Just a little update

Ella has started brushing her teeth all by herself. I gave her a big girl toothbrush the other day and she just started copying me and brushing away. I just tell her its time to go brush our teeth, and she gets so excited and says, "Tee" (teeth). She actually seems to be doing a good job all by herself too. She enjoys it so much, she refuses to give me the toothbrush back. Eventually I do have to take the toothbrush away (being the mean mom that I am) because she starts finding other things that need brushing too...like the bathtub or the floor. I just can't wait until she's old enough to help me clean house!

Ella is definitely going to be a chatter box. She is now trying to copy so many of our words and is just amazing us with her vocabulary. She even started copying the letters of the alphabet the other day. Of course John has to come in and confuse her by trying to explain that the letter "W" is just like the letter "M", except it is upside down! Silly dad! John has also been teaching Ella how to play the guitar and she is getting very good at picking at the strings, and just recently learned how to use a pick!

John continues to study all the time (except when he is procrastinating and reading books on how to learn, how to speed read, etc). If he doesn't know how to learn by now, I think he's in big trouble! The bar is now less than 2 weeks away! So its definitely crunch time. And I am getting no computer time at home since he is always on it. So still no new pictures.


If you get a minute, go check out my friend Stephanie's photography page:

http://www.sfisherphotography.com/

She's the one that takes those beautiful pictures of Ella and there are a couple of pictures of Ella on her web page from her last photo shoot. You'll click to her photography page, then galleries at the bottom, then little ones. She's in 2 of the pictures there.

Say a little prayer for John!!!!!!

Finally!

Little miss Ella has finally decided that it is time to walk. She still won't let us help her much with it, but she'll stand up in the middle of the room and toddle over to us, and seems to really be enjoying walking! Of course she still prefers to walk on her knees or crawl, but every day her walking is getting better as she is wanting to walk more. Yesterday John was dropping her off at daycare, and they walked into the room together, and Ella walked from John all the way across the room to her lead teacher Mrs. Laura Lee. She just seems too grown up these days, it is really making me sad!! In the mornings when I am getting ready she'll just hang out in her bean bag chair with her cheerios and sippy cup of milk, watching her cartoons. It just seems like she should still be a little baby!

We left our camera in Wetumpka at Elizabeth's house a couple of weeks ago at Janet's bridal shower, so we haven't been able to take any new pictures lately. But here's a really cute picture of Ella and John's mom taken at the shower:

Way Behind

I am a little behind on the blogging lately. Let's see, Ella got sent home from daycare last week because they thought she had pink eye. Apparently a couple of other kids in her class the prior week had eye infections, but none were confirmed pink eye. Well, Ella's doctor walked in and took one look at her and said, "oh, she's definitely got pink eye in both eyes". So, either those kids need a new pediatrician, those parents are lying so their kids can stay there and they don't have to miss work, or the "eye infection" somehow mutated into pink eye when it reached Ella. Of course the dreaded daycare letter got sent home to everyone, just to let the whole school know that a child in the daycare had been diagnosed with pink eye. Yes, it was Ella. I mean, what's the difference in pink eye and a contagious eye infection? Ahh the joy of daycare germs.

John continues to study for the bar, which is quickly approaching. 5 weeks away! As the bar gets closer and closer, John is doing more and more yard work every day. :) Hey, he has to take a break every once in a while!

Here are just some random recent pictures.....

Do I really have to check this bag?

Eating a green crayon was totally worth it

This is Mike and Deidra's adorable little girl, Mallory.

Mike, just in case Mallory is missing that pacifier, it's here! Ella found it.

Mallory's dad put on quite a show with sparklers.

Dads + Fire = Fun

Here ya go Anne Marie

Apparently John has a lot more free time in the morning than I do, b/c he takes little videos like this from time to time in the morning before he takes her to school.....

and I am willing to bet little Ella didn't get those hands washed before heading off to school.....

Signing Times

I had to post these videos of Ella doing some of her sign language during dinner the other night. It just amazes me just how quickly she has picked up on this. It really shows me just how much more babies really understand before they can actually talk. I am definitely not a fan of letting little babies watch TV, but I have become a fan of these Signing Times videos. It has made eating time much more enjoyable since she can actually communicate what she wants instead of crying or throwing little tantrums.

Eat & More

Milk

Please

All Done

She's also been doing the signs for baby, car, bird, no, book, read, thank you, bath, dog, and want. Some days she'll just start doing a new sign, and John and I will have to go back and watch the video to see what she's trying to tell us!

Knee Walking

I just had to post these short little videos of Ella walking on her knees. She actually is finally taking steps here and there when SHE wants to, but MUCH prefers to crawl and walk on her knees. Supposedly (according to her doctor), the average age to walk is 14 months, but she is so cautious and hates to fall, I am not sure when she'll decide its time to walk full time! So, for now, its knee walking, which is quite entertaining to watch!

At The Farm

Ella enjoyed her Grandmother Bowles, Aunt Janet, and Great-Granddaddy and Great-Grandmother Vogh at the farm recently.

She also enjoyed fireworks, bubbles, a wagon ride, Grandmother Bowles' piano playing, a ride through the woods in a golf cart, hot dogs fresh off the grill, wild plums, playing in the sand, flowers, and DOGS! She will have to go back some time soon.