Rowan's Baptism

This past weekend we headed to Baton Rouge for Keith's godson's baptism. Since we used to live in BR we were able to see lots of friends along with Keith's family while we were there which was wonderful!

We stayed with my old boss and good friend Sarah and her husband PJ in their beautiful new house. It was great to see them (I lived with Sarah almost a month during our transition to Tyler) and spend a little QT with them!

Our first major event while we were there was lunch with some of my old coworkers and their kids!
This is Gianmario and Ella. Gian was born three weeks before Ella and they were so funny together! I couldn't believe we actually got a few pictures of them looking at the camera!

Doesn't this picture look like they just got caught doing something they weren't supposed to! I know if we still lived in BR these two would be the best of friends - and probably get into LOTS of trouble.

Saturday evening Keith's parents kept Ella over at Keith's aunt and uncle's house so they could get a little QT with the miss and we could spend some time with Brad and Courtney without the kids. I think it was probably the first time in almost 3 years that the 4 of us went out without a kiddo! It was wonderful and we went to our favorite place in BR, Parrain's! So many fun memories of that restaurant!

Sunday was Rowan's baptism and reception. We were able to see so many of Keith's family members which was great!

Here is the little man waiting for the service to start. This child is the best behaved baby ever! I think I have only heard him cry twice and it was more like a whimper than a cry. He is just so laid back and will just go with the flow at all times. It is probably a good thing cause his older brother is always in constant motion!

The proud godparents (also known as Parrain and Nanny in LA)! You could just tell that both of them were so excited to be godparents for the first time. I am pretty sure this little man is going to be quite spoiled by the two of them.

The parents and godparents with Rowan. (from L - Keith, Brad (Keith's cousin), Rowan, Courtney, and Melissa (Courtney's cousin)).

Parrain and his little man! Rowan was so great taking pictures. He makes the funniest pictures and just hams it up for the camera!

After the baptism, there was a lunch and reception at Courtney's aunts house so everyone could hang out for a bit. I was able to snap a few pictures before Ella crashed!

Ella letting her Gigi love on her. I know Gigi was so glad to have all three of her great grandchildren at the same place as her for once. Normally none of us get to be home at the same time so it was wonderful!

Godparents with their godchildren. We let them switch kids for awhile and I know Keith was having fun playing with a little man and we all know Courtney only dreams of having a little girl. I always tell her she can borrow mine any time she wishes :)

A quick picture of Nona, Ella, and Papa. I was surprised that she ACTUALLY smiled for once in a picture. She is getting much better when she sees the camera come out!

We were so sad to actually have to come home on Monday after eating such great food and being able to visit with all of the friends and family. It's ok though, another trip to LA is coming up in two weeks. This time we will be headed to Lafayette for a wedding and I can not wait! So many of my friends from literally all over the world will be in!

9 Months Old

Ella Kate is now 9 months old! I can't even believe how quick time has flown. So what have you been up to in the last month?

You are 21 lbs and wearing a size 3 diaper

You are in 12 month clothes exclusively! You definitely don't skip meals!

You eat anything we put in front of you and you are yet to meet a food you don't like. In the past week you have tried Strawberries, Asparagus, Potatoes, and Cherrios!

You started standing up while we were in Hot Springs and now if you can you are standing. You stand next to the fire place, the ottoman, the cribs at daycare, anywhere you can!

You really like to bear crawl on your hands and feet - guess you think you can get there faster like that!

You love to babble constantly! Unfortunately your favorite word is Dada! I just don't know how that happened! We really have to work on Mama.

You have really begun grinning at us lately and it really just cracks us up! You have such a personality and it comes out every day more and more!

We love you monkey!

It's Summer Time!

We decided to buy Ella a swimming pool to hopefully help us beat the ridiculous Texas heat and we decided to try it out this weekend! She loved it! I really liked it to cause I get to work on no longer being Casper the friendly ghost!
Trying to figure out where she is at! It took her a little while to realize it was a huge bathtub!

Doing a little splashing in the pool! I bought her a few pool toys, but she would much rather play with a water bottle or climb all over me.

She refuses to look at the camera! I promise she really does like the pool, though this face isn't really convincing!

Family Vacation

For Memorial Day Weekend we went and met the family up in Hot Springs Village so that the men could do some golfing and the kids could hang out. We had a wonderful time just enjoying the family and letting the kids have fun together. Here are a few pictures from the weekend.
Austin and Ella had such a wonderful time hanging out. He was so sweet to her the whole weekend and he loved playing with her. I am so glad those two got along! Ella already looks up to her big cousin!

My grandmother moved in with my Aunt a few months ago and they live only about an hour from Hot Springs so they decided to come up for the afternoon to meet Ella and hang out. It was so good to see everyone and we even got in a quick Adams family picture!

Austin even helped out some with Ella getting diapers and holding her bottle. He didn't even get jealous when Jennifer was holding her.

My crazy nephew! Man I just love this kid, he seriously cracks me up everytime he opened his mouth!

Ella loved all the attention this weekend! She was even able to get some one on one time with Aunt Jennifer!

There was a park nearby so we took the kids over one afternoon to play. Ella loved the swings and we tried to get her to crawl through the tube but we had no luck!

We were able to get this little guy to crawl through the tube! This was before the horrible chin accident. My brother told Austin to try and do a chin up which ended in a busted chin! Luckily it didn't require a trip to the emergency room!

The kids enjoying the swings. At one point they were just starring at eachother and I so wish I would have gotten a picture of it!

I am pretty sure that this was the highlight of Ella's weekend. Austin brought up his tractor and drove Ella all over the golf course in it. She absolutely LOVED it!

We had such a wonderful time and we are already planning our next vacation with the family!

Lazy Weekend!

We had a pretty low-key weekend around here. Keith's parents came in for a quick visit so we spent our time letting them love up on Ella Kate. Here are just a few pictures...
Daddy wanted Ella to wear his hat, but she wasn't very excited about it. Her face looks so chunky here :)

Hanging outside with Nona! The weather was gorgeous in the sun, but in the shade it was just a little chilly.

Feeling grass between her toes for the first time! She always wants to play with the grass, but usually has socks on outside or we are sitting on a blanket, but we decided to let her feel it with her feet.

As you can tell by her face, she wasn't very excited about it. I think she would rather pick it up and eat it!

Eight Months Old and Mother's Day!

Well is today not only my first Mother's Day, but it is also Ella's 8 month birthday! So Ella Kate, what have you been up to?

You are still in a size 3 diaper and wearing both 9 month and 12 month clothes - we had to move you into 12 month PJs this week cause your 9 month ones were just too tight!

I am guessing you are measuring around 28 inches or so and weighing around 21-22 lbs.

You are taking 4 8 oz bottles a day and 2 solid meals.

You have tried the following foods:

Fruit- Bananas, Mangoes, Apples, Pears, Peaches, Avacado (which you love!)

Veggies - Peas, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Squash, Spinach, and Green Beans

You are a horrible napper but still a wonderful sleeper at night so we can't complain!

You started crawling last week and are officially into EVERYTHING! But it is so fun that you are able to move around on your own and you love to follow us around - especially the cat!

Taking your picture this month was a lot harder than other months...
You either wanted to eat the paper or...

Get right up into the camera!

You love bath time! You would sit in the bath forever if we would let you.

You love being outdoors and either in your stroller or wagon! You could also just sit out on a blanket for hours and not get mad. We are going to get you a baby pool next weekend which we know you will love!

It is just amazing how much you have changed in only a few short months!

We love you more and more everyday and I am so thankful to get to celebrate my first Mother's Day being your mom!

We've got a crawler!