Spring Fever!

Some updates on Ella Claire...

• has taken four unassisted steps about two weeks ago- since then....won't even attempt it anymore! We've decided to let her do it on her own. I'm actually savoring her being a baby a little while longer...can't believe she's almost a "toddler"!
• loves her food! We can hardly get her to finish a bottle anymore-loves cherrios, bananas, sweet potatoes, apples, cheese, cereal bars. We will start cows milk soon!
• Trying to slowly wean from the paci. Dadda doesn't give it to her in the car on the way to school at all anymore, and only gets it during the day if she's feeling the affects of teething or gets hurt playing :)
• Was feeling "left out" one morning when Dadda and Momma were kissing goodbye, so she actually butted her head up to us to join in. It was so cute, I wish I could have gotten it on video!

At the park swinging!
My momma's sure jealous of my beautiful eye lashes :)

As of yesterday morning, Ella Claire now has four upper teeth and two bottom teeth! She's growing up sooo fast!

Weee!! Dadda and me swinging together at the park. We can't wait for sunshine and warmer weather!

Happy Birthday to one of my BFF's..Alivia just turned one! I don't think she cared too much for her cake :(

Two peas in a pod :)

Ella Claire loved riding the horsey at the bday party! I can't EVEN believe that I am planning her first birthday party already....how the heck is she almost a year old??

I have to admit, even though I straighten my hair almost everyday....I sure am thankful that my baby girl has my naturally curly hair. It's growing like a weed and so easy to make pretty :)

Grandad Rushing in town this weekend. Taking a quiet moment to feed me :)

Even MORE Snow Days!!

We're getting quite bored in the house for so many long hours....we have now found dadda's stomach hair! She pulled and pulled, really wondering what it was?!

My baby girl has learned to CLAP! She claps all the time now. She's also learned how to put the ball into the giraffe to make the song play.

Jonathan's poor car is buried...

Jonathan trying to give Maggie some much needed exercise. The dogs are ready for warm weather too, so that I can get back to taking them on walks!

Well, I thought we'd try and get a picture of her standing in the snow....she didn't like this idea very much.

As of 1:00, Feb. 9th we have 21 inches of snow. Max is having quite the time using the restroom! :)

Ella Claire and Momma's Snow Days!

Dadda was breaking the icicles off the gutters. He just had to play around with them....they were HUGE.

What in the heck is this cold stuff??!

Needless to say, after the fourth snow day...Momma asked Dadda to get them out of the house! Ella was asleep within minutes. For some reason being at home with Momma made me try not to take my normal naps! We had a couple of looong days!

My poor baby doesn't even own a snow suit. Maybe next year when she can actually walk and play in it we will invest in one!

Just watching the snow come down with my sis and bubby :) The dogs enjoyed looking out the window just as much as EC I think.

First Christmas!

Grandad Rushing feeding me yummy yogurt! Just look at that smile :)

Yay! Santa did come! What did he bring me??!

MeMaw and Paw Paw Norwood, what a great smile!

Merry Christmas 2010, with Daddy, Grammie and Aunt Lauren!

Getting ready to go to sleep on Christmas Eve so Santa Claus can come visit me!

Me and Mama going to Christmas Eve church service. I loved the music and danced the whole time!

We had a great visity with Great Granny and Great Grandad Norwood.

First gift to open....and all I want to do is eat the paper :)

Finally broke my first tooth through!!

First Visit With Santa Claus!

Someone can't stay away from the pretty bows! Not too interested in the packages yet, thank goodness :)

"Who is this scary lookin guy?" Needless to say, I couldn't get a smile out of her but I'm still framing this picure :)

He was a little less scary when Daddy was holding me.

Video of Ella's latest sound making..(sorry wrong video, can't get the right one up)!

First Thanksgiving! Gooble Gooble!

Great Granny giving me my first sewing lesson.

and....my first organ lesson ;)

Ella Claire eating out of Great Papaw's high chair. This high chair was given to Great Papaw in 1925! Ella had such a fun time sitting in it for Thanksgiving lunch! What a great memory made :)

Daddy, Grammie and Ella Claire in Grammie's backyard. This was also the evening we went out to dinner to Outback. We didn't know the craziness that was about to happen.....

