I'm 11 Months Old Today!

Hi Everyone!

One more month and I'll be the big ONE! Yay! I'm walking and traipsing around a lot now. Mommy's really excited about it because chasing me around helps her burn more calories. I am more interested in walking, running and socializing with other babies and older kids than I am interested in playing with toys. There are a few toys that still keep me interested though: these toys are not really toys at all or so I'm told, but "real stuff" that my Mommy carries in her purse like her sunglasses, wallet with credit cards and cash, her lipsticks, her cell phone, her keys, her hand moisturizer and of course her digital camera and her Ipod touch. Mommy gave me one of her old purses and filled it with a bunch of stuff just for me to play with. But, I'm smarter than that. I don't want to play with that purse filled with old junk. I want to play with her new purse and all of her big girl toys.

I still don't have my teeth yet, not even one. But, that doesn't stop me from enjoying my teething biscuits and pureed organic fruit and vegetables. I'm learning how to use a sippy cup, but prefer to drink from my bottle.

I am 28 1/2 inches tall and I weigh exactly 20 pounds. I still wear size 18 month clothing and my shoe size is either 18 to 24 months or a size 4. I am beginning to babble a little more, but I enjoy being a sponge and listening to everyone around me more than I do talking. My favorite words are: dada, no no, mama, hi and hey. That's about all that's new right now.

I am looking forward to celebrating my friends Sophia's first year birthday this coming weekend and having a family celebration in Ohio for my first year birthday over Memorial Day weekend at Grandma and Grandpa Talan's house. Here are a few pictures from the last couple of days.

Ella Goes To New York

My parents needed a break from Washington, so they decided to visit their favorite city in the world--New York City. The Tribeca Film Festival had it's opening the night we arrived with a Woody Allen Film called "Whatever Works". The weather was supposed to be in the 70s and 80s for the week. But, the first few days were very cold--a mere 42 degrees! We enjoyed ourselves every day. We were lucky enough to meet up with some of our friends N'Djamena (who lives in New York),  Hue Linh, Bernard, Tuyet Linh and Gabriel (whom all came down from Boston for the weekend). 

We were also fortunate in finding a nice hotel room right in the heart of Soho with a sweet view of the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building. Mommy and Daddy kept gushing over the view in the morning and in the evening before bedtime. 

I learned how to walk without holding onto anything about three days after my 10 month birthday, but I still hated wearing shoes. But, when I was taken to my first ever outdoor playground/park in Manhattan--I knew it was time for me to get used to wearing my shoes. I actually liked them because the support allowed me to walk without having my usual "spills" and tumbles. We visited three cool parks: Vesuvio (was my favorite and only a few blocks from our hotel), Downing Street Park and Bleeker Street Park. I had my first ride ever on a swing set at the Vesuvio Water Park and I also had my first time on a slide at the Downing Street Playground. Fun! Fun!

My parents took me to all their usual "staples" to wine and dine: Nobu, Jean George, Sushi Hana, the Time Warner Center and the Magnolia Bakery. And thanks to Bernard and Hue Linh, we were able to try a fantastic new eatery: Lan Japanese in the East Village. N'Djamena also gave us a new experience to share together: a pass to the Rooftop Terrace at the Hotel Gansevoort. It was very interesting because I was the only baby there amongst all these 20 something Jet Setters. Mommy, Daddy, Hue Linh and Bernard were by far the oldest people there, I'm sure. (giggle) We had a fantastic time together. 

Here are a few pictures of our week vacation in the Big Apple. Mommy took most of the pictures. 

HAPPY EASTER!

Happy Easter Everybody!

My parents and I are enjoying our time in the Nations Capitol together. Hope you enjoyed your holiday together too!

Love, 

Ella

I'm 10 Months Old!

My, how time flies! I'll be a year old in only 9 more weeks! Wow! I'm doing so much more this month! I love dancing and bouncing to anything and everything that sounds like music. I clap my hands all the time now too. I can crawl really fast.  I can walk really well holding onto furniture and Mommy's and Daddy's hands. I'm also speaking my very own baby language. I can tell my parents know what I'm saying because they always repeat the words back to me. My favorite word to say is "no". It's probably because that seems to be my parents favorite word to say to me (giggle). 

