A Note From Ella

I would like to apologize for my Mom, she has not caught all of you up on all the cool things I've been doing.  I am quite the big girl now!  Please don't be mad at her though, she's really been busy with work, the furry kids, and taking care of everything (ME) while my Daddy is at football.  So, here are some pictures of me & some things I've been doing.

Oh and I had a lengthy talk with Mom today, so expect her to do a better job with the blog in the future.  I'm only 4 1/2 months old but I've learned.....when I talk, Mommy listens!

~ I can roll over!!!  From my back to my tummy and from my tummy to my back.
~ Mommy says I'm an inchworm. I don't know what that is, but I usually only do this when Fanny gets out of my reach and I try to get closer to her.  Mommy says it's a good thing Fanny likes to sleep on the back of the couch because that will be the only safe place when I start to crawl!
~ I haven't felt very good the last few days, first it was a cold that led to an ear infection and then my eye swelled shut when I was at Lacy's house (daycare) but I'm doing better and loving all the snuggle time with Mommy.
~ I love all things furry!  Which is good around this house!  
~ Fanny is my very best friend in the whole world and I love talking to her. I talk to her a bunch and every time she walks toward me I get really excited, smile & giggle. 
~ I am getting really good at eating rice cereal, I open my mouth really wide and am very proud of myself after I swallow each bite.
~ I am now going to bed unswaddled.  I miss my swaddle and it's hard for me to get to sleep, but Mom & Dad say I'm safer this way.
~ Now that I'm unswaddled I like to sleep on my side, that way my thumb stays securely in my mouth.
~ I go to sleep a little after 7pm and wake up at 6:45am....most nights.  Sometimes I have other ideas but Mom & Dad are pretty fond of this sleep stuff so I usually do what they say.
~ Poppa D comes over to visit when he can and I love talking to him, I am getting very good at Skyping with Grammy & PaPa Courter and am very much looking forward to their visit in October and I brighten everyone's day when I go to the nursing home and visit my Mimi Sharon.

Here are some pictures of me.  I'm really cute.  Everyone says so!

Um....who is this guy again???

Some pictures of my Bestie & I

Smiling is my favorite!

In case you didn't know, I'm 4 Months Old!!!!  Yea!!!

Back to God

Our summer is now over & we ended it with a trip to Kansas City (we love those exotic destinations) to dedicate Ella back to the One who blessed us with her. You may not know that my Grandad was a preacher in the Church of the Nazarene, I grew up listening to him lead others to Christ....it made me who I am & imprinted my heart with a deep love for the Lord. My Uncle is also a retired Nazarene pastor and it was very important to Scott & I that Ella be dedicated by him, the same way Grandad dedicated me all those years ago. So North we went!

We got to Maryville on Thursday, just in time for Pagliai's. So yummy! Ella got to spend the evening with Grammy & PaPa Courter and she loved all the attention.

The next day we had lunch with some great people at A&G, Ella reconnected with her Buddy Betty & got to meet the Foley's. Papa Courter then took Ella to his old office where he got to show her off. It was a fun day!

We enjoyed our time in the Ville and especially spending time with family.

Saturday evening we took Ella to the home of my cousin & her husband for Ella's very first overnight away from us. I was nervous to say the least, even though Shelly & Darren are more than capable! We gave them the lengthy list of instructions that I'm sure all first time parents have....which meds at which time, swaddle her like this, use this diaper, do this if she wakes up, blah, blah, blah. I can be a neurotic mess.

After we kissed Ella "bye" for the 50th time, Scott & I headed off to our big date! We went to the Kenny Chesney concert and had a fantastic time.

Sunday was a GREAT day. Ella's Baby Dedication/Baptism went beautifully and she seemed to like being in front of the large crowd. After church the entire group went out to eat, had a great time and really enjoyed being together, we just don't get enough times like that.

She loved being the center of attention

Ella, her Godparents, Shelly & Darren and Scott & I

 

 We are grateful to our amazing family that came out to celebrate this day with us!

We arrived back in Durant around 10:30 Sunday night. Safe, sound, and blessed beyond measure.