Here We Come Spring 2013

We’re already a month or so into Spring and our family has yet to take advantage of this pretty perfect weather.  So many ideas yet so many to-do’s still left unchecked.  Shame on us.

That being said, I am determined to start checking the list.  It’s a relatively short list, but it’s full of memories to be made and fun to be had.  The list:

Flower Fields ··· I’ve always seen beautiful pictures of and heard wonderful things about The Flower Fields in Carlsbad.  The little girl in me imagines stopping time for just one day-- Getting lost in the petals and taking time to smell the flowers.  Doesn’t that sound like so much fun?  I bet Ella would <3 it too!

Strawberry Picking ··· Picking and eating strawberries in the middle of a farm?  Yes, please!  Tenaka Farms in Irvine offers Strawberry Tours this time of year and I just <3 the idea of filling baskets with freshly picked strawberries.  Besides, Miss Ella <3’s strawberries.

Disneyland Days ··· Miss Ella and I are half way into our annual pass and we haven’t used it half as much as I would like to.  She <3’s Minnie Mouse (almost as much as Mommy does), and it makes me so happy to see her get as excited as she does at Disneyland.

Backyard Shenanigans ··· A current backyard project has motivated me to get-it-together in the backyard.  I’m talking (more) rose bushes, an herb garden, an avocado tree, a tic-tac-toe, a swing set and maybe even a playhouse.  The works!  It’s time for a kid-friendly family backyard.

Spring Cleaning ··· Yes, I am actually looking forward to rolling up my sleeves a little and getting super organized.  It is overdue.  Garage, you may be the death of me, but you will be organized come Summer time.  You will be.

Get ready Spring 2013-- Here we come!

Getting Caught Up: Ella Kate

So… It’s been a while since I last blogged, a long while, okay-- A very long while.  My sincere apologies.  But don’t worry, I will get you caught up.

Let’s start with the absolute most important-- Ella Kate.  She is fifteen months little.  FIFTEEN.  I know, it happened overnight.  She’s becoming a little girl, no longer our teeny-tiny baby.  This has been really hard for Mommy, but yet, fun.  #BitterSweet

Since my last post Ella had her very first birthday.  It was a very big celebration for our little family, and an even bigger milestone for Miss Ella Kate.

Meet Our One Year Old

Since the big day there have been so many “too big, too fast” moments.  It's during these moments that I find myself looking at a little girl, a toddler, not my wee-little baby.   A few of the highlights:

Walking ···  A few short weeks after turning one Ella took her first steps.  She has quickly learned that there is so much more access to mischief when she walks on her two feet.  Needless to say, she likes walking… and mischief.  A lot.

Vocabulary ···  Miss Ella sure knows how to start a conversation.  Sure, sometimes it’s a little difficult to understand every word she is saying, but top words in her current vocabulary are:  “Uh-Oh”, “Daddy”, “Mommy”, “Hi”, “Thank You” and “Doggie”.  And, although not verbal, she’s not afraid to shake her head “no” either.

Teeth ···  Our little girl isn't only giving a mouth full, but she's also getting a mouth full these days.  It’s been a well, um, feisty road, but we’re here-- Eight front teeth and two incoming molars.  Thus, she had her very first dentist appointment where she sat in a big girl dentist’s chair while Dr. Butler examined her mouth.

---By the way, I highly recommend Dr. Butler and Butler Pediatric Dentistry for your child---

Pig-Tails ···  The day that I put Ella’s hair in pig-tails is the day that I saw my wee-little baby as a toddler.  It was such a transformation, for me.  There is something I just find so precious watching her toddle around with two little antennas on the top of her head.  It all just makes me melt.

Born To Rock the Pig-Tails

There you have it.  Our Miss Ella Kate, all caught up.  Well, sort of all caught up.  The big stuff at least.  There is so much more to blog about, but at least we have a starting point.