Weekend Project

Well, here are the results of my week long weekend project (mostly from being tired on some days and having to let stain dry). They're 4 custom shelves I made for our bedroom, so we can take some of the books out of the main floor bookshelves that Ella loves to unload so much. I need to find some better adhesive to put on the fronts of a couple of the shelves--the superstrong glue dried before I could get them on there. :(

Anyway, here they are:


Sorry I didn't get a close up pic...didn't think of it while I was up there.

Steve

I love to PARTY!

Little "Ella Bella," was invited to her first jewelry party today.
Olivia's Lia Sophia party. It was very cute.
The guests were treated to a gift box and inside were jewel encrusted rings and beautiful beaded necklaces. Unfortunately Gabriella didn't quite understand that rings go on your fingers and not in your mouth, so those had to be regretfully given back. BUT...she really loved those necklaces.

All the other little gals and boys played dress-up and feasted on grapes, cheese, and pigs-in-a-blanket. And what would you think? Ella Bella actually ate cheese! This was a great thing since yesterday we were given the OK to give her whole milk, yogurt and cheese.
She had a really fun time.

Look ma I'm on YOU TUBE

Thanks to Erin for taking some great video and putting it on YOU TUBE. These were taken last month in KY.

Happy, happy birthday baby dear....

7-11-07
Happy birthday to you Gabriella!!!


The big day came to our house and now "Ella Bella" is one years old!
For her main gift we got her a little shopping cart, and I'm so proud to say that I put it together all by myself. She loves to push things including the big carts at Target (she really can't push them, but she sure tries).

Steve gave her the gifts and she seemed pretty excited about them...she had a ball pushing the cart around the house. Since it was so early in the morning I decided to call my sister and we were able to chat over the computer. Then everyone was sitting on the couch singing to Gabriella, it was fun to see my parents and sisters on Ella's special day!
Then it was time for me to make a cake but as I tried to get things ready little Gabriella opened the drawers taking stuff out. I sent her away and got worried when I didn't hear her playing after a while. Before I knew it here she was...

She often gets into her car seat to play with the straps and tries to put it together.
So since she was asleep it was my opportunity to cook!
I had gotten some really good cake ideas from a friend but then I found a cake pan on clearance for around $3.50 at Hobby Lobby in the shape of a giant cupcake.
Steve really wanted her to have a cake of her very own to destroy, so I made two giant cupcakes. Steve's mom called and they were able to sing and see her over the computer too! I made pizza, sandwiches, and cake of course...our theme was Mickey Luau and my sister had sent me stuff from our wedding reception, along with some cake pans.

That evening Shelly and her family dropped by to give Gabriella a gift: a baby stroller and a little baby. She loved it. It was just her height.


Then it was CAKE TIME!!!


YUMMY...

So much sugar...
Want some daddy?
The aftermath...
Cleanup...

Now I just have to clean up what was left by the force of destruction...
Happy Birthday!

How old am I?

Funny how time flies...hard to believe that just a year ago I was in the hospital.
This time last year Steve wrote his version of baby Gabriella's birth...so here is mine and be warned it is very long and I probably ramble.

It was a 7/10/06 a Monday, I remember because I went into my old job that afternoon to help out with some paperwork and submit some insurances. I had been invited to a baby shower for that coming week and stopped by TJMaxx to get a gift. That night we had pizza and Steve had gotten home late from work. I think it was around 8:30-9pm when I went to the restroom and then it happened...a sharp pain almost like a side cramp and then my water broke. I called the number for the on-call doc and it just so happened to be mine. He asked why I thought I needed to go in and once I told him he said come on down. I had packed a few things that morning just in case something happened and while I was stuck in the bathroom waiting for Steve to get the rest of our stuff I decided to make a few calls, (I figured why not). I called both our parents and a gal from my old job to tell her I wouldn't be in the following day. The drive down to the hospital seemed to take forever...I don't think I had ever felt such pain and the urge to push (even though I don't think I was dilated very far.)

Nurses thought she was breech and the doctor confirmed it. I remember how hard if was to hear we would have a c-section, that was the only childbirth class we missed. I cried and could see Steve's face full of worry. I was able to muster up the strength to sign all the paperwork for the surgery in between contractions then I was prepped for the OR. As they wheeled me out all I could think of was Steve sitting in that room and of the baby. Once in the OR I got a spinal block which is a bit different than an epidural and the anthologist was very kind to me. While lying on the table Dr. Graham said she would either come before midnight or after then Steve came in. All I can really recall after that is that she came, Steve cut the cord, he took some pictures of her and off they went with the nurses. But before Steve left he did show me her picture on the little screen of our digital camera...I sure wished I had my glasses on. She looked so pretty and little. Born 7-11-06, 18 inches long and 5lbs .6 ounces.

That week was scary,and painful but my good friends came to visit and take care of me. I felt so blessed to have such good people in my life and for the love we had coming from both our families. Although things didn't go the way I planned, life rarely turns out the way we expect, at least for me. In this case things turned out better...I found out before I left the OR that the cord had prolapsed, whether it was from her being breech, my water breaking or a combination of the both a c-section was a blessing in disguise. Isn't that how it goes sometimes...blessings come in the most unimaginable ways and I couldn't be happier to have Gabriella as our little girl forever.

Here is how she has grown...

Fun on the 4th

Someone had fun in the pool...daddy was close by to make sure she was safe.


Once she was done splashing we enjoyed the fireworks from our window and watched the Boston Pops on TV. It was great just hanging out, eating good food, and being together.

Daddy's Birthday

Thought we'd celebrate Steve's day of birth, so baby and I went shopping and SURPRISE!

Did someone say SWIM!

Since we weren't able to go to McDowell to take Gabriella swimming mom had a great idea...she found a little plastic bin at the office and thought it would make a great pool for the baby. They filled it up and let it sit outside to warm. She loves water!!!






Rubber Ducky....I love you!


We also found a dandelion to play with..."Ella Bella" thought it was pretty cool.