BLISS

Love is in the Air

2012-02-14T19:47:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day

Is a heart shaped pizza, 2 dozen cupcakes, and a haircut for mom.

It is matching pink jeggings and bicycle shirts, zero decent sibling pictures, and chocolate covered strawberries.

It is last minute cards, white wine, Dora stickers, and three new children's books.

It is kiddies valentines, heart shaped cookies, and glitter everywhere.

Abby's first Valentine's Day
Ear infection and all

Ella

Swing, Babies, Swing!

2012-02-03T20:35:00.000-08:00

Today was a sunny day. It was a gift. The sky was a brilliant blue with a random cloud here and there. It was still chilly and crisp, although a bit windy. It was a perfect day to take the girls to the park and set Abby in the swing for the first time.

Ella was more than happy to return to the park. Back in the day it was part of our routine.

In fact, she was so happy to be on the swings she cooperated and actually LOOKED at the camera!

This is what happens when you say, "Show me your teeth." I was asking her to smile.

Pure joy.

Sweet, sweet Abby eating a snack.

Look at those teeth.

She liked it!

Wheeeee!

Life is good.

Sweet Spot

2012-02-02T20:22:00.000-08:00

When it comes to bath times, we have finally hit the sweet spot! This means I can bathe both the girls at one time and as you can imagine, this makes my life easier. No longer do I need to balance one child in the tub while the other is crying/ whimpering/ needing me from their crib. And no more do I feel like I spend all of my evening sitting on the bathroom floor (or cleaning up the kitchen, but that is a whole other post!).

Ella does like to help clean Abby. Notice her hands. She is sudsing them up. A few weeks ago I tried to bathe the girls at the same time. It was going well until Ella took a poof that was all soaped up and tried to clean Abby's eyes. We took a break from shared baths after that, but luckily for Abby, Ella's reasoning skills have since improved.

V is for Violin

2012-01-30T20:17:00.000-08:00

Today Ella began violin lessons at school. Now, I know it is ridiculous, but it just makes my heart happy because she loves musical instruments. And let me assure you, I would never seek out violin lessons at 2 years 8 months, but since they offer it at her school I thought it would be fun for her, and hey why not?

According to Ryan, E was talking about the violin and making music all morning.

Her teacher said she did a lot of watching today, just soaking it all in due to the fact that it was in the big kids' room. Apparently next week she needs a binder and ruler. The binder is to keep her music organized and I have no clue what the ruler would be used for. Her teacher is also making little box practice instruments so they can play/ practice at home.

Funny thing is, I have not a musical bone in my body, but maybe, just maybe, Ella is a savant. (j/k!)

Snow!!!

2012-01-30T20:06:00.000-08:00

Coming from the east coast I remember tons and tons of snow. Granted, my memory sucks, but I firmly remember days off of school, enough snow to warrant snowmen, snow angels, and good ol' fashioned fun followed by hot chocolate with fluff.

Things are just a little bit different here.

Occasionally we are lucky to get a flurry here and there and we live at roughly 1,000 feet while the rest of the city is in the valley.

It snowed earlier this month, as you can see. We had snow and it warranted a 2-hour delay for Ella and Abby's school. Of course, my school in the valley had nada. Then again, there was not snow to be seen on campus. It sucked. Obviously I wanted to be making memories with my little one, playing in the snow, and living life. Instead daddy snapped these precious photos for me.

And although I am bitter about not having a snow day or delay, I am glad it snowed. At least now I can justify the Columbia snowsuit and the Nike snow boots. E was prepared with her $60 worth of snow gear, even if she just played outside for 15 minutes...

Rag-A- Muffin

2012-01-27T10:39:00.000-08:00

There are many bonuses of having daughters including the A-DOR-A-BLE clothes which is both a blessing and a curse when it comes to budgets. As a result, the girls' closets are filled to the brim with precious clothes from Gap, Hannah Anderson, Boden, department stores and generous gifts from family and friends. I am not going to lie, I wish I had a wardrobe like theirs.

I still select their clothes each morning because Ryan prefers not to and it is fun for me.

But, I know those days are numbered. Often E comes home from school with an entirely different outfit on and not because she had an accident or romped around in the mud (although this happens quite often), but more than likely she decided to redress herself while at school, using clothes from her cubby or someone else's.

See for yourself:

Now, I can assure you that I did not style those patterns together!

And although she may look like a Rag- A - Muffin, I can assure you, my daughter has STYLE!!!!

EIGHT Months

2012-01-25T13:06:00.000-08:00

Abby turned EIGHT months old on the 19th. It still shocks me that time is flying by at warp speed.

~ She has 5 teeth... 3 on the bottom and 2 on top

~ Already she is wearing 12/ 18 month clothing, but 12 months are quickly becoming too small

~ She is really loving solid food

~ Mostly she sleeps through the night from 6:30 to 6:30

~ Crawling is just around the corner.

~ She prefers not to roll over.

~ Her big sister makes her laugh. A lot.

~ She enjoys the TV and will do anything to turn herself around so she can watch.

~ Unlike her sister, she is a complete and total cuddle bug.

A is for ABBY

Sisters.
Ella totally digs her cozy robe.

Eight months old...

And in case you wanted to see Ella's eighth month, click HERE. I really think the girls look SO much alike.

Grampy

2012-01-17T13:43:00.000-08:00

Grampy flew in for Abby's Baptism this past month. It was his first time meeting Abby. We managed to take a few pictures but they were oddly similar to his January 2010 visit.

Observations:

1. Notice the blue top. Apparently my father likes blue tops.

2. In all three pictures he is sitting on the same spot on the couch. Apparently it is his spot.

3. Grampy's hairstyle is the same, except just a *few* more grey hairs.... ha, ha.

Grampy and Ella
January 2010

Grampy and Abby
January 2012

Out of curiosity, do you think the girls look alike?
I do, especially when I see Abs sporting all of Ella's clothes. Takes me back....

Abby's Baptism

2012-01-13T13:47:00.000-08:00

Following in her sister's footsteps (look HERE), Abby was baptized on January 8, the day of the Baptism of Our Lord. This time we did not worry about Abby being tired, the perfect party, or what to dress her in (ok, that is TOTALLY untrue), but in all honesty, the focus was more about enjoying her special day. And we did. It was a sweet ceremony and very joyous. Friends and family joined us at church and we celebrated with a simple luncheon.

Now that we are experienced parents we opted to actually have her baptized at a church that we WILL attend, rather than the beautiful, huge, and impractical cathedral downtown. We always intended to get to church, but when it takes you longer to prepare to get to church, commute, and search for parking than the entire service takes, it hardly seems worth it. Besides, we could not master that with one child, what makes us think we could handle it with two?!

So, we went shopping for a church. And luckily we found one we like in our backyard, a mere 10 minutes away. It is small and sweet and prefect. Ella loves "Church School." She plays dot-dot, receives lots of attention, and has learned that "Mommy always comes back." Abby is adored by the congregation, constantly receives attention for being so well-behaved, and Ryan and I feel good for attending. In fact, going to church makes me feel like a grown -up, especially since no one is forcing me to go. One would think that I would feel grown up being the mother of two children, not SO much. They keep me young... and tired.

Anyways, Abby was an angel on her day. Look for yourself...

Proud Papa

Proud Mama

Pretty Girl

Not even a peep

Happy blessed family

And yes, that dress should look familiar. Ella wore it too!

December Wrap Up

2012-01-11T20:49:00.000-08:00

In December we added a new member to our family. Winston. Winston comes directly to us from the North Pole. He is a friendly scout elf who reports back to Santa on a nightly basis.

Each night after returning from the North Pole he repositioned himself within the house. Ella enjoyed locating him every morning often waking up and saying, "Where is Winston? Let's go find him."

One morning we found him swinging from the chandelier. He must have had a wild night with his elf friends. Too much egg nog, perhaps.

I spy Winston.

Cozy Abby

Ella and mommy made a gingerbread house. This was great fun and Ella was naive to the fact that she could actually EAT the candy until about 10 minutes into our project. Once this discovery was made, it was all down hill.

Cozy sisters. (Notice the clean floor.)

Christmas Morning Loot

I heard from the grapevine that Santa bought his roll of wrapping paper from Costco (yes, even Santa shops at Costco) and with all that loot he still did not finish the roll. Every single present was wrapped with it (it is reversible). Seriously. Santa LOVES Costco.

Ella's stocking was jam packed with girlie- girl goodies including bracelets, a necklace, headbands, and big girls.

Getting glitzed

Abby is happy with the old golf club from Target.

Daddy opening his stocking. More barbeque gadgets.

Fancy pants.

Ella and Abby posing for the camera. Ella is not so cooperative when it comes to posing for pictures these days. Occasionally she wants to take a picture holding Abby and that usually means choking her out while I try to locate the camera. This was a much better option, especially for Abby.

