38 Weeks Old

Despite the chill in the air, we enjoyed a great fall weekend. A couple of meals out, a few nice walks, and lots of family time at home. Jeritt began his fall - and final - quarter of school this week, and we're all looking forward to his graduation in December!! As for Ella, she's been continuing to pull up on everything around her, and has recently been showing off a new expression. It looks like a cross between surprise and 'oops, you caught me,' but you'll have to check out it below. Along with her new-found independence are the frustrated fits when she doesn't get her way. She's not even nine months old yet - what do we have to look forward to at 15?!

Reading her book. 

She's not quite sure what to think of the mittens.

The latest expression.

She loves my slippers.

37 Weeks and 30 Years

My 30th birthday was last Thursday, and we had a wonderful weekend of celebrating! On Friday evening we had a family dinner at home, and Saturday was spent enjoying the fall weather in Michigan. We drove about an hour and a half to a great orchard, where we picked a couple of bushels of apples (if you haven't seen the video of Ella playing with the apples, see below). It's a good thing we brought back so many apples, considering applesauce is one of the few foods she'll eat these days. Saturday night Jeritt planned a surprise girl's night out for me, and I had a blast with some fantastic ladies. All in all, it was a great weekend and I think my 30s will be the best decade yet!

These photo shoots are getting more creative.

Her reward for standing still.

Lately Ella has been pulling herself up on everything!

Westside!

Chasing the camera.

Apple picking!

Posing in front of the grapes. Ella preferred something on the ground.

Baby's first winery! C'mon, you knew it was only a matter of time...

She's excited to be anywhere with people.

So much for bruise-free apples.

A Bushel of Apples and Loads of Fun

36 Weeks Old!

This past weekend Aunt Abby and Brian came to visit from Austin. They hadn't seen Ella since the end of March, so she had a lot of tricks to show them, including climbing the stairs! She also attended her first Cubs game. We treated the Texans to some cooler weather and rain, and we miss them already!

I know this is a poor excuse for her 36-week photo. But she wore me down.

Fearless!

First Cubs game!

Aunt Abby and Brian.

She wasn't enthralled with the Cubs.

Oh how we've missed Aunt Abby.

Ella Hitting Blocks

Ella Chasing Camera

8 Months and the First Haircut

Ella hit the eight-month mark on Saturday, and it coincided with her first haircut. We'd been procrastinating about touching her baby locks with a scissor, but her bangs were getting so long that it was getting difficult for her to see without a barrette! She was a trooper, and the entire thing was over with in seconds. The rest of the weekend was pretty low-key, and we spent a lot of time outside enjoying the beautiful weather.

Diaper butt.

She has figured out how to use this as walker. 

Ouch those teeth hurt!

Loving the bath.

Note the progression of how this photo went down.

She finally gets what she wants.

Before the haircut.

After the haircut. And she can see!