Reading with Dad is the Best

Josh is so good with Ella. I love seeing them play together.

Every night when Josh comes home, as soon as Ella hears the garage door opener she immediately starts to run for the garage door (even unfortunately in the middle of the diaper change). To answer her sweet "dada dada" Josh is always waiting on the other side of the door.

Then after hellos, Ella runs away, grabs her favorite book from that day and brings it to Josh. I personally think she is comparing his rendition to the one she has heard 25 times already that day from me.

I love these sweet moments between them, and I can't help but think how wonderful my life is.

Ella & Her Lion

For some reason, Ella has become attached to her lion stuffed animal. He was the first thing that she would look for when we got her up in the morning, and last month when her molars were coming in, we let her take him to bed with her. They are now inseparable. I've already started the hunt for a replacement, knowing the day will eventually come.

Ella will be quietly playing and suddenly she sees lion, she will hop up, run over to him, quickly grab him, plot down, and squeeze him with all her strength. Needless to say, Lion is a big part of our daily lives.

 Even Lion gets rides on the car from dad. :)

 Oh my - sweetness. Nighttime cuddles with Lion.

 One-year pictures with Lion. I love her sweet personality coming through here. Shout out to my awesome hubby for helping me capture this moment.

 What would I do without a baby monitor to spy on Ella and Lion?

Mom's January Visit

Each January Josh has a work conference in Ohio. Although Ella and I miss him while he is away, the last two years my mom has joined up for the time he is away. I love any time I get to spend with my awesome momma, this trip was no different.

If you have ever met Ella, you know she doesn't do well with new people...and this breaks my mom's heart, understandably. I had been praying for weeks before my mom arrived that Ella would finally warm up to her - and praise the Lord, she did. My mom is so patience with her, and I'm grateful for loving family to surround my little girl.

Family Christmas

The Friday after Christmas we were able to spend some time with Josh's cousins in Ohio. It was so fun to be with everyone. Each year it seems harder to keep up with the kiddos as they change so quickly.

Like ever-hopeful mothers, we attempted to capture of photo of all 10 kids. I'm sure Lindsey has a wonderfully Photoshopped file where everyone is looking. Always good to have a photographer in the family.

Super Hero Capes

This year for Christmas I made Super Hero capes for my fabulous nephews. I followed the tutorial I found here. They were super easy and fun!

I bought my towels at Walmart, they had the best color selection in my area. You will also need fabric paint and freezer paper. Although they are easy, plan at least 4-5 days to complete each cape. You will want to wash the cape before you begin working, then I did 2 coats of paint, and then you need to allow 3 days for the paint to dry. After the paint is dry, wash one more time.

The tutorial calls for velcro to close up the neck - I just used thick ribbon and sewed it to the towel with matching-color felt to reinforce the connection between the fabric and ribbon. 

Christmas 2013

Although I loved our first Christmas with Ella, being that she was only 1-month old, she didn't interact with us much. I know that she doesn't understand Christmas, we still have a few years for that, but it was fun to enjoy her exploratory-spirit.

Here are a few pictures of Christmas.

Before the Christmas Eve service at our awesome church, North Way Christian Community.  She is wearing the kilt that was bought for me in Scotland when I was 1 myself. I'm so grateful my mom held onto these sweet items from my childhood.

Her new (little people - yippee) Nativity set:

 

Christmas stockings (my favorite part of Christmas morning)

 

 

Josh's sister, Rachel, and her family and his aunt, uncle, and cousin joined us for dinner. It was so fun to spend the day with family in our new home. Getting all of those little cousins to sit still is no easy task. 

 I love how Michael and Ella have a sweet little bond. He is so precious with her and I think they will be special to each other. 

Uncle Nick has worked so hard to let Ella hold him. This year, he got his very own Christmas miracle. He did have to entice her with his phone, however.

Josh with Philip and Ella. 

Free Car Rides for Everyone

Like every little kiddo, once we show Ella something once, it immediately becomes her new favorite thing. Whoa to you if you show her something she can't quite master, as it requires you to continually set it up for her.

Josh once showed her how to put her stuffed animals on her car.

Which then escalated to 4 stuffed animals.

And now finally, 7 animals....

 

And her stroller