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. 

Ella - Five months

Our little lady is five months old. In the last week she has really proven she can sit on her own. She is in the stage where she can sit for several minutes until she gets distracted then will fall over. She has become very good at rolling from her tummy to her back but still can not figure out how to roll from her back to her tummy. Ella is showing more of a desire to play little games and get tickled. I love how easily she laughs at Obie. 

Sleeping through the night is still a struggle. She has been eating some oatmeal cereal most days and has taken to that easily. Ella is always trying to use new noises but my favorite is her squeal. 

Ella - Four Months

If you are still following this blog I am sure you have figured out this has become solely about the two little cherubs. More specifically, Ella. Since moving back to the states I have had very little time to write any blog posts but I have been determined to document a few things about Ella and what she is doing each month. I think it is safe to say that in the months to come I will be posting monthly updates about her so that we can have this documented for our family. Feel free to check back in, especially for those family and friends that do not live in AZ. 

Ella is getting closer to some bigger milestones. She has really shown a desire to roll over in the last several days and my guess is she will be successful in the next week or so. She is also getting closer to being able to sit up by herself, although that will take more time before she really gets the hang of it. 

Her love for her brother seems to grow daily, she will carefully watch him play. Obadiah is particularly adorable with her and already shows great care for his little sister. 

Ella has a wonderful laugh that we love to hear but unfortunately she is a little stingy and keeps it to herself. If anyone can get her to laugh, though, it usually is her Daddy. 

This little man surprised me most days with his ability to learn and pick up on things. He can be so intense and focused but his desire to make people laugh is becoming more and more evident. Some of the phrases that he repeats the most these days are: "Obie do dit" or "Oba dee" (Oba see). He wanted to participate in this little photo shoot as much as possible. I had no choice to oblige him.  

Ella was sleeping a miraculous 11 hours straight at night last month, but this month has decided she needed some more fellowship in the night. Understandably, some nights are better than others, we will just have to be patient as she get the swing of sleeping.  

The hair that she had when she was born is being replaced by lighter hair. She is losing her some hair but it seems that as soon as it is falling out it is being replaced with more. 

As another moth passes we praise Yahweh for her life and for the happiness of watching Ella grow and change. Even on the days that having a 4 month old and a 2 year old are quite challenging, the Spirit is reminding us ways that we can look at them and see his great deeds and his mercies to us.