Ella performed in her very first dance recital!  She has been working hard all year learning her tap and ballet dances.  We did lots of practicing the week before the recital and Ella was ready!  She was so excited about dancing on the big stage.  I never realized how much preparation goes into getting ready for a recital….hair, make-up, costume changes.  Aunt Ashley’s sister Gracie helped out back stage so we could enjoy the recital.  Ella did amazing!  She is such a talented little dancer and she knew how to work the stage!  I am one proud Dance Mom!!!!!

Aunt Ashley helping get Ella ready for her big performance

The theme of the recital was Ipod Shuffle…the performances were to different genres of music.

Hanging out backstage

Back stage after their first performance

Great job, Ella!  You are such a great dancer!  We are so proud of you!!!!!

Ella has been begging to get her ears pierced for some time now.  Since things have been so chaotic lately with the move, I decided now might be a good time to do something special for her.  We asked her what kind of earrings she wanted and without hesitation she said, “I want diamonds just like Mommys!”  And her Daddy said…take her to the jewelry store and buy her some diamonds!  WOW!  I wish it was that easy for me to get diamonds :)  They pierce ears at our peds office so I called my friend/our pediatrician and made an appointment.  Knowing how intolerant Ella is to pain, I requested a prescription for Emla cream to put Ella’s ears “to sleep.”  Emla cream is supposed to be applied with an occlusive dressing and well…we had stopped at Wendy’s to eat lunch and I forgot to bring anything to cover her ears with.  So, I asked the girl taking orders if I could have some Saran wrap.  She asked me what for and I told her without thinking “to wrap my daughter’s ears in.”  She looked at me like I was a complete idiot!  I then explained to her the whole story and she then had to tell her supervisor…finally they gave me a piece of Saran wrap…YAY!  I then had to convince Ella to let me put all this cream on her ears and then let me put these big pieces of Saran wrap on them.  You can only imagine all the strange looks I was getting in Wendy’s :) 

This is Ella on the way with her Saran wrapped ears…

It took a little convincing to get her to go through with it…

Still talking about it…

I don’t know who looks more scared…me or Ella?!

She DID IT!!  And didn’t even shed a tear!!  Her ears slept through the whole piercing process!! 

Ella showing off her new diamonds!!  She is so proud of her new earrings!  She has done exactly what the doctor told her to do.  She “turns her ears” and washes them everyday!

• You are wearing a Size 3 diaper and size 9-12 months clothing
• You are a great eater!  I haven’t found many things you won’t eat.  It’s all we can do to feed you fast enough.
• You have become a speed crawler!  You can get anywhere and can get there fast!  We are constantly on your heels keeping you out of things.
• You are pulling up on everything and are not scared to let go!  You’ve managed to get a few bumps on your noggin!  I’m sure the first of many to come! 
• You are so hard to get to sleep anymore!  You fight sleep worse than you sister did at your age!  And I thought she was bad….BOY, you are so much harder to get to sleep.  You sing when you get really sleepy just like your sister.  But when you finally get to sleep, you’re a good sleeper!
• You are talking!  You can say “da-da” and “ma-ma.”  Your first word was “da-da.”  (they say it’s easier to say!)  When you want anything or are mad, you yell “ma-ma-ma-ma!”
• You SMILE constantly!  You have a smile that is contagious.  You smile with your whole face and it melts my heart every time I see it :)  Everybody talks about what a happy baby you are!

So blessed to be a Mommy to my 2 beautiful children!!  They are why I get to celebrate Mother’s Day and I couldn’t think of a better gift! :)

And so blessed to have a fabulous Mother

Happy Mother’s Day!  Feeling blessed!