Letter From Ella

Dear Grandma,

You have walked 60 miles in three days. You have shown your strength and your determination in your walk to find a cure. For each step walked and each dollar raised, you gave hope that one day breast cancer will no longer plague our gender. You are an inspiration to your family, your friends, your co-workers. I know how hard you have worked to accomplish this goal and I am so proud of you! To cheer you on and to see you at the finish line meant the world to me. I am glad that I was able to be there to show you how much you are loved and how proud I am that my Grandma walked for the cure. (I know Mommy and Daddy are so proud, and Granddad told me he was too!)

Grandma, you are my shero. You are kind, loving, compassionate, supportive and encouraging. I am very blessed and I am thankful everyday I get to spend time with my Grandma. Thank you for being an inspiration, for spoiling me with love and especially for being the best Grandma a girl could ask for. I love you!!

Love, Ella

Go Grandma!!!!

This morning we were up early to pick up Grandma Beasley so we could meet Dawn on her 3-Day walk. The four of us got up to North Atlanta just in time to cheer on her and her walking mates. Burrrr! It was a chilly morning.

Dawn started her walk for breast cancer yesterday morning and slept out at the campsite last night. I'm sure the cold weather and a tent would have been enough for me...Ron is on his way to pick Dawn up after her second day of walking. We'll take her back in the morning so she can finish Day 3 and the 60+ mile walk. I take it back, give me a tent any time, the 60+ miles would have been the clencher. We'll meet her at the closing ceremonies tomorrow and celebrate such a great accomplishment.

After seeing Grandma, Ella, Ron, Grandma Beasley and I headed over to Uncle David's for a quick visit and then had lunch at Chili's. It was a long and busy day. We are so proud of Dawn and all her hard work! GO GRANDMA!!!!!!







√ Grandma's 3-day walk
Ella's urology appointment
Ella's prescription refills
Pedicure and manicure
Haircut and highlights
Pack Ella's Clothes
Pack suitcases
Mail Forwarded
Contact Utility Company

Ear Piercing

We took Ella to her doctor's office to get her ears pierced. I decided if I didn't do it now, we'd have to wait til she was 10. It's much easier to do it now when she won't remember it, then try to do it when she's a toddler. It really wasn't bad at all. Nothing worse than taking her for her shots. Ella was a trooper! She freaked out for a few seconds right after her ear was pierced but then was fine. She's been napping and went to bed with no real problem. She's fine and isn't bothered in the least. I can even clean them with rubbing alcohol and she could care less. I love them, she's so pretty!

Do you see what I mean about her teeth! Every time we see her smile we swear they're getting bigger!!!!

Check out this list...it's shrinking!!!!!!

√ Get Ella's ear's pierced
Grandma's 3-day walk
Ella's urology appointment
Ella's prescription refills
Pedicure and manicure
Haircut and highlights
Pack Ella's Clothes
Pack suitcases
Mail Forwarded
Contact Utility Company

Yeah Daddy!

This morning at the crack of dawn I went down to the social security office to correct my birthdate (whoever initially typed it had a 2 instead of 5). I was second in line outside the door and made the mistake of saying good morning to the older gentleman ahead of me. For 45 minutes I had got to listen to one of southern Georgia's "good ole boys" discuss the woes of the good ol' USA. Taxes, immigration, government, cell phones, Mexicans. Oh, good lord it was a long 45 minutes.

"Yer taxed on yer money and they take more tax on yer retirement."

"Them Mexicans just comin' o'er the border, no legal nothin' 'bout 'em." (dirty look to the Mexican family joining the line).

"They take our farmland to build houses for these people and then how'r we gonna git our food?"

Quite frankly I think people who complain about this, need to re-evaluate all the things they do have. I will pay taxes all day, everyday to live in a country where I am free to love, live, marry and have children with whomever I want. The freedom to say what I want without risking the lives of myself or my family; my safety from daily horrors like torture, genocide, gang rape by soldiers; my ability to work and study as I choose, are worth more than any amount of money the government can take from my check (well, Ron's check :) hee hee). I told this man as politely as I could, he should be grateful for his freedom to complain about these things and thankful that he doesn't live in say North Korea or Darfur, Congo or Rwanda perhaps. Anyway....

