Get your flu shot!

Ella got her flu shot (finally)! Her pediatrician's office has been out and I finally called the state health department and Joe and Ella went tonight. She got a fun monkey sticker! Get your flu shot!!!

Congrats, Mom!

I'm thinking of you today as you accept your award in Des Moines today! I wish I could be there and I am very proud of you!!!

Thank you!!!

Thank you for all of the kind and thoughtful phone calls, emails, cards, facebook messages, and gifts! I had a nice day (as nice as it can be when I got up at 4:30 with Miss Ella and then worked all day). My co-workers greeted me with a sign on my computer, flowers, gifts, and even a low-carb dessert! We had invites for dinner, but it's too hard when I work all day and we are only home for about 90 minutes before Ella's bedtime! Joe was super sweet and made me a fabulous dinner including a great steak!

I'm not sure if it's getting older or having a little girl, but birthdays aren't what they used to be and I would be fine if I could just stop having them!

** I just noticed the very sad, deflated Elmo in the background -- Ella still likes playing with him!

This is tempting!

Happy Salt Lake Elmo Birthday, Ella!

We had so much fun celebrating Ella's birthday! We decorated in an Elmo theme on Monday night and when I woke Ella up at 6:15AM to head to daycare Tuesday morning she almost squeeled in excitement as she saw Elmo everywhere and it made my day!!! Her smile melts my heart!
We have some fabulous friends in Salt Lake and I am glad Meredith flew in and Dorothy went ALL OUT on the cakes! THANKS EVERYONE! Ella is the first baby of my friends at work and everyone is so excited to be a part of everything and it makes me feel so good!
I forgot that blogger posts the pictures in reverse and I am too lazy to move them all, so start reading the pictures from the bottom!!! Enjoy!
Thanks, Auntie Meredith for playing with me all day Wednesday!! I had so much fun!

Thanks everyone for the awesome gifts!!

Lilly loves cake!

Ella is still scared of cake and would rather have green beans, but she did enjoy some pizza!

Thanks Grandma Dorothy for all the cakes!

Party favors - inside sugar cookie with red-ish frosting!

Elmo is everywhere!

What is Ella going to think in the morning?

It's like the Macy's parade at our house!

Who needs a laugh?

Monday after work I stopped by the party store to buy some balloons and have the giant elmo inflated! Of course, I have Ella with me on the way home for work and daycare, no problem, right? The guy at the store was so kind and loved the Elmo and I walked out of the store with 6 latex balloons and the huge elmo. I opened the back of the Jeep with Ella still in my arms.

Seriously???? What was I thinking? As I shove a few balloons one way, others go flying out! I think I stood there for 5 minutes in this very busy parking lot just hoping a kind soul would come help me and as I look around I see no one! Eventually I see this dirt bag with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth and I feel I have no other option and I ask him to help me! He closed the bottom door of the Jeep and helped me get all the balloons in. Thank you cigarette-smoking-dirt-bag-guy! It just cracks me up the way the balloons organized themselves in the back of the Jeep.

This lead to......

THIS!

THS would be the solution to any long car ride!!!

Denver

Nicole did a fabulous job posting about our trip -- I'll refer you to Life by nicole instead of posting the same pics! Thanks again to Jeff, Nicole and Lauren for a great visit! It is never long enough and we thank you for all the hospitality and for making it so easy to travel with a baby (we packed almost nothing)! A special thanks to Lauren for sharing her toys, house, food, bathtub! I know Ell and Lauren will be life-long friends just like their parents! We love you guys and I hope the Winter Park ski trip works out in March!

Leslie's wedding was beautiful! She was the most beautiful bride and it was the most perfect day for an outdoor wedding. Her veil, hair and dress sparkled perfectly in the sun and with her aunt officiating, the wedding was amazing. Congrats to Lelie and Eric! I think there was too much to do and see for Miss Ella -- Joe and Ella ended up in the baby section!

Such a beautiful bride!
It was great to catch up with everyone! Thanks again to Jeff and Nicole for watching Miss Ella so we could enjoy the reception! We owe you!!!!

The cupcakes were amazing and the cake had a real Colorado Theme with the groom on skis!

Elmo!

I know my mom wants to see this picture so bad!!! I promise I will post pics from Denver and the party.....sometime! Elmo was a hit! I have cute pics of most of the guests with Elmo

Can't wait!!!

Grey's Season 6 begins tonight and I can't wait!! I have to run to a goodbye party when Joe gets home and then I hope to sit down with my DVR and be excited for another season! It will keep me up too late tonight....but I don't want the premier to be ruined for me tomorrow!

I'm busy....

