Daily News: Our Family is Growing!

Extra, extra, read all about it! The Daily’s have some very big news…

Our Family is Growing

Baby Daily #2 Coming March 2014

That’s right, Ella is going to be a big sister.  And, our little (growing) family could not be any more excited to share the good news.  Ryan and I are not very good secret keepers and trying to keep this on the hush-hush has been, well, impossible.

The original plan was to tell our families after the first doctor’s appointment-- That plan lasted a whopping two hours.  Then the plan was to share the news with you all after the first appointment-- That plan lasted a whole two days.  It’s just such a blessing that it has been too hard for us not to share with our loved ones.

Happy 18-Month Birthday Ella Kate

Eighteen months is a very big milestone.  Sure, it’s not technically a birthday, but maybe it should be.  At 18-months, you get the very first glance of your toddler.  Not a baby, not yet a little girl.  It’s an important milestone and I want to document it.

18-Months, Going on Eighteen

Happy 18-Month Birthday Ella Kate

···  The Stats  ···  Weight:  24 lbs 9.5 oz  /  Height:  33”

··· Her [Current] Favorites ···  Playing Outside · Smelling Flowers

Swimming · Reading Books · Cottage Cheese · Blueberries

“Ella” · “Seriously” · “No” · “Ouch” · “Apple”

Phones & Remotes · Books · Purses

2013 CHOC Walk: Team Ella Kate Daily

We are so proud to support such a wonderful organization, an organization that has supported our family (and continues to support us) through one of our most trialing journeys.  CHOC is an organization that holds a very near and dear place in our hearts.

Since this is a relatively new blog allow me to fill you in on Ella’s background and our relationship with CHOC:

When Ella was about one month little we were told that our baby had tested positive for Cystic Fibrosis (CF).  We were immediately put in contact with CHOC and assigned to a case-worker within their Pulmonary Clinic.  After our first appointment and a few tests later, Ella received a diagnosis of:  Cystic Fibrosis Metabolic Syndrome (CFMS).  What does that mean?  Well, it means that she has genetic mutations on both CF genes, but currently shows no signs of the disease (and may never).  Her specific mutations are extremely rare, which also means that we still have a lot of questions-- Making CHOC our go-to place for any of those questions.  For 17-months the Pulmonary team at CHOC has provided our family with an amazing support system.  We are, and will forever be, thankful to them for all that they have done for our little family.

And that is why we know this is a cause worth supporting!

So, on that note, please join our family and team Ella Kate Daily at the 2013 CHOC Walk.  All team registrations, sponsorships and donations go directly to the CHOC Foundation.

You can read more about our journey with CHOC in older blog posts at:  A Daily Home

Ella the Little Mermaid-Fishy

Ella the Little Red-Riding Hood Fishy

Ella started swim at The Plunge in Brea, again!  They have a really great program there and we have been looking forward to it for a long time now.

She was such a little mermaid last year that swimming was number one priority on this year’s Summer to-do list.  We’ve completed one (of at least three) two-week sessions and I just cannot get enough of my little mermaid.

My little mermaid is:

Blowing Bubbles · Bobbing for Rings · Tunnel Swimming

Jumping from the Side · Kickers · and…

… The Diving Board

Lets clarify something really quick-- She was NOT dropped!  She was gently guided to the lifeguard who was awaiting her in the pool.

I <3 My Little Mermaid-Fishy

Happy Summer 2013

Where is this year going?  Is it really already Summer?  It sure is.

While there were a few things left unchecked on my Spring 2013 list, there were two things that were a must in getting prepared for Summer:  Backyard shenanigans, and Spring cleaning (the garage to be exact).

It has all been a labor of love!  We started by demoing a workshop attached to our garage (it was a disaster of a room). About 300 sq ft of ten inch concrete, three truck and trailer trips to the dump and countless hours we finally had our blank canvas.  And once it was down we decided that it would make for a perfect playground.  We’ve been really excited about this project.  Let’s call it:  Project Playground

We’re about 90% complete (just waiting for the grass to go in and a couple minor touches).  She has a mini swing set, a big-girl slide, a Tic-Tac-Toe and plenty of flowers to smell.  The girl loves to smell the flowers.  It's been a really great family project for us all.

Mommy and Daddy even got a fire pit.  Don’t worry though it’s at the opposite end of the backyard.  Summer is going to be good.  Life is good.

Oh, and the garage got cleaned too.  It wasn’t quite the death of me, but almost.  And with all this done, it’s time to just enjoy summer… and maybe start barbequing a little.  Happy Summer!

A. Daily Kitchen: Baked Chicken Nuggets

I think a recipe post is overdue.  Way overdue. I’ve given this some thought and I want the first recipe “back” to be one of our family’s favorites.  And I know just the recipe:  Baked Chicken Nuggets.

Told You, Kid Friendly

Baked Chicken Nuggets ···

1.5 Lbs Chicken Breast, Cubed

1+ Cup Sour Cream and Onion Chips, Crumbled

1 Cup Baked Sour Cream and Onion Chips, Crumbled

1 Tbs. Grated Parmesan Cheese

Dash of Kosher Salt

1 Large Egg

1-2 Tbs. Milk

Parchment Paper

Preheat Oven to 375°

In a medium bowl, mix both crumbs, cheese, and salt together.  Set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk egg and milk.

Coat each cubed chicken in your egg mixture, then roll each piece in the crumb mixture until completely covered.

Bake on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Click on Image to Enlarge

Ella <3’s these!  She eats them faster than I can refill her plate.  The bonus, I don’t even feel guilty because they’re baked.  This really is a great family recipe.  #PerfectToddlerRecipe

My Hubby, Ella's Daddy: A Different Kind of Love

In honor of Father’s Day approaching, I think it’s only appropriate that I blog about my Hubby, you know, Ella’s Daddy.  Ryan!

I recently caught a glimpse of a sign that read: 

“I never knew how much I loved your Daddy until I saw how much he loved you.”  

[So true!]

Ella & Her Daddy

I loved Ryan before Ella, obviously.  But, I did experience a completely different kind of love for him when I saw him become a Daddy.  This love grows stronger everyday when I see how much he loves Ella (and how much she loves him back).  It’s one of those emotions that is just too difficult to put into words.  It's one of those emotions that just grows inside you.  Everyday.  Day after day.  It’s something that I think is so special and so intimate that the right words just don’t exist, at least not in my vocabulary.

I will say though that it is a special kind of love, one that allows me to realize just how thankful I am for my Husband.  I don’t even begin to tell him enough.  He gives me so much to be thankful for-- [The kind of person that he is, the Husband that he is and most definitely, the Daddy that he is].  That means more to me than I could ever begin to explain.  He means more to me than I could ever tell you him.  #I<3Him