A sad, sad day

Being a parent can be hard - it is emotional, happy and sad - it is physically exhausting, but it is also the best aventure we have ever taken on. With that said - when I came home from work I never thought that I would be so sad to find that my (wonderful) husband did what I had asked. Ella's baby swing was packed up. Ella is slowly growing out of everything - clothes, car seats, you name it - she is either too big, too long, or too smart for something.

When I was pregnant I looked forward to absolutely everything - but my favorite thing was trying to get Ella's nursery ready (although prenatal yoga was a favorite too). I made and remade the registry after lots of exhaustive research on consumer and safety reports. I would add something to my daughter's room and sit and wonder what she would look like, be like, feel like. But there was one baby item I looked forward to more than anything -- the famed baby swing. My mom told me stories about how it was an essential item - used for all of us kids and so soothing. We received one at my shower (thank you Garnet) and it was perfect. I remember that night Dave and I set it up and set it to go (boy does it go fast without the weight of a baby).

When Ella came home from the hospital we used it almost immediately - on her third night home it was our savior - of sanity and sleep. Ella fell asleep in the swing as I fell asleep on the floor in front of her as I didn't want to be too far away. Here she is the following morning, half eaten by a size 0 sleeper...



And lucily she enjoyed it during the day too, as this was my secret weapon for taking a shower...



The baby swing has been retired to our storage attic. But life goes on, now Ella is scooting all over the house, long grown out of her baby swing, and getting into everything. It is so exciting to see all of the new things she can do. Today Ella had another visit to the pediatrician for shots (she handled them like a pro - not even a tear was shed) and she had lots of fun waiting...



Ella is weighing in at 17lbs. 12 oz... She has gained exactly 10 lbs in less than eight months! She is absolutely perfect.


Although I think I'm going to have to put a stop to her growing so fast. Today when I came home from work she had even taken my parking spot. Silly girl.

Almost there

Ella is officially almost crawling, no really, she's close. Today she made it across the floor four or five times with this slithery, jerking motion... it's half army crawl and half leg spasm. But boy it is cute! She also made it up on her hands and knees once for about 2 seconds.


Her new favorite expedition is trying to make it across the living room to the television cabinet - she has already found buttons to push...


She spends the rest of her days smiling, scooting, and starring at the dogs (who are always conveniently at eye level). She loves playing with all types of toys. She still loves trying to eat everything - tags being her favorite...



Although plasticy things are cool too...


We've got one happy baby...


No really...

Another Busy Weekend

It was another busy weekend for the littlest Reed. Saturday started off quiet with Daddy making banana pancakes, and Ella learning how to cook them (and not eat them). Then Mommy and Ella were off to another great swimmy class...



During class they have a little free swim time and all the kids are allowed to pick a toy from a giant bucket of rubber duckies, boats, floaty things, and this is always Ella's choice... (she takes after her Dad already!)



Then back home to make some lunch and a little work around the house before heading to a family party to celebrate a cousin's graduation... Ella saw her great grandma, lots of cousins, friends, but was most excited to see her cousin Grace...





and see Nana too...



After all that excitment, it was a quiet ride home...



With all of the activity of Saturday, we wanted a quiet Sunday. Ella started the day by trying some avocado in her mesh feeder. Ok, well she squeezed the avocado with her hands, and we found the one thing Ella won't put in her mouth...



Then it was on to a little shopping and some good naps... sometimes separately, sometimes together...

Sushi & Green beans

Ella went out to a sushi lunch today with the ladies from Mom's work to celebrate Auntie LouAnn's birthday. She played with keys, tried to steal peoples plates, and looked around at everything going on. Ella enjoyed her time being held as they are always so excited to see her and were some of Ella's first visitors on the day she was born... Mom and Ella headed home for a rather long baby nap, and then Dad came home for dinner. On the menu - green beans. Ella has taken to spitting out her food now, rather than passively pushing it out of her mouth. See for yourself:

A few firsts

Miss Ella has been busy figuring out a few things. This week she mastered turning on and off her crib aquarium. Oh sure, she doesn't like it when she turns it off, but then she can just turn it back on.

Then Ella figured out what needs to happen in the rear... she is now pushing herself up with her legs and pushing forward. Now all that is left is the combo of arms and legs and she will be one crawling baby.

She's also starting to figure out what that crib thing is all about, and when she's done being mesmerized by the aquarium, she seems to suddenly realize just what we're trying to do. And she looks up and you see in her eyes, as clear as day, she's thinking, "What the deuce? You're trying to make me go to sleep! Well, I'm not tired yet!" (Yes, in our minds, her inner dialogue sounds like Stewie.)

