Oh so busy...

Man, this week is flying by and kicking my butt! We've been out shopping every day and are ALMOST done...I'm heading to the mall again tonight because it closes at 10 and I have just a couple more things to do! Yikes! I thought I was a little more on my game then this. Anyway, we are heading to my parents' tomorrow and I can't wait to celebrate Ella's first Christmas! I have so many pictures and stories to share of Kristen's surprise visit out here but they will have to wait until we arrive back home! We went to see the lights in Naples tonight and Ella loved it! It's so fun to watch her experience new things. Seeing the lights is a great tradition for us (we went there on our 2nd date and that's where Eric held my hand for the first time...awwwww) and we are excited to keep doing it as she grows up! So, Merry Christmas! I hope you all enjoy your time with family and friends and are able to celebrate the true reason of this season. This year the gift of Jesus is so much more real to me with Ella here...I imagine Mary with her baby Jesus, knowing he was going to be the Savior of the World. What a gift to us! Merry Christmas!

I've been had!!!

OK...so the post below this one is the one I started last night while my husband was helping our friend Keith fix his leaky toilet...but he wasn't helping him do that...he was picking up Kristen from the airport!!!!! What the heck?!?!?! I was SO surprised! Let's backtrack...at 9:45 last night the phone rings and it's Keith, he tells me his toilet is leaking, wondering if Eric could come help him, etc...I pass the phone to Eric. I then proceed to look up Home Depot & Lowe's to see if they were open until 10 to get the wax ring they supposedly needed...they weren't but Keith said his father-in-law maybe had one if that was the problem! So, Eric leaves. He was gone a long time and finally calls at 11:30pm and says it's taking a lot longer than they thought. This was the FIRST time I was suspicious! I couldn't figure out what in the heck he was up to but I knew it was something. So, he got home at 12:05 told me to come out and there in the front seat of the car was a hooded person...I opened the door and who's there??? KRISTEN!!!! I couldn't believe it! Anyway, we're hanging out today and tomorrow and she flies home tomorrow night! WOW...what an awesome surprise and huge husband points! Thanks, babe! That's all, I'll tell you about our time later! Must get ready for the day!!!

A New Decade

I'm 30 today. That's SO weird to me. 30 has always seemed so old and here I am feeling like I just turned 20! It's neat to look back over the last 10 years and see how much has happened in my life. Graduating college, getting married, having Ella and SO much more...the 20's were good to me! I found some pictures celebrating my 20th Birthday back in 1998. Some friends from college came with me to my parents' house and we had a slumber party. By the way, I had just gotten the WORST haircut a couple months before these pictures. I remember crying after the haircut and Cheryl, Emily, and Kelly trying to help me make it look decent! There's even a video of trying to fix it!

Fun on the ATC

After dinner, we got into the closet with all the old bridesmaid dresses and put them on...I know what you guys are all thinking, and yes, we were THAT wild in our college days!

If only I could remember what movie we watched that night!

Now, fast-forward 10 years...see if you can pick out these girls from 10 years ago!

Emily, me, Kelly, Cheryl

So, here's to a new decade! What do the 30's have in store for me?

If you're wondering what I'm doing today...relaxing this morning as I just came off a FOUR day work week, whew! and then Eric has a half-day and I've been told to keep my afternoon free! Tonight we're leaving Ella with a friend and going to dinner at a undisclosed location! I LOVE surprises and I'm so thankful I have a hubby who will fill my day with them!

Oh, Christmas Tree; Oh, Christmas Tree

Last Sunday we went to pick out our tree! Due to the recent "take-over" of space by baby items, our cozy little home did not have room anymore for a "normal" size tree. So, we picked out a little one that fits in a corner on a table but still brings the lights, smell, and beauty of Christmas into our home! Eric hung the Christmas lights on our house and with the cool weather upon us, it's definitely starting to feel more and more like Christmas!

Jani & I recently made a Christmas tree of our own...an advent Christmas tree. My VERY creative friend Krista posted pictures of her Advent calendar and we copied that, along with the one for $70 in Pottery Barn...these pictures are of it almost completed. It was a fun project and we had a lot of fun thinking of different things to put on each pocket!

