We're Back...kind of!

We're back! I got so consumed with Mommy Works blog that the family blog kind of went...well...non-existent. We didn't really go anywhere and things have been AWESOME, but I plan to be a more frequent poster on this blog. So many people ask about us and Ella Grace all the time and we are going to try to do better at updating! I'll get some recent pics up soon, and will certainly post pics and information from our Disney trip next week. Woohoo!!

Our Crazy Life

Due to our everyday craziness (good craziness I might add) we haven't posted in forever. Hopefully, I will be able to post more frequently though now that things are settling in at work (finally!) and we have to stay inside more because it's getting cooler. We'll see though! On the left hand side of our blog is the RSS feed to our Mac gallery updates and I have made TONS of updates in the last few days. So definitely check it out if you haven't lately. I think there are new pics from months 9 and 10 to the present. I guess I added 5 or 6 albums. Also, you can follow me on Twitter where I will post any new blog updates so you can know right away (because I know you are that interested!). To follow me, or Chris, you can join Twitter and search for jessdepew or ChrisDepew and click "follow". Also also you can find both of us on Facebook. That usually has the most up to date pictures and information b/c I can do it from my phone (scary, I know). Anyway, I am trying to find new and interesting ways to keep everyone updated on us (well, Ella Grace, b/c no one really cares about us any more :) ). Keep checking this site as this is now our Depew Family homepage. Anything cool and new will be posted here. Look for more posts in the near future!

Almost one year!

Wow! So it's been a while since I've posted on here! I guess I was just caught up in my wonderful summer at home with Ella Grace. Also, I was having difficulty uploading pictures from my Mac. And what's the point of blogging if you can't upload pictures? Anyway, the last couple of months have been event filled and Ella Grace is starting to walk! She also has 8...yes 8...teeth! I hope to get on here regularly and provide updates for those of you who actually get on here and read. I can't believe Ella Grace is almost a year old! Here are a few recent pics:

Updates galore!

Wow!  It's been a while since I've posted anything on here.  I've just been at home enjoying our little princess for the summer.  What a blessing it is to be able to have this extra time to spend at home with her.  We've been having so much fun!  Here's a rundown of some of the more exciting things we've done recently.

Yesterday 6/15 - Christopher's first Father's Day!  Ella Grace colored him a picture and we put her handprints on it and framed it.  I also gave him a couple books, some body spray he likes, some Williams Sonoma grill rubs and a marinade, and I made him a miniature scrapbook of him and Ella Grace.  Last night we went up to Monte Sano pool for a Father's Day cookout and that was a lot of fun.  Ella Grace loved the baby pool!  Check out the pictures on our web gallery!

6/9 - Back to the doctor...again.  Ella Grace has pretty much been on constant antibiotics for about 5 weeks.  She spiked a fever of 102.3 early this morning so I took her in again.  Turns out her other ear is infected, and, in an attempt to hopefully knock everything out this time (she just finished another round of antibiotic on Saturday - two days ago), Dr. Susan put her on Augmentin for 10 days.  She goes back on the 18th for a re-check and hopefully she'll be well!!

6/8 - Another tooth appeared!  On top this time!  She's about to have a lot coming in at once on the top.  They're all right there ready to pop through any time.  She's not been to thrilled with this either!

6/7 - First trip to the zoo in Birmingham!  My dad came down with Isabella while Christopher was at a conference and we took the girls to the zoo.  Again...super hot...but loads of fun!  Pictures on web gallery.

6/4 - We went to the Botanical Gardens with Kate and her mom to take pictures.  It was SUPER hot but we got a lot of great pics and had fun.  I hadn't been there to look around in years!

My First Shoes

Today Ella Grace got her first pair of "real shoes" from Stride Rite.  Long story short...I just went in with Kate and Ella Grace to "look around" and got convinced that I needed to start putting shoes on Ella Grace to get her used to them.  That actually made sense to me and we ended up going home with a pair and ordering a pair.  They were so cute I just couldn't resist.  And Ella Grace actually doesn't mind wearing them too much.

