Lewisville

Long time no Blog

2011-09-20T14:51:00.006-05:00

Somethings have changed around here....We are now a family of 5. Lorenzo Ray made his debut August 24...He is now almost 4 weeks old. Time is flying by.

Lorenzo Ray
8.2lbs & 20.25inches

3 amigos
Ella is in every morning preschool and Emeri is learning so much from her big sister....hoping to tackle potty training soon. Fall is right around the corner which means lots of football, trip to the pumpkin patch, and pumpkin pie. Hopefully I can get back into the swing of things and blog more regularly.

Concert Mania!!

2011-02-17T12:40:00.006-06:00

Omaha is hosting a handful of STELLAR concerts this Spring!! Our lil' bambino/bambina will enjoy music after Momma jams out at three great concerts!! The line up includes

Time to reload my iPod so I can sing along to every song!

Baby #3's first photo :)

2011-01-11T16:18:00.001-06:00

heartbeat 158, due date Aug 29!

Our Florida Vacation

2010-12-29T09:18:00.005-06:00

Our Florida vacation was a blast! It was the first flights for Ella and Emeri....Ella did great and Emeri, well, she just wasn't happy being a lap child! We spent 6 days visiting with some friends, Disney World's Magic Kingdom, meeting Disney Princesses, Minnie & Mickey, taking in Busch Gardens in Tampa, meeting some of the Sesame Street characters, shopping and soaking up the sun at Clearwater Beach. The townhouse we stayed at was F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C!! It had 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, a fully furnished kitchen, dining and living room...oh and I can't forget the GORGEOUS pool area! The kids had a blast! I'd like to think we will do it again soon!

Oh Baby!

2010-12-29T09:10:00.002-06:00

We recently found out we are expecting baby #3!! I will see the dr in about 2 weeks then we should know the exact due date but according to our calculations we should meet our new addition late August!

HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY ELLA!!

2010-12-13T08:31:00.003-06:00

4 years ago....

Ella is officially a 4 yr old today!!

Happy Halloween!

2010-11-01T08:41:00.004-05:00

We decided to throw a Halloween Bash for the kids this year. We had about 30 kids (give or take a few)roaming the house and backyard. This year was the first year we actually went trick or treating with Ella. She loved it and never seemed to get scared like she did last year.
Can you believe it's now November.?.?..Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner!

Summer Fun Wrap-Up

2010-09-03T11:04:00.010-05:00

This Summer brought a few roadtrips and lots of fun!! Looking back at the fun we had and the memories we made...PRICELESS!! We started off in May taking a roadtrip to Kansas City for an overnight adventure at Great Wolf Lodge.It was our 5th wedding anniversary so what better way to spend it then with our chicas!! Ella had just started swim lessons and was still a lil' water shy but nonetheless we all had a blast! We couldn't leave KC until we hit up the shopping mall near GWL!
A few months passed before our next roadtrip so we soaked up the sun, enjoyed swim lessons and a trip to the Zoo.
After the 4th of July & Glenn's 29th birthday we took a family trip to Worlds of Fun. Glenn's parents & sister along with his Uncle, Aunt and cousins all joined us. I was amazed at how much Ella loved the rides big and small. She was eager to ride everything and intrigued to see the rollercoasters. Since leaving the theme park she has not stopped talking about when she grows up to be 5, she is gonna ride the rollercoasters and SCREAM! :) Ella and Emeri took swim lessons this Summer. The first 3-4 sessions were the worst experience for Ella as she was so unsure of the water and not having Mom or Dad with her. By the last class she was getting more and more comfortable with the water. We enjoyed a few trips to the pool and Ella soon began jumping in the water all on her own. Emeri was in a Mommy and Me class so I swam with her. She mastered "jumping" (really stepping) into the pool and going under. She loved the swim class but seemed to cling to me when we hit the public pool....its a work in progress. :)
We ended our Summer roadtrips with a trip to Kansas for Glenn's Uncle's wedding. It was a long 6 hour drive but thank goodness for the DVD player. Ella loves music so she was dancing all night, well, when she wasn't playing in the beverage cooler full of water and ice.
We had a FABULOUS Summer of 2010! Looking forward to the cooler weather. Heres to Fall 2010!

Ella Dancerella

2010-09-01T09:06:00.004-05:00

Ella started ballet and tap class last week. She has been VERY excited to start dance class.
A friend gave us Bella Dance DVDs and Ella has to watch them daily at least once.
Emeri has even started picking up on some of the moves! Ella loves to play teacher so you can imagine the fun she has with her little sister.

Trying to Understand

2010-07-21T11:26:00.002-05:00

A friend found this article. It is a great find and gives a little insight into the day in the life of a mother.

Preschool

2010-06-02T10:21:00.002-05:00

Today was the day! Ella started morning preschool. She was sooo eager and couldn't hide it. Last week we went to the preschool open house to check it out and show her the classroom and meet the teacher...since then she asks everyday "Is today preschool?" She got a new backpack and "school" shoes (i.e. Hannah Montana shoes) to gear up. The ride over she informed Mariah, her cousin, that Mommies don't stay at preschool, it's just for kids.
She walked right into her classroom with no fear. Then the teacher assisted her in finding her cubby and coat/backpack hook. Then I said goodbye and kissed her..she had a nervous smile at this point but no tears shed! Can't wait to hear all about her morning! She is turning into a little lady...exciting, scary and sad all at the same time!

Milestones

2010-05-24T12:04:00.004-05:00

Only 3 more weeks until Emeri turns ONE! We are very excited. She is such a busy body and loves to CLIMB. Ella was the same way. I think our girls are going to be very athletic. Emeri is well on her way to having 6 teeth-4 on top and 2 on bottom.

Next week marks a milestone for Ella as she will begin Summer Preschool. We are very excited!! Tonight we go to the open house and check out the classrooms then its off to buy a "BIG GIRL" backpack. Yesterday, Ella had to gymnastics open house. She didn't get shy and loved performing for the crowd.

Both of the girls are taking swim lessons. Emeri and I are in the Tiny Toots class while Ella is in the Submarine class like a big girl. :) Emeri loves the water and Ella, well, she is warming up to the lessons.

We are happy the warm weather is here and looking forward to having some pool time this Summer! Happy Swimming!

Spring is the air

2010-04-25T21:12:00.005-05:00

Spring time always brings out the cleaning, reorganizing, gardening and beautiful weather. With Spring came our need for new (or change) so we bought a new (used) 2003 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer.

We also decided to eliminate some of the crazy cleaning Momma has to do so we are going to install wood floors in the living room and entry way. I am hopeful this will minimize the amount of stress that comes along with doggie accidents (yes, our dear dog still has them) and spills from the kiddos. Here is a snapshot of the flooring we are putting in..

Bring on the sunshine & fun! Happy spring!

How to help with grief

2010-04-13T22:06:00.002-05:00

Grief can be a lonely process for those experiencing the loss of a loved one. Since losing my Mom I have found numerous resources on helping someone you know deal with and face their grief.
This information is from http://helpguide.org/mental/helping_grieving.htm

What you need to know about bereavement and grief
The death of a loved one is one of life’s most difficult experiences. The bereaved struggle with many intense and frightening emotions, including depression, anger, and guilt. Often, they feel isolated and alone in their grief. Having someone to lean on can help them through the grieving process.

Don’t let discomfort prevent you from reaching out to someone who is grieving. Now, more than ever, your support is needed. You might not know exactly what to say or what to do, but that’s okay. You don’t need to have answers or give advice. The most important thing you can do for a grieving person is to simply be there. Your support and caring presence will help them cope with the pain and begin to heal.

Understanding the bereavement process
The better your understanding of grief and how it is healed, the better equipped you’ll be to help a bereaved friend or family member:

There is no right or wrong way to grieve. Grief does not unfold in orderly, predictable stages. It is an emotional rollercoaster, with unpredictable highs, lows, and setbacks. Everyone grieves differently, so avoid telling the bereaved what they “should” be feeling or doing.

Grief may involve extreme emotions and behaviors. Feelings of guilt, anger, despair, and fear are common. A grieving person may yell to the heavens, obsess about the death, lash out at loved ones, or cry for hours on end. The bereaved need reassurance that what they’re feeling is normal. Don’t judge them or take their grief reactions personally.

There is no set timetable for grieving. For many people, recovery after bereavement takes 18 to 24 months, but for others, the grieving process may be longer or shorter. Don’t pressure the bereaved to move on or make them feel like they’ve been grieving too long. This can actually slow their healing.

What to say to someone who has lost a loved one
It is common to feel awkward when trying to comfort someone who is grieving. Many people do not know what to say or do. The following are suggestions to use as a guide.
Acknowledge the situation. Example: "I heard that your_____ died." Use the word "died" That will show that you are more open to talk about how the person really feels.
Express your concern. Example: "I'm sorry to hear that this happened to you."
Be genuine in your communication and don't hide your feelings. Example: "I’m not sure what to say, but I want you to know I care."
Offer your support. Example: "Tell me what I can do for you."
Ask how he or she feels, and don't assume you know how the bereaved person feels on any given day.
Source: American Cancer Society

Comments to avoid when comforting the bereaved
"I know how you feel." One can never know how another may feel. You could, instead, ask your friend to tell you how he or she feels.
"It's part of God's plan." This phrase can make people angry and they often respond with, "What plan? Nobody told me about any plan."
"Look at what you have to be thankful for." They know they have things to be thankful for, but right now they are not important.
"He's in a better place now." The bereaved may or may not believe this. Keep your beliefs to yourself unless asked.
"This is behind you now; it's time to get on with your life." Sometimes the bereaved are resistant to getting on with because they feel this means "forgetting" their loved one. In addition, moving on is easier said than done. Grief has a mind of its own and works at its own pace.
Statements that begin with "You should" or "You will." These statements are too directive. Instead you could begin your comments with: "Have you thought about. . ." or "You might. . ."
Source: American Hospice Foundation

Listen with compassion
Almost everyone worries about what to say to people who are grieving. But knowing how to listen is much more important. Oftentimes, well-meaning people avoid talking about the death or mentioning the deceased person. However, the bereaved need to feel that their loss is acknowledged, it’s not too terrible to talk about, and their loved one won’t be forgotten.

