Back to the Beach for Birthday Fun

We have had a busy and fun 2010 so far! We went back to Seabrook with 3 other families in our neighborhood and their girls for a long weekend and to celebrate my birthday. It was a little wild with 7 little girls all under the age of 4 and 8 adults but we all had a great time. We lucked out with the weather and had 2 really nice days and 2 awesome sunsets. When we left, it was 70 degrees and not a cloud in the sky and we really didn't want to leave. I am so ready for the spring and warm weather to stay for good!

Ella is doing great and growing like a weed! She has 2 bottom teeth that just starting peeking through in the last week. She also has been eating more and more baby food and loves her sweet potatoes and applesauce. She is not such a big fan of the peas and I don't blame her. She has such a fun personality and smiles and laughs all the time. She is especially happy when she wakes up in the morning and she just lays in her crib babbling to herself until we come get her. As soon as she sees us, she gets a huge smile on her face. It's such a fun way to start the day! I love to watch her expressions because it seems like she discovers something new everyday. Her latest fascination is watching Dakota to see what she is up to and Dakota's new discovery is laying under Ella's high chair for the droppings! I think they are equally fascinated with each other. She still loves to go for walks when the weather is nice, sitting in her Bumbo seat, playing in her activity center and she is so close to sitting up on her own! She still continues to hate being on her stomach for tummy time. I can't believe she is already 5 1/2 months old, time flies!

Hope you enjoy the recent pictures!

Arriving at Seabrook to warm weather and a sunset!

Deck time with Dad and Dakota soaking in the warm sunshine

Playing with her BFF Wesley at the beach. They could just sit and "talk" to each other all day long. Rare tummy time before she started screaming.

Group shot with all 7 girls!

Kayla and Addie striking a pose in Ella's chair she got from Great Grammy and I don't think Ella
is quite ready to be a movie star and rock the shades yet!

Mike and the girls surprised me by decorating the beach house and then we all went out for a fun lunch.

He even baked me a funfetti cake, it was so delish!

Birthday lunch with the whole gang at King Street Grille and it tired Addie out so much, she napped on the couch when we got home.

We all had a blast at the beach and were sad to come home. Dakota was so sad and tired, she fell asleep with Ella in the car seat.

Back in Charlotte with Ella and Wesley lounging in the stroller. Also, Dee Dee came up last week to watch Ella while I was at work and they had a great time together.

Some of Ella's favorite new things, eating or should I say, getting the food all over her face and playing her activity center. She is going to be quite the bi-lingual baby since all the of animals are in English and Spanish. Anyone remember cat in spanish? It's gato, we are learning together.

Finally, Ella loves wearing all of her new clothes she got for Christmas and she loves her new green coat and matching argyle hat. She is so stylish!

Here are some recent videos of Ella. The first one is her eating and second one is her smiling and laughing. She sure loves her new high chair!

Ella's 1st Christmas

After a visit with the Hennessy's, we packed up the car and headed down to Seabrook for Christmas. We had a great time with Dee Dee, Papa and Uncle Court for Christmas Eve and Christmas and then were joined by Ella'a Great Grammy, her 2 great aunts and all of her second cousins for a big week long party! I would say by all the smiles and talking she did, Ella had a great time!

Christmas morning and Ella was all decked out in her santa hat and pajamas! She is so excited to open gifts, she can barely wait!

Ella with Dad and Ella lounging in her new rocking chair for the beach from Great Grammy! She still has a little growing to do to fit into it but I know she will love it when she is down there!

Opening presents Christmas morning and Ella with her godfather, Uncle Court and in her new "designer" high chair that he got for her. I would say she loves it and her rice cereal spilling out of her mouth!

Uncle Court even remembered to bring gifts for Dakota. She sniffed and found her own gift under the tree, unwrapped it and finally got to enjoy it!

Christmas Eve, we went to church and I was a little nervous how Ella would act. She has been with us in Charlotte but always goes to the nursery but she did great the whole time and even sang along to the songs! She even kept singing after everyone else had stopped, I guess she had a solo.

Ella got to visit with lots of fun relatives on the trip and meet lots of new faces!

Ella with Brendan and a beautiful view from the deck and if you look closely, those are dolphin in the water.

The group shot! We had 21 people including Ella down for the week and needless to say, there was never a dull moment. Everyone lives across the country so for most of them, it was their first time meeting Ella. I am so glad we could all get together and celebrate.

Ella with the Lanio's. The sun was really bright, hence all the squinting.

We stayed down there for NYE and celebrated with the entire family. Ella did not make it to midnight, lucky for us! It was a great week and we were sad to come home on Saturday but we were so glad that Ella got to meet so many of her family members and have such a fantastic first Christmas. It was an amazing 2009 and we can't wait for 2010!!

Ella meets her cousins

Ella got to meet her cousins Andrew and Connor and her Uncle Tyler and Aunt Steph when they came to Charlotte to visit before Christmas. They live in Seattle so this was their first time meeting Ella and first trip to Charlotte. Mike and I were really sick right before they came so we worried we wouldn't be able to see them but after some good medicine, we were feeling much better. Grandma came down for the whole week to watch Ella while I worked and Grandpa drove down to also join in the fun.

Andrew and Connor greeting Ella in the morning and helping Grandma feed her.

Uncle Tyler, Aunt Steph, Andrew and Connor. The three cousins!

We spent a fun day in Charlotte, watching the bears sing and checking out the life size and all edible gingerbread house at the Ritz-Carlton.

Ella checking out her older cousin Andrew and the 3 of us in front of our tree.

Present time!

The boys each took a turn holding Ella, everyone was equally fascinated with each other. We had a great visit with them and are so grateful they came to see us and meet Ella. We can't wait to see them again in May for Kelly's wedding.