This afternoon, Ella and I went with Ron to his old office to see him presented with an award and a medal. Yeah Daddy!! It's always nice to see Ron's old co-workers and we are soooooo proud of him. How handsome is he!
"We love you, Daddy!"


√ Fix window sensor
Get Ella's ear's pierced
Grandma's 3-day walk
√ Hire property manager
Ella's urology appointment
Ella's prescription refills
Pedicure and manicure
Haircut and highlights
Pack Ella's Clothes
Pack suitcases
√ Social Security Office

Baby Kisses

Today we worked on this list and are able to check a couple more things off. Ella is chatty and happy watching me type. She's so good, I can't remember what life was before her. She's been eating teething biscuits and she loves them. If you ask her for some and open you mouth she'll try to share with you, but it usually ends up mushed into your nose. That's okay, it's the thought that counts! :)

Ella has learned so much in the past week. We have repeated a lot of things with her since she was born and she's finally able to respond with total understanding. She can "Paddy Cake" with you when you sing, feed you when you open your mouth, and my favorite, she loves to gives kisses when you ask for one. Awwwww!


Fix window sensor
√ Clean stove
Get Ella's ear's pierced
Grandma's 3-day walk
√ Refinance house
Hire property manager
Ella's urology appointment
Ella's prescription refills
Pedicure and manicure
Haircut and highlights
Pack Ella's Clothes
Pack suitcases

Teeth and Head Bumps

Ella is teething, it's official. Saturday night she was up all night beginning at midnight; Sunday night I caved in and gave her some Tylenol at 12:30 am and she slept the rest of the night; and last night at midnight, she woke up crying but this time I was able to rock her to sleep in about 10 minutes, no nursing, no Tylenol. Phew! The two bumps in her gums have officially become teeth. They've both popped through and are continuing to grow each time we check them! We'll see how tonight goes. The Baby Orajel I gave her on Saturday night didn't seem to do anything to help her but Tylenol was helpful. I just hope I don't have to use it again and the worst of it is over.

Yesterday at lunch with Amy, I remarked how amazing it was that I had yet to drop Ella like so many parents with their children before me. And then....today as she was sitting up on the couch behind me (I was on the floor in front of my laptop) she tipped and rolled right off it onto her head. She did land on the stuffed toy she threw down there, which I assume was her attempt to get it. She cried for a few minutes but no harm done.

Grandma has been teaching her "Paddy Cake". Ella loves it! She will clasp her hands together and giggle and laugh. Today, as I was playing with her she clapped along on her own. She gets too excited though and usually tips over or loses momentum before the song is over. Ella has been such a source of joy to us. We are so proud of her!!!

Is it me or is this list not getting smaller?????

Fix window sensor
Clean stove
√ Extra Keys cut
√ Call alarm company
Get Ella's ear's pierced
Grandma's 3-day walk
Refinance house
Hire property manager
Ella's urology appointment
Ella's prescription refills
Pedicure and manicure
Haircut and highlights
Pack Ella's Clothes
Pack suitcases

Baby Lovin'

I love love love watching babies react to each other. I can't even imagine what having twins would be like! :) Ella and I went out for lunch with Amy and Nolan today and the babies were so much fun. We all drove down to Fayetteville in Amy's new Honda Pilot (which I love how roomy it is, I'm so jealous!) and Nolan and Ella talked to each other the whole way. Too cute!

Ella and Nolan were such flirts! Giggling, talking and holding hands...I believe Ella has her first boyfriend, though it will be a short romance as we're headed to Hawaii and they're headed to Boston. Short and sweet. Nolan is adorable it's hard not to love him. Nice to know Ella has good taste :)

After a short shopping spree at Target, they both cried most of the way home until they eventually passed out! I guess all that crying over each other wore them out. Seriously, I can't imagine having twins!!!!