Pretty Abby on her first Christmas.

Dora the Explorer... Seriously, why do kids like this show? I totally get the draw to Sesame Street, but I just do not get Dora. At all.

I love smocked dresses. Too bad I did not get a decent picture of the girls in their dresses. Mommy fail.

Grandma and Pa brought over a big present. What can it be?

It has a wheel.... At this point Ella had figured it out. She has such great inferencing skills!

She literally flapped her arms with excitement.

On went the helmet.

A perfect fit!

Five minutes later and we were out the door.

SO proud.

Christmas dinner.

We made a little too much braciole.

Merry First Christmas, Abby!

Ella was already in bed. She was spent.

New Christmas clothes... This girl has a hat wardrobe to be envious of..

New Year's Eve at Peacock Lane

Happy New Year!

Christmas Eve Photo Attempt

2011-12-30T22:39:00.000-08:00

I am not a photographer as you can tell from the photos below. However, as you can see, I also do not have the most cooperative two year old subject.

Ella insisted on wearing her sunglasses. Not a bad picture, but I wish they were closer together (touching maybe) and I could live without the sunglasses.

Hug....

Ella is actually looking at the camera, but refusing to smile.
Abby looks picture perfect.

Ummmmm.... no and no.

Another failed attempt.

And seriously folks, this is what I got.

2011-12-29T10:03:00.000-08:00

This just about sums up the health of my household during the month of December.

7 Months

2011-12-20T21:20:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Abby turned 7 months. She celebrated by visiting the Big Man (pictures and post to come tomorrow?) and by getting a 102.7 fever. Awesome.

No joke, this was our third visit to the doctor's office in three weeks between both girls. First, Ella was sent home from school with a fever three weeks ago. She was sick for 3.5 days and had a temperature that reached 103+. Then last week Abby had a cold and eye goop. She missed a day of school. And luckily now I am on winter break because my sick days are disappearing fast. Pretty soon I am going to be all tapped out.

Sick Abby eating her celebratory Mum- Mums or Bun -Bums as Ella calls them.

Abby appears to be in decent spirits in the above picture, but let me tell you, she was pitiful and pathetic today. Poor baby girl was just not herself. She looked sick. Her eyes said it all.

Go Me....

2011-12-18T21:36:00.000-08:00

I have been husbandless for a full week (minus the 16 hour whirlwind "visit" that was mostly spent sleeping). That is a long time. I am mostly used to it, as a pilot's wife, you have to be. With the new job he was gone for six weeks while training on the new plane. However, since that training he has only been gone a handful of days due to an unusually quiet schedule. Not this week.

As a result, this week seemed long after having him home for such a long stretch. Perhaps it was because it was the week before Christmas Break or because both kiddos were recovering from some sort of illness or because I have a gazillion and twelve things to do like finish my shopping and wrap presents while managing a full-time job and two kiddos.

One of the the to-dos on my list was to take the girls to go see Santa. I wanted to squeeze it in over the weekend because this up and coming week is busy, busy, busy too. So, on Saturday I dressed and bathed both the girls, dressed them in holiday finerary, and trudged to the outdoor mall. Ever the planner, I assumed there would be no line because by now EVERYONE should have already visited Santa. I mean, Santa has been in the malls since Thanksgiving week. Surely, everyone who was going to visit the big man must have already done so. Wrong. Dead wrong.

So, after all my holiday primping and prepping, we waited in the outdoor line for precisely 10 minutes. During those ten minutes I was formulating a plan to get my two year old to agree to leave the line and return another day. She happily agreed. Thank YOU, Ella, because I believe we would still be in that line waiting.

Along the same lines, today we made it to church. I dressed them in their same holiday outfits and let me tell you, we were actually on time. This is a first. Is it just a coincidence that I managed to dress them, and get them out of the house husbandless? You decide.

Awww... Sisters

Wearing a headband... a holiday miracle

I love this dress, and Abby, of course.

My First Homemade Ornament

2011-12-14T20:55:00.000-08:00

Without a doubt, my favorite ornament on our tree

Sweet Tooth...

2011-12-09T21:37:00.000-08:00

For those of you who don't know our momma she has a sweet tooth, she is a bit crazy when it comes to the holidays, and she likes to plan parties. Hence, she is the one who begins planning a cookie exchange in October for December. Yes, our momma sent out evites before we even wore our Halloween costumes!

But, we agree (and so does daddy) that cookie exchanges rock. Just check out our freezer, as we have a freezer filled with milk (don't ask unless you want to know) and cookies. Cookies of all sorts. Chocolate chip. Brownies. Fudge. Candy-can ones. All different and all equally yummy.

Heck, we would not be surprised if our momma was planning cookie exchange 2012 as we speak.

XOXOX,
Ella and Abby

Not going to lie, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our tree. And I kinda dig my apron too.

Just some of the cookie loot. Two other varieties did not fit on the table. All of these cookies make me insanely happy. And I am 100% serious about that.

My tree... Squeal

Bakers... Friends... Neighbors...
So lucky

One of the best things about Junior League... Mama Heidi

Ella was in heaven and tried to swipe some cookies of her own. She is so mu daughter.

Ok.

Turning 6 Months is Painful ...

2011-12-09T21:08:00.000-08:00

For mommy...

All Smiles

Three shots are nothing Looney Toons band-aids can't solve... (and Ella was pretty jealous)

6 Months...

2011-12-08T20:50:00.000-08:00

Dear Abby~

Almost three weeks ago you turned six months old. It is so hard to believe that you are six months already. In fact, it seems like you have always been a part of our family, but on the other hand, these six months have flown by.

You are currently wearing size 12 months clothing although 18 months works just as well. You are still in size three diapers although those days will be coming to an end sooner rather than later. You have started eating solids and are a natural. Unlike your sister, you did not grimace at your first tastes of cereal, carrots, avocado, or sweet potatoes. You are a natural eater (like me), but more likely, you are just so easy going and easy to please. I love that about you.

You have a laugh that just makes me happy. It is a deep belly laugh that lights up my heart. I want to bottle it and keep it with me forever. You are so happy.... all the time, and you hug. Yes, I swear you do. You wrap your arms around me and squeeze. I would not believe it if you it didn't happen on a regular basis but your teachers say you do it at school too. Precious. Abby, you are a love bug.

Turning six months is also hard work It involves a trip to the doctor and THREE shots.

Height: 29 " (99.55%)

Weight: 22.5 lbs (99.54%)

Abby, I love you always in all ways...

Momma

Deja Vu

2011-11-26T21:13:00.000-08:00

Yup, these are my girls wearing the exact same winter gear at about the exact same age. Can you tell which one is which?

Baby Girl A

Baby Girl B

If you guessed that Abs was A and Ella was B, you are correct!

Cutie ... Just Cute

2011-11-16T20:59:00.000-08:00

Besides the stupid spot that keeps showing up on ALL of our pictures (even when edited out), this picture is one of my favorites because Abby looks so doll-like, so perfect, so dang huggable... so her.

And... ummm... who isn't envious of those baby blues?

Can you believe she is just shy of 6 months?

October in a Nutshell

2011-11-13T19:34:00.000-08:00

Abs sitting pretty (and cozy).

Baby blues...

Ella riding Sugar, the little pony. Ryan and I are fearful of her love of horses.... cha-ching!

Yes, that slide is as scary as it looks! Yet little Ella LOVED it...

Cider doughnut, yes please!

Ryan said it was an uncomfortable as it looks.

All dressed up for Miss Ruby's party.

Pumpkin patch visit number 2....Ella dressed herself.

Face paint

Henry's Halloween Party... so fun!

Party Girl

Abs turned 5 months (and boy, she looks like Ryan here)

Ella insisted on wearing her "Big Girls" over her pants when we went to dinner. Sure, why not?

Abs first taste of cereal.

Abs BFF, Miss G the ladybug

Ladybugs were all the rage in 2011

Abs first Halloween

Abs and Momma

Trick or Treat

Abs.. sitting like a big girl

Party Girls

2011-10-03T19:44:00.000-07:00

The end of summer was marked with a family wedding. And it was a special wedding. It was full of little details that were .... so THEM. From the symbolic invites to the handmade banner flags to the cute salt and pepper shakers to the food cart to the music, it was Alex and Emily. And my entire family loved every minute of it, especially Miss Ella. She frolicked, she ran, she ate, and she watched the band. She had a BALL.

During the ceremony the bride was escorted down the aisle by her brother. It was sweet. Parked in the field of her in-laws property was an old baby blue Chevy (I am guessing at this) truck that belonged to the groom's grandfather. This truck was beloved and symbolic. Now I don't know much about trucks, but I do know a lot about grandparents and grandparents are very special people. It was symbolic, special, and sweet. And it was also... them.

