Ella's First Birthday Party #1

Happy Birthday, my little girl.
You had such a great day. You woke up in an excellent mood, and you played all morning with mommy. You were so good while Mommy was making your birthday cake - even when her electric mixer started smoking and died....you were so polite not to laugh at her. Luckily, the cake survived!

So, this was your first birthday cake. Not to bad for your ole mom, eh? You seemed to love it when we let you dive into it later.

Your party in Houston was at 6:30pm. Our guests were our friends Krystal & Louis and their little boy Nathan, Greg & Rebecca and their little boy Iv, Robin & Kurt and their little boy Dean, and our neighbors Necoy and Mel with their visitors Hazel and Rudie. Mom and dad served hamburgers and chips, chips and salsa, and of course, a lot of wine (for the grown ups, of course!) It was a blast!!

We started off with a chorus of "Happy Birthday!" Mommy had to help you blow out the candle, but you didn't mind. You just wanted to get your paws into the cake!

And that's exactly what you did.

You were a mess, but you surprisingly ate a lot of cake. You nearly cleaned your plate.

IV was so excited when you opened his gift. He said he picked it out for you all by himself. He continued to play "tea party" with you, serving you tea and cakes. You were loving it.

After everyone left, you were still pretty wired on cake and sugar.

What a wonderful day! I hope your party #2 is just as fun as party #1. Sleep well, my baby. You have a long weekend ahead!

Love, Mommy

Happy Birthday Ella Pearl!!

Baby girl,

I cannot believe you have been in our lives for a whole year already. I am so sad you are growing up so quickly, but I am so happy to see what a beautiful little person you have become. I look forward to years and years of teary-eyed birthdays and watching you grow and grow. We are so lucky and blessed to have you in our lives, and we thank God every day for giving you to us.

Hope you have a wonderful first birthday!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

Two more days...

Two more days until my little baby girl turns one! Mommy is getting sad, but I know you have to grow. Thursday night, we are having a little Houston birthday party for you. And then Sunday, we'll be in Louisiana for your big birthday party. You have an exciting week ahead, my little angel.

Yesterday, you must've been teething because you were cranky and holding your mouth all day long. This will be your 7th tooth! You were in bed by 8:45pm, but you had a great night sleep.

Here are just a few shots from the past weekend.

Rock and roll!

Got Milk?

Hey baby girl,

Yesterday, you had your first taste of MILK! Ok, so you've "tasted" milk before from Mommy's cereal, but this is the first time I put it in your bottle. It wasn't all milk, but almost half, and you gulped down that bottle quicker than I've seen you gulp it before!! You've been drinking ALL of your bottles now since I've been adding the milk. If you're anything like your Mama, you'll LOVE milk. Mommy loves nothing more than a nice, cold glass of milk.

Tonight, Mommy and Daddy are going on a date! Mommy's good friend Elise (and her two adorable daughters, Dana and Ella) offered to babysit you while we go out for a movie and dinner. She said her little Ella would love to play with my little Ella. I know you're going to have a blast with your new friends!!

Love, Mommy

Fun on the Kangaroo Climber

Ella,

You are just LOVING your new climber.

And boy, does it wear you out!!? Earlier today, your palms and feet were actually SWEATING from playing on it so much! We had a good day...you really crack me up. I can't ever get over how happy of a baby you are. You are always laughing...even at yourself when you get yourself in a jam. I love that about you, and I hope you keep that quality all your life. It's great to laugh at yourself! Mommy does it all the time!

Here are a few snapshots of the new "positions" you found yourself in today.

Nanny, I need a haircut SOOO bad!! HELP!!

Well, mommy is POOPED out today. Hopefully she can get to sleep tonight because last night she was unsuccessful! Must be your baby sister keeping her awake like that.

I love you, my baby girl.

Mommy

Happy Early Birthday, Ella!

Ella,

Your first birthday is a mere eight days away, but your Mommy and Daddy couldn't help but give you your birthday present early (I don't know what we're going to do at Christmas!!). Since you are quite the climber these days, and you have completely anhiliated your trusty box, it only seemed right to get you something new to climb all over.


It's a Step 2 Kangaroo Climber, and it's the perfect size just for you. When daddy was putting it together, you were already wanting to climb on it. When he was done (after some questioning from two college grads), it was together, and you were sooo excited!!! You LOVE the red door that you get to open and close.

The green platform is a little high just yet, so daddy put the diaper box in there for an extra step for you. You immediately made it to the top, and you were so excited when you reached the top and got a different perspective of the room. You hung from the top, and then you saw the slide. There's lots of exciting things for you to climb through and play with.

Unfortunately, bedtime was quickly approaching, which you were NOT happy about. It took everything to calm you down for the night, but mommy gave you a nice bath and daddy read you a book. You decided when he was done to take the book on your own and read it yourself.

You are growing up INCREDIBLY too fast. I can't believe your birthday is next week. I love you my little baby girl.

Love,
Mommy

Saturday Morning Fun

Somehow you found your way into the diaper box, and well...