Fix window sensor
Clean stove
√ Target
Extra Keys cut
√ Have wedding rings cleaned
Call alarm company
Get Ella'’s ear's pierced
Grandma's 3-day walk
Refinance house
Hire property manager
Ella'’s urology appointment
Ella'’s prescription refills
Pedicure and manicure
Haircut and highlights
Pack Ella's Clothes
Pack suitcases

Happy 7 Months!!

Whoo hoo! Ella is 7 months old today. My my time is flying by! Here are our baby pictures...Ella totally doesn't look like me but then maybe the hair is throwing me off! :) She totally looks like Ron! Oh my goodness, does she ever! Look at all that hair!!!

Her Roseola is over and done with, she was chatty and happy all day today...though last night was a rough one. Ella woke up at midnight and I ended up feeding her as rocking her to sleep and putting her back down wasn't working. After nursing her and laying her down, she screamed and cried for 30 minutes (that was as long as I could handle it, Ron of course slept through the whole thing...and she's in our room!) I made her a bottle and she continued to cry. By 1 am I was watching tv while Ella just laid in my arms and stared at me. She wasn't fussing, she just had no intention of sleeping. She finally fell asleep after 2. Ron got up with her at 5:30 and we let her cry for a bit. We woke her up at 7:30 and she went with Ron to church. I was just too exhausted to go.

Hummm, Ella was back on schedule today and while I ran some errands and Ron had the garage door installed, Ella spent the afternoon with her Granddad. He passed the test, Ella was feed and sleeping when I got home. Way to go!!

Our list is getting shorter.....

√Church with Grandma
√Install garage door opener
Fix window sensor
Clean stove
Target
Extra Keys cut
Have wedding rings cleaned
Call alarm company
Get Ella'’s ear's pierced
Grandma's 3-day walk
Refinance house
Hire property manager
Ella'’s urology appointment
Ella'’s prescription refills
Pedicure and manicure
Haircut and highlights
Pack Ella's Clothes
Pack suitcases

To Do Lists

Ella is almost back to normal. She slept well last night and took many naps today to catch up on her sleep. Her rash is gone but her cheeks are still rosey (but not at all blotchy). She was relatively happy most of the day and is starting to get her appetite back.

Well, after reading Amy's blog yesterday, I realized my list of things to do in the next 12 days is loooong! Seeing as I play around on this blog enough, I'm going to post my list and check off what I've accomplished in order to stop my procrastination! (Did I mention 12 days!) Each day I hope to see my list get smaller and smaller:

Before we leave:

√ Hotel Reservation - Hawaii
√ Car Rental -– Hawaii
Church with Grandma
Install garage door opener
Fix window sensor
Clean stove
Target
Extra Keys cut
Have wedding rings cleaned
Call alarm company
Get Ella'’s ear's pierced
Grandma's 3-day walk
Refinance house
Hire property manager
Ella'’s urology appointment
Ella'’s prescription refills
Pedicure and manicure
Haircut and highlights
Pack Ella's Clothes
Pack suitcases

Friday the 13th Indeed

This pretty much sums up our day. Ella was up at 5 am and was up most of the day, cranky and irritable. Her rash has turned bothersome and she is constantly rubbing her face on my shoulder, my shirt, the bed, her blanket. She's rubbing her eyes and face like she does when she's tired, but she doesn't stop. I took her to the doctor this morning and she does indeed have roseola. I'm not sure how well you can see in the photos but her face is all red and blotchy and her body is covered with spots. Although totally harmless, occasionally it can be like having the measles. Aghhhh! We got some children's Benadryl for the itch and it is working slowly. Ella hasn't napped all day but 20 minutes here and there.

I gave her a bath tonight and avoided a major tub disaster by sitting Ella on the toilet...she pooped like a big girl and then it was back in the clean tub. Drinking water out of a water bottle, bathing by herself and using the toilet...what next for this little lady!

Ella cried a lot today so I had lots of time to capture her teeth coming through. (Can you see the little white bumps!) As I put her to bed (finally), her rash seems to be going away. It should be gone tomorrow I hope. After our day today, I'm ready to hit the hay, after a nice cold beer!