It's been a busy week. Miss Ella has another tooth....so that makes 6 and she has another incisor trying to poke through.

We signed up at the O'Fallon version of the YMCA (the Renaud Spirit Center) yesterday. We are going to sign Ella up in swim lessons for the fall. We are also looking into the Kindermusik classes. She loves music (especially the Eagles) so we are thinking this is going to be right up her alley!!

A couple of weeks ago, I started a Moms group on the meetup.com website. We had our first meetup today and was able to meet one of the other moms. It was nice to have some little ones the same age as Ella to play with. I also found out that the other O'Fallon Moms group is stepping down as the organizer and I think I'm going to take over! YIKES! That means I will have about 30 moms and kids looking to me to come up with unique outing ideas.

Any ideas?

random questions
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Not that I know of………my mom said that our Dad had an ex-girlfriend named Paula.....
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Friday night....got a little teary eyed talking about the whole Gary thing to Dave
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING NO....it's really sloppy
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? turkey
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? One little curly haired princess...Ella
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yep!
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Who, me?????
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Absolutely positutely NOT.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? I don't really eat cereal...I guess if I have to choose something it would be Raisin Bran Crunch
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Most of the time...No
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? yes
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Peanut Butter Cup
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
15. RED OR PINK? Pink!
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My lack of self confidence
.17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST ?
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? Honestly? I don’t really want to receive that many emails, but would love to read it on their blog!!!.
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Navy Blue Shorts
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? A piece of my nephew Kenny's birthday cake
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The TV
22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Bright Pink
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? Good food cooking, rain
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Mom
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? I stole it from Jen's Blog...yes I Lub her!!
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? baseball, football
27. HAIR COLOR? Light brownish with blond highlights
28. EYE COLOR? Blue
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? no
30. FAVORITE FOOD? Pastas....Good Salads
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Absolutely happy endings!
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Bourne, went to the actual theater with Dh last week!!!! This is too funny...This was the first time Mike and I have ever been to the theater together!
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Navy tank and Pink tank
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? I love both. That’s why I love the Midwest, get a little bit of everything.
35. HUGS OR KISSES? I love hugs!!!
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Anything Chocolate and Peanut Butter
37.MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Chris
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND My Hubby
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?Just Finished Jodi Piccult..>Songs of the Humback Whale
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Grupo Taca...airline my Step-Dad worked for
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHt? Nothing…
42. FAVORITE SOUND? Ella giggling..
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Hmmmmm, prolly Rolling Stones,
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Went to Peru a couple of years back
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I can spend lot's of money in Target....I guess my husband wouldn't really call that a talent though
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? St. Charles, MO
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? everyone's

This is one of those mysterious of life....I don't get it. I always wonder, Is there neck cold? Are they covering up a monsterous hickey? Are they hiding some sort of embarrassing tattoo? I brought this up in conversation last night with my husband, Dave and Emily....my husbands response? "They should make sports coats sleeveless for hot days?" We all just looked at him....as Emily said, that would look wonderful with a long sleeved dress shirt!!! Too Funny!

It was a late night last night. Ella woke us up at 12:10am, not very happy, as she had vomited all over her bed and was running a fever of 101! This was the first time that she has run a fever so I was running around not sure what to do! What fun! We cleaned her up, changed the sheets (which I might add is the biggest pain in the butt on a crib) and tried to put her back to sleep.



By this point a storm was approaching and for all that know me....I hate them! So, Ella was awake because her internal clock was apparently telling her it was morning! I was awake because I was busy running between the window, the computer (to check the weather), my cell phone (to check the weather) and the TV ( to check the weather)!! Mike was awake because he was putting towels in the window (it leeks from time to time), rocking Ella (not working at all), and yelling at the cats because they decided to start fighting at 1am!



By 2am all was quiet, everyone was sleeping! To add to the excitement, I decided that I was going to develop a nasty sore throat and sinus headache. So today, I feel like crap and have already sent Mike to Walgreens at 7am to buy drugs!



