Well, you can't imagine how frustrating it is to begin writing about the love of your life when she is 17 months old. So much has happened up until this point and if I could have written every word and recorded every moment I surely would've done it, but I guess that would've been a little much. Ella is growing so quickly that Matt and I can hardly believe it. I'd love to tell you how much like her mother she is, but that would be a lie. She's the living, breathing spitting image of her father and even though she's a girl I believe her to be Matt jr. So, I guess it's a good thing that I love him like I do. I always thought that my daughter, should I be lucky enough to have one, would be prissy, frilly and pink all over. I mean everybody knows the old saying, "sugar and spice and everything nice, that's what little girls are made of." Well, Ella had her first encounter with a fish the other day and much to my surprise she loved every minute of it. It wasn't but a second before Matt had set it down on the dock before she had scooped it up with both hands and gave it a KISS! Yes, you read correctly. She planted one right on its cold, slimy mouth right before she put her hand to her nose and said "stinty" (stinky). She carried it around for the better part of 10 minutes before deciding she was all right with letting it back into the water, but quickly decided she might like to have it back. Every time we go outside that is the first thing out of her mouth, "fish". Now, don't get me wrong, she does have a prissy side. Though she loves being outside more than anything, after she's finished collecting rocks, kissing fish and getting a little dirt on her hands, she likes to come in and walk around in some of ma ma's fur-collared sweaters and high heeled shoes. Though she gets seemingly frustrated when she can't walk in them because they are so big (probably not for long). She's already so well rounded and what I believe to be the perfect mix of sweet and sassy. Having Ella is so much better than I ever thought having a daughter could be. I can't believe how amazing she is!! What a wonderful God we have to give us precious gifts as these. I cherish every moment with her and still to this day if I look at her for to long it brings tears to my eyes and my heart swells. Sometimes the moments that warm our hearts are few and far between, so I'm so blessed to say that it warms my heart everytime she walks in the room. Now, other than our eight teeth and more on the way we are in the process of potty training. I have come to the conclusion that it's not so much
the excitement of the actual "tee tee" itself, but more about the flush. Whatever, just as long as she's enjoying herself! I put her on the potty for the first time on March 17th. She went and later that afternoon she let me know when she needed to go again. We've only been sporadically since then, but nonetheless the ball is rolling. It is a bittersweet moment to see your first baby conquer these milestones. I am so very proud of her, but not so naieve enough to know that once this task is conquered it is just one less thing that she will need me for- that makes me ache. But, Matt couldn't be more excited about the thought of not having to buy diapers!! Every morning I wake up I know that I can count on three things: 1. That Matt will do or say something at some point during the day to make me giggle and smile like a school girl again. 2. That Ella will do or say something at some point during the day to make me feel more blessed than I know I deserve and 3. That no matter how organized and placed the toys and books are before I go to sleep, they will EVERY ONE find their way back to the floor before lunch! I've always liked a little consistency!!
Well, you can't imagine how frustrating it is to begin writing about the love of your life when she is 17 months old. So much has happened up until this point and if I could have written every word and recorded every moment I surely would've done it, but I guess that would've been a little much. Ella is growing so quickly that Matt and I can hardly believe it. I'd love to tell you how much like her mother she is, but that would be a lie. She's the living, breathing spitting image of her father and even though she's a girl I believe her to be Matt jr. So, I guess it's a good thing that I love him like I do. I always thought that my daughter, should I be lucky enough to have one, would be prissy, frilly and pink all over. I mean everybody knows the old saying, "sugar and spice and everything nice, that's what little girls are made of." Well, Ella had her first encounter with a fish the other day and much to my surprise she loved every minute of it. It wasn't but a second before Matt had set it down on the dock before she had scooped it up with both hands and gave it a KISS! Yes, you read correctly. She planted one right on its cold, slimy mouth right before she put her hand to her nose and said "stinty" (stinky). She carried it around for the better part of 10 minutes before deciding she was all right with letting it back into the water, but quickly decided she might like to have it back. Every time we go outside that is the first thing out of her mouth, "fish". Now, don't get me wrong, she does have a prissy side. Though she loves being outside more than anything, after she's finished collecting rocks, kissing fish and getting a little dirt on her hands, she likes to come in and walk around in some of ma ma's fur-collared sweaters and high heeled shoes. Though she gets seemingly frustrated when she can't walk in them because they are so big (probably not for long). She's already so well rounded and what I believe to be the perfect mix of sweet and sassy. Having Ella is so much better than I ever thought having a daughter could be. I can't believe how amazing she is!! What a wonderful God we have to give us precious gifts as these. I cherish every moment with her and still to this day if I look at her for to long it brings tears to my eyes and my heart swells. Sometimes the moments that warm our hearts are few and far between, so I'm so blessed to say that it warms my heart everytime she walks in the room. Now, other than our eight teeth and more on the way we are in the process of potty training. I have come to the conclusion that it's not so much 
the excitement of the actual "tee tee" itself, but more about the flush. Whatever, just as long as she's enjoying herself! I put her on the potty for the first time on March 17th. She went and later that afternoon she let me know when she needed to go again. We've only been sporadically since then, but nonetheless the ball is rolling. It is a bittersweet moment to see your first baby conquer these milestones. I am so very proud of her, but not so naieve enough to know that once this task is conquered it is just one less thing that she will need me for- that makes me ache. But, Matt couldn't be more excited about the thought of not having to buy diapers!! Every morning I wake up I know that I can count on three things: 1. That Matt will do or say something at some point during the day to make me giggle and smile like a school girl again. 2. That Ella will do or say something at some point during the day to make me feel more blessed than I know I deserve and 3. That no matter how organized and placed the toys and books are before I go to sleep, they will EVERY ONE find their way back to the floor before lunch! I've always liked a little consistency!!
