I haven't posted in a while about what Ella Ann has been up to these days. She has always provided endless joy and entertainment to me, Spencer, and our family, but in the last few months her personality has really blossomed. She is always full of energy, as every toddler is, and loves to exert her new-found independence in all kinds of ways, such as climbing on the couch and sitting beside Spencer and I (certainly not on our laps anymore), not wanting to hold my hand in public or running ahead of me in public, wanting to walk beside her stroller or push it herself, saying "no" 50 times a day, etc.! It's great, though, to watch her become her own person and understand her sense of self! She's now a child, no longer our baby. :( The good news is that she readily dishes out hugs and kisses to Spencer and I and still loves to cuddle with us. Thankgoodness!!!

These are some of the words that Ella Ann can say now: Uh-oh (which is said for any sound that she hears everyday), pease (please), no, shyes (yes), dog, kitty, up, I know, hi, bye-bye, most animals and the sounds they make, car, bus, ellaopter (helicopter), ree (tree), ater (water), milk, oomeal (oatmeal), ereal (cereal), nana (banana), ogurt (yogurt), okra, getti (spaghetti), awfower (cauliflower), wower (flower), bobbie (blanket), bobo (pillow)...yes she often speaks her own language, outside, dirty, gross, yucky, grass, awberry (strawberry), apes (grapes), erwings (earings), acklace (necklace), and most of her body parts.

She can say the names of everyone in our immediate family and she tries to say "Miss Jana", but it comes out "ana" and Mara Kate is "Kate". Pretty good! We love hearing her say "Aunt Mandy" and "Aunt Kasey"!

This past Thursday, Jana and Mara Kate came over for a playdate. Of course Jana and I talked nonstop the entire time and the girls enjoyed playing together. Both of them have been bored with their toys and not really interested in playing, even though Jana and I traded toys for about a month. This problem causes trantrums throughout the day because neither Jana or I can sit there for hours on end and play with them! This is why playmates are great because they babysit themselves!

Here are a few pictures of our little 18 month olds!


Ella Ann and her Indian hat that she made while in the nursery at my gym earlier that day. She wouldn't take it off!


Ella Ann and Mara Kate




I had put Ella Ann's chair in her room before Jana and Mara Kate arrived because last time the girls both wanted in it but Ella Ann dragged it back out into the living room and once Mara Kate sat in it, she had to squeeze onto the seat too and then Ella Ann.....



she pushed poor Mara Kate off!

****Also, here is the link to view Ella Ann's 18 month portraits. You will also need the username and password.

Username: Jensen4of4
Password: 8229

http://www.collages.net/PhotogEvents/Events.aspx?photogcode=8229

From Coast to Coast

Spencer, Ella Ann, and I have had a lot of fun these last few days. Spencer went to San Francisco to present his research at a pulmonary convention on Saturday and took the red eye home last night. From what little information I gathered from him over the phone and this morning on the way home from the airport, he had a really good time, ate good food, went to Chinatown, saw the Golden Gate Bridge, did a few other touristy things with some friends, and ran into one of his old medical school friends from UK that was also out there for the convention.

While he was enjoying the beauty and fun in San Francisco, my Mom, Ella Ann, and I drove to Charleston to have a girls weekend. We were there from Saturday until Tuesday and squeezed everything in that we possibly could within those days. Since our hotel, which was beautiful by the way, was in the heart of the historic district of Charleston, we were able to walk everywhere, and walk we did! We did some heavy duty shopping on King's Street, ate shrimp, or I did, and other seafood until our hearts content every day, went to Market Street each morning for a cappuccino and some vendor street shopping, went on an amazing tour of historic Charleston, and did some more shopping!!! My Mom and I absolutely LOVED Charleston and we now want to either move there or go there tons of times each year for vacation; however, both of those options are not possible because it's so expensive! :) We had perfect weather each day and enjoyed being outside for all of it. Ella Ann did very, very well throughout the trip and slept fine in the room for naps and at night. She loved trying to push her stroller down the crowded sidewalks on King Street, playing in a park that was close to us, seeing a bazillion horses because of all the carriage tours throughout the city, playing with Mimi, playing in the pool, and sitting in her stroller while it was parked in the room! As soon as Ella Ann would wake up in the morning she would go straight to her stroller, get up in it, and say "go!" She loved getting out and about and seeing all the fun sights in Charleston. It was sad to leave such a fun vacation, but we hope we can do it again next year. Thanks, Mom, for all you did for Ella Ann and I!! We had SOOOO much fun and miss you already!!!!

Below are quite a few pictures from our trip. Gary and Gayla got Spencer and I a fantastic new camera for our birthdays and I got to take it to Charleston! I loved playing with all the "scenes" you can use to capture the best photo and I think I did a pretty good job! Thanks again for such a great gift for us! It is AWESOME! Ohhh and Spencer took a few pictures in San Fran, so if they are any good I will post them later!