While you should never try to force someone to open up, it’s important to let the bereaved know they have permission to talk about the loss. Talk candidly about the person who died and don’t steer away from the subject if the deceased’s name comes up. When it seems appropriate, ask sensitive questions – without being nosy – that invite the grieving person to openly express his or her feelings. Try simply asking, “Do you feel like talking?”

Accept and acknowledge all feelings. Let the grieving person know that it’s okay to cry in front of you, to get angry, or to break down. Don’t try to reason with them over how they should or shouldn’t feel. The bereaved should feel free to express their feelings, without fear of judgment, argument, or criticism.

Be willing to sit in silence. Don’t press if the grieving person doesn’t feel like talking. You can offer comfort and support with your silent presence. If you can’t think of something to say, just offer eye contact, a squeeze of the hand, or a reassuring hug.

Let the bereaved talk about how their loved one died. People who are grieving may need to tell the story over and over again, sometimes in minute detail. Be patient. Repeating the story is a way of processing and accepting the death. With each retelling, the pain lessens.

Offer comfort and reassurance without minimizing the loss. Tell the bereaved that what they’re feeling is okay. If you’ve gone through a similar loss, share your own experience if you think it would help. However, don’t give unsolicited advice, claim to “know” what the person is feeling, or compare your grief to theirs.

Offer practical assistance
It is difficult for many grieving people to ask for help. They might feel guilty about receiving so much attention, fear being a burden, or be too depressed to reach out. You can make it easier for them by making specific suggestions – such as, “I’m going to the market this afternoon. What can I bring you from there?” or “I’ve made beef stew for dinner. When can I come by and bring you some?”

Consistency is very helpful, if you can manage it – being there for as long as it takes. This helps the grieving person look forward to your attentiveness without having to make the additional effort of asking again and again. You can also convey an open invitation by saying, “Let me know what I can do,” which may make a grieving person feel more comfortable about asking for help. But keep in mind that the bereaved may not have the energy or motivation to call you when they need something, so it’s better if you take the initiative to check in.

Be the one who takes the initiative
There are many practical ways you can help a grieving person. You can offer to:

Shop for groceries or run errands
Drop off a casserole or other type of food
Help with funeral arrangements
Stay in their home to take phone calls and receive guests
Help with insurance forms or bills
Take care of housework, such as cleaning or laundry
Watch their children or pick them up from school
Drive them wherever they need to go
Look after their pets
Go with them to a support group meeting
Accompany them on a walk
Take them to lunch or a movie
Share an enjoyable activity (game, puzzle, art project)

Provide ongoing support
Grieving continues long after the funeral is over and the cards and flowers have stopped. The length of the grieving process varies from person to person. But in general, grief lasts much longer than most people expect. Your bereaved friend or family member may need your support for months or even years.

Continue your support over the long haul. Stay in touch with the grieving person, periodically checking in, dropping by, or sending letters or cards. Your support is more valuable than ever once the funeral is over, the other mourners are gone, and the initial shock of the loss has worn off.

Don’t make assumptions based on outward appearances. The bereaved person may look fine on the outside, while inside he or she is suffering. Avoid saying things like “You are so strong” or “You look so well.” This puts pressure on the person to keep up appearances and to hide his or her true feelings.

The pain of bereavement may never fully heal. Be sensitive to the fact that life may never feel the same. You don’t “get over” the death of a loved one. The bereaved person may learn to accept the loss. The pain may lessen in intensity over time. But the sadness may never completely go away.

Offer extra support on special days. Certain times and days of the year will be particularly hard for your grieving friend or family member. Holidays, family milestones, birthdays, and anniversaries often reawaken grief. Be sensitive on these occasions. Let the bereaved person know that you’re there for whatever he or she needs.

Busy as a Bee

2010-02-25T09:35:00.001-06:00

It's been awhile since I blogged. Lots going on here at the Lewis household. Emeri is a growing lil' baby with her army crawl, pulling herself up and teething. Ella is growing into such a "kid" enjoying her gymnastics more and more each week, loving life as a big sister and still having the terrific two/three meltdowns. :) Life is always an adventure with two kids especially at this stage. However, we are ANXIOUSLY awaiting NO MORE SNOW or cold...bring on the Sunny beautiful Spring days ahead. Ella has been out enjoying a snow filled backyard a few times and loves to shout, "I LOVE SNOW!" We are also hoping we can have a family getaway really soon. Glenn and I are anxious to travel with the girls and might even venture on a plane with them....fingers crossed. But in the mean time Mommy is having her own lil' getaway to Florida for 4 days. I will be enjoying some "me" time while Daddy flies solo here at the Lewis casa.
This Fall, will be a big change..Ella will start preschool just half days twice a week. She loves to talk about going to school and it will be great to see her flourish in a school environment. I'll admit it makes me tear up to think she is already old enough for preschool...time goes by so quickly.

Cheers to upcoming adventures!

In Memory of My Mom

2010-01-12T11:05:00.005-06:00

This year, I am helping save lives from cancer by taking part in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life, and I’m hoping you will support me. I have created a team, Lori's Legacy in memory of my mom who lost her battle to cancer on December 16, 2009. Our team, Lori's Legacy, will be participating in the Relay being held June 4-5th 7pm-7am in Sarpy County at Papillion-LaVista Stadium.

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives people in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length.

In addition to helping people celebrate, remember, and fight back, Relay For Life also helps raise much-needed funds and awareness to help the American Cancer Society save lives from cancer.

Please support me in my efforts by visiting my personal web page or our team web page to make a secure, tax-deductible online donation.

Every donation really does make a difference. I know that times are tighter than normal for many of us, but any amount you can give truly can help save lives.

You see, thanks to your support, the American Cancer Society can:

*Help people stay well by helping them take steps to prevent cancer or detect it early, when it’s most treatable

*Help people get well by being in their corner around the clock to guide them through every step of their cancer experience

*Find cures by funding groundbreaking research that helps us understand cancer’s causes, determine how best to prevent it, and discover new ways to cure it

*Fight back by working with lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and rally communities worldwide to join the fight

Each of us has our own reasons for caring about the fight against cancer … whatever your reasons, I hope you’ll choose to make a difference by making a donation online to support my efforts. I’m so grateful to have great people like you in my life who want to see an end to cancer in our lifetime. Together we can save lives.

Thank you, and I will keep you updated on my progress.

Finding the Strength to Move on...

2009-12-23T23:05:00.004-06:00

We had a beautiful Celebration of Mom's life on Saturday. It was truly amazing to see the church OVERFLOWING with people who knew and loved Mom. As each day has come and gone it still seems rather unreal. You never expect to lose a parent at a young age...at least I never thought I would be here now, before I am 30.

I have my good days and my bad. I think being there with Mom and caring for her during her last couple of days has given me a lot of reassurance and strength. Before she passed she embraced me, pulled me to her chest and held tightly...she knew I did not want her to be alone when the time came, she knew I was strong enough to handle things, and she told me that with our final embrace. I have a sense of ease/happiness when I think she is no longer suffering and not enduring treatments but I still have a HUGE hole in my heart. We spoke daily usually multiple times a day. When I felt lonely I called, when I felt frustrated I called, when I just felt I called....those conversations will be the hardest thing to let go of.

I feel sadness for my daughters as Ella will have a limited memory of Nana and Em, well she won't have a memory of her, just photos. Such a loving and caring person whom they will not get to fully know and love. Finding strength and understanding will help me move on. Treasuring the memories I have will be my crutch as the healing begins. The many birthdays, high school dances, cheerleading events, prom, graduation, college, wedding day, birth of Ella, birth of Emeri...so many memories to cherish.

The last photo of Mom (NANA) with Ella & Emeri (taken Dec 10, 2009)

Miss and Love you Mom!!!

Missed SO Dearly

2009-12-18T19:02:00.001-06:00

My mom is now resting peacefully in Heaven....

Lori A. Kuhl, age 48, of Carter Lake, Iowa, passed away December 16, 2009, at her home.
She was born in Omaha, Neb., on March 2, 1961, to Clarence Christ and Alice Holbrook. Lori managed a daycare in her home.

In addition to her parents; Lori is survived by her husband, Boyd Kuhl to whom she was married on February 23, 1978. She is also surived by her daughters, Natasha Cannon and Nicole Lewis (Glenn); sons, Jason and Joshua Kuhl; sister, Julie Flanagan (Randy); brothers, Clarence Jr. "Robbi" Christ and David Christ (Pam); 3 grandchildren and a host of other family and friends.

Memorial service will be Saturday December 19, 2009, 11 a.m., at Tri-Community Methodist Church, 6001 Fontenelle Blvd., Omaha, Neb. The family will direct memorials.

Facing Reality

2009-12-06T00:06:00.002-06:00

When my mom was diagnosed in January 2007 with cervical cancer I was struck with fear...CANCER? My MOM? We have lost grandparents to cancer but to realize my mom was going to be fighting for her life was so surreal. Her positive outlook made the fears slowly disappear. Now here I sit 3 years later facing the reality.

My mom has endured radiation and various chemotherapies but her cancer has had little response. She spent the last 2 weeks in the hospital due to dehydration and uncontrollable pain. Early last week they did a CT Scan to check the status of the cancer. This scan showed the cancer to be spreading rapidly.

The oncology team informed my mom and our family that she has two options: Aggressive chemo-this would keep her in the hospital for at least 4 months and make her very ill OR she could go home and hospice would be called to care for her and manage the pain. As of today she has not come to an official decision but she was sent home from the hospital on Friday because she is re-hydrated and the pain seems to be under control. Her first night home went smoothly as she was able to eat, sleep and had little pain.

