1st Birthday Party!

We had Ella's first birthday party yesterday (Saturday, March 29), even though her official birthday is not until next weekend (April 6). She had an absolute BALL! She was so blessed with many people stopping by and bringing all sorts of wonderful things for her. Matt and I were humbled by people loving Ella so much. It was a fantasitc day for her -- she didn't get fussy once, and enjoyed every minute of the action!

Her new chair from her Uncle Nate, who is COMPLETELY spoiling her, and she loves it. If you can believe it, as soon as she saw this she grabbed the remote for the TV

and hopped right up into the chair!

Mama and Nana helping her open her gifts. This year she liked the cards and tissue paper best, but we have a feeling that will change in later years.

Special lady bug cakes that Mama, Nana, & Aunt Nellie stayed up late to make on Friday night! After 2 ENTIRE bottles of food coloring, the "red" icing was still just coral colored at best. Ok, that was being nice -- it was really probably closer to construction cone orange.

Her first taste of cake! We gave her a whole lady bug cake to enjoy....and she did just that. Forget grabbing pieces with her hands, she just dove right in with her mouth! What a champ!

After the cake frenzy, she was whisked up to the bath tub for a "scrub down". The onesie went straight into the trash - there was no hope for it after the orange icing explosion.

Bongos with Uncle Joe

We stopped by to visit our friends Jen & Joe on Easter evening. Uncle Joe had his bongo drum out. Ella was SO intrigued by the giant contraption that made peculiar noises.

Trying to copy Uncle Joe.

"What IS that thing?"

"I don't know what it is, but I love it!"

Easter 08

Last year we brought Ella home from the hospital on Easter! Easter was a little later last year, so it is not quite her first birthday yet. Here are some pictures of what was her first Easter dress, even though this was her second Easter.

She found her Easter basket at Grandma & Grandpa Jones's house. Puffs! How did the Easter Bunny know?

Still working on the walking. Nothing like a plastic dangling egg to motivate a novice walker.

The 3 girl cousins on the Jones side: L-> R: Ella (almost 1 year),

Edy (4 1/2 years), Gracyn (18 mos.).

Shades.

Sunday Evening, Part II

Continuing with the BTR...

Pants off...

Dada and his girl.

Weeeeeeeee! Her favorite part!

Time for her bath, then night night.

Sunday Evening, Part I

This was a very busy Sunday a few weeks ago. After the walk, were were out and about, then came home and started Ella's BTR (our abbreviation for Bed Time Routine).

She doesn't look tied yet...

Let's practice walking a little more...

"I'll pick a book for after my bath. Good Night Moon, it is!"

Ralphie's Brother

What was Ralphie's kid brother's name in "A Christmas Story"? Well that is who Ella looked like a few Sundays ago when we bundled her up for a brisk afternoon walk.

"Help, whose idea was this?!"

Mama and Ralphie's brother.

Baby Latte

Much to Daddy's excitement, a Starbuck's was built within walking distance of our house. Sometimes Daddy and Ella walk over for a cup'o joe.

Bundled up!

"I drank mine already."

Practicing a New Skill

Ella has been practicing her walking, and is getting quite brave. These were taken a few weeks ago.

Looking out the back window...where did Jed go?

Back and forth between the window and the couch...practice makes perfect. Green donut for confidence!

Uh-oh....dropped her green donut.

Recent Pictures and News...

A quick recap...Ella has been growing and changing every day! She is still a peanut....weighing in at about 17 lbs. Her vocabulary is growing. Her new favorite word is "ball". She has a little soccer ball in her room, and she stood up the other day and tried to kick it! Mommy was so proud. She also says: Mama, Dad, Jed, Nana, Papa, Baba (bottle), Bye Bye, Hi, Button, Moo (when she sees a cow), Woof (when she sees a dog), Uh-Oh (when she drops something)....there may be more, but we can't think of them right now. We had a scare this week...she had a high fever for about 4 days. The doctors thought it was a virus, but we ended up taking her to the ER Friday night. They had to put a catheter in to get a urine sample, and sure enough she has a urinary tract infection. We believe that too much bubble bath is the culprit. From what we have researched, that seems to be one of the most common causes, and it is definitely the one that makes the most sense for her because she takes a bath every night, and we all loves bubbles, so I think we have been adding way too much to the tub! Needless to say, bubble bath is now reserved for special occasions. Ella has been crawling since Thanksgiving day, and cruising since mid-January (walking while holding on to things like the couch). Yesterday (3/9/08) she took her first steps! She has taken a few here and there, but this was about 5 or 6 in a row, and she did it numerous times! Papa even caught it in camera - what luck! She still prefers to crawl because she can get there much faster, but we know she is not far from this new independence. She turns one in about a month...we'll try to keep posting until then, and we'll definitely post birthday pictures after her party!

In her high chair, waving her hands to say "all done".

Standing in her room...gotta love a cute little diaper butt!

Playing in her room...she loves to push the swing, but doesn't like to sit in it anymore!

Her hair is growing, but it is a verrrrrry slow process!

Ella & Anna

We were in Indy visiting Steph's parents a few weekends in February. One of the days we were there, Abby stopped by with Anna and the girls had a ball playing!

"Hey Anna, let me show you my piano!"

"Hmmmm...blocks are fun..."

Night with the Warners

These are a little out of order...but the Warners came for dinner one Saturday in January.

Ella & Campbell in the bath tub.
Ella & Campbell playing in Ella's room after bath time.

Ella & Campbell saying "hi"when the Warners first arrived.

A Visit with the Smeltzers

One Sunday in January we got together with the Smeltzer family for lunch at their house. Here are a few pictures.

Ella & Makenna.
Ella wearing Makenna's bunny ears.

Makenna in her rocking chair.

New Years Eve

So....we are more than a little behind in the postings. Here are a few pictures from New Years Eve at the Warners. A lot has happened since the last post, so we'll do our best to catch everyone up.

Jaxson Gerig playing at the Warners on New Years Eve.

Ella and Campbell....another one of their matching outfits. ALL of the babies ended up going to sleep in the pack n plays...Ella was the last, of course. Once she realized the only people left were old and boring, she decided to call it a night.