Today, Ella and I will be lounging around in our PJs all day....watching TV and playing with all her toys. I don't feel good, she doesn't' feel good.....Fun for Mike later!!



____________________________________________



In other news, Ella got a 5th tooth! I think I can feel a molar trying to poke through, which I think is part of the cause for the vomiting and fever last night. Not to mention the fact that my Mother was feeding her the crispy part on fried chicken last night.....



Mike and I are officially trying to have another baby! I'm nervous that if and when we get pregnant, this baby is going to be a nightmare. Ella was so easy, pregnancy and labor was easy, she has been easy! It scares me!!!

Happy 1st Birthday Ella Beans!!!

One year ago

Today

Here are some other pics from her first Birthday cake last night....Tomorrow is the big party so there will be more cake and present pictures later. Enjoy!!

First bite of cake....I think she likes it!!

Ella's birthday present from Mom and Dad....cruising the neighborhood with Daddy

Already a purse girl, dragging around "Aunt" Emily's purse

It's coming people, in 4 days, Ella is turning one! One! Where in the world has this last year gone? I have so much to do this week in preparation for her party on Sunday. I'm stressing out way too much about it. I know, I know, nobody will even notice all the little things I'm doing. But, I feel like it is absolutely necessary to tie all the silverware with pretty matching ribbons.

Mike and I went camping last weekend. It was fun, except for the fact that I got sick on Saturday and spent the whole float drinking water and trying to keep myself from hurling. We also were unprepared for the cold weather. When was the last time that is was 50 degrees, in St. Louis, in July? Crazy!! We are now thinking about taking Ella camping in August.....most people think we are crazy but hey, if things get too crazy, the nearest hotel is only like 25 minutes away!!

So other then that, I've just been busy keeping Ella out of everything. Her new favorite game is to pull everything she can out of where it belongs. I'm consistently following behind her picking up DVDs, CDs, Paper, trash, purses, books, guitars, or whatever else is on the floor or within her reach.

I know it's been almost two months.....I'm posting now and that's what counts right?

Things have been crazy busy around here. We were in Mexico the last week of June, so all of June I was busy packing, shopping, getting all my purse parties in and more shopping. Then the 4th of July, you get the picture.

Ella is almost a year old!! Can you believe it? I can't believe a year ago she was small enough to fit in my belly and now, well, all I can say is that the girl likes to eat!! She is starting to walk and is into everything. Keeps mommy busy during the day!!

So today at the post office, this older gentleman asks me if she is walking yet. I say no but she's trying to. He says, "oh don't worry honey, she will one day. " Really??? I thought she would just start flying one day. For those that know that song....here's your sign!!!

The other day, Mike and I bought a tent and set it up in the backyard. Ella was trying to help and was having a blast helping us and playing in that thing. We ended up having to take it back after a pole broke and the bag ripped. I guess you get what you pay for.....so the search is back on for the "perfect" tent.

So it's been awhile. I've got so much going on right now. I have only 4 hours a day to do everything: If Ella is sleeping I can get on the 'puter, do the laundry, clean the house, organize and do paperwork for my purse business, make phone calls, pay the bills, ect. When she is awake, it's all about entertaining her. She is so busy and into everything right now. Since the weather has been nice, we try to get out of the house. Grocery shopping, visiting my Mom, going to the park. I need to update websites and ect.....

Anyway, so I thought I do this little quiz thinging...stolen from catizhere:

RULES
• Use the the first letter of your name to answer each of the following.
• Answers must be REAL places, persons, things. . .NOTHING MADE UP!
• If you can't think of anything, skip it.
• Try to use different answers if the person before you had the same initial
.• DO NOT use your name for the boy/girl name question.
• DO NOT use a search engine to look up answers!
• GO!
1. Your Name: Paula
2. Famous singer/band: Prince
3. 4 letter word:Pump
4. Street name: Park Place
5. Color: Purple
6. Gift/present: Purse
7. Vehicle: porsche
8. Things in a Souvenir Shop: Pencils
9. Boy's Name: Peter
10. Girl's Name: polly
11. Movie Title: Punch Drunk Love
12. Drink: Pabst Blue Ribbon
13. An Occupation:Physician
14. Flower: Petunia
15. Celebrity: Paulie Shore
16. Magazine: Parenting
17. U.S, City: Pittsburgh
18. Pro Sports Team: Pirates
19. Fruit: Pomagrante
20. Reason for Being Late to Work: Puking
21. Something You Throw Away: Poop!!!
22. Things You Shout: Punk!!
23. Cartoon Character: Pepe La Phew (not sure on the spelling)

