My baby girl

My baby girl is 18 months old today.  That's a Year and a Half.  That's 6 months shy of turning 2. 

That's unbelievable. 

I can remember so much about her birth, but her first year is a little more hazy than I last remembered.  I am so thankful that I have photographs to remind me of her tininess, her innocence, how much she has grown.

I love watching Ella Beth smile.  Laugh.  Play.  Learn.

 

She has been such an amazing gift to me.  I can't believe 18 months have passed since she became my baby girl.  I can't remember life without her in it.

Being a mother, being Ella Beth's mother, is such a special blessing.

(Stats from her doctor's appointment today:  Weight - 18 lbs, 8 oz/ not on chart% ;  Height - 31"/ 30%)

Proud moment

No pictures for this post, just a little pride. :)

Today, Ella Beth and I went over to our friend Julie's house to play.  Ella Beth has generally been a very shy little one who doesn't venture far from Mommy; even around people we know well.  Today, however, was a little different.

Ella Beth played, played, played with her new friends Joey and Mac.  Ella Beth acted timid for maybe the first 5 minutes we were there, and then after that she was very out-going.  I am so proud of her!  When Mac's friend, Jace, came over to play we all went downstairs to the play room.  Ella Beth found lots of fun things to get into.  She would venture off and play, and then she would come "check" on ME every once in a while.  I never had to check on her.  She never fussed, acted scared, or anything! 

Most of you know that Ella Beth is an extreme Mommy's girl, so usually our play-dates involve a lot of Mommy playing with Ella Beth.  Not today!  Today, Mommy got to enjoy a reasonable amount of adult conversation and interaction.  Such a nice surprise.  Now, don't go thinking we just left the kids alone to themselves; we were always in the same room.  But, Ella Beth really enjoyed herself.  She even let Mac pull her pants up over and over again!  (Ella Beth has finally moved into 12-18 month pants b/c her 6-12 month pants are too short; however, they don't stay up so well!)  Mac would just say, "Your pants are falling down," and Ella Beth would stand still long enough for him to hike 'em up!  It was too cute!

Okay, so maybe you don't appreciate my pride in Ella Beth the way I do, but today was a bit of a milestone for Ella Beth.  Hopefully, this means that she will be a little more out-going for lots of play-dates in the future.  Or at least maybe when Landon comes she will occupy herself a bit more while I'm nursing/changing his diaper/etc.  Crossing my fingers!!!

Proud moment

No pictures for this post, just a little pride. :)

Today, Ella Beth and I went over to our friend Julie's house to play.  Ella Beth has generally been a very shy little one who doesn't venture far from Mommy; even around people we know well.  Today, however, was a little different.

Ella Beth played, played, played with her new friends Joey and Mac.  Ella Beth acted timid for maybe the first 5 minutes we were there, and then after that she was very out-going.  I am so proud of her!  When Mac's friend, Jace, came over to play we all went downstairs to the play room.  Ella Beth found lots of fun things to get into.  She would venture off and play, and then she would come "check" on ME every once in a while.  I never had to check on her.  She never fussed, acted scared, or anything! 

Most of you know that Ella Beth is an extreme Mommy's girl, so usually our play-dates involve a lot of Mommy playing with Ella Beth.  Not today!  Today, Mommy got to enjoy a reasonable amount of adult conversation and interaction.  Such a nice surprise.  Now, don't go thinking we just left the kids alone to themselves; we were always in the same room.  But, Ella Beth really enjoyed herself.  She even let Mac pull her pants up over and over again!  (Ella Beth has finally moved into 12-18 month pants b/c her 6-12 month pants are too short; however, they don't stay up so well!)  Mac would just say, "Your pants are falling down," and Ella Beth would stand still long enough for him to hike 'em up!  It was too cute!

Okay, so maybe you don't appreciate my pride in Ella Beth the way I do, but today was a bit of a milestone for Ella Beth.  Hopefully, this means that she will be a little more out-going for lots of play-dates in the future.  Or at least maybe when Landon comes she will occupy herself a bit more while I'm nursing/changing his diaper/etc.  Crossing my fingers!!!

New Favorites

Ella Beth is really coming in to herself these days. She has, in fact, become very girly lately. One of her new found favorites is DRESSES. When we ask her what she wants to wear in the morning, she always responds wtih, "Dress!" She will go to her closet and have us pull down a few dresses (we always give her three choices of dresses), and she will choose which one she wants to wear. But, it doesn't just stop with the dress. I mean, what would a dress be without tights! She loves to pick out her tights...I always try to lead her in this direction! From there, she will (so far) let me pick out what goes under the dress (thankfully)! Here is Ella Beth in her "pretty dress" (as she called it) yesterday.

You'll also notice one of Ella Beth's other new favorites...Landon's rocker. She loves to climb up in it and sing "Rock-a-bye Baby" over and over!

Ella Beth has also started playing in her room a good deal more. She loves to climb into the stuffed chair in her own room just like Landon's. We moved her kitchen into her bedroom, and she will go in there and play, play, play! While she's been in there, she's also taken notice of her stuffed animals...that have been there BEFORE she was even born! She now likes to talk to them, sit them in rows, and give them hugs and kisses.

I also have a couple of new favorites lately: cookies 'n cream ice cream and hot tea. Yum-O! (No pictures to share for these. Ha!)

On a side note, I've been trying for well over an hour to figure out how to post the music to Son Of God. Well, it turns out that my internet "Safari" (through Mac) isn't supported on Type Pad. If there is a way, I'll figure it out...but until then...sorry!

