Ella One Year Old

I am over a month late on this post! 

We have enjoyed the last few months with celebrations and lots of activity but we have also had some downtime as well. In the midst of it all I failed to get this blog post up. 

These pictures were taken on Ella's birthday: 

At one year she had not started to walk yet, she really liked pushing things around to practice walking  but wouldn't do it on her own. In this last month she has really taken off and will walk almost everywhere.

It is amazing to watch Ella learn how to respond to commands, it seemed like it happened overnight. Ella can say "mama" and "dada," calls Obie "Buhbuh," occasionally she says "Thank you" and can also say "That" and likes to point when she says it. 

It is so sweet to watch the friendship grown between Obadiah and Ella. of course they get mad at each other as well, but they can be so loving to each other. 

On the day Ella turned one we had a small party for her and it was such a nice time to celebrate her life and all the Lord has done this year. 

Its hard to believe we were in Uganda for her birth. This year has gone by way to fast if you ask me. 

Ella continues to show a cheerful disposition, and has a balance of wanting to play with others but is also fine doing her own thing sometimes. She can be pretty bent on her own way, she loves to wave at strangers in the grocery store. When she turned one she only had 4 teeth but in this last month has cut another one on the top and as I type this another upper tooth is trying to break through. She is in the 100th percentile for height and in the 50th percentile in weight. Ella gets so excited when her daddy comes home and she gives the best hugs. 

We are overjoyed watching her grow and learn so many new things. Our continued prayer for her is that she would be set apart for the work of the LORD. 

Ella - Eleven Months

Little Ella has us laughing so much these days. Her spunk and her sass can be so cute, we will see if it stays that way. She doesn't seem to eager to walk but has started to hold herself steady to stand all by herself and can go for about 30 seconds. 

This is her face when Kyle crouched down next to me as I took the pictures. She is pretty affectionate and gives good hugs and kisses. 

Many people comment on her courageousness, especially when we are at the park. She crawls as fast as she can to the slides and tries to go down them before we can catch her. 

She is starting to express her dislike of certain foods. She will protest at the table and has started really screaming to get her way. She got her first ear infection and was on antibiotics for it, but was only out of sorts for a few days. Ella had a lot of time with cousins and aunts and uncles this last month as both Kyle's sister and brother and their families came to visit. She calls for "Da-da" and "Buh-Buh" and occasionally uses "Ma-ma." She knows where her belly is and her tongue and also can point to noses.

Obie is really a fun little boy and enjoys taking care of Ella whenever he can. He had such a great time with his cousins. He likes fire trucks and police cars and anything having to do with construction. He is a good little helper to both mom and dad. 

Ella - Ten Months

These last ten months have gone by so fast, it is hard to believe we left Uganda when Ella was just 7 weeks old. It seems like so much has happened since then, I am thankful for ways to document a little of what is happening in Ella's life. 

In the last few weeks Ella has really started to use "dada" and "mama" to call for Kyle and me.  I think right now "dada" gets more use. A few days ago we went to a park with ducks at it and she was trying really hard to say duck but all that came out was "duh" it was adorable. 

Ella enjoys cuddling and gives really good hugs. She also seems to be pretty independent and will just take off crawling wherever she wants to go. 

More and more she wants to do what Obadiah is doing but on this day at the park she just took off, climbing up the play equipment. I didn't get a picture but she does have four teeth. 

She likes to watch animals, and will "point" to the sky when she sees a bird or a plane. Her pointing is just holding out her open hand to the thing she wants to look at. 

She will obey commands like; bring that here, or go get the ball. In the last month she has really grown in her desire to communicate. 

I always enjoy watching Obadiah and Ella play together and now that Ella has grown she can really hold her own with him. 

Ella - Nine Months

I am late in posting this blog but I did get these pictures on the exact day this little beauty was nine months. We are trying to treasure each and every day with her as we continue to wonder what exactly she is going to be like as she continues to grow. 

She is a fierce crawler and will now pull herself up on just about anything. She also will walk along the couch or around her activity table. 

Her laugh is so contagious, and one of her favorite things to do now is clap. One of the cutest things she does right now is clap, its so cute, we need to get a video of it. 

Obie and Ella most of the time enjoy playing together, although sharing can be hard for either one of them. Ella is quite the explorer and is content wandering off by herself if we let her. Nothing is safe if it is in her grasp it usually ends up in her mouth. 

She is quite the proficient eater and whines/grunts for whatever people around her are eating. 

Ella - Eight Months

Our content little girl has so enjoyed the new freedom she has gained from learning and mastering crawling this last month. Nothing is safe on the floor when Ella is around. Obie is learning new skills as well, like hiding things from her and "trading" toys with her. 

Ella really enjoys standing and has even been able to pull herself up on a few things. 

She can give kisses, wave and crawl towards you when she wants to be picked up. 

She seems to have a feisty personality, and we are enjoying getting to know her more and more. 

She is eating solid food three times a day and enjoys picking up some table food as well. The only food she will spit out is still bananas. 

Ella - Seven Months

With each month we are getting to know more about our little girl. We love seeing her spunky attitude and her excitement about life. 

She is trying really hard to crawl and getting really frustrated cause she can't really go where she wants. The picture below is blurry because she is rocking back and forth, just not going anywhere, but backwards. 

 I tell her using her head will not help but she is trying many different tactics. 

 

The struggle is real.

She tried chreerios for the fist time and does pretty well with them. She likes joining us at the table for meals and participating in eating with us. Still no teeth have poked through. 

She is pretty sensitive to loud noises and startles easily. I love how much she likes to cuddle and right now I think I am her favorite person. I know it might not last so I am enjoying it while I can!

I love watching her interact with her Daddy. 

Kyle and Obie can get to be too silly though and she can't always handle it. 

Obie went trick or treating for the fist time last night but I failed to get any pictures. He was a football player and warmed up pretty quickly to the idea of getting candy from strangers. We had a great night of getting to know more of our neighbors, and hanging out with family. 

Ella - Six Months

Ella Jo you are changing right before our eyes!

 Sometimes I am wishing to see the next milestone this little one will make. Other times I am wishing for time to stand still. Being this little girl's momma is delightful. 

Here she is laughing at her brother's antics. Obie can make her laugh like no one else. Daddy is a close second to getting the best giggles out of this girl. 

Ella is already eating some solid food and has tried banana, avocado, applesauce and carrots. She does not like banana.   

She has started to be able to put her pacifier in her mouth by herself. You have to be mindful of what is in her reach cause she wants to grab anything she can get a hold of. 

In the last week and a half she has surprised us by her desire to move around. She will even get up on her hands and knees, on occasion and rock back and forth. 

I am so thankful for these kids, in all of the ups and downs of parenthood, YAHWEH uses them daily to remind me that HE is all that I need. 

The way these two already love one another fills my heart. 

I so enjoy seeing Ella's personality. This is a common look she will give you if she does't like what is happening. If you take something out of her hand she will squawk at you and furrow those brows.