My baby is growing up so fast!

So our Miss Ella has decided to start taking leaps and bounds in becoming a true toddler. She talks a lot more but unfortunately we are still not understanding her much but she is talking. We went ahead and scheduled an appointment with Early On thanks to our friend Barb's experiences and recommendation. Her evaluation is on Sept 10. I am sure they will just be telling us she is a late talker but if not at least we know we are getting her some help so she can communicate with us better.

Two down sides to this sudden growing up- her attitude and the end of the crib. First the attitude- oh my lord. She is so sassy and stubborn without saying a word! She has started defying me while looking me straight in the eye. Like when I say- "Ella please don't put your toy in the dog's water"- she will look right at me and do it anyway!!! So we are going to have to implement time outs. ugh. I have nothing against time outs. I am just lazy. So there is that hurdle.

The crib. We have never had any problems with Ella and her crib. She has never tried to climb out. Until today. I was just about ready to give up on nap and get her out to play for a few when we heard Ella start screaming and it sounded really close to the baby monitor. Dave went to get her and found her on the floor. So out came the toddler bed today. We were planning on doing it after the holiday weekend since we are travelling to Illinois, but it looks like Ella wants to start earlier. So as I type this, Ella is sound asleep. She didn't even try to get up and play. We will see what happens at 2 or 3 when she always wakes up for a few.

Wish us luck!!

We're back!!!

After a very long drive, we have returned from Cape Cod. On the way back we stopped in Niagra Falls, and I have to say it was much more than I expected. So beautiful!! If you ever get a chance to go, I definitely recommend it. I wouldn't plan on more than a day to see everything though because besides the falls there isn't much else to do (unless you love casinos- that was a nice one too- don't worry Dave and I only blew 20 bucks each!)

Dave and I haven't been out to Cape Cod since before we were married. His aunt and uncle rent out a house there and we have a standing invite to come out after the season is over. This year they had a week that wasn't rented and we got to go out earlier. It was much warmer than we were used to and a bit more crowded. It lived up to its reputation as one of my favorite places to be.

When we got there, we took a quick walk to the beach and Ella got to see the ocean for the first time. Bad mom that I am I forgot to bring my camera anywhere so all pics were taken on my phone. Ella wasn't sure about walking in the sand the first day but by Friday she was walking right into the ocean with the sand washing out from under her feet. That's my girl!

I never got to blog about my horrible food poisoning a few weeks ago. It was the night before Dave's dad's memorial and I must have had some bad fish because I got violently ill and missed the memorial. I felt like a horrible wife and I really wanted to be there for closure as well. So this week in Cape Cod we let go balloons with messages on them for him. It was very sweet and beautiful. Ella cried when we let them go but then I whispered in her ear and pointed out how beautiful they were. She was ok then.

I know this is brief but I am at work and busy :). So here are some pics! Also I will get more as family emails them to me.


Ella at the hotel on the way to the Cape



first time in the sand


cousins in their tent



Sailor Ella- she loved Uncle Paul's boat!



Sunset on the water- another boat ride