A few things...

We took a trip to Chicago for easter and brought home with us "A-Gee-Da", a rocking elephant.

  When I brought it out for the first time on Monday morning I asked Ellie if she wanted to go on her elephant to which she raised her arm as if to imitate an elephant's trunk and then made an elephant noise! I was completely shocked! I had no idea where she had gotten that from! As it turns out my family taught it to her! That was weird! And then just this wednesday she lifted up her foot and looked at her toe she had stubbed and said, "BooBoo".  Another thing I had NOT taught her! I think she learned that one at daycare.  It's so strange to experience Ellie learning things from people other than myself or Joey! She's such a little sponge she just picks up on everything! So be careful if you're around her because she just may imitate what you do!

We've had some nice weather this spring and we celebrated it by going to the botanical gardens in early April.  It was lots of fun and they have a whole entire children's area that Gabe and Ellie explored together! I think it will be a little more enjoyable when they are a little older, but we still had fun!

This is Ellie and dada looking into the creek:

Ellie and Gabe climbing up this ladder unaware of the purpose of the rope! :)

Here's Gabe in the tree house:

Ellie going down the slide:

Sarah and Gabe going down the slide:

Ellie by the "lowla" (flower):

Ellie needed a snack break:

Josh and Gabe:

And here's a group shot (minus Joey the photographer):

Thanks, Taos for a fun day! :)

Birthday Party!

     So Ellie turned one on Friday! YAY! It's so hard to believe that it has already been a year but at the same time hard to believe that we've known this wonderful person for only a year! Ellie is doing so well and we are so incredibly thankful for her and for her health.  Work for me has become a spiritual time of thanksgiving in my heart for the health I have been blessed with for so many years as well as for the health of my husband and our families and now even our child. It has been an amazing year! I would say the best in my life! Ellie has already changed so much and she is becoming more fun everyday! Ok so now for the birthday party pictures!

Here is Ellie and her daddy eating pizza.  

And this is Ellie's friend, Gabe.  He was the only friend her age at the party! :)

Ellie is trying to get the hat off and Gabe is being good and keeping his on.

Here is Ellie reading her cards

I thought this was so cute! Gabe eating fish and Ellie opening her presents one small piece at a time in the background.

This is a good shot of the party guests and you can see some decorations in the background. (And our nativity scene is up!)

Ellie and her cake.  She did try several times to grab the enflamed candles despite my warnings that it's "hot."  

Of course she wouldn't keep that hat on for anything!

This was Ellie's point of view during singing.

And finally her first cake eating experience!

Yes, she pretty much stuffed her mouth!

And finally in case you all forgot, Ellie is "so big!" (notice her foot)

Thank-you to all who came to Ellie's party and for all the gifts (even the one from grandpa Steve and grandma Merrilee in Hong Kong)! She had a wonderful time and although SHE won't remember it, WE will!

Not yet walking!

Ellie is becoming more and more expressive everyday! She is getting so big! She's a little less than 2 weeks away from the big Zero-one (it sounds better with two syllables like the big two-five)! 

This is Ellie making a funny face on command:

She is not yet walking on her own.  She just won't let go of my one pinky! She's kinda girly and timid in that way, she doesn't really like to fall and tries to avoid it at all costs! She is getting everywhere she needs to (and is not supposed to) go. She is climbing stairs like a crazy woman and cruising around all the furniture.  She also was pushing a chair in the annex of church this morning! 

Ellie has a little "snack trap" that she got from her friend Gabe and she loves it! We put her little Cheerios in there and she goes in and grabs them one at a time! (Not sure if I've posted a picture of Ellie's sweater and matching hat from Grandma Kim but it's a favorite!)

The other day we went on an adventure outside to look at the leaves.  Ellie had tons of fun and was trying to give me all the leaves she was finding! So cute! :)

Today for church Ellie wore her new dress that she just received from her grandma Merrilee in Hong Kong! She looked so cute in it and it's cotton so she's able to cruise! 

After church and a small nap Ellie and I went with Gabe and his mom Sarah to the mall to get a few things.  This is right before we left for the mall:

And this is after: