Music Class

My mom was able to snap a few shots from our Music Together class last night and I thought I would share. You can see the entire album from our website but here are a few favorites. She loves these classes so much! I can't wait until the summer when they are in Huntsville!

Milestone Blues...

Last night was Ella Grace's last ride in her "infant" car seat. The weight limit on it was 22 pounds and last Saturday she was 20 lbs. 10 oz. So we went ahead and ordered her a new seat on Sunday so that she would not be over the weight limit for the current seat. Her new "infant/toddler" car seat came yesterday and Christopher and I installed it last night...in the dark...in the hot...with Ella Grace on my hip...being eaten alive by mosquitoes...but that's a whole 'nother story altogether! Anyway, we installed it and let her give it a "test sit" last night. Her first ride in it was this morning to go to Tammie's. She seemed to enjoy it and went to sleep on the way just like usual. I'm sad that she will never get to ride in her old car seat again but I'm so glad that she's a healthy, growing girl. I'm not sure I'm used to the new seat yet, I hate seeing the other sitting in the garage and remembering picking it out when I was pregnant, but it's growing on me. If anything, it definitely makes her look like a little baby again because it is so BIG. Well, I guess that's all for now, I was just feeling a little blue because she's growing up so fast. I know that's an ongoing theme but it's just so hard to believe! She is really so much fun though and I can't wait to see the things that she will learn and be able to do this summer. I love that girl! Even if she had to move to a new car seat...

Last ride in the infant car seat :(

Test sitting in the new car seat...

First ride!

Such a big girl!

Yesterday Ella Grace pulled up to standing in her crib at Tammie's! I'm glad she can do that because it's not like she's ever seen her crib at our house. Heck, I just saw her sleep in a crib for the very first time last Friday (see picture below) when I came to pick her up. She is just growing up so fast and is learning something new every day. Also, we took her to the doctor Saturday morning because she's not been herself and we wanted to re-check her ears and found out she weighs 20 pounds 10 ounces. We ordered her new "big girl" car seat on Sunday. I just can't believe it! She is also talking up a storm, especially "mama", and seems to know exactly what we are talking about at times. Often she'll nod her head "yes" or "no" at just the right time and it is so cute! Tammie said yesterday Ella Grace kept saying "mama" all day like she was calling for me. It is the sweetest sound anyone could ever hear to have your child call out your name! Enjoy these recent pictures of our little girl:

I pulled up!

Bye Bye!

Ella Grace has learned to wave "bye bye" when we leave to go somewhere (or any other time I ask her to say "bye bye"). It is the most adorable thing and we got it on video last night. I think that girl learns something new every day. I wish I was home during the day so that I could capture everything! Anyway, I just thought I'd share with those of you who keep up. And by the way, I added the RSS feed for our .Mac galleries so that you can access them from this page as well as from our webpage, www.thedepewfamily.com. Bye bye for now!

My Moment

Hey everyone, its Chris here.  I had to get on this here blog and post my moment with Ella Grace.  Well anyone who has been around Ella Grace, Jess, and I have noticed that Ella Grace is pretty attached to Jessica.  Well, today at Cami's house while attending Wyatt's birthday party, Angie, my aunt, was holding Ella Grace.  She began to be very fussy and I ran to her side like a knight in shining armor (what else is a Dad suppose to do?), all the while knowing that I was not going to be able to calm her down.  She was going to want Jess.  But never the less, I was there.  When I arrived at Ella Grace's side I said, "Come here little bit" (that is my name for her, gotta love that) and she reached out her arms for me.  Yes, you heard me right.  Ella Grace wanted me to take her away from that mean old Angie (sorry Angie) and you know what she was happy.  Until she saw her Mommy.  But, for at least 45 seconds she was mine and she felt comfort in my arms.  So, I had my moment with Ella Grace and that is all I need for the rest of my life.  I know more is to come, but this will do for now.  

Funny Story

A funny story I forgot to share last week when it happened...

One day last week I had Ella Grace at my grandmother's house and we somehow got on the topic of Ella Grace still sleeping in the bed with Christopher and me. Anyway, I was holding Ella Grace while we were talking and she was looking and listening to everything. After we had our conversation my mom looked at Ella Grace and said, "Ella Grace, you're getting to be a big girl and you need to start sleeping in your 'big girl' bed". Ella Grace listened and as soon as my mom said that, Ella Grace looked at her and shook her head back and forth like, "Are you kidding me...no way!" We all laughed because she had never shook her head "no" before and probably had no clue what we were talking about but it happened at just the right time and was hilarious. After we laughed for a minute mama looked at her again and said "Yes, you need to go into your own bed" and she did it again! It was too cute and still hilarious today. I guess she told us! Needless to say, haha, she'll be sleeping with us a little while longer...