All I want is to spent EVERY MINUTE of EVERY DAY with her. However, I am reminded I have to keep pressing on with my life afterall that's what Mom would want, right? We go to dinner, I feel sad. Ella does something funny and Emeri is having a giggle fit, I run to the phone to call Mom. I feel worn out as a parent, I call Mom for advice/reassurance. We bought tickets to Sesame Street Live, I call Mom. I want to share everything with her as I always have. She sounds tired and weak, how can I be happy?

Facing this reality now when Mom is just 48 years old, seems so unfair!! I want more time, I need more time!! Selfish it seems but reality it is. All I can do is pray she is living now pain free and enjoy every minute we share.

I love you Mom!

Freebie well kind of...

2009-11-13T10:09:00.004-06:00

A friend of mine told us about a special Coco Keys runs for one month. If you arrive Monday through Thursday between 3 & 5pm you get in for FREE!! This goes on from Oct 19-Nov 19 (with a few blackout dates). So I loaded up Ella & Emeri on Tuesday and off we went..I made it 5mins til 5pm and of course they were at capacity but I was determined to wait afterall Ella was excited to see her friend, who was already inside having a fun time. So 15 minutes after 5pm they said you can get in but not for free! Boo! Nonetheless I paid for myself as the girls were free. We had a BLAST! The kiddie pool is great and only goes to 1ft 6inches deep with 2 water slides and a large 6 bucket dump area. Who wouldn't love to go swimming inside when its nearly FREEZING outdoors! :) I recommend Coco Keys to anyone. Although on the weekends the going rate is $25/ person and M-T its $16/person 3 & up.

Halloween

2009-11-02T10:05:00.004-06:00

This year I was really looking forward to Ella being EXCITED to go trick-or-treating well to my surprise she was not at all interested. She was scared of ANY mask whether it was a transformer, power ranger, something silly or something scary, she would FREAK OUT! There was even a time when we went to Wal-Mart to check out costumes and Halloween decor and she seemed to enjoy looking at stuff until daddy put on a Gene Simmons KISS mask and she freaked. Since that trip to Wal-Mart anytime we ventured near the Seasonal Halloween aisles she would jump in my arms and hold on for dear life. Poor thing. Nonetheless we still dressed up and attempted to get candy and hand out candy!

Long Lost Blog....

2009-10-12T23:06:00.003-05:00

It's been so long hopefully this video makes up for my long lost blogging. ;) This video was taken after Ella had spent the night at Nana & Papa's...I think the girls missed each other! Ella loves to make her lil' sis laugh!

What they learn so young...

2009-08-23T23:34:00.008-05:00

The other night I was giving Ella an OVERDUE bath when she scrunched her belly up and said "See I Fat Mommy." Where in the world did that come from? I know we joke about having big booties or bellies but I don't think I have ever said I am fat or she is fat. It took me a minute to respond but it was with a slight laugh I said "You're not Fat, You're beautiful!" She giggled. I know kids say the darnest things and they don't have a "sensor" button but I don't want her growing up with a complex! Nonetheless our days are filled with her playing dress up (changing at least 3 times/day), bossing other kids (and me) around, fighting for her to nap or rest at naptime, demands to have her pull up changed, and lots of laughter! She is turning into the entertainer always requesting EVERYONE'S attention by guiding story or song time or shouting "look at me!" It's amazing how much they learn in just 3 short years. (Potty training is at a stand still but we are being patient as Ella will let us know when she is ready or at least I hope so!)

Emeri is 2-months-old, gone by fast. She is a lil' diva in training, whining when she wants the attention...I think we just may have two performers/entertainers/class clowns on the horizon. She smiles all the time and is cooing before we know it she will be saying her first words. She is slowly rolling over, from her back she gets to her side and from her tummy she can usually get to her back. Emeri has been sleeping in her crib for a little over a week now and we have had some 5-6hours of straight sleep at night while other nights we aren't so lucky.

Ella and Emeri already have an amazing bond. Ella loves to console her and Em quiets when she hears Ella's voice or sees her face. When Ella is at grandma's house she using Emeri as a reason to come home...."I need to see my sister!" It's so exciting thinking about the relationship they will have as they grow up.

(well I was waiting to post so I could add pictures but ran into trouble then we got a virus so we lost a year's worth of pics!)

Potty Training Day One

2009-07-14T19:52:00.003-05:00

After having Ella request her diaper be changed whenever she does #1 or #2 I decided it was time to attempt potty training. We bought the Elmo Potty DVD, cloth training pants, pull-ups, and "BIG GIRL" panties. Her potty chair and Dora seat insert have been in view for almost a year & she has shown some interest every now and then. I have been told it's best to just put her in the "BIG GIRL" panties and use a reward system. So today we started this CRAZINESS. Within 30 minutes I was changing bedsheets and loading the washer...a plus was she woke from nap DRY! Hooray now getting her to sit on the potty....TANTRUM until daddy breaks out twizzlers for just attempting to potty....STILL NOTHING except poo & pee in the undies. I broke down and put a pull-up on. Now I am wondering how long I will maintain my sanity during this process. :)

It's Official....

2009-06-17T22:19:00.002-05:00

Ella is a BIG SISTER!!!

Emeri Sophia weighed in at 7lbs 13.5oz & 20 inches long

Long time no blog...

2009-05-21T21:48:00.002-05:00

Well, well...we are still here. Busy, busy as ever entertaining Ella, "baking" this baby, & providing care for other kids. Hard to believe we have only 4 weeks left til Emeri is due to arrive. I have begun my weekly dr appts which means checking my progress at each visit. So far we are trucking along well and looking to possibly deliver early that is IF Emeri decides she is ready! :) This pregnancy is so different from my first...with Ella I was on the verge of preclampsia, swollen early on, bedridden, etc. But things are going smoothly this time and I recently hit the cankle stage. :) The aches/pains with each pregnancy get worse and boy oh boy she seems to be stuck on a nerve. Nonetheless we are blessed things are going so well and Ella is still patiently waiting to meet her sister.

Thanks to my wonderful husband I get to enjoy 4+ hours of relaxation at the spa on Saturday! I get a massage, facial, manicure & pedicure...what a way to end this pregnancy, celebrate 4 years of marriage & 2 years of motherhood. Cheers to pampering mama! Thanks Glenn!

Terrible Twos

2009-04-21T21:04:00.002-05:00

So I thought months ago we hit the terrible twos but looking back we were just having a bad day. Now, now I am SURE we have hit the terrible twos. Ella has become quite the sassy pants lately. I really feel like she is a teenager in a two-year-olds body. She has started ~~saying~~ yelling NO, NO! at E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G! The wonderful, sweet, charming words Please and Thank You have seemed to slip her little mind. The past two days she has even taken it up a notch to throwing things at you when she wants more juice her sippy cup comes flying, when she wants to watch a Dora dvd the dvd spins in your direction, when she needs her diaper changed she yells "YOU HAVE TO!" and the location in which she expects it done. She loves to tell you what to do and shows no mercy unless you can come up with a great bribe. No, no this isn't an episode of Nanny 911 rather an hour in the life of the Lewis family. Timeouts don't seem to do the trick but maybe I need a few more hours of critiquing the Super Nanny to really get it down. Frustrations run high and I am running on little energy for enforcing the rules. I can't just break down and let her run me that I do know. I need to have my moment of tears and move on. I am the parent! I am the parent!

Mommy, Read Books

2009-04-14T10:34:00.004-05:00

Ella loves to read and be read to. Every night we read 2-3 short stories before bed and it has become her favorite part of the night time routine. I bought The Very Hungry Caterpillar a few months ago and that is now one of her favorites. She has even begun "reading" the book too. Hopefully, she will take after daddy and be reading at age 4. Each day she reads more and more of the book.

Ella's First Bowling Trip

2009-03-31T09:19:00.005-05:00

We were invited to a bowling birthday party this past weekend. I was rather surprised at how much Ella enjoyed it. She was really excited when she realized she could carry the ball all by herself. She would wait patiently for her ball to return, pick it up, walk to the lane a drop the ball and briefly watch it go down the lane. Everyday since the bowling adventure she asks about bowling so I think we found a new fun outing for all of us. Thank goodness for bumpers...I am mastering my bowling skills via the Wii.

Like Father Like Daughter

2009-03-26T18:14:00.008-05:00

Glenn's mom was going through photos and found some pictures of Glenn...man oh man Ella looks JUST LIKE HER DADDY!

Glenn age 3

Ella age 2yrs 3months

Circus

2009-03-02T12:22:00.002-06:00

We took Ella to the Circus on Friday night. She was a little shy around the clowns at first but loved seeing the animals. While watching the show she asked for a horsey ride so at intermission we decided to let her ride a pony. At first she was a little nervous but once they started going she had a blast.

oh Dora how we love you

2009-02-25T07:43:00.004-06:00

Ella's love for Dora has grown to obsession. She wants EVERYTHING Dora. We go to the grocery store she sees Dora fruit snacks-must have them, Dora soup/spaghetti-must have, Dora cups-must have, Dora toothbrush-must have. Then at gymnastics she saw another little girl with Dora crocs and of course asked about them daily! Finally, on Monday I broke down and bought them...Boy was she excited! She jumped up and down and said Thank You Mommy! Thank you! watching Dora, drinking from the Dora straw cup & sporting the Dora crocs!

wearing the crocs when she woke at 6am!
Now these Dora crocs have been a staple item that she must wear all day long including naptime and bedtime. She crawled in bed with me at 4:30am and still had those things on! I have a feeling seeing Dora Live is going to make her EXPLODE with excitment!!

Drumroll Please, we are having....

2009-01-27T17:23:00.005-06:00

A GIRL!!!!

The adventures of POO

2009-01-27T08:07:00.002-06:00

Saturday night Ella was in her room watching Dora. I went in to check on her and she was fine. About 3 mins later she started whining for me. I went in her room and she had a HANDFUL of poop and some around her mouth. I screamed for Glenn to bring me wipes and proceeded to ask her where she got the poop. Then I noticed a trail from her diaper up her back. I took her into the bathroom and she was gagging. I washed her hands, Glenn gave her water and we threw her in the tub, then I called my mom. My mom is dying laughing and says she will be fine if and only be concerned if it was someone else's poop. We bathed her, gave her more water, washed her hands A MILLION more times and brushed her teeth twice and all was well.
I am not COMPLETELY sure if she ate it or just brought it close to her mouth and the smell drove her to not eat it. :)
That is a parenting moment I will NEVER forget and I will not ever let her live it down. LOL!

