Cookie Making

We made cookies with Ellie tonight!

Helping mix the batter.

Making sure Dada is doing it right.

Yum! Cookie dough.

Enjoying the fruits of her labor.

Iowa trip and the pool

I finally got all of our pictures uploaded to our computer so here is an update of the last few months. Christmas was so much fun with Ellie this year. She loved opening presents and playing with each thing before she went on to the next present. We ended up leaving for Iowa a day early (Christmas night) because we got quite a bit of snow in Dayton the next morning. So we stayed in a hotel half way to Iowa and went to rest of the way in the morning. The trip was easy because Ellie slept most of the time (we may remember this in the future) and it was only a few hours each day. We had a great visit with everyone and were sad to say goodbye.

Ellie and Grandma Stanton when we arrived.

Ellie loves her slide!

There was snow in Iowa so we bundled up and went out to play.

Ellie, Uncle Jeff and Brent "sledding" in the back yard.

Uncle Tyler and Ellie running around outside.

Ellie and Grandpa Stanton being silly.

Visiting with Cousin Max at Great Grandma Dannen's house.

Jeff's 16th Birthday!

Life since leaving Iowa has been pretty normal. Ellie and I are trying to find ways to burn off her endless energy without being about to go outside much. Our local rec center has a mommy and me play time in the pool that Ellie seems to enjoy. 

Poor Ellie was freezing in this picture.

Trying to teach her to jump in, she ended up running away instead.

We found out that we are having a little BOY in July. We are very excited but can't seem to agree on a name, hopefully we will find one we both like by the time he is born:)

Video

Where have the past two months gone?!?! Hopefully I can get our pictures loaded soon but for now, this is how we entertain Ellie while waiting for the doctor to come in.

Ellie turned 1!

She had a really great first birthday!

We filled her room with balloons while she was sleeping.

Biscuits and gravy for breakfast!

Opening her presents from Momma and Daddy.

She figured out the paper made a fun sound when it  tore.

"I've got this Daddy"

So fun!

She carried this baby around for quite some time, so sweet.

Baby needs her soothie.

Having some food at her party.

She didn't eat a bite of her cake, she just played in it.

There were lots of presents to open.

By the end of the party she was ready for her nap.

Fall Fun

Here are the promised pictures from the pumpkin patch with Ellie. She had so much fun running around and playing with everyone. It was a great day!

And here is the pumpkin decorating:) This was so cute!

We also celebrated Brent's birthday with family. We went out to eat at Champs then came home for some dessert and football. Poor Ellie was so tired from a long day but she loved spending time with all of the family.

She's almost one!

Wow, I am such a slacker! I just realized it has been over a month since I have posted anything about our sweet baby girl. We have been so busy enjoying life with a young toddler that I have not even thought to get on and update, my apologies!

This last month has been full of exciting adventures, many tumbles and some new communication. We were so excited to go to the zoo, thanks to Uncle Erich for giving us some tickets, and Ellie loved it! There was a little petting zoo, which was her favorite part, along with lots and lots of people and animals to wave to and stare at. It was so cute watching her little expressions as she looked at the strange animals.

This was the first animal she saw, her eyes were huge:)

In the petting zoo, she looked so tiny.

She had a hard time petting them, they kept running away.

Feeding the goat.

Her first Merry-go-round ride

She couldn't figure out why she couldn't touch some of the animals

Ellie made a little friend at the tiger exhibit.

  

These little penguins were so cute.

Again, she really wanted to touch them all.

She had to much fun!

 Ellie is also learning to communicate a little bit. We have been trying to teach her some baby sign for a long time but it has taken her a little while to pick it up. However, she now signs "eat" "more" and "all done!" It's so cute and so convenient. She is also starting to mimic what we are saying. We think she says "doggy" and she barks like a dog too! It is so funny to watch her chase Chloe around the house barking at her:)

We have also created a little eating monster! She loves to eat, anything and everything. Her newest favorite food, popcorn! As soon as we get out the popcorn maker(we make ours on the stove) she goes crazy. She grabs our legs and yells and makes as much noise as she can to try to entice us to give her some, now!

A lazy Sunday afternoon eating an apple.

She can actually bite it with her one little tooth.

Our favorite bed time snack, popcorn.

"And when mine runs out, I just eat daddy's"

She also knows where Daddy's Reese stash is and how to get them out:) 

I hope you enjoyed our little update. We are going to pick Ellie's first pumpkin this weekend! I will post pictures from the farm next week hopefully.