It's A Great Day To Be One!

Ella's first year in photos...

One day old One month
Two Months

Three Months

Four Months

Five Months

Six Months

Seven Months

Eight Months

Nine Months

Ten Months

Eleven Months

Twelve Months (taken today on her first birthday)

One year ago today at 11:58 a.m. I gave birth to our sweet Elizabeth Rose. It was one of the best days of my life. We were overjoyed to welcome the fourth member of our family and couldn't wait to share her with all of our loved ones. She came into this world as sweet as can be with her her rosy red cheeks, head of dark brown hair, and coy smile. She latched on to nurse within a couple of hours after her arrival and still loves to snuggle close to her mama to drink her milk. We thanked God the day she was born for a healthy, beautiful baby...another child to love.

I cannot believe that a year has passed so quickly and now our baby is becoming a toddler! She took her first steps on her own yesterday so it is just a matter of time before our little munchkin starts running everywhere. Ella now weighs nineteen pounds which puts her in the 33rd perecntile for weight and is 30 inches long which is the 93rd percentile for height. She still only has her two front teeth, so she hasn't completely graduated to table foods. We continue to give her jars of baby food along with soft grown-up foods and plenty of crackers. She adores Nicholas and likes to play with him now. She shares toys with him by placing them in his hand and he thinks she is so fantastic to share with him. I think my favorite part of being a mother is watching my two children interact. Here are a few of the cute things that Ella can do at one year-old:

Wave hello and good-bye

Shake her head yes and no to answer questions

Reach her hands in the air to be picked up

Say "hey" (her version of "hi")

Laugh out loud

Walk with just a few steps at a time

Crawl really fast

Open drawers

Flip through picture books

Use her princess car as a step stool to get to things that are out of reach

Squeal with excitement when she is buckled into her car seat...she loves to go places!

Climb onto and off the ottoman

Open doors (it's really hard to get any privacy anymore)

Play with her brother

Dance to music

Feed herself with a spoon

It absolutely amazes me how many things a baby can learn to do in one year!

Today, for her birthday, my mom and I took both Nicholas and Ella to story time at the local library. Nicholas had been a handful of times, but it was Ella's first chance to listen to books, sing, dance, and pop the bubbles as they blew by. She really enjoyed herself so I hope to make story time a part of our weekly routine. I am so excited watch Ella grow, learn, and change in this year that she is one. I feel so blessed to be your mommy, Ella Roo!

Mommy, Daddy & Nicholas love you more than you will ever know, sweet baby girl.

We wish you a very happy first birthday!