Here we come Dora!!

2009-01-21T12:12:00.002-06:00

We got 6th row tickets to see Dora Live! The show isn't here until March but it should be a great time. Ella will love every minute as Lost City is one of her many daily Dora episode requests!

Transitions

2009-01-20T20:38:00.008-06:00

As today marks the beginning of a new Presidential term I saw it only fitting to talk about the Lewis family transitions taking place today and in the weeks to come. First, we have transitioned the office (AKA bedroom 3) to an empty space which will soon be the nursery. The old office is now located in the unfinished basement. The unfinished basement has been transitioned into an office, bar area, sitting area and storage...now we just need walls, electrical work, flooring, and some bathroom furnishings then it will be complete.

Transition two is convincing Ella that sippy cups are for babies and since she is a big girl she can and will ONLY drink from a "big girl" cup.
The third is getting Ella potty trained. She has an interest but not as much as I think she should so we are going to ease into it. I plan on starting every morning by placing her on the potty.I also need to stop letting her have juice,water and milk at all hours of the day. I plan on letting her have something to drink at meal times in a big girl cup and throughout the day but ONLY in her "big girl" cup therefore she will not be able to carry the cup around like she does with the sippy cups. Hopefully this plan goes well, she whined today when I tried it but after realizing I wasn't going to give in she drank from the big girl cup, left it on the kitchen table and went back to playing.
Such a BIG girl!!!

Time Flies

2009-01-12T11:09:00.003-06:00

I cannot believe how long its been since I last blogged. The last month has flown by! We had a great Christmas and wonderful NYE. Christmas was hosted at our new house for both of our families so there was lots of food and fun! We actually cooked our FIRST turkey and it turned out AWESOME thanks to Paula Dean's recipe...which we are going to keep a secret from now on. Ella was blessed with lots of toys from Santa and everyone else. Now she loves to have people over so she can show them all the cool stuff she has. She is addicted to Dora more than ever but it's amazing how much she has learned from watching the show.

The first two weeks of 2009 have flown by but not quick enough as we anxiously await the 27th, its ULTRASOUND day so we can see the lil' bambino and how he/she is progressing and we get to find out the gender! YAY! I know I am going to rush out to get paint the moment we know. I have to know so I can prep the room and we can finalize a name. We went into this pregnancy with a girl and boy name but they have turned into a list too long to count..everyday it seems as though I add another name to the list.

Our baby is growing up!

2008-12-15T09:54:00.004-06:00

A few days late but nonetheless....ELLA TURNED TWO! She is getting so big. We had a party at the place she does gymnastics. All the kids seemed to enjoy themselves as well as Ella. The party went smoothly although I didn't chat with some of the parents as much as I hoped I was too busy chasing Ella around and ensuring the other kids had a good time. In the last few weeks and days Ella has seemed to grow up so much. Timeouts are going well when needed thanks to the microwave timer. :) Today we go for her 2 year checkup. She has been watching Dora daily for about two weeks now...Glenn and I are beginning to know all the episodes word for word and now Ella requests them by title.
Christmas is really exciting this year as Ella is really into Santa and all the lights and decor. We have taken her to see Santa twice already. She acts scared/shy at first but warms up quickly to him. We practiced telling him what she wants for Christmas and she was excited to tell him...BABIES!

Happy Holidays!

Making the call

2008-12-01T20:43:00.004-06:00

I am struggling with pulling Ella out of the daycare she currently goes to since I am now laid off and preping to stay at home. I remember the day I dropped her off..she was soo young and had no idea what was going on but I was a wreck. Now, she is nearly 2 and is able to know what is happening. She will miss Ms. Catie, Ms. Casey and the kiddies who have become her buddies. Man, she has learned sooo much in the 19 months she has gone there. It's going to be tough for me to tell them but I know it's the best decision for our family. I just pray she continues to learn and thrive. Thanks to Ms. Catie and Ms. Casey for the AWESOME care Ella has received we are forever grateful.

Unexpected Turns

2008-11-22T23:41:00.002-06:00

Life is all about bumps in the road and unexpected detours. With the economy doing the flips and downward spiral corporate America has been answering with layoffs. We avoided one round of layoffs at hubby's employer then Friday came....SURPRISE, Nikki you are being laid off. Talk about timing! Happy Thanksgiving! Cheers to the holiday season! Friday was a day of being bitter, depressed, and having a pity party. Now, it's time to snap out of it! So, think of me as you see the want ads and any new job posting. Things happen for a reason and we are looking forward to what the future holds for us! We will enjoy Thanksgiving and be grateful for all that we do have.

Have a great Thanksgiving.

So much to be Thankful for

2008-11-20T09:39:00.005-06:00

We have so much to be thankful for this year. We started the year as a family of four-Glenn, me, Ella & Snoop, our crazy beagle. Now as 2008 comes to an end and we look to 2009 we are a family of 5 ½-Glenn, Me, Ella, Snoop, Lucy, and our bun in the oven, a lot can change in a year!

2008 has brought so many wonderful things to our life. We built and purchased our very first home. Ella has truly grown into “toddlerhood.” Glenn and I have grown to love one another more as each day passes. We celebrated our third wedding anniversary. We added Lucy, our beagle pup, to the family. Snoop is slowly coming around to having another dog in the house. We have gained some new friendships and have learned to value the old friendships as well as the new. Glenn started graduate school. He celebrated his two year anniversary at his employer. I will be finishing my 5th semester in graduate school and celebrated four years at my employer. We have learned a lot as husband and wife as well as mother and father. Each day we learn something new and we look forward to carrying all that we have learned to the next year. Glenn and I have enjoyed a few concerts throughout the year and a trip to Las Vegas (Glenn went twice this year). We found out we are expecting our second child in June 2009. We get the joy of ending the year with Ella turning two! Each day it is something new with her. She is talking in sentences more and more everyday. Her vocabulary has expanded immensely in the last few weeks…she just AMAZES us!

As Thanksgiving approaches I realize all that we have to be thankful for hope you do the same.

Reliving Childhood Memories...

2008-11-13T09:31:00.003-06:00

One day Ella & Baby Lewis 2 will understand why Mommy and her friends had to see New Kids on the Block! Reliving the days of popping in the VHS and dancing around the room all came back last night thanks to NKOTB's reunion tour. I was screaming like a 12yr old seeing Hannah Montana or the Jonas Bros. At one point I even caught myself screaming, "I LOVE YOU DONNIE!" :) It brought back so many memories-the NKOTB bedding, the Joey & Donnie dolls, the GIANT buttons, overalls, cassette tapes, posters-oh how we all loved them. No need to be ashamed...NKOTB ROCKED back in the in the day and they still got it! It was worth the $40 I spent to see them!

The Look

2008-11-11T10:10:00.004-06:00

Ella loves to give dirty looks we can debate about who she learned that from. :) Now she will give "the look" on command. All you say is Ella give Mommy "the look" and she puts her chin down with her eyes looking up (as if she is wearing glasses & trying to look over the top of them). Then she laughs. I will try to get a video of her doing it sometime. Until then here is a photo of Ella and her Godmother, Veronica, giving "the look."

Rock the Vote!

2008-11-04T14:31:00.000-06:00

Butterfly to Witch...

2008-11-03T11:48:00.005-06:00

I loved Halloween as a child and its soo much fun dressing up toddlers. Ella received a gift from the in-law's neighbors over a month ago, it was butterfly dress up attire, complete with wings, antennas, and a magic belt. Ella was all about playing in this dress up attire. So we decided to use it as her Halloween costume.
As the weeks wore on the wings would stay on for seconds if we were lucky. So, I thought we'd better come up with another costume...something she could just wear as clothing. I scanned the Sunday newspaper and found a fabulous 50% off sale. So I loaded up Ella and we ventured to find a costume days before Halloween. I found an adorable pumpkin costume that was similiar to a hoodie...perfect...until...Ella says, "No! Witch. Mommy" as she points to an empty bag with a witch on the front. After about 30 minutes of mulling through the crowd and piles of costumes, we found it, a Spider Witch costume.
Although she wasn't into trick and treating she enjoyed handing out candy at grandma's house. We did manage to fill her bucket and part of another bag thanks to the grandparents, friends, and daycare. Looks like Glenn and I will enjoy some treats! ;)

Mommy Reflexes

2008-10-30T08:49:00.000-05:00

It's crazy how you begin to have these quick reflexes when you become a mom. Sometimes your reaction prevents disaster other times you are seconds late. When I was about 7 month pregnant with Ella, I was at a jewelry party, the other women were treating themselves to wine when my friends 2-year-old reached for the wine class off the coffee table. I caught her in the nick of time and we managed to not spill a drop of wine on the white carpet. That is when it all began. :)

A few of the other females in my graduate class like to crack jokes about how quickly my "mother instincts" kick in....I mentioned to one of them about the length of her hand washing (she sings Happy Birthday to herself--which is the food service standard & a great practice to rid germs). Then a classmate spilled coffee and I was the first and only person to reach for napkins....I guess moms just have quick reflexes, not a bad thing in my book!

I was talking with a friend about how I would love to be a teacher but I have a fear that I would be a rambling teacher that the students never learn anything from. Then I threw out that maybe I could teach kindergarten. She laughed and said you have the quick reflexes. We both laughed. I'll take that as a compliment! Never Fear Mommy Dear is Here! LOL!

Fall Fun

2008-10-21T10:36:00.006-05:00

We went to Vala's pumpkin patch again this year! It was rather muddy but we made it through alright. Ella didn't seem to be feeling herself and it took a bit for her to enjoy the scenery. We brought along my niece, Cynthia. Glenn enjoyed the "haunted" houses as he is usually the one haunting everyone else, it makes for a fun trip. We bought a 35lb pumpkin and hopefully we will carve it this weekend.