Anyways, I digress (and I realize this is a rambling post), but when Emily walked down the aisle I had a vision. It was of Ryan and Ella. It was of Ryan and Abby. Daddy and daughter walking down the aisle on their wedding days. And already being a sucker at weddings, I was a goner.

Ella and Grandma watching the bride walk down the aisle.

Abby taking a snooze...

A+E= Love

Picture perfect reception

My happy family....

This and THAT

2011-09-25T21:02:00.000-07:00

It has been a whirlwind of a month around here. Hence, that is why my blog has been neglected. I have plenty of topics to blog about, just not the time. By the time the girls are in bed it is past 7 and by the time dinner is cleaned up and the house looks somewhat in order, it is after 8. By that time I just want to decompress and watch the boob tube. As you can imagine, I am often ex-haust-ed by then. To prove my point, my alarm actually goes off BEFORE my working husband! Six am comes early when you are up in the middle of the night tending to a teething child.

Anyways, in the past month we have landed a new job, had Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease, attended a wedding, gone on vacation, turned FOUR months old, got shots, had play dates, given up naps, attended a birthday party, grown two teeth, rolled over, and fallen out of the crib. The last three events occurred today. It was a busy, busy, busy day.

Four Months

Happy four months, baby Abby!

Abs turned FOUR months old this past Monday. I am not sure I actually believe it. It has been four amazing months with the sweetest, easiest, most chill baby. We are beyond lucky. Abby is easy. Don't worry, I am well aware that she will give us a run for our money when she is older. For now, I am relishing in her calm temperament.

Turning four months means 2 shots and an oral vaccine. It also means updated statistics. We all knew she was a big girl. But , we had NO idea that she would weight 20 pounds, 1 ounce (99.99 %) at 4 months old and measure in at 28 inches (99.99%). She IS incredible and likely the biggest baby EVER!

Rolling Over
Ella is becoming quite the master at the potty, especially when she is "napping". She knows just how to manipulate mommy into taking her out of the crib. All she has to say is "wanna go potty". And she does. She goes, pours it in the big potty, and wants to try again. Then she goes.... again. We spend lots of time at the potty when she should be napping. Stinker.

Well, today was no different. Abby and I were having some time together while Ryan was at Costco, of course. Then I hear the infamous quote, "Wanna go potty." So I place Abs on the play mat and head upstairs. Abs is content. Ella does her thing once. Then twice. And while she it trying for her third little sprinkle I hear Abby wail. And I knew, I just knew. Poor Abs rolled over with no cheering squad, no round of applause, and no one there to comfort her. I ran downstairs and there she was, panicking. To make matters worse for her I wanted to take a picture. I rummaged through the diaper bag looking for our camera. Can't find it. Look again. Not there and so I empty out every pocket. Abs is beyond herself but to help ease my mother's guilt I want to get the REAL result on film. It was not meant to be.

Minutes later via phone Ryan informed me the camera was in the big pocket. Silly boy, that pocket is for the changing mat, nothing else. Uggggghhhh. I totally missed the shot.

Here is the reenactment:

This is where Abby was when she did roll over except she had tears... lots of them.

The mess mommy made looking for the camera. Mommy fail.

Sweet baby girl rolls over on September 25.

Coming soon: Party Girls!

First Impressions...

2011-09-11T19:51:00.000-07:00

Ella's teacher recently sent photos of Ella's painting adventure. By the looks of the "cleaned up" Ella, I knew it would be bad. However, I had no idea. I should have known considering she had paint in her hair, up her nose, lining her eye, speckled across her chin, and her first day dress was accentuated with non-toxic paint. The teachers did not seem to mind and we had a good chuckle after they warned me about her messy appearance. My Ella looks like this quite regularly, just not with paint. She has no problem getting down and dirty.

But, this was a bit more than I expected:

Hopefully tomorrow Ella will keep the paint on the paper, but I wouldn't count on it!

First Day of Pre-School

2011-09-07T20:27:00.000-07:00

Serious face, but notice the hair clip.

At school!

Somebody painted for the first time, can you tell?
Regardless, I am still curious as to how she got paint in her nostrils, on the top of her head and on her cheeks?

Three Months

2011-08-22T21:33:00.000-07:00

In someways it seems like just yesterday Abby was born and in other ways it feels like she has always been a part of our little family. The memories of having just one child seem like ancient history, but in reality, it has only been three short months. And in these three short months our world has been turned upside down with more immeasurable love and craziness. And it has made me realize that I want time to standstill. I want to absorb the phases we are in now: the "terrible twos" and the infant stage. I want to bottle Ella's energy, her laughter, and her cute sayings like "me help you" (which translates to I need help). As for Abby, I want to bottle her smiles and the way her body just folds into yours when she is being held. Life is good, so very, very good.

Abby~ 3 Months:
~ wears mostly 6 or 9 month clothing
~ smiles
~ laughs

Ella, almost 27 months

~ is totally amused by her sister
~ talks, a lot
~ can put herself to sleep
~ usually wakes once during the night
~ has outgrown the Miracle Blanket
~ loves her mobile
~ has already been to Seattle and Sunriver

3 Months

The Conclusion... Abby's Arrival

2011-08-17T21:41:00.000-07:00

Background: Part 1, Part 2

I have waited a long time to post this partially since I had some friends who were expecting and did not want to add another concern to their labor and delivery fears, and partially because it is a doozy of a story.

May 18th: Unlike my first induction date, I actually slept pretty well the night before probably since I was still catching up on sleep from Sunday night and Monday's fiasco. I can also imagine that my body was tired from carting around such a big baby. Anyways, Wednesday's induction was very similar to Monday's except we were placed in a different room. Both Ryan and I were excited to be in the room that had the towel shaped into a snake (it's the little things, people). On came House Hunters, out came the crossword, and in dripped the Pitocin. Time passed, food was ordered and eaten, ordered and eaten again. Sometime after lunch the doctor came in to talk options since my body was in a standstill with the Pitocin.

Option 1: C-Section (eeeek.... my worst nightmare, or so I thought!)
Option 2: Break my water, which would hopefully start labor, but could also lead to a c-section
Option 3: Start a slow leak of water, which would hopefully start labor, but could lead to a c-section but is also less risky than option 2
Option 4: Take an ultrasound to estimate the size of the baby and make a decision based upon that. However, the further one is along in their pregnancy, the less reliable these estimates are

These options caused my head to hurt. I hated being responsible for such a big decision (it really seemed like that at the time). Option 2 and 3 had c-section risks and the doctor suggested an epidural to be ready, just in case and option 4 seemed to be so unscientific that it was a waste of time. Ryan and I decided on option 3 with a little help from one of the nurses that we trusted.

So, within what seemed like very little time, a plan was set in motion. The anesthesiologist was being called to preform the epidural. At the time I was still thinking about delivering naturally, but obviously I wanted to be prepared in case a c-section was required. Apparently when one breaks their water intentionally like this there is a chance that the umbilical cord could be in jeopardy. Hence, the need for a c-section. Anyways, I had an epidural with Ella, but I was in SOOOO much pain that I had NOOOO idea what was going on when it was administered. Not the case with Abby. I was fully aware and doing my thing: asking question after question after question (just like when I am at the dentist... they must dread when I have an appointment). I remember being tense and slightly annoyed at Ryan, even though he was being an amazing support. He hates the hospital and procedures, but I remember thinking, this is way worse for me than it is for you (although I understand it must be hard to feel so helpless watching someone you love go through all this). Once the epidural was in place, the doctor caused a slow leak. That was around 3 pm and he gave my body until 6 to make progress. If not, a c-section was in my future.

Time passed. I felt fine. The epidural was doing its thing. Contractions were happening, but they had been occurring all day. When the doctor came in to check on me and to say goodbye since his shift had ended he noted that there was progress. Yippee, no c-section! On we would continue.

Fast forward till about 11 when things really got started. I felt the need to push and push I did. I pushed, and pushed, and pushed for an hour and 15 minutes, which was a lot better than the three hours I pushed with Ella. I remember looking at my baby, waiting to hear the big announcement. IT'S A GIRL! Another beautiful baby girl... and then the name debate continued. Kate. Abigail. Kate. And she was named Kate. Meanwhile, the staff was doing their thing, checking out the placenta, pushing on my belly (man, I HATE that the most), and checking me out. I was not paying much attention since I was holding my newest love and making important decisions. After a few minutes Kate was renamed Abigail Grace. Perfect.

In the meantime, I remember hearing the delivery nurse say she felt something funny while pushing on my belly. So, the doctor did an internal sweep and out came a rush of blood and more blood and more blood. Instantly I was lying in a pile of clots. Another internal sweep, more belly pushing and more blood. This was not normal. They gathered all the clots and called for a special scale and weighed the blood. Apparently I lost 2 liters of blood and they were concerned. They inserted three pills which would cause my uterus to "clamp down" and slow down the bleeding.

