Easter Bunny visits Ella for the first time

What is it about Easter? It's sort of like Christmas in the spring time. There's a sense of renewal in the atmosphere as everyone is getting a little anxious for warmer weather, green leaves, sunny skies, and blossoming flowers. I don't think we've ever seen so many people out walking around our neighborhood as we did yesterday. Spring is in the air! This marked Ella's first Easter and we realized that every Easter (and holiday for that matter) going forward will only get better. We're excited for Ella to experience all the fun times that we cherished as little kids. Wouldn't we all like to believe in the Easter bunny again? As Ella develops more and more, her sweet innocence becomes more and more apparent and it really is so special to observe her as she takes the world in.

We celebrated Easter with morning mass and then breakfast at our home with Erika's parents. Afterwards, we enjoyed a nice long walk with the Coopman and then headed over to the Buehrig's for Easter dinner with Ms. Fay, Meg, and Mike. It was a really enjoying evening and great way to end such a beautiful day.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter! For some pictures of Sunday, click here.

Also, a BIG congratulations to Amanda and Mike who celebrated the birth of their baby girl, Anna Rose, on Saturday. What a special Easter treat! Congrats!!!

Rub-A-Dub Dub Dub, 'Lil Ella in the Tub!

Ella and her little tub may soon be graduating to the bathroom bathtub for her baths as she has become quite the little splasher these days. Her little, chubby legs managed to soak the kitchen floor with all her splashes this morning so while the bath left her all nice and clean, the kitchen was a wet disaster! Nonetheless, it was worth it. Her face just LIGHTS up when she sees that blue tub of hers filled with water. We have no doubt she'll love the swimming pool this summer! Erika snapped a few pictures and took a little video from the bath this morning - Ella looks so big in her tiny tub!

And another video....Ella is such the movie star- ha! This one is a real treat; if her little laugh doesn't bring a smile to your face well, then, you're just outta luck! There's a little surprise at the end, too...doh!

Here are a few pictures of Ella trying out her bumbo seat...she seems to like as she's able to reach for toys on the ground and remain in a sitting position.






Below are a few more pictures from the last week or so. Ella enjoyed a play date with some of her baby buddies last week and really enjoyed interacting with baby Lindsey who is just slightly older than Ella. Claire is working on her social skills still and just enjoyed small catnips in her swing and the occasional observation of her little friends.

Taking a little nap while enjoying her tiny thumb...

...and enjoying some floor time with buddy Claire

So many babies! Lindsey, Ella, and Claire

All smile for the camera!

Sitting (or leaning!) from oldest to youngest!

Also, we enjoyed a night out without Ella on Saturday and treated ourselves to a date with the Hayken's at Rays, our favorite steak restaurant. It was de-lish! Afterwards, we headed out to an Irish bar with our friends to celebrate St. Patty's day - no green beer but it was fun to get out and enjoy a night out at the bars!

We'd also like to congratulate our good friends Steve and Rachel on the birth of their first baby, a little boy named ETHAN SHIA born March 3rd at a tiny 5 lb 13 oz! We are so excited for them and welcome them into the wonderful adventure and journey of parenthood...Happy BIRTHday little Ethan!

February Wrap Up

Even with the extra day in February this year, the month seemed to just FLY by. And even though we're anxious for spring (aka warmer weather), February was a lot of fun for the Carlson's. Here's a little February Ella recap:

• Ella turned 4 months (in fact, she's now almost 5 months!!!) old!
  
• Ella laughs! This is different from the "giggle." She truly laughs and it is about the sweetest thing in the whole entire world to hear.
  
• Hello world but hello FEET! Forget the toys. Forget the pacifier. Forget the fingers. It's all about the toes. Grabbing them is fun but sucking on them is even better.
• Squirmy bug at night. On several occasions when Erika comes to get Ella in the morning she is quite astonished to find that Ella is NOT where Erika left her! Sometimes she rotates 45 degrees in her crib, other times it's a complete 180 turn - her feet were where her head was! Regardless, Ella is still the superb sleeper....pulling in 9-11 hours each night and waking up all smiles and ready to eat!
• Twinkle, twinkle little star. We all know Erika can't sing but you'll have a hard time convincing Ella that her mommy can't carry a tune. We're not sure what is about "Twinkle twinkle Little Star" but Ella just seems to LOVE this song. And boy do we mean LOVE it. She loves it so much when mommy sings this song (and only THIS song) that it'll even stop her fussiness and bring a smile to face, almost instantaneously. We love how much she loves it....instant happiness!
  

Click here for some February pictures.

Hello chubby cheeks!