Our Easter Sunday was a pretty normal Sunday for us. We went to church which I will add Ella has been going to nursery for the last couple months and done great. The first time I dropped her off she cried. At our church you basically just pass your child off through a window…it's nice because of safety reasons but it was hard for Ella the first time because the poor girl had no idea what was going on. As for me, I knew shed be fine, but I won't lie once I got back to my seat there were tears. It's just hard to leave her when there are tears. Like I said, I knew she'd do great…which she did and she loves playing with the toyyyys! This week though, there was a man that was in the nursery…very nice and friendly but that was a little startling for her as well. She cried again as I dropped her off but was fine after probably 2.5 seconds.
She also goes to nursery once a week while I attend a women's Bible study. The ladies there just love Ella. After the first week of that they told me she just played and played and played and played, etc. They said she didn't even say a word because she was too busy playing. The very best part of it all, at both places…is when we pick her up, she is lined up looking up at the window waiting for us to get her…she shouts, "MAMA!" when she sees me peek in! Then the whole way to the car she holds me tight and says Toyyys.
Here's a few pics of my little sweets on Easter.
Little Bunny Foo Foo….that's how I taught her a bunny, I held up two fingers like bunny ears and said little bunny foo-foo. That's how she signs for bunny.
This was the only pic of the three of us we got. Terrible, I know.
She was smelling the flowers. Kinda looks like she's trying to smooch them at the same time, goof!
This dress was the one that Lillias and Bea got her for my shower. You can see it in this post. Thanks again girls!
Here's Ell's Easter basket. She kinda hit the mother load for Easter. Only because we hadn't gotten her anything for the other holidays and I just had gathered a few things over the last few months.
She was so excited waiting for dada to open the blocks!
Sweet girl figuring out how they work.
We had to play outside after church. She always goes and sits on my raised beds. We are starting to sprout! And you can sort of see in the back bed I have a mint take over going on back there. They were actually from the previous people living here. She accidentally composted the mint soil with the rest. Oops. We like mint, just don't need 50 pounds of it! haha
I made the famous sugar cookies to take over to our friends house for brunch. They were a hit, as usual. Why are they so good?!
We took a few pictures after Christmas Eve Service while we were in Florida--notice the beautiful warm weather foilage behind us. I have been going through my memory card photos slowly and getting the good ones edited. Ella is definitely attached to her mama…and honestly I couldn't love it more! It's pretty great…except for when I want to go to the bathroom by myself….haha, never happens. ;)
smoothy face. Ella has been giving real hugs lately. She wraps her little arms around my neck and just holds and pulls herself into me as much as she can. It takes my breath away, it's so precious.
Loving her mama.
I'm pretty sure this is one of my favorite photos of the two of us. I wish Ell was looking at the camera but it's still so good of her!
I love love this one…something vintage about it…not just the edit, her dress reminds me of a vintage nanette dress. I think just because it was a bit short on her. The poor thing is still in 9-12 month clothes and is almost 18 months in this photo.
Yes, it's been almost six months since she turned one but here are a bunch of pictures from her birthday. We've had a lot go on in the last six months but things are finally getting back to normal with our move and daddy being home for hopefully a long time now.
The day of her birthday was a very special day. It was also a little hard for me as we were in temporary living on base with none of our things and none of our family and none of our friends. I had always hoped to throw a 1st birthday party for her….you know me and my party planning ideas. The two of us (me and ella) went shopping and had lunch. Then we waited for dada to get home from flying. We had a donut cake for her…she had a couple bites and decided she like it pretty well. :) We were able to Skype/FaceTime both sets of grandparents in to watch and sing Happy Birthday to her.
Ella got a red swing from her Grandpa and Grandma Bateman. A pull-a-long green frog and a water and sand play table from Grandpa and Gram Gram Wink. Needless to say, in the summers heat down in MS the swing and water play table are great for her. Kyle and I got her a pink car to ride in on walks…which we do at least once EVERY DAY!
Happy Birthday Ella! She was so cute that morning when I got her up.
We taught her to hold up her finger…1 year old!
I made her onesie and her headband. If I had thrown a party it would have been pinks and gold.
Her donut cake.
She was happy.
Wasn't so sure about the fire.
She watched daddy blow them out.
She also got a little people house.
Her in the antique highchair.
the pink car.
The water table.
The swing.
I travelled home to NE for my best friends wedding. Which Ella was apart of too…flower girl, of course. We had a cake at home. Again, a small version of the one I wanted to make for her bday party. It was cute!
The first touch of the cake. She was quiet but didn't really hesitate, too much.
The first lick. It was pretty cute. She liked it.
I think we were all clapping and telling her she could have "more".
yummy!
The smash cake.
Happy Birthday our sweet Ella. We love you so so much and can't imagine our lives without you. You bring so much joy to us each and every day. We couldn't have been more blessed the day you were born. You are truly a gift from God. We love you forever sweet sweet girl. -mama & dada
Happy Halloween from Ella! We didn't dress up again this year but I got her a cute BOO! shirt to wear. It was cuter than any costume I could have put her in, huh?!
boo!
She couldn't wait to get off the front doorstep to walk on the wet cement.
Ella with the outdoor pumpkins.
I don't think you can really tell by this picture but this is a very distressed ella. She wasn't so sure about the scarey trick-or-treaters. After a few doorbell rings this kid had a grip on me so tight it was ridiculous. Poor thing. She would fuss a bit and then say bye after I said bye to the kids but then shake and just plant her head on my shoulder. Long story short our light had to be shut off so I could get her to calm and go night night. I felt bad for turning my light off because our street was pretty busy (for being in a town of like 2 people) but duh, Farah...Ella comes first! :)
