Pumpkin Patch

Dear Ella,

I am terribly behind on my letters, so for the sake of time, I am just going to share photos and add short comments.

 The horseback ride was by far your favorite part of the evening.  You talked about riding "Cookie" for weeks after we left the pumpkin patch.

 Sadly, this was the best picture we got of our family on the hayride.  You both enjoyed it, even though you look miserable here.

As we were walking around watching your cute smiling faces, I kept telling your dad that it was the best day.  I love being able to go out together as a family and hearing you and Charlie laughing.  Thank you for such a great day!

Love,
Mom

San Diego Birthday Party

Dear Ella,

This year was special because we were able to celebrate your birthday twice!  On September 29th, we went to San Diego to celebrate your birthday and Charlie's birthday with your grandparents and cousins. 

We went to Nana and Papa's house first.  They were sweet enough to take us all to the Padres game that night.  There is a buffet inside the ballpark, and you thought the all you can eat dessert bar was about the greatest thing you had ever seen.  I have never seen you eat so much food.  Maybe we should do dessert for dinner all the time.  You are so stinkin' adorable that we even had two young ladies who wanted to take their picture with you.  Your Nana let you wear this Padres shirt, and she got you a stick-on tattoo for the game.

You and Charlie did pretty well for most of the game.  You liked sitting on your Papa's lap, and Charlie had fun flirting with some of the women in the rows behind us.

Around the 7th inning, you two were tired and cranky, so we left the game.  The Padres were losing pretty badly, and it was not a fun game to watch anyway.

The next day we went to your Grammy and Pa's house for the actual celebration.  Grammy got a pizza from Costco, and you and Lyla got to sit at the princess table and eat your slices.  Unfortunately, you would not cooperate for pictures.  This was the best one I could get.

After lunch, you got to open your presents.  You especially enjoyed the dress-up clothes from Nana and the baby doll from Grammy.

Next we ate the adorable birthday cakes that your Grammy made for you and Charlie. 

Finally, it was time to go to the zoo!  You love animals, (especially monkeys), and I was excited to see your cute face when you got to see the wild animals in person.  Although you liked looking at the animals, your favorite parts of the zoo were:
1. Getting to hold your cousin Alex's hand and drag him around
2. The petting zoo.

Your dad loved watching your smiling face when you were petting the goats that he decided he wants to get you two little goats for Christmas.  I love to see your little face light up when you are around animals too.  In fact, I love it so much, that I allowed your dad to try and get the goats for you even though your baby sister will be born right around Christmastime.  Happy 2nd birthday Ella!

Love,
Mom

Your Second Birthday

Dearest Gabriella,

It is hard to believe that you have been in our family for two whole years now, but it also seems strange to think about a time when you weren't with us in the flesh.  Although your actual birthday party won't be until later this month, we had a celebration at home for you with just the family. 

The night before your birthday, we took you to Toys R Us to pick out a gift from us.  In the front of the store was a car on display that you fell in love with.  We tried to get you to look at other things, but all you wanted to do was ride in the car, so we ended up getting it for you for your birthday.  We also stopped and got you a special party dress for you to wear to church on your birthday, which actually worked out perfectly since you LOVE going to church.  You tell me everyday that you want to go to church.

You love having Charlie drive you around.

 

We had spaghetti for dinner because it is your favorite.  It is one of the only foods that you will actually eat without spitting it out.  I think you like it because it is messy, and you thoroughly enjoy making messes.  Charlie likes spaghetti too, so everyone was happy at dinner time.

All day long when someone asked you, "Is it your birthday today Ella?"  Your reply was always, "Cake!"  "Are you going to open presents today?"  "Cake!"  "Are you turning 2 today?" "Cake!"  Needless to say, you were very excited to eat some birthday cake. 

Funfetti with chocolate frosting per Dad's request. 
He also helped to pick out the cool candles on top.

You were so eager to eat some cake that when you liked the frosting off of the candle . . .

you couldn't help but take a bite out of it.

Finally "Cake!"

 

After cake, you got to open your presents.  You got some sidewalk chalk from Dad, a water toy from me, and an adorable dollhouse from Aunt Lindsay.  You get to open your gifts from your grandparents and Auntie Jani at your birthday party in San Diego.



 

 

I'm so grateful that I get to be your Mom, Ella.  You bring so much joy and fun craziness to my life.  Here are some things that are going on with you now that you're a big two year-old:

 

You know how to get your own pants/shorts/pull-ups on and off.

You love to watch the following movies/shows: Bolt, Snow White, The Wizard of Oz (or "Poz" as you call it), Yo Gabba Gabba (which I hate but watch because it makes you happy), Curious George, and Wonder Pets.

Your favorite books are: There's a Wocket in my Pocket, Pinkalicious, If You Give a Pig a Pancake, and Push and Pop Jungle.

You are learning to potty train, but you really just do it for the candy.

You love to play with the hose outside, but you have to be the one holding the hose.

You dance and sing around the house usually to your own made up song.

You make messes all over the house, and you are a major problem-solver.  You know how to move chairs and other things in order to reach high places and get into new messes.

You still love your brother Charlie and talk about him all the time.

You love to talk on the phone to anyone who will listen to you ramble on about Charlie and Madi.  (Thank goodness your grandparents love to talk to you on the phone.)

You love to play dress up, but we don't have any dress up clothes, so you make your own outfits with your stockings, shoes, bonnets, and other accessories.  I like how resourceful you are.

You have dreams about animals all the time.  You wake up and tell me about the monkey in your closet, the lion behind your bed, or the turtles in your bed.  I think it's so cute. 

You are very helpful.  You love to help me make dinner, feed the dogs, vacuum and scrub the rug, unload the dishwasher, and carry in groceries.

 

I love you so much and I can't wait to see what you will do next!

 

Love,

Mom