Crawling...in her own little way

I think Ella Grace has mastered the art of her own crawling style.  She was moving around like crazy today, much more than she has been lately.  I'll see her go a couple feet every now and then.  Today was also the first time her daddy got to see her crawl around at all.  It is so cute how she does her little one foot up and one knee down "crawl".  I think she'd actually prefer to walk, she pulls up on everything, especially me!  She is so sweet and I can't believe my little girl is CRAWLING...already! 

Mommy's new, old, hobby!

I've entered the world of digital scrapbooking and I'm loving it!  I've been sad that I haven't had time to get out all of my scrapbook materials and sit down to make some pages.  But, now that I have my Adobe Photoshop I don't have to worry.  The digital world makes things a little easier and faster but still so cute and personal.  I'm just getting started, and will never give up on paper scrapbooking (I don't think...this sure is fun), but this is a super alternative for right now!  Here's a picture of my first attempt:

More Mother's Day

I forgot one really important and very cool Mother's Day present from my own mother. She bought our family a one year membership to the Birmingham Zoo which includes lots of cool things including free admission to many other zoos in the surrounding area (i.e. Nashville, Knoxville, Atlanta, etc.). I can't wait to take Ella Grace this summer! Maybe we'll go the weekend after next to Birmingham. I bet she'd love to see the animals and play in the fountain. What an awesome gift that we can enjoy for an entire year! Thanks Mommy!

Oh, and I also thought of #22 on my list of favorites...

22. That cute little pointer finger and thumb...she is starting to really point and touch things with just that little pointer finger, and the is starting to grasp tiny things between her finger and thumb to pick them up. It's too cute (like everything else...)!

#21...

21. the way Ella Grace crinkles her nose when she smiles sometimes and makes a "k" sound like she's saying "whatever"

It's so precious!

Top 20: 7 Months

I was thinking just today how incredibly fast the last almost 8 months have flown by. And so, nearing the end of Ella Grace's seventh month I was inspired to create a list of my "top 20" favorite things about month number 7. I'll make this a monthly tradition and am going to go back and create my "top 20" for the previous months as well...that may take a while though. But, in no particular order, here goes for month 7:

1. The way Ella Grace gets so excited to see me any time I'm away, even if only for a second. Those "whole body" smiles melt my heart!
2. The way she has become even more observant and has started using her little fingers to examine things...the other day she held her silver bracelet between her pointer finger and thumb and just stared at it for a few minutes. It's like you can almost hear the wheels turning in her head.
3. Learning to "pull up"
4. Snuggling with her when she is sick (even though I hate she was sick!)
5. Gerber cereal puffs stuck in the palm of her hand
6. Reading Snuggle Puppy with Daddy and Ella Grace before bedtime (especially when Daddy sings it!)
7. Rocking back and forth on her hands and knees...almost crawling!
8. Getting to me any way she can without crawling
9. Hair that seems to multiply by the minute
10. "conversations" with Ella Grace (ba ba ba ma ma ma ga, etc.)
11. Listening to her snore like a grown man (however, this only happens when she is sick, so I hate that...but it is so cute!)
12. Nodding her head "yes" or "no" as if she understands exactly what you are saying and is trying to answer you
13. Pulling Maddie's hair
14. giving us a beat with her maracas during dinner
15. Snuggling with her at night
16. Sweet smiles and giggles when you talk to and love on her
17. Cackling when you flip her upside down
18. The fact that Ella Grace is still unbelievably attached to her Mommy :)
19. The way she says "ma ma" when she is sleepy or hungry
20. Watching Ella Grace try to stack the rings on her Rock n Stack...I'm amazed by her every single day!

There might be a few more "favorites" to add before month 7 is officially over next week but that's all for now. I love that girl!

