Olive Garden

We had a nice morning getting ready for meeting.  Decided to have Ella wear her blue dress for the first time and she totally rocked it now that she walks.

Picture:  Ella with her blue dress (June 10, 2012)

Video:  Ella playing with the iPad (June 10, 2012).

Lunch at Olive Garden
Ella's first trip to Olive Garden was a success!  I love being free to have lunch with our friends after meeting. Ella was able to have a nice meal with the Adairs, Williams, and Claypools.  Can't say too much about the food (it is a chain restaurant after all) but Ella sat in the high chair for almost two hours. Impressed?  We sure are!  She got fussy towards the end since it was past her afternoon nap time but we survived.

Picture: Ella says "let me out of this chair!" (June 10, 2012).

Video:  Ella starting to show how tired she is (June 10, 2012).

Ella was not happy the rest of the afternoon since she refused her afternoon nap and was over-stimulated.  Sigh, I hate pushing her to stay awake.  I always ended up with a cranky baby.

Hot Italian & Fremont Park

We had a lazy Saturday morning but Ella sure loves to walk!  Here's a funny video of Ella walking around the sofa - laughing as she turns the corners.

Video:  Ella laughing while walking in circles (June 9, 2012).

Hot Italian:
Brian suggested we go out for lunch just to get us out of the house for a little bit.  We ended up taking Ella to Hot Italian (her second visit) and enjoyed a couple of pizzas for lunch.  Ella was a good mood as she gave Brian hugs and kisses while waiting for the food to arrive.  ;)

Picture:  Ella giving Daddy a kiss while waiting for food (June 9, 2012).

Video:  Ella giving daddy a hug and playing with his glasses (June 9, 2012).

Fremont Park:
After lunch, with the weather being nice and Ella still in a good mood we walked across the street to Fremont Park. Ella loves to explore and she doesn't mind directing us where she would like to go! 

Picture:  Ella refusing to get up without help (June 9, 2012).

Video:  Ella walking around the park (June 9, 2012).

Video:  Ella and Daddy walking around Fremont Park (June 9, 2012).

Loving our family adventures around Sacramento!

Twister, Park and Library

This past week, we were able to get in lots of play dates with Ella's favorite friends. Socializing Ella with other kids is getting more entertaining as she continues to master walking.

Monday (June 4, 2012) - Play date with Isaac, Paige and Jack.

Who loves watching kids run around, play board games and dance?  Ella does!  She thoroughly enjoyed her afternoon with Isaac, Paige and Jack.

Picture:  Ella sharing her books and toys.

Picture:  Ella wants to play Hungry Hungry Hippos.

Picture:  Ella trying to join in on a game of Twister.

Tuesday (June 5, 2012) - Play date with Kingston at McKinley Park.

McKinley Park has a great playground next to a pond filled with ducks, geese, and turtles.  

Picture:  Ella and Kingston sitting on a bench watching the animals.

Video:  Ella and Kingston trying to feed the animals.

Thursday (June 7, 2012) - Play date with Claire.

Ella and Claire had a fun play date at the Sacramento Downtown Library on I street for story time. Story time wasn't all that great but the play mat was pretty cool. 

Picture:  Ella and Claire playing in the library.

Video:  Ella and Claire playing on the playmate at the library.

Friday (June 8, 2012) - Play date with Sophia and Gabriella. Play date with Isaac, Paige & Jack.

Ella got to spend quality time with Sophia and Gabriella after her morning nap.

Picture:  Ella enjoying Sophia and Gabriella's visit.

Video:  Ella watching the girls play a board game.

After the girls left, Ella went down for her afternoon nap.  But to her surprise, she woke up and got to play with Isaac, Paige & Jack.  What a wonderful Friday for Ella!

Video:  Ella playing with Jack and Isaac.

Can't wait for more adventures with Ella and her friends.

Walking Milestone

As of this past Monday, June 4th, we can proudly announce that Ella has mastered walking - pausing, turns, standing up, squats, picking up objects and holding them while walking!

It's interesting to observe how excited she is to know that she can walk instead of crawling to get around.  As you makes a turn, picks up an object or simply pause - you can hear a small giggle from her as if she was proud of herself. We'll see if she'll be one of those kids that needs a backpack leash!

Video:  Ella walking around the twister game (June 4, 2012).

Video:  Ella pushing herself up and then walks toward the stairs (June 5, 2012).

Video:  Ella holding/playing with her ball while walking around (June 6, 2012).

Let the chasing begin.

Pool Time

Yesterday we spent the afternoon by the pool.  What did we learn?  Ella does not enjoy going into the pool to swim.  But she does love sitting on the edge and kicking the water!  I'm not sure if the water is too cold (she's use to the indoor heated pool) or scared to go under the water.  Either way, we'll just enjoy watching her have fun splashing around.

Video:  Ella going into the pool with Daddy (June 3, 2012)

Video:  Ella playing ball with Daddy near the pool (June 3, 2012)

Video:  Ella chilling with Daddy on the lawn chair (June 3, 2012)

Video:  Ella trying to get her towel off (June 3, 2012)

Various Pictures from our pool adventure at Harbor Oaks (June 3, 2012):

;)

Pops in The Park - McKinley Park

East Sacramento is hosting "Pops in the Park" where in which they have a band play in different parks every Saturday for the month of June from 6pm - 9pm.  This past Saturday, June 2nd, the first concert (performance by The Nibblers) was held at McKinley Park is located on H Street between Alhambra and 33rd - perfect for dogs, has a beautiful garden, cool play area, tennis courts and pool. 

After our Special one day assembly, we decided to take a family outing and had a great time.  The park was packed with families, couples young and old, and lots of dogs.  Ella spent the first hour in aw of all the kids running around, dogs walking by and balls bouncing around.

Video:  Ella enjoying the view at McKinley Park (June 2, 2012)

Video:  Ella and Daddy sitting together at McKinley Park (June 2, 2012)

Video:  Ella walking around with Daddy at McKinley Park (June 2, 2012)

Pictures:  Ella and Daddy (June 2, 2012)

Despite the heat (which Brian loves), we're going to take as many family outings as we can before baby William arrives! 

I love our family time.

ZzZzzZzzz. . . .

Last month, I love watching and taking pictures of Ella while she sleeps.  Especially when she wraps her arms around a stuff animal. Her new favorite animal is her Hello Kitty doll she picked out with Mary at Sanrio.

Various pictures of Ella sleeping in May:

Picture:  Ella sleeping with her elephant (May 3, 2012).

Picture:  Ella sleeping on Mommy at meeting 

Picture:  May 8, 2012

Picture:  Ella passed out on Daddy (May 13, 2012).

Picture:  Ella taking her nap (May 26, 2012).

Picture:  Ella passed out on Daddy in the middle of the night (May 27, 2012).

Picture:  Ella taking her morning nap with Hello Kitty (May 30, 2012).

Picture:  Ella passed out - doesn't she look funny? (May 30, 2012).

Sweet dreams our growing baby girl.