The last 5 months....where has it gone!

Wow, time has flown, and not a peep you have seen from poor Ella's little blog. I am sure you have all been eagerly awaiting to see some updated pictures of Ella. Apologises for the huge gap between now and the last blog, life has just been rather hectic lately and finding time to sit down at the computer when it is not work related has become quite a task. Hopefully I can redeem this blog and start to add to it more often in the future. Basically, Today is the beginning of a new beginning of "all about Ella"!

When I started this blog when Ella was only a few weeks old, I really wanted to have this as a memento of her changes as she grows, for myself and Jai, but also for Ella in the future. As many of you know, my memory is not the greatest. Jai jokes constantly that i am a little similar to drew Barrymore in 50 first dates, forgetting who he is when i wake in the morning, and sometimes i think he is not far from the truth, so i really wanted to remember as much as i could from Ella's life, so i thought this would be a great way to do so, as well as share with her family and friends her growth. I am disappointed in myself for not continuing to do so in the last 5 months, but life can get in the way of our intentions sometimes....so although i do intend to keep wring more in the future... So Ella when you read this blog in 10 years from now ( or even earlier if blogs still exist?! ) i am sorry that there is a 5 month gap. Mummy was busy!

A lot has happened in the last 5 months in regards to Ella and her many quirks...but I think the biggest thing to mention is that she has now turned 2!! And as the mother of this beautiful little girl, i could not be more proud of who she is becoming. No longer a baby, but a little chatty "hilarious" character which amuses us everyday. She definitely has a sense of humor ( thanks to jai i think) with her funny faces she pulls and her silly voices. But she also has a very serious side to her, when concentration sets in there is no stopping her determination even if it is only just to put on her own shoes....but if all else fails and Ella cant "do it now" ..she has a weapon, that anyone would melt when she cries for help....her cute face! There are times where she has tested my patience ( I still have a long way to go in learning this art ) being a normal little two year old, with tantrums which would turn any ones head. but I must say I can never stay angry at that adorable face of hers...she really has me won over.

She knows what she wants...and what she wants to do "ELLA DO IT NOW!!" is a common phrase we hear everyday. but a quick...what do you say and a very gentle "please mummy" comes out of her mouth like she knows it is the magic word I need to hear for her to get what she wants...you have to chuckle inside.

There is a lot more I could write about, and i will...just not today. we have just come back from Hobart...and I am supposed to be unpacking.(just got side tracked Jai~:P ) But what I do promise is...lots of photos to come. I will put them in categories of what has happened in the last 5 months...so enjoy! some things will be - Nana and Jessie's visit - Ella's birthday- our new house - Hobart holiday - the zoo - and anything else i can put together...see you soon!

The long awaited holiday to nanas house!

Just before Christmas "last year" we went up to see Lyn and Jessie finally! It has been a good two years since I had been up there. i was pregnant with Ella last time, (jai managed to slip in a visit back when Ella was about three months old for Damian's wedding ) so it was a long awaited visit for all! Lyn and Jessie had not seen little Ella since she was 8 weeks old so you can imagine we were all very excited about it! The plane ride up there went surprisingly well, i had done my Google research about "what to do on planes with toddlers" or something to that effect...and there was some great ideas, including magic drawing boards and play dough..lots of snacks..they all worked a treat!
When we got off the plane, Jessie and Lyn were waiting patiently for us (of course the plane was delayed!) Ella was rather coy to begin with but after many many months of repeating the names "Nana" and "Jessie", she quickly warmed to them both ( finally she had a face to the names!!...especially Jessie!! it was Jessie this and Jessie that!! Nana quickly found Ella's weakness with some silly voices and yummy Christmas
"bombe" treats so she was also a favourite. After dinner most night she was at Nana's ankles saying "boom"...meaning "can i have some Christmas bombe Nana that stuff is awesome" in not so many words.
We took Ella to see the Sesame Sreet gang at Sea World while up there and you can imagine how thrilled she was, especially with the "show" where all the characters come out and preform. She got very upset when it was over and cried for "more,more"...luckily it was on again an hour after and Jai also taped part of it so we are still continually watching it till today!
We managed to get to the beach only twice while up there, we seemed to have brought the rain up with us, and then back down to Melbourne again...so there wasn't much opportunity to get there much more.
We all had a great time up there and wished it had of been a bit longer, the week seemed to fly, we of course hope to get up there again sometime soon, so if we didn't get to visit you this time, maybe next time we might have a bit more time?!

Thanks Lyn for being a wonderful host, the "foxy lady hotel" will definitely be recommended 5 star rating i think!...thanks for making it a visit to remember! Ella says "evvvvveeeeer!" to you ( hehe ) cant wait to see you both down here in march!...only 8 weeks or so away!!!

more random photos!

Happy New Year!!

Time seems to have slipped by me once again, it has been that long since i wrote in this blog that we have begun a new year!! Happy New year all!!!

Since time has passed by and i have not posted any photos for a while i thought i would just pick random photos that have been taken over the last two months or so of Ella which i love...enjoy!

Last year was a full, happy, exhausting, funny, exciting year for not only Ella but Jai and myself. I look forward to another wonderful year ahead with my little girl and super husband, we have lots to look forward too, including a brand new house ( cant wait! ) and Ella turns 2 not so very far away....

I wish the happiest year for all of you that read this!
May it be your best one yet! yay for 2008!