But then she finally falls quiet, she stops practicing her almost-crawling, stops turning the aquarium on and off, and we are rewarded with this:

It was a quiet Monday.

Laughing, rolling, bath time, milk, smiling, diapers, quiet dinner, a drive around the block with the dogs in Ella's car, and some good play time.

Monday's picture of the day:



Don't forget blog readers - post Ella a comment!

Sunny Sunday

Ella started Sunday by sleeping in a little, playing with Mom and Dad, and anticipating her visit from Nana B. Eventhough Ella skipped her morning nap, she still played a bit, enjoyed her teether and a nice lunch with Mom and Nana...


After Nana left for a safe trip home, Mom and Ella headed out for groceries and a trip to visit Dad at work. We shopped a little and walked a little... and it was all smiles and wide eyes.



Just another perfect day.

The Littlest Colello

It was a busy Saturday for Miss Ella, filled with lots of family and fun. The day started with her 2nd swimmy class with Mom. Dad came to watch and take pictures. Ella spent lots of time in the water kicking her feet, and this week she added in a little arm paddling too. She is getting so comfortable in the water - and was such a trooper as the class interrupted her morning nap...



She even showed off her cookie monster towel...



Then it was off for Ella's first (of many) Colello Family Reunions. Ella loved meeting all of Grandpa's family - lots of cousins, friends, and some very cute little dogs too. It was so nice for Ella to meet her family and be welcomed as the littlest Colello. Eventhough it was a little hot and sticky outside Ella kept smiling and even posed for her first Colello portrait...



Sunday will be another fun day as Ella's Nana will be coming for a visit.

Ella's 1st Vacation

Our little family spent the last three days in Maine. Ella was ready to go!

All 5 of us went including the dogs, who enjoyed all of the sights and smells except for the time spent in the car. Joe spent the time whimpering at our feet...

And Mae wouldn't leave the driver's seat the entire way...

Ella made up for that though as she always loves a good car ride...



We made it to Maine in a few hours and checked ourselves into a little dog-friendly (and baby-friendly) inn. We then set off to explore Main Street and Ella found herself enjoying a long stroller ride and a new toy pony...

We finished up day one with a nice, quiet dinner at the inn's restaurant on the patio. Then it was on to day two and the beach! Ella enjoyed the sunshine...

and the surf...

After the beach we headed back to the inn for a quick bath to wash off all the sand and we were ready to go...

There was more exploring to be done. Our little crew took to the streets of Kennebunkport and were stopped by Ella's admirers and the occassional dog lovers along the way...

Ella enjoyed the long walks and the pit stops...

Another nice, quiet dinner, this time some pizza on the porch (again more visits from admirers)...

And off for a good night's sleep... (decked out in her new touristy sleeper)

Then it was time for the ride home, which Ella spent mostly singing and smiling...


After a long ride and many lobster rolls during our trip we thought a nice, chain restaurant dinner and mini golfing were in order...

Team Daddy won by three strokes...

And so ended a nice vacation - some beach, good food, great company, and two little crazy dogs.

New York, New York

Ella had a few more firsts this weekend. Her and Mom started their swimmy class at the Y and they were both all smiles. The instructor said that Ella was the best kicker in class surely due to all the practice in the bathtub (Mom thought it was really because of all of her practice kicking inutero, but we weren't about to volunteer that information.) The class is for babies 6-36 months, and she was the littlest one there, but it didn't hold her back a bit. She smiled at the other babies, mommies, and daddies, and loved the end of the class where we sang songs and jumped up and down.



After swim class it was off to New York! We packed up the car, which really took way longer than it has ever before, but we were ready! We stopped along the way for some donuts and coffee but made the trip with a sleeping Ella for the whole 2 1/2 hours. We checked into the hotel...



We found our way to a great sushi restuarant - Mom and Dad got a sushi boat for the first time and Ella got lots of attention from many awesome waitresses. Then we headed off to see Sister Anne down the road and she got even more attention from lots of awesome nuns (Sorry no pictures - we thought we left the camera at the hotel). We headed back to the hotel for another trip to the pool - this time with dad! A nice way to end the day.



The next day was a yummy NY breakfast at Bella's restaurant and off to Dad's friend Zach's engagement party. Dad has great friends from college - he had 5 roommates his senior year - all of them made it to the party except for one, so Ella got to stand in for him in the pictures...



We said goodbye to everyone as Ella started to fall asleep on Dad's shoulder and headed out to CT to visit her great grandma. We had a nice quiet dinner with her and again Ella made friends with the waitress and a few other patrons.



Then we headed back to MA - and this is what we found when we took Ella out of the car...



Apparently she had a nice time too!