I've been wanting to change my hair but haven't gotten up the nerve to do it, until now!! Yesterday I went to a new salon and told them to do something, I didn't care what as long as they didn't shave my head and dye it green. Instead this is what I left with:

New Cute and Color....

Old me..

What do you think? Wise choice? or bad mistake?

I know, I know...it's been awhile. I've been so busy though and with Miss Ella napping, I have a little bit of time.

She is crawling, EVERYWHERE!! She's discovered that she doesn't like the hard floors, so she does this one legged, scoot, crawl thing. Pretty funny to watch! She loves to chase Sigma around the house and get into whatever she can.

She has gotten a 2nd tooth! We've been attempted to switch her over to all finger foods at this point, but she still likes that mushy stuff from time to time. She has started to pull up as well and cruise along the couch. Today she discovered the stairs. I guess that gate we bought a few weeks ago is going to be taken out of the box soon.

We have officially made the switch of rooms. Ella is now in the room that used to be Greg's and Greg is now in the other. After a week of painting and more painting, we are finally done. We still have to hang up all the pictures and shelves but that can wait until a later date.

_________________

I have a job now! For a couple of months I've been looking into something part time. For sanity's sake I needed to do something, for me and get some adult time. So, I'm now selling purses and accessories. That should keep me busy as I have to do 8 parties a month. That's all they require and they provide me all my inventory, business cards, CC machine, ect. I got all my stuff yesterday, 8 very large boxes full of stuff. It was exciting going through all of it.

I think that's it for now...

Happy Birthday Dave!!

I've lost 58lbs since having Ella 9 months ago

I'm now wearing a medium (been a very long time)

don't know why I'm rambling.....

So anyone know how to figure how many activity points (weight watchers) pedometer steps are? I've started wearing one to see if I can make it to 10000 steps a day (5 miles)...I made it to 7334 yesterday! Not too bad.

Mike and I are going to be painting tonight and tomorrow if anyone cares to stop by and join in the fun. Hopefully we can get it done in a week or so.....our painting projects always seem to last forever. Ellas' room is techinally still not done.....and that has been almost a year!!

Ella's new thing is the piano, whenever we get to my Moms, she makes a beeline for the piano and crys until you set her up there. Too Cute!!

Check out her website for more pics, I've been uploading all morning so there are new ones in last months and all new ones in this month.

Lord Help Us!! Ella has been busy this week accomplishing things that I'm not ready for. She is now crawling like a champ, her favorite things to go after, shoes, the cat and electrical cords!!

Since she has learned to crawl, she has also learned to sit up by herself. Not such a bad thing, except she hates to lie down now. Including, trying to change her diaper, changing her clothes, sucking the snot out of her nose....makes for a long process that used to only take a couple of seconds.

Another big moment this week, she is pulling up. She gets on her knees and gets stuck, hasn't quite figured out how to actually stand up yet. I'm sure that will be happening any day now. Her new big thing is pulling up in her bed and slobbering all over the rails.....

That will be changing as the first tooth is trying to rear its ugly head! Teething sucks!! She is crabby, doesn't nap and is very snotty, which by the way you would think I was wiping her nose with sandpaper the way she screams when I come at her with a tissue. You can see the little white tooth trying to poke through, it won't be long and I will be installing those little plastic guards on the crib to keep her from chewing her way out!!


On a different note, I'm taking on a new business. Yes it involves home parties, but no it's not a typical, please sign up under me kind of thing!! I've been researching companies for quite some time because, well, I need a life. A part-time job doesn't work because of Mike's schedule and I don't want to work all weekend and every night. I finally found one that doesn't require presentations, doesn't require me to buy a bunch of inventory (they supply it all) (including shipping) and I can do it whenever I want. I will be working for www.divagirlpurseparty.com . I will travel to Omaha, hopefully in May for training and then I'll be ready to go.

