Our friend and old neighbor took these pictures for us and we couldn't be happier. She also took the ones on the post below. I uploaded the edited pictures so you should peek at them again too. THANKS ANNETTE!
Today one of the women I used to teach with called and asked if I can watch her little boy tomorrow. During the conversation she asked if I like how things are going this year, referring to staying home and no longer teaching. It has made me think about how much I love being home with Ella.
I do not miss feeling rushed in the mornings. I do not miss worrying about Ella. I used to worry I might miss something (like her first laugh or her first steps- oh wait, I did). Fortunately once I went part time I didn't feel much guilt. Even though staying home isn't always easy, I don't regret it. I never wish I could drop her off and go to work. I feel really fortunate that I get to be home with her. I had unrealistic ideas about being home. I thought I would have a lot more time to work on projects, but that isn't true. I'm busy taking care of Ella. Some days it is hard to just get a shower and dinner made. I do enjoy the flexibility of my new schedule though. I love that I can choose to just stay home and spend every minute with Ella, or that I can go have lunch or visit with friends and neighbors. I love that I have the time to focus on what matters most- my family. Ella is only 19 months old and it is already hard to remember when she was a little baby. It goes so fast, as cliche as it is to say, it is so true. I'm so glad I get to be with her. She means the world to me.
Our next big projects have been in the kitchen. This is what it looked like when we first moved in.
Right away we contracted someone to build us an island. While that was being built we added hardware to the cabinets and drawers. Once the island was built we had black granite counter tops installed.
Our next kitchen projects will be painting the cabinets white and putting in dark wood floors. Who knows how long it will be before we can afford to make those changes though because we've got a whole lot of dirt that needs to be cultivated! Our next focus will be on the yard. We need to put it in next summer so every penny will be saved for that HUGE project.
We have had a great weekend. Busy, but great. On Thursday Gustavo and I went up to Salt Lake to watch The Lion King at Capitol Theatre. It was just as incredible as we heard it would be.
Saturday we went to my cousin Mallory's wedding and Sunday we went to Gavin's blessing. This meant we got to spend time with both of our families. Ella was exhausted after each of these events. Everyone got to see what a peach she can be (yes, I'm being sarcastic.) She started screaming while my cousin and her husband were exchanging vows on Saturday and then again during Gavin's blessing. Why was she screaming? No good reason. She just wasn't happy. It is a good thing she is adorable...
My birthday was Sunday and Gustavo got me a Dairy Queen ice cream cake to celebrate. A few of our friends came over that evening. Monday my sweet sister in law took me out to lunch and to the movies. That night I had dinner and pie (my favorite) with my parents and some of my sisters. This has been a wonderful birthday. Once again, I feel so overwhelmed with gratitude for our amazing family and friends. Thanks for thinking of me on my birthday. I love you all!
My little Ella is 18 months old. She is one sassy and demanding little girl! When we went to the doctor for her 18 month visit Ella yelled at everyone and insisted on being right by me the entire time. Dr. Spencer told us she is more anxious than most, but that she is doing great. At the end of the visit after the nurse gave Ella her shots she asked if there was anything else she could do. Ella looked right at her and yelled "NO!" I believe that was the only word she said the entire visit! Here were her measurements: Height: 32.5 in. - 75th percentile
Ella loves clothes and shoes. She looks in her closet every morning and points to her church dresses and says "pretty." One day I picked out an outfit and she started yelling because she wanted to wear something else. She wore what I picked out though, because that seems way to crazy at this young age. She is obsessed with shoes and randomly starts playing with them and asks me to put them on. In the above picture we were getting ready for bed so she was trying to put her pajamas on.
On Ella's first birthday she fell down a full flight of stairs in our town home. I have been overly cautious about stairs ever since so I didn't give her much opportunity to learn until a little camping trip with my family last month. We were staying in cabins that each had a loft space and porches so Ella finally learned how to go up and down stairs.
Ella would suck on her pacifier all day long if I let her. She is only allowed to use it when she is sleeping. Sometimes she tries to trick people and tells them she is sleepy just so she can have her pacifier. One day I noticed Ella was playing really quietly in her room so I went to check on her. I found her hiding behind the rocking chair sucking her pacifier. She also hides when she needs privacy while going to the bathroom or sneaking a treat she shouldn't have (like gum- wrapper and all).
Ella's hair is so crazy! Even though I try to do it I can't figure it out. The right side has curls that will not straighten. I've tried using a flat iron and blowing it dry with a round brush, but it will still not go straight. The left side is stick straight. On top of that, I'm trying to grow her bangs out so this poor girl looks crazy most of the time. I still think she's adorable though!
For the longest time Ella could not figure out how to use a straw. It was so frustrating to her. She would just bite it or even blow into it, but now she can successfully use one! It is very exciting for her.
Ella is a lazy drinker! If someone holds her sippy cup as she starts drinking, she will refuse to take it from them and stop drinking when they let go. She also tries to find ways to prop it up so she doesn't need to hold it. It cracks me up!
The week before school started, my sister Emily called and invited us to go up to the zoo with her family. Since Em wanted to go on a Friday, Gustavo was able to go with us. This was Ella's first trip to the zoo.
Anne, Max, Olivia, Abbey, Ella, and Jane after the bird show.
Ella was so excited when we sat down for the bird show and she saw birds. She kept signing "bird." at that point she was signing it on her forehead, now she signs it correctly by her mouth :)
Baby Zuri was my favorite
Abbey was excited to see the ostriches because someone in her class told her there was a new baby. She was disappointed when we saw there was only one adult and it was "an ugly looking bird."
Gustavo always says the penguins are his favorite.
Ella liked the giraffes best. As soon as she saw them she excitedly yelled "DOGGY."
This huge iguana was just wandering around the reptile house.
We left a little bit sooner than everyone else because Ella was exhausted. She was asleep after only 1 or 2 minutes in the car.