Looking forward to this being a relaxing, uneventful weekend. Last weekend did me in. I was not feeling to good Sunday and it seemed to stick around all day yesterday too. This baby is requesting sleep, sleep and lots of water & crackers!

Oh Baby!

2008-10-13T12:19:00.004-05:00

That's right...we are EXPECTING Baby #2!!! According to our calculations we are due around June 20, 2009!!!

Introducing Lucy......

2008-10-10T16:00:00.007-05:00

Today we drove 2.5 hrs to pick up our new lil' pup! She was born August 9, 2008...she is just the sweetest little thing well except for her quick poo she took in the house within hours of just being here!

Ella lovin on Lucy

catch me if you can!

Staking claim on the toys

Pooped from all the playin'

Vegas

2008-10-08T08:18:00.002-05:00

Our trip to Las Vegas was a great time. We did some shopping...ok alot of shopping, went to see STOMP OUT LOUD--which I HIGHLY recommend, and we checked out Pure nightclub. Some friends live in Vegas so Friday night we did the "local" scene which was a great way to start the trip. We also went to see Hoover Dam. The drive down to the Dam was beautiful and we crossed into Arizona to see the Colorado River. We spent just enough time in Sin City to refresh ourselves and now its back to life as usual. We have a busy couple of weeks--getting our new puppy, football, pumpkin patch, baby shower---lots to keep us busy!

To Pee or Not to Pee

2008-09-29T08:34:00.003-05:00

Ella has been letting us know when her diaper is full....now if we could just train her to run to the bathroom, drop her draws, and hop on the potty chair..we'd be set. This weekend we made some progress. Thursday night she said "potty mommy," so I took her into the bathroom and placed her on the potty. Then I began running bath water for her and then all of the sudden I look over and I thought I saw pee in the potty....YAY! In fact it was PEE...HOORAY! High fives all around, yells of excitment, rounds of applause, dances and giggles. Then came Friday.....no potty chair..(hear the birds chirping)..Saturday, nothing.....then Sunday morning.....PEE on the potty....HOORAY! Twice in a four days, we'll take it! I can see we are making progress....just at a turtle's pace but good things come to those who wait, right???

Apple Orchard Adventure

2008-09-22T08:24:00.006-05:00

Friday Glenn and I had the day off and planned a day at Kimmel Orchard in Nebraska City. Before we left for the orchard, Ella had an eye appointment. Of course they had to dilate her eyes and she is at the age where she rarely wants sunglasses, pigtails or anything on her head. So, I wasn't able to force her to wear the sunglasses given by the eye doc but she did figure out that covering her face made it all better. She fell asleep and we took advantage of the time to load the car and picked up Glenn's mom and we were off.

This weekend was the Applejack Festival on Saturday and Sunday so we were nervous about the orchard being wall to wall people but that wasn't the case. We did the U-Pick Apples so we roamed and picked our own apples. Ella loved doing this...she had a blast running all over the fields and pulling the apples from the trees. Then we went to see the vineyard...of course Ella decided to pick some grapes and as she was picking she was eating them....the seeds and all! We got some great apples and wine. It is a trip we will be taking every year...a new Lewis Family tradition. :)

What did you just say?!?!

2008-09-15T16:33:00.006-05:00

Oh lord.....we have hit the realm of naughty words!! Yes, we knew it would happen but we were never really prepared. It only takes saying something once then she repeats and awaits your reaction....do you laugh, cry, get angry...what do you do?!?! I will admit we laughed the first time but now I have had enough. She has said a few naughty words....F*c*, shit, damn it...the F word...why, why? And she even uses the words in the right context....no, please, can we just skip this section of parenting 101? Oh boy! This stage is great for teaching positive things like ABCs, 123s, animals, colors, and shapes...I have a feeling all the educational teachings will be overshadowed by the not-so-educational...

Could these naughty words come from such a cute lil' lady?

DON'T UNDERESTIMATE Me!

Secret Obession

2008-09-08T10:10:00.004-05:00

I am one of those people intrigued by others and their life stories...the good, the bad, the ugly, and the untold. I was introduced to PostSecret about a year ago. It is now my obession and I can honestly say I have not YET sent in any secrets. Each secret leaves me wanting to know more. I guess I am just nosey. HAHAHA! I recommend checking out the site and even mailing in your secrets! There are numerous videos on youtube as the inventor/owner travels around the country talking about all the secrets he has received. You can check out some of the videos here. The site is updated every Sunday so it makes for a great read on Monday mornings at work.

Teamwork

2008-09-03T08:13:00.003-05:00

When Ella was just about a year old we introduced various cartoons on Noggin and Nick Jr. She enjoyed all the little animations in between the programs. She also took to Wonder Pets, Dora, and the Backyardigans. If you have ever seen the Wonder Pets! you know all the songs and are able to sing them at the drop of a hat or when something reminds you of them you rattle off the song. Her liking of the show seemed to only last a little while and still changes every now and then from Dora to the Wonder Pets to the Backyardigans. A few days ago I asked her to help me clean up her toys and she begin picking them up along with Daddy and me. Then all of a sudden she said "teamwork." Glenn and I looked at each other in utter amazement...did that just really happen? Oh yes! It was the cutest thing. So the concept shown to her on Wonder Pets! clicked (maybe daycare assisted but nonetheless). She understood when to use the term teamwork. All those stares while talking to her, were not blank stares but stares of taking/soaking it all in. What a fun time for us as parents as she learns and grows so much everyday.

Mini Me

2008-08-25T12:24:00.007-05:00

We have this empty field a few houses away, this field has become the potty ground for all the dogs in the neighborhood, at least until we all get fences. So, Glenn and I trade off taking Snoop potty. Ella has learned about this and we have even ventured by taking her with us. We walk hand in hand down the sidewalk and Snoop jets off toward the field. Well the other day we stopped at the end of the sidewalk and Ella places her doll on the concrete and places her hands on her hips and says "Snoop Potty!" all about the same time I do the same thing. I just about died laughing. She must have watched me do this time after time so now its a habit for her. She started to run off back towards the house but Snoop was still in the field...so she stops turns around, places her hands on her hips, and yells "Snoop Potty!" What a lil' mini me! I never really noticed how much I place my hands on my hips but obviously its ALOT!

Glenn recently purchased a laptop and course Ella thinks it is HERS...as is everything in the house. :)So to keep her from destroying the new laptop we broke out the VTech kids laptop, this thing is ancient...does not turn on or anything...Glenn's mom gave it to us. Nonetheless, it serves a great purpose as Ella is totally down with pretend playing. :)
Oh boy...we had better watch ourselves as she seems to mock everything we do.

Olympic Fever

2008-08-19T08:07:00.003-05:00

I am sure everyone can relate but our house has been an Olympic Haven! We have not watched regular television in over a week. We are glued to the television watching the Olympics. My favorites are gymnastics and swimming. Glenn is in love with track and field. Of course, Ella loves watching "nastics" and has even been in awe of diving. A few days ago as the coverage focused on gymnastics I couldn't help but think that maybe one day Ella could be an Olympian. She is loving her gymnastics class and we enrolled her to help with her climbing and extra energy...note this is a similar reason Shawn Johnson's(Team USA) parents enrolled her...haha, man I have too much time on my hands. Seriously, there is nothing more exciting than thinking about all the possiblities for Ella's future...I know, I am a total cornball.

As the Olympics wind down over the coming days sleep will be in order for me and lots of Lifetime! :) Next up...football will dominate our Sundays!

The Many Faces of Glenn

2008-08-12T20:31:00.004-05:00

As I am generally the one who posts on our blog I thought it would be nice to introduce Daddy (aka Glenn). Here is Daddy in all his glory!

Mommy in the Making..Part Two

2008-08-06T09:23:00.005-05:00

As each day passes Ella becomes more and more interested in babies/dolls. She has been asking for a stroller to put her babies in because at Glenn's parents they have a stroller (which is really for Ella to ride in)and they allow her to push her babies around in this stroller. Glenn's mom has been looking for a kids play stroller for Ella but wasn't satisfied with what she had found. I decided to check Target for any and we found one. She LOVES to push her babies and even says, "Tickle, Tickle" or "Shh, Baby sleepin" in a cute kiddy voice. At daycare she loves to interact with the infants, she will come home and say their names over and over.

Mommy in the making

2008-07-27T22:29:00.005-05:00

Over the past few weeks Ella has become very interested in playing with dolls/babies. She will take her sippy and feed them, rock them, put them to sleep, etc. It's rather entertaining and soooo ADORABLE! We went to see my grandma in Fremont a week ago and of course my grandma had a large stuffed Dora waiting for Ella. This Dora is HUGE and Ella wouldn't put her down. Dora sat in the highchair and Ella fed her then on the way home she had to hold onto Dora even once Ella fell asleep she wouldn't let go of her. All this mommy training is going to come in handy when she becomes a big sister.

Ella feeding Dora.

Just Dress Up? or a Shoe Fetish?

2008-07-16T08:01:00.008-05:00

This morning I was getting ready for work and in walks Ella with my high heels on. Ella has been enjoying everyone's shoes for about a month now. She puts them on and walks all over until they fall off then she says "No! Shoe!" I just can't help but wonder if her enthusiasm for shoes will become a shoe fetish in the future. I had a shoe fetish at one time...Glenn has a shoe fetish (we have the shoes to prove it)so Ella is destined to have one as well. Brace yourself Papa we are going to need that spinning shoe rack!

The Runway Pose

Practicing her Runway Walk

Gymnastics!

