Ten Months Old!!!

I'm ten months old! (Actually, I'm almost eleven months old, but Mommy and Daddy have been busy, so I'll apologize for the tardiness of this post! Look at it this way, you'll get lots of updates this week!)

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I love corn muffins.

But, they do make me sleepy.

My pediatrician says I need to eat foods with eggs in them. I like pancakes...especially when I helped pick the blueberries. I don't know why Mommy thought I needed an immediate bath.

I tried out the swings and I LOVED THEM!!!

For Mother's Day, we bought Mommy a cupcake tour, so I got to go along for the ride. I had my first taste of chocolate cake - it was DELICIOUS! I took one home for later...which is good because all that excitement was a bit tiring.

I'm still cute even with this rash right? It just WON'T go away. I think I'm a little young to have my own dermatologist, but these days, I think I bathe in Aquafor.

I love my Papa. He makes funny faces.

Mommy and Daddy took me up to try out Camp No Limits. There were tons of little kids like me. Some were missing hands, others arms, others legs. But you know what? They're all awesome.

Uncle Frank did his 10th PMC ride and though Mommy didn't ride this year, we went down to cheer him on at the finish line. She even let me borrow her tank top so that I could wear it as a dress.

I finally got to meet this Leila that everyone talks about.  And I got to check out where Mommy spent a lot of time in college.  She brought the baby to the bar!

I'm an awesome baby, but occasionally, I have to remind my Mommy and my Daddy that I do have an unpleasant side.  I follow it up with a happy face though so it's okay...

So, that's about it from me. I'm still rocking the 99th percentile on height and weight, with the 100th percentile on head size. (That's because I'm super-smart.) But, it does mean that Mommy has to start to retire my 12 month clothes. I think I'm holding a lot of that weight in my cheeks though!

See you next month.

Love, ella

Camp No Limits

In the first week of August, we took Ella up to check out Camp No Limits. This is a camp that Ella will likely go to every year (if she wants). They have all sorts of camp activities for limb different kids, both to allow them time to socialize with other kids with similar challenges, as well as help them build important life skills. For the upper-limb kids like Ella, they participate in daily Occupational Therapy. In these sessions, kids get help learning things like tying their shoes, buttoning shirts, snapping vests, putting hair in ponytails, etc.

Each day at lunch, they showcase what the kids have learned, giving them some boosts of confidence along the way.

This year, the Never Say Never Foundation provided a ton of support and activities for the kids, which was fantastic.

Beautiful Ella (courtesy of the ever-awesome Barb)

To say that we are behind in putting up posts is an understatement, so let's get caught up! First of all, we have to thank Barb Girard for yet another set of amazing photos...this time of a fast-growing and quick-moving Ella...

Nine Months Old!!

So, it's sad that Mommy and Daddy haven't gotten a chance to post any photos since my 8-month photo shoot...because there's been a lot going on!!

First of all, I'm nine months old now - can you believe it?!

I helped Daddy celebrate his first Father's Day.  I wore a pretty outfit just for the occasion.

I went on my very first plane ride.  If you look closely, my shirt said "Congratulations, you get to sit near me!"  I think people were very excited to be near me - after all, I was a rock star traveler who didn't make a peep the entire flight...in both directions!

Why did I go on a plane?  Well, because I went to Bermuda with Mommy, Daddy, Aunt Jackie, Uncle Bob, Trip, Britt, Annabel and my new best friend, Nova!

Once we got back from Bermuda, it was time for my first July 4th celebration.  I don't know if you know this, but our town does a week-long party...it's pretty awesome.  Luckily, I had just the right outfit!

Mommy says I finally have enough hair to put a bow on it.  I think she's making fun of me.

I became a water baby when I went to Bermuda and it carried over when I got home.  A new giraffe pool for me, plus I have gotten to go in other pools too!!

Mommy was chatting with me one morning when suddenly she looked over and look what I was doing!!  (I think she jumped a foot in the air - it was hysterical!)

Last weekend, we went to the Helping Hands summer outing.  Helping Hands is a group for kids with upper limb differences, so there were lots of kids just like me.  I got to have a little fin fist bump with another baby.  (Mommy and Daddy were laughing so hard they didn't get a photo.)

Last month, I thought I knew how to crawl.  Man, was I wrong.  Now, I can really move - I'm superfast...which made this month's photo shoot A LOT of fun!

I love my puppies.  They give good hugs.

With all these new tricks, I'm pretty exhausted these days...I even fall asleep while eating.

Oh, and I finally have TWO teeth.  You can see them in this awesome photo from my photo shoot with Barb Girard this past weekend!  (Think of this as a tease for the rest of the photos which will come soon!)

Okay, that's it.  I'll update you on my height and weight next week after my nine month appointment!
Love,
ella