It's very crazy in my life. We returned from Denver in time to get ready to work for the week. Tonight we Elmo-tized the house and are getting things ready for the big party! Meredith flies in tomorrow and we are expecting a total of 18-20 people tomorrow -- I originally thought it would be 5 of us.....then maybe 10 and I just had people finding out and wanting to be included.

My dear husband picked the date for this party and I am greatly regretting my decision to say "yes" when we were out of town last weekend. Now I work 10 of 11 days, then leave for Vegas after work next Thursday and I am only on day 1! Certifiably INSANE!!!!

I'll make it, but blog-friends, you'll be waiting for a bit until you see anything here!

Denver -- here we come!

I am on vacation -- I made it through my 4-day week and now I just have to pack and try to get to bed early. We have a 9:40AM flight and should be at Nicole's by noon.

I am so excited to be a mommy with Nicole and have our sweet girls finally meet eachother -- they are definitely going to be lifelong friends!

We are staying on the garden level at the Kaiser B&B (Nicole's basement -- Lauren has the bedroom upstairs with the balcony that was our old spot). They have planned a great BBQ for Friday night where we get to see several friends and meet more kiddos we've never met! Thanks again!!!

Saturday includes a tour of Stranahan's Whiskey Distillery with the munchkins!

Then we head to Leslie's wedding -- I am so happy for her. Ella is only going to the wedding and Jeff and Nicole have agreed to watch her and put her to bed......I hope she's good while we catch up with more friends and celebrate with Leslie and Eric!

It is going to be a fun-filled weekend and I wish someone would come pack for me..........at least we don't need much baby stuff -- Lauren and Ella are so close in age and Nicole has everything ready for us!

**** This was our last trip to Denver to when we stayed at the Kaiser B&B and attended the Great American Beer Festival --- Life has sure changed for all of us in the last year!!!!

Oops....

I swear I ran the dishwasher last night, but as I was unloading it tonight I noticed a few dirty dishes. OOPS, guess it hadn't be run. Running right now.....like I said, crappy day!

Crappy day....

I just plain did not like my job today. Simply, not a good day. My Mom always says, "it could be worse" and I agree -- it can ALWAYS be worse, but I want to complain today! There were a variety of things that made my day crappy today and I know it will be better tomorrow, but I just didn't like my job today.

Great Evening!

Ella and I went from work and daycare to Cheesecake Factory for dinner with the girls and boy! I forgot my camera (rough morning -- I set the alarm, but didn't turn it on....details!). It was great to hang with Marlow, Andrea, and Mason -- it won't be long and Ella and Mason will be running around the restaurant instead of him napping and Ella throwing her mac n cheese on the floor --- I hope some made it in her mouth!

The three of us really miss working together -- Marlow moved to a part-time position and it just isn't the same without her. We will just have to cherish the dinners and brunches we can fit into our crazy schedules!

Anyone need wrapping paper?

Seriously? Ella is not even 1 and I was sent home from daycare with fundraising crap? Not this year......

Drama Queen....really?

Today was the first day I have picked up Ella from daycare since she's been in her new room. It makes me feel so good -- her new teachers truly LOVE her! My little stinker is a little too much like me --- she doesn't want to miss a thing. She refused to nap today. She takes at least two naps at home. She finally gave in at 4:20 (her friends must have gone home at 4).

Her teacher and I got to chatting and she said, "well, Ella is quite the drama queen". This was so funny coming from her very conservative older teacher. She feels Ella will for sure be involved in drama in school. When she wants something, she wants it and she wants it now and be ready for drama! I guess I thought all kids were like that!

She also informed me that Ella may not take a pacifier at home (or on a plane when I wish she would)....but at daycare, she LOVES Cohen's pacifer and steals it and actually uses it! She thinks this may be more of a boyfriend/girlfriend thing than liking the pacifier! HILARIOUS!!! Maybe that's why we were invited to Cohen's 1st Birthday party????? I guess we better meet Cohen sooner than later! I am going to find some of Ella's pacifiers and take them tomorrow so poor Cohen can have one when Ella steals his!

I asked her if Ella plays well with others and she said, "at this age they all steal toys, but Ella is just fine and kind". She also said she can't believe how active she is and how well she can climb and move around (that's from her daddy for sure). I finally feel like she is loved and cared for and I am so happy! They also have some adorable pictures of her posted around the room and it feels so comfortable.

Update: She loves the ugly dolls -- I laid out several toys tonight and she chose all of the scary dolls before anything else! I am not a fan of the single pony tail on top of her head, but it's better than the bedhead she had when I dropped her off this AM.

She continues to amaze me and I truly can't imagine life without her! Happy 11 months, Miss Ella!