"The family"

I am surprised I have not mentioned this as yet, but I thought i should for memory sake.

Ella from about the age of 9 months or so (I cant remember exactly) has had a fascination with Elmo and sesame street in general but particularly the characters Elmo, Ernie and Bert...it started one day when I bought her a dvd for something different and she remained glued to it, which I hate to say can be handy at times. One of her first words were "boo"...after a scene in the dvd where Ernie says "boo Bert" a few times...
These days she has developed a bit of what we call "the family" of soft sesame street toys which she carries with her almost everywhere, they must come to bed, out shopping, nonnas place, anywhere really. It started off with just Elmo, which we could handle carring all by ourselves, but then, after my mum bought Ernie (aka Bert as Ella knows him) she decided she would take him along too. and then, after telling mum not to buy the real Bert doll ( now called bert 2 ), in weakness to her granddaughter she bought him also and he too joined the family. This lasted quite a few weeks with her taking the three characters everywhere, with her little arms bulging with soft toys, you bearly see an inch of her torso behind them all.
Now, after holding her out for so long, today ( my mum will be pleased ) she has adopted big bird into "the family". This was actually the first one I bought her, not taking much of a liking to him initially he remained in the toy pile until this Tuesday when my mum decided to show his feathery face beneath all the toys. So now, we have 4 plus Ella in the bed.....a sight to be seen ( which is why I snuck a quick pic tonight for all to see. )
bless her little heart...she loves her little family and who am I to argue! Just means mum (me) will have to hold a couple while she ie. has a biscuit to eat or something to that effect, oh well i guess it is my duty to uphold. hehe

Lets just hope there is no more adoptees to this family....or Ella may have to move into another bed!

daddy's birthday means cake for me!!!

Wednesday was jai's 33rd year young birthday...and what better excuse to go out for dinner! Of course Jai had his usual "chicken Parma" to keep in his tradition of trying every chicken parma in Melbourne ( or so it seems! )
Ella had lots of fun with her cousins, running about, especially after sampling her daddy's chocolate cake..."more" was the request after each spoonful touched her mouth!
Ella had not been kind to her daddy the night before waking twice, (poor thing is cutting her eye teeth ) so poor jai had to go to work very tired on his birthday, but luckily he was very forgiving as it was a day to be happy...
after all...its not every day you turn 33!
Happy Birthday my love...xx

Not the beach...but the next best thing??

"oh shucks is that for me?"
"Can i go in please?"
"this is great!"
"look at me!!"
"Mum! Tell Dad this is MY sandpit!!"

Just one more quick one...Jai bought some sand to put in ellas shell, which she used last summer as a little poor, well, you should have seen it! she loved it!! NOT happy when it was time to go inside....
here are some photos.....

August - september....

The last month and a bit has been all about Ella learning to talk, it happened all of a sudden really. After being quite a quiet little girl she has turned into a chatterbox, most words only she will ever understand, but slowly her vocab is getting fuller. "Mum" and "Dad" roll off the tongue quite easily now....( sometimes they get mixed up on occasions ) she says other words like mess..."mumma mess" is a good one, keeping me on my toes! some other words are nose, NO...used quite frequently, YES ( sometimes confused with NO ) stretch...or more like "tch" but we understand. Car, if she sees one...ELMO ( MO ) , her favorite furry friend... and the rest are usually just parroted words that i say to her...it really is cute to hear her voice.

The last week has been beautiful weather so we have been outside more that usual, which has caused a lot more bumps and scratches than normal. she had her first knee scratch this week, she was a brave girl and waited for mummy to clean the "mess" and put on a band aid, which made it all better with a kiss.

she has started a music class with her friends cooper and Robert , and loves running around with the instruments..but her favorite bit has to be the bubbles, also another new word she has learnt! Daddy had Friday off ( poor thing not well ) so he came along to class with us,before class we went and fed the ducks at the eltham lake, and later for a treat we had ice cream at Mc Donald's which Ella kindly shared with her daddy...awwww

each week is more and more exciting as we watch Ella grow into a little girl...it seems to have gone so fast. she will be 18 months next month, can you believe it!

Fathers Day II – Revenge of the Ella

Well it was my special day so it is only fitting that I (Jai - Dad) do the blog this time!
I woke at around 8:30 to a cheeky little chook staring at me in bed, waiting for me to wake up and open my Father’s Day presents. Yeah, I sleep in when I can, I deserve it….right?

Before I know it I’m emptying a big bag of goodies I’ve been after for so long…..new uggboots, new dressing gown, new pyjamas, and of course some fantastic photos of my little chook in a nice frame which Lisa bought. It now takes pride of place on my office desk!

It was a nice day so we took Ella on her first train ride to the city. Yes Jessie, Ella got to hear the man talking on the speaker, “The next train to depart from Platform 1 is the Flinders St train stopping…..” Jessie knows how it goes!! Ella was on her best behaviour on the train, really settled. Must have been the bumps and turns! We then went to see the Pixar animation show at Federation Square. Pretty interesting, and good for Ella too….she got to do some drawings and took home a show bag!

We then took Lisa to Spencer St DFO, cause she’s been so desperate for me to take her there!! Well now she’s been, but it’s OK cause I have a Bunnings visit scheduled for next Mother’s Day!!!

A pretty good day all up with my two girls and looking forward to an even bigger and better one next year!

Enjoy the photos!

Dad.