I was only partially aware of what was going on at this time because I was still in awe over my baby girl. The nurses came and measured and weighed her.... 11.2 pounds... WHAT? That can't be. They weighed her again.... again, 11.2 pounds and 22 3/4 inches. After she had been bathed it was time to move to the room where I would be staying until I was discharged. I stood up to get into the wheelchair and I felt faint... so very faint. Not being one to complain, I remember barely being able to communicate that loudly enough for anyone to hear. Again. Finally, they got me oxygen and we were to remain in the delivery room longer to recover and they asked if I would like a blood transfusion. After asking my questions, I realized I did not really want the transfusion. It freaked me out. However, I did not really know what I was in for by denying this option.

May 19 was a busy night in labor and in delivery, lots of babies were being born. Personnel kept coming in and out of the room. Finally at about 3:30 am, we were transferred upstairs where I could sleep.

Fast forward to May 21... discharge day....
In the morning before being discharged I was updated on my status. Apparently I had a post partum hemorrage and that caused me to lose all that blood (think soda bottle). The loss of blood caused my red blood cell count to drop dangerously low (that is your hermatocrit level) and my hermatocrit level continued to drop throughout my stay at the hospital. As you know, your red blood cells carry oxygen to your body and a normal level is around 40. I left the hospital at an 18. The hospital staff told me I was going to be tired and that it would take 6-8 weeks for my blood count to go back to normal. One nurse told me that I would need a nap after walking up the stairs. I did not believe her. The option for a transfusion was still on the table. Heck, they had blood waiting for me.

Home:
I had NO idea what I was in for. Maybe I refused to really listen to what the nurses told me, maybe it was not clearly explained with enough stress, but a post partum hemorrage is no joke. In fact, I could have died and I was not out of danger when I was discharged (I learned all this after the fact). Ryan's aunt, an ER nurse, was horrified to learn that I was discharged with such a low hermatocrit. If I had had any unusual bleeding after being discharged, I would have been in some serious, serious trouble.

Still clueless about the severity of what I just endured, I began life at home with a two year old and a newborn. Tired does not even come close to how I felt. It was not the bone tired one would expect with having a baby, it was the I physically can not move tired. I remember stopping halfway up the stairs to take a breather. Forget about carrying Abby or Ella anywhere, I did not have the strength. Those six weeks are a blur to me now. It was all about getting through day by day.

And even though my recovery sucked, I have one amazing little girl as a result.

Boaters in the Making...

2011-08-13T20:40:00.000-07:00

Ella was not so happy on her first boat ride.

But Abby could not care less.

Vacations~ Not Like They Used to Be

2011-08-05T14:10:00.000-07:00

Ryan and I ~~are~~ were jet setters. We would take off on a weekend trip with a few days notice. Hawaii for the weekend? Sure. Boston for a few days? No problem. Being a pilot's wife sure ~~does~~ did have its perks.

These jaunts consisted of hours by the pool, soaking in the sun, fun- fruity drinks (or beers in Ryan's case), and spendy dinners out. Vacations were heaven-sent. Not anymore. Our vacation style has done a 180 degree turn. Instead of anticipation, there is anxiety. Will they sleep okay? Did I pack everything? How will they do in the car (notice I said car, not plane)? Is this a mistake? That being said, we took our first family vacation as a family of four last weekend. And, we SURVIVED! It was actually fun, but I can tell you, it was not the vacation of old:

1. We were in our hotel room by 7:30 each night
2. We ordered take-out or ate at family restaurants
3. We lugged around a diaper bag all day and pushed a gigantic stroller
4. The agenda did not include what we wanted to do, rather what would work for the kids' schedules
5. Naptime
6. We were awake by 7 each morning

Regardless, we had a fabulous time and although we did not get to soak up the rays at a pool, we were able to make memories and I can tell you, these types of vacations are just as fabulous (albeit more work) than resort vacations.

Amazed by the fish at the aquarium

one must have fish -n-chips in Seattle

dinner at Buca Di Beppo

Seattle sun?

Pike's Place... watching the fish toss

Such pretty flowers (and so cheap)

riding the pig

balloon vendor

momma and Abby

Ella ~ so proud of her flower ballon but so serious in this picture

Best Friends

2011-07-30T20:38:00.000-07:00

Ella loves sharing her toys with Abby!
In fact, today she loaded up Abby's swing with all her sea creatures and her new prized possession, her balloon flower. Although it does not look it here, Abby was smiling and smiling.

Why You Don't Share Water With a Two Year Old

2011-07-23T21:43:00.000-07:00

This glass of water looks so good to me...

Today was the perfect summer day. So, after naps Ella, Abby, and I packed our necessities and headed into the backyard for a little summer fun. Ella was equipped with her sunblock, bathing suit, Goldfish snack, towel, and water shoes. Abby had her swing and sootah (pacifier) and I had the camera, my cold bottle of water, sunglasses, and cell phone. We were settling in for a day at the beach... um, backyard (the beach here is too cold to actually swim and I don't have the courage yet to venture on any big trips with the girls by myself).

Ella, of course, was amused by her pool for about .5 seconds before she started drinking the pool water. Normally I would not care too much, but I had filled the pool when she was napping so it could get a little sun and warm up. By the time our adventure started a fair amount of dirt was floating on top of the water, plus the pool had been hanging out in the garage for weeks. So I did what any mom would do, I diverted her attention to MY water.

But, I forgot to take into account that Missy Moo also had a snack of Goldfish that she was working on. And as you know, those cheese flavored little fish make you thirsty!

Finally Ella had had enough and returned the water back to me. However, I lost all interest in the refreshing drink due to the school of goldfish floating around in my water. Lesson learned: don't share water with a two-year old unless you want a little extra flavoring in your drink!

MIA...

2011-07-22T21:19:00.000-07:00

I know, I know. I have been missing in action this past month. We have been really busy.

We've been hugging our friends.

Taking naps.

Eating bagels

Watching parades

Enjoying cotton candy

Enjoying the summer

Frolicking at the water park

Eating fro yo

Holding hands with my BFF

Practicing for school

Relaxing with momma

Chilling

Hanging with Grammy

Learning to dress ourselves

Swinging

Giggling

Holding our head high

Two Months!

2011-07-20T21:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Abby turned TWO months old.

Skills: Super smiler, over-achiever at tummy-time, natural communicator, great at lifting her head and observing, starting to grab and interact with her toys, loves to watch and follow her mobile

Sleeping Habits: loves to be swaddled, occasionally takes a sootah (pacifier as named by Ella), down for the night at 8:30 and usually sleeps to 3:30 or later, excellent sleeper, has been sleeping in her crib since her first night home

Size: Abby has officially outgrown her 3-6 month sleepers; she is just SO long, other than that, she is lean

Abby at 2 months

Two Bath Day

2011-06-28T21:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a two-bath day.

First, Ella had to bathe to look presentable for her friends: Georgia, Ruby, and Pitt.
This occurred at approximately 8 am.
Said friends arrived at 9:30 ish and by 10:15 they were outside doing what little ones do.
My little one was all over and into everything. She no longer looked so fresh and clean.

By lunch she had peanut butter and jelly twirled into her piggies. Her hair looked like it had mousse in it, smelled like a pb & j sandwich, and was crunchy.

And to seal the deal that it was going to be a two-bath day, I gave her an ice pop after dinner.

Too cute

Crazy, sticky, smelly hair

Dirty Mush

Purple water= a REALLY, REALLY fun time

Looks Like Summer

2011-06-27T20:12:00.000-07:00

Swing, Ella

Look at those white legs!

Awaiting Abby.. Part 2

2011-06-25T21:25:00.000-07:00

(Just to let you know, I was 98% finished with this post and then it disappeared. As a result, I am slightly grumpy)

Background:
Baby number two was due on 5/11.
5/11 came and 5/11 went. No baby.
Midwife started to talk induction.
I pushed for sooner rather than later since Ryan's time off was slowly ticking away.
Midwife reluctantly agreed to set induction date at 40 weeks 5 days even though she preferred to wait to 41 weeks.
I was relieved since I was large and in charge.
Everything was uncomfortable, especially sleeping.

The day Before:
On 5/15 we assumed it was Ella's last day being an only. We spoiled her rotten and were on the go all day long ~Bagels at Noah's, Sesame Street Live, and take out pizza rounded out the day. We were all exhausted. Yet, I could not sleep; too many questions were running through my head.

Would baby be a boy or a girl? Which name do I really prefer? Grace or Molly or Abigail or Kate? Luke Ryan or Luke Matthew? How do you spell Matthew? Would labor and delivery be as difficult as before? Would I break my tailbone? Would Ella do okay without me for two days? Would I do okay without Ella?

