Ella's First Bites

So, Ella was cleared for cereal today:) She weighed 14 pounds, 12 ounces! The nurse who measured her said 26 inches...I remeasured when the nurse left and she is 24 inches! She is about the size of a 5 month old.

Dr. McGee says go ahead and try some cereal so that's just what we did.

First bites...


Dad's helping me...


I want to try by myself...


I am almost done...


I SAID I AM DONE!!!


All in all, she seemed to like it. Of course Ella didn't "eat" much, but she enjoyed pushing it around with her tongue.

Now everyone cross their fingers that Ella will start sleeping through the night (again):)

Ella's Smiling...

She's been smiling for quite awhile. The only pictures we have of her smiling are these pictures with my Grandma Ava. She must have some touch...well, I guess after six kids you would have that touch:)



This isn't the best picture of my Granmda Ava, but Ella's smiling:)

Other Iowa Fun

Of course we got over to see the Clausens. We sure miss Pat and Mary. Of course we had a great time over at their house and Pat had an awesome BBQ.

Here is Mary with Ella, practicing those skills:)




My dad got on the piano for dueling pianos at Nan's Piano bar at the Freight House. Great time if you are looking for something dofferent to do!



We can't leave Hawkeye and Brewster out. Hawkeye is the lighter one with the floppy ears.

And I will try harder to keep up with this:) Thanks to all of you who always ask if we have updated the blog.

Extra 4th of July

Anessa and Holly were able to come for this year's 4th of July celebration, which was great. We sure do miss them.

Julie, Jessica, and Chris came to celebrate also. How fun with people we haven't seen for so long!?!? We miss them too as well as all of you that we weren't able to see. If only we could get everyone up to Riverdale for the 4th.

Pony rides were a huge hit.
Here is Anessa...


Here is KJ...


Here is Jordan...


Coolest thing ever...

Ella's First Parade

Ella successfully completed her first 4th of July Parade. She was wonderful...she slept through the whole thing:) Jordan loved pushing her in the parade.


It was a family affair. My dad rode his Harley in the parade with Mrs. Stickler on the back and my mom was Betsy Ross, for yet the second year.




We kind of became our own parade as the kids wanted to pick up all the candy that was being thrown. We still had fun. And, what is up with Hawkeye being the only one to look at the camera?

Ella and her cousins

Jordan and Bronson just adored Ella. The questions were "Is Ella sleeping?", "Is Ella in There?", and my favorite, "Can we take Ella home with us?"

It was so nice to see Jordan and Bronson. They were having lots of fun with their Daddy and Ed and I enjoyed playing with them. Preparing us for what we have to look forward to:)

I wear my sunglasss in Iowa...

Just too cool for school...check out the peepers!


Ella enjoyed her first girls weekend in Iowa. She also enjoyed her one on one with Grandpa Larry.


Here is Ella with her Great-Aunt Gwen.


Ella also got to see her Great-Grandma Hildegard.


The flight was fabulous and Ella was an angel. She spent lots of time on this tripping smiling, just not for the camera. She also rolled up on her side several times, and waited to do the belly drop at home for Daddy.