Things I love about you 5 and 6 months (opps)!

I Love...
 how excited you get when your daddy walks in the door
to watch you play with your toys
your gibbersish talk and your new words woh woh woh woh
how fast and hard you kick your legs when you hear me open your door in the morning
and how you flip yourself over so quick so you can see me coming
how you will sit in your playpen at grammys and dig through the box of toys to inspect (and taste) each one
pushing you in the swing at the park and hearing you squeal
how mobile you are without really crawling
that you sit up and play with your toys like a big kid
your crazy hair
that you're such a wiggle worm
that you're starting to laugh and giggle a lot more
how you taught yourself how to go from laying down to sitting up
that your so close to crawling and how you try to move in the down dog pose
how you quiet down when we turn the radio up loud in the car
that every once in a while you will let me rock you to sleep (few and far between)

All that and so much more!
Love,
Mama

Dear Ella,
Curfew/lights out is at 8:30...no wild parties in your crib at 2:30 AM are allowed...if you awake in the middle of the night, please keep it to a low hum using your inside voice. Squealing is unacceptable at this hour. Violations will be noted and result in some type of embarrassment in front of your friends when you are 13.

Love,
Mommmy and Daddy

Dime

Ella Jean,
One night you were laying on a blanket at Grammy's house on the floor playing with your toys.  Daddy, Pop, and I took turns playing with you...the next day I went to pick up the blanket and I found a dime laying on the floor underneath where you were laying.  We are all pretty sure that Great Grandpa Eugene must have been visiting.  There's a story going around the Homrich side of the family that Grandpa leaves dimes around the various places he visits.  We think it was a sign that he sees you and loves you as much as we do.

Love,
Mama

Baby's First Hair Cut

Ella,
Today, one day shy of your 5 month Birthday, grandma gave you a hair cut..more like a hair trim.  Your long moppy hair was getting a bit unruley so we trimed around your ears and cut a few strays.  You look fabulous!

Love,
Mama

Things I love about you...4 months old

I love...
how your blow raspberries and mimic when I do it
how you try to suck your thumb but haven't quite gotten it yet
when you stand up and move your feet like you are walking
how you leave just enough milk in the back of your throat when you are done with your bottle so you can gargle
your giggle, even though you're kinda stingy with your laughs
how you smile when I tell you to say 'aahhhhh' when I'm feeding
how you chew on your feet
how interested you are in us eating
how you roll from your front to back and back to front when you want a toy
when you say dadadada even though I'm jealous it's not mamamama
when you reach for your toys before I even get you in your exersaucer

Rollin' Rollin' Ella's Rollin' Over

Today while playing on the floor in Mommy's office while I was working, Ella rolled from her back to her front and back.  It was her first time rolling from her back to her front and she did it with ease.   She should be tearing the house up in no time!

21 Weeks

Dear Ella,
Remember those days when we slept in until 7, 7:30, even 8 some days...yeah those were the days....

Ella, your day started off at 4am playing with your toes and cooing, followed by getting you leg stuck over the bumper and through the slat of the crib and it all has gone down hill from there...poor baby (and mommy and grammy).

Working mom FAIL today

...scared the bejesus out of Ella, who was sitting quietly on my lap, when I spoke during a conference call today which resulted in a ear piercing scream for everyone on the call to enjoy.

4 Month Stats

Ella weighed in at 15 lbs (59th percentile) and 26 inches long (93rd percentile). Up 7lbs and 6 inches since birth, woah! Weight has an * by it as Daddy and Pop both weighed her yesterday and came up with 15 lb, 8 oz.
Practically Perfect in Every Way!

First Bites...

Ella,
Today you tried your first bites of cereal.  You weren't very impressed...
Love,
Mama

Road Trip!!!

Ella,
This weekend you went on your first official road trip.  Daddy and I were pretty nervous because since you were about 1 month old you have HATED riding in the car.   You surprised us all and did GREAT!  You sat patiently, played with your toys, took a few cat naps, and played with Mommy.  On the way home, you slept almost the whole way.  Thanks for being such an awesome kid!

Love,
Mama

Ella, this is not the Ritz, we do not usually change the sheets every day here. Please keep it in your diaper. Thanks,
Mom & Dad

Things I love about you...3 months old

I love...
how you travel around your bed at night, some times ending upside down
how you like to have your head touching the top of the crib to feel secure when you sleep
how you hook your hand in between the mattress and the crib when I put you down to sleep
how you grab onto my shirt when you're eating
how your hair stands up on end
how your face lights up when you see me and how your eyes follow me around
how you put your foot on my shoulder when I'm feeding you.
how you rolled over in you bed and were giggling at me when I came to get you
how you sleep from 9 to 7 and the noises you make for me to come get you in the morning
how you put your whole fist in your mouth (and chew on anything or anyone that will let you)
how you concentrate and stare at me when you're pooping

Love Always,
Mama

Rolling Over

Emily Homrich Mitchell i'm not sure how she did it, but Ella rolled over in her crib during her nap...watch out world :)

June 21, 2011 at 6:22 pm

Emily Homrich Mitchell 9:34 Get in Shower, 9:35 Missed call (mom), 9:37 Missed call (dad), 9:38 missed call (John), 9:39 Missed call (John), 9:39 answer mom's 2nd call b/c someone must be dead (no ones dead), 9:40 call to check on John (not dead), 9:41 get back in shower try to remember if i washed my hair, 9:42 Dad calls, 9:43 give up on shower

June 11, 2011 at 9:55 am

Emily Homrich Mitchell coolest sound = Ella's giggle!

