Spoiled Ella

With me being down, Ella is spending a lot of time with Nanny and that means she is getting pretty spoiled. Nanny and Pops (Mike and Terri) bought this little swing and slide while I was in the hospital. Ella loves it and wants to outside all of the time now. This morning I was feeling well enough to sit outside with them for a little while.

Surgery Sucks

On Monday, I went to the hospital to have Alfredo removed. Alfredo (lovingly named after a student I could not stand) was a large fibroid on the outside of my uterus. I was told it would be a laproscopic outpatient surgery. Well, Alfredo was bigger than expected, in a bad position, and he was not alone. I ended up having to be cut open and three fibroids were removed. It sounds terrible, but I was in quite a bit of pain, I was bitchy, tired and hungry all of the time because of them. It is going to be so much better without them in there.
However, now my recovery time has gone from what would have been 1-2 weeks to 6-8 weeks. This means I cannot play with or hold or carry Ella for quite some time. It wasn't so bad at first. Now, she is wanting me to pick her up and I can't-and that leaves us both crying. It is so much worse than I thought it would be. I can handle the physical pain, but not the emotional. That being said, I am so lucky to have my mom here with me. Ella is getting super spoiled and so am I!! Mom had the Merry Maids come to clean the house yesterday and they will be back for the next 4 Thursdays!! I also know that I have some great friends willing to help if necessary and my favorite mother-in-law doing what she can to get here to help out.
I am continuously overwhelmed at how many people have sent well wishes, flowers, and cards! I am so lucky and I am grateful for everything everyone has done for me and my family during this time. I wanted to share my lovely flowers with everyone! Enjoy, and thank you all again for everything.


From Skiles Farms

From The Wimmers and The Peragines

From The Cranes, Wilsons, Dales, and Aunt Janie

From Kyle and Christi

Pajama time, oooh yes, it's pajama time...

Yesterday was payday! HOORAY!!! That gave me a chance to go to San Marcos and visit that outlets. Ella has finally run out of all her gifted clothes. All of the wonderful clothes we received at baby showers are all now too small. I am sad about it because I loved them all so much! The good thing is that running out of clothes means we need new ones, and it is time to shop, which I hate with a passion...JUST KIDDING!! The Carter's outlet is great. I was able to buy Ella some much needed PJs and they were all on sale. The more I watch her, the more I think she is going to be a girly girl. She likes to sit in my lap while I put on make-up, she loves wearing dresses, and she really likes jewelry (although, I think that last one really applies to all babies). So when I saw these pajamas, I had to buy them for her.


My little ballerina princess



She likes to touch the lens.



Notice her drinking milk from a sippy cup! NO MORE BOTTLES!!!!!!
She is getting to be such a big girl. We do not use formula or bottles anymore. She is eating at the table with us, not always what I'd like her to be eating-- she is super picky, but feeding herself none-the-less.

Yay for ChiChi!!!

Last Tuesday, ChiChi (Max's mom, Adele) flew down from Denver to hang with us Texans for a bit. We had so much fun! Unfortunately, I was still in school and since Max has a newer job, he didn't feel he could ask for time off, so we didn't really get to see her much. We did make a trip to Sea World, we three girls spent some time downtown at the Market, and had a nice time here at the house. It is always hard to see Adele leave because she and Joe and Chrissy, Jay, Annie and Thomas live so far away. We feel like we never get to see them, so when we do have the opportunity to spend time with them, we enjoy it to the fullest.
Ella is a Sea World princess. She loves the Dolphins and the aquarium tanks, but she also took in her first show there. The sea lion show is the best-I think it is better than Shamu, because the Shamu show is so cheesy and emotional. The sea lion show is fun and upbeat. I don't think she really "got" it, but we like it.

Ahhh. Discovery.

Ella loves when the fish swim really fast by her face.

At the dolphin tank.

"What is this, ChiChi?"

What a little cutie!

Kyle and Christi: The Wedding of the Century (May 30th)

Wow! Kyle and Christi: The Wedding of the Century took place May 30th. It was beautiful, I made a fool out of myself by crying uncontrollably at the drop of a hat, and my little brother is now married. And, might I add, to an intelligent, loving, wonderful person. I couldn't be happier and I love her like a sister and I have since close to day one. Enough with the mush. These are only a few of the pictures from the rehearsal dinner which was held at The House of Blues in downtown Houston. I do not have any pictures from the wedding, but I hope to have some soon. I wish I had tons more, both nights were uproariously fun and spectacular.

Ella's first beer. Just kidding-obviously it is Max's beer.

Great old friends-they are like brothers to me-Mason and Michael Dan

Mom and Dad enjoying a slide show.

She made it the whole night and crashed in the car before we even left the valet booth!

Kyle and Christi: The Wedding Shower (May 17)

The Wimmers

Kyle, Christi, and some Muleshoeites

The proud sister/sister-in-law

The Happy Couple

It is always nice to go back to Muleshoe for a visit. I love the fact that I grew up in such a tight knit community and I desperately want that for Ella. Kyle and Christi were given a wonderful wedding shower and they received some awesome things. We were lucky enough to get to be a part of that shower and visit with some old friends and amazing family.

Ella's First Birthday Party-May 16th (Her birthday is May 19th)

Ella wasn't really sure what to think about her cupcake.


Opening presents


Mommy and Ella and that great Panhandle sky!


What a cute family!


Daddy and Ella-look at that smile!

Ella's first birthday party was held in Muleshoe with all of the Cranes and some of the Hahns. It was a great way to spend her first birthday. I cannot believe how much she has grown in one year. What a big girl she has become. Her vocabulary is growing-she can say "banana," "night-night," "Dada," "that?" and "thank you." Of course, you have to really be paying attention to tell what she is saying. She dances and snaps her fingers, plays peek-a-boo, and even walks occasionally. Crawling is much faster, so walking is really not one of her priorities, but she can and does walk, which is amazing! We are so lucky to have such a precious, healthy girl.