The Best Mother's Day Gift

It's kind of strange being a mother on Mother's Day for the first time. Mother's Day is a day you always celebrate for your own mother, not something you are celebrated for as well. It's definitely a wonderful feeling and I could not be more blessed. I had a terrific first Mother's Day and have the best gift any mother could ask for...an absolutely perfect baby girl. Who could ask for more? Certainly not me, I am blessed beyond belief and I thank God every day for that. Besides my perfect gift of Ella Grace I did get a few extra bonuses. On Friday, Christopher sent me an "Edible Arrangement" to work. Unfortunately my co-workers and I devoured a lot of it before I was able to take a good picture. But, just imagine a huge bouquet of fresh fruit with pineapple flowers and at least a dozen chocolate covered strawberries (delicious!). It was such a sweet sweet (haha...) gesture and made me feel so special when people asked what it was for. Apparently Mother's Day is not widely celebrated with flowers or anything. On Sunday, Christopher went to Cracker Barrel and brough us back some wonderful breakfast! Then, he and Ella Grace gave me my gifts. Christopher got me a large keepsake box to store all of my special "Ella Grace stuff" like her Valentine's Day and Mother's Day picture cards from daycare. Inside the box was a Sew Beautiful magazine, Digital Scrapbooking magazine (filled with fabulous ideas to use with my new Adobe Photoshop...LOVE it!!), some Raisinets, some Reese cups, a mother/daughter book, and some homemade coupons for breakfast in bed and a day all to myself. I thought it was one of the sweetest gifts ever and I hope to fill up that keepsake box with many more wonderful memories. I'm sure it wont be difficult! Being a mother is the best thing that has ever happened to me and again, I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family. I can't wait until next year, and the year after that, and the year after that, and the year after that...

What a special day!

My special gift in her dress made by Mommy

Mommy and Ella Grace

The best Mother's Day present EVER!

What a week

Whewwww!!! Glad that one is over, kinda. Ella Grace just finished the sickest week in her short little life. First she gets a double ear infection. When we think that is bad enough a day or so in she gets a respiratory virus that makes her cough, and you worry. As you can read this last week and half was pretty bad. Mommy and I are exhausted and glad that this new week has begun.

The bright spot in the week however, was the fact that I, Daddy, got to stay home and take care of a sick baby. Was I a little worried at first, yeah, I am man enough to admit that fact. But really it was one of the best experiences for me. I don't get a bunch of time with Ella Grace to begin with. I work too much for starters and then when we are at home Ella Grace always wants her Mommy. It was great we took long naps, long drives, and long lunches together. I got behind at work, and it is close week so that is a big deal, and I had to go in at night when Jess got in but I would not trade those two days for anything in the world. That little girl OWNS me. I am in trouble, she is only 7 months old and she has me wrapped around her little finger tighter than my pocket book. I guess it was bound to happen. I love her and I don't care who knows it. Really it is a strange thing, not that long ago I was first saying the same thing about her Mother. Funny how that works.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Another ear infection...

Well, poor little Ella Grace has been having rough go of it in the last seven months and made another trip to the doctor on Tuesday. Luckily, she hasn't had anything serious, but it's still awful that she's had to have her fourth round of antibiotics. We had a really rough night on Monday because Ella Grace would just wake up screaming and pulling at her ear. We gave her some Tylenol (or as Dr. Powell would tell us...acetaminophen) and that let her get some sleep but I definitely knew that something was wrong with her. Tuesday morning she was in a good mood but was stilling pulling at her ear so I went to work for an 8:00 meeting then picked her up at 9:30 to take her to the doctor. It turned out that she had an ear infection in both ears and they want to see her back in two weeks. No wonder she screamed all night on Monday! That girl must have a high pain tolerance to not act like she was feeling all that bad on Tuesday morning. She fussed a lot yesterday and you could tell she didn't feel good, but today she seems to be doing much better. The doctor switched her antibiotic to Omnicef this time instead of Amoxil. Anyway, we also found out that she weighs 21 lbs. 1 oz. now! Hopefully we'll all be sickness free for a while...now if only the weather could cooperate because I think that's what's causing a lot of this mess! Anyway...

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!