I'm 28 1/2 inches tall and weigh exactly 20 pounds. I'm fitting into 18 month baby clothes and 18-24 month size shoes. I'm in the 80th percentile for my height and the 50th percentile for my weight. A lot of my friends my age are around the same size. 

Some of my favorite things to do include: taking a bath (what's not to love? I get the total spa treatment), playing with my mommy's purse (I really enjoy taking out all of her stuff and playing with it, fun, fun), outdoor stroller rides (it doesn't matter what the temperature is, I'm up for getting outside as much as possible), pulling all of my books and my parents DVDs off of our bookshelves and then putting them back on the shelf in a different order and I like practicing how to walk.

Some of my least favorite things to do include: virtually about anything that keeps me confined. I don't like: getting my diaper changed (I can't stand up during it and it drives me bonkers because I want to walk), going on car rides for more than an hour  (again, my parents aren't giving me my freedom to stand up or walk when they take me on these car rides--so boring), wearing shoes (thank goodness Mommy only puts me in them for a few minutes to take a couple snapshots--yuck) and I really don't like getting fed my solids (again, why do I have to sit in my high chair so long? Can't I just eat while I'm crawling, standing or walking?) 

I still don't have any teeth, but my pediatrician assures my parents that they're there underneath my little gums. You're all caught up. Here are a few snapshots from the last few days and today on my birthday!

SAVE THE DATE (Ella's First Year Birthday Bash)!

Hi Everyone!

Just wanted to let you all know that we will be celebrating Ella's First Year Birthday Party here in the Washington D.C. area.

You are all invited!  

Please save the date for Saturday, June 6th beginning at 4 p.m. The party will be held at a children's party venue/play studio. 

For out of town family and friends, we will be reserving a block of hotel rooms for your convenience from Friday, June 5th until Sunday, June 7th.

Save the Dates will be emailed out to everyone shortly and Formal Invitations will be in your mailbox during the first week of May!

Look forward to seeing you all very soon! XoXo...

David and Angelica

I'm 9 Months Old Today!

Only 3 more months before I turn 1 year old! We can hardly believe it! I'm a big girl now! (giggle)

No, I really am a big girl. I'm 28 inches tall and weigh 20 pounds. For my 9 month birthday, my parents bought and installed a new convertible car seat for me. I had outgrown my Infant Car Seat. This car seat is really big and roomy. Unfortunately, I still have to sit rear facing until I turn one. The good news is that I can finally be driven around in my forward facing stroller all the time now. Yay!

I still don't have any teeth yet. But, I'm eating my solids two to three times a day. My favorite foods are organic carrots and peas. I'm pulling myself up and standing on my own--sometimes even for just a few seconds without using my hands to hold onto something for stability. I've also learned how to walk by holding on to the back of my walker and pushing it. I also like to push around my pink laundry basket while walking behind it. 

I am screeching a lot more. I will babble every now and then, but I'd much rather shreak with excitement or scream to let my parents know when I'm frustrated. I especially enjoy screaming when my daddy comes home from work. This is my way of telling him how happy I am to see him. I also shreak when I see my doggie Lexie jump into her bag to go outside to potty. 

Some of my hobbies include: taking all the DVDs and books off of the bookshelves and playing with them, crawling after Lexie, dancing to music (especially the alphabet song), going to the bookstore and library to read new books and of course stroller rides.  I also learned that I have a huge fondness for the puppet Elmo. He makes me very happy!

Here are some pictures from today and earlier in the week. 

Play Date with Mercy Hansen

Mommy's friend Jessica brought her daughter Mercy over to our apartment today for a Play Date. We had a lot of fun! 

Mercy was born on May 29th and is exactly 7 days older than me. We are both on the same page for almost everything. We crawled together, danced together, stood up together, ate together and even napped at the same time. It was so cool to meet another baby with whom I shared so much in common! 

Mommy met Jessica when they were both on the set of a "Chevy Tahoe" TV commercial shoot in 2007. They were both pregnant, but only Jessica knew she was expecting. They met again at a "go-see/audition" for the Russell Crowe movie "State of Play" when they both announced to each other that they were 6 and 7 months pregnant. Although our mommies were one full month apart in their pregnancies, Mercy and I were delivered only 7 days apart. 

We are looking forward to their Housewarming Party in a couple weeks and many more play dates!