The Day Of:
At 4:30 I awoke to my alarm. This time around I was determined to look decent for post-delivery pictures. I straightened my hair and applied full make-up. Gosh, I was foolish.

This is the best I could do considering I was 40 weeks, 5 days pregnant, it was 5:40 in the morning and I hardly slept the night before.

6:00 am

I was hooked up and receiving pitocin by 7:30. At this time I was dialated to a 4. I had contractions all day long but no pain. Baby was still high and lying crooked. We walked and walked and walked. We watched HGTV and more HGTV. Meanwhile, they turned the pitocin up higher than normal (usually they stop at 20, but I was up to 26). The contractions kept coming, but I felt very little discomfort and I did not continue to dialate. Time passed. The doctor started talking about failed inductions and I was devastated. They considered this to be a "social induction" because it was not medically necessary. At 9:30 pm they sent us home from the hospital. I actually was not as upset as I thought I may be, by now I was tired. They said they would be more agressive with our Wedesday induction because it was now considered a "medical induction" since baby was a week late. Odd how 36 hours can make a difference. We left tired, disappointed, and laughing... this would only happen to us.

So they sent s home with a new induction date and time~ Wednesday, 8:30 am.

Sisters...

2011-06-13T22:22:00.000-07:00

I think my girls look a lot alike... What do you think?

Ella

Abby

Ella

Abby

Thank you, Thank You VERY Much

2011-06-12T20:41:00.000-07:00

This was me before babies. Like most women, I was critical of my figure. My arms were not defined enough. My belly had a little roll when I sat down and was a little too soft for my liking. Plus, I did not have Kardashian backside. Little did I know how good I had it.

Currently I am 24 days post partum, and my figure has a ways to go. Heck, I am not sure if it will ever remotely look like my body of old. But, if it does, I can tell you, I will NEVER complain about it again.

In the meantime, my body is still transitioning from cooking an 11.2 pound baby. My belly is slowly shrinking, but apparently not fast enough. While picking up Ryan's Father's Day gift an older gentleman asked me about Abby.

"How old is your baby" he asked.
"Just over three weeks. She was born May 19th."
"Oh, and I see that she is going to have a sibling soon."
And because I did not want to embarass the guy, I went along with it. " Yes, soon."

And with that, the man made me feel like a giant whale. Here I was with my newborn, had a conversation regarding my baby's age and someone mistakes me for being pregnant. Awesome, just awesome.

Ella the Big Sister

2011-06-10T20:23:00.000-07:00

Expecting Abby... Part 1

2011-06-08T20:16:00.000-07:00

Right before heading to the hospital on 5/6

5/6~ My birthday~

May 6 was supposed to be my last day at work even though my official due date was not until May 11. However, when I woke up I had pain in my left side that made it difficult to shower. I stayed home. My body had been telling me for quite sometime that it was preparing for the baby, so I really thought that I would be having a birthday baby. Contractions came and they were 8 minutes apart, not too painful, but I definitely could feel them. Considering I had INTENSE back labor with Ella, I did not know what to really look for.

Eventually we left for the hospital around 10 am in the morning. Ryan and I wanted to get there before the contractions got too close because they say labor is faster the second time around. The last thing Ryan and I wanted was to deliver at home or on the side of the road and with our luck, that is exactly what would happen.

A better angle of the big belly

At the hospital they monitored me for hours in the triage room. Baby's heartbeat was fantastic and sure enough I was contracting pretty close together and regularly. All the while I was able to converse with the triage nurse and Ryan. However, for some reason or another, the nurse was concerned about the position of the baby and called in the doctor. They used the ultrasound to determine that baby was lying posterior, which meant she was crooked. Her head pointed towards my right hip. As soon as they said this I cried. Immediately in my head I heard the word c-section and was terrified. However, they assured me that it was not a big deal and that most of the time these babies head on down as expected. Then they discharged us because my contractions were between 5 minutes and lasting a long time, but it was not labor. The nurse said she expected to see us later in the afternoon.

Since it was my birthday and it was past lunchtime, we decided to grab a quick bite to eat. I was MISERABLE. My contractions were BAD and i thought for sure as soon as we finished lunch we would be back at the hospital, but then they stopped. We headed home and unnecessarily canceled my birthday dinner out. By then the contractions had stopped, and I was very uncomfortable (anyone would be with the big belly I had).

No birthday baby for me.

Reasons Why I have Not Been A-Blogging

2011-06-05T19:42:00.000-07:00

Life at our house is a bit chaotic and my blog has taken a hit. Here is why...

1. I had a baby.

2. Abby was bigger than expected so my recovery has been slow. Believe it or not, she was 11 pounds, 2 ounces.

3. My free time consists of:

Laundry. Right now I have THREE baskets to fold and put away and one GIANT load to wash. And to think we have not even started cloth diapers yet.

Spending time with my TWO year old.

Nursing. This is a full-time job in itself.

Changing diapers... lots and lots and lots of diapers

Sleeping or trying to, at least

and once in awhile I might have the opportunity to take a bath....

Socks...

2011-05-03T08:54:00.000-07:00

Missy Moo is developing her own personal style. No longer can I pick out an outfit of my choosing. In fact, yesterday I laid out an adorable Osh Kosh Bgosh jumper for her to wear. It had stripes and flowers, her favorite.

Except when I arrived home yesterday she was wearing her old tired polka dot pants and purple ruffled shirt. Same old, same old. I must admit, I was disappointed (must be the pregnancy hormones). I was so ready for her to be dressed like spring in a cute little jumper with leggings. And I pictured her to look so put together with her new bang trim.

But, I guess I should get used to it. Missy Moo DOES have an opinion when it comes to her clothes; I knew that the day she started requesting blue socks.... with EVERY SINGLE OUTFIT!

One day she even insisted on this fashionable combination:

Her right sock is Cookie Monster and her left sock is striped... And no, she did not get dressed in the dark~

Dad Pants

2011-04-28T20:03:00.000-07:00

I am at the point of my pregnancy where EVERYTHING I wear is uncomfortable. EVERYTHING. My maternity shirts no longer cover my bulging baby belly. Jeans are either too tight, the crotch hangs down low or both. When you look at the picture below, you will understand how big and ready I am. And, I am going to be completely honest with you, that picture was taken weeks ago. Although I look like I am carrying multiples (think Kate from Kate Plus Eight), I am actually ok with my total weight gain. It just all seemed to have piled out from my belly.

Anyways, I digress. Like I was saying, NOTHING is comfortable, not even leggings. On a rare occasion, like yesterday, I will come home from work and put on Ryan's pajama pants if he is out of town.

Think this:

As soon as Ella saw me she said, " Daddy pants." And she continued pointing them out ALL NIGHT LONG.
Awesome because I really want to be reminded that I am the size of a BRONTOSAURUS and have to wear my husband's pants for even a little bit of comfort.

Happy Easter

2011-04-24T21:14:00.000-07:00

Pre- Meltdown... Just Warming Up

"But, I want to do it MY way!"

Ok. This might work.

Where are the eggs?

"More egg."

Ella, the egg-hunting professional

It Is a Family Thing....

2011-04-15T08:41:00.000-07:00

Poor Ella. It looks like she has her mommy and daddy's dancing skills.

And in case you were wondering, she has started choosing her own clothes. I can't take credit for the flower pants and the purple bunny shirt ensemble.

Don't Mind If I Do....

2011-03-30T21:04:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when daddy leaves his bag of chips on the table.

Florida in a Nutshell

2011-03-29T21:19:00.000-07:00

Last week was Spring Break (yippee!). So we boarded two planes and headed to Naples, Florida to visit Grammy, Grampy, and Uncle Jonathan.

I blew bubbles in the pool.

I went swimming.

I wore my cool new shades, sandals, and swimsuit.

Mommy and Daddy went on a three day getaway to Marco Island.

They said they enjoyed the beach view from their balcony.

I managed to get some quality pool time every day.

I practiced wearing Mommy's shoes.

We took a family trip to the beach.

Daddy and I jumped over waves.

Grampy and I played in the sand for .4 seconds.

Grammy bought me a whole new wardrobe including 3 new bathing suits.

Daddy and I played dress up.

I actually looked at the camera and said, "Cheese" when I was supposed to!

I had a great vacation, but you need to ask my mommy and daddy about the return flight. I am sure they have a lot to say. Better yet, ask the woman sitting in 9a. She was a real doll.

Just Practicing For Florida

2011-03-14T21:51:00.000-07:00

Except in Florida I can ditch the fleece.

SUNDAY, FUN DAY

2011-03-13T15:47:00.000-07:00

Today we went to OMSI with our dear friend, Gabrielle. We played, played, played.

Balls, my favorite toys!

