More Birthday Party Pictures

All worn out from all of the present opening!!!

She's an avid reader already, we'll work on reading right side up later on!!! Thanks Aunt Meg and Uncle Brian!!!

A new Abbey in Wonderland video. We had to watch if right away of course!!! Thanks Claire and Erin!!!

Lots of big smiles!!

Smooches for new monkey hand puppet/wash cloth!!!

The Birthday Bash

Not so sure what to think about the Elmo cake.

Great Marty, Nana, Aunt June and Aunt Susie, watching Ella's DVD of the first year. Drew was so proud of his handy work!!

Auntie Mimi and Ella.

Ella's Elmo cake, that I made. It took quite some time to ice, but it was totally worth it. She loved her Mo Mo cake so much, she wouldn't eat it, next year I'll make a cake that looks like something she doesn't love so much.

Drew's Parents, aka Olive Oil and Popeye!!!

More Birthday Pictures

Here are more pictures from Ella's actual first birthday. Here's Ella "reading" her birthday card from Grandma and Grandpa Moulis. They found a card that sings the Itsy Bitsy Spider, Ella can't get enough of it. I think they could have given her just that and she would have LOVED it!!!

Playing with you new gifts from Auntie Abbey Grace, Elmo of course!!!

Going down the slide at Chick-fil-a, she wanted to go over and over again.

Sliding with Daddy.

Dad, Ella and Mo Mo, is there anything better than that???

Ella Turns 1!!!!

Big birthday lunch at Ella's favorite restaurant...Chick-fil-a!!! I think this should be their next ad campaign!!!

Her new chair from grandma and grandpa Moulis. Snuggling with her favorite gift ever, MO MO!!!

Opening her gift from Aunt Mammy, a Fridge DJ. She is too funny, she walks around holding this and dancing. Thanks Mammy!!!

Loving TCBY fro-yo cake on her actual birthday.

Ok, I know I have been very very delayed in posting for the last month or so, I apologize. Its been a busy month getting ready for Ella's first birthday. I can hardly believe I have a 1 year old. It almost seems impossible. She has been so much fun this past year and it just seems to get better and better. Drew and I are so blessed to have such a sweet, funny, happy baby. Ella rocks our world!!! So, here are pictures from this past week of festivities. My parents came in town on Wednesday so they could be here for her actual birthday on Thursday. My sister came in on friday and two of my cousins drove up from St. Louis on Saturday to be here for the party. We had so much fun. Thank you all for making this such a special time for our family!!!

Birthday Festivities

I think all families have that crazy aunt, well, in our family its Crazy Aunt Meg!!! Meg and Colby went to San Fran a few weeks ago and brought all of the neices back Chinese Dresses, I can't remember what they are called. Unfortunately, little Lucy was sleeping so she is missing from the cousin picture. Meg is sporting Grandma Marty's outfit that Grandpa John brought back from China, I think, 30 years ago. Thank goodness for Crazy Aunt Meg!!!

Next NFL superstar???

I'm a Baking Machine!!!

Our friend Brian turned 28 this past week. I voluntered to make his cake, a chocolate cake with chocolate cream frosting. I decided that instead of just leaving the cake with the frosting, I needed to decorate it. I know its hard to read, but it says "Giggity." Brian, Meghan (Brian's wife), and Drew all love the show Family Guy. Giggity comes from that show. I also decided he needed to have hearts all over the cake as well!!! Happy Birthday Brian!!!
Drew's grandmother and brother-in-law also had birthdays this past Sunday. I made my favorite cake, grandma's favorite as well. I also decided I needed to decorate that as well. Notice the pink and purple polka dots. I think its time to buy actual cake decorating supplies, instead of ziplock bags and maybe even take a cake decorating class. I had so much fun though!!! Happy 85th birthday Grandma and Happy 30th Birthday Anthony!!!

Fox Kid

I just thought these pictures were cute. My cousin, Will, used to work for 20th Century Fox. He sent us this cute romper that says "I'm a Fox Kid" on it. Its cute and comfy so we LOVE it!!! Thanks Uncle Willie!!! We love you and miss you tons!!!

BIG NEWS!!!!!

So, I don't have any pictures of this but, ELLA TOOK HER FIRST STEPS TODAY!!!!!!!!!!! The two of us were just playing in the living room this afternoon. I stood up and started to walk into the kitchen, there behind me was Ella, following me!!! She took three steps on her own!!! It was hilarious. I don't think she quite gets the whole walking thing yet. She was looking around like, "oh my goodness, no one is holding my hand!!!" She then took another 6 steps to try to get the baby monitor I was holding!! My sweet little baby is growing up WAY too fast!!! I promise we'll figure out how to post videos and put one up of her walking. Hope everyone is doing well!!!!

Dinner with Daddy

I don't think there was a clean spot on her entire little body.
So prim and proper...??!!!
Thumbs up!!!
While I was taking my sister to the airport, Ella and Daddy had dinner together. I'm not sure if she actually ate anything. Good thing she wasn't wearing any clothes!!!

There's Nothing Better than Chocolate

My sweet friend Lindsay made my birthday cake for the 3rd year in a row. She also made chocolate and vanilla ice cream to go along with the cake. The cake and the ice cream were fantastic. Ella loved it too!!!

Ella Thinks She's a Dog...

We're a little concerned that Ella thinks she's a puppy, not a little girl. I've caught her several times trying to lap water up from Lily's bowl. She also licks instead of kisses...oh well. She's so cute, who cares if she thinks she's a dog.

Big Smooches!!!

Ella has started giving kisses which means she either licks you or bites you!!! Can't beat it!!!
I found this awesome onesie that says "My Mommy is taken but my Aunt is HOT and SINGLE!! Ella was going to wear it to the farmer's market on Saturday morning with Auntie Mimi but we got rained out...boo!!! She did wear it down to the Plaza though, we didn't find anyone yet, but Ella is on the look out!!! Our little matchmaker!!!

Ella's First Boyfriend!!

A good friend of mine from work moved to FL last week. Lindsay and I offered to hang out with their sweet little guy, Colton, for the afternoon so she and her husband could finish packing up. He is the sweetest little guy. Lily loved him too. She was just as protective of him as she is of Ella.As any good girlfriend would do, Ella stole his pacifier. What a girl!! I guess I need to teach her a couple of things about being a good friend. She'll learn!!

My 29th Birthday

Drew's parents took us out to dinner to one of our favorite restaurants, Cactus Grill, for my birthday dinner. We had a great time. We found out that Ella likes Espinaca, a Dischinger family favorite. I can't believe I'm going to be 30 next year. Where has the time gone?

What a Sweet Girl

I was looking back through some old pictures of Ella as a little baby, I just can't believe how much she has changed. She turned 9 months old yesterday. I can't believe I've been a mom for 9 months. I have no clue where the time has gone. Ella is so fantastic. Drew will probably kill me for writing this, but he came down the stairs a couple of nights ago after putting Ella to bed and said "I am so in love with my little girl." I think that is the best way to describe it, we are just so in love with our daughter. She is so much fun we just love her so much.

Spaghetti Pictures

I feel like when you look at every child's baby book, there always are pictures of them covered in spaghetti. Well, here are Ella's pictures expect it was penne pasta not spaghetti. She loved it though. She loves being able to feed herself.