June 7, 2011 at 9:33 pm

Emily Homrich Mitchell Ella's new nickname...Ferris Drooler

June 1, 2011 at 9:32 pm

Emily Homrich Mitchell planting trees, making mokey bread, and being adorable are the 3 things on the Mitchell Family's list this morning...guess who's doing what :)

May 30, 2011 at 7:47 am

Emily Homrich Mitchell Ella was 'talking' to a everyone in the store today. One lady was sure that Ella was trying to tell her something, then called her a 'great communicator' and told my mom she thought Ella was going to be the next 'Oprah'.

May 25, 2011 at 5:00 pm

8 Hours of sleep!

  Ella is a rockstar sleeper!! 8 hours a night the past week= happy mommy and baby!!

May 10, 2011 at 7:15 am

Emily Homrich Mitchell last day at 1221 for Ella and I! Mixed emotions but ready to have more space.

May 4, 2011 at 7:59 am

Emily Homrich Mitchell Ella fell asleep peacefully in her stroller while out to dinner last night, than slept 6.5 hours last night...John and I are waiting for the other shoe to drop :) I think it's all part of her little game...

April 30, 2011 at 12:15 pm

Emily Homrich Mitchell Ella is having words with the Elephant on her play mat.

April 26, 2011 at 5:42 pm

Easter & Sleeping Through The Night!

Today I celebrate 2 things:
#1, I celebrate the resurrection of Christ, my savior.
#2, I celebrate Ella sleeping 5 1/2 straight last night.
This will be a memorable Easter.

Emily Homrich Mitchell Such a good day with Ella so far. She's become such a good napper and starting to coo and smile. I'm sad at how big she's getting but she is so much fun!

April 21, 2011 at 1:50 pm

Emily Homrich Mitchell one good thing about having a baby in this tiny one bedroom condo...the crazy things I get to see at 3:30 am when feeding Ella. Good entertainment!!

Ella - 1 Month Checkup

Ella is packing on the pounds... she gained 2.5 lbs in a month and grew two inches! 88% for weight, 75% for height and head.

37 Weeks!

36 Weeks

Little Peanut, it's been 5 days since we were at the doctor and you are still not here! We accomplished a lot this past weekend getting ready for you to come. Your daddy went and bought all the tile for our new house and did a walk through for all the electric, he loves that type of stuff. I stayed home because the doctor said to stay within an hour of the hospital and we didn't want to take any risks. Our bags are packed and ready to go to the hospital now! we have mixed feelings about you coming early as 37 weeks is really the goal for all new babies and you are still a week short. However, we are anxious to meet you! At the doctor's this week, you were progressing about the same, 2cm - 80% effaced - station neg 2.

35 Weeks

Grammy and Pop are on a cruise this week but Grandma has been nervous for months thinking you would come before they got home. I had to keep telling her it was way to early for you to come, you had 5 more weeks! I went for my weekly checkup and found out that you are very advanced in your size, almost 2 weeks ahead of schedule. I was already 2 cm dilated and 70% effaced, meaning you may try to make an early escape! I also had an ultrasound to see how big you were getting and the doctor told me you were already 6.5 lbs! Already such a big girl! The doctor told me that you could come any day or that it may still be a few weeks. I got nervous just thinking about you coming 'any day'. We still have so much to do! I was able to talk to Grammy and Pop over the internet while on the curise and they were so excited but also nervous you would come before they got home. We think you were already being a bit beastly, which you come by very honestly!

34 Weeks - A Baby Shower!

Wow, you are already so loved and you aren't even here yet! Grammy and Auntie Heidi threw you a great baby shower and there were almost 40 people there that are all anxiously waiting your arrival! You got tons of fun stuff...clothes, bottles, stuff to decorate your bedroom, and tons more! It was so much fun! We were overwhelmed at all the gifts that are now stored at Grammy and Pop's house until our new house is built which shouldn't be to much longer now! What a lucky kid you are!

What a Party!

 A cute cake provided by your great aunt moe!

 Mommy & Daddy

 Mommy's big belly with you in her tummy!

 Auntie Heidi and Cousin Allie

Things Babies Born in 2011 Will Never Know

I really hope not all of these are true!

by Stacy JohnsonWednesday, January 5, 2011

Original article posted here.

Huffington Post recently put up a story called You're Out: 20 Things That Became Obsolete This Decade. It's a great retrospective on the technology leaps we've made since the new century began, and it got me thinking about the difference today's technology will make in the lives of tomorrow's kids.