Gabrielle, your mom packs better food than mine....

Playing with the balls and air current kept me entertained for a long time!

Reading books in the puppet playhouse

Artist at work: making a bookmark

So focused.

Exploring the cave with a flashlight

Weights and balance with bugs.... Yuck!

A Rare Shot

2011-03-13T15:38:00.000-07:00

Being pregnant the first time was all-consuming; it was all I thought about. I kept a pregnancy journal, took photos regularly, made lists, and read books.

This time I am too busy to do all that. I am too busy chasing after Miss Ella. And if you know her, you know she DOES. NOT. SLOW. DOWN. EVER. Therefore, this is my second intentional belly shot. And although I look H-U-G-E, I can tell you that I have gained less weight. Please ignore the dingy shirt; it is well worn.

Pregnancy #2 30+ weeks

Pregnant with Ella

If you can't tell, I think I am carrying the same... round like a basketball and all belly.

Disaster Zone....

2011-03-03T20:22:00.000-08:00

Seriously. Our house is in the process of transition. Ella's current room will soon become the baby's room. The guest room is in transformation to becoming Ella's big girl room. And, the office is merging into the office/ guest room combo. It is not pretty and I am sure Ryan is very unhappy with the ever growing to-do list.

It looks a little like this (with a completion goal of the end of April):

1. Paint Ella's new room (this is half done. We have the chair rail left)
2. Order new big girl bed
THIS is the bed we went with. It is in two large boxes waiting to be assembled. However, that can't be done until everything else moves to their rightful new room.
3. Put said big girl bed together
4. Sell computer desk (it doesn't fit in the office/ guest room)
5. Organize garage (we need to store Ella's too small clothes there)
6. Hang pictures (just found some at Homegoods and the hanging thing-a-ma-bob is not centered. I have already put 5 holes in the wall)
7. Donate computer
8. Clean out/ organize closets (Half done...)
9. Curtains for Ella's new room
10. Hang shelves in Ella's new room

Luckily, baby's room needs nothing but the baby....

21 Months...

2011-02-24T20:51:00.000-08:00

Yes, this dusting of snow cancels school for the day!

Dear Ella,

Today you turned twenty-one months old! And luckily for me, I had a snow day so we were able to spend it together. What a treat! Bright and early we went outside and frolicked in the snow. You were a bit skeptical of the fluffy white stuff at first, but came to love it, as you were running up and down the sidewalk and lawn. Daddy and I loved watching you experience something new. We only wish we had a sled.

This past month you have learned MANY new skills.

~You began swim lessons and can splash, you try to blow bubbles, and you don't mind being dunked fully underwater. In fact, your favorite part of swim lessons is Humpty Dumpty when you actually sit on the poolside wall and "fall" in.

~ You started telling us when you filled your diaper. And now will even go on the potty. You love earning a M&M treat when you do. You always ask for a certain color, usually blue or red. At first you were reluctant to eat your treat, as you wanted to tote it around. You would place it in bowls, cook with it, once you took a nap with your M&M, and one time you insisted taking it in the bath with you. Silly girl. Now you tend to eat your treat straight away and always ask for more.

~ You are a climbing machine. You are testing limits. You want to do everything yourself.

~ You help unload the dishwasher, like to wipe down the table, but very rarely pick up your own toys.

~ At mealtimes you like to use a fork now and you no longer are content to sit in your highchair. You want to sit on someone's lap or a chair of your own.

~ You know your colors and animals.

~ Hardly ever do you give out kisses... to anyone.

~ You are trying to dress yourself and you love to wear mommy's bracelets. In fact, you also like to carry around her make-up brushes, but you hate wearing a bow in your hair. Go figure!

~ This past week you had yellow curry for dinner and liked it. Your father and I thought this was very funny. We are lucky to have such a good eater.

~ And most amazingly, during this past month your speech has exploded! New words include: Ella, I did it, potty, snow (just today), flower, house, purple, blue, red, boot, catch, rice, scarf, and turtle.

You amaze us everyday. And we love you beyond any words could possibly describe.
XOXOX,
Mommy and Daddy

Grammy

2011-02-23T20:03:00.000-08:00

Dear Grammy,

I miss you. You have only been gone five days, but I really liked when you were here. You helped teach me my colors. (By the way, I can say purple VERY clearly now.) You got me started on the potty and you looked at endless books and magazines with me. You even let mommy and daddy getaway for the night and we had a girls' weekend.

I can't wait to see you in Florida. I have been practicing my swimming so we can go in the pool. And tell Grampy that I hope to eat lots of ice cream.

XoXoX,
Ella

Grammy, I love you like I loved the cake at Riley and Tyson's party!

Just LIke Mommy .... and Daddy, for that Matter

2011-02-16T20:54:00.000-08:00

Ella got a package in the mail today.

And since it was not her birthday, a gift-giving holiday, or a package that I ordered, we were unsure of its contents.

But as soon as Miss Ella saw it, she had to put it on.

It was "Pretty" and she could hardly contain herself while we took off the tags.

To expedite the process, Ella proceeded to take off her vest.

She thought she was pretty hot stuff.

A Big Fat Boo-Boo

2011-02-08T19:49:00.000-08:00

Check out the egg right between Ella's eyes. I guess when one bang's their head into the wood coffee table something has to pay. Sadly, this time it was Ella's sweet little noggin'. Poor baby.

Ignore the pasta-face....

It's Been Awhile

2011-01-31T20:59:00.000-08:00

My mommy has STUNK at blogging lately. She might blame it on grading papers or maybe her New Year's Resolution to cook dinner more or even the fact that she is pregnant. But nope, I will let you in on a secret. My mommy has just been L-A-Z-Y!

And all the while she was ignoring the blog I have been climbing new mountains, learning new things, and acting cute. Take a look!

I had my first taste of pudding and LOVED it!

I wore a bow for more than .2 seconds and started wearing stickers.

I've improved on my swimming skills.

I like to sit like a big girl in a big girl chair.

And I just got a new potty.... TODAY.

I have been reading my potty books.

And not only do I read board books, but I also read daddy's flight manuals.

A Few of Ella's Favorite Things

2011-01-15T15:56:00.000-08:00

6. Spaghetti and Cheese (not necessarily together)

5. Baths

4. Gymboree Class

3. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Biscuit

2. Sesame Street

1. Riding in the Car

Sunday, Fun Day

2011-01-09T20:58:00.000-08:00

Dear Readers~

Today was one of those days that just can't be beaten. I mean, seriously, it was SOOO fun. Put it this way, any day that starts with breakfast at IHOP is off to a good start, but when you toss in a new dress and bathing suit plus swim lessons, it becomes one of the best days ever!

Today was my first swim lesson and I was not even scared. Mommy and daddy actually got me to lessons EARLY and then I had to wait a good 10 minutes before even being allowed in the pool. That was torture; as soon as I saw the water I wanted in. It took everything I had to be patient, but I managed. Barely.

Swim lessons were the best. We blew bubbles in the water and although I put my face in the water constantly and willingly, the bubbles thing is little bit difficult for me. Maybe next week I will get that down. I am, however, a master splasher. And I even went all the way underwater! I was the only baby in the whole class who was ready for this major feat and I did not even cry! Mommy was so proud.

xoxo,
ELLA

Before and After

2011-01-05T20:30:00.000-08:00

This is an old picture. I want you to notice the box of toys in the background. It looks overflowing, but most of those toys were rattles, plush dolls, teethers, and other baby toys that have since been put away.

Until Christmas all the toys Ella owned were in that bin. Our TV room was neat and I had no idea that she was lacking in toys. After all, she liked to look at books most of all.

Then we started going on play dates. And I became embarrassed. Ella's toy selection was seriously pitiful.

Then it was Christmas. And we had a toy explosion. There are toys EVERYWHERE. And I have learned, rather quickly, that the more toys you have, the more toys you have to pick up.

No we have a tent. And a kitchen. And Little People. And magnets. And Crayons. And Playdough. And new books. Lots of variety. Lots of imagination and age-appropriate interaction.

And a BIG MESS to clean up every. single. night.

18 Month Stats....

2011-01-05T20:19:00.000-08:00

Ella turned 18 months on NOVEMBER 24 and that was over a month and a half ago! I have been meaning to publish her stats ever since, but as you know, I have been a very bad blogger. And since I am afraid my mother will disown me, I have decided to get back on the blogging train.

Height: 34.5" (98.8 %) According to the doctor and based on her stats, Ella will likely be between 5'9 and 5'10. Combine that height with her left handedness we may have a future volleyball player on our hands.... Right side maybe or setter in the making?