This company provides me with all the inventory, invites, business cards, cc machine, ect and all I have to do is have 8 parties a month. I don't see this being a big deal. I've got lots of friends and an even bigger family. I'm really hoping this is what I've been looking for.

Oh yeah, I'm going to Mexico in 64 days!!!! :)~~~~~~

Not much going on here. Trying to keep the newly crawling Ella out of EVERYTHING!! She is teething, not fun at all. The schedule we had in place, gone. Doesn't nap, doesn't eat....just a snotty, crabby mess!! Here are a couple of pics from Easter yesterday. Hope everyone had a great day!!

Things have busy around, sorry for the lack of blog posts. My sister was in town last week and that is always a busy time. Shopping, shopping and usually more shopping. Ella now has a complete wardrobe for the summer. Still need a swimsuit but I think we are done.

The little princess has started crawling. Last Saturday she was just kinda rocking back and forth and all of a sudden....she was off and into everything. It's been fun though, chasing after her, pulling her away from the DVD player, Mikes guitars, the cat, my magazines, if it's on the floor, it's fair game.

The cold snap here in the Midwest sucks!! Last week I had the air on and was wearing shorts.....this week, the heat is back on and I'm wearing my shoes again. I hate wearing shoes, I like my flip-flops.

Here are a couple of new pics of the princess, enjoy:

Ella's new sleeping position

Cute little Easter BunnyEaster DressEating a popsicle with Uncle BillAunt Emily helping out with the popsicle thing

Who's going to bail me out of jail for murder?

I'm seriously about ready to go next door and rip the manly parts off of the construction workers that are tearing out the neighbors driveway. Don't they know I have a tired baby over here that wakes up every freaking time they throw another giant chunk of concrete into the trash bin?

GRRRR!!! Nobody asked me if it was a convenient time to do this...NO IT'S NOT!!

Maybe I'll just take the overtired, crabby baby over to them and they can figure out how to keep her from screaming her pretty little head off!!

We have been taking Ella to the Little Gym for a couple of weeks. She loves it! I finally got some pictures today of our future Olympic Gymnast:

Some pics from the park yesterday:

OMG!! Okay, so Ella has learned to do this spitting thing, has been doing it for awhile but has just decided that doing it with a mouth full of food is fun!! So, I'm on the lookout for some type of giant Mom bib, sorta like this one:

This is what Ella looks like after a dinner of green beans that she thought would be fun to spit all over the place. Notice the spoon in hand, I got tired of fighting with her over who was going to hold it....guess who won!And a cute pic, the blackmail pic for when she is older:

Lawn Darts, Jarts and Farts

Hey Dave, Click Here....

I stole this from catizhere, hope she doesn't mind. I thought it was cool:



Not much else going on here in the land of Ella. Still trying to get her on a schedule. I don't know how people do it. I've tried and failed and tried again. It would be so nice to know when she will be taking a nap, getting hungry, ect. It would make going out of the house a little less stressful for all parties involved.

Over the weekend, we went out to dinner with some friends and I actually had to leave the restaurant because Miss Ella was throwing her first ever temper tantrum!! It was not pretty.

To all you "experienced" parents, when do you start disciplining your child? I don't mean, grounding, spanking or that sort of thing, just simple "No, Ella we don't spit" or "No, Ella we don't stick our fingers there." Do they understand that word yet? Is that why "NO" is a lot of kids first word?

Today is nasty and cold AGAIN!! I've got a pot of chili bubbling away on the stove and cornbread in the oven for later. I'm so ready for spring!!

I've got a bunch of pics of Miss Ella to share, check out the rest on her website:

Mommy and Ella at the park

Ella trying to make a phone call to Aunt Jen...Playing with Grandma and all her Mardi Gras beads, notice Ella is more interested in the bagNot sure why my child is trying to eat the stem of the banana,