Sunday Night Dinner

Every Sunday night, Eric & I have a meal of grilled cheese & tomato soup. We started this tradition when we were first married but then it was just grilled cheese. I think it was about a year ago, I mentioned we used to have it with tomato soup when I was a kid and it stuck! Now that we have Ella, we wait until she's in bed so we can thoroughly enjoy this delightful meal! We "plate" it the same way every week too...

Not only is this meal super yummy, but it's SO nice to know what we're having for dinner and we don't have to ask the question, "What do you want for dinner?" We are excited to get Ella into this tradition when she's big enough to enjoy it!

it's been a while...

I haven't posted in a while and I'm not sure why...just not in the mood, I guess! But, I do have some fun pictures to share! Ella has been sick the last week with cold and I had it too...now Eric's feeling sick! It hasn't been aweful but there have been a few times we've cursed the cough that's woken up Ella and we really wish we could teach her to spit up the yucky stuff she coughs up! Thanks to the humidifier in her room, she's getting better quickly and I'll be VERY happy to have my normal little girl back!

This is from a while ago but we went to the park with Keith & Carmen and Lucas so the kids could "play"! She LOVED the swing! We then went over to their house and gave the kiddos a bath and hung out for a while...here are the pics!

Nothing really new going on...this week was my first 3 day week in a month and it was BRUTAL! I know, it sounds pathetic and those of you that work that many days or more are scoffing at me but it kicked my butt! I'm SO tired and I am SO excited to be home tomorrow with Ella. I'm SO thankful to be working part-time. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving at Eric's sisters and the 3 kids slept through the whole dinner...we didn't even plan for that to happen! It was very relaxing and a very nice day. Of course I hit up the stores on Friday and I was out the door a little before 5...crazy, yes, but it's been a tradition with my mom & sisters and even though I wasn't with them, I still went! I got some AMAZING deals and I was home to feed Ella when she woke up at 6:30! Nothing better!

I'll leave you with a sweet picture of my little pumpkin at 6 months! Kristen took this while she was out here and it's my "teaser" picture to the ones to come...thanks, Kristen!

6 Months

Our little girl is 6 months old today! I cannot believe how quickly time has gone and that she has already been in our arms a whole half a year! I love her more everyday and I feel so lucky to be her mommy! A friend of mine did this about her son and I thought it was a cute idea so I'm stealing it! Here are a few of the things I know about Ella in the 6 months I've been her mommy:

• She loves music. At any given time when she's fussing, you can start singing Jesus Loves Me and she almost immediately stops...it's true, ask Kristen!
• She CONSTANTLY has her arms sticking straight out when you hold her. She doesn't like to cuddle and she looks like she's trying to fly!
• When she's excited, she does this thing when she breathes in and out really hard, like she's anticipating whatever you are going to do to get her to giggle.
• If she wakes up and we're trying to get her to sleep, she'll go more easily if we wind up her lamb or play her music worm...sometimes she's quiet until it stops and then we have to go in there and start it again.
• When she doesn't get her naps, she is CRANKY! It happened today...not a fun Ella.
• Also, when she's tired, she'll give you some smiles and giggles & then turn to crying in about 2.5 seconds...volatile, this little girl!
• She LOVES her brown blanky and cannot sleep without it. If we're out, I just give it to her, cover up her stroller so she's not distracted by whatever is going on, and she'll sleep.
• She likes to put anything she can into her mouth.
• She finds the tag on any toy and will suck on it until it's sopping wet.
• She loves to look at our fish.
• She loves to be outside and if she's fussy, she'll usually calm down if we walk her out there.
• She loves books...Her favorite is "Tails" and daddy's favorite is "My Daddy & I." She really seems to be listening when we read them to her!
• When she smiles, she melts her mommy & daddy's hearts and she is immediately forgiven for any past grievances!

Happy 6 Month Birthday, Ella! We're SO thankful for you!

P.S. 6 month pictures will follow...Kristen took some this weekend and they are AWESOME!