News Update

This is the only TV we let Ella watch. It's Signing Time for 30 minutes on Saturday mornings. She loves it!! We've been taping it on our DVR but will save up and buy her the series. I've learned so much sign language from this program, Ron and I love it too...
I haven't posted in a few days as we've been visiting with my cousin and her fiance who are here for the Pro Bowl and staying with us. It's been about 8 years since I've seen Jodi and she is doing well, it's nice to catch up and finally meet Bart. Here's Jodi with us in front of our house...check out my new haircut. Christin - I finally have bangs!

Ella is getting more and more sure of her standing abilities and will now practice standing up without the use of objects. I have a video I'll upload later. She's also finally stopped spitting up after every meal or bottle and can actually wear one single outfit for the whole day. We are shocked as it's been a daily routine of 4 or 5 outfits and lots of shirt changes for us. Now she can burp without half her bottle coming up with it...I know, maybe too graphic. I'm not sure if this means her GERD (reflux disease) is going away as it usually does in the first year or the amount of solid food she's eating is helping. It's so nice to not have to change her throughout the day and her laundry is half what it normally is.

Onto other news, we finally have a renter in our house in Atlanta. Keep your fingers crossed that she works out. She's a single mom (child psychologist) and has a great track record with renting so we were very happy to let her move in. The property management company does all the work for us and we just sit back and collect a check. Finally after 6 months of an empty house it's now going to be lived in.

Ella and Keilana

Our neighbor, Anel and her daughter Keilana stopped by last night. Keilana is almost two and we can't get over how much her and Ella look alike! They both have that same curly hair and nice skin. They really do look like sisters. Ron and I always laugh about how we know what Ella's going to look like at two. Of course Ella is over the moon in love with little girls...she can't stop giggling!

Future Entertainer

We bought a play yard that can be connected to form a pen or stretched out to block off areas. Ella's not sure about it but hasn't figured out that she is "caged". She just thinks it's an easy way to pull herself up. She can entertain herself for hours and loves to "sing" too (note the high pitch noises). She'll sing along to the radio or do a little solo like in this video. Even when she falls, the show must go on!

She's especially vocal when she sees that you are videotaping her... and if she notices you're not paying attention when she's working on her balance, she holler at you until you watch her. I detect a future drama queen!
Here's Ella's new jeans with butterflies from Grandma...they are actually long enough for her! So cute....

When she's had enough fun it's easy to see when she is ready for a nap...

Daddy's Caddy

Ella's latest new outfit...

Wake Up Call

I woke up at 3:45 to a screaming "I want my Mommy...I want my Mom!!" At first I thought it was a hurt child and jumped out of bed, but then it sounded like a child having a temper tantrum on a poor dad, "Oh, that poor dad, I hope no one calls the police.."

A male voice, "Get in and I'll take you to your Mom!" Oh, great. Just a bunch of drunk teenagers, obviously she's had too much to drink and he's trying to get her home...Second male voice, "shut up, b****!"

I called 911, of course, and explained it may be some drunk teenagers trying to get home, but they need to come help this girl... I throw some shoes and a sweater on and go tramping outside in my pj's to find where is this totally distraught female voice...

It's my neighbors! "Apparently", she's had too much to drink and he and his friend were trying to get her inside. I asked if she was okay and told the husband I had called the MP's (military police as we live on base). He apologized and said she finally passed out. Wait, what was the whole "I want my Mommy!" bit? A little odd for a grown, well 20-yr old, woman...20!

When the MP's showed up, I explained but asked them to check on her anyway. Finally, I get to go to bed!

There's a knock on the door and MP #2 needs some information from me, because I’m the caller who reported the incident. (Let me just say thank goodness he didn't ring the doorbell! Our house is handicap equipped which means every room has a blue flashing signal light and a LOUD buzzer that indicates the doorbell… both Ron and Ella have been blissfully asleep this whole time.)

In filing out the "required" paperwork, he asks for my military ID, place of birth, age, yada yada yada, "any distinguishing tattoos, M'am?" What??? "Is this in case I get lost?" I ask him. He just shrugs and says it's on the form. He has my ID which has all Ron's information too, but he asks me Ron's birthday, branch of service, middle name.

