Gopher Cheeks

Difficulty

Christian the Lion

Here is a video of Ella watching this video clip.
She says "kitty" every time we go into the office, and points to the computer until I put it on for her. She loves this!

Foolin' around

Oops~

Smile, Ella! For some reason she thinks she needs to close her eyes to smile at the camera

Ella loves our new bed~ I can't blame her, we do too

We finally had her 15 month appointment, a week before she turned 16 months. She weighs
25 lbs 12 oz and is 33 inches long. 85th % in weight, >95th % in height

Because it wouldn't be summer without swimming

Watching Dad swim

Diving for her rings

Cool new crab goggles

We're working on pool safety, especially how to hold onto the side and get out of the pool. She has mastered holding her breath and swimming (when I say swimming, I mean we push her) between Greg and I. On Wednesdsay she was holding her breath and going under water to look for and retrieve her rings. We are so happy to have a pool right out the back door, especially now that we're into the second week of 110+ temps.

Itsy-Bitsy Mother

Ella just did the cutest thing EVER. I was on the phone, and she was playing with her baby doll, pointing to her eyes, etc. Then she sat her baby up on the floor facing her, and started to "sing" The Itsy-Bitsy Spider to her (or do the hand motions and babble on incoherently). Damn the video camera and its battery always being dead when I actually need it!

"Dad!"

We've come a long way since this day last year! Ella is so much happier and such a joy to be around. This morning I got up with her and closed our bedroom door so Greg could sleep in...but Ella had other plans. She loves to yell "Dad!!!" and she is usually rewarded with a booming "El-la!!!" from Greg. But, since he was in bed, she just kept calling for him, "Dad! ... Dada ... Dad! ... Daddy ... Dad! ..." And, being the great father that he is, he promptly got out of bed, swung open the door, and yelled "El-la!!!" without even one complaint.

Attack of the Inside-Out-Dress-On-Her-Head Monster

Pre-Father's Day Celebrating

Today we went to the Railroad Park for a ride on the carousel. Ella loves it and always does her baby sign for 'again' when the ride is over. It is just a tad bit too hot for Mom and Dad to ride the train today.

I remember this park being enormous when I was little and like to believe Ella thinks it is as dreamy as I once did.

This is her new reaction to a camera and the command, "Smile!"

Cousins

Ella was Captain of the Ship at the playground

So this is what it would be like to have 3 kids...made me think of my Mom with us girls, same age differences as the cousins

"heee-uh?"

It feels like summer

Sprinkler play

All four kids playing together

Splash park at Eldorado Pool~ totally redone since I worked there, water slides and everything. The kids were all tuckered out after all the playtime.

Ella and Max tried to have a fun bath together...Max wasn't so sure about sharing the tub with Ella. We managed and they both ended up clean.

Today Maggie and Zoe are headed back to Tucson and Alexa and Max are staying with another friend for a few days. Ella is going to be lonely this afternoon!!!