Can you believe it? Ella is one month away from being a year old! She is growing up so fast! Ella continues to get closer and closer to walking. She's starting to stand on her own for longer periods of time and has started shifting her weight forward onto one foot. Part of me can't wait for her to start walking and another part of me dreads the day she does.

What's going on at 11 months?
~Ella loves drinking juice from her sippy cup
~She loves dancing and singing
~She loves watching Baby Einstein (except for Baby's First Signs when the puppets jump out of
the boxes--scares her everytime!)
~She still refuses to wear a bib (so we use LOTS of Spray n' Wash!)
~She talks ALL the time and is even putting multiple words together ("bye-bye baby")
~She likes feeding the dogs her puffs
~She crinkles her nose when she smiles
~She loves to laugh!
~She loves to snuggle on the couch at night
~Ella likes to pull on my hair when she gets sleepy
~She loves playing with puzzles

There is never a quiet or dull moment around our house these days. We are having so much fun watching Ella grow and learn new things. Each day is a new experience of "firsts."

Ella is talking up a storm these days and she FINALLY said MAMA this past Friday. I was so excited! She's been saying DaDa for some time now. Cory's been giving me a hard time about it especially when I tried so hard to get her to say it and she would say "da-da" and laugh. She's been teasing me for a while! I just think she saved the best for last :) Just kidding!
Ella and I have been talking about her upcoming birthday and I've been telling her it is going to be her "Happy Happy Birthday." On Saturday, Ella started saying "Happy...happy...happy!" It is so funny to hear her yelling happy! We went shopping and Ella kept yelling "happy, happy, happy." I think she was definately born to shop! :)

What Ella's saying these days...
~da-da
~ma-ma
~Nana
~paw-paw
~bye-bye
~baby
~dog
~happy
~hey

Another week has come and gone! It seems like they just keep flying by these days! Ella, Nana, and I spent the day Saturday running around doing errands. We went to Party City to get some party supplies for Ella's upcoming 1st birthday party!! We also went shopping at Wal-Mart. I know, we just can't stay away from Wally-World! We then fought the madness at the Broyhill Walking Park to catch a glimpse of my cousin Lucas and his girlfriend before the prom. There were SOOO many people there getting pictures made. I can't believe how much the dress style and the amount of money that is spent on prom has changed since I graduated 10 years ago! Ella loved looking at all the pretty dresses. The entire time I was thinking I should start a separate savings account for prom :) WOW! Lucas and Andrea looked amazing...what a cute couple they are! While we were at the park, Ella got to see the ducks and blow bubbles. She loved playing with the bubbles!!

Nana, Lucas, Mommy & Ella

Lucas & Andrea

This week Ella continues to stand alone but still hasn't took a step. She has excellent balance but is hesitant to actually move anywhere. Everybody says she crawls too good to walk :) She definately can get anywhere she wants to go! I'm sure it won't be too much longer before she's running around the house! Cory and I are in no rush...neither are Mattie and Molly :)

More bubble fun with Daddy...

First of all, we want to say Happy Mother's Day to all the special women in our lives! This was a very special day for me because it was my first Mother's Day! Cory and Ella made me feel very special today. I woke up this morning to find a gift and card for me on the table. Ella knew exactly what her Mommy needed and that is a day at the SPA!! I am looking forward to a facial, massage, and pedicure soon!! Being a mother is the most challenging but also the most rewarding experience of my life!

This week has been full of new things for Ella. Last night, not once but twice, she stood up alone without holding on to anything. We're getting closer and closer to her walking! Also, she cut a third tooth on the bottom and this morning she woke up with her first top tooth. This may be the reason she's been a little fussy the last couple days. She's been sticking her tongue out all day feeling her new teeth.

The other night Cory and I were sitting in the living room playing with Ella. She had her snack puffs, which she absolutely LOVES, in the floor with her eating and playing. Molly kept a close eye on Ella hoping she would drop a crumb! Ella finally looked at Molly and stuck out her little hand with a puff in it and Molly took it from her. Seconds later, Mattie rushed over and Ella gave her one too. Finally, Ella grabbed a handful of puffs and threw them in the floor and laughed as the dogs rushed around trying to get every last crumb. This continued until we finally took the puffs away from all of them for the fear of them all getting a sugar overload!