Aunts and Uncles and Aunts and Uncles...

If you did not make the cut this time, please make yourself more available when the camera comes out- Remember, Ella loves all of her Aunts and Uncles equally- Try again next time:)

Pretty Ella

Just a smile to make you smile...

Rubber Duckie I'm Totally Fond of You...

Ella has begun to really enjoy toys. She play with them, and (mostly) puts them in her mouth. Her favorite is this rubber duckie toy with all kinds of strange plastic tubes coming out of it, and a very unusual pink zebra head growing out of a blanket- it's nice to know she can appreciate the abstract nature of her toys at such a young age. She's a friggin' genius:)

The Great Pumpkin

Here are some photos of Ella, Mommy, and Daddy picking pumpkins at Demerest Farms. You'll notice that Ella looks a little upset, and we noticed too... It wasn't until we got home that she admitted to us that she was kind of expecting the Great Pumpkin to be there. We later found her waiting up in her cradle with her blankie and her thumb in her mouth- maybe we should cut back on the Charlie Brown a little bit.

Give Peas a Chance

This is what you get when your mom's a vegetarian... Ella has learned a very valuable lesson very early in life- it certainly is not easy being green.

Rainy Days and Mondays Always Get Me Down...

When Mommy told Ella that they wouldn't be going shopping because of the rain, Ella went right to her hats, grabbed the one with the biggest brim, and put on her most pitiful face in hopes that they'd go to the mall... And they did!
How could anyone say no to this face?

Rub A Dub Dub Part Deux

Ella has not lost her love of the bath tub in her old age... She actually insists that we use an entire bottle of shampoo every time we wash her hair! What else should we expect from "The Boss"? I strongly recommend buying stock in Aveeno baby shampoo, by the way:)

Fly Eagles Fly!

Let's hope the Eagles have a better day this Sunday than they did last Sunday- or they'll have Ella to answer to!!! E-A-G-L-E-S- EAGLES!!!!!

Still the Boss...

I have to say that going out to eat with Ella is a little embarassing- you would think that with two families invloved in the restaurant business that she would be a little less demanding... She actually pounds her hands on the table when she asks for her Simi to be made with luke warm water!!! In this photo, she's laughing as the waitress runs to the kitchen crying... Grammie seems to think it's funny too!

Ella Loves Jachee...

Ella loves her daddy because when she's sad (note the lip)... He gives her kisses...
And then it's all better...

Shake Rattle and Roll

Ella Kathleen has learned how to both hold and shake a rattle, and Mommy and Daddy could not be more proud! You'll notice, though, that Ella is holding a different rattle in the second photo. This is because her hand-eye-rattle coordination has not developed well enough for her to not whack herself in the face with the rattle! The next thing Ella will learn how to do will be first aid... We decided that a stuffed rattle would be much more practical...and safe.

A Trip to the ZZZZZZ- I mean Zoo!

Ella has oficially slept through her first real outing with Mommy and Daddy!
We went to the Van Saun Zoo on Saturday, and saw all kinds of different animals- mostly Ella just saw the insides of her eyelids, but Jachee loved the spider monkeys and the Elk and Bison...








...And that's no bull!







Anyone who knows anything knows that where there are bald eagles, there is Grampa O'Melia. Ella Kathleen had her first of many visits with her Grampa while visiting the zoo (I'm not gonna lie, she slept through that, too!)

My Dog Lobo

After much sniffing and curiosity, we can honestly say that Lobo has become very comfortable with Ella Kathleen. Also notice that this nap came during activity time (or "Tummy Time"). One of the benefits of being a baby, apparently, is that it is completely acceptable to fall asleep in the middle of your exercise routine:)

Who's the Boss?

Clearly it is not Tony or Angela, but Ella Kathleen! As daddy was doing some good burpin', and mommy was cleaning up the living room, Ella actually began to point out all the spots mommy had missed! I think I actually heard her say that if I had time to lean I had time to clean! Geez!

Ella's Smile

Ella has been smiling more and more each day. She absolutely loves the changing table!

The other day, I heard Josh talking in Ella's room- he sounded a bit upset. I walked in and it turns out Ella had peed all over his shirt! (She loves to pee and spit up on daddy). When I went over to congratulate her on her aim, she began to smile like we've never seen before! Now, don't tell me she this was gas, she knew what she was doing, and she was proud of it!

A Visit With Grampa...

After a long hard Rugby match, Gavin and Ella decided to make the most of a beautiful day by going in the backyard and visiting with Grampa's eagle. Gavin celebrated the game, no it is NOT important who won, by drinking a Guinness and ringing Grampa's bell- Ella has yet to participate in this ritual- she's just too young...

Rub A Dub Dub

After a quick, and unforeseen visit to SoupyPoopywood, Ella was in desperate need of some time in the sink. As you can see, not her favorite, but she does well. She even enjoys singing a good tune while in the tub (as seen in the first photo:) She's a big Solid Gold Oldies fan, I believe that in this picture she was singing a little Aretha Franklin... She loves the Sock It To Me's!

Three Weeks Young...

Hey everyone! Sorry it has taken so long to update the blog, but I've been in Mommyland for the past two weeks. In case any of you are thinking of visiting this particular area of the world, you really must tour the "No Sleepville" area as well as "Soupy Poopywood". You should also try the Simi at Le Chateau Dr. Brown- Delicious!
Anyway, Ella's wonderful, and mommy and daddy are doing great:) Josh was made to be a daddy! He can bounce up and down and make a shushing sound better then anyone I know- Ladies, as you're looking for your future husbands, and thinking of having children, ask them to bounce up and down a couple of times. If it looks like they might soothe a baby, you've got a keeper!
I promise to post more often, and keep the photos coming, and thanks to my brother Daniel for the substitute blogging while we were in the hospital- much appreciated:)

The Wait Is Over...

ELLA HAS ARRIVED!

Mother, daughter, and father¹ are all fine and doing well, and according to an interview earlier today, are "hangin' out" at Pascack Valley Hospital.²

The little one came into the world on 7/9 at 7:10 p.m. and weighing in at 7 lbs, 10 oz..³

Courtesy of Kelly, Brendan, and Cousin Gavin,⁴ (and the magic of right-click, "Save File As"...) here's Ella's first family gathering:

Notes
1. Not, necessarily, in that order
2. "Medical Center" or whatever grandiose appelation they deem fit to apply
3. Oddly enough, Josh immediately suggested a run to 7-11... or WaWa, or wherever the hell Sons of Penn go.
4. Note Gavin's expression at being asked, for the first time ever, to share with his cousin:

1. Denial/Isolation
2. Anger
3. Bargaining (As in, "There's a nice yellow balloon in it for you...")
4. Depression
   
5. Acceptance