This picture and the picture below are looking down both directions on King Street. These are just a few of the shops! I'm telling you, the street was endless!

Ella Ann loving the park we went to on the first day we were there!

Waiting outside Hyman's Seafood for dinner our first night.

Walking down the street with Mimi. Ella Ann only paused during her days for a nap! She was nonstop action all day everyday!

Ready to go at 7:15 a.m.!

She also loved to stand at the window with her bucket and watch the people at the pool one floor below us. The room itself was very entertaining to her!

In front of the Charleston Place Hotel.

Ella Ann enjoyed looking at all the flowers everywhere we went.

This is a picture from our tour. The bay, which was filled with all kinds of sailboats and yahts, was to our left and several historic homes on the right. The pictures I took on our tour and of Charleston in general didn't do it's beauty justice, so I didn't post too many.

This is of what is known as "Rainbow Row", which is a street filled with multi-colored homes from the 1700s.

Playing pattycake at the dinner table at A.W. Shucks.

Outside of A.W. Shucks on Market Street.

Ella Ann couldn't even stop for one picture with me while shopping on King's Street! If we got her out of the stroller we could NOT get her back in!

A quick picture before she took off down the sidewalk!

"HORSE!!! HORSE!!! HORSE!!!" was all that came out of Ella Ann's mouth when we would walk down the street! I finally got her out so she could pet "Big Al" one afternoon. I believe that to be the highlight of the trip for her!!!

Lounging in her new float in the pool. She was so serious the entire time in the pool, but she never wanted to get out!

Splashing on the edge of the pool.

Ella Ann and Mimi.

Playing peek-a-boo with me in the bathroom!

Having a grand time at Coast on our last night. It was my Mom and I's favorite place we ate at in Charleston.

Church bells were constantly ringing all day and in the early evening. Some had just rung so I was trying to get Ella Ann to say "ding dong". I think she got it!

We stopped in the park for a little while before we headed back to the hotel after our dinner at Coast so that Ella Ann could play there one last time. I LOVE this picture!

My Mom was chasing Ella Ann in this picture. She loved being attacked by the tickle monster!

I also love this picture of her and my Mom!!!!

I was trying to pull Ella Ann away from the baseball game some college students were playing because she wanted to go chase after the balls!

In the flowers, once again, outside of our hotel before we left Tuesday morning.

Happy Birthday Spencer!!

Today Spencer turns 28! He has had a vacation week this week so he gets to enjoy his day at home with us! I made him a big breakfast this morning and he took Ella Ann to the aquarium while I got some things done around the house before my Mom arrives this afternoon. Since she will be here tonight, she is going to keep Ella Ann while Spencer and I go out on a date for his birthday! It works out perfectly! I'm keeping dinner a suprise, so I hope he likes it!

Happy Birthday Spencer! Love, Katie and Ella Ann :)

Whirlwind Weekend

Spencer, Ella Ann, and I spent last Friday through this past Monday on the road and visiting every family member we could along the way. It was crazy, but fun! We spent the night at Craig's house in Tennessee Friday night and got to hang out with him and Kasey. Saturday morning, we got up early and Craig traveled with us to Kentucky to visit with Spencer's two grandmother's. We also got to see his Aunt Connie, Uncle Mike, and Aunt Vickie during our visit also! We had not seen them since Christmas, so you can imagine how happy they were to see Ella Ann and were surprised to see how much she has changed! More hair....yeay!!! Of course everyone still is in agreement, except for Gayla, that she is the spitting image of Spencer....I agree! That afternoon, Craig left with Ella Ann for western Kentucky to stay with Gary and Gayla and Spencer and I drove north to Elizabethtown to go to one of our good friend's, Joel's, wedding. The wedding was fun and we were thrilled to see some of our old friends from Kentucky that we hadn't seen since we left two years ago! Everyone was sad that they didn't get to meet Ella Ann...still... but Spencer and I couldn't have been any happier to be baby-free for an evening! We drove to his parents house after the reception and spent Mother's Day with our family. My parents drove over to their home to spend some time with Ella Ann that afternoon and we all got to enjoy some family time together. Carter and Ella Ann babysat one another and we didn't have to do to much to take care of them...especially with the grandparents around! They just loved seeing one another and both of them hugged and kissed each other often! It was SO cute! Seth had gotten bigger since we had seen him last and would just smile and coo at me...I loved it! :) On Monday morning we drove to see my parents once more to look at some cars on my dad's lot (long story as to why we have to get another car) and then we headed back to Georgia. Whew, what a trip it was!!!!

Here are some pictures from our travels. Sorry to everyone I missed getting a picture with, I figured I'd miss some people and I did.

Reading with Uncle Craig at Granny's house.

