We had a fun filled and adventurous couple of days! We had a lot of firsts as well. First time Ella and Mommy flew by themselves, first trip to Rochester, first time meeting some new cousins and aunts and uncles, you get the picture. We brought out all of our winter clothes again and packed for a long weekend in Rochester to celebrate Great Grandma's 85
th Birthday Party. Only one problem, getting from Charlotte to Rochester is not easy. We finally decided that Ella and I would fly up Thursday night to Rochester via a layover in Atlanta and meet up
DeeDee and Papa and travel with them and Mike would come up Friday after work. So, to be honest, I only had to take 1 flight solo and it was a short one. Ella was actually really good on Thursday flights even though it was way past her bedtime. Below is a quick pic I took waiting to board the plane in Charlotte. In preparation for the trip, I bought another stroller that was lightweight and folds up super easy. It's a little crazy to think we know own 3 strollers! Ella was very excited to see
DeeDee and Papa in Atlanta and after some running around the airport, she did finally fall asleep on the flight and the slept for the majority of it! First round of the flights=success.
On Friday, we had lots of time to spend with some new second cousins and aunts and uncles. Ella hadn't met my Uncle Al, Aunt Ellen and cousins Taylor, Timmy and Paige since they live in Rochester and this was our first trip. My other Aunt Jeanne, Uncle Steve, cousin Sean and Annie hadn't seen Ella since last Easter so she has definitely changed a lot since then. She loved the attention and even showed them all her favorite show, Yo
Gabba Gabba of course!
She really bonded with my cousins Taylor who is in college studying to be a teacher. I would say based off Ella's reaction to her, she picked the right profession.
My Grandma comes from a family of 10
bothers and sisters so every visit to Rochester, we see tons of family and I am not really even sure how we are all
related but I am pretty sure, they are cousins of my Dad. Below is my Dad's cousin June with her granddaughters Francesca and Adriana who were so sweet to Ella.
One person Ella really feel in love with was my Uncle Al. My mom nicknamed him the gentle giant! Ella typically takes a lot longer to warm up to men than women but she immediately warmed right up to my uncle. He would play special games with her, smelling her feet and she would only let him put her sweater on. While we were there, she started saying Al and today, I played the smelling feet game and she laughed and said Al again. I am so glad they got to spend so much time together.
If there is an audience, then this little girl knows how to put on a show and she loved being the center of attention! She would grab things, like my Grandma's table runner of the last supper ironically enough and put it on and everyone laughed. Whatever got a reaction, she just kept repeating.
My Aunt Jeanne is a lot younger than my Dad so when we were growing up, she was always the young cool aunt (no offense to my other other aunts, you all rock!) that took us for ice cream, gave me and my friends a wine cooler in high school and sent care packages to me in college, I mean we are both
Hokies! Ella loved playing with Aunt Jeanne and I think she remembered the many care packages and presents that Jeanne gives Ella as well!
Of course the reason we were there was this amazing lady, my Grandma who is celebrating turning 85 years young. My grandma doesn't have
internet and wouldn't know how to turn on a computer so I know she isn't reading this but she is such a sweet grandmother and great grandmother.
Anyone that knows my Grandma knows she is the most wonderful Italian chef around. She makes everything from scratch and she is giving Ella a cooking lesson on making the perfect meatball! Ella also feel in love with Grandma's cookies or coo coo as Ella calls them. I think she only ate coo coos on Saturday!
Ella had fun getting in all sorts of trouble at Grandma's house.
Obviously nothing is child proofed so she was into everything, like this massaging chair. She also found something that looked like a stop watch and immediately pushed the big button on it. Next thing we know, we hear this loud voice come on, saying, "emergency emergency." Ella managed to find the emergency, I have fallen and I can't get up button. We quickly told them we didn't need any help but good know it still works!
Ella loves her Papa and his cell phone.
And
DeeDee and Grandma and watching herself on the computer!
Ella has never really been too sure of Uncle Court. Every time we try and have him hold her and get a picture, it usually doesn't end up well, her screaming and trying to jump out of his arms but not this trip. This trip, she not only let Uncle Court hold her but she was laughing and happy about it. Progress people progress.
The reason for the big trip was of course the big party on Saturday night. Grandma had over 70 people come to celebrate and toast with her. 70 people!! At 85 years old! Quite a testament to the person she is. Below is a picture of our immediate family, my Grandma (minus my Papa who we lost almost 2 years ago when I was pregnant), her 3 kids (my dad, his brother and sister) and their spouses and children.