2008-07-07T22:53:00.004-05:00

Monday brought Ella's first dental visit, which went surprisingly well. No cavities just a crowded mouth which I guess almost every kid has. She only has FOUR more baby teeth to come in. She let the dental assistant brush her teeth and with little fussing she let the Dr. Bennett take a look at her pearly whites!
Yesterday also marked Ella's 2nd week of gymnastics! Here is a photo journal of all the fun!
Tunnel Vision
Ta-Dah
Digging her way out!
Bouncy, Bouncy!
Theme of the night...UNDER!
Such a natural
Practice makes Perfect!
HELP!
Balancing Act
It's over already?

Fun Filled Weekend

2008-07-07T22:19:00.010-05:00

We started off the holiday weekend by meeting Baby Killian for the first time. Ella was so obessed with him the moment she met him. Seeing her with Baby K was a small glimpse into how she will be as a Big Sister...She couldn't get enough of him!

The fourth of July is not only America's Independence Day but Glenn's Birthday! This year we celebrated with our first annual Birthday Bash at the new house. Glenn's family came in from Kansas and friends joined us on Friday for food, fun and beverages. We started the weekend off on Thursday when we went to Texas Roadhouse for Bob's (Glenn's dad) birthday. Although it was not "officially" Glenn's birthday Glenn was a trooper and rode the saddle while everyone yelled "YEEEHAW!" in his honor.

Friday came and I surprised Glenn with Guitar Hero III Legends of Rock. He has wanted Guitar Hero since its debut but was holding out on him!

While Glenn was enjoying his Rocker Debut...Ella was soaking up some rays in her wading pool from Tia V!

We ended the weekend with a trip to the Zoo on what had to be one of the busiest days all year! We utilized the great views of the Desert, Aquarium, Gorillas, and Pavillion to keep cool from the humidity but felt somewhat suffocated with the wall to wall onlookers! We managed to sneak in a few pics near the end of our adventure.
Baby K! Ella! Over here, say Cheese!
Wheew! What a long enjoyable but exhausting weekend. Ella was completely off schedule enjoying 10:00-MIDNIGHT bedtimes...back on track we go! Monday brings her first dentist appointment and her 2nd week of gymnastics...Check back for photos!

Track Star?!?!

2008-06-30T22:35:00.005-05:00

Ella and her daily lap running! She enjoys running up and down the hallway. Sometimes mommy or daddy waits at the end of the hallway and she runs at us full speed, giggling the whole way! This is a great workout and sometimes if we are lucky she gets tired ;)

Notice how she stops to say "Cheese" to the camera

Friday Storm

2008-06-30T22:12:00.005-05:00

This past Friday was a little crazy as we had winds ranging from 70-90mph. Papillion (where we live) didn't see the worst of the storm but the winds blew hard enough to blow over our picnic table and blow apart Ella's playhouse. We had to chase down pieces of the playhouse along with our trash bin. The rain came down sideways and our lights flickered on and off but luckily we did not lose power. There were about 150,000+ without power Friday evening and tonight it is down to about 25,000. Midtown and Northwest Omaha saw high winds, rain and hail. Large trees were spilt and some completely uprooted. Here are some of the photos I took.
Looking Northwest
Looking West
Looking North

Hello again!

2008-06-30T08:57:00.002-05:00

For the past week I have been trying to post a video of Ella with no luck! I will continue to try but for now enjoy some family photos taken this Sunday!

18 months going on 10

2008-06-20T12:14:00.002-05:00

I swear Ella should have been a boy! She is a CLIMBER! She loves to climb on the coffee table, toy box, kitchen table, ladders...EVERYTHING! She seems to have NO FEAR of heights which is some ways is a plus but scares the crap out of me! Just yesterday Glenn picked her up from daycare and Catie told him Ella climbed the tall ladder on the large wooden swingset all by herself...that thing is at least 5ft tall! AHHHHHHHHHHH! A few weeks ago she took a tumble down the stairs at Glenn's parents house but she didn't cry just got back up and headed back upstairs!!

Luckily, she hasn't mastered climbing out of the crib just yet...(oh gosh I hope I didn't just jinx myself!)let's hope she is just soo exhausted from her adventures that crib time = snoring NOT climbing! Due to the fact she seems to enjoy climbing, running, swinging, etc we are going to sign her up for "Fractions-In-Action" gymnastics at Kids Body Shop in Papillion. It's a class for 18-35month olds which requires mom or dad to be in the class with them but she will get to do some FUN things in a SAFE environment and not in the privacy of our kitchen! :) I am sure it will be a matter of time before she brings home the tricks learned in class! Oh Jeez! A few weeks ago I took her shopping with me...what was I thinking?!?!? She did not want to stay in the stroller and silly me didn't buckle her in. Well wouldn't you know she snuck out of the stroller after squeezing herself under the snack tray...off she went...RUNNING!

We did have her 18 month check up last Friday and she seems to still be in the upper percentile. Weight: 27.7lbs (85%) Height: 33.5in(95%) She is adding words to her vocabulary daily, the newest addition was "work." She attempts to count but skips a few numbers here and there....2,4,5,6,7,19,20.....it's soo cute! She is begining to learn her ABC's and tries to sing along to Twinkle, Twinkle.

Backyard Adventures

2008-06-15T21:03:00.004-05:00

"Look Mommy One hand!"

Although today was Father's day my dad and Glenn put together a swingset for Ella. She has an obsession with the swings, we can spent an hour at the park and all she will do is swing. The swingset was given to us by a friend and only has "big kid" swings but Ella has had her fair share of practice using the "big kid" swing at daycare. She was soo excited seeing the first swing up and waiting for her to hop on. She stood in the kitchen screaming in excitement! I see our time at the park decreasing but it is a great place to interact with other kiddos and mommies...we will have to chat about that!

Faster Nana! Faster!

Little Miss Independent

2008-06-08T21:31:00.006-05:00

Ella has become such a little helper well....when she wants. She loves to help clean whether it's vacuuming or mopping the floor....but she does tend to get in the way and nothing really stops her so look out! Her favorite word is still "NO!" she has started to say "Move!" and "Don't push me!" The other day she decided to move "her chair" (the big chair with her booster seat attached) and CLIMBED up into the booster ALL BY HERSELF...AHHHHHHHHHHHH! She absolutely has no fear of heights and will climb anything if you let her....freaks me out! She acts like she is 2 going on 20!!!!

Got Tickets?!?!

2008-06-04T12:02:00.002-05:00

This past Saturday was a mad dash to ticketmaster. I scored NKOTB tickets for myself and two friends. While booking the NKOTB tickets Glenn said "What about Katt Williams?" I checked and there were floor seats still available to his second show. We quickly called Veronica and Angie (glenn's sister) to see if they'd like to join us. Of course they were all in even if the price exceeded $60/ticket. We scored 4 tickets in the 10th row! We are soo excited, the show is next Wednesday and NKOTB is in November! I am sure there will be more cashola spent on entertainment in the coming months as we approach October...our getaway to Vegas!

Blog World

2008-05-28T08:48:00.004-05:00

I am fairly new to the blog world but I have become addicted to a few blogs over the last year. Suz, a mom of quads and Gen, another mom of quads. These two blogs make me laugh about all the crazy things Ella is doing but can you imagine 4 times the craziness?!?!?! These women struggled to become pregnant and got blessed with 4 healthy children. Yesterday, I stumbled upon another mommy blog, Multiple Baby Pileup, a story of a couple who used IVF and were blessed with triplets. I have always had the fear of never being able to get pregnant but we were blessed to get pregnant right away and have a healthy little girl. These blogs have shown me to never take anything for granted!
Two other blogs I read regularly are two brave mothers battling breast cancer. Toddler Plant, and Kim's blog make me think about my mom and how she may or may not feel. Although my mom doesn't have breast cancer its still cancer and she is continuing her chemotherapy. My mom recently cut her hair and is wearing a wig; she called me so excited about her new hair that is something I will remember forever. When I was doing sorority recruitment before my freshmen year of college I was drawn to ZTA because of its philanthropy. ZTA Foundation donates to Susan G Komen and focuses on breast cancer awareness. I remember thinking what would I do if my mom got cancer?!?!? It brings me to tears just thinking about it. Then we got the news in Jan 07 that she has cervical cancer. She stood strong but I was heartbroken!! She has been so strong through the treatments and hospital stay. She is the reason we all have been so strong. Reading about other women and their journey through treatment gives me a little more insight to what my mom just might be thinking. I am grateful for the insight and thankful for my mom's strength. We all are so proud of her.

Who would have thought blogging could be so therapeutic?!?!

Save Your Pennies Ladies..

2008-05-19T09:23:00.002-05:00

The New Kids on the Block are coming to Omaha! WOOT! NKOTB are back! They orginally had not planned on coming to Omaha but all those shows are selling out so quick they added more stops! I am sooo getting tickets! My sister and I had NKOTB bedding, cassettes, VHS, and "barbie-like" dolls...we were obessed!

Happy 3rd Anniversary!

2008-05-13T14:48:00.008-05:00

Today marks our 3rd Wedding Anniversary. Happy Anniversary Honey! I love you!

Engagement photo 2004

Wedding Day 2005

Spring 2008

17 months..where has the time gone?!?!

2008-05-13T14:32:00.004-05:00

It's hard to believe that 17 months ago we welcomed Ella into the world! She is such a blessing. She has quite the personality and loves being the center of attention. I am happy but sad that she is going to be 2 at the end of the year. She is starting to put words together to make phrases. This morning she was eating breakfast and Glenn asked her "where you going today?" and she said "where?" which was a first! Tuesdays through Thursdays are her daycare days so we always ask her "Are you going to see...(listing off the kiddos, Ms. Catie, Ms. Sam, etc)" she smiles and will try to say their names with us. It's very cute. We are almost to the point that we can have conversations with her. She has become an outside junkie but what kid isn't? She cries when we bring her inside and screams "SouSide, Side!"

The best feeling is when she wants me to pick her up and she cuffs her arms around my neck-giving me a huge hug! Every morning we wait anxiously for Glenn to arrive home from work and man does her face light up seeing him come through the door. Priceless!

We have a hard time getting her to look at the camera long enough to snap the shot but here are some adorable pics of her posing for Glenn!

