Halloween Fun!

Ella had her first Halloween party last Thursday at the daycare at the gym. She is a skunk this year and wore her costume the whole time she was at daycare, mommy got to go workout.
Then on Saturday we went to Spooky Zoo at the Lincoln Park Zoo and she had a blast. She dressed up again and got to go around and see all the animals and all the other kids. She loved having her pumpkin bucket to put any treats in.

She also got to meet some characters along the way and wasn't afraid of any of them. Here she is meeting Mickey Mouse.
Ella was such a good girl the whole day. I can't believe how big she is getting, she is definitely not a baby anymore! I think that she enjoyed the whole experience of Spooky Zoo. Here is a video of her dancing to a band at the zoo.

We also went to get a couple of pumpkins yesterday at a pumpkin lot down the street. Ella loved it! I didn't think she would be that into it, but she was so into the pumpkins. She wanted to hold one she picked out the whole time. We are going to carve one so she can see a jack-o-lantern, even though no one else will probably see it.

Big Girl

Lately Ella wants to do everything by herself, including getting into and onto things she shouldn't. We have been having fun with her new found adventurous side. Here she is standing on her train (daddy was watching her).

She has also been climbing into the cabinets whenever she can and into the bin we have by the front door (we keep shoes in it). Today I caught her in the shoe bin, she was in there face first, with the shoes still in there too. She wasn't fussing so I let her figure it out by herself and in a second she was sitting up and so proud of herself.






















We have a busy few days coming up here. Tomorrow is Ella's Halloween party at the gym daycare. She gets to dress up for it and everything. I'll have pictures soon. Then Friday is Daddy's birthday and Adam will be babysitting her for a little while while we go out to a bar. On Saturday is the Spooky Zoo at Lincoln Park Zoo, we are looking forward to that if the weather stays decent.

Riding my train

Well, yesterday Ella learned how to get on her train by herself! All she wants to do is ride the train now. She can even push by herself, but just with one leg (that is all that can touch). She sits on the train a little crooked so that one foot can touch the floor. At the daycare at the gym they have a little red ride-on car that I guess she has been riding on the last couple days as well. What a big girl she is getting to be. Today she even tried to take a step on her own and has been standing on her own more and more. Here is a video of her riding on her train!

On the move!

Ella is so busy lately! She is so close to walking, it's going to happen any day now. She is starting to get more adventurous and walking along everything, as long as she can hold on with one hand. The last few days she has been into her baby doll and likes to carry her around with her.

We went to one of her friends b-day parties this weekend (the girls are two weeks apart from each other). Ella had a great time! They had hired a lady from Wiggleworms to come and entertain the kids, they all loved the songs. Ella really got into it when the lady pulled out the shakers to use. Here is a video of her dancing with the shakers and having a great time.




Tomorrow Ella and I are going in to get our flu shots, I hope it goes ok. Poor girl though, she just had her 12 month shots a week and a half ago and now I'm making her get another one! At least she doesn't associate the doctors office with getting shots yet!!! So we don't actually have a breakdown until the shot is given. I'm sure it'll be fine about 15 min after we leave the office.

12 month check up

Well today we went in for Ella's 12month check up, and everything is great. The doctor says that she is perfect, but of course we already knew that. She has to get a new prescription for her eczema, it has been acting up again. She also got three shots today which did not make her happy at all. She had to get her shots in her arms this time instead of her legs. She cried for a good 10 min at least and wouldn't let daddy hold her, only mommy. She is growing well, she is 28 1/4 in long and 20lb 7oz, getting to be such a big girl! The doctor must have made her really tired because she is now taking a nap and has already been sleeping for 2 hours.
On another note, we bought Ella's Halloween costume the other day. She is going to be a skunk! It is so cute, but you'll all have to wait until 10/27 to see pics (that is the day of Spooky Zoo at Lincoln Park Zoo).

Ella's Birthday

Yesterday was Ella's first birthday and I think that she had a good day. I made her waffles for breakfast, her first time having them, and she liked them. I even gave her a little syrup for dipping! Then after her nap, we went downtown to have lunch with daddy and then we did a little shopping. She wore her birthday onsie and looked like such a big girl. She likes to be out and about and look at all the people and other things on the street. She is pointing at everything now, and Marc and I just try to name things she is pointing at. She missed her afternoon nap, but was still a good girl, and managed to stay up all the way home on the train.
We still can't believe that she is already one, but now we are looking forward to the next great year. So many new things for her to learn and do, and soon she'll be walking!