Ella 1 Year Update

It has been a while since I've wrote a blog post but I've been wanting to do this one for a while. Ella turned one June 11th and I still can't believe a year has gone past already. Not to mention the fact that Ella is about the size Harper was at 6 months - so that always makes it difficult for me to wrap my head around the fact that she's a year old. 

Weight: 21 lbs

Height: 30"

Teeth: Four

Sleep: 12 Hours straight at night and has one nap a day ranging from 1 hr 30 minutes - 2 1/2 hours.

Walking: More like running. Yes. And has been since she was exactly 12 months. 

Nursing: Yes, whenever she can get it - which seems to be constantly when I'm not at work. It doesn't bother me because I LOVE breastfeeding and she's my last baby so as long as she wants to I will continue to nurse her - unless of course she's 4 and is able to lift my shirt to pull my boob out..

Confession. When she was first born I was really really concerned her squished nose was going to stick forever and ever. I was very relieved when it settled back down after a few days - poor thing was all squished from being over due. As if her scowl isn't intense already - imagine her scowl with that crease in her nose! Wowza, she would have taken RBF (also known as Resting Bitch Face) to a whole new level!

I remember this day like it was yesterday. Not just because her labour was the most intense pain I've been in in my life BUT how much I immediately loved her. I obviously had all of the sames feelings when Harper was born but I didn't think I could love another baby as much as our sweet Harper. But I did and do. Ella is seriously the perfect end to our little family. She is the fiery babe who makes us grind our teeth when she's been sassy and bust out laughing when she's doing something funny.

Also, her relationship with her big sister is something made of dreams. They LOVE each other so so much. Harper constantly calls her "Ella Marie" and "Baby sister" which melts my heart every.single.time.

Sisterly love.

Favourite foods: These organic Squoosh packets - which seems to be the only way I can get veggies into her unless I'm hiding them in her dinner. She is obsessed with any type of berry but LOVES oranges. She enjoys chicken and ham (although we mostly eat chicken). She drinks water like her big sister and almond milk.

Ella is seriously the funniest baby ever. She is the perfect addition to our little family. Fraser and I could not be happier with our sweet girls.

Ella's First Birthday

June 11th marked our sweet little Ella's first birthday. I know I say this a lot, but where has the time gone? When I started going through all of her monthly pictures I was holding back tears. It feels like just a few short months ago we brought her home from the hospital and now here we are. We have a sweet and completely hilarious one year old, who's full of mischief and sweet smiles.

Ella's birthday fell on a Saturday which was super awesome. She woke up super bright and early which was actually nice since I had a lot of decorating and prep ahead of me.  

I was so happy with how everything turned out. I was going with a flower/"thanks for watching me grow" theme. I wanted the decorations for the most part to be pretty simple but with splashes of colour here and there. 

The "Ella" banner and the monthly banner cards are from my Etsy shop. I'm so happy with how they turned out and were the center of all of the decorations. 

 The other tables were again decorated pretty simple. White table cloths with burlap table runners and pops of dark and light pink.

Fraser picked up some pretty Gerber daisies to compliment the whole theme. 

 I made two big goody bags for Ella and Harper, full of necklaces, treats and other small nick naks. Harper in particular was in her glory opening hers.

 I painted little flower pots a pretty pink and stuffed them with flower packets and little treats. Everyone went home with a sweet little picture from Ella's cake smash photo shoot.

The favors were topped with some custom favor tags from my Etsy shop - these will be listed in a few short days.

Fraser snapped some pictures of our princess and me. She was wearing the most adorable tulle dress from Old Navy that I got for a ridiculously cheap price. It was exactly what I wanted, something simple but princess like.  

Ella is currently obsessed with necklaces and will crawl/walk around the house with 10 on her neck at a time. She is honestly the funniest babe ever.

Ella preferred the icing over the actual "cake" part of the cupcake. Such a diva.

Managed to snap a few pictures of the birthday girl and her big sister before the festivities. Of course Ella bumped her lip resulting in a pretty big fat lip. Poor thing. She apparently didn't get the memo that you're not supposed to get hurt on your birthday!

Overall the day was amazing. Our little Ella was surrounded by all of the people that love her. Fraser and I are so blessed to have this little angel in our lives. She's so full of spunk, love and laughter. I'm so happy to call this babe my daughter.

A 12 month update will be posted within a few days. Stay tuned! xo

Easter Gift Ideas

1. Pink Bunny Easter Basket  2. Easter Bunny Book 3. Teething Beads 4. Safari Felt Puzzle

5. Cream Jellycat Bunny 6. Lil' Chirpers Sorting Eggs 7. Jellycat Unicorn 8. Batatt Toy

9. Easter Book 10. Lamb Easter Basket

These are a few of the things I've picked up for the girls. I wanted them each to have a super cute basket that I could re-use years to come and I thought this bunny and lamb one were perfect. I also wanted to get Ella a Jellycat rabbit since I got Harper one for her first Easter. I also picked up this super adorable Jellycat unicorn for Harper because I couldn't resist, because it's a freaking unicorn!

I picked out a few Easter board books and a few fun little toys, including these awesome jumbo alphabet magnets for Harper which I think she's going to love! I also found her a new little play tent (hers is currently falling apart) from Amazon for a good price and it had great reviews. I thought it would be fun to make a trail of eggs that lead to her new tent all built with their little baskets inside.

Now I'm just on the hunt for the perfect little spring outfits and Easter pajamas to complete their baskets. 

Easter is probably my second most favorite holiday after Christmas. I have the best childhood memories from Easter time as a kid. My mom always got us the coolest little gifts for in our Easter baskets and obviously loads of chocolate. The best Easter I had as a child was when I was about 10 or 11 years old, I got a new bike and the Little mermaid VHS (as well as other toys and treats). My mom also made it sort of a tradition that my brothers and I would get a few new spring outfits, which is something I plan to continue with my girls.

   Story time: One Easter when I was maybe 6 or 7, I got up bright and early before anyone else and found all of the eggs. I opened all of the plastic eggs and sorted all of the candy, jellybeans in one pile, chocolate eggs in another. Realizing I was going to get in serious trouble when my parents woke up, being that my brother didn't get a chance to find any eggs, I put all of the candy back into the plastic eggs and re-hid them ALL. My parents never caught on AND I knew where they all were - so I had the advantage!

 

Valentine's Day 2016

Valentines Day was a busy one here, but super fun. We started off the morning with heart shaped chocolate chip pancakes while sitting at our fully decked out table (pictures below). Harper was pretty excited that her pancakes were cut into hearts, she was a little less impressed when I had to cut them up.

Harper and Ella have been obsessed with their new Valentines Day books. Harper loves ANY books since she's a total bookworm, but she's been loving the "Little Critters, Valentines Day" book. I think we've read it to her about 1000 times. I absolutely love how Ella sits next to Harper, looking at the pictures with her.

And of course, I got about a bazillion pictures of Ella and her famous scowl. Gah, she's so stinking cute!

hahahaha.

Harper and Ella got a few little toys and treats. Harper's favourite was her new "Room on the Broom, Activity and Sticker Book". She also got a new little purse and some bracelets which she was rocking with her heart shaped sunglasses. Cutest thing ever. I'm very fortunate to have such cute little Valentines!

Both girls outfits are from BabyGap.