It's been way too long!

Sorry for the two month hiatus on posting. If I hadn't been so exhausted and feeling sick I *think* I would have posted a few times.

In October we took a few trips to pumpkin patches, went to a corn maze, got to ride a pony (twice!), and did some pumpkin painting and carving. On Halloween Ellie went trick or treating with her friend Ethan, and they had a blast! Ethan knows just how to get Ellie to laugh, and she thinks he is hysterical!
















Oh, and Ellie has something to show you!

Dipping toes in the sand

Ellie and I went to the beach with our friend Anne a few weeks ago and had a blast. I had known from a previous experience that Ellie was not fond of the sand. She likes to be clean, and sand was just too messy for her. When we got to the beach she would not let me put her down on the sand. I dug a hole near the water where the sand was a little wet so she could play. She was timid at first, but then slowly inched her way into the hole to play. After about 20 minutes Ellie loved everything, the sand, the water, and the birds! She had fun running around chasing birds and letting the water hit her feet.

Summertime

Oops, I missed out on a whole month! I guess this summer is going by too quickly. Here's a list of some of the fun things Ellie has experienced this summer. She's had a lot of firsts:

Crab Feast
Hershey Park
Blueberry picking
Finding frogs in Ngoai's pond
Birthday Parties
Pool time with friends
Playing in the sand
Kayaking
Baltimore Aquarium
Pirate Adventures

Ellie has spent a lot of quality time with her Daddy this summer. They take regular walks to the playground, and Brad has even built Ellie her own obstacle course in the living room. This summer has brought a special bond between Ellie and Brad, it's a beautiful thing.

Ellie is such a little lady already, she has a silly and sweet personality. She loves mimicking me and Brad. She can also say so many words now. Some of our favorites to hear are; Mommy, Daddy, nose, turtle, eye, knee, bee, and kitty. Her new favorite game (thanks to Ethan) is "ring around the rosie," she's always the first to fall down. I'm not sure where Ellie gets it, but she has some great dance moves. She turns the radio on by herself and just starts dancing, it's the cutest thing, ever.

The other day Ellie ran into the hallway where her stroller was set up, and not even a few seconds later, Brad went to check on her to find that she had climbed up into the stroller (not just an umbrella stroller, either) and was sitting there waiting for someone to push her. We definitely have a climber! She can get on and off the sofa all by herself as well.

Eight little chompers have already sprung in Ellie's little mouth, but I'm pretty sure she will have a few molars to join them soon.

Ellie dancing...

We don't let Ellie watch much TV, but this show made her dance! Enjoy!

What happened to June?!

I can't believe it's the end of June already. Where has the time gone! We had a few races, some quality time with Lien and the kids, a big family gathering at Ngoai and Boompa's house, a visit to the Fazekas farm, lots of playground and park time, fun times at the pool, a great bike ride and family time in PA, and so much more.
At Ellie's 15 month doctor's appt she weighed 20lbs 11oz and was 28.5" tall. She is a petite girl, with a big personality. She's so silly, and does things just to make us laugh. I'm pretty sure she understands about 75% of what we say, and she can follow most directions very well. She also has a mischievous side and tries to get into things she knows she's not allowed to. Ellie can point out her hands, feet, belly, nose, ears, hair, mouth, eyes and tongue. She is enjoying books more and more, and her favorite right now is "Five Little Monkeys," she bumps her hand on her head whenever the monkeys fall off the bed.

2nd half of May in pictures

I'm not sure who likes bubbles more, Ellie or the cats!


Look a bird!


Here Max, eat a flower.


Cousinly love at Isabella, Dominick and Lilia's birthday party.


Grammy and Dominick enjoying the party.


Mama and Ellie.


The Pizzelanti Family celebrating the kids' birthday.


Ellie learning to save money in her piggy bank.


Ellie with Eve, Aunt Liennie and Sebastian by the White House.


Mama and Ellie by the White House.


Ellie with the BIG Mama pig at Kinder Farm Park.


All the piglets!