My Baby Girl is Growing Up

Ella in her toddler bed.




With her new sneakers on from auntie Julia.
You really have to double knot those puppies!

Her first little ponytail. She takes it out as soon as I put it up.

Ella is turning into a little toddler. She is no longer my little baby. She is now able to climb out of her crib!!! I didn't believe it when Charley told me that she had escaped from her crib at nap time until she was pounding on her door at 5 AM the next morning. Charley converted her bed into a toddler bed, but she isn't ready for that transition yet. She is still having to cry herself to sleep in her crib. Last night was the first night we tried to get her to sleep in her bed with free roam of her room. She would not lay down in her bed and screamed and cried until she fell asleep on the floor right by the door. I tried to carry her to her bed, but she would not cooperate! I ended up bringing her to my bed around 2 (the time I got to finally fall asleep!). Needless to say, we both took a long nap today. I ended up buying a crib tent for her crib that I will have Charley install tonight. I'm so happy someone thought of that!! I also had to get Ella a new pair of shoes. She has grown into yet another size.

I still haven't been able to really take Ella outside because Charley wasn't able to get the gates on our fence last weekend. Hopefully that will get done this Friday on his only day off.

The gym where Ella goes to gymnastics has moved across town and opens this Friday. They say they will have twice the square footage as before. I am very excited to take Ella on all the new equipment.

Happy Monday

The shirt says it all!!!
I love being home with Mommy!!!

Here we are at the beginning of yet another week. Another week closer to having to find a job. Yikes! I keep stressing about having to start looking for a job in a few months. The other day Charley told me that he likes having a stay-at-home mom because he doesn't have to do as many chores around the house. That made me feel good about being at home even though he told me the house could be cleaner... Oh well, I can't please everyone!

Charley and his Dad have been working on our fencing in our front yard. I can't wait until it is finished so that I can take Ella outside without the worry of having to chase her around the neighborhood. For some reason she doesn't understand boundaries that are drawn in chalk. Guess she's a little young for that.

She is learning a few new words here and there. She says "that's it", which is great because she understands that she can't have anymore. She thinks that every appliance is always "hot" and continues to call cows "dogs". She'll learn eventually. I have fun reading her books because she is starting to kind of understand what is going on in the pictures. She is still not interested in TV at all. I'm happy she isn't glued to it all day, but it would be nice for a break every now and then. Doctors say they shouldn't watch TV until they are 2, so maybe we will make it at least until then. Only 5 1/2 more months. Wow!!!!

Happy Five Years to Us!!!!

I can't believe it has been over five years since we got married. We enjoyed a yummy sushi dinner, a couple drinks, and a night at the Carter House. It was fun to get out and spend a night Ella free. She stayed at Auntie Teresa's and had a blast. I've come to realize that Charley and I need more together time. I think we need to go on dates every other weekend. Between his two jobs and Ella we don't get much time alone to just talk. I'm bummed our anniversary is over, but it is one that I will never forget!

Lots of Pictures!

Charley took Ella down the big slide in Old Town on the 4th.
Bad hair day!!
She just woke up from a nap on the couch.

Wearing Dad's work boots.
Future cable girl!

4th of July 2007

July 2008!!!


Eating a sucker (a sticky mess!)



Well we had a great 4th of July. We went down to Old Town to the festival. They had a little carnival and Charley took Ella down the huge slide. She had the biggest smile on her face as they flew down the slide. Later on we went over to Auntie Teresa's for some yummy food and lit off fireworks. Ella enjoyed watching them. It's amazing to think about how much she has changed since last year. She's so much for independent now compared to a year ago.