Ready...Set...???

Ok, well we're to the set part, but not quite ready to go. She's rocking back & forth and spinning circles and going backwards, but Ella's yet to crawl forward yet. She makes good attempts and can really get from Point A to Point B, it just may take her a little while longer. We're really being entertained by her now and enjoying parenthood so much. We go for walks about every night and Ella is very much aware of her surroundings now and has even taken an interest in Duste and vice-versa. I think Duste is beginning to enjoy Ella's company since she isn't as fragile as she was just 6 months ago. Parenthood is so fun! I can hear half of you laughing your butts off at that comment and I'm sure there are days when I will bite my tongue, but Ella is such a blessing in our lives!

Six months old

Our little peanut is a little over 6 months old now and went for her 6 month well child check up last week. She's up to 18 lbs 12 oz and 26" long. She's eating very well (cereal in the morning & fruits/veggies at night) and is just a very happy baby. What more could we ask for? An ear infection! Yep, a stinking ear infection. Diagnosed last week during her appt. But we have yet to truly experience, or so we're told since she still sleeps through the night and is actually less grumpy. Here she is practicing her acrobatic skills with daddy on the couch.

For those of you taking a close look at her hair -- yes, it's red. She did get something from me!

Swing

Ella had her first experience with a swing this evening. Our home backs to a large park and the swings were in the process of being replaced for about 2 months now...well the swings are back, so Ella had to give them a try and as you can see, she likes them.

Ella's Big Sister

So Ella's big sister is actually a 65 pound Australian Shepard mix -- but this weekend, Ella has a surrogate big sister -- her cousin Paige. Grandma & Grandpa watched Ella, Paige, & Cameron on Saturday night for Josh & Heather (they went out) and Charles & I (we were sick). This is Ella & Paige on Sunday morning playing with sing along books. They are actually sitting on top of Cameron, but I figured Cameron would rather not be splattered on a website --

New Family Picture

Over Memorial Day weekend, we visited our friends, the Schultes' family near Rolfe. We got to spend a little time w/ Ken, Carmella, Mary Walker, Sarah & Callie -- this picture was taken outside of their home on the new swing that Ken just hung up this weekend. Being the photographer she is, Carmella though it would be a good photo op... so here it is.

Sister Ella

Ella sometimes gets a little sleepy at night and for some reason, likes to lie around in her onesie or diaper. So, one night I took off her pants and she was playing with them, so I decided to put them on her head. Well, lo & behold ... Sister Ella was born. We couldn't stop laughing when we saw this picture. Much love to my Godmother, the real Sister....Sister Renae.

Crush

Ella met Gannon over the weekend. Gannon is the son of a good friend of mine, Amy & Daren Rockman. As you can see from the photo, they were fond of each other. Gannon just kept saying “baby, baby”.

Congratulations Kyle!

Our first nephew graduated from Emmetsburg High School on Sunday. This is Ella with Kyle Hagen, Charles' sister's son. We are so proud of Kyle and were able to celebrate with him on Saturday evening in Emmetsburg. The party was a lot of fun, so much so that Ella got really tired by the end. She was a party animal!



She's started in with "the strange" -- crying and being afraid with people she doesn't know or doesn't remember from the last time we saw them. She was "strange" for about an hour or so at Kyle's reception, but after a while was all well. We wish Kyle the best of luck as he heads to Army Boot Camp in a little over a
month!

Happy Baby

Here is Ella being her happy go lucky self. She hasn't yet started to crawl, but does a great job of spinning in circles on her tummy. I am still so amazed with the changes that she makes each day. She is still drooling immensely as you can see from her shirt. This actually was a good day regarding the drooling, it's usually down the whole front of her shirt. Her hair is really starting to come in thicker now and is a strawberry blond from what I can tell. She has also discovered this past week that mirrors make reflections in the light. She's been having a good time trying to follow the light reflection on our living room ceiling.

