Christmas is Coming

Some people celebrate Black Friday by getting up early and shopping before the crack of dawn. While we are usually up in time, I prefer to stay in. My Black Friday tradition is to spend the morning decorating for Christmas. This year I had a very eager helper working alongside me.

Backyard Fence

Andy spent several months working on the fence when he was home from working in Texas and never got as far as he'd like. He's now working in town full time, and was able to finish the fence rather quickly. We put it up to keep dogs out and Ella in, but she's already figured out how to work the latches.

Ella Gets a Big Girl Bed

Ella was getting a bit big for her crib. It was time to move to a big girl bed. So daddy set to work building new side rails.

Ella was very helpful when daddy was ready to put the new sides up.

Then daddy built additional storage to go under the bed. Again, Ella was very helpful.

Finished product

Ella loves pulling people in her room to read llamas with her on her big girl bed. Pa is always happy to oblige. :)

Long Time, No Posts

It's been a long time since I posted anything. It has been a very eventful year. Good, bad, sad, fun. We've experienced quite a bit.

Andy worked in Texas the last 10.5 months and transferred back this month.

My mom passed away unexpectedly in May. She's definitely missed. I take comfort in knowing where she us and that Ella still talks about her Mimi. She points her out in pictures excitedly and exclaims, "Mimi in Hey! (Heaven)" from time to time.

Speaking of, Ella turned two in June and now sleeps in a big girl toddler bed. Oh, and I just changed jobs. Lots going on. More to come soon. In the meantime, go hug your mom for me if you can.

Cassie

Ella's Room... a Little More Put Together

I am still on the lookout for the perfect rug at the perfect price, but the rest of Ella's room has really come together. Andy built her an armoire for her many, many clothes (I have a thrift store problem) and shoes. Below are a few pictures of his handiwork.

One more picture... I finally put up the crib skirt!

It's Been a While

Hello. I haven't been good about updating the last several months, but here goes...

Ella will be 8 months old in just a week! It's hard to believe, but she will. She is doing so well! At her 6 month appointment she was in the 40-50th percentile for her age in height and weight. That's her actual age, not her adjusted age! She is all caught up and they are no longer tracking her as a preemie by her adjusted age! She was also about 16 lbs at that time. She is probably tipping the scales a little closer to 18 today.

She is working on her sitting up skills, but is still a bit wobbly. She has decided crawling is hard and she is just going to walk. She will walk all over the place if you hold her hands or under her arms. We got her a johnny jump up for Christmas and she walks in circles in the doorway instead of bouncing.

Hope everybody else is doing well!

Ella's Room... (Mostly) Put Together

Andy is still finishing up on some shadow box style shelving and will probably have to build an armoire to fit more of Ella's things (her closet is full and it just houses what she can wear/use now), but here are a few pictures of what it looks like now. I also have to find a rug for her too, but that will have to wait for now.

Closet curtains made by my mom

Baskets and blankets...

Some of Ella's clothes

The mommy corner; I still have to recover the pillow. 

Changing station, made by Andy.

Ella modeling in the crib daddy made.

Close up of watercolors above crib. One of mom's friends did them.

Crib detail

More crib detail