3 months...

Dear Ella,
Happy 3 month birthday! I am so thankful for you and SO glad you are my daughter. Daddy and I love playing with you every day and we have been so spoiled being home all summer to just get to play and get to know you! I love that you smile and giggle for us and all your faces make us laugh! I think it's so funny that you snuggle into Daddy's armpit to fall asleep. I love that you go down for bed at night and naps during the day so nicely! I love that you grab things with your fingers and kick all the time! I love that you play with your moose, giraffe, and monkey and I really wonder what your favorite animal will be! I am REALLY happy that evenings are getting better for you and you don't dislike them so much! They can really be quite pleasant! I really love that I know your quirks and that I know what you like and what you don't like (for now!)! I love going for walks with you and see you look around at all the things in nature. Ella...I thank God for you every day! I'm so glad he gave us you 3 months ago...you really were the best surprise in the world! I love you!
Love,
Mommy

Sea World

Yesterday we went to Sea World! We had such a great time and Ella did very well (except for a short stint in the car on the way there...aren't kids supposed to like car rides and just sleep the whole time?). Anyway, we didn't get there until 3 which was great because it was starting to cool off...any earlier would have been WAY too hot and we all would have been miserable. We spent some time just walking around and seeing some things before watching the Shamu show. We especially wanted to catch the 2 night shows which are different from the day shows so we saw the night Shamu and the night dolphin show. Both VERY neat! One of the best parts of the day was that we didn't end up having to pay the $12 for parking! We have these fun passes from the last time we were there which means we get to go the rest of the year for free. Well, at the parking entrance, it says, "Ask about upgrading your fun pass to include parking." Distance is a deterrent from going there often but so is paying for parking so we asked the guy about it. He didn't know, called the front, and told us it would depend on when we bought the pass. Eric said, "OK" and handed him the money to which the guy responded, "Oh, don't worry about it." WHAT?!?! We could hardly believe it! When does that ever happen?!? So, that started our day off right! Toward evening, we got Ella all cozied up in some warmer clothes, put her in the Baby Bjorn and she slept! So sweet!

Today I went into school for a while to kind of set up my classroom. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be to be back. It kind of felt good to get some stuff accomplished. I would rather do some now and feel more ready at the beginning then have to put in long days when we have meetings and stuff to go to! I also got my hair done today and gave it a nice chop! I'll have to take a picture and show you sometime!

On another note, about a week ago, I got a ticket to go up and visit my friend Kristen in Washington! I am SO excited to go see her and introduce her to Ella! It was an amazing deal on Alaska (like less than $200) so I truly could not pass it up! I can't wait!

10 week stats

Our little girl was 10 weeks yesterday! I can't believe how quickly time flies! We had her 2 month appointment where she was weighed and measured and got her first shot...so sad! She's been doing ok it seems and the Tylenol is a big help! So...here's her stats: 13 lbs 2 oz and 24 inches! How did that happen??? She's getting too big too fast but sure is becoming more fun every day!

10 weeks from this...

to this...

Lake Tahoe

We are back from our first little vacation with Ella! Overall, it went very well and she did a great job! We had a few meltdowns and some difficult times BUT we survived and had a good time! We left Thursday morning and just drove half-way there and stayed in a little town called Independence. She did great on the way there! Our hotel room was a bit snug with a pack and play added to the mix but we all slept ok and headed out Friday to finish our trip. We drove right through Mammoth and there decided spontaneously to go and see Devil's Postpile...a National Monument. However, I forgot a hat for Ella so we had to stop at a shop and buy one...a little too big for her head but it did it's job! So, we packed Ella up in the Baby Bjorn and went! We ended up hiking to Rainbow Falls as well and probably did about 4 miles! YIKES!! I was SO tired...probably the most exercise I've gotten since before I was pregnant! Ella actually slept the whole way but we were all hot and ready to get back on the little bus to bring us back to our car!

We still had a good 2-2 1/2 hour drive to Lake Tahoe and that was the rough part! I think Ella was just sick of it and the last 40 minutes or so were TORTURE!!! She was crying on and off, she couldn't calm down enough to fall asleep, we were having a hard time finding the place we were staying, we were driving in winding mountain roads, etc...it was BAD!!! BUT, we finally got there and I fed her, we gave her a bath, and she slept! All night actually which was great! Saturday we just walked around by one of the beaches and just hung out and walked around. It was a beautiful day but of course, I left the camera! That evening, we explored the grounds of where we stayed and got this silly picture of Ella working out!



