Allez L'Om

Adam's friend, Chistophe, was visiting from France and we got to catch up with him.  He got to meet Ella for the first time and, always the thoughtful guy he is, gifted her with a couple outfits.  One of them is quintessentially French, and the other is in honor of the Marseille soccer team that he and Adam root for.

She liked the ribbon most, but that's because she has yet to appreciate French fashion.

Celebrating Mom

Mother's Day has always been a little favorite holiday of mine.  Since living on my own, I've always loved hosting a Mother's Day brunch, whether it was a spring lunch or English tea.  I feel incredibly blessed to have some pretty amazing women in my life, and I just always felt like Mother's Day was the perfect occasion to celebrate all of them.

A gift from Adam and Ella.

A surprise after-Mother's-Day gift from Adam & Ella.

This Mother's Day we decided to forego the brunch, and all the planning and prep, in favor of a quiet family dinner on Saturday and a luncheon picnic at the park on Sunday.  Saturday's dinner was hosted by my brother and sister-in-law, and we absolutely feasted on the Vietnamese grilled beef that was served.

Breadsticks to wet our appetites.

It's never a challenge to get Ella to eat carbs or veggies.  But protein is different, unless it's kobe beef.  Apparently she'll eat plenty of that.

With her doting grandmothers. 

Fresh, homemade mini donuts for dessert.

Sunday's cool but sunny weather was just perfect for a picnic.  We all enjoyed lazing around, and Ella got some more swing time.

I guess we were on a Vietnamese food kick, because banh mi and fried egg rolls was on the menu.

I love that Ella loves all kinds of food.  Here she's munching on a Chinese donut (hahm-jeem-beng).

All the food made for some snoozing.

The swing put her to sleep.

It's still a bit surreal that I'm celebrating my first Mother's Day.  While I have adapted to the new role that Ella gives me, I'm a bit surprised how easily I've embraced it.  I mean, motherhood has plenty of challenges and my life is definitely different now with a little one to care for, but I truly love being a mom.    I guess I say this because I feel like my career choice lately has been to stay home with my children.  I have slowly shed the desire to define myself by my profession, and instead define myself by the impact I can make on this world by raising human beings that will hopefully make change and leave their footprint on the lives around them.  I want to give this world adults who are compassionate and inspiring, with strong moral character and a servant's heart.  I want my children to find cures and spread kindness, to be leaders and creators and innovators.  I want them to forge paths for themselves that will glorify God, and I want them to truly experience His love and wonder.  Sometimes I get caught up in the little things--Ella must learn to eat Chinese food!--and I forget my greater duty as a mother.  I have been given this little being to nurture and raise and mold.  I look at her, grinning at me with four little teeth poking out, and can feel the weight of my responsibilities, far more important to me than any job can encompass.

There have been many articles recently swirling around the Internet about motherhood and feminism.  I'll save my comments for another post, but I just wanted to share how being a mom has empowered me to be the strongest woman I can be.  I have always had women in my life to inspire me.  And now suddenly, I am to be one of those women.  I am so incredibly honored and touched and moved to join this elite club.

Eleven Months Old

Happy 11 Months, Ella!

Not so easy getting a picture of you in your monthly pose anymore!

I look at you, eleven months old, and am completely overwhelmed by what a little person you are becoming.  With your one year birthday just around the corner, you are thriving in that little body of yours.  Every day you show us something new about yourself; I don't even know where to begin to list all the changes you've experienced in just this month alone.

Let's start with your favorites: wooden cylinder blocks, Remy and Mia's bones, Starbuck your dog, flipping through magazines, blueberries, noodles, and splashing in water.  Picnics in parks, swinging, watching birds and being chased around the house are endless sources of amusement for you.  You're pointing and interacting with everyone around you.  Your curious spirit is contagious as you teach us to notice the everyday things in life.  You're pulling up, starting to cruise, and vocalizing more than ever.  You will purposefully do things to make us laugh, and it's clear that you have quite the sense of humor.  You can blow kisses, tell us how big you are, and follow directions.  You now initiate with us, flashing that grin, showing of your four shiny teeth.  I find myself having conversations with you every day and you are constantly watchings us, ever the observer.  You're a sponge and you definitely keep us on our toes.  I thought it was pretty amazing watching your development, but to witness you maturing has been an unexpected privilege.  

Not only are you growing, but our relationship is changing, too.  As you learn more about what you like and don't like, we're learning more about how to nurture the person you will become.  We are beginning to feel the weight of parenthood, and we couldn't feel more honored to be blessed with you to care for.  I will always cherish our tender moments at this specific time in your life: the snuggles you give me as I hold you in my arms, your gentle kisses, and your sweet smile as you nuzzle me nose to nose.  We love you so much!

This Little One

Our days have been pretty busy and full of activities, yet there isn't much to write about.  So I figured I'd share some pictures of my favorite subject.  Sometimes I look at her and I just can't believe that she's here and that I get the privilege of calling her my daughter.  She is joy personified.

Going through the tunnel at Gymboree, which she loves now.  I think it's the highlight of her week.

Happy Cinco de Mayo! (Hey, anything to keep her occupied while I'm working in the kitchen.)

She felt like she was being followed.

A quick bite at the park.

I can't believe it took this long to put her in a swing.  We just never got around to doing it.  Needless to say, she LOVED it, and even cried when I took her out.

Having learned how to pull herself up to standing, she now spends a lot of time gazing out the window.

During her newborn phase (and probably up to about 6 months), I wouldn't have thought Ella would be a social butterfly.  While she is still pretty attached to me and will play coy when meeting new people, she loves to go out and just experience the world around her.  

Taking a tour of the new facilities at Adam's work.  She insisted on driving.

Playing with her best pals.

First taste of "fast food."  We're pretty strict about keeping her diet healthy, but she loved the grilled cheese from In 'n Out.

First dip in the pool.  She was fascinated by the water.

Toweling off after her swim with her Easter gift from Grandma.

She's such a snuggler!

Give a Dog a Bone

It's been a futile attempt at keeping Ella away from Remy's things.  So far, his water bowl is definitely off-limites.  His stuffed monkey with the dirty tail?  Mostly off-limits.  His plethora of Nyla bones that he leaves strewn everywhere?  A losing battle.  So I just gave in (figured germs can be good for a kid, right?) and now Ella spends most of her mornings (and afternoons and evenings) taking the bones from Remy mid-chew and trying to give him a different one.  He's a trooper and puts up with it, but you can tell he just wants to be left alone.

This is probably one of my favorite videos of her.  It's just so fun watching her play independently and be so intentional with Remy.  (And, yes, we have totally talked about just buying her bones to play with since they are currently her toy of choice, with the exception of her cylinder-shaped blocks.)

Splishing and 'a Splashing

We finally decided to heat up the pool so we can get an early start on summer.  Ella loves it already, though we have yet to fully submerse her.

Mirror, Mirror

Someone really enjoyed playing with the mirror at our cabin.

We took a quick trip up to the lake last week to repair a leak in our bedroom ceiling.  We quickly realized that quick trips with an (almost) eleven-month old are not ideal.  We could barely get her to sleep the first night we arrived (we were exhausted, she was fascinated by the architecture), and then we had to account for stops on the way home because the little person in the car needed to stretch her legs.  I definitely miss the days where she'd sleep the whole ride, and then we could put her down for the night upon arrival, no mess, no fuss.