Spring Break 2010

On Sunday, we loaded up our car, and began our two day travel to south Florida. We stopped halfway in Valdosta, GA and stayed with Vinny's Uncle David, Aunt Deb, and little cousin, Katrina. Grandma Lucy was there also! It was Ella's first time meeting all these people. Then, the next day we arrived at Grandpa and Nonni's house! YAY! Ella did a WONDERFUL job traveling, which we were VERY thankful for. We had so much time visiting family and enjoying the nice weather while down there. It only rained one day! We tried taking Ella to the beach, but it was way to cold and windy, so we lasted all of 5 minutes! :) Ella also met her Great Uncle Caesar and Great Aunt Ro! Caesar is Grandpa's brother! The trip seemed short even though we were gone for a week...

Here are some pictures from our trip!

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Ellabelle turns 5 months!

Our little Ellabelle turned 5 months old yesterday. Her personality is coming out and it has been a joy to watch her develop and learn new things so quickly. Ella has been a blessing and we love her so much! Here are some highlights from this past month:

~ You like to tuck your bottom lip in and suck on it and make clicking noises.
~ You are reaching and grabbing with both hands at everything these days, especially mommy's hair and jewlery.
~ You have found your feet! You like to pull on them and try to bring them towards your face.
~ You have also found your tongue! You like to stick it out and then smile :)
~ You love your bumbo seat and like to sit in it while watching mommy and daddy cook.
~ Everyone comments on your rosy cheeks and blue eyes.
~ Daddy is still the best person to make you laugh REALLY hard.
~ You tried the exasaucer for the first time...you only lasted a few minutes. You might like it better next month.
~ You experienced your first snow on Feb. 12 (it wasn't much, but it still counts!)
~ You had your first stroller ride sitting up in your big girl stroller on Feb 21. We walked around the neighborhood and you would laugh when the wind blew in your face.
~ You were diagnosed with your first ear infection in your right ear on Feb. 24. During this time you woke up every night for an extra feeding. We are trying to get you back on schedule!
~ You also were in your first car accident. You were shopping with mommy and a 16 year old girl backed in to us. Thankfully no one was hurt!

Here are the stats from Ella's 4 month check-up:
Weight: 15 pounds (75th percentile)
Height: 24 and 3/4 inches (75th percentile)
Head Circumference: 16 inches (50th percentile)

Chillin' in your exasaucer...not really knowing what to think...

Sticking out your tongue for the camera!

You and daddy in the snow

You and mommy in the snow.

Your first stroller ride in a big girl stroller~

Crazy Week...

This week has been one of the craziest weeks. Ella had her first ear infection. She was miserable and this was our first time dealing with a sick baby...no fun at all. She is taking amoxicillin for 10 days. Thankfully she is getting back to her old self again. For the past week straight she has been waking up in the middle of the night for an extra feeding because she is not drinking enough during the day. That has been a struggle because I LOVE my sleep. Hopefully that "night feeding" phase will end soon!!!

Then, yesterday, Ella and I were in a small fender bender in a parking lot, so she experienced her first "car accident" (if you can even call it that). Some 16 year old girl who JUST got her license rear-ended my car while backing out. A police officer came and wrote out a police report. Because it was on private property (who knew a parking lot was private property?!) the insurance companies have to battle it out to see who was at fault. Sooooooo, we might have to pay the $500 deductable to get a new trunk door and bumper. There was nothing wrong with the 16 year old's car...The cop said he would write the report to show I was not at fault, so we will see. Thankfully, Ella was asleep in her car sear for the entire ordeal. I am hoping for a less eventful week this coming week...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Ella wants to say Happy Valentine's Day to everyone. Here are some pictures of her in some of her holiday outfits!


Here she is about to sport the "Vinny smirk." She is a little mini-vinny.

All ready to go to church on Valentine's Day. The workers in the nursery were oohing and ahhing about how adorable you were today!

Her new trick is sucking in her bottom lip and then spitting or blowing bubbles. During this "photo shoot" she would not smile normal. Oh well...

Here she is messing with the bear's head before she tried eating it!

Happy 4 Months, Ella!

Here are some highlights from the past month:

~ You have this funny grunt you do when you are being silly or getting mad.
~ You love mirrors. You will look at your reflection and start laughing at yourself.
~ You started rolling over from back to front on January 30th.
~ You still don't like tummy time so when you roll over to your tummy you quickly get frustrated.
~ You talk to yourself a lot (and anyone who will listen).
~ You are enjoying your swing again and will sometimes take naps in it.
~ You enjoy your bumbo seat where you are practicing how to sit up.
~ More and more people are saying you look like your daddy!
~ If you wear a regular shirt (not a onsie) you like to lift your shirt up. It's cute now, but eventually you need to learn that little ladies don't do that :)
~ You had a growth spurt and woke us up sometimes around 3:00 for an extra feeding.
~ You drink between 5-6 ounces per feeding and have around 3 naps a day.

Happy 30th Birthday, Vinny!

Today marks Vinny's 30th birthday. It seems strange that he is entering the next decade. I still have 2 more years! Haha! I met Vinny over 10 years ago, when I was 18 years old. Wow, how the years have past.

Vinny, you are an absolute joy to be around and I am so thankful to have spent the last 12 years knowing you as a friend, then boyfriend, then fiance, then husband. We have endured the roller coaster of life together. I look forward to many more birthday celebrations!

You are a strong person who knows what bravery, perserverance, and courage means. You have lived that out with all you have overcome. You are a loving person who makes people smile and feel comonfortable around you.

Ella is blessed to have you as a father! She will grow to love, admire, and respect you as a man of God.

Love you!