New Favorites

Ella Beth is really coming in to herself these days. She has, in fact, become very girly lately. One of her new found favorites is DRESSES. When we ask her what she wants to wear in the morning, she always responds wtih, "Dress!" She will go to her closet and have us pull down a few dresses (we always give her three choices of dresses), and she will choose which one she wants to wear. But, it doesn't just stop with the dress. I mean, what would a dress be without tights! She loves to pick out her tights...I always try to lead her in this direction! From there, she will (so far) let me pick out what goes under the dress (thankfully)! Here is Ella Beth in her "pretty dress" (as she called it) yesterday.

You'll also notice one of Ella Beth's other new favorites...Landon's rocker. She loves to climb up in it and sing "Rock-a-bye Baby" over and over!

Ella Beth has also started playing in her room a good deal more. She loves to climb into the stuffed chair in her own room just like Landon's. We moved her kitchen into her bedroom, and she will go in there and play, play, play! While she's been in there, she's also taken notice of her stuffed animals...that have been there BEFORE she was even born! She now likes to talk to them, sit them in rows, and give them hugs and kisses.

I also have a couple of new favorites lately: cookies 'n cream ice cream and hot tea. Yum-O! (No pictures to share for these. Ha!)

On a side note, I've been trying for well over an hour to figure out how to post the music to Son Of God. Well, it turns out that my internet "Safari" (through Mac) isn't supported on Type Pad. If there is a way, I'll figure it out...but until then...sorry!

Sweet surprise

So today when I got home from meeting my friend Noelle and her little boy Carter for lunch, I found a very sweet surprise in Landon's nursery:

Isn't it just beautiful?!! I love it! My mom and I found one at Lowe's over the weekend, but it was not in good condition. I thought that I was going to have to give up on having a black rocking chair in Landon's room...but thanks to Daddy, I now have a sweet spot to nurse and rock Landon. The main reason I wanted a rocking chair is so that I could always have it. I know that when he gets bigger he won't appreciate having a nice chair in his room like Ella Beth will, so I wanted something practical that could easily move from one room to another. The rocking chair is very comfortable, too, which is always a nice plus. :) I'm just so happy to have it in his nursery. Even without his furniture here, it still makes it feel a bit more cozy.

Well, since I haven't been one to share any postitives of my pregnancy (mainly because I didn't think there were any), I'm going to share 3. THREE. Yes, three! That's a lot of positives from this little lady who doesn't like being pregnant!

1. I have no back pain. With Ella Beth I had severe back pain all through my pregnancy b/c Ella Beth rested right on my sciatic nerve from day one. I remember how hard it was putting a towel on my head each morning to dry my hair, but now I do it daily with appreciation of the fact that it doesn't hurt.

2. I don't have a dark line down my belly. Even after Ella Beth was born, my line hung out for about 3 months. I was really starting to worry that it would never go away. Not this time!

3. I really do enjoy feeling Landon move...well, most of the time. You know, except when I am trying to fall asleep and he decides to start doing gymnastics! It's completely weird to say this, but I even have a fondness for the bruise on the inside of my lower left rib. Landon is constantly kicking/stretching out in the same spot that I seriously have a bruise. Even though it's uncomfortable, I still like knowing that he has a special little spot.

Wow. That was good for me. Now, I still can't wait to meet the little guy; still crossing my fingers that it will be sooner than later, too. But, at least I have a few (three!) good memories to keep with me.

And, what would a post be without a picture of Ella Beth. Here she is eating a snack in Landon's room while Mommy got a few things done (who ever knew that a highchair on wheels would be so handy?). Such a goofy face, but it makes me smile. :)

Sweet surprise

So today when I got home from meeting my friend Noelle and her little boy Carter for lunch, I found a very sweet surprise in Landon's nursery:

Isn't it just beautiful?!! I love it! My mom and I found one at Lowe's over the weekend, but it was not in good condition. I thought that I was going to have to give up on having a black rocking chair in Landon's room...but thanks to Daddy, I now have a sweet spot to nurse and rock Landon. The main reason I wanted a rocking chair is so that I could always have it. I know that when he gets bigger he won't appreciate having a nice chair in his room like Ella Beth will, so I wanted something practical that could easily move from one room to another. The rocking chair is very comfortable, too, which is always a nice plus. :) I'm just so happy to have it in his nursery. Even without his furniture here, it still makes it feel a bit more cozy.

Well, since I haven't been one to share any postitives of my pregnancy (mainly because I didn't think there were any), I'm going to share 3. THREE. Yes, three! That's a lot of positives from this little lady who doesn't like being pregnant!

1. I have no back pain. With Ella Beth I had severe back pain all through my pregnancy b/c Ella Beth rested right on my sciatic nerve from day one. I remember how hard it was putting a towel on my head each morning to dry my hair, but now I do it daily with appreciation of the fact that it doesn't hurt.

2. I don't have a dark line down my belly. Even after Ella Beth was born, my line hung out for about 3 months. I was really starting to worry that it would never go away. Not this time!

3. I really do enjoy feeling Landon move...well, most of the time. You know, except when I am trying to fall asleep and he decides to start doing gymnastics! It's completely weird to say this, but I even have a fondness for the bruise on the inside of my lower left rib. Landon is constantly kicking/stretching out in the same spot that I seriously have a bruise. Even though it's uncomfortable, I still like knowing that he has a special little spot.

Wow. That was good for me. Now, I still can't wait to meet the little guy; still crossing my fingers that it will be sooner than later, too. But, at least I have a few (three!) good memories to keep with me.

And, what would a post be without a picture of Ella Beth. Here she is eating a snack in Landon's room while Mommy got a few things done (who ever knew that a highchair on wheels would be so handy?). Such a goofy face, but it makes me smile. :)