I'm 6 months old!

Ella went to the doc last week and here are her stats:

Weight: 14.3 (25-50%)
Height: 26 (50-75%)
Head: 16.25 (25-50%)

She had her first case of stranger danger. Ella was sitting on the table and the doc went to examine her so I backed off a bit. Ella turned her head towards me and pouted and then cried. She looked at the doc like she was crazy. However, she took her shots like a trooper and the nurse was impressed with her bravery (they say that to all the babies, don't they?). She continues to be a super happy, easy baby.

Buzz makes her watch football :( She adores her dad and if she's nursing when he comes home, she breaks away and turns to watch him and "talk" to him.

She loves her jumperoo and exersaucer.

She started preparing her Christmas list. At the top is an Edward Cullen doll!

We brought out some of her big girl toys and she is having so much fun.

Otis is finally showing an interest in her and she loves it.

She grabs her head when people smile or talk to her.

She is sitting up all by herself! Thanks to Adriana for showing her the ropes.

She doesn't know how to work the DVR yet. It's frustrating.

Wow, on her 6 month birthday, she started foods. First up - rice cereal. She loves it now. What's with the poop though? The blowouts are back baby!

She is rolling and babbling like crazy. I swear she says, "Hey" or more like, "haaaayyyyy." Call me crazy. She has babbled ma ma and da da once each that I've heard so I don't think those count.

She's on a super regular schedule now due to her dad's Nazi regime. To bed at 8:00 pm every night. She wakes up at 7:30 like clockwork. I can't really complain because he puts her to bed almost every night. He puts her in her pjs and reads her a story.

It is so hard to believe that it's been 6 months with this perfect little baby. We are so lucky to be her parents.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What I'm thankful for:

Poopy diapers
C-section scar
stretch marks on boobs
flabby stomach
sleepless nights (just kidding!)




Because without all of these I wouldn't have what I'm most thankful for...


My little turkey!

Ella is an eater!

Warning: The first words in this video are said by me and are super loud and annoying, I know this, so I don't need any smart ass comments - MANDY. Okay.

We decided to wait till Ella was 6 months before feeding her anything besides...you know breast milk. So, we were pretty darn excited to try out some cereal on this little girl Friday. I waited till Buzz got home and let him do it since I get to be with her every day. And guess what? She loves eating. She's probably all, "Mom, why did the other babies get to start eating and you've been making me wait!" Just call me Hitler.

Future dog trainer?

New Moon - or Drooling at R-Patz

I did it! I am officially a loser, but I'm okay with it. I met some friends out at AMC 30 Barrington last night at 10:00 pm to get seats for New Moon, the sequel to Twilight. I read all the books shortly after giving birth to Ella - it passed the time while nursing.

We had advance tickets and waited over two hours for the show to start. I didn't get home till almost 3 am! Am I a tired SAHM (stay at home mom) today? Yes - but totally worth it. Swoon. And for your information I certainly was not the oldest person there by a long shot!

Okay, let's hear it...

The hard working baby

Sometimes when I don't feel like doing it, I make Ella call unemployment for me. After all, she's here to help out, right?

A Blast From the Past - Cancun 1996

We were at Buzz's mom's house this weekend and found this gem from Senior year in Cancun. Buzz, Gormsen, Campbell, Gino and Nick.

Young studs!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

A Clothing Massacre

The following pictures are what I came home to on Monday in the early evening. Mind you I'd been home all day prior to this and the dogs went to the park the day before for 1.5 hours and the day before that!

Ella and I slipped out around 3 and headed to downtown Dundee for a walk and a stop at the park. We stopped at Jewel on the way home to pick up some things for dinner and were home by 5:30.

I opened the door with Ella and some bags of groceries only to be knocked aside by a charging Otis. He ran out through the open garage door. Next I put Ella in the foyer and grabbed Greta's leash to take her outside. As soon as we get out there she turns into Cujo on the neighbor dog and her friend. Now she knows both of these dogs from the dog park and gets along great with them but there is something about her being on leash.

So I'm waiting for her to pee (she keeps trying to attack the two off-leash dogs) and chatting with my neighbor and his friend when I catch sight of Otis in said neighbor's garage with his head buried in the open dog food bag. Did I mention that yesterday he ate a CHOCOLATE filled croissant off the top of my oven and attempted to eat a banana peel from a DIFFERENT neighbor's house?

Well it seems the dogs (Greta) decided to empty out the two bags of goodwill clothes we had in the front foyer. I guess she wasn't quite ready to part with those sleepy pants and Buzz's old robe. You have to appreciate how the clothes are artfully strewn about ( I don't know why this is blue underlined print...)Possible suspect number one: damn red dog or Otis Van No No

Possible suspect number two: Re Greta

The story ends with me finding a giant pee spot at the bottom of the basement stairs (Greta) later in the evening and as I write this I catch a glimpse of the chewed corner of one of our couch pillows.

All in a day's work for these two show dogs.

Edible Eyeballs

I keep forgetting to post this pic of these eyeballs I made for the dog Halloween party. See what being a stay at home mom does to you:

Ella laughing

I won a contest!

I won a photo contest using this photo that I took when Otis was 6 months old. The photo will be published in a book and I won a $50 gift certficate to ihelppets.com
Here is the weird thing...I think I entered this contest a long, long time ago. Oh well, at least I won!

Ella's first Halloween

We started the day with a visit from Grandma Jeanie and Uncle Eric. That night we went to Colton's 1st b-day/Halloween Party. It was a blast. How cute are Buzz and Ella matching? I was going to be Lady Gaga but was on my death bed all week so I had to be a cow...again!

The Host

The hostess (I don't have a great shot of her hair but it was real, the owner of her salon gave her a wicked do).

My parents Instead of being scared, Ella thinks they're funny.

Yes, that is Buzz in a sweater dress. Love it!

The birthday boy was Winnie the Poo dressed as a bumblebee.