15 Month Appointment

I forgot to mention the stats from Elli's 15 Month Appointment:

20 lbs (20 percentile - yay Elli for being inside of the range!! - the doctor gave her an A+ on her print out)
33 inches (80th percentile)
80th percentile in her head circumference as well

In other developmental news Elli has started using some of the sign language I've been working with her on since she was a baby. In the middle of Kroger she pulled the eat sign out of no where and she usually uses the more sign after we are finishing a song (i.e. Jesus Loves Me). Fun!

Picture Post #2

For some reason the original post would't let me add any more pictures and there is no way I could miss out including the momentous occassions of Grace's FIFTH birthday party and a day at the zoo with Mamaw and Papaw.

Elli loves her Mamaw and Papaw!!

She absolutely loved the water zone. She cracked up at the water and had a fabulous time. I can't wait for next summer and some warm weather so we can go back!

Papaw and the polar bear became good friends.

At an Indians game with my family...we go almost every year to watch the Charlotte Knights (the White Sox AAA team).

Finally...a visit with Garrett Condon...so cute!! Congratulations Amanda!!! He is such a sweetie!

We enjoyed a quick trip to the State Fair. I love everything about the fair and I'm pretty sure Elli did too!

The baby calf was Elli's favorite part (well, tied with the elephant ear). She could have sat there and loved on them all night. She was so mad when we left. I'll admit, they were pretty adorable.

Elli's first camping trip of the summer with Grandpa and Grandma. We had fun even though it was cold that weekend. We took lots of walks with Potter and Weasley and enjoyed beating mom and dad in euchre! Since they camp in Peru we made a trip to the ever enjoyable East End at the end of the weekend for some yummy ice cream. :)

Happy 5th Birthday, Grace! Grace's party was a ton of fun filled with cupcakes, dancing to Miley Cyrus and lots of family and friends to celebrate with. I can't believe Grace is really five!!!

Aunt Jodi making Elli giggle.

All smiles with Grandpa and Grandma!

Picture Post

I have been so bad update updating, so I've included a picture post of the some of the things Elli has been up to.

I'm very proud of Elli's updated room. I put in the shelving unit myself (on sale at Target, which I am addicted to) and love how it looks and how much space it has saved us!!

Elli's church boyfriend, Steven. He's pretty much adorable!
Elli's very first picture that she took herself. Shoes...nice!

We enjoyed a Friday night at the Indians game a couple of weeks ago with our good friends Justin, Audra and Daniel. We get to see the three of them every week at church and Bible Study and Elli loves Daniel so much. She tries to pick him up whenever we are not looking.

Elli's pigtails.

Elli is an independent eater now for sure. She hasn't mastered the spoon (in my opinion) but I've learned just to be patient and let her try it. It's messy but I have realized that I don't want a seven year old who I am still trying to spoon feed applesauce to!

My parents church had a camping weekend at Mississinewa so we visited and had a fantastic time. It was so much fun being with family and God blessed us with an amazing weekend in terms of weather. Below are some of the pictures from our time there.

The Ponslers were at the campground which was fun for us. We just don't see them enough anymore! Tegegn is a huge hit with everyone in my family. He's such a sweetie!
Elli's first boat ride. At first she wasn't sure and then she started sticking her hands in the water spray off the side of the boat and tilting her head back in the wind. So fun!

Elli's first twinkie...Greg thought this was a big deal so we caught the leftovers on the side of her mouth.

Church service at the campground...very cool!

Elli and Grace at the beginning of the church service. Elli pretty much does everything Grace does. Hilarious!

Greg turned 30 on September 14. We have been celebrating his birthday for a couple of weeks now (that's the way I like to do it!!) and will do so until we cheer on the Bears at Soldier Field on October 4. Elli and I hope that Greg felt special on his birthday because we are so blessed by his love! He is such a great father and husband!

On Greg's birthday - Elli's shirt says "It's No Secret I'm Daddy's Girl". I thought it was so fun and appropriate for the day!

Enjoying cupcakes in Greg's classroom for his annual birthday celebration. Elli had a great time watching the kids (and vice versa). Happy Birthday Greg!!

We took Capri Suns for Greg's class during his birthday celebration. We had a couple of extras so I gave Elli one on Friday and she drank the entire thing in about 30 seconds. She doesn't get much juice so I guess she felt the need to enjoy it while she could.

She walked around the entire house with these shoes on. She's big into shoes (she gets that from me)!

In full Bear attire to cheer them on to their first victory tonight. Elli is coloring which is one of her favorite past times right now. She is saying 'cheese' in this picture. She's started cocking her head to one side with a smile and scrunched up eyes when the camera comes out.

Elli reading her book tonight. She likes to lay on her stomach and color or read books. I get a kick out of it!