MommyFest 2008

2008-05-12T14:36:00.003-05:00

Blogging is a Mommy's sanity network. MommyFest was created five years ago as an interactive online event! Click here to start blog hopping and meeting other moms!

Ring Around the Rosey...

2008-05-07T21:18:00.002-05:00

Ella's new favorite song!

Such a big girl!

2008-05-07T08:50:00.003-05:00

Ella has been WITHOUT her pacifier or "biks" for about 10 days now! She is doing soo well without it. She hasn't even asked for it. She use to have it alot while in the car and we have had some meltdowns but we have stood firm and no more BIKS! YAY! She stopped using it at daycare when she was like 11 months but we kept giving it to her at home for bedtime and car rides. She still seems to be attached to her bear and/or blankie but does ok as long as she has one of them. Next up will be potty training but we have awhile for that!

Ella went to her first parade on Saturday. South Omaha had their Cinco de Mayo celebration. She enjoyed looking at all the horses that were in the parade. We did notice she loves to people watch--wonder where she got that from, LOL! It was a bit chilly for the parade but warmed up. We enjoyed some authentic Mexican cuisine for lunch. Ella was pooped after having a long exciting day!

In the nick of time

2008-04-30T08:09:00.002-05:00

Late yesterday afternoon we received our sod. We finally have a lawn! I woke early this morning to begin the HEAVY watering that is required in the first days of having new sod. Thanks to my grandma Alice we have 2 BRIGHT YELLOW hoses--can't miss 'em! Our new lawn arrived weeks before our housewarming party which is wonderful news. Hopefully this weekend we will clean out the garage-still somethings that need to be moved in the house. The Griffith family gave us a Little Tikes playhouse with a slide, soccer goal and basketball hoop which is sitting in the garage and I am itching to get it outside. I am planning on giving the sod a few weeks before we really start to put things in the yard...we'll see how that goes. We are looking forward to the nice weather this week and what better way to enjoy it than with a BRAND NEW lawn!

Light at the end of the tunnel

2008-04-22T13:04:00.002-05:00

Reality check! The semester is officially over for me May 9th-given I wait to turn my paper in then. I will no longer have classes M-W after next week...I couldn't be more excited. Next semester I will be only taking one class...thank gosh! Glenn is enjoying his once a week class and will have his masters degree months before I do...wait a minute I started in August '06...I think I got the short end of the stick or maybe he just found a better deal?!?

Ella is now climbing on TOP of the kitchen table! She started out ATTEMPTING to climb on the kitchen chairs but it took only a day and she figured out a way. She hoists her body on top of the chair and uses the chair back to hold firmly and pull herself up! She has even gotten herself up with half the chair under the table therefore she is stuck under the table unable to sit or stand on the chair...I find this comical but she does not. She is a little daredevil. I was painting the kitchen and had the ladder out....what do you think she did...Oh yes, began to climb it with NO FEAR just all smiles! She loves to be outside, even cries/begs to go out after coming in. Needless to say we have been to the park alot with the nice weather. I am beginning to think we have begun the terrible two's....loookout! The tantrums-throwing self on the hard tiled floor, crying uncontrolably and the NOOOO! responses have begun! We are trying to work on time outs but she doesn't seem to "stay" in time out. I am amazed at how much she picks up. She pretty much repeats anything you say. She loves to have books read to her. She will bring them to you and sit on your lap while you flip through the pages. We are getting more and more into singing songs. She loves Itsy bitsy spider and recently has begun liking row, row, row your boat. She tries to say merrily, merrily but it comes out may, may. She is growing up so fast! We enjoy her silly personality and we see a little of ourselves in her more and more each day!

Home Project Chronicles II

2008-04-20T21:33:00.003-05:00

Our second painting project is complete. The main bath or as we call it Ella's bathroom is now a vibrant orange! Next up is Ella's bedroom.
Before

After

Home Project Chronicles I

2008-04-13T23:12:00.003-05:00

We finished the FIRST "project" in the new house! The kitchen is officially painted!

Before

After

April Showers...

2008-04-07T13:59:00.003-05:00

It's been a little over a week since we moved into the house. We have met a couple of the neighbors. We got lucky and there is a lil' girl across the street who is 2, so I am sure Ella with enjoy playdates with her soon. The only frustration at this point is waiting for our sod...I don't know how much more rainy days I will be able to handle especially having to take Snoop out to potty and wipe his paws off everytime. We did enjoy the nice weather this weekend and walked to the park. It is perfect because the park is only a few blocks away. There is a walking trail all around the park which will come in handy as Ella gets older...Ella can play and mommy can exercise!! All of us seem to be adjusting to the new surroundings well and the drive home. I am in class M-W right after work so last Thursday actually driving HOME was soo nice. I guess it's suppose to rain most of the week...BOOO! I know, I know, we need the rain but we need to have some warm days to offset the wet(muddy)yard our dog gets to play in. I guess cheers to April Showers, they bring May flowers!

The adventure to see Dora

2008-03-17T08:22:00.002-05:00

We spent about 2 hours at the Zoo yesterday waiting in line to see Dora and Diego. After waiting for an hour and a half some marketing people came to us and said you are right on the bubble of getting in to see them. We were contemplating waiting and taking a chance...then we came to the realization there was no way so we hopped out of line and ventured UP the hill. Then we got the brilliant idea to walk in the building and see if we could at least see them for a distance! JACKPOT! We went in the exit door. Ella started to shout, "DOR! DOR! HI! HI!" and waved. I let her down and figured she would run to the front which she pretty much did and I snapped pics as I could. Mission Accomplished! She didn't really know what was going on but she got to see them so we were all happy!

Lots to tell...

2008-03-14T09:58:00.002-05:00

Ella had her 15 month checkup yesterday. She now weighs 24lbs 14oz and is 32inches tall! The doc said she is somewhat skinny for her height. She had to get two shots and will not need anymore until right before kindergarten! The doctor was impressed that Ella is able to say a couple of phrases...Thank you and did it(thanks Dora!), I guess this is an 18 month milestone. She usually always says please and thank you....which just melts my heart.

Ella has begun to hit and she even pulled my hair the other day! We have began time out, which usually last 30 seconds but I figure it’s good to start them now. I am trying to use the "SuperNanny" techniques so we will see how that goes, LOL! She is getting her first haircut today.....I am really just wanting to get the top trimmed and around the ears....she has ALOT of hair on top which makes a cute ponytail/pigtails but its hard to just leave it alone, she looks like she just woke up.

We went out to the house yesterday and it is pretty much done just a few touch ups needed! I am on Spring Break next week so I will spend the evenings packing in hopes of having it done by next weekend.

Life is too short!

2008-03-09T19:45:00.001-05:00

Today we lost two good friends, Aaron Hicks and Jesse Fett, you will be missed. Enjoy life and live everyday to the fullest!

Updated House photos

2008-02-29T17:00:00.008-06:00

Main bath

Master bath

kitchen cabinets and countertop

Coming together

2008-02-28T12:56:00.003-06:00

The house is really coming together. We have cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms, doors, and trim. They had to fix our stoop because the corner broke off, the cement truck was there yesterday. I am hoping to get out there tomorrow and take some pictures and the coutertops should be in place, the next "BIG" date we have is the carpet install then our walk through is on the 20th....WOW! I remember how antsy I was for the framing to begin and I drove by everyday. Luckily I have been so busy driving by daily has stopped. We try to get out there once a week and usually are amazed at the progress on our house and the surrounding streets. Glenn has had the glory of driving by everyday after picking Ella up from daycare since it's just down the street!

I am gearing up for midterms for both my classes as well as 2 papers all which take place BEFORE Spring Break, it's approaching fast! I will be thankful and grateful when I get through this semester passing both of my classes.

Ella has been doing well. We had her 2 week post op with Dr. Prinz, ENT specialist. That didn't go so well. Ella has had alot of drainage from her ears, which is good and bad. Good because its not staying "trapped" in there but bad because it can build up bacteria. Dr. Prinz had to suction out her ears and place drops with steroids in...I am glad Ella will not remember these medical experiences. Ella is on augmentin (to rid any bacteria) and ear drops with steroids. She wasn't able to complete her hearing test due to the drainage, we will go back in 2 weeks and see how things are looking.

My parent's 30th anniversary party was last Saturday and went VERY well. We had a great turnout and my mom receieved a beautiful ring from my dad!

Congrats to Leah and Jeff as they close on their house tomorrow! We are all going through such BIG life changes this year! :)

Check back for new pictures of the house!

Hola!

2008-02-19T08:57:00.002-06:00

Hello, hello! We have been very busy and will continue to be until April. Glenn just got back from a Guys trip to Vegas. He had a great time and was able to party it up and is now suffering from a lack of sleep! While he was out enjoying the clubs, liquor, and gambling I was dealing with a sick lil gal. Not so much fun, so I am due for a Girls vacation mid to late Summer, wink, wink! Ella seems to be fighting a cold/respiratory infection which she has given to me. She wasn't a happy camper this weekend running a temp of 102-104 but since seems to be a little more congested and no more fever. Boy will we be happy when Spring is here!

We are patiently awaiting the installment of our cabinets in the house. Currently we have drywall, trim and doors! Things are moving right along. The cabinets should be in late this week. Then carpet in early March! When we drove out by the house yesterday I was amazed at how much is complete within our 3 blocks...crazy, things are going up fast!

Glenn is planning on a 4th of July party...As its his Birthday and America's Independence Day! His family is coming up from Kansas and we are very excited. So much to look forward to.

Making history

2008-02-09T15:24:00.000-06:00

It's crazy to think that next week marks the month half over! These days are flying by. We went to the house yesterday and took some photos of the drywall complete, very exciting (see the slideshow to the right for photos).
Glenn and I were able to make it out to the Barack Obama rally on Thursday that was amazing! Then this morning we took part in the FIRST EVER Nebraska caucus! That was an interesting experience to say the least. I just expected to walk in & "vote" then off I would be but that was not how things went. It was like a rival high school pep rally. On one side were the Hillary supports, the other the Obama supports, and in middle were those undecided. The whole point was to sway those undecided and then cast your vote. It was craziness people chanting and waving signs. All in all a great experience. The Obama side seemed to prevail which was even better!