Sunday, we got all ready for a picnic down by the lake, drove down there, and it rained! We thought it was clearing up so we put out our blanket and started to eat when it started to rain again! So...we had our picnic in the back of the car! It was a bummer!

Before the rain

During the rain!

Sunday night, my parents got there (it was their time-share) and we all went out to dinner. Ella had a bit of a rough night going down due to being overly-tired. By the way--why do kids fight sleep so much when they're so tired? If they would just relax for a minute they would go down!! I guess we'll never know! Monday was a nice day! My parents watched Ella for us in the afternoon and we went and enjoyed a leisurely lunch at a yummy restaurant! Then we walked around some shops and headed back! Ella was great that night and went right to bed so we could play some games with my parents. Tuesday morning, my parents watched Ella again and Eric and I rented a boat for an hour to cruise on the lake! We had a fun time and I almost got launched into the water after hitting one especially large wake! My back is still hurting!

We left around 12:30 from there to head home...Ella was AMAZING! We took longer stops and let her have good wake-time and we were home at 10:30 last night! It was a LONG travel day but it was so nice to be home and to sleep in our own bed! We stopped at one of the Mammoth Lakes for one of her feedings and got this family picture! I think it turned out pretty good considering the camera was sitting on a rock and I had to run to get in it! Love the timer...

Overall, we had a successful first family vacation and we learned SO much!

Packing...

I'm in the midst of packing for a little trip we're taking up to Lake Tahoe. It's amazing how much more you need when you are packing a baby! You can't just plan on one outfit per day either for them or you...you never know when spit-up or poop might get on both of you and require a change of clothes! I know I'll overpack but I would rather do that than wish I had more! Good thing we're driving!

Not much has been going on here lately! Eric helped my dad and brother-in-law paint this past Saturday so I came with and just hung out with my mom and sisters! Jani and I did a little project at her house and Anneke got to play with Ella before she went down for a nap. Anneke had Ella in her room and hung some toys from the dresser for Ella to look at! It was SO cute and sweet of her!

I'm looking forward to escaping the heat for a while! It drops down to the 40's and 50's at night there so it will definitely be a change! I better get back to it so I can get some sleep tonight!

A Completed Nursery

Not knowing what we were going to have (boy or girl) I decorated the baby's room in a beachy, surfy theme. I figured we could girl it up more if we had a girl! SO...it was finally completed on Wednesday when my sister and her family were out! The weekend after Ella was born, Eric painted and hung her name and date above her crib but Jani and I just got the hawaiian flower wallies hung! I also created a cutsy nightlight! I bought a wooden, painted palm tree at Michaels and hot glued it to a plain nightlight! It was super easy and cheap and I pretty excited about it! Here are some photos!

In other news...Ella has begun (and we hope will last) sleeping through the night! She has done it the last 2 nights in a row and we are so excited! I'll keep you posted as to whether it keeps happening or not!

Catching Up!

Sorry it's been so long...I won't try to come up with an excuse! Anyway, I thought I'd finally share some pictures from a fun weekend. We headed out to Redlands last Thursday to spend two nights with my family. My parents hadn't seen Ella in about a month (much too long!) and they needed some Ella time! Our trip out there was full of seeing people and showing off Ella! She did pretty good for her first over-nighter stint! Of course, they always get a little off schedule but that's all part of the game and I'm determined to stay a flexible mom even if I have to pay for it later! On the 4th, Eric and I visited with the Kavalich's, went to the park with Chris, Kelly, and Cameron and listened to the band and had lunch, and got to see some friends from my parents' church! That night, my wonderful Auntie Margie watched Ella for us so we could enjoy the fireworks at the U of R! It was so nice of her and even though it was my longest time away from my precious girl, I felt fully confident leaving her! OK...here are some pictures!

Auntie Jill & Uncle Scott with Ella

Grandpa with his newest Granddaughter

Grandma with Ella

Cousin Billy with Ella

Today Jani, Dan, Grant, and Anneke are coming out so I'm sure there will be more pictures to follow! Jani is going to help me put up some wallies in Ella's room to make it look a little more girly!