mentioned before, Ella is a picky eater! Food is the last thing on her priority list. I can count her favorite foods on one hand. I purchased the "Deceptively Delicious" cookbook awhile back, but I never really took a good look at it. I went out to dinner with some friends on Monday, and we got to talking about it. I pulled it out the next day and started reading. There are healthier versions of Ella's favorite foods in it so I thought I would give it a shot.

The first recipe I tried out was pancakes...

Ella loves pancakes so I was keeping my fingers crossed she would love this. You add some pureed sweet potatoes to it. You can make your own puree, but I just bought baby food for the first go round! I was pleasantly surprised when I took my first bite. I thought I better try them before Ella to make sure they didn't taste nasty. They actually had a sweet, fruity taste to them. YUMMY!

I was a little nervous for Ella to try them. She is my toughest food critic. You never know what she will like and what she won't. 

Here she is taking her first bite. I was holding my breath at this point. When she doesn't like something it comes right back out of her mouth. I couldn't believe it when she actually ate it. 

My deceptiveness actually worked. If Ella only knew what was in those pancakes. =) 

Time change is the devil

Sorry I have been slacking on my blog the past few days. It might have something to do with lack of sleep. I didn't think anything of it when the time changed. It was only one hour. Monday morning at 6am Ella THOUGHT she was ready for the day. I say thought, because around 10:00 it was all over. We were at Sam's Club, and Ella tried to throw herself on the concrete floor at Sam's. Luckily I caught her or she would have hit her head. She also REFUSED to sit in a high chair at Sam's while we grabbed a piece of pizza. It continued when we got home. I put her down for her nap, and she tried to climb out of her crib. She has never tried to do that. She generally loves to sleep.  It was fit throwing at it's finest! 

Tuesday morning I heard her crying on the monitor at 5:30am. I was in shock. I turned the video monitor on and saw that she was sitting up. Usually when she is sitting up that means she is ready to get up. She kept laying down though and around 6:00 she fell back to sleep until 7:00. She is not a morning person so it's bad news when she gets up early. 

In other Ella news she has been saying "thank you" and "love you." It's the sweetest thing. She also says "Au'um" about 50 times a day. Last night I asked her if she loves "Au'um" and she said "yeah" really enthusiastically. I showed her a picture of her, and she smiled really big. Those two girl have a very special bond. It's so sweet. 

I have also been trying to work on a slideshow of Ella from age 1 to 2. I thought about showing it at Ella's 2nd birthday party, but I think it would just make me cry. I will probably just post it on her blog or give out copies to anyone who wants it. Can you believe she is almost 2? 

A walk down memory lane...

My friend Alison and I were supposed to go on a shopping trip yesterday. Being the responsible adults we are, we decided it was not a good idea to go on a shopping trip so close to Christmas. Instead we decided to eat lunch together and go walk around USI. 

For those of you who don't know this Alison and I both majored in Psychology. Conveniently, that meant we had almost every class together the last 3 years of school. I am not quite sure if I would have made it without her. I always knew that she was going through the same stress I was, and that always made school a little more manageable. 

Yesterday we decided to eat at our favorite lunch spot on the west side, Noble Romans. We ate there many, MANY times after classes. We would usually start planning where we were going to eat lunch on our ride to school together at 7:30am. This was probably the most important decision we made all day;)  We usually ate at Noble Romans or the Sub Connection in the UC.

USI has changed tremendously since we were students. I can't believe it, but it's been almost six years since we graduated. They have made some major changes to the campus in those six years.

There is a view of the new UC. They are basically just expanding the old UC, but it looks like it is going to be really nice. 

That is the new library. It is sooo much nicer, and brighter than the old library. I rarely went in the library at USI, because it just felt dreary. This one is so nice, and it's even complete with a Starbucks! 

That's Alison posing in front of the LA. We spent countless hours in this building the last couple years at USI. Most of our classes were there. I still remember sitting in my very last class (next to Alison of course) taking my very last final in this building. I remember thinking to myself, "I will never look out this window again, and see the view of this campus." Going back in today brought back so many memories. The building even smelt the same. I definitely get a little sad just thinking about it. 

That is the inside of the new business building. It is probably the nicest building on campus. 

That is the fitness center on campus. This place will always remind me of Adam and Aaron. They worked out religiously everyday at 4:30 M-F. I would try to go at the same time as Adam when I was off work. I would always go to the elliptical machine that way I could see him coming down the steps. He would always come down and say hi to me, and then go lift weights. I also met my sister in law, Lacey, for the first time at the fitness center. I have lots of good memories here! 

The USI newspaper, The Shield.

Here we are, almost 6 years later! We have both had lots of changes over the past 6 years, but we have still managed to stay close friends. 

Our trip to the west side wouldn't be complete without a visit to our old apartments at Copper Creek.  

The top apartment is Adam and I's first home together, 5705 Rocky Point. I absolutely love that apartment and have so many great memories there. Adam and I got engaged in that apartment so it will always have a special place in my heart. 

On the other side of the building was Alison's apartment on Dry Ridge. We lived in the same building for a whole year. It was great! I also have lots of fond memories at Alison's apartment. She lived at Copper Creek a whole year before I did so I was there quite often. 

We also made a trip to Fox Fire. Neither one of us lived at Fox Fire, but both of our hubby's did! This is the entrance to Adam's apartment. 

I loved this apartment, but it was just filthy! Adam lived with Aaron here. Aaron was the clean one, and Adam...not so much! The trash was usually over flowing. The shower was GROSS! I wore my flip flops in the shower. I get the heeby geebies just thinking about it. 

I met Adam at this apartment on our first date. We went and ate at Max and Erma's, and then went back here to watch a movie. I spent LOTS of time there after that. When the weather was nice we would grill out on Friday nights, and then head out for some fun. I would give anything to go back to that time just for one night. Our lives were so carefree, and we didn't even realize it.  I can honestly say the last two years at USI were the best years of my life. I wouldn't trade those memories for anything in the world!  

Video monitor pics!

Ella sleeping with the ball I won her at Beef O'Brady's...

Ella insisted on going to bed with this baby. I purposefully put her at the opposite end of the bed from Ella's pillow. Look where she ended up! 

Life

Tuesday

Ella and I had a  laid back day today. Those are my favorite kind of days! I had to take her to the doctor yesterday. I started noticing a rash all over her body on Sunday and by Monday it looked like it had spread. I called the doctor, and they wanted me to bring her in just to take a look at it. It was my first time meeting Ella's new pediatrician, and I really liked her. She wasn't really sure what the rash was from. There is a possibility she is allergic to penicillin. We will have to keep an eye on that. 

When Ella was sick Adam and I decided that we were going to get a video monitor. I can't stand to hear her crying in her room not knowing what is going on. We finally got one yesterday, and it is so nice to be able to see what Ella is doing in her bed. Last night after Ella went to bed Adam and I sat and watched it like a TV. I wish we would have gotten one a long time ago.  Here is Ella taking a nap today...

We have already noticed that she likes to sleep on top of her pillow. That is how she fell asleep last night and today. I never would have guessed. It is neat that we can actually see how she sleeps now. We NEVER go in her room if she is sleeping. You could not pay me to wake that child up;)  I have a video from her nap today. I'll post that at the end of this. 

Today we made a quick trip to Target, and then we came home to play outside. Since Ella has been sick it really makes me appreciate when she is well. I I love being able to go out and do things again.  Ella and Elliott love to mess with the neighbor dogs outside. The neighbor dogs have dug a couple of holes under our fence so they can see what is going on in our yard. Elliott could stay out there all day.