Halloween with Minnie Mouse

Tonight was Ella Ann's first Halloween and she went dressed as Minnie Mouse! She looked hilarious in her costume and every time we put it on her we would die laughing! The costume had a hood on it, so I was proud of Ella Ann that she kept it up the entire time!

On Sunday, Spencer and I took her to Goblins in the Garden at the Botanical Gardens. It was kind of like a fall festival and to our disappointment, was lacking in the candy department! We didn't want to pet earthworms, we wanted some treats!!! It was a blast, though, and it was a perfect day to get out and enjoy one of our city's hot spots. We had never been to the Botanical Garden's and we really, really liked it. They had two other exhibits going on, which were different kinds of sculptures, as you can see below, and another was a display of scarecrows that poked fun of celebrities or were characters from movies, i.e., the dead version of Marie Antoinette. It was great!

Tonight we went to a neighborhood that is close to where we live and went trick-or-treating. Every single house we went to sat on a hill and had a zillion steps leading up to the front door so I would have to get Ella Ann out of her stroller and drag her up the steps to each house! It was quite a marathon and I think I wore the poor girl out! By about the twentith house she started moaning when I pulled her out as if to say, "not again"! She was quite a trooper, though, and kept her game face on. She was a very stoic Minnie Mouse; she wouldn't smile or toss up a wave for anyone!

At one point we went to a "haunted" house and the witch that answered the door told us to come in and when Ella Ann saw the skeleton laying in a coffin in the living room she completely flipped and started screaming and crawling up my neck! Needless to say, we left immediatly! Poor kid!

Unfortunately, Ella Ann was super tired both Sunday and tonight so I couldn't get her to smile for the camera, but I think she had a good time because she was lavished with so much attention! :)

Our very tired goblin!

Ella Ann and I in front of one of the sculptures in the festival area.

Ella Ann atop one of the sculptures in the orchid garden. She was staring at the people saying hi and waving to her, but they couldn't illicit a response!

I just wanted to include this picture because it was so beautiful. The Botanical Gardens are definitily an oasis in the city.

I couldn't resist having our picture taken with the Pirates of the Carribean scarecrow! It was only fitting since it's Disney!

Ella Ann's trick-or-treating face on Halloween night!

Trick-or-Treat!

Sprucing Up Ella Ann's Room

I recently ordered some wall decorations online for Ella Ann's room. Spencer's cousin's wife told me about these wall stickers because she had ordered some for her son's room. I got them yesterday and immediately put them all over Ella Ann's room. They are great because they just peel off the paper, stick to the wall and then you can remove them just as easily as they were put on. Soooo, when we move I can take them with me or I can rearrange them as I would like on her walls! They are great! Ella Ann really likes them too. She sat in the room and followed me around on the stepstool as I put them up. Afterwards, she just sat in the room and pointed to all the dots over and over and over!

I also included a couple of pictures of Miss Priss! I took these this morning as she was walking, yes I said walking, to me with her blanket!! Ella Ann started walking last night! Her first trip was into her Daddy's arms.....awwwwwww! :) Her preferred mode of travel, though, is still crawling.

Ella Ann's Dottilicious Wall Art!

Now she can carry her blanket wherever she goes!

Wedding Getaway

This past weekend, I went to Kentucky to be a part of a friend's wedding. I left on Thursday and came home on Sunday and the entire time I was without Ella Ann! Her Nana and Papa came down to keep her while Spencer worked Thursday and Friday. It was nice for Ella Ann and Spencer to be able to spend four days with his parents, and I don't think they minded tooooo much spending so much time with their granddaughter! :)

I had a really good time with just my girlfriends from my sorority. I haven't gotten to spend this much time with my best friends in years, so we had a blast catching up and doing all kinds of fun things. We went to a shower for Laura on Thursday night and had her bachlorette party too. I think we all slept for a couple of hours, and that's about it! She had a bridesmaid luncheon for us on Friday and then Saturday was the big day. I think us girls gained a good 5 pounds because she fed us such good food and a ton of it!

