Ella is 6 months old!

Can you believe that Ella is 6 months old? We took an idea from our good friend Brennan and had a 1/2 birthday party (and a real birthday party for Uncle Mark) tonight for Ella! So much fun....
This was the perfect way to end a difficult week for me - my first two days back to work! While I love teaching and Ursuline Academy...it was VERY hard to be away from my girl...

an airplane ride, lots of swimming, a week with family, rolling over and lots of smiles...

We just got back from a week of vacation at Aunt Pat's house in Shannon, IL. It was Ella's first plane ride - which went so much better then we expected! Here is our happy host with Ella - AUNT PAT! Ella LOVED the sound of Aunt Pat's voice and especially her laugh. It was so funny to see her reactions to the sound of her voice! Ella even decided to roll over FINALLY from her back to her belly at Aunt Pat's!

We were at her beautiful home with 18 (or was is 19) of our family members! The laughs shared at that house were ones I will never forget!Here we are all together with the most of the family!

Ella did a LOT of swimming in Aunt Pat's pool. She absolutely LOVED it (after the first day when the water was TOO cold!) and I am sure misses that weightless time in the pool now that we are home!

Ella also got to meet and play with her "best friend", KATIE!!! So much fun to see them together...I can't wait for next year when Ella will be able to move around better - and maybe even TALK to Katie. Katie just couldn't understand why Baby Ella wasn't talking to her! HA

We got Toby to take pictures of our family on Aunt Pat's beautiful grounds...Here we are by the lake. I think this may be my favorite of his shots...but it is hard to decide! Thank you, Toby. These pictures will be treasured for EVER...

Before leaving - everyone always signs a WALL in Aunt Pat's basement. I have dates on there since 1993. Last year, when Dave and I signed we also signed, "BP" because I was pregnant at the time. It was a wonderful feeling to put Ella's name on the board with the year and her face next to the signature. WOW...how much has changed in my life since 1993 - the first time I signed the wall. The thought of that makes me smile....

the next Michael Phelps?!?!?!?

Ella truly loves bath time. She is so funny to watch in that little tub! She splashes, squeals, and splashes some more. Dave and I always feel a little bad when it is time to take her out...
If only we could clean under all of her rolls - it is getting more difficult by the day! HA HA....
We have an exciting week...meeting Tam and Tonya with the kids in Lancaster tomorrow and Cousin Meghaan is coming to swim with Ella and I on Tuesday....more fun throughout the week (day with Nonna, another day with Aunt Michele and Aunt Karen, and hopefully some time with boyfriend Brennan!) until we get to Saturday when we leave at 6am to go to Chicago! Ella's first plane ride! New blogs coming for sure....