All the girl granddaughters posing for a picture with the birthday girl!
We actually had a date night of sorts. The party started a little too late for miss Ella so we had a babysitter stay home with her so we could have an adult night. Check out Mike's new sport coat, he got it while we were up there!
My grandmother with 3 of her sister, all over the age of 80 and Aunt Mary who is on the far right is 91. I would say they have some pretty good genes, they are all looking great!
Me and Taylor, almost 21 Taylor, almost!
The party, the visiting with family, everything was great! Ella had a ball and so did we but let's just say the trip home was not as successful as the trip up there. Before we left though, Rochester had this fun little play area in the terminal. I wish all airports had this. Our hope was Ella would have so much fun running around and getting her energy out, she would fall right asleep on the plane.
Well, she did have fun playing but unfortunately, it did not drain all her energy. The first flight was right during her
nap time and she feel asleep on takeoff. Mike and I looked at each other and smiled, thinking this is going to be great. About 2 minutes later, she awoke. She couldn't get comfortable, she wouldn't sit still, she was overtired and cranky for the majority of the flight. Our DVD player ran out of battery life, she didn't want to eat anything or drink anything so her ears were popping. And that was only the first flight.
The second flight was even worse, a smaller plane, back row so we couldn't recline, the seats in front of us fully reclined, the plane felt like 150 degrees, and one very tired girl. Yes, we officially became one of those people that all over passengers hate and loath but we finally landed (
good news we were early, bad news, no gate so more waiting) and made it home. We all slept really well that night and are happy to be back in our beds but also happy to have new memories and happy to have Grandma's that turn 85 that we get to celebrate with! Happy Birthday Grandma!
And walking we do. As long as it's not raining, (which it just did for 3 straight days, more on that later), we go for an afternoon walk. Ella still a little sleepy from her nap, the dog a little wild because she needs the exercise and I am ready for some fresh air. I know I have said it before, but the best stroller in the world hands down for walking and running is the BOB and if you have a baby, it is one of the best investments you can make. I love mine and it makes walking or running so much easier. (P.S.-I am also enjoying every minute this little girl will actually keep a bow or clip in her hair because she looks so stinkin cute with them in!) 
We are enjoying that it is almost time for the Masters golf tournament. Mike has gone a bunch of times in the past and although he won't be making it this year, we are still getting excited for it and sporting our gear. However, I think the only thing on this little girl's mind is that banana, one of her all time favorite foods. 
It's the small things like when Daddy gets home from work. Last week, we were playing outside when Daddy pulled up and Ella ran right over and climbed in with him. Her new favorite place to play is the car. 
And looky here, someone discovered the horn. Wow, so many buttons to push, I just may stay in here forever. And she would if you let her. 
As I mentioned, it rained all day Saturday, Sunday and Monday and we had to get out of the house. So, Sunday morning, we visited our favorite children's museum for some plane flying... 
and some cooking! Gotta love amazing museums and somewhere for them to run and play even when it's rainy and cold out. 
It's also small things like getting together on Sunday night to celebrate a neighbors birthday. And how cute are all these little munchkins sitting at the big table eating their spaghetti and having their own conversations. No more kids table for them. 
And you have to have some birthday cake of course. But not really cake, just the yummy icing on top please. Oh and make it chocolate icing so it makes an especially huge mess. 
Someone discovered a big pink flower headband at the best buddies house and she had to put it on. 
And speaking of no more kids table, we officially retired the high chair and now miss Ella is sitting tall on her booster seat at the table with us. She is pretty excited to be so close to us and eat like a big girl and her doggie is really excited that it is even easier to steal some food. Can she really be this big already??? 
This picture makes me laugh out loud every time I see it. But just wait, they get even more hilarious. 
Ella's new favorite game to play is called, "Ride the Doggie" and she jumps on Dakota's back and I guess she thinks she is a horse. 
Faster doggie faster! And mostly, Dakota just sits there because she knows there will be another meal soon and more food dropped on the ground and somehow that makes it ok. 
So, that was our week in a nutshell. Like I said, nothing too exciting or news worthy but sometimes it's the simple things like sitting at the big table, playing with your doggie or looking at beautiful tulips that make you smile the biggest.
