Ella's birthday week

I can't believe how long it has taken me to add this entry to the blog!  Life has been kind of hectic, but Ella had a wonderful week of birthday parties and surprises.  Here are just a handful of the hundreds of pictures that were taken...

Ella started off her birthday by getting her new chair.  She woke up to it on her birthday morning, before daddy left for school.  

Ella soon had the chair figured out, and I couldn't keep her sitting still long enough to get an

 "I am 1 today" picture taken...

She loved opening her new Little People Farm when it came in the mail, and couldn't wait to play with it!

Getting ready for her first party.

Ella's friend Justin came over for supper on her birthday night. As you can tell, Ella is kind of a little bully!

Ella and Justin both had runny noses, so we had lots of kleenex around.  When mama wasn't looking, Ella decided to make her own birthday confetti...

Good morning, sunshine!  

(In her birthday PJ's--we had a cupcake theme down to the shoes AND PJ's thanks to Grammy!)  

Party day!  

We had a Ella's party on Saturday the 13th.  Her Grammy and Grampy Harold,  G.G. (Great Grandma Ele), Uncle Nate and Kristin all came to help her celebrate, and we had a wonderful time.  Ella loved getting to spend time with all of them.  

Ella was not fond of the birthday hat!

She wasn't too sure about the cake at first either, and tried to give it away...

but then, she decided that it was wasn't too bad!

BIG GIRL!

Getting ready for a birthday party!

In less than one week my baby girl is going to be one...it's amazing how fast time flies.  Ella is walking all over the place and is attempting to climb onto and into things she has no business getting into.  She is signing "more" and "all done," and is starting to say mama and dada (she's been saying dada for awhile, but it is more consistent now). Ella gives kisses and hugs, and loves her baby dolls. They usually get more kisses than we do!  I am fixing birthday treat bags for the neighborhood kids, as they all love her.  As soon as we pull into the driveway in the evening, we are asked if Ella can come out and play.  And, as you can imagine, she loves the attention!  Daycare is wonderful and Ella is thriving there.  She now wants down as soon as we get there and barely has time to tell me goodbye.  Life is good...

One of the pictures from Ella's birthday invitation photo shoot...

(for those of you waiting for your invitation--we are still trying to get them. Shutterfly messed up the original ones and is supposed to be sending us new ones.  Boo.) 

Ella now gets her own snacks out of the pantry.  She is still quite the eater!

Last weekend, Ella helped Grammy make pancakes.  The pictures make it look like she did really good, but don't be fooled.  I just didn't get any pics of her waving the whisk around and splattering batter...

Ella also attempts to get her own drinks...looks like we need to move the beer!