Wiggle Worm

Over the past week or so, Ella has turned into a little wiggle worm. She just cannot seem to sit still! Geesh! Oh well, I'm glad that she's progressing. She's just a little busy body, that's all! Still spinning in circles on her tummy and sitting up very well. She's been eating good too. I think we're just about through all the fruits & veggies we can find. Here she is sitting on Charles' lap and of course wiggling through his arms and almost over the arm rest of the chair! She is thriving though and for that, we are thankful!

This week, she will turn 6 months old. Time has really flown from the day we brought her home and she slept, ate, and made little presents in those things called diapers for us. Her personality is really starting to show -- sweet happy baby. If only I had a dollar for every person that said, Is she always that happy? YES!

She is really getting curious about her surroundings and is grabbing at everything and putting it in her mouth for a taste. She likes Peek-a-Boo and toys that make noise.

Still no teeth, but enough drool to make a small pond. It's ok because she continues to be happy and I don't think we could ask for more than that!

Charles said that when they went shopping for Mother's Day, Ella knew just what she wanted to get me. A digital food scale for the kitchen and a meat thermometer. Ok, so she also listens well when I tell her things that I would like. Some of you are thinking -- why on Earth would you get something like that for Mother's Day --- well, I'm pretty simple and don't like money to be spent on things that I can't use for a long period of time and these are two things I've wanted for a while.

Ok, enough blabbering. Hope you all have a good week!

Hello again

Well, it was bargain weekend in Pocahontas. Ella & I traveled to Pocahontas for Community Garage Sales and found some very good bargains -- from a step stool for the bathroom (for nieces & nephews to wash hands for now) to shoes to LOTS of clothing for Miss Ella. We got some really good bargains on name brand clothing that was just so cute.

Heather & Paige watched Ella for me on Saturday morning, so we (Ellen, Ellen's Sister Debbie, & I) didn't have to tote her in & out of the van all the time. Thank you, Heather & Paige! We had a nice visit w/ Aunt Debbie and in the picture, Ella is biting on her finger. Thanks for the teething toy!

Ella & I also got to see Great Grandma & Grandpa Hohensee, and Great Grandpa Spurbeck as well as a host of others -- always so nice to visit with everyone! We headed back to Des Moines on Saturday, so we could spend some time w/ Daddy. He was happy to see us and we came home to a very clean house and newly edged lawn -- how nice! Daddy was happy to see us, as we were him.

Ella is starting to roll to where she wants to go -- she's getting pretty good and her legs are very strong. I assume she will start to crawl in the next few months -- sometimes I think she'll just skip over it and start walking. Not sure I'm ready for that!!!

She loves to eat -- whether it's her bottle (milk/formula & cereal), oatmeal, veggies or fruits -- she's a good eater for the most part and I think she's really liking the baby food more than her bottle!

Her cough has gotten significantly better -- but her spitting up is starting to re-visit us. Today in church, she spit up on Charles & I. She thought my hair wasn't quite right, so she thought a little spit up might do the trick. Nice Ella! At any rate, we're just being patient, knowing that at some point, this will all pass.

Today, we watched Logan for a while for Brian & Sarah. He's such a good & polite little boy and loves playing w/ Baby Ella, as he calls her.

Charles' brother Clark got engaged about a week ago to Cindy Hughes. They have been dating for almost two years and the family has been waiting patiently hoping that she was the one for him! Well, apparently she is, so Congratulations! The wedding is next July (2007)

And my brother, Brian will be getting married to his lovely lady, Sarah Elder this upcoming October! Sarah especially loves our little Ella. She calls her "the pink one" -- So, weddings all around! We are all really excited! Especially Logan!

Hmmm...well boys & girls, it's about bedtime in our house -- I know 8:00 -- geepers, you would think I was 80. Oh well, a lady needs her sleep and some quiet time before starting another week of work.

My new job w/ Principal is going really well and I continue to learn more & more everyday, which is very important to me!