Tubes

2008-02-04T15:37:00.001-06:00

Ella saw the ENT specialist this morning. She is scheduled to get tubes put in both ears on Tuesday, Feb 12. They conducted a hearing analysis and she failed the left ear due to fluid in her ear. Having the tubes will definitely help with fluid build up in the future. She also had a physical and follow-up exam with her pediatrician. She now weighs 24.4lbs! Growing lil' gal!

WOW!

2008-02-04T08:22:00.001-06:00

Last week was an exhausting week! Ella had to be hospitalized last Tuesday until late Thursday evening. I noticed she had a cough and then Monday she spiked a fever and began wheezing. I took her to the first available pediatrician on Tuesday morning. They did a chest Xray and it appeared she had bronchilitis (affect the bronchal tubes in the lungs). She also had another double ear infection. We got a prescription and home we went. I decided to spend the day at home with her as she was really fussy and still not doing well. Throughout the day she was struggling to breath and I gave her breathing treatments which seemed uneffective. By 10pm we were in the ER and she was being admitted. We started out with just some oxygen and breathing treatments every 4 hours. By Wednesday at noon she was placed on an IV because she vomitting and not wanting to eat or drink. They also placed her on steroids to clear her lungs. By late Wednesday I was able to get her to eat a little on her own. The IV helped her stay hydrated and they gave her meds through it as well. They did try to remove her from the oxygen on Wednesday but her saturation dropped so they put her back on. On Thursday around 9am they took her off the oxygen again and observed her while she slept and she did great her saturation stayed above 92. She was doing such a great job eating, drinking and pottying we were able to go home Thursday evening around 8pm. She has some followups today but she has been doing wonderfully since we have been home.

Now for exciting news. We finally got a closing date on the house. We are soo excited! YAY! We should see the drywall sometime this week and I will post photos soon, so check back! HOORAY!

moving right along

2008-01-25T18:21:00.000-06:00

As you can see the house is moving right along. We have siding! They are about 2 days behind schedule but should be able to make up some time once the drywall is in place. We should find out at the end of the month what our exact closing date will be.
We have been very busy adjusting to our new schedules this year-Glenn working overnights and me taking 2 classes. Ella has been a trooper thus far. She enjoys time with Veronica and Grandma Lewis on the evenings I am in class. She is growing so much. She has begun to say many words...Bite, Dora, Please, sit, cheeto, pretzel, bath, ball, more, and lots of other words I am forgetting. These words are not completely pronounced properly but she tries! She LOVES to dance! She also enjoys sitting in the bathroom sink, why I am not sure.
Oh yeah, almost forgot Glenn decided to give himself a MOHAWK! LOL! Check it out!

We have a busy February coming up. Glenn is planning a trip to Vegas with some friends, I am planning (with help from my brothers and sister)my parents 30th anniversary party, and with Feb being a short month we need to get a headstart on packing! Not to mention my midterms will take place in late February as well! Happy times here at the Lewis household! XOXO

Is it May yet?

2008-01-16T07:48:00.000-06:00

As I look forward to my final class of the week I feel very nervous and anxious. So much is going on this semester...I am taking 2 classes, we close on the house in March, Glenn changed work schedules, Ella has another ear infection-tubes are possible, my company was bought out, I could go on forever. As this was my first week of classes since December I am feeling overwhelmed and guilty for leaving Ella. It's that mommy guilt thing I guess, it will pass...I hope. My classes this semester are quanitative research methods and communication power in organizations. I hate math therefore quanitative scares the CRAP out of me!! My plan is to stay on track and read, do the homework CONSISTENTLY this semester. I just keep telling myself there is ONLY 16 weeks of this craziness and once completed you are another semester closer to having a Masters. What am I going to do with the Masters? I have no idea. How refreshing! :) After all this passes in about May, I think I will be OVERDUE for a VACATION?? One could hope but I should take summer classes so we will see where that vacation can be fit in! :}

Ella has yet ANOTHER ear infection, poor thing! This is her 4th infection in about 6 months. We will see an ENT specialist once this round of antibiotics is complete. She has got her FIRST molar on the top left side and is working on the top right side. So teething and an ear infection creates an IRRITABLE little gal.

On a happy note, we will find out in about 2 weeks what our closing date will be. Last I checked it was March 26...so fingers crossed that it hasn't changed. They have the house framed, windows, front & back doors along with the garage door, & shingles completed. They should be starting to put the vinyl siding on by the end of the week. Things are moving right along. Hooray!

Framing Update

2008-01-09T18:08:00.001-06:00

Looks like they have completed framing.

FRAMING!!

2008-01-09T07:41:00.000-06:00

Finally, they have begun framing on the house. Glenn drove by before picking up Ella from daycare and then we went back out as a family around 6:30 last night. The pic is dark but nonetheless you get the idea. YAY!

Thank gosh it's over!

2007-12-26T20:02:00.001-06:00

Christmas although wonderful and filling...I am glad it's over. Ella was showered with all sorts of gifts even Dora bedding for her twin bed, whenever she is ready for that..hell it could be a year until she starts sleeping in that! Gotta love grandparents! Our living room is now Ella's playroom, creating a path without tripping over things is a eventful task. Our apartment requires a lit path from our bedroom to the kitchen so we don't kill ourselves at night. Glenn and I enjoyed all of our gifts as well...Glenn was accessorized with gadgets for his new palm centro cellphone and I was showered with clothes!

We drove by our lot and they have the first house on our street up and framed, they started the 2nd house today! We snapped some final photos of the foundation and they should have our house framed by mid next week...they are a few days behind. We drove around the neighborhood and found a house that looks EXACTLY like ours (we think its the same color)the garage is just on the opposite side. It was nice to see one in the neighborhood.

Ella has developed some new words and actions. She is mastering peek-a-boo by covering her eyes and she now says "Hey!" She has been trying to say "Dora" as well. She has a very fearless side to her personality, she likes to climb and stand on things even if its the couch or her rocking chair. She loves it when you notice her doing something she isn't suppose to do, she smiles and continues until you get near her. We have our hands full!

Hope everyone has a safe and happy new year!

New Year....New Job, New House!

2007-12-19T12:02:00.000-06:00

Glenn has just accepted a new position within Paypal!!! He will begin his new job, Fraud Agent, on December 31st! Nothing beats a pay raise to start the year. He is currently working M-F 6:45am-3:15pm but this new position will bring on a new schedule, Sun-Wed 7pm-5:30am. We are both VERY excited for this new position and schedule.

As for my job, our company, EDO Corporation was purchased by ITT Corporation effective Friday! The changes will probably not be seen until late first quarter 2008. Fingers crossed that my position stays. I am still working on my Masters in Communications. Next semester, I decided to venture on with 2 classes instead of one! We will see how the next 5 months go. :)

Ella is a vibrant, babbling one year old. She is very much into Dora the Explorer. We have been working on expanding her vocabulary as well as her exposure to television. She is gaining some likeliness to the Backyardigans and the Wonder Pets. She has many fun toys that she likes to drag around and climb all over. Every night she brushes teeth, well attempts. She actually lets me get some good brushing in while she sucks on the toothbrush. At her 12 month checkup she weighed in at 22lbs 13oz and 31.5inches tall. She is still in the 75th percentile for weight and 100th for height. Oh yes, our little model!

The house is still just a foundation and basement. They are set to begin framing on the 28th..so just about another week and we should have some new photos to share. The driveway, garage floor and stoop have been poured as well. We drove by the other night and the lumber for the corner house had arrived along with all the dumpsters for each house. There is progress! The house should be completely framed and sided by mid January...given the weather cooperates!

Wishing you all a very happy New Year!

'Tis the Season

2007-12-12T12:31:00.000-06:00

Every year our office of 6 draws names for a gift exchange. The gift exchange includes our spouses and takes place during our holiday dinner. After being her 3 years and seeing the silly gifts we all get I thought maybe this year we could Adopt-A-Family instead of buying silly gifts for one another. I emailed the guys I work with and everyone thought it was a great idea. We adopted a family of four. We all contributed $25 and then we went shopping. We got some great gifts and of course we went over our budget but it was for 2 children so we splurged. I delievered the gifts today while the children were at school. Their mother was sooo thankful. She wrote a nice letter thanking us. When you adopt a family you have to contact via telephone. Our family didn't have a working phone number so I called the Salvation Army and they gave me two options...1)adopt a different family or 2) go to the listed address and verify they still live there. I decided to go the address, I didn't want to abandon this family. The mother was relying on being adopted. She was home and I introduced myself and she was happy/relieved. This will be a new tradition for our office and maybe even for my family. Every year we spend so much money on one another for birthdays, holidays and special occasions, why not give another family that same joy! I recommend adopting a family every year for the holidays! Star 104.5 and the Salvation Army team up every year and have a radio-thon to adopt the families. Happy Holidays!

One!

2007-12-10T12:56:00.000-06:00

This past Sunday we had Ella's 1st birthday party! She isn't officially one until Thursday, December 13th but she had sooo many guests and got ALOT of wonderful gifts! She is soooo spoiled! The best was when she opened 4 of the EXACT same Dora phones-they are programmable and say her name. Needless to say I returned 3 of them and will be saving the money for this Spring/Summer when she will need another wardrobe. She wasn't real big on smashing her face in the cake instead she ate pieces with a spoon then Ben feed the rest to her.

Toys?

2007-11-30T14:14:00.000-06:00

This morning I was cleaning up around the house and placed an empty Pampers diaper box in the hallway. Ella found this box and was having a blast playing with it. She was pushing it around putting things in it. I decided to place her in the box and push her around she had a BLAST! Why do we spend soo much money on cool gadget like toys when she seems to enjoy the empty diaper box, laundry basket and toilet paper so much more?? All I want for Christmas..... is an empty giant box!