Sitting up!

Ella is 7 1/2 months old now and almost two weeks ago she started sitting up on her own! I love this age, it's so much fun! I love seeing the world through her eyes...she is enjoying different toys now, enjoying her baths more, and just loves playing on the ground. It's a lot of fun.

Also, this morning I noticed that she cut her first tooth!

Gym class

Ever since Abbey was 11 months old she's been involved in gymnastics classes and three years later she is still loving it! She's moved from a Mini Gymmie, to a Terrific Tot to most recently, a Super Tot! It is a great way for her to burn some of her everlasting energy, socialize with other kids and learn to take turns, share etc... Besides that she's learned a lot of skills. Her favorite things are the bars - she is such a monkey! Here are some pictures...enjoy!

so big!

Ella is 7 months old tomorrow! That is just crazy to me! Time has gone way too fast...I'm sad when I think about it. Seems like I was just pregnant....

This is such a fun stage! She is almost sitting up on her own and playing with more toys, and eating rice cereal and baby food. We covered all the veggies and we're now starting fruits. She loves everything! What an eater we have on our hands! She even tries to grab everything I am eating! She sleeps on her tummy and is rolling over. Sometimes she can't remember how to get back on her back so she lays on her tummy and lifts up her legs and arms and kicks! She looks like a little seal...it's how I find her every morning right before I get that big morning smile! She's just the sweetest! She is a very happy baby and a true joy to have in the house :) We just LOVE her!

Christmas 2008

Here are some more Christmas pictures....refer to my post below for Christmas details :)

Christmas 2008

Christmas was so much fun with the girls this year! They are at such fun ages....Abbey had quite an eventful Christmas morning by herself, yes by herself. Duane had to work at 8 AM, so we were going to make a nice dinner and open our presents that night - just our family. After seeing Daddy off to work at 7:30 am, while I was still lying in bed, Abbey proceeded to open ALL of her and Ella's presents by herself! After all, it was Christmas morning, and we had told her she had to wait until Christmas to open her presents. She came up to my room and said "good morning mommy, I opened all of my presents!" I couldn't beleive what I had just heard so I followed her downstairs, and sure enough, the only presents left under the tree were mine and Duane's presents! I didn't know whether to laugh or get mad! The best part of Christmas presents is watching your kids open them and see their faces....I just stood there for a moment staring at the mess of paper and gifts all over the floor! I didn't get mad, how could I? I called Duane right away and told him, he about died laughing on the phone! We will never forget that morning! Here are some pictures from some of our parties.

Sisters

My mom bought the girls these shirts when Ella was born. Ella finally fits into hers, so I thought I better get a couple of pictures. Abbey's says "I am a BIG sister" and Ella's says "I'm the little sister". The girls are really starting to interact and play together. It is so much fun! Abbey gets Ella to laugh and then can't stop laughing herself! Abbey loves her little sister so much; she's the first one in her room when she hears her wake up and climbs in the crib with her to play and it's like this throughout the day. They are SO CUTE! I love watching them together and am excited to continue watching them through the years. I can only hope and pray that the bond they are forming will last a lifetime...there is nothing like sisters.

Purple baby Jesus

Have you ever seen a purple baby Jesus? In Abbey's home made nativity seen, baby Jesus had to be purple! And so did the sheep, donkey and the Angel! I found this activity on a website, so I printed out all the characters, Abbey colored, and then we cut and glued them to this board. I read her the Christmas story out of a kids book she has and I pointed out that is what we were making with our pictures. When daddy came home from work last night she was so excited to show it to him! My favorite part is that she can tell the story...in her own words of course..."the angel told Mary that she is going to have baby Jesus in her tummy...and the three men brought baby Jesus presents.....and on and on..." it so SO cute!