Weight: 27 lb 6 oz (86.2%)

Head Circumference: 19.02" (90.51%)

This Warms My Heart

2011-01-05T20:04:00.000-08:00

I stole this from BabySauce, a blog of Ryan's cousin. It warms my heart. Ryan might not have a guitar or much of a singing voice (although I can't sing or even tap my foot to a beat, so I can't talk), but he has an unbelievable bond with Missy Moo. The love between a father and a daughter is something special.

Cheese!

2010-12-27T16:16:00.000-08:00

This is what 19 months looks like. This is what being sick with a virus looks like. This is what Ella and Daddy looked like on Christmas Eve.

How I Eat My Hamburger

2010-12-15T21:14:00.000-08:00

First, I eat all of my french fries with lots of ketchup. You can't blame me here because I rarely get fries. Usually I am stuck with carrots, peas, corn or some other vegetables. And when I do get fries, they are the baked kind, not the yummy delicious fried goodness that causes mommy to have guilt.

Then I move on to my tomato. You can see that I really enjoyed my ketchup.

And lastly, I eat my burger and bun.

Tummy Tickling

2010-12-12T00:03:00.000-08:00

Dear Santa,

2010-12-02T12:49:00.000-08:00

Dear Santa,

   I am sorry I was terrified while sitting on your lap. You have to understand, I rarely am thrust onto the lap of a stranger and I was a little bit nervous. After all, you are also famous. I recognize you from my many books and the decorations my mommy has displayed around the house. You did notice that I did not cry, right? Yes, I whined, but that was all. Mommy and daddy actually thought the visit was a success, but I wanted to double check with you because it is you that decides whether I am naughty or nice.

   Speaking of naughty or nice, you did watch me while we ate at Red Robin? I was SO good. Mommy and daddy actually said it was our most successful dinner out yet. You saw that, right? And you did notice that after I got off your lap, I was very friendly and happy to be near you, right? You saw me wave to you? And did you get the kiss I blew you? I hope you heard me say, "Ho, ho, ho." I said it with a lot of gusto, but the mall was quite loud.

  Also, thank you very much for the candy cane. I did not even pitch a fit when it was taken away from me, even though I figured out it was a treat. I was a very good girl. I hope you agree.

xoxoxo,
Ella

Busted Lip and Bangs

2010-12-01T09:20:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was quite the day for Ella. She fell and busted her lip. I was not there, but I imagine she did quite a number because when I got home her upper lip mirrored Angelina Jolie's. And as you can imagine, no mother wants that for her daughter, at least I don't. Besides the fat lip, she had a scab and was not in the jolliest of moods. It was one of the days.

Daddy took the picture while I was getting a haircut, just to appease me.

Then Ella (and the rest of the family) got haircuts yesterday. Ella had a fit when we had to leave the hairbrush behind. I mean, tears and all. Like streaming down her face. After that fit I can only imagine what she was like immediately after she fell. Poor baby.

After all that, we ran to the library to check out a book appropriately titled Positive Discipline and Your Toddler.

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-27T21:20:00.000-08:00

Taking a Thanksgiving picture this year was a struggle. This is the best we could do:

Shopping Intervention

2010-11-24T12:32:00.000-08:00

Warning: being a mom to a little girl can be expensive. You must have good willpower not to go flat out broke. Seriously.

Who can say no to this sweater vest from Gymboree and its matching skirt?

Or what about this elephant dress?

I surely couldn't. Nor could I leave the store without the 6 other items Ella just had to have! And Ella did not seem to mind either!

Best. Lunch. Ever.

2010-11-22T21:05:00.000-08:00

Mommy, I LOVE peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. They are my favorite!

Daylight Savings Is for the Birds

2010-11-07T18:56:00.000-08:00

Daylight Savings is for the birds. Ryan, Ella and I all agree. In fact, I want to go to bed now and it is 6:52 pm. And Ella nearly had a melt down with the kooky schedule. Whoever thought of Daylight Savings obviously did not have a toddler at home at the time!

So Worldly

2010-11-05T18:28:00.000-07:00

When you have slippers from Greece (thanks Aunt Gillian and Uncle Brett), you automatically gain street credit, and you have comfy slippers to boot!

Psst.....

2010-11-04T14:57:00.000-07:00

Psst....

This is what I do as soon as mommy turns her back....

And believe it or not, I even stand in the drawer, although I am not sure if I will do that again anytime soon. I *might* have learned my lesson when I fell and bumped my head. On second thought, it didn't hurt *that* much!

Happy Halloween

2010-11-02T07:48:00.001-07:00

Happy Halloween from the Cutest Duck... Ever.

Ella's Big News

2010-10-28T19:22:00.000-07:00

Ella would like everyone to know that she is going to be a big sister this coming May. And although she is not happy about sharing her birth month, her toys, or her parents, we are confident that she will be a wonderful sister.... eventually.

You Know You Are Pregnant When....

2010-10-28T19:17:00.000-07:00

You know you are pregnant when the vegetables you have been avoiding for the past three weeks all of a sudden sound delicious. So delicious in fact, that for dinner you choose to consume an entire plate of raw carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower with a side of ranch.

Then, while having a tough time falling asleep you think, "Well, maybe I am hungry."

So you go downstairs and consume a bowl (or two) or pesto pasta, mushrooms, and sun-dried tomatoes with a tall glass of apple juice. Gross!

Another Ella Talent

2010-10-27T19:42:00.000-07:00

It is no secret that my daughter is talented.
I mean, she CAN point to almost all of her body parts when asked.
She CAN make almost any animal sound.
She is also a great decorator.

I guess she thought my kitchen floors needed a little sprucing up!

Our Adventure to the Roloff Farms

2010-10-17T20:12:00.000-07:00

This is the one minute I sat still while at the pumpkin patch. There was just too much to see and do!

I had a conversation with the ponies and kept saying "Neigh, neigh." However, the stubborn ponies just ignored me.

Mommy and me.

Exploring. You can tell that we must have been the LAST family on the face of the earth to arrive at the Roloff Farms. Pumpkin picking was pretty slim. But, don't worry. I have a nice 23 pound pumpkin that looks just perfect on our front steps.

Trend Alert

2010-10-15T19:33:00.000-07:00

New trend alert! Ella has made layering bibs the new "in" style. According to this fashionista, the more bibs, the better!

New Shoes

2010-10-13T19:59:00.000-07:00

I have a "thing" for shoes. When I had discretionary income I would often buy myself a cute pair of heels or a swanky pair of boots. That was before baby and before new house, both of which I would rather have than spending money!

Like these. Aren't they cute?

Times sure have changed. Now my discretionary income is minimal so no new boots or heels for me. But that is okay. Instead I get to indulge my daughter in new shoes since she actually needs shoes.
And because I am still a shoe snob, Ella gets adorable See Kai Run shoes. After all, foot development is really important and Ella has pretty complicated Flinstone feet.

Carley by See Kai Run

Gemma by See Kai Run

And don't feel too bad for me, I did manage to get two new pairs of shoes this past weekend, but they are not nearly as cute as Ella's new kicks!

Just Practicing

2010-10-11T20:02:00.000-07:00

MY QUACK!

Grandpa's Pasta

2010-10-11T20:00:00.000-07:00

I L-O-V-E pasta! And I must say, I am a lucky girl because both my Grandpa and Grampy AND my mommy makes delicious pasta.

Obviously I love pasta because it is yummy.

But I also love pasta because it guarantees me a bath!

Too Cute to Pass Up

2010-10-07T20:40:00.000-07:00

So, I am one of the few people who actually *LOVE* all things Christmas, even in October. In fact, it might be because of me that holiday decor is already in the stores. Already I am thisclose to ordering outdoor sconces to flank the garage (I already contacted customer service with my questions), have scoured the Christmas card designs on Shutterfly, and have bought Ella a Christmas dress. It was just too cute to pass up!

Sunday= Special Breakfast Day

2010-10-04T20:06:00.000-07:00

Growing up I remember my dad making a special breakfast on Sunday. Sometimes it was french toast or maybe it was eggs, or more likely, both french toast and eggs. Regardless, it was the best thing about Sunday morning. I like to make Sunday mornings a little special around here too.

This past weekend I made Ella strawberry- banana pancakes. And I must admit, they were pretty delicious. Ella also gave me her seal of approval with a few, "More, mores." And THREE kisses before she was even finished eating! For those of you who don't know, Ella is a very stingy kisser.

Looks like strawberry-banana pancakes will be on the menu again next Sunday!

BOOM BOOM

2010-10-04T20:00:00.000-07:00

Ryan made stew for dinner tonight.
I know, I know. He IS husband of the year!
And while Ella was eating hers, we were all gathered around the table watching and talking.
Surprisingly her little body let out two very loud (for lack of a better word) farts.
Ryan and I looked at other in dismay.
And Ella very proudly sang, "Boom, boom!"

Competitive Moms.....

2010-10-04T15:08:00.000-07:00

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Thanks, Ali. I had to share....

