Ella - 6 months!

My little girl is now 1/2 a year old! She turned 6 months last Saturday, the day after Carter turned 3. Here is a summary of all the fun things she is doing right now, and 6 months pics below!

• Ella is 15lb 15oz and 25 1/3 inches. According to Dr. Nail, she is developing wonderfully and hitting all milestones for a 6 month old baby! So very grateful and blessed with a beautiful, healthy girl! 
• Still sleeping 11-12 hours at night, and takes one short morning nap, one short mid-day nap (usually in the car), and a long afternoon nap.
• Sitting up on her own without assistance.
• Getting up on her hands and knees and rocking back and forth as well as getting onto all 4s from the sitting position- it's probably just a matter of a few weeks before she takes off!
• Grabbing at absolutely anything within reach. Phones, remotes, anything at the dinner table and generally anything she isn't supposed to have are her favorite things to go after! She really loves to chew on my purple rubbery phone cover. Any time I'm in a pinch and need to buy 5-10 minutes with her, that's what she gets.... and it works like a charm every time!
• Loving her brother so much..... everything about him! She's all smiles when he is around!
• Doing great with baby food, and constantly trying new things. So far she's had bananas, apple sauce, pears, sweet potatoes, squash, peas, mango, avocado, and carrots. I'd say pears, apple sauce, and sweet potatoes are her favorites by far, and squash and peas are her least fav (don't blame her!). Green beans and peaches will be coming soon! And I'm pretty proud of myself for making all of it, too!
• She is so much more of a friendly baby now than she has ever been. While she still is very attached to the 3 of us, she is a lot more smiley and sweet to faces she doesn't yet recognize or to strangers, and she doesn't seem so scared of them!

Happy half-birthday, baby girl! :)

Lots of pictures this time! She is so expressive these days, and always has such a cute and funny look on her face!

Hands in the mouth..... always!

 Big girl!

 Love this grin!

 And this is her new thing - sticking her tongue out and grinning really big around it! Really adorable!

 So pretty!

 Those eyes!

 Very serious.

 Up on all 4s (and ready to be done with this photo shoot!)

 Little sweetheart

Ella's 'Yuck' Face

Ella has been a pretty good eater thus far when it comes to new baby foods. I can tell she's not that fond of certain things, but she pretty much swallows whatever I shovel into her mouth without any fight. With that said, I've kind of been missing those hilarious faces from her when she is grossed out by something. Yesterday I gave her avocado, and she finally made me giggle with her 'yuck' face and pitiful baby gags. It reminds me of a little video I'm sure a lot of you remember of Carter eating green beans! I definitely think Carter's video is hard to beat, though!

Carter's 3rd Birthday Party!

We invited a few of Carter's closest little buddies to join us at the park for a small party for him on Saturday. Even though it was very windy, it was cool, and it wasn't raining.... so definitely a success in my book! Carter had such a good time celebrating with all his little friends and family..... thanks so much to everyone for coming!

A little play time with his friends first.....

 Sweet Olivia! Soooo pretty!

Singing Happy birthday.... he sang it to himself, so cute!

 Cupcake time, finally!

 Gotta love these messy boys!

Time to open gifts!

 Carter hasn't touched an 'old' toy all weekend!! :) He is truly loving everything he got!!!

Done with gifts, now time to play some more!

Such cute best buddies!

 Oh, to be a care-free 3 year old little boy!!

 A birthday hug from Mason

 Carter and Tyler being silly!

 They look like they're planning something....

 So sweet! He really loves all of his little friends so much!

Thank you again to everyone that took the time to celebrate our little man with us this weekend! Carter is so blessed to have so many kind and wonderful people in his life!!

Carter's Birthday, Friday the 13th!

We had a really fun day planned for Carter's birthday on Friday!!

We started the day by giving him his birthday gift from us.....

a Lightening McQueen Power Wheels car.

Oh my, this boy was in heaven!!

We took it down the street to the cul-de-sac and let him loose! He can definitely operate it, but he really needs a driver's training course!!

 Doesn't it look like he's going so fasy\t?! But I can assure you, only 3.5 MPH!

Next, we took Carter to the Grapevine Vintage Railroad for a ride on Thomas the train! He was so  excited to go!!

Posing with some of his train buddies.

 Me and my big 3 year old getting ready to ride the train!

 Love my cheesy grin boy!

 Daddy and Carter enjoying the ride

 After the ride, we took a few pictures with Thomas.

 So fun!

 Then time for a little bounce house fun...

 ...and checking out the miniature trains.

 My handsome boy showing off his Thomas tattoo before heading out to his birthday lunch.

He had so much fun!! And so did we. Thanks to Nana for watching Ella so we could have some one on one time with our boy on his birthday!

At home later that evening, we spent some more time outside enjoying the beautiful weather and driving Lightening McQueen!

 Ella was very fascinated by that car!

 And her brother, too!

 Carter showing Ella how to do it.....

 And a few of our littlest sweetie in her hot rod!!

Carter, we had so much fun with you celebrating with you on Friday! Hope you had the greatest day ever!

For My Carter...

..... on your 3rd birthday.

It's hard to believe that yet another year in your life has passed. You continue to amaze me daily with everything you do and say! Even though I am your Mommy, I feel that you are constantly teaching me things about myself, your Daddy, and all things in life that I somehow never knew. You are a fun loving, sweet spirited, highly energetic, smart, and caring little boy.... and I hope you always will come and snuggle me like you do now. I look forward to another year with you.... teaching you, shaping your heart and guiding you to be a kind and loving little person, cherishing each and every funny thing you say and sweet thing you do. I just can't wait to watch you grow some more, yet it feels hard to say goodbye to the times that have already passed us by. You are such a joy, and there isn't enough space in this world to hold all the love that I have for you. You are my best little friend, and you will always be my baby boy, even 50 years from now on your 53rd birthday! I love you dearly, my handsome little man. We are going to have lots of fun today, and celebrate YOU! I can't wait. :o)

Happy 3rd birthday!
Love always,
Mommy

Easter Weekend

All day Saturday and Sunday morning were spent at Eric's parent's. Carter had a blast playing outside, canoeing, and fishing. Ella had fun trying to crawl in the floor and playing with Grandma and Grandpa. Carter hunted eggs early on Sunday morning, and we finished just before the rain started, thankfully!

Ella watched with her Great Grandma and Grandpa while Carter hunted eggs.

 Where to start?

 Silly boy!

 Little cuties.

 Carter sharing his eggs with Ella.... too sweet!

 Excited to have found lots of eggs!

Sunday evening we went to my parents' for dinner and family time. We waited until it was almost dark to do an egg hunt, that way it would dry out a little bit. Fortunately it was dry enough to hunt eggs, but by that time it was almost dark, so none of my pictures really turned out. But I can assure you, it went just as egg hunts go with 3 year olds. :)

Ella and her Grandad

 Ella and Nana 

 Nana getting some love from both babies!

 My family and my brother with Granny Mary

 And Mommy and daughter!