I've used some of their ideas and added some of my own to make the list below: Do you think kids born in 2011 will recognize any of the following?
Video tape: Starting this year, the news stories we produce here at Money Talks have all been shot, edited, and distributed to TV stations without ever being on any kind of tape. Not only that, the tape-less broadcast camera we use today offers much higher quality than anything that could have been imagined 10 years ago -- and cost less than the lens on the camera we were using previously.
Travel agents: While not dead today, this profession is one of many that's been decimated by the Internet. When it's time for their honeymoon, will those born in 2011 be able to find one?
The separation of work and home: When you're carrying an email-equipped computer in your pocket, it's not just your friends who can find you -- so can your boss. For kids born this year, the wall between office and home will be blurry indeed.
Books, magazines, and newspapers: Like video tape, words written on dead trees are on their way out. Sure, there may be books -- but for those born today, stores that exist solely to sell them will be as numerous as record stores are now.
Movie rental stores: You actually got in your car and drove someplace just to rent a movie?
Watches: Maybe as quaint jewelry, but the correct time is on your smartphone, which is pretty much always in your hand.
©Will D/flickr
Paper maps: At one time these were available free at every gas station. They're practically obsolete today, and the next generation will probably have to visit a museum to find one.
Wired phones: Why would you pay $35 every month to have a phone that plugs into a wall? For those born today, this will be a silly concept.
Long distance: Thanks to the Internet, the days of paying more to talk to somebody in the next city, state, or even country are limited.
Newspaper classifieds: The days are gone when you have to buy a bunch of newsprint just to see what's for sale.
Dial-up Internet: While not everyone is on broadband, it won't be long before dial-up Internet goes the way of the plug-in phone.
Encyclopedias: Imagine a time when you had to buy expensive books that were outdated before the ink was dry. This will be a nonsense term for babies born today.
Forgotten friends: Remember when an old friend would bring up someone you went to high school with, and you'd say, "Oh yeah, I forgot about them!" The next generation will automatically be in touch with everyone they've ever known even slightly via Facebook.
Forgotten anything else: Kids born this year will never know what it was like to stand in a bar and incessantly argue the unknowable. Today the world's collective knowledge is on the computer in your pocket or purse. And since you have it with you at all times, why bother remembering anything?
The evening news: The news is on 24/7. And if you're not home to watch it, that's OK -- it's on the smartphone in your pocket.
CDs: First records, then 8-track, then cassette, then CDs -- replacing your music collection used to be an expensive pastime. Now it's cheap(er) and as close as the nearest Internet connection.
Film cameras: For the purist, perhaps, but for kids born today, the word "film" will mean nothing. In fact, even digital cameras -- both video and still -- are in danger of extinction as our pocket computers take over that function too.
Yellow and White Pages: Why in the world would you need a 10-pound book just to find someone?
Catalogs: There's no need to send me a book in the mail when I can see everything you have for sale anywhere, anytime. If you want to remind me to look at it, send me an email.
Fax machines: Can you say "scan," ".pdf" and "email?"
One picture to a frame: Such a waste of wall/counter/desk space to have a separate frame around each picture. Eight gigabytes of pictures and/or video in a digital frame encompassing every person you've ever met and everything you've ever done -- now, that's efficient. Especially compared to what we used to do: put our friends and relatives together in a room and force them to watch what we called a "slide show" or "home movies."
Wires: Wires connecting phones to walls? Wires connecting computers, TVs, stereos, and other electronics to each other? Wires connecting computers to the Internet? To kids born in 2011, that will make as much sense as an electric car trailing an extension cord.
Hand-written letters: For that matter, hand-written anything. When was the last time you wrote cursive? In fact, do you even know what the word "cursive" means? Kids born in 2011 won't -- but they'll put you to shame on a tiny keyboard.
Talking to one person at a time: Remember when it was rude to be with one person while talking to another on the phone? Kids born today will just assume that you're supposed to use texting to maintain contact with five or six other people while pretending to pay attention to the person you happen to be physically next to.
Retirement plans: Yes, Johnny, there was a time when all you had to do was work at the same place for 20 years and they'd send you a check every month for as long as you lived. In fact, some companies would even pay your medical bills, too!
Mail: What's left when you take the mail you receive today, then subtract the bills you could be paying online, the checks you could be having direct-deposited, and the junk mail you could be receiving as junk email? Answer: A bloated bureaucracy that loses billions of taxpayer dollars annually.
Commercials on TV: They're terrifically expensive, easily avoided with DVRs, and inefficiently target mass audiences. Unless somebody comes up with a way to force you to watch them -- as with video on the Internet -- who's going to pay for them?
Commercial music radio: Smartphones with music-streaming programs like Pandora are a better solution that doesn't include ads screaming between every song.
Hiding: Not long ago, if you didn't answer your home phone, that was that -- nobody knew if you were alive or dead, much less where you might be. Now your phone is not only in your pocket, it can potentially tell everyone -- including advertisers -- exactly where you are.