Potty Training Journal...Part 2

Well, we've moved into a new training phase. Emily is showing interest in the potty. She has no problems sitting on it or flushing it, but we are still waiting for the elusive first use. She did use it once at preschool, but was around older children currently potty training. We've also moved to pull ups with little problems. (First time ended in a major fit.)

We were hoping to really work with it over the Thanksgiving holidays, but we've been hit with a cold. :(

It's been a crazy fall weather wise. We are in the middle of November with highs still in the 70s. Not sure what to expect for December.

Hope everyone has a FANTASTIC Thanksgiving!


Little Ladybug for Halloween!

Potty Training Journal...Part 1

We bought Emily a potty last night. Actually it is three things in one: On the floor potty, potty chair for a toilet and a step stool. Emily and I sat down in the bathroom last night and discussed the potty. I told her we were going to learn how to go pee pee and poo poo in the potty like Momma and Da Da. She sat down on the toilet fully clothed, open and closed the lid, expressed a general curiosity about it. Over all I thought it was successful.

This morning when I got her out of bed, she had a wet diaper so I didn't bother with discussing the potty. When we got home from school today. I discussed sitting on the potty with her and took her diaper off in the bathroom and asked her to sit on the potty. She started fussing at me. We quickly put on a new diaper and pulled her shorts back on. She immediately ran back to the potty and sat down and smiled at me.

I am writing this down now so when we are both older we can laugh.

Awww Sweet

April was an exciting month in the Ellis household. Emily's verbal skills really took off. Her vocabulary includes animals and their sounds, simple words and we are quickly adding complex phrases including, "Do you wanna a bite?"
Her recognition of objects has really become obvious, especially with animals. Whether is is a duck at the zoo, in a book, a toy or a drawing on the TV, she can point and name it and then make it's sound.
She is also starting to show genuine affection among other emotions. Her hugs are the best.
She participated in her first Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, and while she was only mildly entertained, her dad and I had a blast.

Trick or Treat?!

Emily had her first trick or treating experience this year, and though it was very few houses (because dogs are cooler than getting free candy). Daddy and Emily had a good time.

I Will Walk 500 Miles...

Emily mastered walking at 14 months. Devon and I are starting to chase her everywhere now. We ventured to the park last week and she had a blast running around and playing on the playground. Check out her first swing adventure.

These are a Few of my Favorite Sayings...

Emily is now 13 months old and is getting very close to walking. We are teething, too, which has been a very interesting experience for us as parents.
However her biggest achievement of late is her ever growing vocabulary!
She mastered the phrase "I love you" early on, but lately she is understanding that saying certain words accomplishes certain acts. We are currently working on "up" to be picked up.
Other words/phrases include:

• Momma/Da Da
• Good
• Wake up Da Da
• Hi There
• Up
  
• Duck

Her favorite game is Peek-a-boo. She is also trying to mimic the "spider" game with her own hand.
It has been such an enriching experience to see this little personality spring to life in our daughter. It also hard to believe she will be in a new room in preschool next week.

Every day is a new adventure with Emily, and we wouldn't have it any other way!
Now if we could just get "GO STATE!" down before September!

1 Year Old

Emily celebrated her first birthday this past Wednesday. Her father and I are still amazed at how much she has grown is her first year. She is almost walking and can repeat several words. It's been an amazing year and we are ready for another one.

Emily Laughing

Here is a video of Emily laughing at her Daddy while they play the Waving Game.

Clap for Emily

Emily is trying to crawl. This isn't her only accomplishment of late. She now has her two bottom baby teeth, can clap and blow raspberries. We love guacamole, mashed potatoes and of course bread. She loves to be the center of attention and grin and giggle.

So much has happened and so much is yet to come.


7 months old


My Activity Table.



Super Bowl & Guests


Mashed Potatoes

Christmas Fun

Emily had a wonderful first Christmas even if she wasn't quite aware of what is going on. It was a crazy two weeks full of lots of family and traveling. She met her cousin, Isabel and traveled to Illinois for the first time. We also traveled to Great Grandma's, and Gram and Gramps for Christmas festivities.


