My Baby's Big Week

A lot has been happening since our last post! Tom got over the flu without giving it to Ella or myself. Whew! We were so grateful for that. Monday, we went out to dinner with Tom's co-workers and ate yummy Mexican. I don't have any pictures, but Ella LOVED the refried beans. She would cry every time I stopped feeding them to her. She also LOVED french fries....she's my daughter for sure! Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday was pretty much the whole work/home routine. Friday was a day full of running errands for Ella and I. But Saturday is when the real fun started. We went to Columbia to have a family shopping day. We had a great time. Our main reason for going was to prepare for Ella's first birthday this week! That is the "Big Week" I am referring to in our post title. She turns 1 on Wednesday. I cannot believe it. We are ecstatic and heart broken all at the same time. That our baby girl is turning 1 seems unfathomable. While in Columbia, we got all the makings for a great birthday party! A great party dress for Ella, decorations including banners, tablecloths, plates, napkins, etc for her party, and on Sunday we were able to get her birthday present from Mommy and Daddy. I'll post pictures of it next week when we have party pictures ;)
Tom is off this week with Ella. He took a vacation week so he could spend extra time with her for her first birthday. Wednesday is a very special day for us. It's amazing that a year ago on that day, I delivered the most gorgeous, awe inspiring little girl I've ever laid eyes on. And the love has only multiplied exponentially since then. I remember telling Tom when she was born that I now understood a glimpse of the love that God must feel for us.
Fate would have it that Wednesday is also my Mom's birthday. So, Ella and her Mimi share the same special birthday. We will celebrate with dinner for Mom's birthday on Friday night, and have Ella's party at our house on Saturday. So, we are very excited for this big, special week in store for our baby girl. I promise lots of first Birthday stories and pictures next week after her party!
Here are a few pictures from the past few days at our house. The first several pictures are from yesterday, when it was 75 degrees and beautiful outside. The last few are inside, because of the snow falling outside in the 25 degree temps!

Isn't this the sweetest shirt? I had to buy it in spirit of St. Pat's Day approaching. And her face in this picture just brings a smile to my face. Those teeth!

Playing with Daddy outside.

These pictures are my favorite. A few are blurry, but they were so precious I had to post them.

This was today, watching the snow come down. Tom spent most the day sleeping because he had an EGD this morning to check his esophagus for damage from his many years of acid reflux. Everything was normal...he just had to come home and sleep off the sedation! So Ella and I stayed warm watching the snow fall from our front window.
Happy girl!

As I said before, I will definitley post some good pics after her birthday week. There are bound to be some good ones. Get ready for cake eating pictures!

Hope everyone is doing well. Have a great week!