Forced Hiatus

2010-10-04T13:25:00.000-07:00

BLISS has been shut down for the past 5 days. But, have no fear, the hubs is back in town with the camera. Accidently it was left in the diaper bag that was left in the car that was then parked at the airport all this time. Welcome home, camera, welcome home.

Purty Girl

2010-09-22T20:26:00.000-07:00

Today Ella went to the salon and got her hair did. This salon was a little girl's dream complete with a pink cadillac, great decor, and a fun ambiance.

And because I am sure the video is not enough, check out the pictures~

Viola! Purty, purty girl!

My Weekend Review

2010-09-20T19:50:00.000-07:00

Dear Loyal Followers,

I had quite the weekend! First, Grammy flew in to town so I have been getting LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of extra attention. Plus, she brought me books and more books. Have I told you that books are my FAVORITE? I like to read them, have them read to me, carry them around, sleep with them, read them in the car, talk about the pictures, point out all the ducks and dogs, and every once in awhile chew a corner or two. Having new material to read will be grand. After all, I was getting quite bored of my selection.

This weekend I went to GYMBOREE class with teacher Britnee. I was a STAR. In fact, I ran around after the little boys collected all the balls to put them back in the bin. It was my favorite activity. I even liked picking up more than bubbles, parachute time, climbing the obstacle course, and singing to JIMBO the Clown. Besides being the best picker-upper, I was also the best dressed at Gymboree.

And the fun did not stop there. On Sunday, my bestie, Keira, came over to play. We had pizza and played very well together. That is, until I pulled her hair. I felt bad, but Keira put me in my place. She said, " NICE." I am working on doing nice by gently touching people. I had fun and I did fairly well sharing my toys.

It was a great weekend!

xoxox,
Missy Moo

One Year Ago...

2010-09-17T09:42:00.000-07:00

One year ago today Ella and I were on our way to NY... It was our first big adventure together, but I had no idea that when it came to flying, it was only going to get MORE DIFFICULT!

So Not a Baby Anymore

2010-09-14T20:53:00.000-07:00

This picture just kills me. When I took it and looked at it my first thought was, "Sigh, Ella looks like a toddler." Gone are her tiny baby features, the super pudgy cheeks, the undefined knuckles, and the roly-poly thighs. Okay, the roly-poly thighs are still roly-poly, but they are, well, less roly-poly. Her hair is SO not baby anymore. In fact, her mullet needs shaping and her bangs need a trim. But as cliche as it sounds, Ella will always be my baby girl.

Is This MY Daughter???

2010-09-12T13:10:00.000-07:00

Ella is a go get 'em type of gal. She is a good sleeper, but when she is awake, she is constantly on the go. So I was a bit surprised yesterday when I saw her lie down on the floor. One can only assume that her first visit to GYMBOREE tired her out.

Evidence #1

Evidence #2

Plus, Missy Moo took a THREE hour nap! But who can blame her? She ran, and climbed, and bounced, and danced, and clapped, and giggled, and crawled, and chased, and played with the parachute! But, silly momma forgot her camera. Next week, next week.

Back On Track

2010-09-08T20:24:00.000-07:00

During the last week....

School started
Ella got sick and had a 101.3 fever AND puked on me
Missy Moo and I had another great adventure and flew to Boston to meet Ryan for a wedding
But had a blow-out on the plane which resulted in plastic bag filled with soiled clothes and MY shirt
We destroyed Jerry and Jessie's house
We interrupted S & P routines but played until hearts were happy
Visited with old friends at a BBQ
Cut a rug at Brad and SLE's wedding
Spent the night child-free while Ella was with Grammy and Grampy
Flew back home while Ella put up a stink
Arrived home in time to get some shut eye just in time to greet my new class of 31 kiddos

Back To School Shopping

2010-08-31T21:10:00.000-07:00

This past week Ella and I did a little Back To School Shopping. After all, she DOES have quite the reputation for being the best dressed little girl in the state. She made out like a bandit with
~ 3 dresses
~ 3 shirts
~ 2 Cardigans
~ 1 pair of jeans
~ pair of tights
~ 2 pants

all for $55.00! In fact, we had a total saving of $75.00.

Old Navy, you just might be my favorite store for baby clothes!

Report Card~ Summer To- DO List

2010-08-28T19:23:00.000-07:00

Now that summer vacation is over, it is time for my Summer Report Card

The countdown is officially on! Well, to be honest with you, the countdown has been on for a long time, but now we are down to only F-O-U-R more days of school until SUMMER VACATION! And I am stoked. Students don't realize that teachers are just as excited, if not more excited about vacation than they are, this teacher especially.

With summer vacation lurking around the corner, I thought we should make a to-do list. After all, we want to make the most of summer!

1. Pick strawberries. Never happened. I did, however, EAT strawberries.
2. Use the strawberries to make jam. Nope. No jam. Although that might be a good thing. Do you know how much sugar is in jam? Because if I made the jam, then I would eat the jam and the jam would end up on my waist and that would be bad.
3. Take early morning walk(s) Yes! And I am going to try to keep this up when Ry is home before work. We shall see.
4. Play barefoot outside Easy when your backyard is fake grass.
5. Be a regular at the ZOO We went weekly. In fact, we went today. Ella and I ROCKED the zoo.
6. Blow bubbles with Ella I blew bubbles AT Ella. She was amused for .5 seconds.
7. Find the best Farmer's Market We went to one Farmer's Markets several times. Therefor, it won my "BEST FARMER'S MARKET AWARD".
8. Hike at least 4 new- to- us trails We failed miserably at this.
9. Go on a picnic Yes. We had a picnic at the beach with Grandma and Grandpa. Ella had her first hot dog.
10. Attend at least one music in the park event Nope and I am sad about this.
11. Make s'mores on the beach Does in a house ON the beach count?
12. Take Ella on the train at Seaside Yuppers! She actually went on twice~ once with me, and once with Uncle Brett, Grandma and her dad.
13. Walk the water loop downtown Yes, we even had pizza.
14. Take Ella to the wading pool at the park Three times, although she is a little young for it.
15. Drink sangria at happy hour With Jeff and Erica at Manzana
16. Find my cooking groove more than normal... just made baked ziti
17. Run for fun... (will this ever happen) once and it really was not fun
18. Go out for ice cream we are THE BEST at this...
19. Take Ella to Friendly's Sad. I wanted her to have an upside down cone face. We never made it there while in NY
20. Enjoy the sounds of the crickets Gosh, they are loud.
21. Cook out Of course.
22. Visit OAKS Park ANd rode the Merry-Go-Round with Daddy

PHEW! We have a lot to do this summer and I can't wait!

Saturday Night

2010-08-28T19:06:00.000-07:00

Ella and I did what most good girls do on this Saturday night....

we washed our hair (and ate few bubbles)!

Tear....

2010-08-28T18:54:00.000-07:00

Where did summer go? Seriously? I remember waking up on the first day of break thinking, "What ~~am I~~ are we going to do today?" It was hard to imagine blank days, days with no where to go, no where to be and no decided lunch time. I must admit, it was a little overwhelming at first. I wanted to stimulate my daughter, teach her things, and provide her with social and educational opportunities, but my database of these outings were limited. After all, being a working mom and a stay at home mom are two totally different ball games. And this is where the mother's guilt sets in as I have a confession. I like my job and there is a very slight chance I may be looking forward to returning to work.

The more I think about it, the more I realize that I might just be looking forward to wearing my new first day outfit, catching up with colleagues, and feeling like I have somewhere to go. After all, I have a little girl that needs me to provide social and educational opportunities, and as much I would like to believe it, I am not superwoman.

Michael Phelps ... Watch Out!

2010-08-23T19:46:00.000-07:00

Michael Phelps, watch out! Ella is developing quite the love of water and I fear that sooner or later she will be able to take you, and any anyone else for that matter, on. Here is the evidence from our Cousin's Weekend trip at the Lake House.

Testing the water

Notice the LIFE JACKET, Dad. No need to worry.....

She kept jumping backwards because she wanted to float. She loved it, I promise.

Waist deep in the lake

"Daddy, I DON'T wanna get out! I am NOT hungry! That was SO fun!"
All smiles....

FYI ...

2010-08-23T19:26:00.000-07:00

If you remember this post, you would not be surprised to learn that the hubs and I caved and purchased Missy Moo's very own ticket for our December trip. The stress of it was already keeping me up at night.

2010-08-18T20:20:00.000-07:00

A LIttle Bit of This and That

2010-08-18T20:05:00.000-07:00

Summer is a carousel ride with daddy.

Summer is a Starbucks run with our good (and pregnant) friend Michelle.

Summer is a zoo trip with cousin Lindsey.

Summer is a balloon and lunch date with mommy at Burgerville.

Summer is a playdate with Keira.