Profile - Week 22

Here is a quick peak at my profile picture of me heading into my 23rd week. I know I haven't written much about this pregnancy but truly there hasn't been much to talk about because it has gone by to fast and smooth. Next month we start working on Ella's new room so I'm sure we will post some pictures as we go.

Beautiful day in the Neighborhood

It was such a beautiful day outside that we spend most of it outdoors. First we took Ella to the park to play on the playground. She loves going down slides. Then we took a stroll through Jake's favorite park in town. We made it home a little before lunch time which gave us more time to play in the yard. Ella enjoyed running back and forth on the porch and some on the grass while wearing her squeaky shoes. She is very into picking out her own shoes these days. Anyway, while Ella did that I pulled weeds and swept the front steps. I felt very productive.

I wanted to give you an update on what Ella has been doing and saying these days:
Some new words are: near, rake, car, truck, did it, two, me, and mail. I know they sound random but she is really starting to mimic words you say.
Ella loves to play "mommy or daddy's going to get me,"(meaning Ella will run into one of our arms and then wants either me or Jake to pretend to scare her over our shoulders), she runs, twirls like a ballerina, tries to hop, likes to find you bellybutton, knocks on a door, and climbs up on chairs and stools.



Her hair is getting long enough for pig tails.

The Park we were at today.

A mossy road in the Park that just looked really cool.

Going down one of the big slides with Daddy.

Crawling through a tube.

Taking a ride.

Enjoying a good book after a bath.

First Trip to the Library

Today Ella and I took our first trip to the Library. I was very excited to be able to pick out some new books to read to Ella. Lately, the piles of bedtime stories just don't cut it. In fact she will tell you what books she wants you to read with a simple yes or no.
About halfway through our adventure down the isles of children's book section guess who poops? Yup you guessed it, miss Ella. At this point she was acting all silly running up and down the isle. I wasn't sure whether I wanted to hurry through the rest of the books and check out to leave or change Ella and come back to pick out more books without the smell. So I decided to leave our books we had picked out at the counter and go quickly change her. We got the diaper off and everything cleaned up, I looked in the diaper bag for another diaper and what do you know we had used the last one last night when we were out for dinner with friends. Great! Now what do I do, I thought. So I quickly grabbed one of Ella's baby burp cloths that Great Grandma made and wrapped it between her legs, snapped Ella's outfit together and went back into the Library. At this point I was just praying that the burp cloth wasn't going to slide down Ella's leg and come out of her pants. I quickly checked out the books we had already chosen and drove home. Luckily, we made it home without any accidents. Next time, note to self check for diapers in the diaper bag before leaving home.

I taughter her to put olives on her fingers, just like I did when I was little.

Cook'n in the Kitchen

Yesterday, we put together Ella's kitchen that she got from Nana and Papa for Christmas. The minute Jake started putting it together Ella was all over it. In fact she hasn't stopped playing with it since. I must say this kitchen is pretty awesome, it even has under cabinet lightening, something I have always wanted in my own kitchen!

Ella is still too little to reach the top where the microwave and cupboards are so we had to pull up her chair so she could reach. Pushing buttons is one of her favorite things.

Today, was the big Vikings football game so Jake and Ella geared up. They looked so cute, Ella can even point to the Viking on her outfit. Hopefully she'll get a few more uses out of it if the team keeps winning!

Ella is very busy cooking.


Showing a little attitude- I think it might have been nap time.

Vikings cheer team!

Ella practicing her cheer moves.

More cooking!

The burner on the stove lights up and makes the sound of boiling water.

Our 2009 wall of Christmas cards.

Avery and Ella bonding

This video is about a month old, it's not the best quality but you get the point. Ella likes to tickle her nose with Avery's tail. Avery seems to not care, she's getting calmer in her old age.

Christmas 2009

Sorry all the picture are not in order and my message is at the bottom of this blog, I was to tired to change it all.

Ella loves her new Play and Learn puppy that Grandma and Grandpa Menard got her.

Ella thought my new loofah sponges were pretty neat too.

Christmas morning

Jake putting Ella to bed Christmas Eve night

Ella having some serious bedhead on Christmas morning

Christmas Eve dinner
me, my uncle Rob and Grandpa- who forgot to smile =)

me and Ella entering into Church

We had another wonderful Christmas spent in Spokane the only sad part was it was without a drop of snow! Ella did great at Nana and Papa's however she was mostly interested in their cat Cooper. Let's just say her favorite word of the week was, MEOW. Since we had an extra set of hands thanks to my mom me, Jake and my dad had time to go see Avatar in 3-D IMAX. I wasn't sure if I wanted to see it especially at the IMAX screen ( I was worried I would get motion sick) but it was well worth it. I would highly recommend it!

The night we got home Ella was so excited to see her crib that she asked to get into it before bedtime. She rolled from side to side and then stood up and ran back and forth giggling along the way. That night and every night since she has gone to bed without a peep. It's so nice! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone.

Lazy Monday

Sadly the snow has all melted away so we didn't go outside today to play. Ella is very into reading books so we read piles of books, played with her Nativity set, scribbled with crayons, wrapped some presents and did some laundry. One thing that amazed me today was that Ella got into this box of flashcards sorted through them, found the card with the grapes on them, brought it to me, and pointed to the fridge. She is one smart cookie.