A few house pics...

 Here are a few before and during photos of the house renovation. It's going great so far!

Before:

 

 During:

Last time at the beach this year...

9 months old

Ella is 9 months old : )

This month's stats: 17 lbs 6 oz (25th %) 28 inches tall (67th %). Unfortunately, today's check up also revealed another ear infection (her 4th!) and a sinus infection with a nasty cough : ( So back on the antibiotics we go...

Nicknames: E, Belly button, Lil Sissy

Likes: Lia, Miller, swimming and bathing (anything where she can splash! she doesn't even mind getting a face full of water) crawling all over the place exploring the house! She also loves to suck on ice or fruit (especially watermelon!) in her little mesh snack bags. She loves playing with any and every toy she can get her hands on these days too!

Playing with Bentlee at Aunt Elaine's lake house

Dislikes: Being sick : ( Just about the time she got well last month, Lia got sick with strep. Now, on Lia's last day of antibiotics, Ella is sick again...I just can't seem to keep these kiddos well!
 
Milestones: Ella has quickly mastered crawling! She is super fast and looks adorable scooting around the house! AND she pulls up with ease and has started "cruising" using the coffee table to hold on while she walks around it. She is great at making the "B" sound, so she says "bye bye" while she waves and "ba-ba" (for bottle) really well!

 
Feeding: Ella has 4 bottles a day, usually about 6 oz. each of Similac Soy formula using Dr. Brown's level 3 nipples and wide neck bottles. She also eats one 3.5 oz serving of fruit for breakfast, one fruit and one veggie for lunch and one of each for supper. She has started practicing eating puffs, yogurt melts, and cheerios. She is great at picking them up and putting them in her mouth, but hasn't mastered chewing - she usually just gags and spits it back out!

Practicing with Puffs

Sleeping: She goes to bed at 7:00 pm and sleeps until 6:30 am. She usually stays awake about 2 1/2 hours between naps. She is trying to drop that 3rd nap and only take two long naps per day lately.

Asleep in he pack n play in her room at the new house

Behavior: She is getting a little attitude lately and will let you know when she is unhappy. Ella is going through a little bit of a Mama-attachment phase and doesn't want Daddy to put her to bed at night right now : (

Clothes: 12 months

Favorite Moments: We have enjoyed watching her master crawling and pulling up. As soon as she figured out the crawling thing, she has been unstoppable! She doesn't like to be confined to the high chair, etc. anymore now that she has get around : ) Another favorite this month was playing with all her cousins at the lake!

With Evan, Thomas, Campbell and Lia at the lake, boating with Nana

Looking Forward To: Standing up by herself and talking more!

The 9 month comparison:

Lia's 3rd birthday weekend!

All dressed up and ready for her party

At Movie Tavern to see Ice Age 4 for her party

In the theater with Mimi getting ready for the movie to start

Enjoying cupcakes during the movie

Opening gifts from her friends after the show was over

 

Flowers and balloons from Mama and Daddy

Birthday breakfast of champions - donuts with sprinkles!

The birthday girl's favorite supper - Mama's spaghetti : )

All right, I'm ready for cake!!

Lia's 3rd birthday cake

YUMMMMY!

Licking the icing

Sharing bites with Daddy

All dressed up in her new presents - a Tinkerbell umbrella, a Cinderella dress, and a matching backpack and lunch bag

Fun at the lake with family

Playing in Mama and Daddy's bed at the cabin

Having a snack with Braden at Aunt Elaine's lake house

Ella and Bentlee were all smiles for the camera!

These two had so much fun playing together (and I got to visit with Cameran, which was just wonderful!!!!)

I'm gonna get you!! : )

Boat ride with Nana and Papa

Good job driving Daddy!

Lia got to open her birthday presents from Nana and Papa and her cousins...

Look at this beautiful dress : )

Campbell and Evan were so sweet helping Lia open gifts

And Uncle Matt helped Ella open a couple of presents too : )

Lia got so many great presents for her aunts and uncles

Nana and Papa also gave her this awesome guitar, and she has been playing "shows" on her stage for us!

We had so much fun spending time with the Catos!!