Ella is 2 1/2!!

On November 14, Ella Pearl turned 2 1/2!  There are so many words to describe the personality of this amazing 2 and a half year old little girl!

fearless, timid, MOODY, dramatic, sensitive, emotional, SWEET, sincere, beautiful, silly, full of energy, playful, HAPPY, particular, opinionated, strong-willed, CUDDLE-BUG, independent, full of LIFE and LOVE....PERFECT!

She certainly keeps us busy and on our toes but we wouldn't have it any other way! 

A few things I want to remember about Ella at this age....

• Talks NON-STOP!
• Gets scared easily
• Usually very particular about anything and everything (including what she wears, what dish, spoon, fork, or cup she has, how things are done and when, etc!)
• Right after turning 2.5 (the same time we came home from a 4 day vacation), she started getting out of bed in the mornings by herself and coming to the top of the stairs to yell for us.  This also means she has quit sleeping in...she gets out of bed immediately; usually around 6:00/6:30am
• Imitates me in every way possible - loves to role play with her babies exactly the way I am with Easton
• Very timid and reserved in new places, but completely fearless at home and other comfortable environments
• Has just started watching a little bit of TV...there is 1 30-minute DVD that she loves called "Petting Farm" but she calls it "Piggies".  It shows real animals and talks all about each one. 
• By far, her current favorite book is The Gingerbread Cowboy.  Very cute book illustrated by one of my mom's friends, Holly Berry.  Ella knows all the animals...roadrunner, javelines, long-horned cattle, and her favorite by far is the coyote!!  I love to hear her say all the words.  She insists that we read it every single night and before nap for the last month.  She reads it to us and then we read it to her.
• Loves to see and point out school busses, big trucks, dump trucks, etc. that she sees on the road
• Tries to be a step ahead of me...rushes to open the door first, or to show me where something is that I'm looking for
• Her favorite things to do: play with her babies, play in her kitchen, draw/color/paint, read books

There is so much about her...and I will probably keep adding to this list, but for now, good night! 

So thankful!

We had a ton to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.....and the pictures speak for themselves!  

Big, Beautiful smiles!

Grandparents!!

Brothers and Sisters!!

Young kids to remind us NOT to be so serious all the time!

Sweet cuddly babies!

Friendly family competition!

Cousins!

Our family of FOUR! 

We were thankful to get to see a brand new baby calf!

Being outside in the warm sun on a cold day!

I am thankful that I can provide the needed security and comfort to my kids.

For hay rides on the back of lawn mowers!

and go card rides with Jakey.

and for the opportunity to just let loose and DANCE!

I am SO THANKFUL for SO MANY things...
these are just a FEW of the great ones!

Silly boy, silly faces!

You really need to see a video to get the full effect, but while in his jumper or during dinner, Easton will scrunch up his face and breathe real fast through his nose and it is hilarious!

He LOVES his jumper and will stay here as long as we let him!

Easton is 7 months!

On November 24, Easton turned 7 months!  If I had to describe him in ONE word at this age, it would be PLAYFUL!  Just in the past few days, I noticed how much more playful he has become.  He just laughs and giggles when we are being silly and I'm not even touching him or of course when I tickle him and kiss him all over!  I love to see his HUGE gummy grins and adorable little laughs that sound just like his big sister!

Separation anxiety has kicked in this month and if he sees me walk away, he does not like it!  He can be perfectly happy, but if I walk into the room and then walk back out, he cries until I come get him no matter if Daddy or Ella is with him, at that point, only mommy will do!

Easton is a happy, easy-going, laid-back baby and we are in love with every single thing about him!  It's still so amazing for me to see the love that Ella has for him.  She is incredible with him and they make each other so happy! :)

This is such a cute and FUN age right now!  He is getting close to crawling and pivots in all directions on his tummy butt not yet up on all fours.  He grabs everything and I am always surprised by the things he can reach!

I love to see him play with and use his hands....he has gained so much control over them in the past months but still does not have complete control over what they do.  He waves, but just when he's playing...not yet for hello or goodbye.

He's still making those funny faces!

and has the cutest little toes and feet....

His poor left thumb is red and chapped from him sucking it all the time!  I'm not sure how to let it heal at this point....  He definitely prefers his left thumb over his right at this point!

He still has his signature mohawk but the rest of his hair is growing in fast and pretty thick, so the mohawk probably won't be around much longer...

I love his plump little lips and big blue eyes.....   

this little boy is something special! 

We love you Easton Michael!

San Antonio Zoo!

FINALLY, we made it to the zoo this year!  Ella had not been in over a year, and I have been so anxious to take the kids!  Michael and I took off the entire week of Thanksgiving and kept the kids home from school, so Monday we made a trip to the zoo.  We had a blast!

As soon as we walked in, we had a great view of the Jaguar....

We made our way to the toddler area and Ella enjoyed the big turtle and the MONKEYS!!

Here are my two little monkeys!

There was obviously glass between Easton and this animal, but it almost looks like he is petting him!

Ella really like the fish too!

All day Ella kept saying "I want to go in there" when she would see the animals.  This time we were at the petting zoo area and she wouldn't even pet the goats!

The tiger was her favorite...."meow, meow"

We asked her if she wanted to go in with the Rhino, but this was the only animal she said "NO!"

We finished our visit with a ride on the train and were all exhausted!  What a great family day!!