I'll title this little story,"Slapped by a Stanger"

So Jonathan, Ella Claire, Pam, Lauren and I went to dinner. We sat in a booth and Ella was sitting in her high chair next to Jonathan. Pam was sitting beside her on the other side of the booth. After we had order and were enjoying our appetizer, we noticed a family of four being seated behind us in the booth. The two parents were getting their newborn settled in the carrier, when the three year old casually walks up to Ella. I wasn't watching at this point, but Jonathan thought, "How sweet this little boy and going to say hi to Ella Claire". Well, let's just say that is NOT what happened. The little boy continues to walk up to Ella and proceeds to rare his hand back and SLAPS her right across the right check! He then turns to head to his table for dinner. Needless to say, Ella looks up at her Daddy with a confused frown and begins to bawl her little eyes out! Jonathan is in complete shock and has to hold back his impulse to "grab" the little boy. I didn't actually see this happen but did HEAR the slap. Pam is immediately telling the boys mom, "He just hit her!" I was so enraged, all I could do was pick her up and walk out of the resturant. Of course Ella was over it in about 30 seconds, but it took me a good 8 minutes to stop shaking and return to the table. The parents were very apologetic and informed our table that big brother is having some MAJOR jealousy issues with the new sister addition in their family. I would have to agree with that!! It took the rest of dinner for my emotions to settle. A couple of weeks later and I can finally laugh at it. But from now on, no one walks up to our daughter in the high chair anymore!!

Some good pics by Aunt Jacque

Hudson and Ella Claire...date at the pumpkin patch :)

Humm, a look of confusion?! What do I do with these?

Ella Claire's First Word.....

Don't be surprised that Ella Claire's first word was...."MAMA"!! Guess you can imagine how absolutely happy that made me! She was first mumbling it two weekends ago to Jonathan when I had walked out of the room. Then on the following Monday when she went to Jacque's she was pronouncing it perfectly! Jacque called me after school and I was able to hear her over the phone screaming it over and over. It was so precious! Now that she's mastered that, we're working on "Dadda" :)

Bath Time Fun!

Ella is learning that bath time can be fun! She's just learning how to splash...she's so cute and has always liked bath time! Thankfully :)

New Family Fall Pictures

Mama gettin some shuggers!

Just chillin with cousins Holt and Savannah...too cute

Aunt Jacque..aka...babysitter, Uncle Bradley, Savannah and Holt

It was so sunny, hard to get EC to even look up at the camera, much less smile :)

She loved looking at the flowers, tried to eat a couple of course too.

First Family Hike

My precious baby.

Playing tug-of-war with Daddy.

Not so sure I like sitting in the grass! My new favorite pic!!

Ella Claire Updates....

Ella just had her 6 month check up. She is 50% in weight at 16 1/2 lbs. 80% in height at 26 3/4 in. She rolled over for the first time on July 31 from belly to back, and then from back to belly on Aug. 2nd. It was so fun to watch her experiment with it! She is now "army crawling" pretty good for the past 3 weeks or so. She can get up on her knees, but she just rocks back and forth. Hasn't quite figured out how to stay up on her knees, but she is getting fast! Found her first cord around the side of the couch....scared me to death! We are baby proofing everything now! :) We are anxiously waiting to see the first tooth! I swear she's been teething since she was born. She has drooled excessively since she was 2 months old and it's only getting worse! We go through bibs like crazy! Right now she is enjoying, squash, zucchini, and rice cereal. We're going to try sweet potatoes next. Once she actually figured out how to swallow the solid food...she eats very good!

Happy 5th Anniversary Hubby!

Thank you for being a wonderful husband, best friend, and father! I am so lucky to have you as mine!! (This was also the first night ...really only about 18 hours away from Ella Claire, mommy and daddy slept in until 9:00 am! It was fabulous! Thanks Aunt Jacque for babysitting :)

Drew's BDay Party!

Shot 3...Pulling Hudson's hair :)

Shot 2....

Ella Claire, hangin' with the older crowd. Notice sequence of events. Shot 1...

Happy 1st Birthday Beautiful Drew! How adorable in your birthday bikini!

Ella Claire and Shea (Drew's Mommy), my good friend since Jr. High!