Dr. Update

As I was writing about what a chatterbox Ella Grace has become recently, I forgot to write about her first ear infection...lol. We went to the doctor on Friday because Ella Grace was running a 101 degree fever and it turns out she had an ear infection. I was a little surprised because thus far, even through a bad respiratory virus and a sinus infection, her ears have been perfect! But, I guess there's a first time for everything. We hope this is just a one time thing though and is not going to become and ongoing problem. Anyway, we also learned that she weighed 19 lbs 4 oz. She is growing like a weed and had gained 9 oz since we saw Dr. Scott the week before for 6 month check up.



On another note, we had a blast at our Music Together class last Thursday but, sorry, no pictures to share. There was just too much going on and no one else there with us to take pictures. Maybe next time. Ella Grace really seems to enjoy it though and laughed just about the entire time while we danced and sang and acted silly. I'm looking forward to the rest of the classes!

Chatterbox!

Wow!  Ella Grace's vocabulary had really exploded in the last few days.  About a week and a half ago she started saying "ma ma" but she's been saying all kinds of things this weekend.  Yesterday she said "da da" (yay!!) and today she's been saying "ba ba" (bye bye) all day.  Other new sounds she says are:

"ya ya"

"ay ya" (Ella in Spanish...ha!)

She's just been talking to herself all weekend and it is hilarious.  And super cute!

Music Together

Our Music Together class starts tonight and I'm so thrilled that we're going to be able to do it together. I'll definitely have to post pictures after tonight's class (that is if I have a second to take some!). This 10 week semester is called "Maracas" and I hope it's going to be a good bonding experience for all of us. Ella Grace is just growing up so fast, I think it'll be a nice set aside time for us to focus on each other as a family while hopefully having a lot of fun. We'll see how it goes...

Recent Happenings

Okay, I've gone back to my old blog format for keeping everyone up to date with the goings on in our family. This seems like the best format for keeping up with all of Ella Grace's new achievements and adding thoughts and information day to day. So...welcome to the Depew Family Blog! To catch you up on the last several weeks here is what's new:

March 15-19 - Trip to Orange Beach; We had an absolute blast and took some of the cutest pictures ever! Take a look at our webpage for current pictures (www.thedepewfamily.com). On our trip we took Ella Grace to some of our favorite places like the Foley Outlet Mall (okay...one of my favorite places), Lambert's Restaurant, Bahama Bob's, the beach of course, Gulf Shores Steamer, and on a drive around Orange Beach. Unfortunately though, we had to come home sometime...and really unfortunately Christopher had to drive us all home while very sick. I think maybe I'll either learn to drive his car or we'll take mine next time!

**Ella Grace tried Oatmeal Cereal for the first time on the 16th**

**Ella Grace also started sitting up really well by herself this week, especially the 18th and on. She is getting to be such a big girl!**

March 19 - I discovered a tooth! On the way home from the beach I was trying to get something out of Ella Grace's mouth and felt a tooth! I couldn't believe it but it was definitely there...I could just see a teensy white tip. Now, you can really see it.

March 20 - Today Ella Grace and I went to Chili's for lunch with Kate and her mom, Kim. After that we went and had Easter pictures taken with live animals. Ella Grace loved the animals and kept trying to grab onto them. They seemed to like her too and were very well behaved. We got some adorable pictures of her by herself and some with a lamb and a bunny. In one picture with the bunny, the bunny has it's head propped on her lap and she is looking at it. So precious! I can't wait to get the prints back!

March 21 - Ella Grace tried carrots today! And loved them!! I never thought baby food could be so precious...I'll have to post some pictures.

March 22 - 6 month pictures with Tracy; Beautiful as always, what more can I say? Ella Grace took pictures with some baby ducks, in a big pink tutu, in angel wings, and in a dress that I made for her.

March 23 - Easter! Our first Easter with Ella Grace was today. We got up early and went to the sunrise service and breakfast on the mountain then came back home to open her Easter basket. She got a board book about ducks, some new bows, some pastel pacifiers, a new pacifier clip, a flower hair clip, some carrot baby food, an elephant music toy, and a bunny Easter basket. After getting ready, we went to the regular service at MSUMC and then to Chris's grandmother's house for lunch. It was a great day!

March 25 - Those precious first "words" came out today..."ma ma ma ma ma". She's been forming her mouth to say "ma ma" for about a week or two but the sound actually made it's way out of her mouth today. Too sweet! Now we'll work on "da da"...

March 26 - Another tooth!? I almost couldn't believe it when I felt her tooth this afternoon that her tooth is now teeth! Yep, there is another tooth coming in right beside her other one on the bottom. Pretty soon she wont have just a "gummy" smile. As of today, they are very visible but not all the way in of course.

March 27 - 6 Month Check Up; Today Ella Grace had her 6 month check up and received her immunizations. The vaccines always worry me but Dr. Scott ensured us that it was okay and that they would do her much more good than harm. Anyway, she weighs 18 lbs. 11 1/2 oz. and was 26 3/4 inches long. That keeps her in about the 90-95 percentiles. Dr. Scott said everything looks good and we'll see him again at her 9 month appointment.

March 28 - Ella Grace tried Pears today...and loved them too! I think this girl just loves to eat!

Phew! We made it to the present...we'll keep you "posted" (haha) if you'll keep checking in!