Laura looked soooooo beautiful on her wedding day! I totally forgot to take a picture of her in her dress, so you'll just have to take my word for it! Thanks, Laura, for taking care of us and for all the good times! I miss everyone all ready!

I really, really missed Ella Ann and Spencer so I was very happy to see them when I got back! I think Ella Ann forgot who I was! ha! She remembered pretty quickly, though, and reattached herself to her normal position........which is wrapped around my neck! :) Thank you again, Gary and Gayla, for coming down here and taking such good care of Ella Ann. I cannot thank you enough!

The bride-to-be, Laura, before we went out on the town for her bachlorette party. I was proud of her, she wore all that the entire time!

Katie, Emily, Laura, Me and Andrea

These are my four best friends from college.

Me, Emily and Katie

Laura with her bridesmaids Friday at the luncheon.

Me, Andrea, Katie and Emily before the wedding.

Luckily, I got to spend a little time with my parents too, since they were up for the wedding.

Katie, Emily and Emily's husband, Paul, getting ready to stuff their faces at the reception! The food was sooooooo good!

Andrea and I at the reception.

11 Months Old Today!

Only one more month until Ella Ann turns 1! It's hard to believe it has almost been a year since she was born.

Ella Ann hasn't been feeling well lately, so we haven't gotten to do anything fun that would cause me to take pictures. She has had a bad cold, but is feeling better today. We have to get her on the mends before her Nana and Papa arrive to take care of her Thursday through Sunday! I am going to Kentucky to be in a friend's wedding and join in all the festivities on the days leading up to it. I love Ella Ann to pieces, but I am VERY much looking forward to 4 whole days with just my friends! I know I will race home on Sunday to see her and Spencer, though!

We did, however, snap a few pictures of Ella Ann recently. The first two are of her reading "New Baby New You" to Spencer. She was taking notes on their latest article, "Baby Weight". I think she ripped a couple of pages out to review later.

The last two pictures I took today before we went for our walk downtown. It's not THAT cold outside, but I thought I would put her in some warmer clothes since she still is a little sick and it is overcast. She hates wearing any type of clothing, so I am not looking forward to the colder months because it means I have to fight her even longer to put more layers on!!

Ella Ann catching up on some upside down reading! Isn't she talented??

Ella Ann getting some good advice about baby weight!

Ella Ann even gets to sport some pink shoes nowdays!

Ahhhh...so nice and cozy!

Quality Time With Grandpa & Mimi

This past weekend, Grandpa and Mimi came down from Kentucky for a visit. They hadn't seen Ella Ann since mid-August, so they couldn't believe their eyes when they saw how much growing she has been doing. Ella Ann got to show them her latest and greatest "tricks", which include standing unassisted, pointing at every single thing and recognizing people and objects by either pointing at them or going to "fetch" them, such as her beloved blanket and duck! She also gives lots of open-mouthed kisses and hugs!

They brought Ella Ann a much-coveted Tickle Me Elmo for her to play with; however, she was very afraid of it when she first saw it, but has now started to warm up to Elmo and will even laugh at it. Once you press Elmo's belly, the crazy thing falls over hysterically laughing and rolls around on the floor and then stand itself back up. Spencer and I don't understand what the Elmo hype is all about after seeing it, but Ella Ann seems to enjoy it! She will sit in front of it and pet it's belly, grab it's nose and give Elmo a kiss!

We went to the mall on Saturday and did some major Christmas power shopping! We wore Ella Ann and Grandpa, who tagged along for the ride, out! We went to a neat restaurant downtown that night called Pitty Pat's Porch, that featured southern-style foods. We all chowed down, but Ella Ann out did us all in the eating department! Let me tell you all that the child downed some black-eyed peas, collard greens, gravy-infused biscuits, cornbread, salmon, mahi-mahi and a truckload of fruits and veggies! Strange, I know!

All in all, we all had a great time this weekend and wish we could have extended our time a little more! Thanks again Mom and Dad for everything! See you soon!

Ella Ann posing with Mimi

Ella Ann giving Grandpa a kiss on his head!

Ella Ann is checking out Elmo.

Grandpa, Mimi and Ella Ann before church on Sunday.