Happy Happy Birthday Ella Dear

Ella has been gearing up for her birthday for months. She has told people it is her birthday when it is not. She just loves the whole idea of birthdays. The whole package of singing, cake, presents, friends, friends, friends. A couple of weeks ago she found her crown she wore at her first birthday. In case you can't read it, the crown says "Baby's First Birthday". We have been getting a lot of use out of it. On Tuesday (the 8th) her birthday finally arrived. Tom got her up on her birthday and he reminded her it was her birthday and she was excited from the moment that she woke up. She somehow found the crown in the morning and it stayed on her head pretty much all day.

Tom and I threw a party together the day before. Tom grew up only really having family parties for his birthday. I grew up without having much family around so we always had big friend parties. Tom and I compromised. We had our "Charlotte Family" over. Just a couple of our friends that we are really close with. Although not everyone could make it on such short notice, I was so happy we had people over. Ella really just wanted friends over for her birthday. We had Ella's favorite foods for dinner, Arby's roast beef, corn on the cob, strawberries and Kool-aid.

Ella has really been a joy in our lives the last three years. We love her so much. She has such a unique, cute personality. I have learned to throw out all my pre-conceived parenting ideas with her. (Like learning that some kids DO take 19 months to walk.....and it is okay) She makes us laugh every day. Her logic and cognitive thinking always keeps me on my toes. She is too smart for her own good. Now onto getting her fully potty trained. That is our next goal. I look forward to everything the next year brings. I realize that it will have its ups and downs, but I also know that whatever it brings, there will be laughs. Ella changed our lives for the better from the minute she was born. We sure love our Ella-bug.

I thought I would include a few more pictures taken lately. Over Labor Day, we pulled out the kiddie pool. The girls had a great time although Ella had been rather grumpy, so you will notice most of the pictures are of Audrey. She couldn't stop giggling.

Also, I finally got a picture of Ella in her Bottle Fairy Dress.

I love this last picture. I think it totally captures both the girls personalities. Audrey out front and entertaining and Ella peeking out from behind. Man I love those girls.