Funny link for you

Ok, this is hilarious!



Too bad Ella doesn't have anyone else around here who speaks baby!

Kangaroo kisses

 Ella found a new friend in the yard today. She saw him and immediately hugged him, and even gave him a kiss! Giving kisses is a new skill for sweet Ella. She says, "mmmmmah!"

What a cutie pie. I'm glad she likes our kangaroo so much. He is special because he was a gift from my parents, purchased at a kangaroo reserve we visited when I was just a teeeeny bit pregnant with Ella and a seriously sick puppy. It was a really cool place. And it was fun to see all the kangaroo mamas with their babies who you could actually see hanging out in their pouches and think about the little baby I couldn't see in my pouch. (This kangaroo is a him though, that's why I referred to him that way above. Don't ask how we know.) It's funny to think back on that trip. It doesn't seem so long ago, but look how big she is now! And giving kisses! Mmmmmah!

Go Daddy go!

On Saturday, Ella got to see Daddy run in his first race since she was born. I think she had a hard time picking him out amidst all the people and excitement around her. But we were there and we cheered! It was fun! Paul won his age group and got 7th overall. Of course, he was a little disappointed with his results. ; ) For Paul, athletic competition is a whole different world than for most of us. We are very proud of him. (All the way to the left in the first picture.)

After the race, while Paul was waiting to collect his award, Ella and I went to a bakery for pastries until he was done. It was fun for the first 20 minutes, and then it was hard. It felt like a perfectly orchestrated Mom Challenge scenario: you are stuck with your 12 month old in a busy restaurant with limited food and only the items in your purse to use for toys. There is a bench for baby to climb on, but no other play area to run around in. How long can you keep your baby occupied before she squeals loud enough for the other customers to glare with enough force to make you leave?

But she was cute in her pigtails. As always.

And here is another random set of cute shots from Friday. I just love that playful look in her eye. She is so much fun. (Also love that rose, Aunt Nicola!)

Just another week

Hi there! After the big party last weekend, it seems like there's not much to report for this week. We're just doing the normal one-year-old things, playing with toys, taking wagon rides, wearing pigtails and the occasional funny hat. But we have been really loving the beautiful spring weather. And there was the one crazy night where while Mama was out having what she thought was a decaf coffee (wrong!) with friends, Dada got his hand horribly trapped in Ella's bedroom window and had to be rescued by neighbors with a ladder, and then Mama was wide awake all night from the caffeine and periodic checking on Dada's hand. But other than that, we've just been enjoying our March!

By the way, happy birthday Vovó!

The birthday bash!

The birthday party was great! It was perfect weather, the best you could ask for. And we had fun friends and streamers and a parade and cupcakes . . . let me show you!

Here is Ella waiting for her guests and admiring the streamers Daddy put up and all the fun things in the front yard.

Here are some of the friends:

Here we are decorating our float:

And just enjoying our float:

And getting ready for the parade!

The parade was a very happy affair:

And then we had cupcakes:

Mama had to help with the candle again:

By this time, Ella was about to fall asleep in her cupcake after all the excitement. But she was a good sport, and dutifully downed the whole thing. When I tried to take her inside to clean up with a few bites left, we had quite the protest.

What a fun day! Finally, here was my view as I surveyed the front yard and the remains of the beautiful day after it was all done. Sighhhhh . . . : )

12 months of Ella!

Zero months old:

One month old:

Two months old:

Three months old:

Four months old:

Five months old:

Six months old:

Seven months old:

Eight months old:

Nine months old:

Ten months old:

Eleven months old:

One year old!!:

Birthdayyyyyy!

Well, what a big beautiful birthday day we had! In the morning, we opened presents. Ella was delighted with everything. The paper, the toys, the things to wear . . . (By the way, sorry about the blur in this first one, she was too excited to slow down for a pose!)

When she opened her bows from Aunt Nicola, she started trying to put them on. I helped her clip one in, but she kept wanting to add more until we had a head full of bows.

They are really super, she says.

We spent the morning wearing birthday clothes (not birthday suits!) and playing with toys.

The birthday princess decided she needed a ribbon necklace to complete the outfit. I think she was absolutely right. She looks perfect with it.

After a nap and lunch, we picked up Daddy for a little break from work and went to the park to swing.

Wheeeeeee!

And then after dinner, we had a super delish cheesecake birthday cake (with Daddy's tastes in mind, but Ella loooved it too. She ate the whole piece). Ella initially was a little skeptical about the fire in her dessert and all the singing, but she got into it once we started spooning her the goods!

And then it was off to sleep after a big day for a big little girl!

I thought it would be kind of sad to have my little baby be a big one year old, but now that we are here, I'm just proud of her! She has accomplished so much this year and has already contributed so much love and fun and delight to our world. I just can't wait to see how her little self continues to unfold.