Seriously, is this a quiz? I ask him if I'm going to be tested on it later. He laughed and apologized but he's just doing his job. Alright...back to the questions...

“Husband's hair color, eye color, ethnicity?” "African-American."

"His complexion, M'am?"

"Uh, what?" says the girl who's only ever had to check off "white" on a form. I want complexion options! “Usually pasty, but fabulously tanned from Erin’s visit recently.” Can I check off that box? Back to the paperwork…

He lists off some options, ah, now it's a multiple choice test! "Would you like to make a statement, M'am?"

"Yes, isn't the drinking age 21?" :)

Anyway, I finally got to go back to bed. Thank goodness, it’s Saturday and Ron has gotten up with Ella, I’m going back to bed. The MP's here are really nice and super friendly...but really, all those questions????

Movin' On Up

Here is how Ella can entertain herself for long periods of time. She is moving and walking around with the help of anything and will practice balancing on her own. Today, as she was in her own little Ella world looking out the window, I tried to sneak off and get the video camera before she noticed I was taping her....

Ten And A Half Months!!

Where has the time gone?? I took Ella for some pictures at Walmart yesterday. I haven't had her pictures taken since she was six months and for $7.88, who could beat that! I have some pictures of me and my Mom at about 9 months and I wanted some of Ella and I for a double frame I have. Here are the pictures from yesterday (the resolution and picture is poor because they put them on a floppy while we wait for the professional order to come in)...

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

Since Erin left last week it's done nothing but rain! Granted, it's still warm enough to wear t-shirts, but the skies are black and it's been quite stormy. I'm thinking Ella and I might drive up to the North Shore tomorrow and check out the waves; they are supposed to get 35+ feet, how fabulous! The rain and the downpours haven't affected our walks...we just use the plastic stroller cover and I have a rain jacket. We're walking about 3 miles a day and it's so nice to get back into shape again. Here's another cute outfit that Ella owns...I really wish they had matching Mommy clothes sometimes :)

Our Little Woodchuck

How much wood can a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

Let me tell you, a doorway, crib rails and coffee tables! Every time I turn around Ella is chomping on something! We have lowered her crib to the lowest setting so she can't reach the tops at the end of the crib and chew off all the paint. The side rails have a plastic teething cover but the ends are rounded and wider so we have nothing to protect them. We get her in the morning or after a nap and she's got paint chips all over her face and in her hair. In some parts she's chewed down to the wood. I've noticed my coffee table has some Ella teeth marks and today as she was following me around the hallway, she chomped away at the doorway. Did we have a puppy or a child???
Today, we put her hair in a pony tail for the first time, but because it's so curly, it looks more like a bun....
Other Ella news, her eighth tooth has come though, 4 on the bottom and 4 on the top. Perhaps that's contributing to her woodchucking. She is also totally on the move and will be into something if you turn your back for a second. She crawls a little odd and use one leg for further leverage or balance, we're not really sure. She crawls normal on the bed or carpet, but this is how she looks when she crawls on the wood floor...maybe it's too hard on her knees.
She's getting better at standing on her own and will let go of what she is holding onto and then after a minute, realizes she's on her own and will grab at something or plop down. Sometimes she looks at you with such excitement like "Whoa! Look what I'm doing!" She can be so proud of herself! Here she is after standing on her own..."Whoa" and check out her tan!

Aloha `oe

(This means Farewell to you)

I just took Erin to the airport :( It's been a great two weeks of old friendships, girl talk, beach, sun and tans. It's going to be hard to go back to the everyday life of cooking and cleaning and errands. Though I'm sure going back to winter in Victoria is going to be a lot harder for Erin. Ella, Ron and I are very sad to see her go but hopefully we'll get to visit the west coast in the spring.

Dear Auntie,

Thank you for coming to Hawai'i and hanging out with us. We loved the beach, the sun, the sightseeing and especially our tans...next time you'll have to stay longer so you can catch up to me and we can be the same color. I know Mommy and Daddy are very sad to see you go back, Daddy said he'd support you and Mommy for at least a month next time! :) Maybe by then I will have learned to kiss with my mouth closed and not drool all over your cheek. I will miss you. Until then, kipa hou mai`anake (come visit again, Auntie). Kisses to Auntie Sue, Uncle Stu, your sisters and the babies!

Love Ella