Happy Birthday Ella!

Two years! I can't believe our little girl is two years old. No longer a baby, she's been replaced by a *mostly* sweet little girl who amazes us everyday with her new antics and words.

One year ago, Ella couldn't walk, couldn't crawl and wouldn't even roll over. Aside from her unbelievable cuteness, she was extremely behind in acquiring some necessary skills. But thanks to her wonderful physical therapists, a neurologist and some medical testing...Ella is catching up quite nicely. She's been practicing her running lately, which is funny to watch. She's also taught herself how to spin. I have no idea where she picked this skill up, but she even says "SPIN!!!" while she does it. Ella will then try to walk after doing about three revolutions, collapse after a couple of steps, laugh hysterically and then do it all over again.

We spent Friday and Saturday getting ready for Ella's big day. It was very frustrating for me to be plumb out of energy due to that lovely third trimester fatigue. I'd find myself stuck on the couch, physically unable to get up as my to-do list grew and time shrank. But, eventually, with Loran's patient help, we got everything ready for the big party.

Loran made Ella pancakes for breakfast (her favorite) and we took her sledding for the first time. She tolerated her boots and snow pants, but doesn't enjoy them. She did like sledding. I eventually waddled down to the lake to watch and take some photos. Despite her poker face, she did crack smiles while being pulled down the hill. Perhaps it was the idea that she might run Daddy down for putting her into this ridiculous position...

Ella's party started at 4 and Ella did an amazing job handling the spotlight. Once she warmed up to the swarm of people flooding her home, she turned into party girl! Party girl was further amped up after her cupcake. Once that sugar hit her blood stream at the end of the party, she was unstoppable. I couldn't stop laughing at her antics. She was literally bouncing off the walls, furniture, anyone standing within a five block radius...

Once everyone had left, we piled into the car and run a couple of errands and drove around to look at Christmas lights. It was mostly an attempt to calm Ella down and keep her from destroying the house on her crazed, party-girl state. It mostly worked. She sat in the car downing two water bottles and chattering the entire time. Bedtime was easy after that.