Christmas Morning


Emily and Isabel




Santa's Gifts

The Quiet Before the Storm

Next week Emily will be baptized into the Catholic faith. To help us celebrate this event, Devon and I's siblings are coming in from all over the country. My sister, Alicia, is her Godmother and will be coming in from Idaho. Chris Carter, a longtime friend of Devon's, lives in Memphis and will be her Godfather. Erin is coming in from Connecticut. Sean will fly in from D.C.

What makes this special is that besides, Chris Ellis and Devlin, no one has yet to see Emily. Following the baptism, we are headed to Horseshoe to celebrate and spend time with family. Alicia, will be staying for a while and I will enjoy getting to spending extra time with her. I hate that Sean and Erin have a short visit.

Yesterday, Pam finished the slip that goes under the christening gown that Emily and her future siblings will be wearing. It was pieced together using pieces of my mom, Thelma's, wedding gown and Pam's wedding dress. The slip has been embroidered to say that. It will be passed down through our children and so on. It is a great gift.

Front of Gown Back of Gown

See How She Grows!!!!

Emily is getting so big. Check out her weekly pictures!

Home from the hospital


One Week Old



Two Weeks Old


Three Weeks Old

Emily has Arrived

Emily Eileen Ellis joined us at 8:18 p.m. on June 30. She weighed 6 lbs. and 1 oz. Her length was 19 and quarter inches long.

Here is a few pictures.

June 30...E-Day

My father-in-law, Dennis, informed me that June 30 was NOT the day to have a baby! Since it was the end of the fisical year, the doctor was just trying to ram another baby in, he joked!

Well all joking aside, Emily's induction date is June 30. Devon and I are to report to the Birthcenter at the Med at 6 a.m. Boy is that early!

We are both very excited with news, and so far Emily has not made any moves to push her birthday any earlier, although I can FINALLY tell that she is "lightening."

I am still in atrial flutter so that is a concern as we enter the final hours....but I am very relived that my little crazy girl will be in my arms soon.

Due Date Dance

Tomorrow I venture back to the OB and I hope to have an induction date set for Emily before I leave. I am a little nervous but I guess it is just because there is such a big unknown out there! I will post information once I know more.

On the other hand I had a lovely shower thrown for me at work today. It was great! Ray, my boss, wrote me a lovely lullaby for Emily. Laura wrote me a funny parody that was great. I received a ton of great gifts and for my last gift I opened was the Christening Gown Pam (my mother-in-law) made using portions of her wedding dress, wedding nightgown, and my mom's wedding dress.

Pictures and word cannot do it justice. Check out some pictures!

No Fireworks on Fourth of July

I had my 37 week checkup with my OB today. I asked him what the tentative game play for labor and delivery now that I am on heparin (blood thinner). He said that an epidural is "iffy" depending on the amount of heparin in my system. Soooo, if Emily had not made her appearance before 39 weeks (June 29) they will schedule an induction. This will allow time for me to come off the heparin and insure and epidural.

Of course anything can happen between now and then and I could still need a section to deliver her, but my target date is June 30.

Here are my 37 week pictures!

The Room is Done!

We have completely finished Emily's room. Of course, she won't be in it for a few more months but I am so excited with the way it works. I owe it all to Pam for giving me everything I needed to finish her room perfectly. Pictures are posted below.

The End is Near

So we are just a little over a month away from the due date, of course that is all dependent upon Miss Emily too. I am still having an easy time of it if I avoid the heat. I hope this continues. I have a few more pictures to add of the room and of me at 35 weeks. Enjoy!




35 Weeks

How quickly can you count backwards.....

Just under 11 weeks and counting. Thinking about that can be unnerving....11 weeks doesn't seem long...77 days seems sluggish and almost 3 months is just impossible to fathom at this point in the pregnancy.

Here is the latest edition to Emily's room and my 30 weeks pictures.

The End is Fast Approaching

Next week begins our third trimester. Emily is kicking and punching away. As slow as this process has seemed to go, it is amazing how quickly we are approaching her birth. I am still in search for a nightstand to finish out the room. I have pictures below to show the progress as we have transformed the room. Very soon it will have a new occupant.