Ella Ann and Aunt Connie. She wasn't too interested in having her picture made with anyone pretty much all weekend...as you will see!

Reading, again, with Granny and Spencer.

Ella Ann and Nanny.

At Joel and Lauren's wedding. We spent a lot of the evening with Emily and Paul, since we hadn't seen them in quite some time either!

Spencer and our good friend, Barry.

From left to right: Barry's fiance, Elizabeth, Barry, Paul, Emily, Josh, Spencer, Me.

Carter and Ella Ann at Nana and Papa's house before church on Sunday.

In their loving embrace! awwwwww!!

Papa and Nana with all the grandchildren.

Playing outside with one of Spencer and Craig's old toys. Ella Ann loved the tool bench!

Relaxing outdoors! Note the sippy cup in the cupholder...hahahaaa!

A quick picture with my parents on Sunday afternoon.

Funny Girl

I had to post to let everyone know what a funny girl we have! We are always laughing at her about something, but this story takes the cake! Ella Ann is now starting to respond to our questions, usually with a "no" because she doesn't know how to say "yes" yet, but she pretty much understands what we ask her or tell her to do. I know what she says will get even funnier as she starts to get older, but this is her first "official" funny remark! Okay, last night I was putting Ella Ann to bed. We have the same routine that we do for naps and bedtime every single time, so she knows what's going on and what to expect. We first read several books, or sometimes one book over and over and over, then we sing, and lastly we pray. After we say our prayer, we will end it as "in Christ's name", obviously followed by "Amen". She knows how to say "Amen", but last night after I said "in Christ's name", Ella Ann didn't respond with an "Amen" right away so I asked her, "What do you say?". Ella Ann looked up at me and said, "Please???". I think God will appreciate her manners!

Super Busy Cinco de Mayo

Unfortunately Spencer and I didn't get to celebrate Cinco de Mayo OR the Derby, but we did have a busy Saturday! Surprisingly, there was a lot of Derby coverage for being in Georgia but nothing like it is in Kentucky, which is actually something we miss! The Kentucky Derby is a huge deal for all Kentuckians and we really miss going to Derby parties, watching the Derby, or even going to the Derby! We forgot to record it while we were gone this evening, so this year we didn't even get to watch it! Ohhh well, I guess it's bound to happen when you move out of the state!

This morning I took Ella Ann to have her 18 month pictures taken. I know, I can't believe she's nearly 18 month either. So sad. :( She absolutely hammed it up for our photographer so I am really looking forward to seeing the webshow-----I'll receive it in about 3 weeks, so I'll send out the link as usual. The outfit she is wearing in the pictures below is one of the outfits she wore for her pictures. I had to drive 45 minutes to our photographer's new home, so when we got back to our house I left Ella Ann with Spencer and went to a gardening workshop that a woman at our church was hosting. Her home was so beautiful, as was her garden....it was featured in February's issue of Better Homes and Gardens! It was amazing! I learned SO much this afternoon about gardening and cannot wait to have my own yard to start planting. I just hope I don't forget everything by then! :) I even won the drawing and received a small container garden! I just went to listen and get some tips because I had already potted my "garden" before I had heard about the workshop, so I didn't bring a pot of my own to make while there which is what most of the women did. However, one of the ladies had brought an extra pot and there were quite a few plants leftover, so she gave me her big pot and I got to make a big container garden! Yes, I am actually this excited about it!!!!! hahahahaa! Ohhh how my life is changing! :) I couldn't wait to get home and show Spencer and Ella Ann what I had created, rather I should say what the ladies who led the workshop told me to plant and stuffed them in the pot for me while I stood there and said "Ohhhhh I like that!"

Our church held a Family Fun Night this evening that the three of us went to. Ella Ann was one of the youngest kids there, but boy did she have a blast running in circles in the sanctuary with all the other crazy kids! There was lots of good food and the older kids played several games while the parents sat around and talked. Spencer and I were so thankful Ella Ann isn't at the age yet where she can volunteer us to participate in games because 12 of the kids dragged their parents to the front of the room so they could shove baby food down their throats for a prize! I saw one of the mom's literally laying down in one of the isles in the sanctuary trying to hide from her 3 kids, but unfortunately for her they found her! It was quite entertaining!

While I sit here at home tonight Spencer is going out with his friends, which I am so glad he gets to do because it's pretty rare these days that he is able to get out with them. I'm taking one for the team by staying home while Ella Ann sleeps! :)

I am so proud of my beautiful container gardens that I took pictures of them! I'm sure everyone else will be just as excited about it as I am after seeing my lovely potted plants!

Ella Ann is checking out my gardens to make sure I did it right! The big one on the left is the sad one I did before the workshop and the smaller one is the door prize I won!

She got a kick out of the flowers!

Ella Ann is making note of my Impatiens.

Now it's time to go have some fun at church!