A Year Later

Ella has the same outfit in 6 months and in 18 months so we had to get a picture of her to compare from a year ago!  

I was 6 days too late to get the pictures exactly a year apart but close enough! 

April 17, 2013                                                

April 23, 2014

Our sweet Ella Bean turned 16 months on the 22nd of April.  She continues to be such a joy in our lives and that big smile of hers is still contagious!  She is very affectionate and often will come looking for a hug and then just hold on.  Whenever she hears Daddy coming downstairs from his office or in the door she always runs/fasts (waddles!) to him and gives him a big hug-SO sweet!  She is also becoming a bit of a spitfire.  Well, let's be honest, she has been a bit of a spitfire since day 1 but now it has taken toddler form.  For 99% of the time (well maybe 98%) she is as sweet and happy as can be but she definitely has an emotional side to her and is known to put her head on the ground and cry if she doesn't get her way or what she wants.  She loves to be held (while standing) and often if we put her down she will not be happy but normally with a bit of re-direction/distraction she comes around.  Ahh, the joys of toddlers!  She is becoming more verbal and I'm pretty sure I heard her say "thank you" (in her own language!) a few days ago but most of her language (other than ma ma, da da, uh-oh and no) still sound pretty foreign.  She has mastered the sound of a dog though!  We continue to be impressed by how much she understands and she follows directions very well.  We think she is going to be quite the jokester when she gets older because right now if you ask her to say "ma ma" she'll give you this mischievous smile and then yell "Da da!" Little stinker!  We are still going to storytime at the library on Thursday and she loves it and is so animated during it.  She continues to follow Joseph around and is always mimicking what he does, although I do think she also enjoys the peace and quiet and one on one time with me on Tuesday/Thursdays while he is at preschool.   She loves the water and we've been playing in the pool in the backyard and she couldn't be happier!  Definitely an outside girl as she has skinned knees and rarely sheds a tear when she falls.  Tough little thing!  So cliche but so true when we say that we are just loving watching her grow-can't believe she is 16 months! 

 We love you sweet Ella-a little smile 

and a little sass!